Kane Martin

Hope didn’t want to bother him, she knew that lost look on his face very well, mostly in herself when she looked in the mirror, giving the situation, she guessed that someone he cared about had got hurt during the attack, most people could heal, so maybe he was worried about a human? She knew it wouldn’t be polite to ask. Making her way toward him, she placed the menu on the table. “I said, would you like to order something to eat?”

The blonde in front of him was someone Kane would usually hit on in a heartbeat, but considering the whole situation he was in he neither had the energy or for once will to do so. Cami was all that mattered at the moment, and even though her doctors were saying she could go home in a day or two he couldn’t stop worrying. A concussion could only be the beginning to some pretty serious head injuries that might develop as a result and while the percentile might be small he knew he wouldn’t stop worrying until she was back to normal. Food? He bit back a sigh and shrugged. “I guess. A burger or something?” he asked, not even glancing at the menu. The idea of scanning it for anything being more than he felt like he was up for. 

Perhaps she had worn the outfit to tease him. Though, it wasn’t any different than how she usually dressed for an event like this festival. Though, she knew the mesh would have an effect on Kane. They’d have fun at the festival, eating, drinking, playing games and then they’d probably go somewhere alone because she knew she’d tease him all night until he couldn’t keep his hands off her. “Good.” Cami giggled, feeling giddy now that he was here. As he lightly smacked her ass, she smirked up at him, knowing he was already restraining himself. Arms looped together, they set off for the fun and festivities. 

———

The colorful drink in her hand was her third of the night, and she was certainly feeling the fuzzy feeling creeping in that was her becoming intoxicated. He’d gotten his promise of kisses in exchange for treats, and maybe a few extra kisses. They’d been laughing and she’d been joking when all hell broke loose. There was no warning. No way to prepare herself. One moment, she’d been laughing and the next the intense wave of heat following the explosions sent her body flying back like she was nothing more than a rag doll. The brunette hit something hard, some rock, some wall and she went down hard. The crack against her head barely echoed in her own ears, covered up by the explosion, the screams and the ringing in her ears. Pain seared through her whole body, radiating from her head and everything went black. Time passed but she wasn’t sure how much time passed. The first thing she was aware of was the pain. Cami’s head throbbed, radiating down to every fiber in her body, her skin screamed from the light burns she had from the initial explosion. Cuts adorned her body, nothing deep, but shards had cut her exposed skin. Blood seeped from the wound on the back of her head and her wrist screamed with a searing hot pain. It sounded like she was underwater, like her ears were stuffed with cotton and through it all she heard the nonstop ringing. Something pressed against her body and she lightly moaned in pain. Eyes fluttered, her vision swam and she weakly saw Kane above her. Lips parted, dry from the dust and dirt that swirled around them. Words tumbled out, but none of it made sense. It all sounded as if she’d been speaking nonsense. She was fading fast, black pushed in on the edge of her vision and Cami couldn’t think straight. His face was the last thing she saw before she fell unconscious again. 

The night had been absolutely magical up until all hell broke loose. Having her head in his lap was only reassuring for about a second until she opened her eyes and mouth only to speak rubbish, telling him she was more than a little injured and without a doubt needed immediate medical attention. His jaw clenched as her eyes closed shut, spurring him into action. Lifting her body and cradling her against his chest, Kane used all his strength and speed as he ran with Cami trough the crowds to the hospital. Once there, blasting trough the doors, he yelled for a doctor the second he came to a stop. Luckily one came running over pretty quickly with a few nurses and a portable bed for him to lay her down on. “Save her.” he all but begged the doctor, feeling petrified with fear watching them wheel her away. What if she didn’t make it? The mere thought made Kane feel violently sick. 

A relationship was one of the last things on her mind right now. Cami hadn’t been in a stable part of her life in years, not since her brother was bitten and their world turned upside down. Now that her life was finally standing still for the first time ever, maybe Cami was scared. She’d been on the run for too long that she almost forgot what it was like to get close to anyone besides her brother. So, she was more than happy to keep her and Kane at arm’s length and continue hooking up with them. “I can’t help it, I like a good challenge.” She teased, knowing that he knew this applied outside of just the physical games at the festival. He knew, especially now since they’d seen each other more than once, that she liked to tease, to be teased, and to face the challenge before submitting to him. Taking her prize and thanking the man working the booth, she turned back to Kane. It was hard not to miss the way his eyes lingered over the neon green mesh shirt she wore that again gave the illusion of nudity while the shiny, flouncy skirt probably gave him images of tilting it up. “I think I got prizes covered tonight, I don’t need more.” She grinned, tilting her head up towards him. “Oh, that would definitely get you a kiss. How could I deny something sweet without giving something sweet in return? She leaned up, teasingly brushed her lips against his and pulled away quickly. Looping her arm through his, they made their way off towards the food tents and enjoyed celebrating along with the rest of the island the milestone of freedom and peace all night long. 

Kane could not help but struggle with his baser needs looking at her in this sexy outfit. He was entirely convinced she was wearing it for his benefit, yet also to tease him as much as possible. Which he found both amusing and sweetly naughty of her. “Oh yes, that has become quite clear.” he noted with a small laugh. He truly did find the way she challenged him and pushed back in certain ways to be appealing and intriguing. It was all worth it because in the end she did give in and wanted to have the kind of fun that he thought they both craved to experience but also explore with one another. When she turned back to him, he couldn’t help but step closer and place his hand on her hips, tilting his head right back at her. A kiss for sweets, it was one way to end up with full stomachs but also hopefully some sweet moments to go with it. “How indeed.” He agreed, his tone of voice deeper than before, biting back a sigh when she teased him with a feather light kiss, then pulled back. His hand lightly smacked against her ass before she managed to loop her arm trough his as they walked towards the food tents. 

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Kane had just bought Cami several different sweets, which she had insisted they share, when a harsh force of air and an explosion so loud nothing else could be heard rocked around them. Something hard hit Kane in the chest, forcing him to the ground and taking the air from his lungs, ensuring disorientation and a moment of total blackness before he scampered on the ground, eyes searching for Cami. When he couldn’t immediately locate her, he got to his feet. His ears were ringing, leaving him deaf to everything else. Getting to his feet, the shifter scanned the area, fright gripping his heart when his eyes fell on her green clad body on the ground. Rushing over, the sound returned to one of his ears, though it wasn’t of much use. All he could hear were screams and the crackling of fire. Throwing himself down on the ground beside his date, he felt for a pulse, gently cradling her head in his lap when he had been reassured her heart was still beating. “Cami? Fuck please wake up..” 

Though Cami hadn’t been directly responsible for the latest festival the island was throwing, her position on the human council meant that she did have to be involved in the planning. Her work had gone up in the weeks leading up and she was glad that the hard work was finally over and she could relax. And the celebration had only grown when Kane texted her about meeting up. They’d only seen each other a few times, but after that date they went on, Cami was starting to like the shifter. There were a lot of layers to him, darkness of course but one she felt like she could recognize in herself as well, and despite that she sensed a good man in him. As was the case with how he smiled when they locked eyes. Her own smile was just as warm as she abandoned the game she’d been playing to hug him. “I do take it as a huge compliment. But then again I knew you couldn’t resist playing some games with me.” She teased right back, but there was honesty under her tone. She was grateful he decide to meet her here, when she knew this wasn’t his scene. Cami led him back to the booth and took her final throw before accepting her small prize. Dressed in a neon green outfit one would have assumed she’d stand out, but somehow she seemed to blend in easily to the lights and sounds of the festival. 

Kane had known he liked Cami fairly early on, yet he wasn’t really the type of guy looking for a relationship. Which wasn’t problematic at the moment, but he suspected it might become one if they kept seeing one another. If he was lucky he could get by a while with simply having fun and hooking up. Not all girls rushed into things or expected a quick progression and those were always the ones he ended up sticking around for. Anything beyond caring for someone though scared the shifter. He had only been in a serious relationship once, and in the end it had ended in death and heartbreak. Which didn’t make him eager to revisit the possiblity of exposing himself to feeling that much for someone again. Hugging Cami back, he smirked a bit at her rebuttal. “Maybe so. You do make a great player to be in the ring with.” he said his tone playful but tinged with a note of seriousness. If there was anyone on this island he were to pick to joke around with it would be her. Coming with her back to where she had been at, he watched win a prize. Her green fishnet outfit was stunning, revealing in all the right places and made it quite hard for him not to allow his eyes to wander and linger. “So whats next? You don’t seem to need me to win you anything. Does buying something sweet for you award me a kiss?” 

Cami was surprised to say the least when Kane had asked her out on a date. While she had to admit that she was attracted to the man, and wouldn’t mind continuing to flirt with him and even more, she had not expected him to ask her out on a formal date. But it had been so long since Cami had gone out on a proper date, since before her brother was turned if she was being quite honest. So, she quickly agreed and actually found herself looking forward to meeting Kane. 

She sensed something similar in him, though Cami couldn’t quite place her finger on what it was. Just a feeling that when she talked to him, they often found themselves on the same wavelength. Tonight would give them a chance to really get to know each other and honestly she was looking forward to moving their flirty advances further. 

Knowing the restaurant was a little on the fancy side, Cami knew she had to dress appropriate and couldn’t dress in something entirely sheer to drive him wild. The little, shiny red dress would do just the trick though. Strolling up, she beamed as she saw him waiting outside. “I told you I always dress to impress.” She teased. 

Kane knew he wasn’t the kind of guy most girls went to anything formal with. Truth be told he’d gone back and fourth multiple times on whether or not to go with something less serious. In the end he had decided to go with his gut and let the chips fall where they may. It had been a good while since he’d had a nice dinner out with someone he was genuinely curious about and into. 

While their interactions hadn’t been of the longest or deepest, they aways seemed to have a mutual understanding and were having a lot of fun when they hung out. The banter, the teasing and high spirits he experienced with Cami was something he had to admit, at least just to himself, that he needed and it made him feel better. Like maybe starting over like he was trying to wouldn’t be utterly impossible or miserable. 

He was fairly certain she was purposefully dressing to entice him, though he also found it amusing and intriguing, so he would play along until he could get her alone. Because when he could, that skimpy dress was without a doubt coming off her. “Well color me impressed. You’re gorgeous.” he said, dropping her a wink and pulling and holding the door open for her. “They should have our table ready.” 

She seemed to find it possible to relax into the sensations he was providing her with, which was exactly what Kane had been hoping for. Sometimes she seemed to battle her shy side a little too much, and he had realized just how badly he wanted her to feel confident and at ease in her own skin. Because she really had no reason not to. 

Since they met, Kane had found Cami to be mesmerizing. Her beauty irrefutable and her wit engaging to say the least. And he had never hid the fact that he found her attractive, nor had she ever rejected his advances. And while fancy dating really wasn’t his style, he’d decided that treating both her and himself to a nice dinner couldn’t hurt. Promptly waiting by the door to the restaurant, dressed in a pair of black jeans and a white shirt, Kane was more than a little curious to discover what she might choose to appear in. 

When she did turn up, he couldn’t help but grin a bit at her. “Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.” 

Priya let out a contented sigh as she came out from the water, shifting her tail back into human legs, the sun glinting against her skin, practically shimmering as she stepped onto the shoreline and sat herself down, enjoying the warmth of the sand under her fingertips, the waves lapping at her feet. She was going to go to the King this week, revealing her kind to him. She only had a few more days on anonymity, so she wanted to soak it all up as much as she could.

Priya was so lost in the calm of it all that she hadn’t felt someone’s eyes on her until she heard the sudden voice and she blinked her eyes open, looking up at the man that was suddenly before her. Shifter, she was pretty sure. He smelled of the earth, of nature. “Isn’t it always? That’s the point of island living after all, is it not?” She responded easily, a little almost-smirk tugging at the edges of her lips as she felt his eyes on her. Staring. Just like all other species always did when they came across one of her own.

Kane would admit, to himself, that he should have come to the beach more often. It was not as crowded here as he had thought it would be, nor as loud, which made it all feel very peaceful. With the sort of life he had previously lead, he felt like peace was something he had both craved and questioned whether he was entitled to. His father used to say that they were soldiers, doing what needed to be done. But that was very far from the truth.. yet questioning it, he wondered if refusing to take a life would really have spared it. If he or his family didn’t take that life, wasn’t it likely someone else would? 

The woman was in no way familiar to him, though given his slightly reclusive ways whenever he was back here, that wasn’t a surprise. Kane wasn’t the greatest at paying attention when he didn’t have to, and the longer he stayed in this place, the easier he found it to slowly lower his guard. “Quite often, yeah I guess. Though its possible the witches tamper with the weather, sparing us of rain or storms.” He shrugged a little. “I’m guessing thats why you came here then?” he asked, his charming smile in place. She was quite a sight after all. Maybe carrying a conversation would give him some clues as to what she was. 

Meena was at one of the small tables outside of the coffee shop, looking through one of her sister’s spell books she borrowed, when she heard a familiar voice behind her. “Kane!” She exclaimed, hopping up out of her seat to greet him. They worked together on several missions, but they often seemed to butt heads, but it was still nice to see a familiar face. “Oh, it’s been great! I’ve mostly been catching up with Ellora. How’s everything been for you?”

Kane usually didn’t sit down for coffee, especially not alone. It was simply too stale to sit and just watch everyone else. He would rather move about as he consumed his coffee, which gave him the room to think. Then again he was not big on books and such, too restless to settle down with that now that he could choose for himself. He really ought to make more of an effort to get a bit closer to his co workers though, even if they didn’t always see eye to eye like he and Meena. “Thats good to hear. Must be nice to have someone to come home to. Its been fairly good. I’ve just been catching up with some friends, slept in, allowed myself some greasy food.” he shrugged a bit. 

He couldn’t help but grin at seeing her all flushed and breathless. Of course she was really gorgeous like this, but it was also quite clear that she was a bit more timid about it all than she would like to admit. Even inebriated. Which he wasn’t about to ignore, but he had no intention of making a big deal about it either. They were both consenting adults. Doing fun adult things.