The Plateau of Giants (Getting Stronger 3)

Rather than facing Kane's ire at that moment, I turned back to the boy. He was still staring at me as if thunderstruck.

I flinched and put a hand on the tacky blood covering my face. I tried to smile as sweetly as I could so as not to scare the young child. A closer inspection of his face told me he was older than I had first guessed. He was ragged, small, and thin but his eyes were intelligent and his face had lost some of its cherubic chubbiness.

"I know I must look like a monster, right now," I began in my sweetest tone.

"You look beautiful!" He gasped. I blushed a bit, not that anyone could tell under the thick green blood.

"Yes, well-"

"Kylara!" I heard Kane stomping over to me. The young boy's eyes turned on Kane with hostility. Their lovely grey color seemed to gain a red tinge.

"Is that male your mate?" The boy asked coldly. I felt murderous intent rolling off him in waves.

I grimaced again, and forced a strained smile, "No, but we are together in a sense."