I never expected the end of the world to turn me into both a medic and a monster-tamer. I’m Lyria Hale—early forties, hardened by loss, held together by stubborn compassion and the guilt of the people I couldn’t save. I’ve patched up dying strangers, held friends as they slipped away, and sworn I’d never let myself care that deeply again.
So when I found Kade—hive‑linked, dangerous, and barely clinging to his humanity—I should have put him down.
From that moment on, our lives became intertwined—my hands keeping him grounded, his obedience keeping us alive. The tether between us grew into something fierce and intimate, something that blurred survival with desire and trust with danger.
In a world collapsing under monsters and betrayal, our bond is the only thing stronger than death itself. And every day, I discover that surrendering to this impossible connection—this strange mix of devotion, restraint, and electric tension—might be the only way either of us makes it out alive.
And I’m not sure I want it any other way.
***
This novella is part of the K!nktober : Reloaded Series and can be read as a standalone.
So when I found Kade—hive‑linked, dangerous, and barely clinging to his humanity—I should have put him down.
From that moment on, our lives became intertwined—my hands keeping him grounded, his obedience keeping us alive. The tether between us grew into something fierce and intimate, something that blurred survival with desire and trust with danger.
In a world collapsing under monsters and betrayal, our bond is the only thing stronger than death itself. And every day, I discover that surrendering to this impossible connection—this strange mix of devotion, restraint, and electric tension—might be the only way either of us makes it out alive.
And I’m not sure I want it any other way.
***
This novella is part of the K!nktober : Reloaded Series and can be read as a standalone.