Chapter 211: Troublemaker

He looked back at her. "Those are sculptures." He could barely force the words out. She really had lost it.

Yuki narrowed her eyes in the direction, then gave Kaden a disappointed look. "You are lying. They are people," she stubbornly insisted.

The corner of Kaden’s lips twitched, but he decided there was no point correcting a woman who was drunk enough to mistake garden decorations for people. He simply continued holding her on his shoulder as they made their way out of the garden. By the time they reached the car park, Yuki was still rambling.

"You are seriously unlikeable," she complained, "I don’t understand how you have friends. You bloody made me jog under the burning sun. What did I ever do to you?"

Kaden almost laughed. "It’s not my fault you have the stamina of a baby and fainted," he sneered, and a sharp pain struck his shoulder. Yuki’s teeth were deep in his shoulder blade. Her fangs had punctured the suit as she bit him like a rabid dog. It hurt, but not quite enough to make him stop her. Yuki was dedicated to biting him, and he let her. Kaden was far more tolerant of this adopted sister he hated than he realised.

Kaden stopped beside his car and looked down at her. "Enough. You might hurt your jaw," he said, sounding more concerned for her teeth than his shoulder. That comment ticked Yuki off. She stopped and glared at him, frustration filling her gaze. "Stop acting like it doesn’t hurt," she hissed, and he smirked. "It doesn’t hurt, Snow," he chimed, not realising he had used a nickname.

Before Kaden could open the car door, hurried footsteps echoed across the stone pavement.

"Lord Kaden!"

Kaden turned towards the voice. Maverick came rushing towards them, slightly out of breath from running. His formal clothes were still neat despite his hurried arrival, and his eyes immediately settled on Yuki.

"I have been searching for her," he said, catching his breath.

Kaden arched a brow. "Why?" he asked.

Maverick straightened before quickly explaining, "I have important information. Miss Yuki cannot return to the Alpha residence tonight because of the wedding. I was instructed to take her somewhere else," he quickly explained.

His gaze dropped to Yuki again. She was currently poking Kaden’s arm and trying to pinch his armpits. His brows furrowed with genuine confusion as his gaze moved between the girl flipped over Kaden’s shoulder, who looked like she was on a mission, and Kaden’s usually calm expression, which would have fooled him if he didn’t sense the heavy presence around him.

"Annoying poker face. Stop acting like you aren’t ticklish and drop me down," she complained at him.

Maverick blinked. "Is she drunk?" he said carefully, confused about how to describe this bizarre situation.

Kaden gave him a flat look. "Isn’t it obvious?" he deadpanned, ignoring her childish trick. He wasn’t ticklish there and was wearing a suit, for heaven’s sake.

Yuki’s head snapped towards him. "I’m not drunk!" Her voice carried across the car park. "He’s the one who’s drunk!"

Kaden ignored her and looked at Maverick. "Was anyone else sent to look after her?" he asked.

Maverick shook his head. "No. I was only instructed to take her to the location. But..." His gaze shifted back to Yuki as she aggressively pinched Kaden’s arm without getting so much as a reaction from him. "I suppose leaving her alone in this state would be a bad idea."

Kaden’s expression darkened. "Fuck." He knew most of the guests had been arranged to stay at Obsidian Hall, while others would be staying at hotels in Raven City. In Yuki’s current state, she could easily wander into someone’s room without even realising it. He glanced at her again. She was now trying to poke his cheek. Kaden sighed. Then he said the words he never imagined would leave his mouth.

"I’ll handle her."

Maverick’s eyebrows rose. "You?" Maverick sounded pretty sceptical about that idea.

Kaden gave him a warning look. "Do you have a better option?" he questioned.

Maverick glanced at Yuki, who was now staring suspiciously at a nearby lamppost. "...No."

"Then we’re done here."

Kaden turned and walked towards his car. Yuki immediately followed him, still rambling about his personality. "You’re not very nice, you know."

"I’ve been told," Kaden said curtly. She frowned, then pointed at herself. "By me?"

"Don’t think you are special. You aren’t the first." Yuki rolled her eyes. "You should listen, then. You need to change."

"Snow, I’ve heard enough for one night," Kaden groaned. He was already having a fucking headache.

Yuki giggled. Kaden reached the car and carefully lowered her onto the ground so he could open the passenger door. The moment her feet touched the pavement, however, Yuki’s expression changed. A mischievous grin spread across her face. Kaden barely had time to react before she suddenly jerked away, and her leg connected between his legs. Pain immediately exploded there. Kaden’s face contorted with pain.

"Got you!"

She bolted forward, laughing. Kaden froze. His fingers tightened around the car door as he watched her run. Maverick stared after her, then slowly looked at Kaden. Kaden’s expression darkened. He had made one terrible mistake. He had underestimated a drunk Yuki.

He gritted his teeth, ignoring the blinding pain, and went after her. Yuki, on the other hand, was having a blast, laughing as she ran with the wind whipping her hair.

She glanced behind and stuck out her tongue at Kaden, who was slow because of her gift to him. She was so pleased with herself. She continued running without facing forward until she slammed into someone, falling backwards onto her butt.

A concerned voice immediately spoke up. "Are you alright?" he asked. Yuki’s eyes stung because of the pain. She glanced up, ready to curse, but the words didn’t leave her lips. She stared at the blonde stranger.

Declan’s brows furrowed. He bent over to give her a hand, but before his fingers could graze her, Yuki was already yanked off the floor. Kaden’s stormy eyes locked with hers. "You thought you were so fast, didn’t you?" he hissed.

Declan’s confusion deepened at the scene. He grabbed Kaden’s shoulders. "What is going on?"

As if sensing a means of escape, Yuki burst into sobs. "Please save me. He wants to murder me." Her sudden outburst stunned Kaden.