Chapter 12 Twelve
KAZIEL
The figure vanishes the instant I blink, and I'm left reeling, wondering if I'd imagined it. I rub my chest, clenching my jaw. I haven't thought of her in so long. It hurts to think about the past.
Maybe this is my subconscious mind telling me that I can't be happy. Danika is my light, but even she can't save what's left of me. Hell, maybe there's nothing left to save.
The thought suffocates me as I drive off.
By the time I arrive at my home, I'm greeted by the sight of Kira's flashy bike parked in the garage. The instant I step through the porch, I hear her humming.
I take off my jacket, heading towards the sitting room where I know she's sitting, waiting for me.
"Alpha," she beams at me, rising from the couch when she sees me.
"Where is he?" I ask.
"In the basement," she replies and I nod, holding out a hand. She places the key to the basement in my palm, squinting at me.
"You look more tired than usual. How long have you spent with your mate since you met her?" She asks, pulling her long blonde hair up into a bun.
"Tell me, Kira, when did that become your business?" I reply, and she sighs, her blue eyes filled with concern.
"I'm worried about you. You spent six months away from her, fighting the pain of the curse. You couldn't eat or sleep. Honestly, I thought you would have kidnapped her and tied her to your bed by now," she said, her voice light with amusement as she follows me towards the basement.
"Well, she is human. I can't just dump my shit on her," I deadpan and she gasps dramatically.
"Since when did my alpha develop a conscience? I'd really like to see this girl, she has you wrapped around her fingers and she probably doesn't even know it yet," she chuckles.
I ignore her statement, quickening my pace.
"Did he fight when you went after him?" I ask, glancing at Kira over my shoulder as I unlock the heavy oak door.
She smirks. "Like a cornered animal."
The metallic smell of blood hits me the moment I swing the door open.
My boots echo softly on the concrete steps as I descend further into the basement.
He's there, right where Kira said he'd be.
The vampire from the café.
He's tied to a steel chair, wrists bound with silver-threaded rope, salt crusted over his torn shirt. His face is a mess of bruises and dried blood, one eye swollen shut, the other burning faintly with defiance. He looks like he fought for his life.
Meanwhile, Kira looks exceptionally spotless.
I exhale a low whistle. "You didn't hold back."
She smirks. "You said 'handle him.' You didn't specify gently."
My gaze drifts back to the vampire. He glares at me and I can't help but smile.
I move closer, crouching until we're eye level. "You know what I am, don't you?"
His silence tells me enough.
Kira leans against a support beam, watching closely, her expression unreadable.
"I thought your kind went extinct," the vampire mutters finally in a hoarse voice. "Guess the legends were wrong."
My smile widens a little. "Guess they were."
He spits blood on the floor between us. "You can kill me, Tribrid, but it won't matter. The Hollow will eat you alive from the inside."
My heartbeat spikes at that mention of my curse. I shouldn't react, but I do.
I rise to my full height, rolling my shoulders. "You've been watching me?"
"Watching her," he corrects, his lips twisting into a bloody grin. "The little human. The one who carries the scent of a beacon."
My jaw tightens. "You shouldn't have said that."
Kira moves closer, silent.
The vampire laughs. "You think she's yours to keep?"
The beast under my skin stirs, my vision tinged red.
"Careful," I murmur. "You don't want to test me right now."
He lifts his gaze, his red eyes meeting mine. "You reek of desperation. The curse clings to you like rot. You can't protect her. You'll destroy her."
A growl rumbles in my chest.
"Enough," Kira hisses, but I raise a hand to stop her.
"I want to hear him," I drawl, cocking my head in his direction.
The vampire smiles, flashing his bloody fangs. "She'll see it too, one day. What you really are."
The chair creaks as I grab the backrest and lift it, slamming it into the wall with him still tied to it. He cries out in pain.
"Mention her again," I hiss, my voice guttural. "I dare you."
He wheezes out a laugh, blood bubbling between his teeth.
Kira touches my arm. "Kaz," she warns in a low voice.
I exhale through my teeth, dropping the chair. The vampire slumps again, wheezing. My pulse is still pounding in my ears, but I take a step back.
"She's not your concern," I finally say. "Now tell me what you were doing in my territory."
Kira watches me closely, her eyes narrowing just slightly. She knows I'm hanging by a thread.
"We're bringing him back, Tribrid. This time your pack will pay its dues in full. Nothing will stop him now," he drawls, and my head spins, my heart sinking into my gut. It’s happening again. The same cursed cycle that stole my mother's life.
No.
No one will take Danika from me. No one.
...
I must've dozed off.
Because the next thing I know, I'd jerked awake, my skull slamming into the steering wheel with a dull thud.
"Shit," I mutter, rubbing the sore spot. For a second, I don't know where I am. The nightmare still clings to my mind. Blood, salt, screams... Vanya's face blending with Danika's.
The Hollow curse stirs, whispering at the back of my mind.
You can't keep her safe. You'll ruin her too.
I dig my nails into my palms until the thought fades.
I don't remember the drive here. I only remember that it had been raining heavily and I'd been burning up with the urge to see my mate again. To touch her and make sure she's real. I still can't believe that fate gave me a second chance mate. Something I don't deserve.
Now I'm parked in front of Danika's off-campus apartment, staring at the faint glow behind her curtains like it's the only star left in my sky. My body feels heavy.
The digital clock displays 02:35AM in shiny red light. I've been sitting here for hours, watching the light from her window go dim.
The curse won't let me rest.
Every time I close my eyes, I see her dying in a hundred different ways.
My phone vibrates against the console.
For a second, I think I imagined it. Then I see her name glowing on the screen.
My heart stumbles in my chest, my eyes widening. My hands tremble as I grab the phone, nearly dropping it.
Hesitantly, I answer the call, bringing the phone to my ear.
"Kaziel?" Her voice is soft and fuzzy with sleep. "Did I wake you?"
I let out a low, humorless laugh. "No. Couldn't sleep."
She's quiet for a moment. "You sound... sad."
"I'm just... thinking."
"About me?" she teases gently, but I can hear the worry underneath.
"Always," I admit before I can stop myself. My throat feels raw. "You should be sleeping, dove."
"I couldn't," she whispers. "I kept... feeling weird. Like you were close."
I freeze. "What did you just say?"
"It sounds crazy," she murmurs. "But I dreamt I saw you outside. You looked sad."
A chill runs through me. I glance at her window. The curtains are still drawn, faint light peeking through.
"I'm fine," I lie. "Go back to sleep, sweetheart."
"Kaziel," she says, her voice firmer. "You're outside, aren't you?"
For a moment, I say nothing. I don't trust myself to say the right words.
Finally, I exhale. "Yeah," I whisper. "Couldn't help it."
She says nothing at first. Then she lets out an exhale.
"I'm coming out. Wait for me."
My eyes go wide. She's joking, isn't she? There's no way—
My thoughts trail off when I notice her shadow moving in her room.
My throat burns with anticipation, my grip tightening on my phone.
The line goes dead, and I wait with bated breath. When she steps out, my heart flips in my chest. She's wearing a sweater over her nightdress, and she isn't wearing her glasses or...a bra.
Shit.
She looks like a goddess incarnate.
When she finally gets to my car, I lean over to push the door open, and she slides in, breathless.
Her vanilla scent floods the car, and I nearly moan.
"You really didn't have to do this," I tell her, noticing the swelling in her eyes.
"I wanted to see you again as soon as possible," she breathes, lowering her gaze.
She sounds like she's holding something back.
Slowly, I reach for her soft hand, entwining our fingers together.
I want to kiss her so bad. But I don't want to startle her.
"What is it, dove?" I rasp.
Slowly, her hazel eyes collide with mine.
"Tell me, Kaziel. Do you have a type?" She asks, and I blink, confused.
"What—"
"Do you prefer skinny or—"
"Stop," I say, and she gulps. Still, her eyes sparkle with determination.
"Do you like my body?"
Someone must've fed her with bullshit. And I have a strong feeling about who that person is. So, I give her a smile, parting my lips to give her a response.