Chapter 15 Fifteen
DANIKA
My heart thumps louder and faster as Tyler moves over to crouch in front of me, picking up my stuff. His green eyes darken when he sees the blood on my palm. Slowly, he helps me to my feet and turns to look at Jazmine.
"Apologize to her," he says in an icy voice. She scoffs in disbelief.
"Me? Why should I?"
"You insulted my girlfriend, accused her wrongly, and went as far as causing her harm. Apologize," he deadpans.
Girlfriend? Really, Tyler?
I should correct him, but... he's the only person standing between Cora and me.
"What will you do about it? I did not accuse her. I saw her flirting with my man," she hisses.
Cora sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. She hurries over to me, gasping when she sees my hand.
"I'm so sorry, Dani," she says, gazing at me with teary eyes. "Forgive my sister, she—"
"Why the fuck are you apologizing to her?!" Jazmine yells, her fists clenched tighter.
"What is going on here?" A deep voice rumbles in the air, the familiar icy aura causing chills to run down my spine. It's Kaziel.
My goodness, he looks super sexy today in his black turtleneck, black blazer, slacks, and boots, his silver accessories popping.
His frosty blue eyes scan the scene until they lock on me. Then on Tyler's hand still gripping my waist. The muscle in his jaw flexes once, dangerously.
Instantly, I pull away from Tyler.
"What happened?" His voice is low, but the iciness beneath it makes Cora flinch.
She moves forward immediately, wringing her hands. "Professor Kaziel, it's...it's a misunderstanding. Jazmine thought Danika was—"
"Enough." His gaze slices to Jazmine before she can open her mouth. "Apologize."
Jazmine's defiance wavers. For a moment, she looks ready to argue again, but judging by the way he's watching her... it's as though he's one step away from grabbing her throat. She lowers her head, swallowing hard.
"I—I'm sorry," she blurts out, her voice shaking.
The abruptness startles me. I blink, glancing between them, my heart hammering even harder.
Kaziel doesn't say anything in return. He just holds her gaze a moment longer, making sure the apology lands, before turning back to me.
Quickly, I hide my injured palm behind me.
"Are you hurt?" he asks.
The words are simple, but they carry weight.
I know he's emitting his famous dangerous energy at the moment, but he looks unfairly hot while doing it.
Tyler starts to say something, but Kaziel's eyes dart to him again, literally freezing him in place.
I swallow hard. "It's nothing," I whisper, even though the cut still stings.
Kaziel's gaze darkens. He glances at Jazmine.
"I want you in my office tomorrow." He tells her, and she gulps.
"You, come with me," he says to me, and my heart jackhammers in my chest. He looks mad. This is not good.
Without any word, he turns and walks away, the crowd immediately dispersing.
I hold out a hand to take my bag from Tyler, my fingers trembling as I mumble, "Thanks," to him.
As I turn to leave, his hand shoots out, wrapping around my wrist.
"Don't risk your life for him," he says, his voice laced with urgency.
I freeze.
Slowly, I turn to look at him, searching his face.
"You don't understand," he utters, shaking his head. "He's not—" He stops himself, swallowing hard. "He's not human, Danika."
The words make my stomach twist.
"You... you know?"
His grip tightens just slightly. “Of course I know. And that's why I'm telling you to stay away before he—"
"Stop." My voice cracks, and I pull my hand free. I can't bear to hear it from him again. "He won't hurt me."
"Danika—"
"Tyler, please." My voice trembles. "Don't."
For a second, neither of us moves. His eyes...those green eyes I once swore I could drown in...glimmer with unshed tears. And it hurts.
It really, really hurts.
"Why do you keep pushing me away?" he breathes. "After everything?"
I falter, my throat tightening.
But it's over between us. It really is.
So I do the only thing I can. I step back.
Then I turn and walk away before he can say another word.
....
The parking lot is nearly full, the air thick with a heavy silence. It takes a while to find Kaziel's car. And when I do, I find him sitting inside.
His head is bowed, his hands gripping the steering wheel. He's taking deep breaths, almost like he's holding something back with every inhale.
For a moment, I just stand there, my chest tight.
I don't even think before moving. My hand trembles as I open the passenger door and slide in quietly, shutting it behind me.
Kaziel doesn't move. His knuckles stay white against the wheel.
It looks like he’s trying to calm himself down.
I let out a shaky sigh and reach over with my good hand, my fingers brushing his back in slow, cautious circles. "Hey," I whisper, "it's okay."
He freezes.
Suddenly, he lifts his head.
A gasp slips from my lips.
His eyes are no longer the beautiful cobalt blue I know. They're blood-red, glowing faintly.
"K–Kaziel..." I whisper, my voice barely audible.
Before I can move, his hand shoots out, gripping my injured palm. I wince as his fingers press close to the cut, not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to startle me.
His eyes narrow, darting from my hand to my face.
"Who did this?" he asks, every syllable trembling with a fury that is barely contained.
"I—it's nothing," I stammer, my heart racing. "I'm fine—"
"Who," he repeats. His voice sounds otherworldly now.
It seems as though his control is slipping through his fingers.
His thumb drags lightly over the blood at the edge of my wound. His hand feels colder than usual.
I swallow hard. "Kaziel, you're—your eyes—"
He blinks, and for a second, the red fades, returning to the usual blue. But then it snaps back.
He looks away, dragging a hand over his face. "You shouldn't have touched me," he mutters, his voice hoarse.
"I was just trying to help," I whisper.
His jaw tightens. "You have no idea what you've..."
I can barely breathe now. His scent seems thicker than usual, intoxicating me like a drug.
I whimper as he leans forward towards me, his breathing heavy.
"Fuck, you smell so good," he groans.
"W-what are you doing?" I breathe, every muscle in my body stiffening as he draws close enough for his nose to graze the skin close to the cut.
Why does it feel like he's about to taste my blood? He told me he's a werewolf. Why is he acting like a...vampire?
He grunts, squeezing his eyes shut. I would run, but he's holding on to me.
"I can't," he gasps.
Suddenly, the crease in his brows fades, and his fiery red gaze meets mine. Ever so slowly, he leans further.
"Don't move," he says, and my stomach knots.
The air whooshes out of my lungs as he slides his tongue over the cut. Shivers run down my spine, my eyes widening as a moan tumbles out of my mouth.
Is this...is this supposed to feel that good?
He groans, the sound rumbling from deep in his chest as he holds my gaze, repeating the same action. Heat pools in my belly, a wetness forming in between my thighs.
This is insane.
I am terrified, but at the same time...I'm aroused.
He peeks up at me through his long, dark lashes, and my throat goes dry.
And to my bewilderment, the cut seals perfectly, leaving no sign of its previous existence.
"H-how..." I ask in a shaky voice.
He pulls away, releasing me. His shoulders slump, and I have a very strong feeling he's drowning in shame.
"It's my fault. I should have warned you," he croaks, his head lowered.
"Warned me about what?"
"I'm not just a werewolf, dove. I'm worse. Much worse. There are many monsters in my world, you see? But among all of them, I am the monster they all fear."
My stomach churns as my fear grows. He's unfolding another layer of himself, and I'm not sure if I'm ready for it.
"W-what do you mean?"
"I'm a tribrid. Three creatures exist inside of me. But at the same time, they're unified. I am a werewolf, a vampire, and a—"
His body suddenly grows rigid, his nose flaring.
"Shit," he breathes.
I'm terribly stimulated at this point. "W-what is it?"
"We're surrounded," he rasps, already taking off his blazer.
His gaze meets mine, his red eyes glowing brighter. "By hunters."