Chapter 42 Forty Two
DANIKA
Kaziel must have realized what I was pointing out, he suddenly looked worried.
"You can't shift yet, sweetheart. I have to get you clothes," he says, and I lower myself onto the ground, worried.
"Alright, here's what we're going to do. I'll take you home, and you can shift safely at my place," he tells me, and I whine at him, not sure if I can stay in this form for much longer.
He leans in to scoop me into his arms.
"Just trust me."
What else can I do? He's my only shot at getting out of here. Time seems to blur as I curl up in his arms, making myself comfortable with my eyes closed. I don't bother checking to see where we're going. I simply zone out.
After what feels like an eternity, Kaziel gently sets me down on the floor. I open my eyes then, surprised to find that we're back at the house. In his room, to be precise.
He strokes my fur, scratching the back of my ears. That feels illegal.
"Now picture your original body and focus your senses on me," he says, and I press my muzzle against his palm, concentrating on his smell and his touch.
The pain from before returns. However, it's less intense this time. And by the time I'm back to my original form, I sit there, panting.
Kaziel carries me in his arms, smiling at me. "That's my girl," he whispers, holding me close.
I flash him a tired smile, burying my face against his solid chest. He gently sets me on the stool.
He brushes a strand of hair away from my face, his knuckles grazing my cheek.
I should be self conscious, especially with the way he's staring at me with those eyes. But, I want his eyes on me. I love seeing the way his pupils dilate at the mere sight of me.
"I'll leave you to take a shower. You'll feel better, I promise. I'll be downstairs getting your food ready," he utters and I nod, smiling at the sight of his hard on.
Blue balls incoming.
Steam wraps around me as I step into the shower, the hot water hitting my skin. At first, it feels like heaven, washing off my fear and exhaustion. But then I look down, and my stomach lurches.
The water isn't clear.
It's pink, tinged with blood.
The image of the vampire's hollow eyes flashes in my head, and I instantly flinch, my breath catching in my throat.
It's not your fault, I tell myself. You didn't have a choice.
Still, the guilt presses against my chest like a boulder. I close my eyes, trying to shove the memory into the farthest corner of my mind.
When I finally step out, my reflection in the mirror barely looks like me. My eyes are swollen and red-rimmed, my lips pale. But there's something else there too, a new spark.
I pull on one of Kaziel's oversized shirts from the drawer. It swallows me whole, smelling faintly of him. Comforting, in a way that makes my heart ache.
By the time I make it downstairs, a delicious smell hits my nose. My stomach growls so loudly that I nearly wince.
Kaziel's at the kitchen island, sleeves rolled up, a pan sizzling on the stove. He looks up when he hears me and gives me a soft smile.
"Smells incredible," I mumble, sliding onto a stool. "If this is your plan to make me forget about being kidnapped, it's kind of working."
That earns me a soft chuckle from him.
He sets a plate in front of me containing steak, mashed potatoes, and a swirl of sauce that smells sinful.
I don't even wait for him to sit. The first bite hits my tongue, and I swear my soul leaves my body.
"Oh my god," I mumble through a mouthful. "Marry me."
Kaziel raises a brow. "You're already my mate, dove."
"Yeah, but now you're husband material, hot stuff. You can cook."
I'm shoveling food into my mouth faster than my dignity can catch up, barely pausing to breathe. When I glance up, Kaziel's just staring at me, that worried look still hovering over his features. His hands are folded on the counter, his knuckles tight.
"What?" I ask, frowning. "You're judging me, aren't you?"
He shakes his head slowly. "No. I'm just... making sure you're okay."
I force a smile and stab another piece of steak. "I'm fine. Great, actually. Too busy falling in love with this sauce to have a breakdown."
But he doesn't look convinced. His eyes linger a little too long, as if he can see past my fake smile.
By the time I'm done, the plate is clean, embarrassingly so. I drop the fork with a satisfied groan, leaning back in the chair. "If I die right now, just bury me with a bowl of that sauce," I mutter, patting my stomach.
Kaziel's lips twitch, but the smile doesn't reach his eyes. He's quiet for a while, watching me, his fingers drumming softly against the counter.
Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he says,
"Tell me, dove. What happened?"
My throat tightens instantly, and the air around me feels heavier.
I open my mouth, but the moment I meet his gaze, it all comes undone.
The smell of blood. The laughter. The fear. The heat burning beneath my skin. The sound of my own screaming.
It all crashes back in one wave that tears right through me.
"I—" I choke out, my voice cracking. "They took me... I couldn't—he hit me—and I—"
The rest don't make it out. The sobs come before the words can. Ugly, uncontrollable, shaking sobs that rip through my chest like something feral trying to claw its way out.
The next thing I know, he's kneeling in front of me, pulling me into his arms. His warmth envelops me instantly, his hand cradling the back of my head.
"Shh, sweetheart," he whispers into my hair. "You're safe now. No one's ever touching you again."
I clutch at his shirt like I'm drowning, my tears soaking through the fabric. "I killed him," I manage to gasp between sobs. "I didn't mean to—I just—he tried to—"
His arms tighten around me, and his voice turns low and fierce. "He deserved worse for what he did. Do you hear me? Worse."
I shake my head weakly, guilt twisting in my gut. "There was so much blood, Kaziel... I didn't even feel like me."
He pulls back just enough to cup my face, his thumb brushing away tears that won't stop falling. "That wasn't you, dove. That was your wolf protecting you. Don't you ever apologize for surviving."
The way he says it makes something inside me crumble completely.
So I just let go.
I bury my face in his chest and sob until I'm a wreck.
By the time the tears finally stop, I'm trembling in his arms in exhaustion. Kaziel brushes his lips against my temple.
"Come on, sweetheart," he whispers, his voice husky and warm.
Before I can protest, he lifts me in bridal style. My head lolls against his shoulder as he carries me up the stairs, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my cheek calming the storm inside me.
He nudges the bedroom door open with his foot, setting me gently on the bed. I blink up at him, dazed, my fingers still tugging at his shirt.
Kaziel hesitates for half a second before sitting beside me, brushing a damp strand of hair from my face. His touch is so gentle it almost hurts.
"Rest," he murmurs.
But I don't want him to leave. My hand finds his wrist, and I whisper, barely audibly, "Stay."
He lies down beside me, drawing me into his warmth.
I curl against him instinctively, my head resting on his chest.
For a long moment, neither of us speaks. His fingers trace idle patterns down my arm. Then his hand cups my jaw, tilting my face toward his.
The kiss he gives me isn't urgent. It's soft, tender, and passionate. I close my eyes, kissing him slowly. His lips are soft against mine, his kisses comforting.
When we part, his forehead rests against mine.
"I've got you, dove," he murmurs, his thumb brushing my lower lip. "You're safe with me."
A tiny, fragile smile tugs at my mouth. "I know."
His arms tighten around me, and as my eyelids grow heavier, the last thing I feel is the warmth of his breath against my hair and the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear.
I must've drifted. The next thing I know, I hear a deep voice in my mind.
"Over here, baby girl."
My eyes fly open, a gasp tumbling out of my lips. It's dark in here. Where am I? I was just—
"Over here," the voice repeats itself, and I whirl around to see the elderly man from before.
He flashes me an eerie smile. "Hi there."