Chapter 46 Forty Six
DANIKA
Music booms in the club, the flashy lights making my head spin. I had been unsettled about coming here tonight. But Cora had convinced me to come. It was my only friend's birthday after all. I've never been to a club before; therefore, everything feels...too much.
Cora hurries over to our booth with colored drinks that may contain alcohol. I've only ever tasted alcohol once. And it was a tiny sip during the orientation party. Maybe this is what I need after days of intense pressure.
"Alright, girls! Our drinks are here!" She pipes.
"Here's yours, bestie," Cora tells me, handing me a layered colored drink. "Tequila sunrise for you."
She winks at me, and I beam, even though I have no idea what that means.
I lift my glass uncertainly but take a sip when everyone else does. The sweet, tangy liquid coats my tongue, and a slow warmth begins to spread through my chest. It's... not bad. Maybe a little too good.
Within minutes, the music, the laughter, and the lights all start to blend together. The edges of my nerves soften. I can actually breathe.
"Truth or dare?" one of the girls—Maya—calls out, leaning forward with a mischievous grin.
"Oh, we're doing that already?" Cora smirks, tossing her dyed blue hair back.
"Absolutely. Birthday girl gets to start."
Cora points at the girl beside her. "Truth or dare?"
"Dare," the girl says boldly.
Cora grins wickedly. "Kiss Zoe."
Everyone screams and laughs as the two girls lean in, giggling before their lips meet in a quick, daring kiss. The booth erupts in cheers. My eyes widen, my face heating up.
Then, Maya's gaze shifts to me. "Alright, Dani's turn. Truth or dare?"
I hesitate, glancing at Cora for rescue, but she just smirks, clearly waiting to see what I'll do.
"Dare," I say before I can overthink it.
Maya's smile widens like a cat that's just spotted prey. "Go to the dance floor... and get it."
My brows furrow. "Get what?"
"It, babe. A dance. A moment. A man."
The girls giggle, clinking their glasses. I let out a nervous laugh, the buzz from the tequila mixing with the thudding beat.
"Oh, come on, Dani," Cora teases, nudging me. "You've been cooped up for days. Live a little!"
The lights flash pink and blue across her face, and suddenly, the idea doesn't seem so terrifying. Maybe it's the drink talking. Maybe it's the music. Maybe it's the fact that I'm tired of always being careful.
Before I can change my mind, I slide out of the booth. The floor vibrates beneath my feet as I make my way to the center of the dance floor. Bodies move everywhere in a blur of color and heat.
I let the rhythm take me. Just a little sway, a little movement. My heart is pounding, but it's not from fear anymore. It's from adrenaline. This feels so good. Like I'm floating on clouds. Not cloud nine, though. Only Kaziel can take me there. My cheeks heat up at the thought of the way he fucks me with his tongue. I sway harder, closing my eyes as I slide my hands down my hips. I can almost feel his presence there, his whisper in my ear.
That's when I feel it. A familiar presence behind me. I open my eyes with a gasp, but before I can turn, a hand slides around my waist.
My breathing quickens.
"Don't scream," comes a low, ragged rasp in my ear.
I freeze. That voice...no. It can't be.
"Tyler?" I whisper, spinning halfway before his grip tightens, pulling me flush against him.
He's trembling. His chest is heaving against my back. I can perceive the faint smell of blood under his cologne.
My heart plummets. "Oh my God—Tyler, what—"
"Just... play along," he mutters, his voice shaking. "They're watching."
I swallow, my heart going into overdrive. To anyone watching, it looks like a slow dance. But up close, I can feel the heat of his blood soaking through his shirt.
He leans in closer, his breath harsh near my ear. "I didn't know where else to go."
"Who's watching?" I whisper, trying not to move my lips too obviously.
He exhales shakily, his forehead pressing into my shoulder. "They've been following me for hours. I thought I lost them... guess I was wrong."
My mind spins. This is the same guy who disappeared from the clinic after collapsing on me.
My former best friend who's terminal.
And now he's bleeding out in a club, pressed against me, pretending to dance.
"How bad is it?" I ask, my voice trembling.
"Bad enough," he murmurs. "But I just need to stay upright. I'll leave soon."
I tighten my hold, my pulse racing. "You're insane for coming here. How did you even find me?"
"It was luck, I guess. When I saw you here, I thought I was dreaming." He lets out a breath that sounds like a mixture of a laugh and a groan. "You've never been to a club before. Guess Kaziel doesn't care about that."
"Tyler—"
"Please," he cuts in, his voice ragged. "Just give me a minute. Let them think we're together."
His body shakes harder, and I realize he's losing too much blood. I tilt my head just slightly, whispering, "If you collapse, I'll scream. Don't you dare do that to me."
He exhales something close to a chuckle. "Still bossy."
"Still reckless," I snap softly.
The lights flash again, and he spins me around until we're locked in an embrace, and for a brief second, his eyes catch the light. They look fevered and desperate.
Tyler hides his face against my shoulder again, and I feel the wetness of blood against my skin.
I can't even process what this will look like to anyone watching.
Despite myself, I help him out of the club thirty minutes later. Apparently, he's got a friend waiting for him, but he can't walk on his own. I really want to ask questions. But I decide not to. He can do whatever he likes. I simply don't care. Except...I actually care.
Once we're at the parking lot, my gaze rests on a familiar person dressed in red leather thigh highs, a matching mini skirt, and a cropped jacket. Her cleavage is on full display since she's wearing nothing under the jacket. It's her.
Hera.
The sight of her makes my skin prickle. Something about her always feels wrong.
She smirks at me, cocking her head, her large earrings swaying.
"Look who's here again. Little miss cutie," she drawls, but I don't react. The last thing I would do is give her that satisfaction.
Her gaze roves over Tyler before resting on me.
"I wonder what your man would do if he found you like this with another man," she smirks, and I frown in annoyance. But just before I can say anything, Tyler is ripped from me and flung across the park. He slams into the wall and slides down, leaving a trail of blood, unmoving. A scream tears out of me, and I whirl around to see...
"Oh my god, Kaziel," I breathe, horrified. His eyes are pitch black, with black claws elongating from his fingers. His veins pulse dark under his skin, crawling up his neck like living shadows. He's shaking with anger, and the mere sight of him sends my heart jackhammering.
"Kaziel, please...this is not what it looks like. Tyler needs—"
"Don't you dare say his name," he growls, but it's not fully his voice. It's deeper and warped. More like three voices in one.
Hera chuckles behind us.
"There he is. The monster hidden under his fake civility."
I can't breathe. I've never seen him look so terrifying.
Hera sashays to her red car, and I panic.
"Wait, what are you doing?! Take him with you!" I say, my voice shaky.
"You should tame your monster first. He looks like he's about to riot," she responds, and I glance at Tyler's unmoving form. A small pool of blood is forming under him.
Despite our differences, I can't... I can't let him die like this. It will be such a miserable and painful death.
"This isn't you," I say to my mate, but his eyes stay emotionless.
"Kaziel, please—" He's in front of me before I know it, his hand closing around my wrist.
"No, wait!" I cry, struggling against his grip as he starts to drag me away. His claws dig into my flesh, and I cry out in pain. He suddenly halts, his body tensing as he turns to look at me.
I wait for him to apologize, but he doesn't. Instead, he scoops me off my feet and tosses me over his shoulder.
What is wrong with him?!
"Kaziel, no!" I scream, pounding my fists against his back, but he doesn't even budge. He keeps walking. Tyler's body suddenly twitches. Then he begins to seize, blood oozing from his nose.
I'm screaming and crying, barely keeping up with the frantic words tumbling from my lips. But he simply shoves me into the passenger seat of the car. And before I can run out, he's suddenly seated in the driver's seat. Then he pulls out of the parking lot. Right in that moment, I can hear the sound of my own heart breaking.