Chapter 82 Eighty Two
KAZIEL
I watch Danika as she loosens the cuff around my arm. The one Callen had left behind in his hurry to leave the room. She folds it and places the digital sphygmomanometer in its box. Then she leans over to place it on the nightstand. And it's taking me every inch of concentration to not grab her and follow my animalistic instincts.
The fever burns through me in waves. It's not just heat, it's hunger. A deep, gnawing pull under my skin that tightens every nerve. My core pulses erratically, as if it's trying to tear its way out of my chest.
And my cock—
Gods.
I'm painfully hard, pressed uselessly against the inside of my sweatpants.
Dani kneels on the bed in front of me, her hands on my shoulders. She doesn't even flinch. Her courage is truly admirable.
"I know," she whispers. "I know it hurts."
I suck in a shaky breath through my teeth, my fingers digging into the blanket to keep them from grabbing her.
"Don't," I rasp. "Don't touch me like that."
Her brows knit together, but she nods immediately. "Okay. I won't."
"I'm sorry," I grit out. "I didn't mean—"
"I know," she says softly. "You don't have to apologize."
My laugh comes out pained. "Feels like I should."
She shifts closer, until she's sitting between my knees, but still not touching anywhere dangerous. Her palm settles over my sternum instead, right above my core.
The moment she touches me, the ache spikes frantically. I groan, my head falling back.
"Kaz," she says gently. "Stay with me. Look at me."
I force my eyes open. Her gaze is steady. So fucking calm it makes my chest hurt.
"Relax," she whispers. "You're doing so good."
Good?
I don't feel good.
My cock throbs painfully, like it's punishing me for every second of restraint. My whole body shakes, sweat rolling down my spine.
I feel like a fucking animal. My hips twitch involuntarily and I swear under my breath, humiliation washing over me.
"I'm so hard," I choke. "It hurts. Fuck, Dani—"
"I know," she repeats softly. "I'll make you feel better, I promise."
She takes off her shirt, and those round tits bounce right in my face, her pretty nipples calling for my attention. Shit. I blow out a breath, biting my lower lip.
"Dani," I rasp, terrified.
"I want you to choose. Would you rather let me tie you up? Or are you okay without that? Cuz I'm going to let you fuck my mouth."
My cock pulses dangerously in response.
"Dani, don't say that," I beg.
She holds her hand to her tits and my mouth goes dry. I can't believe she's doing this. This...this isn't the right time for this. A girl just got murdered...
Wait...
Danika's head is lowered. She's not even looking me in the eye. Is she trying to distract herself with this? My chest squeezes painfully. Fuck. I should've known. She's crying now, wiping her tears with the back of her palm and that's enough to keep me as sober as possible.
I reach out to place a hand on her lap.
"Hey," I murmur. "Look at me."
She tries to wipe her cheeks, embarrassed. "I'm fine, I just—"
"No," I say gently but unyielding. "You're not."
"I thought if I—if I helped you—maybe—" Her voice cracks. "I don't know. I just wanted everything to stop being so chaotic."
I pull her forehead to mine, ignoring my instincts.
"You don't have to do that," I whisper.
She lets out a small, wrecked sob, her hands curling into my shirt like she's drowning.
"I saw her face," she chokes. "She was right there, Kaz. And then she was just—gone."
"I know," I murmur, stroking her hair slowly. "I know, dove."
"But I need this, please. Can we just do it once?" Dani whispers in a small voice. Oh shit.
She grinds her ass on my aching cock, peeking up at me through wet lashes.
"Dani..."
"Please?" She blinks, rolling her hips, and my restraint breaks. In a blink of an eye, I've switched our positions, my lips crashing against hers. She spreads her legs wide, and I lean back on my knees. A groan rumbles from my chest as I reach for the waistband of my pants.
"I... I'll be careful," I whisper, almost to myself. "We do this... but you have to tell me if it's too much."
...
Hours later, I slide out of bed with painstaking slowness, careful not to wake Dani up. Her skin still glows in the dim moonlight, her hair fanned across the pillow. I brush a fingertip across her temple, pressing a kiss there, then I settle her under the blanket, tugging it around her shoulders.
She stirs slightly, murmuring in her sleep, and I smile. My body still aches, but I push through it nonetheless, slipping on my clothes.
I leave the room, stepping into the sitting room where Kira and Callen are waiting. They rise instinctively, tension radiating off them, but I gesture for them to sit.
I lower myself onto the couch, still feeling the burn of heat and the residual tremor from earlier. Callen clears his throat.
"How are you feeling?" he asks.
"A little better," I rasp, my voice hoarse.
Callen's expression tightens. "Your blood pressure was very high. It may be a sign the Hollow is returning."
I glance at Kira. "What do you think?"
She exhales slowly. "I think he's right. I've been monitoring your energy fluctuations... it's consistent with the Hollow stirring again."
I close my eyes briefly, letting the exhale escape in a low hiss. "Alright... give me a report on Vanya's activities."
Kira leans forward, her hands still clasped in her lap. "She's been preparing for a ritual, stationing vampires around an abandoned warehouse outside the city. Multiple wards, magical traps... she's methodical."
Callen frowns. "Is it possible that Ember and Vanya are working together on this?"
I shake my head slowly. "No. Impossible. Vanya wants my body. Ember wants Danika's vessel power. Their goals don't intersect...yet."
Kira nods in agreement. "Exactly. I've cross-checked their energy signatures. They're operating independently."
I run a hand over my face. "Good. Now, keep monitoring. Every second counts. I want updates if anything moves, shifts, or activates. We cannot afford mistakes."
Callen hesitates, watching me closely. "Alpha... your core. It's still unstable. Pushing it too far could provoke the Hollow further. You need rest—"
"I'll manage," I tell him. My body is screaming for an escape, for Dani's touch again, but I can't indulge right now. Not when the threat is so close.
Kira tilts her head. "If the Hollow resurfaces fully, it could compromise your decision-making. Be careful, Alpha. Please, don't exert yourself."
I nod. "Understood. Keep me informed."
Callen exhales sharply. "And your fever..."
"I'll handle it," I murmur, though every nerve in my body screams otherwise. I can feel the Hollow already stirring faintly.
I glance at Kira, meeting her eyes. "Prepare the surveillance team. Lock down every approach to the warehouse. I want all vampire placements confirmed and wards doubled."
She inclines her head. "Already in motion. Nothing will slip by."
I close my eyes, leaning back against the couch. I have to keep Danika safe no matter what. And that means I have to start getting rid of every potential threat.
My phone suddenly vibrates against the couch cushion, piercing through my thoughts. I frown, already guessing it's not good.
Before I can reach for it, Kira vanishes with her signature flash of light and reappears beside me in a second, holding an ice pack.
"Here," she murmurs.
I manage a weak smile, taking it from her trembling hands. I press it to the back of my neck, feeling the icy sting contrast with the fever roaring through my body.
"Thanks..." I sigh.
I hold the pack there for a moment, letting the cold seep into my skin. My head swims slightly, dizziness teasing the edges of my vision. Then I slide a hand over to my phone and answer the call.
"Hello, Kaziel," a familiar voice speaks, and I stiffen.
Vanya.
It's the same voice that has haunted my nightmares lately. For the first time since she came back to life as a vampire, I hear her again. Her tone is soft and teasing, but the underlying menace is not lost on me.
I'd expected myself to get mad or feel an intense wave of fury. But I feel absolutely nothing.
"I've missed you," she whispers.
I grip the phone tighter, my knuckles white.
"What do you want?" I deadpan, curious about what kind of game she's playing now.
She laughs softly, and I blink. Is something funny?
"You know exactly what I want, Kaziel," she says, venom dripping through every syllable.
"Go straight to the point, Vanya."
She exhales. "I've sent you an address, love. I'd like to see you there tonight."
The line goes dead, and I stare at my phone, fire burning in my guts. The nerve of this bitch.