Chapter 86 Eighty Six
DANIKA
My heart races in anticipation or is it anxiety? I'm not sure. Vanya grabs the fallen knife again, her hands shaking so hard it's a miracle she doesn't drop it. Kaziel grabs her wrist and brings the knife to her throat.
"You think killing me fixes anything?" she spits weakly. "The cult will still exist. Others will come—"
"I know," he replies. "And they'll learn what it means to be at the receiving end of my wrath. It will be their last lesson before they perish."
And with a slow, ruthless motion, he digs the blade into her throat, cutting it open while she gags and chokes on her own blood. I look away, wincing. It feels like forever before the sounds finally stop.
I turn back, but her body's not there anymore. Only a black pile of dust.
Kaziel rises slowly, his eyes reverting to their normal blue. He stares at me for a moment, perhaps gauging my reaction.
He's probably bracing himself for revulsion, fear, and doubt. I don't give him any of that.
Instead, I step into his space and grab the front of his shirt, pulling him down to me and kissing him hard, right there in the middle of the ruined warehouse.
I pull back just enough to look at him, a small smile tugging at my lips.
"You're staring," I point out. "Are you checking to see if I'm freaked out?"
His jaw flexes. "A little," he admits in a low voice. "I just killed someone in front of you."
"So?" I say, then I kiss him again, slower this time. When I pull away, I meet his gaze steadily. "I saw a man protecting his family."
For a second, he just looks at me like I've knocked the air out of his lungs. And then his gaze softens.
"I love you, dove," he whispers.
Behind us, there's a soft, mortified sound. I glance over my shoulder. Nina is standing there, eyes wide, cheeks burning red as she very pointedly stares at the floor.
"Oh—!" I clear my throat, heat creeping up my own face. "Sorry."
Kaziel lets out a soft huff of laughter. He rubs a hand over his face, then he gently squeezes my hand.
"I think," he says, "that's our cue to leave."
I nod, turning fully towards Nina. I crouch in front of her again, keeping my voice soft. "Hey. Are you okay to walk?"
She nods quickly. "Y-yes."
She shyly peeks up at Kaziel.
"Thank you," she whispers again.
He inclines his head. "You're safe now."
Together we head out of the warehouse. I've never felt so relieved. There are definitely bigger threats out there. But right now, we have one less enemy to worry about.
...
The Next Day,
Tyler looks like a ghost of the boy I grew up with.
He stands in the doorway, hands shoved into the pockets of an oversized hoodie. His shoulders are slumped like he's carrying a burden too heavy for his frame. He's lost so much weight it's actually frightening. His cheeks are hollow, his jaw too sharp. Even his skin is pale, almost grey. And his hair... is gone. Buzzed down to nothing.
My chest tightens painfully.
"Ty..." I whisper.
He flashes me a lopsided smile. The same smile he used to give me when we were kids. "Hey, Cakes."
I'm on him before I even realize I've moved, wrapping my arms around him carefully. He feels...fragile. Gently, he hugs me back.
When we pull apart, Kaziel is already hovering nearby, watchful and tense. He clears his throat.
"Water? Juice?" he asks me, not once looking at Tyler.
"I'm fine," I smile, still staring at my friend.
Kaziel nods stiffly and leaves the room. We sit on the couch side by side. There's an awkward space between us. But then, Tyler chuckles softly.
"Remember when we tried to build that treehouse?" he asks.
I huff a watery laugh. "You mean the one that collapsed because you swore one nail was enough?"
"It was enough," he argues weakly. "The tree was just dramatic."
"You broke your arm," I remind him.
"And you cried harder than I did," he says, smiling a little wider now.
We talk about everything and nothing. About scraped knees and stolen cookies. About how he used to walk me home even when it made him late. About the time we promised we'd never let anyone hurt each other.
Every word feels like an uneasy goodbye.
Kaziel keeps passing through the room, placing a glass of water on the table, adjusting a cushion, and asking me softly if I'm okay. He never acknowledges Tyler. Not once. Tyler notices this, but he doesn't comment.
At some point, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a thin leather bracelet. It's simple, with a tiny silver charm shaped like a star. Gently, he presses it into my palm.
"I was going to give this to you a long time ago," he says. "I just... never found the right moment."
My throat tightens. "Tyler—"
"Wear it," he says gently. "So you'll remember me when I'm gone."
I shake my head, panic-stricken. "Don't say that. I can help you. You know I can. We'll figure something out, okay?"
He looks down, his jaw tightening.
"A coward like me doesn't deserve your help," he says softly.
"That's not true," I protest, tears rolling down. "You're not a coward."
"Besides, your sanctum energy can't help me if I'm already dead," he breathes and blood drains from my face.
"What are you talking about? You're right here, aren't you?!" I cry and he smiles weakly.
"I have to go."
"What? Why?" I scramble to my feet. "You just got here."
"I've got a... last date," he says, forcing out a smile.
My heart sinks. "With who?"
He doesn't answer. He just looks at me with something like longing, regret, and love all tangled together.
"Take care of yourself, Cakes," he says.
Then he turns and walks out the door. But he doesn't shut it. A cold draft wafts in and I shiver, goosebumps spreading across my skin.
I stand there for a long moment, shaking, before I notice the folded paper on the coffee table.
My breath catches in my throat. I unfold it with trembling fingers. The sight of Tyler's pretty handwriting makes my throat constrict.
————
Dani,
I'm sorry.
I got swayed for a moment. I really did. The truth is... the reason I came to see you today wasn't just to say goodbye.
They promised me you'd live. That even after the sacrifice, you'd survive. They said they would overwrite your memories. You'd think you'd always been in love with me. That we grew up and chose each other.
And I would get the cure.
For a moment, I wanted it. I wanted to be selfish. I wanted to live.
But then I saw you. And I remembered who you are. And I realized the only thing I could still do right... was leave.
Forgive me.
—Tyler
————
The paper slips from my fingers. I sink onto the couch, a sob ripping out of me as the weight of it all crashes down. Kaziel is there instantly, pulling me into his chest. He picks up the paper, reading it as I cry in his arms.
"He was going to take you?" he asks calmly, fury bubbling under his tone.
I nod weakly.
"But he didn't," I whisper. "He didn't."
Kaziel presses a kiss to my hair.
"He doesn't want to be saved," I cry. "It's all my fault, Kaz."
My mate sighs, holding me close.
"It's not," he murmurs. "None of this is on you."
I don't answer. My chest feels too tight, like there's a fist wrapped around my heart, squeezing. Tyler's note is still crumpled in Kaziel's hand when my phone suddenly starts ringing.
I don't know why dread curls in my stomach even before I grab my phone off the coffee table.
The screen lights up. My breath catches in my throat. "It's... it's my dad."
Kaziel nods once. "Answer it."
I do.
"Dad?" I croak.
For a second there's only static noise and heavy breathing like someone who's been running for his life. Then his voice comes through, strained and hoarse.
"D-Dani... baby... listen to me."
My blood ices over in my veins.
"You sound—" I swallow hard. "You sound like you're hurt."
He lets out a hoarse laugh, followed immediately by a cough that sounds wet and wrong. "There’s no time for that. I—I don't think I've got much time at all."
Kaziel's arm tightens around me, keeping me upright.
"Don't say that," I beg. "Where are you? I'll come get you. Kaz can—"
"No," he cuts in, his breath hitching. "No, sweetheart. You can't come here. You need to stay away. Especially from Ember."
My heart plummets into my gut.
"Dad," I whisper, tears blurring my vision. "Please. You're scaring me."
"I know, baby girl," he says softly. "I just needed to hear your voice one last time. Needed to know you're alive and safe."
A horrible realization sinks into my bones.
"You're saying goodbye," I choke.
He exhales shakily. "Yeah. Guess I am."
"No," I sob. "You can’t do that."
"I tried, Dani." His voice drops, turning fond. "Listen to me. Hold on to Kaziel. You hear me? Don't push him away because of guilt or fear. That man would burn everything down for you."
Kaziel looks away, his throat bobbing.
"And," my foster dad adds, "if after all this... that demon doesn't put a ring on your finger and marry you properly—"
Kaziel stiffens.
"I'm haunting him," my dad finishes breathlessly. "Relentlessly. I'll knock books off shelves. Whisper at night. Ruin his sleep for centuries."
Despite everything, I let out a laugh even through my tears. "Dad—"
"I mean it," he says. "I like him. But I like you more."
There's a sudden noise on the line.
"Dani," he says urgently. "You have to remember…no matter what Ember tells you, you can’t show up—"
Something slams in the background.
"Dad?" I gasp. "Dad?!"
He inhales sharply as if the wind's been knocked out of him. "I love you, baby girl."
A loud crash explodes through the phone. Then the line goes dead.