Chapter 195 My Angel | 088

Chapter 195 My Angel | 088
DANIKA

My heart is racing as I step into my son’s house. It is too quiet. I’d been half asleep when his call came through earlier. He’d been coughing, barely able to breathe. And I panicked. Because I know him. If his condition was bad enough for him to call me, it meant that he feared that he was dying.

Behind me, Kaziel closes the door with barely a sound, his powerful frame tense and silent. I can feel the storm building in him even without looking. My strong, steady husband is afraid. I can see it on his face now.

"I smell blood," he tells me. “A lot of it.”

My heart sinks.

I don't hesitate. I hurry up the stairs, my pulse thundering in my ears. Old memories flash: a little boy scraping his knees, crying for me, reaching out with tiny arms. But this... this is not a scraped knee.

This is my grown son, and whatever is happening is far, far worse.

I push the bedroom door open, and the sight before me steals the breath from my lungs.

Azren lies curled on the floor beside the bed like a wounded child, one hand still loosely clutching his phone. His dark hair is damp with sweat, clinging to his unnaturally pale face.

Blood stains the floor beneath him in ugly smears, trailing across the sheets where he must have dragged himself.

His breathing is too fragile.

"Oh, my baby..." I cry out, terrified beyond measure.

I rush forward and drop to my knees beside him, my hands hovering for a moment, scared that even the gentlest touch might shatter him.

My powerful son, the one everyone fears and respects, looks so small and fragile right now that it tears my heart in two.

Kaziel is beside me in an instant, crouching low, his expression turning dangerously still as he takes in the blood and the way Azren's body trembles with every weak breath.

"Azren," he calls softly, reaching out to touch his shoulder.

Azren stirs with a faint sound. His eyes flutter open, glassy and unfocused. When they finally find me, a trace of recognition breaks through the haze.

"M... Mum...?" His voice is barely a whisper, cracked and desperate.

The relief in that single word shatters me completely.

"I'm here, sweetheart," I whisper, my hand moving instantly to cradle his fever-hot cheek. His skin burns against my palm, damp and frightening. "Mummy's right here."

His lips part, but before he can speak, a violent cough rips through him. His whole body jerks, and fresh blood spills from his mouth onto the floor.

"Oh, Moon Goddess..." I whimper.

Kaziel swears under his breath and quickly supports Azren's shoulders so he doesn't choke. I brush my trembling fingers through my son's damp hair, trying to soothe him.

"It hurts..." Azren rasps, the words so weak they barely reach me.

"I know, baby. I know it hurts," I say, my voice thick with the tears I refuse to let fall in front of him. "Just breathe for me, my love. Mummy's got you."

The runes pulse angrily under his shirt.

"What happened?" My husband asks, his brows furrowed.

Azren's breathing hitches. "Just... started getting worse... Noelle tried... to help... with her Light..."

My stomach drops.

The clash is probably destroying him. And if even Noelle’s light couldn’t help—

Speaking of my sweet girl, where is she?

I look around, but there’s no sign of her.

Azren shifts weakly, his fingers twitching. "Noelle...?"

"She's not here right now, sweetheart," I say softly, stroking his hair. "But she'll be back soon. I promise."

His brow creases in distress. "Don't... tell her... I scared her earlier..."

Even now, in this much pain, he is thinking of her. My chest aches fiercely.

"You didn't scare her, my darling," I comfort him. "She loves you so much. Just rest now."

Another cough shakes him, painting his lips with blood. Kaziel's grip tightens, and I see the first flash of raw grief in his eyes as he truly realizes how much pain our son has been carrying alone.

My husband, who has always been Azren's unshakeable rock, looks devastated. His jaw clenches harder, but his eyes... they glisten with unshed tears as the weight of Azren's suffering sinks in.

He has underestimated how deeply the runes have been tormenting him.

I reach out and squeeze Kaziel's arm briefly, letting him know I see his grief, that I feel it too.

We work together to lift Azren carefully onto the bed. He is so limp in his father's strong arms, his head falling heavily against Kaziel's shoulder like he did when he was a little boy.

My heart twists at the sight.

Once he is settled against the pillows, I sit beside him immediately, taking his cold hand in both of mine. His fingers are icy despite the fever raging through him.

"My sweet boy..." I whisper, brushing my thumb tenderly over his knuckles. "You've been carrying this all by yourself, haven't you?"

His eyes flutter open again, barely. "Mum...?"

"I'm right here, baby. Right here."

His grip tightens weakly around my fingers. "...don't let them... hurt her..." he breathes, his voice fading. "The Corps... they're going to..."

"I won't let anyone hurt her," I promise softly. "And I won't let them take you from me either. You're safe with us now."

He relaxes slightly at my words, the tension in his face easing just a little. His eyes drift closed again as exhaustion pulls him under.

But I cannot look away.

“I’ll kill them. All of them,” my husband growls, trembling with rage.

I know he means it. But that can’t happen. I fear…I fear there will only be chaos. And my poor son has lived in chaos all his life. He needs peace.

“We have to find a way to get rid of the runes first, hotstuff. If we don’t, we’ll…lose him either way." My voice cracks, a tear rolling down my face.

I let out a sob, and Kaziel hugs me, kissing the top of my head.

“Don’t cry, dove. We’ll find a way.”

Azren's breathing suddenly grows worse. His fingers twitch every few seconds, his body still fighting an invisible war even in sleep.

Kaziel releases me, and I sit beside our son, holding his hand.

Fresh blood stains the corner of his mouth as he coughs, his lashes fluttering.

"He's deteriorating," I whisper, my voice tight with worry.

"I can take some of it," Kaz says, his voice strained.

I look up at him, worried. "You're sure?"

He nods, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

"I won't take all of it. Just enough to give him some peace."

Azren's breathing hitches again, and that decides everything.

"Do it," I whisper.

Kaziel sits carefully. His large hand hovers over our son's chest for a moment before pressing down gently.

Azren stirs weakly. "Dad...?"

"I'm here, son," Kaziel replies gently. "Let me help you."

Azren's glassy eyes soften with faint relief before pain tightens his features again. "...hurts..."

"I know," his father says softly. "I've got you."

He closes his eyes.

The air shifts as silver light blooms beneath his palm, spreading slowly across Azren's chest. The runes glow in protest, pulsing angrily.

Azren gasps, his body tensing.

"It's okay, sweetheart," I whisper, squeezing his hand.

Kaziel exhales slowly, drawing the pain into himself.

I watch as his broad shoulders stiffen. A deep line forms between his brows. Sweat beads on his temples.

His hand begins to tremble faintly as he absorbs wave after wave of what Azren has been enduring.

My heart breaks for both of them.

"That's enough," I say softly, concerned.

He shakes his head. "Just... a little more..."

Azren lets out a weak, shaky breath.

Kaziel finally pulls his hand away, the glow fading.

He leans back, breathing heavier, his jaw tight as he fights to contain the transferred agony. I reach out and rest my hand on his arm, feeling the tension rolling off him in waves.

"Are you alright?" I ask, my voice shaking.

He gives me a strained nod. "I've had worse."

But I know better. If he could take it all, he would.

Azren shifts weakly on the bed. His breathing is still uneven, but the edge of pain has softened. His eyes flutter open, looking between us in faint confusion.

"...what did you... do...?" he whispers.

"Nothing," Kaziel says, though his voice is thick with pain.

Azren frowns weakly. "...you're lying..."

A soft, loving smile tugs at my lips despite everything.

Still so stubborn. Still so much like his father.

"You needed help, my darling," I whisper softly, stroking his hair. "And we are here to give it."

Azren stares at his father for a long moment. Emotions flash across his pale face.

"...sorry..." he breathes faintly.

"There is nothing to be sorry for," I whisper, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to his forehead. "You are our son. We love you more than anything."

His grip on my hand loosens as exhaustion finally pulls him under. This time, his face relaxes into something closer to peace.

I keep brushing slow circles across his knuckles, watching over him like I did when he was a newborn.

"Rest now, sweetheart," I whisper softly.

Kaziel glances at me, his blue eyes stormy.

“Try calling Noelle. Something is off,” he says, and my stomach knots hard, fear creeping in.