Chapter 37 Thirty Seven
DANIKA
The moment Kaziel and I arrive back at his property, he turns to face me.
"Dove, what—"
I don't let him finish, I grab his hand and pull him towards the house. He doesn't argue. He lets me lead him into the house past the sitting room and up the stairs. When we're finally alone in his room, I release him, letting out a shaky breath.
"Your shirt..." I say, breathless. "Take it off."
A slight frown creases his brows but he doesn't ask any questions. He simply takes off his coat and blazer, his eyes fixed on me the entire time. My chest feels tighter as I watch him unbutton his black shirt. Finally, he slowly takes off his shirt, his muscles rippling with each movement.
Once he's shirtless, I move closer to him, running my hands over his chest and abs. Tears spring to my eyes when I feel the raised bumps and uneven skin under his tattoos. By the time I reach for his wrists, I can barely breathe.
Kaziel must've realized what I'm hunting for, he pulls his hand away from me, grabbing his shirt and sliding it back on.
"Sweetheart, what is this about?" He asks, his frown deepening.
"Those scars...how did you get them?" I ask, choking on a sob. Panic instantly flashes across his features.
"No, no, no, please don't cry," he says, his voice shaking as he cups my face, wiping my tears with steady hands.
I pull away, not wanting to be comforted.
"Tell me the truth, Kaziel. Please don't leave anything out," I croak.
His face twists with anguish and he takes a step away from me, gripping his hair.
"I don't...can we not talk about it? Hmm? Please?" His voice trembles with something strongly akin to fear.
My stomach rolls with nausea and I take another step backwards.
He's hiding something from me, isn't he?
Was Hera really telling the truth?
"Kaziel, I need to know—"
He shakes his head, moving backwards. His face has gone pale. He looks like he's going to throw up.
He holds his hands to his ears. "I...I can't."
Then he practically bolts into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
My knees give out, sending me crumbling to the floor, Hera's words replaying themselves in my head.
'You're only a means to an end. A means to his vengeance.'
Terrified, I rise to my feet, quickly grabbing my things.
What if everything has been a lie?
What if...he secretly hates me?
I've seen... I've seen what his temper looks like.
Maybe he's biding his time, preparing me like a lamb for slaughter.
With my heart in my throat, I hurry outside, nearly bumping into Aaron. I flinch, stepping aside.
"Luna? Where are you going?" He asks, alarmed.
"My apartment. I...I...uh...need to grab something," I lie, refusing to look him in the eye.
"It's pretty late. How about you wait—"
I shake my head quickly. "I need it now."
"Then, I should tell—"
"No!" I snap, storming past him. He curses under his breath, following after me. My heart races faster, my palms sweaty. I can't trust any member of Kaziel's pack. I can't trust anyone.
"Let me at least drive you, please," Aaron pleads, hurrying after me.
Clenching my jaw, I quickly blink my tears away. If accepting his offer will get him off my back. Fine, I'll take it. Five minutes later, I'm in his car, and he's driving me home. I keep my face turned towards the window, clutching my tote bag. Silence hangs heavily between us for a while. But then he speaks.
"Luna, did you...have a fight with...Kaziel?" He asks, and I stiffen, tightening my hold on the bag.
"No, I told you, I just need something from my apartment. It's urgent," I reply, desperately hoping he doesn't notice the slight tremor in my voice.
"If you're running, Luna, he'll find you."
A shiver runs down my spine. Those words sound ominously like a threat.
My throat is too tight when I respond. "I'm not running."
His gaze flicks to me. "Then why does it feel like you are?"
I bite my lower lip, clutching my bag tighter. If he attacks me, will I be able to defend myself? I glance at him through the rearview mirror, taking in his calm expression.
I'm so antsy about everything that even his calmness is starting to feel off-putting.
When we arrive at my apartment, I knock on the door frantically, my heart threatening to jump out of my throat. The door opens. Amie stands there rubbing her eye. Her other eye goes wide when she takes in the sight of me.
"Dani! You're back," she grins, opening the door wider. Forcing out a smile, I slip into the house. I hurry past Amie and head into my room, slamming the door shut behind me. Then I lean against it, dragging in a deep breath.
Slowly, I slide down the door, the tears finally flowing. I clamp a hand over my mouth because my heart physically hurts. Being away from Kaziel...hurts.
What if I overreacted?
What if I'm doing exactly what Hera hoped I would do?
Still...what if…
Oh no, I'm losing my mind.
Trembling, I rise to my feet, locking the door. My phone vibrates in my bag, and I take it out to see that I'm getting a call from Kaziel.
Terrified, I switch it off and toss it on my bed. Then I reach for the zipper on my dress, halting by the mirror to stare at my reflection. The fear in my eyes is...haunting. I'm so pale, I would easily pass off as a ghost.
I shake my head, trying not to think about Kaziel or anything related to the supernatural.
"What I need is a long hot shower," I say, forcing myself to smile.
...
My stomach hurts. It's been hurting since this morning. I'd half expected Kaziel to randomly pop in my room. But he didn't, and I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel about that. I slept terribly last night, plagued by an extreme fear that had me shivering.
"Dani, you don't look so good," Cora tells me, and I force out a smile.
"It's probably just something I ate," I reply, my voice shaky.
We're both sitting in the lecture room after our fifth class for the day. I lower my head on the desk, wrapping an arm around my middle.
Suddenly, a light bulb flashes on in my head, and I'm struck by the mortifying realization that I'm supposed to be on my period today.
Blood drains from my face instantly.
Swallowing hard, I grab my bag and all of my things, rushing to the restroom.
Inside the restroom, I stand in front of the mirror, pressing a shaky hand against the counter for balance. Water drips from my face, my eyes slightly bloodshot. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself.
And then I glance over my shoulder.
My heart drops.
There's a dark stain blooming on the back of my jean skirt. Not big, but impossible to miss.
For a second, I just stare, frozen in absolute horror.
"Oh my god," I whisper, my voice cracking. "Oh my god."
I spin around fully, checking again as if maybe, maybe my eyes are lying to me. But no, there it is. Plain as day.
I'm on my period.
Oh no.
Normally, I'm so aware. I track my dates, I keep spares in every bag, and I'm always prepared, but this week? After everything that happened with Kaziel, with Hera, with that text... my mind's been a hurricane.
Of course I forgot.
I press both palms flat on the counter, trying to think, trying to breathe, but my hands won't stop trembling.
I reach for my bag, rummaging frantically—lip balm, phone, pen, charger—no pads, no tampons. Perfect.
My hands shake harder, and my phone slips from my grip. It hits the edge of the sink, bounces once, and then it lands right in the water.
I gasp, snatching it up immediately, but the screen flashes on, then it goes black.
"Seriously?!" I cry out, slapping my palm against the counter in frustration. "You've got to be kidding me!"
Water drips from the corners of the phone as I stare at my reflection again, wide-eyed.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
At the sound of approaching footsteps, my head jerks up.
Someone's coming.
Crap, crap, crap.
I scramble to grab my bag and hide the stain somehow, my hands still shaking when the door suddenly swings open...
...And a man walks in.
For a moment, my brain short-circuits. I blink rapidly, frozen in place. "H-hey—this is the girls' restroom," I stammer, my voice trembling.
He doesn't answer.
He just stands there in the doorway, tall, broad-shouldered, and unnervingly still.
"Did you hear me?" I demand, forcing my voice to sound steady even though fear prickles down my spine. "You're not supposed to—"
Then he looks up.
My breath catches in my throat. His eyes, which were once brown, change into a bright red. His fangs elongate, sliding past his lips, and his nostrils flare.
"You..." he breathes, his voice guttural. "You smell... divine."
Oh, God.
I stagger backwards until my hip collides with the counter. "Stay away from me," I whisper, my heart pounding so hard it hurts.
He takes a step forward, and then another.
"Please," I choke out, moving backwards. "Don't—"
He lunges.
A scream rips out of me as he slams into me, the impact knocking the air from my lungs. I shove at his chest, but he's too strong. His claws dig into my arm, tearing skin. White-hot pain explodes through me, and I cry out, clutching the bleeding wound.
He inhales sharply, almost shuddering in pleasure at the scent of my blood.
"Stop!" I scream, tears streaking down my cheeks as I twist, trying to push him off. Right then, the door flies open. And there he is. The man I've been running from. Kaziel.