Chapter 60 Sixty
KAZIEL
I can't do it. I can't face her like this. How can I?
"Kaz, breathe, you're shaking," Danika whispers, placing a hand on my chest. I can barely hear her over the roaring in my ears.
"I...I can't," I croak, struggling to push myself upright in bed.
"Should I ask her to leave, Alpha?" Kira asks softly. My heart sinks. How can I ask my own mother to leave? Fuck. This is...this is the worst possible timing. I can barely speak right or even move.
"Just say the word, babe. If you're not ready, you really don't have to see her. You need to rest," my mate tells me, rubbing my back.
I swallow past the lump in my throat, letting out a shaky breath.
"Clothes...help me grab them," I rasp, barely getting the words out.
"Okay, hold on," Dani whispers. Then she slips out of bed and heads to the closet. She returns shortly after, wearing one of my shirts and holding some casual clothes with her. I watch her as she lays the clothes beside me carefully.
"Arms up, Kaz," she utters, smiling softly.
My arms... they don't obey. Danika doesn't comment. She just moves closer and lifts the shirt in her hands.
"Let me," she whispers.
She eases the shirt over my head, guiding my arms through the sleeves as if I'm fragile glass. Her fingers graze my skin lightly, and it hits me how pathetic this must look.
I shut my eyes, groaning in frustration. It is disgusting how often she has to act as my caretaker.
"Hey," she says softly, already reading the shame on my face. "You're doing amazing."
A short humourless laugh slips out of me. "I can't even dress myself."
"You're alive," she replies. "That's enough."
My throat tightens. I can't speak.
Danika helps me lean forward and tug the shirt down fully. Then she grabs the sweatpants, kneels in front of me, and holds them open.
"I'll help you stand," she murmurs.
"I don't— Dani, I don't want you on the floor for me." My voice cracks. "Please."
She looks up at me, her eyes warm. "I'm here because I care deeply about you. You've had to look after me when I couldn't do anything for myself. This is me doing the same. Except I'm not strong enough to carry you bridal style."
I choke on a laugh, hesitating even as she waits patiently until I finally place my shaking hands on her. She braces herself and slowly helps me shift my weight to my feet. My knees buckle the moment I try to stand, a humiliated sound sneaking its way out of my mouth.
"I've got you," she breathes. "Kaziel, look at me. You're okay."
She guides one leg into the pants, then the other, her movements gentle but firm, supporting my weight the whole time. When she pulls the waistband up, her hands linger on my hips, patting lightly.
"Almost done," she says. "You're doing so well."
I hate that her praise makes my eyes burn. I hate that I need her this much. I hate that my mother is close by and I can barely stand on my own feet.
"Dani..." I croak.
She wraps her arms around me as my body shivers uncontrollably. "Lean into me."
I do. I don't have a choice.
She helps me straighten fully, but my legs wobble again. She tightens her hold, pressing her forehead briefly against my chest.
"Come on, hot stuff," she whispers, her voice trembling with determination. "Let's take this one step at a time."
By the time we get to the sitting room, the air is knocked out of my lungs at the sight of the familiar figure standing there. Her cute little horns that were always a part of her are gone, and her eyes are blood red. Like a vampire's. Still, her face is unmistakably the same.
Mum.
My vision blurs with tears, a lump forming in my throat. Gods, I can't believe this. It still feels like yesterday that I watched her rip her own heart out.
"Kaziel," she croaks, walking up to me hesitantly. She's sobbing, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Mum," I rasp, sniffling.
I don't feel like a grown man anymore.
"My baby," she cries, wrapping her arms around me as Dani releases me.
I don't bother trying to hold my tears back. And it hurts even more when I realize that her rosy scent is gone.
"W-what happened to you? You're in pain," Mum says, and I shake my head because my nerves are too fried to allow coherent speech.
Where do I even begin explaining?
Right now, I want answers from her. I want to know why she never bothered coming to me before now.
A sharp pain tears down my spine, and I double over with a gasp, a pained whimper escaping my lips. It feels like I'm being torn in half. Danika rushes to steady me.
"Need...to sit down," I croak, and they both help me to the couch. The agony has me lying down and curling up, struggling to catch my breath. Dani moves to kneel by the couch, running her fingers through my hair.
The pain eases slowly, and I incline my body towards her. Sanctum energy washes over me, suppressing the power of the hollow.
"Why are you only showing up now? Do you...hate me for what...happened?" I slur, struggling to keep my eyes open as a bone-deep weariness sinks in.
"I don't hate you. Why would I? I just thought seeing me like this would torture you. I knew you would be in pain if you saw me again, so I stayed afar, watching you," she utters.
There's no heartbeat from her, but I can tell. I've always been able to sense lies, and right now, I can smell it. It's reeking from her pores in waves. She reaches for my face, brushing my hair away. Fuck. Her touch makes me sick.
"You were with Vanya, why?" I proceed to ask. She stiffens.
"We...were both turned by the same vampire clan."
My stomach churns. Another fucking lie.
Anger begins to stir in my veins. What does she take me for? She can't be my mother. There's absolutely no way my mother would come to me with an ulterior motive.
'She's got guts, I'll give her that,' Ares says, his rage stirring mine.
"Why did you come to see me now?" I finally ask, my gaze locking with hers. Danika stiffens. She must have sensed the shift in my demeanour.
Her red eyes begin to glow, and I sense her compulsion power slip in the instant she speaks.
"You're in too much pain, and you're exhausted," she says, and because my mental shields are down, her words sink in. The pain worsens, my eyelids suddenly too heavy to stay open.
I part my lips to protest, trying to fight the effect of her compulsion.
"We'll talk later. You should go to sleep."
Her voice slides into my mind like smoke, curling around my thoughts before I can push it away.
"Kaz? Baby?" I hear Danika say as my back arches from the pain, my eyes rolling into the back of my head.
And everything dissolves into darkness.
...
When I wake up, there's a weight on my chest, and I'm back in bed. Danika's naked, and so am I. She's wrapped around me like a python, but instead of squeezing the life out of me, she's squeezing life in. I almost chuckle from the irony. But then I remember exactly how I ended up falling asleep.
"Dove," I whisper, and she jerks up sleepily. Her eyes go wide when she sees me.
"Kaz!" She throws her hands around me, her boobs pressing against my chest.
"Where is she?" I ask, and she frowns.
"She...left. She claimed that you needed rest. Something was off about her. Kaz, she hissed in pain when I touched her."
Anger bubbles in my chest, my vision going red.
"How dare she?" I growl.
"What's wrong?" Danika breathes.
"That woman isn't my mother. She's a familiar. And that means someone has been conducting diabolical rituals. He sent her here for a reason."
Blood drains from Danika's face. "My father?"
I nod.
"You said you touched her. Did you notice anything strange after?" I ask, and she shakes her head.
Cursing under my breath, I sit up, brushing my hair away from my face. Everyone thinks they can now spit on my face and get away with it. I have been too soft and lenient. So much so that they’re brave enough to bring their devices to my home.
“Kaziel, are you okay?” Danika asks, and I turn to look at her. She’s staring with wide eyes, clutching the sheets to her chest.
“I’m fine,” I lie, and she swallows hard. She looks…scared. I freeze. Do I look scary right now? Did I accidentally let my mask slip?
“There’s…something I haven’t told you. P-promise me you won’t get mad,” she utters slowly, and I blink at her.
“What is it?”
“Promise me first.”
I suck in a sharp breath, running my thumb over my bottom lip. “I promise.”
“I… I found out that Eve isn’t the vessel,” she whispers. “I am.”
Every muscle in my body instantly goes rigid.