Chapter 69 Sixty Nine
DANIKA
"Kaz?" I call out, shakily wiping the tears from my face. I'm still torn apart from hearing what Kaziel went through. But I'm more worried by the sound of his heavy breathing. He sounds like he's in pain. I knock on the door of the bathroom and try to open it. It doesn't budge. I'm just about to knock again when the door finally opens. Kaziel stands there, his eyes bloodshot. His hands are shaking so badly, he curls them into fists.
"Shower with me?" He breathes, and I nod right away, stepping into the bathroom.
"Are you in pain?" I ask, and he bites his lower lip for a moment.
"Hold me," he rasps.
I don't bother overthinking it, I wrap my arms around him, patting his back gently.
"You're okay," I breathe, and he holds me closer, a wretched sound slipping from his lips.
"Thank you," he whispers, and I swallow past the lump in my throat, blinking back my tears. Now I understand why he keeps repeating that he can't bear to lose me. And it makes my heart hurt like hell. My poor baby. He deserves the warmest hugs.
Kaziel and I shower together, and then we proceed to get dressed. Of course, he finishes first, scrolling on his phone while he waits for me to get ready.
"By the way, Bellamy told me you nearly murdered Tyler," I say as I pull my hair up into a bun.
He looks up from his phone, our gazes colliding in the mirror.
"The only reason he still lives is because of you," he tells me, and I gape at him, pointing at myself.
"Me?"
He tsks. "Remember how you freaked out on me for talking about getting rid of that burdensome vampire?
Well, I would like to avoid that by all means. Besides, no matter how much I hate it, that bastard is still..."
He sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Family?" I say, and he nods.
"I'd like to talk to him when we return," I tell him, and he frowns, tensing.
I expect him to turn me down. But then, he surprises me. "Fine."
Smiling, I fix my bun before turning to face him, dressed in a cute black top, a sexy brown leather mini skirt and thigh-high boots.
"Okay, I'm all done," I say, and he lifts his gaze from his phone once more, his eyes lingering on my thick thighs.
"Dove," he groans, and I arch a brow.
"What? Too revealing?"
He rises to his full height, moves over to me and snatches me by the waist, kissing me hard.
"I love you," he breathes, adjusting my bangs. I grin.
"I love you too."
"By the way, I noticed you don't wear those cute glasses of yours anymore. Did your vision improve?" He asks, and I shrug.
"Like magic, yeah. Or maybe it's the Kaziel effect," I reply, and he chuckles.
"Alright, sweetheart. Let's go."
...
Hera steps out of the club with a man who is clearly not her age. He's older. Late fifties, maybe early sixties. He's got an expensive watch and a wedding ring, and his hands are all over her like she's a shiny new toy. She giggles at something he whispers, leaning into him like she's known him for years. She looks a lot different from the pain in the ass that has been tormenting me.
Kaziel and I watch from the shadows.
The second she turns down the alley beside the club, Kaziel steps into her path.
The older man halts, startled. "What the—"
Kaziel's eyes darken, his pupils constricting. "Go home. Forget you were here."
The man's face slackens. He nods and walks away without hesitation. Wow. I definitely didn't know he could do that.
Hera freezes, clenching her fists. She's already trembling. I'm not sure if it's from fear or anger. But honestly, I don't care.
She takes one step back. And then she bolts. For some reason, I find it cute. I guess my mate is rubbing off on me.
Kaziel doesn't even chase her. He just... moves. With one blink, he's suddenly behind her.
She shrieks, turning quickly, and then she runs straight into me.
I grab her wrist and twist just enough to throw her off balance. She hits the ground with a grunt, her palms scraping the asphalt.
She tries to push up, and I place my boot on her shoulder, pinning her down. She grunts in frustration, growling.
"Relax, Hera," I say. "You won't be in danger unless you lie. And from what I've seen so far, you lie a lot."
She glares up at me, her chest heaving. "You don't know anything about—"
I tilt my head, narrowing my eyes slightly.
"Does Tyler know?" I ask softly.
She goes so still, she doesn't seem to be breathing. "Know what?"
I gesture behind me, in the direction the older man disappeared.
"That you like your men old enough to need blood-pressure medication."
Her eyes widen.
I lower into a crouch beside her, giving her a small, smug smile.
"Just wondering," I murmur. "Because you act like you're a goddess to him. But what did we just see?"
I tap my chin thoughtfully.
"That... was more like you're a sly bitch."
Hera swallows hard, anger flashing in her eyes.
Kaziel finally speaks, his voice low.
"Will you like to do the honours, dove?"
I grin, straightening. Then I slam my boot onto the side of her neck, knocking her out.
Kaziel smirks. "That's my girl."
...
Hera groans as she regains consciousness, her head lolling to the side. Her eyelids flutter, then they snap open right as Kaziel leans forward behind me, his hands braced on the back of my chair.
"Rise and shine, brat," he purrs.
The sound of his voice alone is enough to make her jerk upright, only to realize her wrists are bound to the arms of the chair. She wiggles, panic-stricken. But it's pointless.
I take another sip of my juice box, the straw making a soft slurp. Peach flavour. My absolute favourite.
Hera's gaze darts to me, then back to Kaziel with a snarl.
"What the hell do you want?"
Kaziel... lets out a menacing laugh. One that both raises the hair on the back of my neck and sends a jolt of desire shooting through my belly.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding," he says, stepping around me with predatory grace.
Hera stiffens as he bends slightly, bringing his face close to hers.
"You," he murmurs, "won't be asking anything."
She tries to pull away, but she has nowhere to go.
"I," he continues softly, "am the one who will be interrogating you."
Her eyes dart to me, wide. I take another relaxed sip of my juice box, and Kaziel tilts his head, watching her tremble.
"And if you lie..." His voice softens dangerously.
"I'll peel the truth right out of your soul."
Hera goes pale instantly. And Kaziel flashes her a wicked smile. For some reason, I find that ridiculously hot.
"I promise it won't kill you," he adds, brushing a knuckle along her shoulder. "But you'll wish it did."
Hera swallows so hard I hear it.
I lean back in my chair, my legs crossed, the juice box dangling lazily between my fingers.
"See?" I say lightly. "Nothing to worry about. Just answer honestly."
Hera's already shaking. I almost feel sorry for her. Almost.
Kaziel moves behind her, resting his hand on her shoulder.
"Now," he murmurs. "Let's begin."
Hera whimpers, squeezing her eyes shut. It’s so hard to imagine that she’s the one who had been subtly bullying me.
“Why do you want the heart of the vessel?” Kaziel demands, and she stiffens, her eyes popping open. She shakes her head, and he growls at her.
She flinches, blood draining from her face.
“Talk!” I hiss, annoyed.
“The New Order. They asked me to do it. In return, they would cure Tyler’s illness,” she mumbles, and I arch a brow.
“So you do care about him,” I say, amused. She looks away, her jaw clenched tight.
“How did you get in touch with them?” Kaziel asks, and she sighs.
“T-they have a website. The cult is bigger than you think. They serve a strange god. I don’t know why they want the heart of the vessel, but that’s all I know,” she croaks.
My mate gives me a curious look.
“Are you saying you never went to their meeting?” I say, and she closes her eyes, her lips pursed.
“I want names,” Kaziel drones. She whimpers again like a frightened mouse.
“They’re going to kill me, please. Please don’t make me talk.”
I cock my head, narrowing my eyes at her. “And what makes you think we’re going to spare your life if you don’t talk?”
Kaziel smirks at me, and I try not to blush, only to fail spectacularly.
Hera sniffles, keeping her gaze on the floor.
“F-fine, I-I’ll tell you.”
“Go ahead,” my man says, moving over to lean against my chair.
Hera lifts her gaze, her eyes filled with fear.
“I remember meeting one of the top members. She…she introduced herself as Mrs Ember…Randall.”
My blood runs cold in my veins. Tyler’s mother?!