Chapter 72 Seventy Two
KAZIEL
I glare at Callen, aware that he's doing this on purpose. If there's the slightest chance that Dani isn't completely out, he's trying to take it. He looks away, wincing.
"I'm just—"
I cut him off, my jaw clenched.
"I'm aware of your concerns. I'll handle it," I snap. I'm in pain, and I'm exhausted, the last thing I need is to be pissed off.
"Are you sure you can take another round? You really don't look so good. Your heart rate is too high," Callen says, and I nearly roll my eyes.
Even if I was half dead or paralyzed, I wouldn't let Danika be in pain. Not if I can help it. Besides, I promised to never let her suffer.
Every day since she passed out, she's been having a painful episode, even in her sleep. Her sanctum core keeps reacting with her vessel core, causing her an overwhelming amount of pain. It sucks that I can't exactly fix it. But what I can do is extract her pain and bear it for her. It's the bare minimum.
Callen flashes his light in my eyes, and it sends a wave of pain through my skull.
"You look like you're utterly stoned. Your pupils are nearly completely dilated," he says, and I run a hand over my face.
He glances at Danika's form, a worried look on his face.
"I can take it. You don't have to worry," I reply, and right in that moment, Danika's eyes fly open, her body arching. Her left eye is a cerulean blue, and the other is golden.
I grab her hand instantly, tightening my hold so she feels me through the agony ripping through her body. Callen curses under his breath.
"It's happening again—"
"I know."
She's not really awake. She's trapped somewhere between consciousness and oblivion, drowning in an overload her body shouldn't even be capable of surviving.
"Dani," I whisper, leaning over her. "Dove, listen to me. I'm right here."
Another jolt rips through her, and her nails dig into my hand so hard they draw blood. I welcome it. Then she lets out a scream that sounds nothing like her.
It guts me.
"Now," I bark at Callen.
He grabs the stabilizing sigil stone and presses it to her sternum. Her body jerks hard. I grip her shoulders, forcing her still as a blast of raw sanctum energy erupts under her skin.
Then, it hits me.
A tidal wave of burning, electric agony slams straight into my spine, ripping upwards. My vision whites out, and my head snaps back. It feels like my skull is splitting open from the inside. I choke on a breath, then I force my palm to her chest.
"Give it to me," I growl through my teeth. "All of it.“
Her energy surges, spiralling wildly. My nose starts bleeding instantly. A fucking downpour. Warm liquid gushes down my lips, my chin and over my chest. I feel veins bursting in my face, pressure pounding behind my eyes until they feel like they're ready to pop.
But she stops screaming, her body relaxing. A wave of relief crashes through me.
Thank the stars.
Another surge hits me, and my entire body convulses. Blood splatters on the floor as I crumple to my knees, struggling to breathe. Callen grabs my shoulder.
"Kaziel! Enough...stop! You'll go into a cardiac arrest if you—"
I shove him off with a snarl. I can still take it.
Her pain is fading from her body, seeping fully into mine, swallowing every nerve ending.
She's safe. That's the only thing that matters. She has no idea how close I've been to losing her. Twice now. Too fucking close.
I brace myself on the couch, panting, a fresh stream of blood dripping onto the floor.
Callen stares at me with wide eyes. I swipe the blood from my mouth and straighten, even though I feel half-dead.
"Kaziel... this is destroying you."
"Better me than her." My voice is flat when I speak.
He sighs. "You can't keep doing this."
I stare down at Danika's sleeping face, releasing a sigh.
"Yes," I whisper, wiping my nose again as more blood trickles out. "I can."
And even if it kills me, I will.
"What are you going to do if she finds out about the other thing before you can tell her about it?"
I stiffen. Shit.
Thinking about it is even more painful than the fucking pain transfer.
...
By the time I'm done showering, the bathroom mirror is still fogged over. It's probably for the best. I don't need to see how wrecked I look. Every movement sends agony up my spine, but I grit my teeth and pull my shirt on anyway.
Dani doesn't need to see any of this.
By the time I open the bedroom door, my expression is blank, or at least it should be.
But I freeze halfway through stepping into the sitting room.
Tyler is there. He's sitting on the couch, still bruised up. His good eye meets mine.
"You look like hell," he rasps.
I give him a dead stare. "What the fuck are you doing here?"
"Danika's father wants to see her. He sent me to bring her. You are to come along.”
I let out a humourless laugh. "Get lost."
He blinks. "It's important."
"So is the fact that she's sleeping," I snap. "As you can see, she's unconscious. So leave."
Tyler opens his mouth to argue, but a soft rustle behind me freezes the both of us.
I turn only to find Danika sitting up slowly, blinking. Her hair is messy, her cheeks flushed with sleep. She looks fragile wrapped in the blanket, but her hazy eyes land instantly on Tyler.
"Ty?" she croaks.
Tyler straightens, guilt flashing across his face. "Hey, Cakes."
Of course he calls her that.
Danika rubs her face. "What... why are you here?"
He swallows. "Your dad. He wants to see you. He asked me to... bring you."
Her expression falters.
"Oh," she whispers. "Right. I'll... I'll go get dressed."
She tries to swing her legs off the couch, but I'm already moving toward her, ignoring the pain ripping through my own.
"Dove, slow down," I murmur, catching her elbow.
Her body is still weak.
She gives me a tiny nod. "I'm okay. I just need a minute."
Tyler watches all of this, his jaw clenched and his eye unreadable. But, honestly, I don't give a fuck. I simply help my girl to the room.
She goes to the closet, her fingers trembling as she reaches for a clean shirt. She’d discarded the shirt she'd been wearing, and I can’t help but notice that she’s lost some weight. Dani is always so sexy, even without trying. But, it kills me that her new normal might be taking its toll on her.
"Let me," I murmur before she can even lift the shirt.
She freezes, then she nods. I take the shirt gently. Then I pull it over her head slowly, guiding her arms through the sleeves, careful not to jostle her.
My fingertips brush her soft skin, and a shaky breath shudders out of me. I smooth the fabric down over her sides, my hands lingering on her waist.
She doesn't move away.
I grab her jeans next and kneel, not because I need to, but because my legs are threatening to give out anyway. I help her step into them, holding her steady with one hand on her calf, then her knee, then her hip.
Her vanilla scent wraps around me, grounding me and unravelling me at the same time.
When I pull the zipper up, my fingers almost graze her stomach. I fight the urge to press my hand to it. No matter how hard I try to ignore it, I can feel the life growing in her body. Our baby.
She places her palm on my head, and I nearly close my eyes.
"Come here," I whisper.
She moves closer. I rest my forehead against her stomach, breathing her in, letting her hold me up without knowing she's doing it.
"Kaz?" she whispers.
My chest tightens. She pulls back slightly, enough to look down at me. Her fingers slide into my hair as her eyes search mine.
"What about the baby?"
My heart stops. I lift my head slowly. Her eyes are wide and uncertain. I force myself to stand, even though my legs scream.
"Dani..."
I reach for her cheek but stop halfway, because I don't deserve to touch her like this. She frowns when I hesitate.
"Kaziel," she whispers again. "Don't lie to me."
"Dani," I rasp, "I... I wasn't going to lie."
Fuck, my chest feels too tight.
She moves even closer, a worried look on her face.
"I heard someone talking about a baby,” she says. "Tell me what’s going on, please.”
Her voice cracks on the last word, and the air vanishes from my lungs.
I take her hand, pressing it to my chest. I’m so fucking scared.
I close my eyes. I can't say it. But I have to.
My voice comes out rough, shaking. “Dove, you’re pregnant.”
She freezes, her eyes wide.
“I…I’m having a baby?” She gasps, almost instinctively sliding a hand to her belly.
“I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I don’t…we never talked about this. I don’t—”
She lowers her head, staring at her toes. My heart sinks. She hasn’t even heard the worst part.
“There’s more, isn’t there?” She asks in a monotonous voice, and a tear rolls down my cheek.
"Your body can't handle a child right now."
Her breath catches in her throat. “And if it tries..."
I swallow hard. “It will kill you."