By the look on her face it was clear she was unhappy about the news. Her eyes shot daggers into my dad and her mouth turned upside down.
“Jeremy! How could you?” she started. “Our daughter!” Mom’s face reddened as she shouted.
“You think I wanted to let her go with him! I was desperate and you were dying! I had to do what I had to do in order to save you and keep a roof over our heads!” he defended.
“You let our daughter live with a monster! He could have killed her!” The cards knocked to the floor.
The knots in my stomach grew. I shifted on my feet. The two of them could argue later but right now I needed to tell them something.
I cut their arguing off. “He didn’t treat me badly. Well, eventually.”
The argument paused and both glanced at me. “Are you really sitting here defending him?!” Dad protested.
I licked my lips and raked my fingers through my hair. “Look, I didn’t come here to argue about Kairus.” I sighed.
“Then what did you come here for?” Dad asked.
“Jeremy!” She shot him another vengeful glare. It was clear she had more to say to him. My parents rarely argued in front of me growing up, even now that I was an adult they tried to keep it to a minimum, at least around me.
“I’m going back to Kairus,” I blurted before I lost my nerve. Heat crept up my spine.
“Over my dead body.” Dad shot out of his seat.
“Azeira, no!” Mom protested.
I licked my lips and stood straighter. “I’m going back to Kairus. I know he’s unconventional and may not be your first pick for me, but I’ve grown fond of him. I care about him and I miss him. Since being back I’ve been miserable. I want to be with Kairus and I hope you two will support me.”
“Support you? Why the hell would we support you going with a man like that? Look at my hand! Did you forget you saw him cut my finger off?”
“He what!” Mom shrieked. Color drained from her face.
I blew a heavy breath out. “It wasn’t Kairus who did it. Plus he wouldn’t hurt me and I know he cares for me just as much as I do him, probably even more.”
“Azeira, please, no.” Mom shook her head, her voice cracking. “Do you see what you did!” She slammed her hands on the bed. “You put her in the position to be with that man.”
I swallowed hard. While I had stopped caring about how my dad felt, I never wanted to hurt my mom.
“I’m sorry, Mommy, but I’m going back. I lo-I just have to.” The first time I spoke those words would be to him, not anyone else.
Dad cut his eyes at me. “If you go back to that monster, you’re no longer welcomed here.” My eyes bucked.
“Jeremy.”
He whipped his head to face Mom. “No, he’s insane and I won’t allow her to put us in danger with her. That man’s unstable and it’s my job to protect you.”
“She’s our daughter!”
“And she’s making her choice.”
I bounced my eyes between the two. I didn’t want to cause issues with them. I loved my parents regardless of the differences between me and Dad right now. Still, I wasn’t going back on my decision.
“I’ll give you some time to get used to the idea. Maybe in time you’ll see he’s not as bad as you think.” It was a reach, but I believed Kairus had some good in him, even if no one else did. “I love you guys,” I told them, then turned to leave.
My mom started fussing at my dad as I walked out the room feeling like weights were wrapped around my ankles. My whole life I followed the rules and did what my parents wanted. For the first time I was stepping outside the lines and doing what made me happy. It was time to follow my heart.
“What are you doing back here?” Kairus asked in a low snarl.
My heart trembled and my stomach fluttered. His hand curled tighter around my neck.
