“Take her…” I whisper. “Please… Bring Tali down here, separate her from that world. Save me…”
Proserpina sighs while leaning away from me.
“I’ll be fighting her for eternity.” I’ve never been one to beg, but I’m not above it right now.
Looking over her shoulder at Belial, who has since closed his pants and turned away from usas if pouting, she shakes her head. “I wish it were that easy, darling.”
“How can I kill her, then? Tell me that at least. Don’t let her do what she’s trying to do to me.”
She appears sad, which worries me. “I’m sorry. You know you can’t… that isn’t how you earn your freedom.”
My eyes shut, and through gritted teeth, I plea, “Am I truly fated to be her fucking puppet?”
“No,” she quickly responds. “You know what has to be done, and I’munsure why you are seeking another answer.”
“Fuck that. I refuse to believe it’s the only way.” The thought so painful, I won’t even give it a flicker of light in my mind. “You can help me…”
“But I can’t?—”
I cut her off, “Please. Please…” A pair of hands grab at my waist and I scream out, tearing away from not only them, but Proserpina.
When my eyes land on Alaric, my vision blurs by the heavy tears that are spilling from them.
The loud thump of my knees hitting the ground come with a shattered sob. “Please. I’ll do anything.”
Bare feet tap against the floor but suddenly halt.
“I’ll give anything.” My words are broken and shattered. “It can’t be the only way.”
Alaric is then at my side, and the moment I’m shrugging away from him he grabs onto my arms.
“I want to make a deal.” My swollen eyes hurt more than my heart at what this will mean for me. “A deal to save my life.”
When Alaric kneels before me, he grabs my chin to direct my gaze to him. “You can’t go back on these kinds of things, Xeraphine. This isn’t some joke you can play off. Whatever it is?—”
“I know—” I seethe. “What I’m doing. It’smy life. I will protect it in any way that I can.” Tearing away from his grip, I look up at Proserpina, who showers me with a sympathetic gaze. “If you won’t help me for free, then fine. Make me a deal.”
She looks at Belial, who hasn’t taken his eyes off me. The smile that comes over him tells me everything I need to know. His eyes draw to Alaric, but the Fallen doesn’t cease to pull away from me.
“What do you want in return, Xeraphine?” And as the question rolls from the rulers mouth, I’ve solidified my fate.
I’m sorry, Kai… I hope you can forgive me.
Chapter 45
Kairhyse
It feels strange now, having Mister sleep in the same bed as me. So much about him makes sense now. Xeraphine had mentioned how he went feral at her apartment, like a wild beast, right before the bomb went off. He would always sit at the back of the couch she sat on. Though he never cuddled with her, he was always so close.
At the time, I’d just chalked it up to her feeding him—her being his ‘owner’. But now, knowing it was because he was watching over her, I’m rethinking every action he’s ever taken with her.
“I prefer to sleep with Xeraphine.”He outstretches his paws, kneading on the blankets as though to get comfortable.“However, she’s worried about you, so I’m going to stay here.”
“Can you feel what she does all the time?”
I’m a bit concerned. I do not want this cat feeling me fucking her.
“Whenever I tune into her I will be able to. She also needs to be receptive to my connection. Don’t think too hard about it. I won’t do it often.”He swirls into a ball, head resting onto his backside while his bright yellow eyes lock onto me.
