He’s gone, and all I want to do is be with him.
“Send me to the Beyond,” I beg through a weak sob against her shoulder. “Kill me… please… send me to be with him…”
Chapter 12
Kairhyse
We’ve been here in Ashfer for a day, and already I can feel the weight of the decision settling in. The drive took eight days, and with all of us rotating behind the wheel, we were exhausted to the point of collapse. It makes sense why Sydni and I didn’t sleep—trust is a rare commodity in this group, even if they seem to have Xeraphine’s best interests at heart.
It’s that interest that I can’t seem to wrap my mind around. What does Alaric want with her? From the way he talks, it’s clear he’sinterestedin my little demon. I’m not insecure, but I am possessive, and I don’t share. The only way she’ll ever touch that Fallen is if she’s killing him.
Nothing has changed. The moment my girl is back in my arms, she’s trapped with me. I’m her only fucking option, and the only way that would change, is if I’m dead.
However, that’s the part that worries me.
Obsession, as we’ve all seen, can drive someone to do irreversible things. I’m not sure what strength or powers Alaric possesses beyond seeing the dead’s last moments, and not knowing has me on edge.
“You’re tense.” Sydni turns off the hair clippers before setting them down on the countertop. “All done. I told you I wouldn’t cut you.”
She moves around me and starts washing her hands. I’d only chopped my hair above my ears, so I was desperate to get it cleaned up. I’m grateful for her help, especially since the fade on both sides and the inch or two of hair on top turned out perfect. I haven’t had short hair in over a hundred years, and while I’ll miss it long, there’s a sense of freedom that comes with it.
Running my fingers through my hair, I muddle it around until it sitsthat perfect type of messy.
“Thanks.” I stand and dust off my pants. “It isn’t the trimmers I’m worried about, Syd.”
Her lip pops up slightly but she doesn’t hold the smile. “I know, I was teasing.”
Grateful that Alaricgracedus with our own room in this hotel, I can speak freely without concerns over one of them listening. “Each day, I just want to take you and search for her on our own. I’m grateful for the resources Alaric has provided, especially now that I have nothing to my name—no money, no car, just a throwaway phone. It’s appreciated. However, he?—”
“Is going to try something the moment we get Xeraphine,” she finishes for me. “I know.” Looking at me through the wall-to-wall mirror, her frown deepens. Her ruby eyes are beginning to lighten, and I know the decline is coming. She can survive for some time without feeding, but it is going to weigh on her.
However, who am I to be a hypocrite? I also refuse to feed on anyone that isn’t my little demon, so I won’t sit here and force her to do what I won’t.
Shifting the seat away, I step beside her and lean against the counter. “Tell me why, through your eyes. What do you see?”
Letting out a soft hum, she lowers her head and glances at her fingers. I steal a quick look—most of the yellow sparkly nail polish has chipped away, and I can tell she’s been picking at it. Some of the corners are stained with dried blood, lingering in the creases.
“Obsession, maybe. Like a strange ownership. It’s subtle, the comments about feeding on her. Then there’s you. The way he looks at you as if he wants to… kill you.”
I groan. “He hasn’t tried anything, which is strange.”
“Maybe…” She pauses. “Maybe not. I heard him talking with Brice. He made a comment about you being her Mark or something. I don’t… I don’t know what it means.”
“When did he say that?” There is no hesitation in my question. What is a Mark?
“I was standing with Niyla in the lobby when they were checking into their rooms, and I don’t think they knew we were just around the corner. Or, not me, because you walked away and they assumed I would go with you.”
My brows furrow as I glance up into the mirror, remembering that moment in the bathtub. When her lips turned black after touching the place where one would be claimed. I figured she must’ve marked mesomehow, but neither she nor I ever mentioned it to anyone. It was never spoken aloud, so how the fuck would he know about that?
My tattoo…
“Syd, did Xera ever tell you about my back tattoo?”
She shakes her head.
“Did she ever tell you about the gates to her lifeforce?”
Releasing a long-winded sigh before responding, she nods. “Yeah, she described it as?—”
