A gentle hand rests on my forearm, causing me to jerk downward, seeing a teary-eyed Sydni. “It’s… It’s?—”
“Do not fucking say it’s okay, Sydni.” I step away from her and squeeze my eyes shut. “It isanythingbut okay.”
If I hadn’t pushed that night at the apartment, kept my feelings to myself, and allowed for time to be the teller I loved her, none of this would have happened. We would’ve gone and got Sydni together, and survived whatever attack they had for ustogether.
It’snotokay, and I’m shaking with rage.
“Xeraphine’s kind is known for their selfish nature, hatred, andbrutality.” My gaze sharpens as I meet Sinnix’s eyes. Her words aren’t filled with apologies or empty platitudes, and I appreciate that more than any comforting lie.It’s not okay… It’ll never be okay…
She continues, “Texts and our own ancestors speak of them, recounting when we walked among you ‘leg freaks’. They warn of the danger they pose…” I’m not sure where she’s headed, but I don’t interrupt her. “It seems both of our kinds have been generalized. I’ve never seen anyone so unwilling to end their own suffering over something she would inevitably get back.”
She’s talking about her heart, and I can’t put into words how that makes me feel. That she fought so fucking hard to not give it away because it belonged to me.
A brief stint of silence envelops us before she continues, “So, the answer as to why I helped is simple: Because it’s what she assumed I wouldn’t do. Just like I assumed she wouldn’t help me. We both needed something, and as selfish as both our needs were… in the end she gained nothing by helping me but more suffering. This is the least I can do…”
“I’m not glass, Kai.”
Fuck!I want to scream!I know you aren’t, little demon but… I can’t have people trying to break you.
“It tore her to pieces giving it to me,” she says, as if trying to convince me—or maybe she’s using this to calm me down. “I think she thought you’d hate her.”
“If anything, I’d hate you. But I don’t. Not at this time at least.” I find the calm I so desperately need, and shift back down to sit beside Sydni, who has since stopped crying but doesn’t hesitate to bury her face against my chest. “Thank you. Not many have been there for her, and she deserves the help. Even if she won’t ask for it.”
Her soft nod is followed by silence. There’s so much happening, and I just need answers. But more than that, Ineedmy girl. I need her back in my arms so I can shield her from this damned world that is out to take what doesn’t belong to them.
“White-haired boy that has been grinding his teeth,” Sinnix addresses Alaric. “You could absolutely play the villain in some dramatic lumina. I’ve probably seen a few with your exact?—”
“What is it?” he drawls, interrupting her.
“Let’s stop the boat. I realize we may not want to come up right on top of where she is.” She pops up to her feet. “And I see we are close.”
I shift my gaze over to the navigation system. About eight miles, nautical miles, whatever. “I can swim at a max of forty knots?—”
“You know boat terminology but have no clue what a phoneis?” Niyla doesn’t hide her annoyance.
Sinnix narrows her eyes. “Where do you think you peoplegot‘boat terminology’ from, Vamp?”
“Wait…” This is the first time Brice has spoken since we began this discussion. “Is that a ship?”
Everyone turns their heads forward, and though it’s far off in the distance, the silhouette of a vessel is unmistakable. The motor cuts out completely as we slow, drifting aimlessly. Sinnix curses under her breath and starts moving, heading toward the back of the boat.
“Shit, shit, shit. That’s right, she said they would be coming to take her up.” The moment she’s at the back deck, she tosses off her dress, exposing her completely bare back.
I turn away but ask quickly, “Who are they? Do you know?”
“Nope, I mean, not really. I just know that her mother is involved, and they have a shark Shifter.”
“That’s confirmation enough, then.” Alaric gets my attention briefly. “That woman looked identical to Xeraphine, but wasn’t her. That was likely her mother commanding that Necroth.”
“Fuck!”
When a splash comes, I jerk back to look at Sinnix as she emerges. “Let me check to see if she is down there and I’ll come back.”
“With her?” My heart leaps to my throat.
She shakes her head. “She is in a cage created from the Beyond, forged from Netherpyre. We will need to figure out how we can break through. I don’t want to waste?—”
“Take me with you.” I’m removing my shirt and pants when a rough hand grabs my forearm.
