Page 64 of All Your Deadly Truths (The Filthy Duet #2)

My heart rate picks up, and heat builds at my palms. The rage that is boiling all the blood in my system threatens to have me losing control.

“That anger better be directed at him, not me, Kairhyse. You need to understand that this is bigger than you. Bigger than her revenge.”

“He can’t take her, you’ve said so yourself.”

“There are worse things then her just being removed from this existence.”

I swallow roughly. “Is he going to come here?” Truly, I don’t fear much. Losing Xera is top of that list, but I’d be a godsdamn idiot if I didn’t fear the ruler of the Beyond.

A laugh shoots from his mouth. “No, no… she will go to him.”

Immediately I’m shaking my head.

“Yes,” he quickly responds before I can protest. “I’ll take her, and you better hope that he only wants to talk.”

“You truly are out of your mind. As though I’d allow you to take her anywhere. I’ll take her to him.”

His hands are thrown over his head in exasperation as he shouts, “You can’t go to the Beyond! It doesn’t work that way!”

Oh, fuck…

“No mortal can enter the gates for passage without a Witch’s intervention.

Seeing as we don’t have one readily available to us, you’d be immediately obliterated.

” I’m not sure what he is seeing in my expression, but he continues, “ You can die . You may be capable of living for eternity, but you are still susceptible to death. Hence: mortality. ”

I can’t let her go with him.

I can’t let her go, period.

“Demand him come here.”

That gets a thorough laugh from Alaric as he shakes his head. “Unbelievable. Sure, let me just dial him up.”

“You obviously have a means to communicate with him,” I grit out.

Turning from me, he paces a few steps away. “He contacts me. Damn it. We don’t have time to argue over this, she’s?—”

“Coming.”

I was so consumed by our conversation, I hadn’t even heard her footsteps, let alone her steady heartbeat.

I turn quickly and spot Xera stopping just out of arm’s reach. She’s dressed in black leather pants, a matching tucked-in tank top, and heavy combat boots.

I shake my head. “No.” I’m firm in my singular word. There will be no fucking debating. This is not like the twins, for Gods sake, she isn’t just going to just willingly walk into the Beyond.

No. Absolutely not.

Her soft eyes drift to look beyond me. “You are so fucking loud, Alaric. Talk about a tantrum.”

He lets out a loud groan as he walks away from us. “Five minutes,” he grits out through his teeth.

“Xeraphine Nora. No.”

Her eyes widen, the surprise doing nothing to steady my frantic heart. “Am I in trouble?” She shakes her head. “I’ve never heard you say my full name before… that felt strange.”

“You aren’t going, and if you insist, I’m coming with you.”

She releases a sigh, and peers over her shoulder. No one is standing there, and when she slowly looks back at me I can see the sadness in her silvern gaze.

Again, I shake my head.

We don’t need to speak—our argument is already loud enough between us. I can feel it, the silent screaming. Me, begging her not do this. Her, insisting there’s no other way. As strong as I am, she won’t risk my life to traverse the gates to the Beyond.

Another moment stretches in silence, the rustling of leaves above and the soft rush of the creeks around us all too loud in the stillness.

“I’ll be right back.” She offers me a smile after finishing her statement. There isn’t any doubt in her tone. Nothing that makes me think she doesn’t believe that.

On her birthday, I had thought I’d be no more than an hour. Then, she was gone from my life.

This isn’t her going to the fucking store.

This isn’t me going to pick up Sydni.

This is her going to the Beyond .

“Little demon, the answer is no.”

“I wasn’t asking…” she whispers. “Stand still, Kai.”

A tension builds in my knees and they lock up, my sense of control dwindling from my brain. Each muscle fighting for the need to move even just to defy the order, not merely to rush to her and grab on like my life depends on it.

“Don’t you dare,” I growl. “Xera.”

“Arms to your side,” she commands as she steps to me. “I’m sorry, but you can’t come.”

My fingers tremble as I try and move my body. To force this hold she has on me to break so I can take her into my arms before bending her over my knee to punish her for controlling me.

“Don’t you understand…” she continues softly. “You can’t, it isn’t that I don’t want?—”

“If there is even a chance I’d survive?—”

“Kai—”

“I’m going to take it. Let me go, Xera! Right now!” I seethe. She’s using her abilities on me outside of sex and I do not like it.

“Please, K?—”

“So help me, I’ll?—”

“You aren’t listening to me!” She steps into my space. “Kai?—”

“Why won’t you let me try?!”

“It’s because I fucking love you, godsdamn it!”

Her words knock the wind out of me, and I have to blink a few times to confirm I’m not unconscious. I need to make sure I didn’t just dream that she said what I think she did.

“Don’t you see… it’s because I love you that you can’t come. I’d suffer a million deaths to ensure I have you to come home to.” She steps to me, her head resting against my chest and her arms circling my waist. “Let me have more time with you, please…”

Heat builds across my temples, my eyes stinging.

“Hold me.” It’s a command, and as my arms fall limp I grab onto her tightly. How had such an incredible past few days turned into me having to let her go?

“I love you.” A shattered breath escapes her as I finally say it for her to hear. Although I’ve said it a few times, they were at points when she wouldn’t register or overhear. “Don’t go, please, Xera.” When I squeeze her tighter, she rubs her face against my chest. “He’ll have to come to us.”

“Then what…” She lifts her head, bringing me into view. “Risk him getting his hands on Sydni? On you?”

My swallow is rough, because I just can’t consume what she is saying.

“I don’t regret killing them.” She rests her chin on my chest and smirks. I hate that she’s smiling right now. “I’d do it all again. Especially the aftershock?—”

“Shut up, Xera.”

That only gets a laugh out of her, but I can’t find any humor in what’s about to happen.

“Let me go, Kai.” My arms do as she commands. Her hands moving up to cradle my face. “Maybe I can get some answers.”

“No.” I don’t give a fuck how she feels, this is stupid and she shouldn’t be charging off without even a thought to it. “He can wait, think about it, what if he doesn’t let you go?!”

She shakes her head. “He can’t keep what isn’t his.”

“You’re so fucking hard-headed!”

“I know.” She rises onto her tiptoes, pressing her lips against mine. Her arms wrap around my neck as the kiss deepens, and I fight to embrace her, but it’s no use—she isn’t allowing me to do so.

When she pulls back, she doesn’t go far. Her breath fans against my lips as she whispers, “It’s what you fell in love with. Take care of Syd, I’ll be back.” She pauses, taking a step back from me. “You can move once I’ve transversed through the gates.”

“Damn it!” I shout. “I’m going to punish the fuck out of you when you get back!”

Her head falls to the side, her long hair draping over her shoulder. “Promise?” she asks with a bright, pearly smile.

“ Fuck ! Xera!”

She walks past me, stepping out of view.

No… No, no, no!

I’m left standing here, arms bolted to my sides and helpless to keep the one person I need with me.