Page 87 of All Your Deadly Truths (The Filthy Duet #2)

“You never deserved what I brought upon you,” she whispers, her voice cracking. “But I wanted to deserve the friendship you gave me. That’s why I selfishly stayed. Now, you’ll do as I command and leave, because I will no longer be selfish with your life.”

The moment she forces Sydni back, I look up at Kayn.

“Keep the Crimson Dawn up over Sidence.” He looks back at me, and I drown out Sydni’s screams of defiance.

His expression tells me he doesn’t like this, but he won’t defy my request. This isn’t his fight, and he knows it's our decision. That’s why Xera didn’t offer her blood to him—because I told her he’d do exactly what was asked of him without it.

“I’ll keep an eye on everyone.”

“Only when things are done, will you come back.”

“What if Tali gets her?—”

“She won’t,” I say with confidence. “We’ve got this.”

His hand comes to my shoulder, and I mirror the gesture, placing my hand on his. “Take care of them, please. Tali wants Xera, so I doubt she’d run after you guys, but you know, just in case.”

“I’ve got them.” He releases a sigh and squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t die, do you hear me?”

Letting out a light laugh I shrug my shoulders. “No promises.”

“Fucking asshole, man.”

As the weight of that request settles over me, Kayn and I turn in unison; Xera now stands alone with only her Familiar, everyone else gone. I can barely make out Sydni and Brice in the distance as they walk away, my butterfly’s cry of how unfair this is growing weaker and weaker.

Kayn pats me before rushing off toward them.

“The dagger,” she says, kneeling down to her Familiar.

With a nod, Mister angles toward her and leaps backward into a flip. A darkness consumes the space he circles, like an inky night sky. Apparently, he’s more than just an unkillable cat.

I give him shit, but it’s only because I’m still slightly bitter about the butt plug comment—and, of course, about him keeping his true self hidden from my little demon.

As he steps up onto the edge of the portal he’s created, half of his body disappears into it. Only a moment passes before he reappears, the hilt of the blade gripped in his mouth.

He turns and drops it into Xera’s outstretched hand.

“I am going to stay out of the way, but I will be here. If her Familiar shows up, Veyrathis, I’ll take care of him.

I hate snakes…” he says, looking up at me.

“Tali is thousands of years old, but the only advantage that gives her is smarts and the knowledge on how to use the strength she has. I truly believe you two can be stronger than her.”

Xera takes a deep breath, one that is steady, and stands.

“We have the advantage,” she says as I move to her side and place my hand at the small of her back. “Doesn’t mean we let our guard down.”

I cup my opposite hand to her cheek, turning her toward me. “One last kiss before we send this bitch to the Beyond.”

She graces me with a beautiful smile and leans in. Our lips press together, and I pull her into my arms, drawing her deeper into my embrace. I wish in this moment I could snap my fingers and have this battle be over.

When she pulls back, breathlessly, she whispers against my mouth, “She’s here.”

“I know…” I brush my fingers across her cheek.

“I love you, Kairhyse.”

“I love you so much, Xeraphine. For our eternity. Whether that is in this life, or in our next. I promise every version of me will eternally belong to you.”

She nods and presses another kiss to my lips quickly before stepping away, her gaze locking on the street ahead.

I take a breath, and my normally slow-beating heart picks up speed as I spot the singular figure stepping between the stalled vehicles.

The darkness of the Crimson Dawn does nothing to obscure her features; she’s like a blacklight in a dark room.

Her skin radiates almost an ultraviolet glow, and it’s unnerving.

This is the first time I’ve seen Xera’s mother, and while I’ll admit she shares striking features with my little demon, there’s enough differences for me to still tell them apart.

Her slanted, siren eyes are a darker version of Xera’s silver ones. Dark lips, tinged with red at the corners, and a smaller nose mark the distinguishing features between them.

“Ah,” Tali croons, and it’s like she sings the singular word. “I finally meet my daughter’s Mark. Here I’d hoped you’d have died before I could get the chance.”

She tilts her head mockingly and smirks. I was instructed by both Xeraphine and Mister to keep my calm, but seeing her—knowing everything she put my girl through—sets every nerve in my body alight. It’s like a fire raging, desperate to break free if not contained.

“Tali.” I spit out her name as though it’s venom on my tongue. “What an absolute displeasure.”

When her smirk grows into a grin, I can see the double-edged fangs on either side of her upper canines. Xera told me they produce a shot of her Amoro, and with it, she doesn’t need to speak words to subdue her victims. Like my venom, but worse.

“Xeraphine.” When she says her name, my body goes rigid. I look at my girl, who appears to be fighting some invisible, external force. “Come here, Daughter.”

I lower my voice. “Fight it.”

Her throat struggles to swallow, and as she takes a single step toward Tali, I release a breath. She continues toward her mother, and I grind my teeth together. I knew this was inevitable, but knowing she’ll be close to her sends a sickening pang deep in my chest.

Each step feels agonizingly slower than the last, and as she and Tali finally stand just a few feet apart, I flex my hands into fists.

Tali reaches out and runs her fingers across Xera’s cheek, and I growl. “Don’t touch her.”

She pays me no mind, and just shakes her head. “What did you think would happen? That I’d just fight you? I can control you so why wouldn’t I just have you do all of that nonsense for me?”

My pulse rises as Tali tilts her head in my direction and looks at me.

“I can’t kill you, but she can without consequence.

” Her fucking smile widens into a full blown grin.

“This will be such a delight to watch.” Her eyes shift back to my little demon, who hasn’t taken her eyes from her mother.

“Kill your Mark, Xeraphine, and then come with me.” Even as she lowers her voice to a whisper, the deadly silence around us allows me to hear her without a single issue.

“And I’ll have you all to myself, as it was always meant to be. ”

Xera slowly turns her head to look at me, her eyes are blown out and staring right at me.

I swallow, and smirk.

Her lips part in the center just before they curl into a smile.

As her fist collides with Tali’s cheek, she sends her flying across the street, slamming into a car and leaving an imprint in it.

“You will never command me again, and the only one dying today, is you .”