Page 92 of All Your Deadly Truths (The Filthy Duet #2)

Xeraphine

T he next few days have been a blur. I scarcely recall how I got back to Alaric’s mansion.

Mister had brought Kayn to me, and soon after, Alaric appeared.

I don’t know which of the two carried me still gripping onto Kai’s head, but one of them did while the other took his body.

I’m positive I passed out, but between the times I was awake and behind closed eyes, it’s really inconceivable to me.

Sidence is under lockdown, from what Kayn has said to Sydni. I can barely hear or make sense of anything around me. All I understand is that preparations have been made for me, thanks to Mister.

I don’t know what I’d do without my Familiar at this point. The thought of not having him, of having to do all this on my own, makes my already aching temples throb. I can barely manage two steps, let alone set up the casket in this strange dungeon of Alaric’s.

“Xera?”

I blink, the wall in front of me the same stone it had been however long ago I began beating it with my gaze.

A large hand gently grabs my shoulder.

Why do I know that there are seven hundred and forty-three specks between fifty-two individual stones?

“It’s ready for you.”

My body turns aimlessly until I find myself locked in Kayn’s red eyes—ones that haunt me. Blinking rapidly, I take a shaky step forward. His hands find my arms, a steadying touch as I fight to stay upright.

Redirecting my gaze downward, I force myself to swallow the lump that’s there.

He squeezes tighter. “You need to talk to her…”

“I—” The crying and screaming have left my voice raw, scraped down to nothing but a whisper. “I know…”

It’s as though she had been just around the corner, because the moment I speak, I see blue hair coming into view. Sydni opens the metal barred door and rushes to me.

When she saw Kairhyse, I broke down all over again.

I apologized for so long I lost my voice.

Like I had taken her Mark from her, it was all I could think to do.

I’d broken this… my family. For my freedom, I’d torn us apart, and for the first time in my entire existence, I can’t find any forgiveness for myself.

I hate my selfishness, and care that she might hate me for it too.

Her eyes close as she comes into my view, and wraps her arms around my neck. As she shakes, I slowly encircle her torso and hold her weakly.

She doesn’t say anything, but sobs softly into my let down, unbrushed hair.

I want so badly to stop breathing already so that I can be with him again.

Sydni pulls away from me just slightly, her chin tilting up as her eyes remain closed. She knows they remind me of him, and it stings to realize she's doing this for my sake. That after everything I’ve done, she would still think of me like this.

“You can open your eyes, Syd,” I say while bringing my hand up to her cheek.

Her teeth chatter as she does, tears spilling in waves from them. I swipe them away with my thumb, shifting between her bright crimson eyes.

“You should see me before I go.”

When the words leave my lips, she throws herself back against me and squeezes me tight. “Please don’t leave me, Phiny.”

I suck in a sorrowful breath, allowing myself to feel the burn of my temples as pain crosses my eyes.

“Please don’t go...”

Leaning my head against hers, I hold onto the friend I never deserved. The person that saw me for not the monster or demon the world created me to be. The one that loved me unconditionally, and that I too love with all of who I am.

“I fought so hard to be happy…” I caress my hand down the back of her head, letting my tears fall freely onto her shoulder. “My happiness is right here, buried with him.”

When she nearly falls, I grab hold of her tighter. “I—I’m going to miss you so much. I can’t live without you.”

I hush her, and kiss the side of her head. “I’m going to miss you too, but Syd, I can finally have peace. No more fighting… no more running… and I can be with him.”

She steps back and looks once again at me.

Her eyes are as red as mine are, I’m sure.

“Brice will take care of you, and so will Niyla. Alaric also promised to watch out for you, too.” I turn my head over to see Kayn.

“I’ll be back when I’m meant to fulfill my promises, but until then” —I put my hands up to cradle her face in them— “I’ll be at peace. ”

When she opens her mouth, all that comes out is a whimper.

“I love you, Sydni.”

Her head shakes as she squeezes her eyes shut tightly. “I love you, Xera. You were always the best friend I deserved, even if you think otherwise. I’d have never had it any other way.”

I release a sad huff that is filled with a soft laugh. “If you say so, princess.”

Leaning forward, I press a kiss to her forehead. She puts her arms around me once more, and when I look up, I see Niyla, Brice, and Alaric standing in the doorway.

“Promise to take care of her.”

Niyla nods, and the fact she is crying for me, does give my heart a warmth I swore I’d only get from Kai and Syd.

When Brice looks away, I can see him struggling as well.

“Go. I need to speak with Alaric and Kayn.”

Sydni reluctantly pulls away, turning and walking off. I’m relieved when she immediately seeks Brice out, knowing he’ll give her the comfort she deserves.

Looking at Alaric, he steps slowly into the room and looks down to the large metal casket that rests on my left. I follow his gaze. This is the reason it took several days, because we had to find one big enough for two people. There is no cushion, strictly bound by metal inside and out.

Kairhyse lays there on his back. Someone, unsure of who, sewed his head to his neck. I’m grateful for that, because I couldn’t imagine having to do that myself.

My head throbs as pain rockets through my body.

A gentle hand comes to my cheek and turns my gaze away. Alaric looks at me with weary eyes, a topic on his tongue I know he doesn’t want to breach.

“Just…” I lace my fingers together and hold my hands at my stomach. “Just let me be with him for a while.”

He rubs his thumb under my eye. “I’ll only come when Belial pressures me.” As he wets his bottom lip, he leans forward and presses a kiss to my cheek. “I’m sorry. This was not what you deserved.”

When he steps back, he sighs. “I’ll make sure the Shifter suffers, and I’ll keep him alive for as long as his lifespan will allow.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

“And I’ll keep an eye on your princess.” He then turns from me. “Goodbye, Xera.”

As he leaves, Mister is coming through the metal bars. Before I address him, I turn to Kayn. “I need to tell you something.”

He nods.

“Lucifer.” His eyes pop wide. “I saw him in the Beyond… with his father.”

“What for?” His voice is a whirlwind of panic.

I shrug my shoulders softly. “Don’t know, but I wanted you to know before I go under.”

It takes a moment for him to gather himself, but when he does, he says, “Thank you for telling me.”

“Kai told me I wouldn’t be sleeping with you two anymore,” Mister says as he jumps into the casket. “Happy to make him a liar.”

He had already told me he would be resting with us, because the moment my heart stops he will go into hibernation. When he told me that there would be no place for him without me, I didn’t think it possible for me to have cried harder, but I did.

I finally found the family that wants to take care of me, and I’m leaving them. My heart aches so badly, but I know it’s temporary; this pain and suffering I’m in.

I step toward my place of rest.

Funny how my story started being thrown into a box, and now I’m going into one willingly.

At least this time I won’t be alone.

I’ll never be alone again…

“You never know.” Kayn steps up behind me and reaches his arm around me. In his hand, the dagger that will keep my heart still. As I take it, my gaze fixes on the blade that will keep me with him forever. “It may work out for the better.”

“With how fate has fucked me, it won’t.”

He sighs, and steps back from me.

“I’m sorry, Kayn.” I raise up the blade, pointing the tip of it right where my heart beats. “I never wanted this for him. He deserved to live.”

A soft chuckle comes from him. “He would have had it no other way. That man loves you, losing his head is the least he would do.”

I smile as I look down at Kai. His face the color of gray, but his thick lips I could swear have a slight smirk to them. It’s delusion, a trick of the eyes, but I will take that to my grave that he’s doing so at Kayn’s words.

Because he’s right.

Crazy obsessed Vampire.

Shifting to look at Mister, he is curling up on Kai’s stomach, and looking up to me. “Night, Xeraphine. I will see you when you wake.”

I release all my air from my lungs.

Then with force, I pierce myself with the dagger. Darkness creeps across the edges of my eyes, and then a piercing pain through my neck completely severs my vision.

“I’ve missed you… little demon.”

I blink several times because the bright light feels personal. Like it’s actively trying to fight me, and I swear if it were a physical thing, I’d swing and kill it.

Grabbing the sheets that are at my waist, I try to pull them up over my head. Something has it held down and I groan through my teeth. When I throw myself to my side, I press against a body.

My heart leaps, and everything falls into place.

My frantic heart. My aching soul. My Amoro. It all comes together, and when I open my eyes to see him lying there with a large, beautiful smile, I choke on a laugh.

“Took you long enough.” Hearing his voice fills me with a joy I swore I’d been missing for more than a few days. His skin the warm brown that I’ve come to need against mine is no longer ashen from death.

Tears line my eyes as I produce an unfiltered, huge, smile. “It’s only been days…”

I too have missed him so much.

Kai moves his hand up my arm, and his touch has me blinking to allow the tears to be set free. He wraps his fingers around the side of my neck, pulling me closer to him.

“Seconds, minutes, days… any time away from you feels like too long.” Leaning forward, he brushes his nose against mine. “You did so good, little demon.”

My arms move between us, and I cradle his neck, my thumbs drawing across his throat. “Thank you for sacrificing so much for my happiness.” When my lips begin to tremble, he presses his against them, stilling the shake. “Thank you for being everything I needed in that life.”

His arm snakes around my waist, and as he curves my body to his, I draw my leg up to his hip. “In that life, and in the next, Xeraphine Monroe, you are mine to give my all to, mine to care for, and mine… to love.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, my little demon.”

He then kisses me, and I know he will never let me go again.