Right now, I’m thankful she doesn’t know the truth, that I threw myself off the bridge our parents crashed their car off of. It’s the strangest thing, knowing you did something but not actually remembering the act of doing it. My mind went blank and something strange took over my body. Although the thought of this is terrifying, I’m thankful there isn’t an obvious reason for Olivia to beg me to check myself back into the psychiatric hospital. I wasn’t having visual or auditory hallucinations like last time or even dissociating and losing myself like before. This time felt different. I wasn’t myself at all.
“I’m sorry I’m being weird. I think rest would do me good.” I lift my head to look at her, and she smiles, brushing strands of red hair away from my face.
She nods. “Of course. Katie says you’ll be fine. She claims the spirits beyond promised you’ll be safe.”
It’s not surprising that Katie knew I’d be fine. Her intuition and the spirits she claims speak to her have never led her astray. She always seems to know everything.
“It’s true. They did.” Her smile is wide and bright, and my eyes drift down to the necklace she always wears, the pretty amulet wrapped in golden wire.
It always reminds me of my mom, of the obsidian one she always wore that went missing the night she died. I miss her. I know it was just a necklace, but she always promised it would belong to me one day. I wish I had that little piece of her to remember her by.
“Of course they did. I believe you.” My laugh is hoarse and strained as I swing my legs back into bed and settle in. “Thank you both for being here for me. Now, go home. I’m fine.”
Katie nods, rubbing my arm and smiling before leaving Olivia and I alone to say our goodbyes.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” My sister gathers up her purse and keys before placing her hands on my cheeks and frowning down at me. “I’m sorry this happened, and that you’re stuck here. If I could take your place, you know I would.” Leaning down, she hugs me tightly, and I close my eyes feeling sleepiness crashing into me.
“You can. Just get in the bed and I’ll leave,” I tease, shooing her away with my hands. “I’ll be fine. I love you.”
“Love you too.” She dims the lights as she leaves, shutting the door behind her.
Gripping my thin, white blanket in my hands, I pull it up to my shoulders, sleep already taking hold of me. I smile, feeling gratitude for having such a caring boyfriend, the most amazing sister, and the best friend a girl could ever ask for in my life. I’m also grateful to the man who kept my secret from them, but I’m terrified remembering the time with him in the woods. The beautiful wings and the multiple deadly weapons do little to make me feel safe. I push the thoughts away for now, focusing on getting the rest I so badly need.
When I get out of here, I need answers. I’m going to find him again. As much as I know I shouldn’t go creeping around searching for darkness or welcoming it into my life, I know I will. I won’t be able to stop the racing thoughts until I know the truth about what happened tonight, and possibly even the truth about what happened to my parents. If he’s real, if supernatural creatures truly exist, then maybe he can explain what the hell happened the night they died. Maybe he understands the many things I can’t explain. He should fear me, not the other way around. I won’t be afraid. I refuse to let fear rule my life. I will not stop until I find this Kairos, if that’s even his real name, and I will demand the answers I deserve.
If he doesn’t kill me first, that is.
Chapter Five
Angel of Death
KAIROS
The streetlights are all that are left in the city as Mio and I keep watch in town. Shops are closed and people are finally off the streets and safe at home. It’s just the two of us in our fighting leathers and armor strolling through the sleepy little town of Mackinac Island, long swords strapped to our backs and celestial daggers in each of our hands. The quiet streets are what I prefer, but even if the streets were still crowded with tourists and residents, they wouldn’t see us, not really. They’d see two men in their mid-twenties, fierce and a bit rugged to them, maybe, but our wings, weapons, and magic would go unseen through their oblivious mortal eyes.
I open my palm, letting little bursts of lightening dance along my skin, the cracking and popping of thunder overhead following seconds after. I like a good thunderstorm, and the city could use a little rain. With the recent uptake in evil that’s been creeping in, black venom stains the streets and the sulfuric scent of the Underworld and the demons who continue to crawl out of it, permeates the air. It needs a good cleansing. The stench of them is so intense I can almost taste it. There could only be one reason Nyx is sending her minions here, of all places, when there are much bigger cities full of people she could easily torment or torture and enslave, but I am not ready to face that truth yet. She couldn’t possibly know Nora is here, could she? The attacks are getting more violent and happening more often. It’s taking away from my time of guarding Nora, and I don’t much like it, especially after what happened tonight on the bridge. It leaves me with no choice but to rely on Katie’s wards of protection she places around Nora wherever she goes, and as much as Katie cares for her and tries her best to keep her safe, those witchy wards aren’t full proof. They can’t save her from herself. Nora needs me, and yet here I am, hunting demons again instead of being there for her. I should be there.
“Kairos, I know you’ve had a rough day, but you have got to stop sulking. You’re killin’ my vibe, here, man.” Mio turns to face me while continuing to walk backwards down the cracked, uneven sidewalk.
His dark hair cascades over his eyes, but even with the dim lights shining overhead, I can see the green glinting with amusement. I hope he fucking falls. I hope he trips and lands on his ass simply for talking like that.
“Really, Mio? You are one hundred and thirty years old. Only young, hip kids say things like ‘killin’ my vibe,’ and I’m sorry to tell you this, but you are neither of those things. I’m embarrassed for you.”
My first in command flashes his pearly whites as he comes around to walk beside me, slapping me on the back as he does.
“There he is. I know your mood is improving when you revert back to making fun of me.” He glances up at the dark clouds and the flashes of blue and white streaking across the sky then striking on the ground around us. He shakes his head. “Letting your frustration out in the sky always helps, too.”
“You know giving you shit is my favorite hobby. Next to killing demons, of course.”
His burst of laughter is short, as he tells me, “That I do.” He slows his walking down to a crawl. “You know she’s going to be okay, right? We will all do whatever it takes to protect her.”
“Thank you. I know she will be, because I will make sure of it.” I stop, twirling my dagger in my hand and keep my gaze pinned on him.
He nods once before continuing forward, letting the conversation end. Mio and I have known each other for over a century, and one thing I enjoy about our friendship is the way we both know when to let conversations die. We say what we need to. Nothing more and nothing less. Nora is a tough subject for me, and Mio respects that.
I want to believe Nora is my fated mate reincarnated—the one who built my army from the ground up to fight against Nyx and her demon hoard a century ago. Being with Hemera felt like fate. Like a destiny I never dreamed could be real. If I was to be king one day, she would have stood by my side as queen. No one else existed when it was her and I. Ever since her death, I’ve barely existed at all. The gods wrote prophecies that promised her return, but that was over a century ago. I’m still alone. I’m still burdened by memories of the day she died and how the gods allowed her to be taken from me. Maybe the gods lie. Or maybe Nora truly is her. Gods, I’d give anything for that to be true.
“Let me ask you something, Mio.” I pause as he glances back at me, nodding and furrowing his brows. “Do you think we could have more than one fated mate? If one dies, do you…” I swallow thickly, shrugging my shoulders and averting my gaze. “What if she isn’t Mera? What if Gaia is wrong?”
