Her eyes searched his face. She was looking for the truth in those words, but she saw none. He was placating her. Perhaps he was hopeful it would be true, but she knew deep down he had no intention of coming back. Why bother leaving in the first place?
“We both know that’s not true,” she told him, dropping her gaze to the pillow.
“Acadia—”
She clenched the pillow in her fists. “Please go,” she bit out, another sob breaking free. “Just leave, Kaj.”
“Please, Acadia—”
“Go!”
His deep exhale and the sound of his footsteps leading away from the door tore the last shreds of her sanity.
Acadia fell over, giving in to the tears.
Although it killed him, Kaj forced himselfto walk away. The tightness in his chest grew the more distance he put between them. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, but if it was any consolation—which it wasn’t—he was hurting just as much.
By the time he made it down the stairs, everyone who’d come to say goodbye to him had dispersed. The only one remaining was Obsidian, and there was a wealth of knowledge in those silver swirling eyes.
“Take care of her for me,” he said, the words pushed out past the emotion threatening to strangle him.
“I will. I promise you that.” The male clamped a hand on Kaj’s shoulder. “Do what you need to do. She’s safe here. It’ll take some time, but she’ll move past this.”
Kaj wanted to tell him he hoped that wasn’t the case, but he wasn’t that selfish. Deep down, he wanted Acadia to mourn the loss of what they had the way he would. Though she didn’t know it, he had imprinted on her. She was the only love he would ever know. Didn’t matter how many lovers he took in the future, none would ever touch that part of him that belonged to her. Then again, he didn’t intend to ever take a lover again. He would gladly spend the rest of his days abstaining, rather than bear the touch of another female.
“Keep in touch, will you?” Obsidian said firmly. “Keep me in the loop.”
“I will,” he assured his friend.
“And if you ever need anything, I’m just a phone call away.”
Kaj nodded. “Thanks. For everything. I’m not sure I can ever repay you for saving my life.”
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
He believed that. Obsidian was a rarity in this world, a true friend.
Forcing his shoulders back, Kaj put one foot in front of the other. He had to get out of there. He could smell Acadia’s tears, hear her almost silent sobs, and it was tearing him to shreds. But he had to get back to his father. There was danger on the horizon. Mirakel had told him as much. They would always be at war with the demons, and it was Kaj’s duty to protect the ruler of the race. As much as he wished his needs and desires could be put first, they could never come before the greater good.
“Take care,” Obsidian said as Kaj stepped out the door and into the night.
“You, too, my friend.”
When the door closed, Kaj remained where he was, staring up at the second floor, wishing he could see her one last time. He knew it wouldn’t matter. He would still be leaving here a broken and shattered male. Didn’t matter that he was stronger than he’d ever been, Kaj was no longer whole. There was a piece of him missing, a piece he’d gladly handed over to that female for safekeeping. He had a part of her with him, too, he knew that much. But it wouldn’t make the distance any easier to bear.
He was leaving his heart behind, back in that room, back with that female.
As he peered up at the dark window, he spoke softly. “I will come back for you,balisra.I don’t know when, and I don’t know how. But I will come back.”
He had to believe that.
Otherwise, there was no way he could’ve walked away.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“How are you feeling?” Bijou asked Oliverwhen she stepped into his bedroom.
It had been nearly seventy-two hours since Oliver had had that seizure. Since then, he’d been taking it easy, and she had appointed herself as his caretaker.
