Page 8 of Kael

“Bria is nothing like Indigo,” I said in her defense. “Indigo was a violent little brat.”

Raziel rubbed the back of his neck. “Look… we’re not saying let her go. Not if she’s really that far gone. But you need to be smart about this. Maya’s involved. You know how she gets about her friends.”

“Her parents agreed,” I replied. “I don’t see how this is Maya’s problem.”

Caine shook his head. “This family has enough heat right now. Between Malachai and Indigo’s chaos… we don’t need another war started over a girl. Especially one tied to her ex.”

I looked between them, my voice low and final.

“Fuck Darius. He’s a lowlife fresh out of prison with very little power. She’s already mine. The only question is how messy the transition is going to be.”

Caine stared at me for a long second, then leaned back in his chair with a tired sigh.

“Will you at least let Zia check on her?”

I nodded. “Fine.”

“Fuck it,” he muttered. “Just try not to get any of us killed over your little rabbit. We’ve already bled enough for one year.”

Raziel smirked faintly. “This is very… you, cousin.”

I didn’t smile back.

I just picked up the whiskey again and took a slow sip.

Bria was back at my house right now—shaking, crying, cursing my name. She was a mess, but I’d burn this entire city down before I let her go.

Chapter 5

Bria

I was breaking the fuck apart.

Everything hurt. My bones felt like they were being scraped from the inside. Sweat soaked through the sheets, making them cling to my skin like a second, suffocating layer. My stomach twisted violently, and I barely made it to the edge of the bed before I vomited again—nothing but bile and water now. The maid, an old woman named Rosa, had tried to help me, but I’d shoved her away twice already.

“Please…” I whimpered, curling into a ball on the cold floor. “Please, I can’t do this. I need something. Just a little. Just enough to make it stop.”

Rosa stood nervously by the door, wringing her hands. “Señor Kael will be back soon.”

I laughed, but it came out as a sob. “Don’t let him near me. He’s a monster. He’s going to let me die in here.”

The door opened at that very moment.

Kael stepped inside, and the air in the room changed instantly. He wore a black shirt and slacks.

Rosa gave him a small nod and quickly slipped out, closing the door behind her.

The second she was gone, I dragged myself up, using the bedpost for support. My legs shook so badly I nearly collapsed.

“Kael,” I croaked, voice raw from screaming earlier. “Please. I’m begging you. Just one hit. I’ll do anything. I’ll be good. I swear I’ll be good after that, no more.”

He crossed the room slowly and crouched in front of me. His hand reached out to brush damp hair from my forehead, but I jerked away.

“Don’t touch me!” I snapped, jerking backward, then immediately regretted it as another wave of nausea hit. I gagged, dry-heaving over the floor. Tears streamed down my face. “I hate you. I fucking hate you for doing this to me.”

“I know,” he said softly. He stayed crouched, watching me with dark, steady eyes. “But you’re going to get through this.”

I lunged at him then. My nails raked down his arm as I tried to shove him away. “Let me go! Or I’ll tell everyone what you did when I get out of here! Darius will kill you for this!”