38. Kairhyse

38

Kairhyse

I really don't know where I find the restraint not to completely tear off his head. The sound of the lengthy tail coming in for a swipe makes me laugh as I grip his throat tighter. I kick so hard that it flings back, circling the tree he's pinned against. His extended nails claw at my hand, but I ignore them. I'm not sure what this Shifter is, maybe a snake, but I'm impervious to all venom.

"Kai…" Her voice is low, and I can hear the pain she's in. "Remove his tail for me."

The Shifter's eyes widen, and with force, I throw him to the ground. His face crushes into the dirt with a groan. With my foot pressed against the upper part of his back, I do as my little demon has requested. I wrap my hand around the base of his tail, it's now I can see that he is no mere snake. The texture and slime secreting off him reveal he is a Komodo.

With rage, I pull, hearing the tear of muscle and flesh accompany his anguished scream. I know Xeraphine is pleased. I'm fucking thriving, and I've been here for less than a minute. The loud thump of his tail as it hits the ground and rolls is the only sound besides his cries. Not until I hear her struggling. The soft grunt and hiss through her teeth as she barely manages to get to her feet has me turning back to her.

I'm quick to her side, fighting my natural instinct to wrap her in my arms and warm her. I don't, because right now, I understand what she needs and wants. I have her elbow in my hand as she stumbles forward, urging herself to move to the Shifter.

"This is Daigo," she says with a shaky breath, "he is one of the five. Only I deserve to kill him."

I nod. "Of course." My job here is to help her over to him, but it's so hard to ignore the state she is in. Her chest has three large claw marks that are foaming and bloody. The limp in her walk caused by the devastating hole in her thigh. "I'm right here if you need me…"

She fought so fucking hard, and I don't need her to use words to tell me that.

As soon as we reach Daigo, he rolls onto his back, attempting to stand. When she pulls her arm away from me, I don't hold on. She finds that strength she has to make it the rest of the way to him. I see his claws, and I know there isn't anything she can do to keep him from cutting her as she falls onto his chest to straddle him.

Him slicing down her legs, I know it has to hurt, but she makes no move to show it. Instead, she swipes her hand across her thigh and immediately shoves her fingers down his throat. I can see him bite down onto her, but she once again, ignores it.

"Release me, Daigo," she commands.

I love seeing the fear and pain in his eyes as he slowly opens his mouth. I've only witnessed her do this on Mathas, and even if he had been my work partner, it would turn me on all the same. She says she's sick, but so am I, because I'm ready to watch her kill this Shifter. To see her so fucking powerful even in the state that she is in.

They should fear her, and so should I—and I do, but I will never run away. I fear her because she deserves to be feared, and that is what she wants.

"Why are they wanting to put me back under, Daigo? Tell me." The exhaustion I can hear in her tone makes it hard not to take hold of her shoulder to give her the strength to stay upright. I won't though, even if it's difficult for me. I'm also now focused on the fact she just said put her back under.

"I don't know," he says, his shoulders trembling. "Just kill me."

"I will," she quickly responds. "Will Lars know? Tell me the truth Daigo."

He nods.

"What is Lars's full name?" I know I'm not to interrupt, but that is crucial, so I do ask. It doesn't seem to bother her, or at least she doesn't shift in her posture.

"Answer the question," she demands.

"We only knew him as Lars," Daigo says. I'm not sure if he is telling the truth, but by the sigh that slips from her lips, I can gather he is. That's frustrating, but this entire situation surrounding her is just that.

"What kind of Shifter is he? What does he look like?" she presses, and as she does, her nails come to his neck and slice across his vein, blood beginning to pool from it. "Hurry, Daigo."

"He can't shift." He vibrates, the loss of blood is quick as she nicked the artery. "Brown hair, blue eyes, tall. Nothing exceptional about him!" If Lars can't shift, that means he is a hybrid, like my little demon.

Xeraphine places her thumb against the open cut and applies pressure. "Is Lars behind all of this?"

He closes his eyes and nods. Her shoulders jump. "All your bloody lies! Filthy fucking liars! Who is behind this?!"

"Lars!"

I'm surprised she has as much strength as she does because when she swings a punch across his face, I see at least three teeth go flying from his mouth. The release on his neck allows the blood to keep flowing, he will be unconscious and dead soon.

"You deserve to suffer," she seethes, "this is mercy, and I will regret not being able to make you hurt more for eternity." One of her hands press against the space between his neck and chest, and digs her nails into his throat.

His shriek is silenced nearly immediately as she applies pressure to the bottom of his jaw and begins pulling him apart. "You will find no sanctuary with the Gods for your sins, and Belial will spit on your request for salvation. Hang in the abyss of the unknown until you, too, are nothing." With a loud tear of flesh, she splits open his neck, and as his spine cracks upward, his heart stops.

I release the breath I don't need, but one that feels as if it were stuck in my chest. She sits there, her shoulders moving with the rhythm of her breathing, which is calm. I don't say anything or approach her. Watching her completely tear his neck apart is fucking beautiful, and I want to give her the moment to soak it in.

"Kai?" Her head turns toward me, her eyes bloodshot, and she extends her hand out to me. "Can you carry me? I may pass out when I stand."

I take the two steps needed to get to her and wrap an arm around her waist, cradling her into my arms. She hooks one of hers around my neck and leans into my chest.

"Fucking Vayl above, little demon," I whisper. Her skin feels freezing cold, yet underneath, I sense a simmering heat. "Let's get you home, and get you fed." My grip on her tightens, and she slowly lifts her head to meet my gaze.

"You needed no saving, Xera," I reassure her, because I can tell being cradled like this and seeing me here, she has mixed feelings.

She shakes her head, "No, I didn't need saving." The moment I am about to apologize, she continues. "But I did need you. Thank you."

My lips part, but I'm hesitant to say what I want. I don't want to be reluctant when it comes to her.

Who am I to be hesitant when it comes to you?

"Anything for you."

I don't wait for a response, and I'm in motion. I know the crisp air as we run doesn't make her feel better, but I think she's passed out anyway. I don't feel her shift or complain of the cold .

I head back west where I know my car is parked. Either Sydni is asleep, or she's so consumed on her phone that she doesn't see us approach.

When I open the driver's door and peek over, I confirm she fell asleep.

"Sydni," I whisper, and she jumps up, tossing her head back and forth as if trying to orient herself. I've positioned myself so she can't see Xeraphine; my shoulder rests against the car, facing inward. "I have her, but I need you to take a deep breath."

"Phiny?!" She sucks a healthy bit of air through her teeth. "Where?!"

"Sydni, she's just passed out, okay? But, she's hurt so I need you to drive. I'll hold her until we get home." I can see the tears beginning to pillow in her eyes. "Crawl over to the driver seat, and just take it slow."

I don't wait for her to agree or not and stand to move around to the other side. Opening the passenger door, I enter with my back to her and put Xeraphine into my lap, grabbing the jacket Sydni had been using like a blanket. After covering what I can, I turn into the car and close the door. I pull her closer and tuck her head under my chin.

When I peer over at Sydni, she's staring at us.

"Remember, she's sleeping," I am really not sure if I'm reminding her or myself.

"Thank you…" she murmurs. "Thank you so much…"

I shake my head, "Don't thank me. I didn't do anything, she fought. I just carried her here." There is more to that story, but that is what matters. We got her and are bringing her home.

Sydni extends her hand and rests it against Xeraphine's leg. I shift under the jacket to locate her hand and gently bring it out, offering it to Sydni to take into hers. I wouldn't insist on her driving with both hands, even though it would probably be safer. If she took us off the windy roads, well, that would be ironic after everything that just happened .

As we pull out of the mountain rangers station, I press a kiss to the top of my little demon's head. "I've got you," I whisper, and hold her tight.

I can only imagine what she went through in those five days, and for once, I'm not sure I'll push for her to tell me. I've always been the demanding-for-answers type, but I'm afraid it may push me over the edge I'm already hanging over.

If it weren't for my need to keep her close, the moment she is fed and situated in bed, I'd be out looking for Lars.

After getting out of the very windy roads of the mountain range, we hit the highway. I'm proud of Sydni for speeding, and since it's in the middle of the night, there isn't much traffic.

A few hours into the drive is when Xeraphine moves for the first time. She doesn't open her eyes, but she tenses. I fear she may wake not knowing where she is, so I adjust, ready to subdue her when she grips tightly to my shirt and sinks further into my embrace.

"Cinnamon…" she murmurs so softly I'm surprised I can hear it over the heater and soft music playing. Sydni had released her hand a while ago, now all my girl is holding onto is me.

I smile, "I was just adjusting you," she doesn't move or acknowledge me speaking, "kind of worried you'd punch me because you didn't know who was holding you."

Her lips part, and I watch her breathing escalate, as if it's difficult to speak, "Doesn't… matter…" I lift her head so she isn't talking to my chest. My arm moves behind her neck so that it can rest there. "Still… would punch you…"

A soft laugh rolls from my throat, "I'll take it." I press a kiss to her forehead.

"Driving…?"

"Sydni." The back of my hand comes to brush against her cheek, watching as the edge of her lip curls up slightly. "She's being awfully quiet though."

When I peek at her, it's because she's crying. I don't say anything, but just look back at my girl who is asleep once again. Her head is rolled back into the crook of my arm, and the tension in her shoulders has disappeared.

I wrap my arm around her leg and rest my cheek against her head. The remainder of the drive, I focus on listening to her heart. Just hearing and allowing that to fill me with the solace I need to remind me that she's still alive. I know she can't die, but I'm still so fucking terrified to lose her.

Gods damn.

I love this woman.