Chapter 15

Chapter

Fifteen

FLYNN

I fall to my knees as soon as the door to my apartment closes. Talulla ran away from me. From her fears. From the knowledge of what she had done. Because despite her feeling of betrayal, she still couldn't let herself do the one thing she was brought up to do: kill my kind. Kill me.

She couldn't kill me .

I wrap my hands around the broken piece of wood sticking from my chest and pull it out. There's no pain from the open wound, only despair. My body seems to be paralyzed as the smell of crimson makes my throat go mad.

She couldn't kill me .

My body clenches at the thought of her trauma—her constant fear of being abandoned—and who am I to change that? She might think I'm the killer behind the werewolves' deaths right now, but what will her reaction be when she finds out the potion is for me? That the potion is a cure to give me a chance to let my body die as a human once more.

How can I look her in the eyes and tell her why I came to Palo Alto in the first place? How can I tell her that my intentions were always to give up this non-life, even if the potion didn't end up working? Yes, because the reality is that I came to California knowing that Evanora was here, but knowing that Emil Popescu was here as well.

I was ready to let him stake me if that was what it took to end me.

His own daughter changed everything.

His own daughter gave me a reason to wake up in the morning.

His own daughter just tried to kill me and couldn't.

But I do deserve infinite death. I remain a predator despite my decision to stop feeding from humans. I remain a killer who won't stop at anything if someone tries to touch what's mine.

And Talulla is mine. Even if she decides she doesn't want to be with me, she still will be mine. My world. Till my end.

As the wound finally closes, I get up and start cleaning up the blood on the floor. The mix of bleach and iron makes my nose flair.

I have to get to Talulla before the Drusus coven gives her the wrong information. Because even if she is upset with me, and rightfully so, I still have nothing to do with those damn dogs dying.

I dress up quickly and make my way to her dorm, and before I even get a chance to knock on her door, Cassandra swings it open, her palm raised to my chest.

"Let me in, witch."

Her hand, still raised, creates an invisible barrier that prevents me from stepping inside.

"I need to talk to her."

"She doesn't want to see you." Her eyes narrow. "And you're trying to step into your own grave, Lancaster." Asmodeus walks beside her, ready to use his own powers if I step out of line. "You know what's going to happen next. I don't have to tell you."

I groan, my nostrils flaring. If they only let me explain what the fuck is going on, maybe they'll understand that this is truly not what it seems. "The potion is for me, Cassandra, and it's not a death potion." I start, my shoulders falling in defeat. "I asked Evanora for a cure, a way to die on my own terms." My jaw clenches before I raise my voice once more. "Why am I explaining this to you? I need to talk to her ."

"Give her some space, Flynn. You fucked up."

"The potion—Talulla made me change my mind. It's not what it looks like."

"What do you mean?" Asmodeus asks.

I sigh. They wouldn't understand why I was ready to let myself go. "I thought I was done living, and then Talulla walked in front of me. I have never felt anything until her ."

"Those are pretty words. Talulla needs facts, Flynn." Cassandra's voice is firm. I can tell she believes me, but the reality is that even if I am not a killer, I still omitted to tell her friend something major, something that my beautiful hunter fears: losing someone she loves.

This is the moment when Talulla bursts out of the bathroom with a stake in her hand. God, she's so beautiful, even when she's ready to murder me. And just like earlier today, I won't move. I won't defend myself. I will accept everything she needs to give me. I will take her pain and make it my own.

"Time for round two, little hunter?" I tilt my head, not knowing if the sudden urge to humor her will even do me some good. "You know I won't escape my faith."

She's angry. I can sense her frustration and hurt, and it's something I will devote my life to never seeing again. Her father tried to create a being with no emotions, but the reality is that my girl can't stop feeling, and she shouldn't have to.

Talulla doesn't say a single thing, she just acts. I can tell she's not actually fighting to kill me. She just needs to get the anger out, so I let her do that. "Take it all out, Talulla. It's okay," I say in a soft voice. "Give me your torment."

"You don't get to say a word," she spits back, and as she continues to punch and kick, I see how her friends are just there, witnessing this anger tantrum. Something I feel like I deserve, but most importantly, something she needs. My Talulla is terrified of letting herself feel anything because she's used to people disappointing her. She is used to never getting her way, and if this is what she needs to understand I am not going anywhere, then so be it. Because even if she might think so right now, there's no way I'm walking away from her.

My phone rings, and I let it. I need to take care of this now, and everyone else can wait.

It rings again.

On the third call, I look at it and see Evanora's name flashing. "You might wanna get that," Talulla says, panting. Raising one eyebrow at her, I pick up my phone, and she walks away from me a second time. No stake in my chest this time though.

"Evanora, I am busy—" I growl, but she doesn't let me finish my sentence.

"I need to see you right now, Flynn." Her voice is concerned. My eyes widen as I sense her panic just by her tone.

The witch wouldn't have called so many times if it wasn't important. "I'm on my way."

Cassandra tilts her head slightly. "Is she okay?"

I just look at her. "Let me go find out." I look toward the door to the bathroom where I know Talulla is. "Take care of her."