That smirk—that damn smirk—was still there at the corners of his lips.
Anya crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. "Zephyr always sees the best in you, doesn't he?" she said. "He left you here with me, thinking I'd keep you safe while he runs off to do your dirty work."
Kai raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "I didn't ask him to leave you here. But, hey, I'm not complaining."
"Of course, you're not," Anya shot back as she walked closer to the bed. "Zephyr said he'd die a million times for you. For all his brothers. Good or bad. And somehow, you've convinced him you're worth that."
Kai's smirk faded. "He knows I'm worth it. It's called loyalty. Maybe you should learn from him."
"Loyalty?" Anya scoffed. "Or is it manipulation? You always know how to twist things, make him believe there's still something good in you. Even when you break every rule the three of you swore to follow."
Kai pushed himself up slightly, wincing as his body didn't like the movement. "Zephyr knows what it takes to survive as vampires. Sometimes, breaking the rules is necessary."
"Necessary? Like the time you fed on that innocent human? How you broke your vow to your brothers—"
Kai's jaw tightened as he interrupted Anya. "We don't have to talk about that."
"But we do." Anya stepped closer with her eyes flashing with anger and something else—pain. "I saw what you did. I kept your secret, Kai. But I shouldn't have."
"You didn't have to keep anything," Kai muttered defensively. "You chose to."
"Yeah, I did," she snapped. "But I regret it. Every day since."
Kai sat up a bit more, with his gaze steady on hers. "So, what? You want me to compel you to forget?"
Anya hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. I want you to make me forget everything that happened between us that night. The kiss, the blood... everything." She said softly.
For the first time, Kai looked hurt. But he masked it quickly, except it was too late—Anya had seen it. "You regret everything?" he asked.
Anya didn't flinch. She looked him in the eye. "Yes. I do."
Kai's jaw clenched, but he didn't argue. Slowly, he swung his legs over the side of the bed, standing up on weak legs. He moved closer to her with his eyes still fixed on hers. When he was close enough, he reached out, gently placing his hands around her neck.
"Fine," he whispered. "If that's what you want."
Anya's heart skipped a beat as Kai's fingers brushed against her skin. They looked into each other's eyes, and for a moment, it felt like they were the only two people left in the world, and no one else.
"You'll forget," Kai whispered. "Forget the kiss, the blood, the promise you made that night. Forget it ever happened."
Anya blinked, her mind went blank for a moment as his words took hold. She felt a strange emptiness, like there was a hole in her memory. Kai's hands slipped from her neck, and he stepped back.
Kai turned away from her, moving back to the bed. He sat down. "Please leave," he said with a hollow voice.
Anya stood there for a moment longer, she was confused. "I promised Zephyr I'd look after you. My time's not up yet so I'm not leaving."
Kai was visibly pained, angry and hurt, and the last person he wanted to see him this way was Anya. "Get out, now!!" He yelled.
Anya stood defiant. "If you want me to leave, then fine, I'll leave. Get well soon." She turned and left the room.
———————————————————————————
The GPS confirmed the destination—123 Hawthorne Lane. Damien looked out the window at the rundown building. It was late, and he had to stay on high alert.
He climbed out of the car, slamming the door shut. His eyes were fixed on the front of the building, and just as he took a step forward, Harlan emerged from the doorway.
"Long time no see, Damien," he called out with sarcasm in his tone.
Damien froze. The man before him looked different from the Harlan he remembered—stronger, more muscular, and, somehow, more threatening—not to him though. His once-boyish features were now gone. But Damien remained silent, with his gaze fixed on him
Harlan took a step forward, looking around. "I don't see anyone with you. Are you taking my kindness for granted?"
Again, Damien remained silent and Harlan's frustration flared. He crossed the distance between them and slammed his fist into Damien's chest, hard.
"Say something, motherfucker!"
Damien staggered slightly but stood his ground, staring at Harlan with his teeth ground together
Harlan hits him again, yelling at him to say anything. Abruptly, Damien yelled back, "What do you want me to say?!!"
Noticing Harlan's flinch at his pitch in his voice, he lowered his voice and then he repeated, "What do you want me to fucking say?"
Harlan looked over Damien's shoulder. "Where's Lizzie? I don't see her. Where is she?"
Damien hesitated. His jaw tightened before he finally spoke. "She's not here."
Harlan's jaw tightened. "Where is she then, if not here?"
"She's dead." Damien admitted.
Harlan's reaction wasn't what Damien expected. He chuckled. "So, you're taking my kindness for granted after all."
"If you would just listen to me—"
But Harlan cut him off. "Justin is only eighteen years old, Damien! Lizzie was all he fucking had, and Kai took that away from him!"
Damien opened his mouth to respond, but Harlan didn't let him. "Justin's a naive kid, a human, who knows next to nothing about the world we live in. His aunt was the only thing protecting him. Now he's my responsibility. My burden. What the hell am I supposed to tell him, huh? What am I supposed to say to the kid now that he's lost the only family he had?"
"Harlan—please, just listen to me," Damien pleaded.
Harlan's eyes widened with fury. "Listen? I hope whatever you have to say brings Lizzie back. Otherwise, you're wasting my time."
Damien spoke softly as he tried to reason with the man standing before him. "I can't bring Lizzie back." He took a deep breath. "But I know someone who can save Aunt Melina."
That caught Harlan off guard. His anger disappeared for a moment as his eyes narrowed. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Damien straightened. "Aunt Melina... I know about her condition. The cancer. You know she doesn't have much time left. But I know someone who can save her, Harlan. I swear to you, I can help her live."
Harlan stared at Damien. For a moment, hope flashed in his eyes. Then it was gone and was replaced with cold skepticism.
"Who?" Harlan asked with suspicion.
"I can't tell you who. Not yet," Damien replied. "But this person can save her. I'm not lying."
There was silence between them for a while. Harlan's jaw tightened, with his fists clenching and unclenching as he considered the offer. He took a step back, with his eyes fixed on Damien's.
"You really think that saving Melina will make up for what Kai did? For what you did?"
"I'm not asking for redemption, for my past or Kai's," Damien said, holding his ground. "I'm offering you a chance to save her life."
Harlan hesitated, he was visibly torn. For a brief moment, Damien thought he had him. He could see the conflict in Harlan's eyes, the possibility that Harlan might take the offer and call a truce.
But then Harlan shook his head, with a grim smile plastered on his face. "Melina's lived her life. It's time for her to join our ancestors."
What? Damien's expression fell, he couldn't believe what he heard. "Harlan, please—"
"You had your chance, Damien," Harlan said with finality in his tone. "There's no stopping this now. Kai's made his choices, and you... you chose to stand by him."
Damien's heart sank. "Harlan—"
"No," Harlan interrupted. "You think I'd let you off that easy?" He stepped forward, with his face inches from Damien's.
"Tomorrow, Agatha and her men will storm Crimson Estate. You should prepare yourselves. This little negotiation is over."
Damien stood frozen as Harlan turned his back on him, walking back toward the building. The opportunity had slipped through his fingers, and with it, the last hope of avoiding the inevitable war.
What the hell was he going to do now?