“Shut up,” I growled. “Go. Go now before I don’t give you a choice.”
Shock splashed across Blake’s face. “You’re letting me go?”
I glanced at Kat, but she lowered her head, silent. I was done. So was Kat.
“Go and never, ever come back here,” I ordered. “If I ever see you again, I will kill you.”
Blake was still for a moment, and then he pivoted around, taking off. I watched him go for a long moment, and then I turned to Kat. She staggered to the side, and her knees went out. I caught her before she hit the ground and switched into my Luxen form.
Instinct took hold, and as I held her close, I folded one hand along the back of her head and I healed her. God, I was so angry, but I took away the bruises and the pain. I wished I could take everything else away—all her lies, the guilt she would now face, the pain that would cut deeper than any physical wound, because this…all of this could’ve been prevented if she had just listed to me.
Squeezing my eyes shut, my arm around her waist tightened. I pinned her to my chest as I swallowed the knot in my throat. Pressure built in my chest as I lowered my cheek to the top of her head. I sat back, my ass planted in the snow. My throat seized off.
Daemon?
My fingers curled in her hair. I told you we couldn’t trust him.
Kat trembled. I’m sorry. I thought…I thought if I learned how to fight, I could keep you safe, all of you safe.
I lifted my head as I returned to my human form. Staring down at her in disbelief, my entire body shook with the force of the anger rolling through me.
“Daemon, I—”
“Don’t apologize. Just don’t apologize.” I lifted her out of my lap and sat her on the ground. Climbing to my feet, I drew in a short, rough breath. “Did you know he was working with the DOD this entire time?”
“No.” She shot to her feet and swayed. I caught her elbow, holding her until she stopped moving. Once she was steady, I let go. I had to. Tears streamed down her pale face. “I didn’t know until a few nights ago. And even then I wasn’t sure.”
A few nights ago?
“Dammit,” I spat, forcing myself to take a step back from her. “Was that the night you went to Vaughn’s on your own?”
“Yes, but I wasn’t sure.” She lifted bloodied hands and stopped short from thrusting them through her hair. “I should’ve told you then, but I didn’t know for sure, and I didn’t want to add anything for you to worry about.” Her voice cracked. “I didn’t know.”
I looked away, jaw clenching. “Adam is dead. My sister almost lost her life.”
She sucked air. “I’m so—”
“Don’t! Don’t you dare apologize!” I yelled, eyes glowing through the darkness. “Adam’s death will destroy my sister. I told you we couldn’t trust Blake, that if you wanted to learn how to fight, I would’ve shown you! But you didn’t listen. And you’ve brought the DOD into your life, Kat! Who knows what they know now?”
“I didn’t tell him anything!” Her voice broke again. “I never told him you healed me.”
My eyes narrowed. “Do you think he didn’t guess?”
She winced and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
I flinched, because sorry…sorry changed nothing. “And those times you were covered in bruises? That was him, wasn’t it? He was hurting you during training, wasn’t he? And never once did you think there may be something wrong with him? Goddammit, Kat! You’ve lied to me. You didn’t trust me!”
“I do trust—”
“Bullshit!” I shot forward, in her face. “Don’t say you trust me when it’s apparent you never did!”
Kat said nothing, because there wasn’t anything to say. I was right.
A burst of energy left me, slamming into an oak tree. It cracked with a loud snapping sound and then folded into a tree beside it. Kat jumped, gasping for air.
“All of this could’ve been prevented. Why couldn’t you trust me?” My voice cracked, and a fresh wave of tears coursed down her cheeks. I started forward, but stopped. Our eyes met. “I would’ve kept you safe.”
Pain flared in her eyes. She lifted her hand, reaching for me, but I stepped back. I turned and I left her there, in the barren coldness that had invaded my chest.
Chapter 27
Dee was awake when I returned to the house. She was on her knees, her cheek pressed to Adam’s still chest. Her entire body shook with the force of her sobs. Seeing her so broken killed me.
I walked over to her and knelt down, placing my hands on her shoulders. She didn’t seem aware of me. Ash was in Andrew’s arms on the other side of Adam. Matthew stood above them, and I could barely look at him.
It was Adam my gaze settled on and stayed there for a while. Adam hadn’t deserved this. God, none of us deserved this. Not even Kat.
“Come on.” My voice was gruff as I tugged Dee away from Adam. Her blotchy red face crumpled a second before she wrapped her arms around my neck. “Shh,” I whispered as I picked her up. “It’s going to be okay. It’s going to be all right.”
Her tears were already soaking my shirt.
I looked at Matthew. “I’m going to take her next door, and then I’ll take care of everything outside.”
He nodded without looking at me. “I’ll…I’ll take care of this.”
“Can you stay with Dee first?” I didn’t want her alone.
Dragging his gaze from Adam, he looked dazed. “Yes.” Matthew followed me next door. I kept Dee’s face pinned to my chest so she didn’t see Vaughn’s body. Warm air rushed at us as I walked into my house. I gently placed Dee on the couch. She immediately rolled onto her side, away from me.
I pressed my forehead to her cheek, my hands shaking. “I’m sorry, Dee. I’m so damn sorry.”
Dee cried louder.
Matthew sat by her legs, his head hanging. “God…”
Pushing away from the couch, I knocked the hair off my forehead and pivoted around. Energy rippled through me. I wanted to destroy something, but shit, there was already a mess outside.
“Where is he?” Matthew asked, his voice hoarse. “Blake?”
“Gone,” I answered after a moment. “He’s gone. He won’t be back.”
“You let him go?” Surprise filled his tone.
I closed my eyes. “We’ll talk when I get back, okay?”
None of this needed to be said in front of Dee.
I walked back outside. Ash was standing near the body of Vaughn. She didn’t look up as I went to her side. “Andrew is taking Adam back…back to the house.” Her voice was shaky, fragile. “I…don’t know what to do.”
“I’m sorry,” I said again, the words nowhere near adequate.
“I thought it would be you.” Her teary gaze met mine. “I thought she would get you killed, but it was my brother.”
Despite what I knew and what I didn’t know yet, I defended Kat. “She didn’t want this to happen. If anything…” I sighed, weary as my gaze fell to Vaughn. “If anything, she was trying to avoid this.”
“But it did happen, didn’t—” Her voice broke off.
The next thing I knew, white light swallowed Vaughn’s body. The Source was coming from Ash. I didn’t stop her. Nothing but ash remained where Vaughn once lay. “I want to kill them all,” she gritted out. “All of them.”
Ash brushed past me, and I turned halfway, watching her head into my house. I knew what she was feeling. I’d gone through it before, and there would be nothing that I could say that would make it okay.
I took care of Vaughn’s Expedition and Blake’s truck, moving them both farther down the road before I tapped into the Source and lit them up. I fed the fire that engulfed them, the flames turning white. After several minutes, there was nothing left of them, not even a burned-out shell.