Page 32 of Tethered Fates
“We’re all mad down here,” I whisper, digging my fingers into my sweats in the same way my entire focus holds onto Sen. I spit out a shaky breath and try to ease my grip on both.
Kai sighs. “I’ll tell you everything, and then you’ll tell me what happened with Summer?”
I nod. What else is there to do?
He breathes in—then begins.
Kai tells me about Golden and his brother Jace. How Golden fell in love with another vampire named Lucero. He tells me about Emma and a burning warehouse. About a spellbook that no one can touch but whoever owns it, and how he gave that spellbook up.
“Sen saved me from Emma,” Kai tells me.
“He’s slick, that one…”
Kai gently strokes my hair back, and he seems to understand what even I don’t. “I know, little bro. I know.” I pull my knees up and bury my face in them. “Sen is okay, and he’s coming back.”
“Why do I care?” I ask, voice muffled. “You’re telling me all this shit, and all I can think about is him.”
Kai sighs. He doesn’t answer, and soon I learn more: “You know how my birth parents died in a house fire?”
I frown, confused by the shift, but nod.
“I always told you I was playing with candles, but…I wasn’t.” Kai holds out his hand, and after a moment, the smallest purple flame unfurls atop his pointer finger.
“Holy shit…” I let go of my legs, slowly sitting up straight as purple light dances across Kai’s half-hidden face. “Holy shit…”
“I know, right?” he chuckles sadly, then blows out that little flame. “I didn’t know how to tell you, Teagan. How to admit I killed them…”
I’m angry at my brother, hurt, and overwhelmed by so many other feelings that only paint will help sort out, but I look at him sharply. “You weren’t to blame for what happened to them. You were a kid.”
He startles, and after a beat, his expression melts. “Summer was the one who told me I’m a half-demon. That’s why I can use magic…”
“Stop. Wait, so…you’re a half-demon AND a vampire?”
“As I said, it’s all crazy.”
“Fucking hell. Demons, vampires…what’s next?”
He snorts in a way that makes me think there’s so much more. “Emma ripped out my soul, and we trusted Summer to help. But when we found Emma, she was…weak. Sick. Demons apparently make mages ill.”
“I’m sorry, she did what? Your soul? Fuck, Kai. Are you okay now—”
“I’m fine, I promise. It’s all totally healed.” He pulls up his t-shirt to reveal a long scar going down his chest.
My heart seizes. Kai hates pain; he’s a tattoo artist without a tattoo. I can’t even imagine how scary that must’ve been for him. “Kai—” My voice breaks, and I throw my arms around him, hugging him tight.
Kai swallows back a shaky breath and drops his forehead against mine, hugging me back. “I promise, little bro. I’m all good. Better than ever, in fact. But I did fuck up with Summer. I should’ve told you to stay away from her.”
“This isn’t your fault.”
We stay connected, Kai holding onto me like if we part, I’ll never let him hug me again.
I wanna assure him that nothing has changed. The problem is that everything has.
“Alright, it’s your turn, Teagan,” Kai says, easing back.
Before I can say anything, a man walks in. A man with… “Holy shit. You’ve got silver eyes.”
He smirks. “That I do, cutie.” Then he looks to Kai, face becoming serious. “They’re back, and with people.”
