Chapter 34 Danica
Danica
Iwatch in horror as Rhyland crumples to the floor, his body twisted unnaturally.
My heart stops, my blood turning to ice as Lucian's gaze locks onto me, a feral hunger burning in his eyes.
Blood drips from his lips, a testament to the vicious blows Rhyland managed to land, but it's the sheer, unadulterated bloodlust in his expression that sends shivers down my spine.
How he managed to one-up Rhyland in their little tussle is beyond me. Must've been a lucky shot or some cosmic fluke.
"Oh, you can see it, can't you, Honey Pot?" his voice a twisted mix of snark and primal need. "The hunger, the craving, the all-consuming desire for that sweet, crimson Kool-Aid pumping through your veins."
Rhyland's unscheduled nap on the floor has me up shit creek, staring into Lucian's eyes right now, with that feral grin spreading across his face; I've got one thought loud and clear:
I'm totally fucked.
He stalks towards me. His movements are fluid and predatory, his eyes never leaving the blood that still glistens on my neck.
"I've been fighting it, trying to keep the beast caged, but your blood.
.. and this little thing between us," he points his finger at me then himself, "I felt your desires, your sweet, sweet need for release… "
His tongue darts out, licking the blood from his lips in a slow, sensual motion. "Watching him drink from you, the scent of your essence thick in the air... it's like mainlining pure, undiluted ecstasy. A hit that goes straight to the primal core of my being like a fucking junkie."
I back away slowly, my heart pounding so hard I swear it's going to burst out of my chest. Fear and adrenaline course through my veins, a sickening cocktail that makes my head spin faster than a merry-go-round.
"Lucian, don't…" I whisper, my voice trembling with fear and desperate hope. "I will kick your ass if I have to." I throw on my best bravado.
He takes another step closer, his eyes burning with a raw and all-consuming hunger.
"It's taking every ounce of willpower I have not to pin you against the wall and drink my fill of you.
Consequences can suck my undead dick. To lose myself in the taste of you again—until I can't even remember my own fucking name, let alone how to spell it. "
My hands ignite in flames, fear being their usual spark like a damn flamethrower. I don't trust Lucian as far as I can throw him right now; the man is lost in some bloodthirsty haze, and I'm the all-you-can-eat buffet.
"Lucian..." I warn, "I don't want to hurt you."
Please, God—or whoever's listening up there—don't let this turn into a shit show. I send a silent prayer into the universe, hoping someone's got my back.
He smirks, eyeing the flames dancing in my palms like they are nothing more than cute little birthday candles. "Those are adorable," he drawls, "but they won't stop me, Honey Pot."
I don't even register him moving before he's on me in a heartbeat, his teeth sinking into my neck, feeding deeply.
I open my mouth to scream, but Lucian slaps a hand over it, silencing me.
I press my burning hands against his chest and push with everything I've got, my fingers scorching his shirt.
He barely flinches, intent on draining me dry.
As dumb as it sounds, I don't want to hurt the fucking idiot.
His venom courses through my veins, mixing with the remnants of Rhyland's toxic cocktail, and I can feel my body going limp, my strength seeping away like water through a sieve.
Lucian cradles me against him, his growls and moans of pleasure vibrating against my skin as he continues to pull at my blood viciously. The edges of my vision blur, the world fading away like a bad dream.
No, no…not again.
This can't happen again—I don't think Lucian will stop.
My knees buckle, and I start to sink to the floor, my body no longer able to support its weight.
I reach for my power, trying to summon the flames, the light, anything to fight back, but it's like trying to start a fire in a rainstorm.
The venom and the blood loss have me weak, helpless, and unable to defend myself.
Please, someone…something…
Help.
I pray to whoever in the universe can hear me.
A blinding flash of light sears my retinas and Lucian's weight is suddenly torn away from me.
There's a sickening thud as he's hurled across the room like a rag doll.
I crumple to the floor, my legs about as helpful as overcooked spaghetti, my ears ringing from the deafening sound that follows, like a sonic boom mixed with an EMP blast.
Blinking away the spots dancing in my vision, I slowly lift my head. And holy shit, if it isn't the last person I expected to see this side of Judgment Day.
"Dani, are you alright?" Seraphina's at my side in an instant, her hands gripping my shoulders like she's afraid I might float away. Those honey-colored eyes of hers are swimming with worry.
Ears still ringing, "Seraphina?" I croak, my voice sounding like I've been gargling gravel. "How—? Why are you here?" I'm half convinced I'm hallucinating from blood loss.
"I heard your call," she says, all angelic concern. "I knew I had to help. That thing almost killed you." The way she says 'thing,' you'd think Lucian was something she scraped off her celestial shoe.
"Yeah..." I mumble, rubbing at the still bleeding wound on my neck.
"He's not exactly firing on all cylinders right now.
Memory wipe—lost his marbles—the whole shebang.
" I struggle to my feet, feeling like a newborn foal, and peer over at Lucian's crumpled form in the corner.
"Is he dead? Please tell me you didn't just nuke his ass into oblivion. "
Seraphina shrugs, her expression unapologetic. "I can't say I'd feel too bad if I did. What he was about to do to you, Dani... it's unforgivable."
A groan from across the room catches my attention. Rhyland's stirring, clutching his neck like he's just gone ten rounds with a heavyweight champ.
I stumble over to him, my legs still wobbly. "Hey," I manage because, apparently, near-death experiences have robbed me of my usual wit. Rhyland's on his feet in an instant, his eyes darting around the room, searching for Lucian.
Rhyland's eyes land on Lucian's unmoving form on the floor before snapping back to me.
Then, as if he can't believe what he's seeing, he spots Seraphina standing there in all her angelic glory.
His eyes go wide, and then he's moving, coming up to my side and wrapping his arms around me like he's afraid I might disappear. "What the hell happened?"
I lean into his embrace, taking a moment to breathe him in before I answer. "Rhyland, meet Seraphina. She kind of just saved my ass from becoming Lucian's personal juice box."
I feel Rhyland's embarrassment pulsing through our bond. He feels like he failed me again by being unable to protect me. I squeeze his hand and give him a wave of reassurance, trying to let him know that I don't blame him and that it wasn't his fault.
He gives me this look that screams, 'Don't try to sugarcoat my fuck up, babe.' Then, turning back to Seraphina, he says with genuine gratitude, "Thank you."
Seraphina shrugs, her white wings rustling softly with the movement.
I can't help but notice that they've changed color since the last time I saw her, from a shimmering gold to a pure, pearlescent white.
"It was a choice I had to make: either interfere and deal with the consequences or let you die. I chose the former."
I look at her, confusion written all over my face. "Hold up, what are you saying? What consequences?" I step closer to her, my worry skyrocketing.
The last time she interfered, when I almost became a shish kabob in the Whispering Woods, she mentioned that she wasn't allowed to step in but did it anyway. She said there would be hell to pay if my father found out—if the Gods got wind of it.
She stares at me, her honey-gold eyes, so similar to mine, filled with determination and resignation. Her long, golden-blonde hair frames her flawless face, and her plump lips are pressed into a thin line. "Seraphina, spill. What consequences are we talking about here?"
She lets out a long, heavy sigh as the world's weight rests on her perfect shoulders. "Your father told me not to go or answer your call. He said that if I did, I would be banished from Atheria, cast out of the realm of light."
I'm pretty sure my jaw just hit the floor. I must look like a fucking idiot, standing here gaping at her. "I'm sorry, what?" I manage to choke out, my voice rising in pitch with each word. "Banished? For saving my life? What kind of fucked up logic is that?"
"We—Angelic beings are not allowed to interfere with mortal decisions—outcomes—"
"Seraphina, I know all that. But what the hell is my father's problem? He'd rather banish you for saving his daughter—his supposed savior? That's some serious bullshit right there." I cut her off, my sass meter hitting an all-time high.
I'm frustrated, pissed off, and confused as all hell. My own father would instead let me die than offer help, and Seraphina, being the absolute angel that she is (pun totally intended), would instead take the punishment to save my sorry ass.
"Your father doesn't approve of you being tethered to these…" she pauses and looks at Rhyland, "beings."
And there it is again. My choice of soulmate has Daddy Dearest seeing fifty shades of pissed off.
He's so butthurt over his rebellious daughter's life choices that he'd rather throw in the celestial towel and let the Apocalypse happen.
Talk about a cosmic temper tantrum. I mean, way to prioritize, Dad.
Your ego or the fate of the world? Tough call, apparently.
"And he was quite displeased that we interfered before by giving you the Atherite stone too early," Seraphina adds, her voice as sweet and innocent as a cherub's lullaby.
Well, hot damn, looks like I just snagged the "Most Dysfunctional Family" trophy. Go me!
"Prematurely?" I can't resist asking, my eyebrow arched in a perfect "excuse me?" pose.
"Oh, yes," Seraphina explains, with angelic sincerity. "The plan was to give it to you later. But Jophiel told your father how much you needed it. And, well, that's why I've been banished for meddling again."
I reach out and pull her into a hug, holding her close and inhaling the sweet scent of jasmine and something uniquely her. "Thank you, seriously. I'm so sorry that he's done this to you. What exactly does banishment mean for you, though?"
I'm curious now. Where does that leave her if she can't return home to Atheria?
She pulls back, taking my hands in hers. "It just means that I can't go back—I'll have to find somewhere else to stay, to lay low for a while. The good news is that I get to keep my powers. The bad news is that I was stripped of my title in Atheria and lost my golden wings."
She's explaining this to me like I'm supposed to have a PhD in Celestial Studies, but I'm lost as hell. I had no clue that angelic beings came with different wing colors, like some heavenly mood ring. And her title? For all I know, it could've been "Chief Feather Duster" up there.
Mental note: add "Angelic 101" to my ever-growing list of shit to figure out.
"Seraphina, honey, you're staying with us. Or better yet, crash at my place with Emily and Sable. They'll keep you safe, and you all can have epic girls' nights complete with face masks, trashy reality TV, and enough wine to make even an angel forget her halo."
She looks at me like I've just offered her the keys to heaven—ironic, considering. "Dani, I couldn't possibly impose like that. I don't want to endanger anyone because of my choices."
I roll my eyes so hard I'm sure I see my brain. "Oh, please. You're family now, sister. We take care of our own. Plus, I'm pretty sure Emily and Sable would kill for another girlfriend to swap gossip and beauty tips with."
Rhyland, standing there like a deliciously brooding work of art, finally decides to join the conversation.
"Dani's got a point," he rumbles, his voice all rough and sexy, like a mix of whiskey and dark chocolate.
"You're more than welcome to stick with us for as long as you need.
It's the least we can do after your sacrifice. "
Seraphina looks between us, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I... I don't know what to say. Thank you—both of you. Your kindness means more than you could ever know."
I grin, pulling Seraphina in for another hug. "That's what family's for, babe. We're like a dysfunctional celestial sitcom now. All we need is a laugh track and—"
A groan from the floor cuts me off, and we all whirl around. Lucian's standing up, his back to us, stretching like he just woke up from the world's most intense power nap.
"Uhhh..." he drawls, "What in the nuclear reactor fuck was that? Did someone slip me some angel dust, or did I just get bitch-slapped by a supernova?"
Lucian slowly turns around—his eyes lock onto us like a heat-seeking missile. Suddenly, Lucian's whole demeanor shifts—his eyes glaze over, and I swear I can see the exact moment his brain short-circuits.
Lucian clutches his chest and collapses to the floor.