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“I come from a place within and beyond this world.”
I stare at him for a moment. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“I am Solan born. A celestial.”
“That’s… wait— You’re telling me after all this, you actually are a God?”
He throws his head back laughing. “To your kind, yes. But we don’t claim to be anymore, not after the war on worship. That was a long time ago.”
“War on worship. Right…” Disbelief is painted on my face.
He shrugs. “You asked.” Kai moves over to me, invading my space. “Why so curious, little hunter?” He grips my jaw and I bat him away.
“Don’t touch me.” I take a step back. “There may be one of your kind after Calli and me.”
His eyes darken for a moment. “You are smart to tell me. If that is the case, I’ll take care of it.”
“I don’t believe I can trust you.”
He throws an arm over my shoulders. “So apprehensive; don’t worry, I’ll grow on you.”
“Like a tumor,” I say, trying to move away but he holds me there, whispering in my ear.
“You may need my assistance, you are helpless against one of us. Weak, like a kitten.”
I grab his arm, twisting it and pushing it behind him hard enough to hear it pop. I release him and he laughs, standing at his full height as he shifts his arm back into place with a loud crack.
“Even in my weakest form, you are no match. So pick your battles wisely, kitten.” He smiles slowly. I glare at him before unlocking the door and storming out.
Back in my room, I slam the door, the frame rattling from the force. I immediately feel a weight of energy like a chain around my neck the moment I step farther into the space. I rip my shirt over my head and discard it on the floor, my skin already overheated.
He’s right.
The thought loops, sharp and relentless.
I pace the length of the room. Back and forth. Back and forth. Trying to outrun the feeling crawling under my skin.
The room feels smaller. Too tight. Like the walls are leaning in to listen.
My breathing grows heavier, each inhale shallow, unsatisfying. The air feels charged, thick with something I can’t see but can feel pressing against my lungs.
His words fester in my mind. Fucking helpless. My eyes flick, unbidden, to the bed. To the exact spot beneath it, to the safe.
I stop pacing and my jaw tightens. I hadn’t meant to look there, but now that I have, I can’t seem to look away. I can feel it. An unwanted presence in the room.
This isn’t you.
Whatever this is, I feel it, waiting in the shadows.
My fingers twitch at my side as my pulse begins to pound harder, not from fear—but anticipation. No.
No.
I drag a hand down my face, exhaling sharply, forcing my feet to move again as the frustration twists and mutates. What began as anger curdles into something wilder, without direction.
The air feels heavier and my skin hums. A sharp impulse hits my chest so suddenly it steals the breath from my lungs. Before I can think—
I whip around and drive my fist into the wall.
