Chapter 7 7

KAEL'S POV

Kymon helps Carden to the healing cabin. They banter as they go, as usual. Whenever they are together, they always quarrel.

"How did it go?" Daemon appears right at my side from nowhere, startling me slightly.

I throw him a glare, and he just smirks. I don't give him a response. I don't have the time to.

I have a lot on my desk to sort out-starting with how to get the kryptonite out of me-but that seems like the least of the matter right now. I need to see Diana. Her presence alone is the comfort I need to calm myself down.

She's fiercer than the last time we spoke. More sinfully beautiful and more feisty. Exactly the kind of woman who can ruin me, but I can't get into that.

"No blisters or wounds or bullet holes. You seem clean," Daemon says. "I wouldn't have known you went for an attack if Carden hadn't been shot."

"What's it, Kael? You're not telling me something." Daemon's smile drops; he notices my distress.

"It wasn't Eric's men. At least, that's what I think," I say, rubbing my neck. "It's someone else, but still a human. He didn't come for an attack; he came for something else... but I don't understand exactly what."

Daemon's shoulders tense. He opens his mouth to speak but pauses for a moment. "But how is it possible? How were humans able to see the Vanity Point?"

"That, I do not know. Seven of our Watchers are dead. The Watchers are the least in our security team."

"They were thirty-two when we first moved in here. Six died of pneumonia. There are nineteen alive now."

I clench my fists. I hadn't wanted to resort to using the young ones, but each day we seem to be running low on security.

I'd rather kidnap the wolves from other packs than use the young ones. I know what it's like... spending your childhood destroying lives, never having time for people because you're too busy trying to outrun the nightmares caused by the people you've killed.

"Go to Carden. I don't think Kymon would last long standing next to him," I order, and Daemon nods.

Daemon leaves, and I increase my stride toward the igloo. I step in, rush down the stairs, and go through the hallway until I'm standing in front of Diana's room.

I've had it prepared for her awakening, until she fully understands who I am and decides to move in with me.

Slowly, I open the door. I feel my heart pounding faster than usual when I find her sitting on the bed, shoulders slumped, staring at the wall.

I shouldn't want her. I shouldn't.

But goddess, the way she looks in that dress... my dress-

I can't breathe.

Can't think.

I want to touch her. Taste the memories buried in her skin.

I want to ask if she remembers what she did to me that makes me incapable of leaving her.

I've wanted to see her like this for years. Looking like the Luna she deserves to be.

I clear my throat and step into the room, shutting the door. Her gaze doesn't move from the wall.

I see her finger twitch, so she must know she isn't alone.

"I'm back," I say, stepping closer. "What's wrong?"

Why is she so quiet?

"Where's my child?"

I freeze. Her eyes dart to me. They are as empty as they are emotionless. She stands and stares up at me.

"You remember?" is all I can say.

"Vivian seemed to be more articulate than you," she says.

I hold myself from smiling. I knew her staying with Vivian would bring back her memory, but I never expected it to happen this quickly. Vivian is capable of creating visions for others with her eyes-not exactly memories. It seldom works, but it seems to have brought back Diana's memory rather than giving her a vision.

"How much of before do you remember?"

"Everything..." she trails off, staring at me deeply.

I swallow and look away. I feel a swing of hope rise inside me. Does she remember me? The part of her existence where I was a part of?

"Why did you save me, Kael?" she asks, her eyes softening now. "I remember... you saved me before I could die from that poison." She touches her neck. "You-"

"I marked you to save your life."

And because I had always wanted to for a very long time.

I turn away from her and walk to the candle that's almost burned out.

"Why, Kael?" She walks after me, and I clench my fists.

Don't say it. Don't say it, please.

"Why would you save me when we had never known each other?" My heart contracts. My hope shatters. "My parents, my family... the people I had called my friends, and my husband-they ran from me. They all wanted me dead. No one wanted to be around me. But you... Kael, you saved me. Why?"

I put a new candle on the plate and lit it up. I stare into the flame.

I had hoped she'd remember. I promised myself I'd stay away from her if she didn't... but staying away from her seems next to impossible.

"Because... because... I know what it feels like being you, Diana." I bow my head. "I understand how it feels to have no hope and nobody to call family."

I turn around, expecting a look of pity from her. Expecting that she'd give me the look that would make me want to leave, but her expression remains unreadable.

"Oh, Diana, you have no idea how much I want to make those people pay for what they did to you."

The more I look at the scars on her body, the more I remember how she'd been abused at the rehab. How they'd tied a sixteen-year-old to a tree, left her in the cold for days, and then whipped her-calling her witch.

How her own husband had tortured her. How the world threw stones at her, called her names. How her own parents had sold her off to a rehabilitation center calling her a witch.

They have no idea what they had.

I step closer, until our bodies are almost touching. I tilt my head and gaze at the mark I left on her neck.

"Tell me what you need, and I'll give it to you, love," I whisper. I lean in, so close my breath dances across her skin.

I want to kiss her.

I want to ruin her.

I want to make her forget everything.

But then she lifts her hand to my chest, stopping me.

I freeze.

"Vivian didn't tell me everything yet. I need you to give me answers. What exactly you are. What I am. And how Xiana was able to be born."

Her eyes are hollow, but I can hear her heartbeat. It's faster than before. That alone makes my wolf jump with joy.

"...Okay. As you wish." I smile and pull back.