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“Humans are so funny,” Alok says, sitting on the couch.
“Why are you still here, Alok?” I ask, pouring myself a drink.
“I meant it. I’m here for you, and her.”
I glance over at him. “You hate humans, you have always been so cruel to them. What makes you think I believe you when you start acting chummy with them, even going so far as to put everything on the line for one?”
“She is with you, and I am with you. That’s all I need to be willing to do this,” he says, his voice confident. I can tell he means it.
“You realize Gregor will most likely be an obstacle. There is no way all this can go down and he just stays away.”
“Yeah, I know, and I’m prepared to face the consequences.” He sighs, and I hand him my drink. “The worst thing they could do is destroy me. But I doubt it, I’m too good at what I do.”
“Everyone can be replaced in their eyes.” I sit next to Alok, placing my arm over him.
“Not in mine,” he says, sipping the drink and handing it back. “They want that grimoire. It’s your best bargaining chip, and I doubt Cade will argue giving it up, considering his distaste for it.”
“I can’t disagree; it’s affecting him, not unlike his ancestors. It may also be the only thing that has answers that can help Calli, but he won’t accept that, and I doubt he would be willing to try.” My arm moves back onto my lap. Knowing what little I do about Cade, this is probably fucking with him hard.
“What does that mean?” he asks, reaching his hand out for the drink.
“Maybe there is something I missed; there is magic that has been long since lost to us, and Calli…” My words fall off, and I sit there silent.
“The girl will die, Kai. That is something we have to accept. The most beautiful, brightest stars are always the ones that burn the shortest.”
Alok’s words cut deep. A part of me knows it but doesn’t want to accept it. Even after all these years, I still don’t know what happens if the sacrifice actually worked. I don’t want to lose her, and a selfish part of me wants to risk it. That maybe, I could keep her. Be with her, forever.
I push the thought away; I would give anything just to have her back. Regardless of what Calli is, whether she is meant to live or die. It doesn’t matter, not now. Right now she is alive, and she is in danger. What the fuck is the point in even thinking I could have more. All there is, is right now. And at the moment, I don’t know how to fix this, I don’t know if we will survive, I don’t even know what she is.
All I know from what I have seen is there are volatile beings—hybrids that can’t sustain the magic they radiate. Typically, the key is to literally release it. Not unlike this false form I made, my magic would destroy it. This flesh can’t handle what I can do. And I have seen that before.
“I just thought. She might be like us.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Alok says, taking a sip.
“Maybe… It was a hunch.”
“It was your hope. Most hybrids implode when trying to transcend into an immortal form, which is a one-in-a-million rarity. Any of our kind breeding with humans is unethical; their offspring can’t handle the power. Calli is no different.”
“But she is different.”
“Are you really willing to cut off her already short life for the small chance to have her forever?” He looks at me, handing me the glass.
I take it, looking at the golden contents. “No. Not if I don’t have to.”
“Good. I like that you have hope… but don’t drive yourself mad if it doesn’t go your way—as much as I would love that to be the case.”
I look at Alok, finishing the whiskey.
“We just need to give her the chance to live. Whatever life she has left, she deserves it.”
“Agreed, now for more whiskey.” He grabs the glass and jumps up, moving to the kitchen.
“If we do get her, and everything goes just right, what will you do?” Alok asks now.
I sit there for a moment. I betrayed her. The best thing I could do for her is walk away. She deserves a chance at a normal life. But I made her a promise.
“Whatever she wants,” I reply, my voice tinged with sadness.
