Page 27 of Lethal Souls

“Caz,” I murmur. “Why is your wall still up?”

His eyes drift past me to the terrace. He opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. His eyes then drop to mine again, and they’re misty, glistening in the moonlight.

“Caz, seriously,” I say with a dry laugh. “You’re scaring me. What happened? Come on, you can talk to me.” I cup his face in my hands, and he reaches up, clinging to my wrists.

“It’s…” He pauses. My heart pounds. “I was in Kessel, and I spoke to Hassha. She and Korah were there, and they told me…” He draws in a shaky breath and looks away. “Korah, I can’t do this,” he whispers.

“What?” I’m so confused.

His eyes move past me, and I notice a light in his eyes. Purple. I feel a buzz behind me, a prickling on the back of my neck like someone is watching.

Turning, I spot Korah standing on the terrace wearing gold armor beneath an earth green cloak. The cape of the cloak billows with the wind, and her lavender eyes transform to their regular ice blue.

“Korah?”

She gives me a small smile and opens her arms. “Willow, come.”

I hesitate, glancing back at Caz, who gives me a curt nod, before drifting across the room to reach the terrace. I walk into Korah’s arms, and she holds me tight.

“I didn’t take you as the kind of person who likes hugs,” I say, huffing a laugh.

“I don’t usually.”

“So, what is this?” I ask, peeling away from her. “Caz is hardly ever speechless, and now you’re here. I thought we’d never see you again after you took Decius away.”

Korah blinks then cuts her eyes to Caz who has joined us on the terrace. She takes my hand and with a small smile says, “Well, I’m here now for an important reason. Caz?” She eyes him again, holding my hand a bit tighter.

A warmth shifts from her grasp to mine, and I notice her palm is glowing. The worry I’d felt over the past hour or so washes away, almost like a high has taken over.

I look at Korah again before putting my attention on Caz.

“Willow.” Caz takes my other hand. “I want you to know that there is nothing I wouldn’t do to see you happy, and if I could’ve avoided this, trust me, I would have.”

“Okay?” I blink, waiting for him to say more. A part of me wants to panic, but my body won’t let me. It’s like I’m in control of my mind, but my body is heavy, almost detached.

“When I went to Kessel, The Regals told me that Selah had gotten into Warren’s mind. He’s turned into something else—something you wouldn’t even recognize.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, feeling the panic rise again, but just like before, it mellows.

“I mean that all this time, Selah has been working through Decius, and since Decius fed off of Warren, well…I’m afraid his mind is no longer his. He’s been transformed into a creature, and they say there is no saving him. They will have to end his life before matters become worse. If he lives any longer, they’re afraid Selah will become stronger.”

There’s a scream boiling up inside me. I can feel it. It’s clawing at my throat, begging to be unleashed, but I’m forced to swallow it back down.

I drop my eyes to Korah’s hand clasped around mine, and when she slowly releases it, I stare at my feet.

She’s doing this. She’s forcing my emotions aside. Why?

“Do you understand, Willow?” Caz asks with urgency. “Warren is likely dead now. There was nothing they could do to save him.”

My eyes flicker up to his. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Caz frowns, shifting his attention to Korah. “Just okay? Why isn’t she more upset than this?”

“She will be. Just not right now. This will allow her to process so she doesn’t do anything rash.”

Caz shakes his head and takes my hand, pulling me away from Korah. “I don’t like this.” He side-eyes her before palming both sides of my face. “Willow, I’m so sorry about Warren. I really hoped they could save him. I promise you I’ll get his body. We’ll have a proper send off for him. I’m so sorry, baby.”

I blink up at him, and I want to feel. I want to react. I want to cling to him out of desperation and beg him to do something. But I also want to turn to Korah and scream at her.

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