Page 62 of Caged By the Lich

I throw my head back, my magic whipping out as my emotions surge. The walls shake with the force of it, but I don't care. Let them all know. Let them see how their feared demon lord has been brought low by a mere human girl.

Deep down, I'm left hollow. Empty. The pain of Astrid's rejection consumes me, leaving nothing but a gaping void where she ripped out the one thing I gave her so willingly.

My heart.

I roar in anguish, my magic surging uncontrollably. The walls around me crack and splinter, furniture shatters, and the very air crackles with raw power. I can't stop it. I don't want to stop it. The pain of Astrid's absence tears through me, fueling my rage.

"What the fuck?" Kaz's voice barely registers through the chaos. "V, what's happening?"

I whirl on him, eyes blazing. "She's gone!" I bellow, my voice distorted by demonic energy. "She left me!"

Another wave of destruction pulses out from me, sending Kaz stumbling back. I hear Malakai cursing in the background, frantically working to contain the damage.

"Who's gone? Astrid?" Kaz presses, his voice steady despite the mayhem around us. "V, you need to calm down. We can figure this out."

"There's nothing to figure out!" I snarl, hurling a blast of magic that reduces a nearby column to rubble. "She used me. Played me for a fool!"

Kaz inches closer, his hands raised placatingly. "You don't know that. Let's think this through. Where did she go?"

His words barely penetrate the haze of my fury, but something in his tone gives me pause. I falter, my magic flickering.

"I told her like you said," I admit, my voice hoarse. "I told her she could go back and she did. She fucking did."

He seems surprised by this. "And she didn't talk to you?"

I shake my head. "She fucking left without a word."

"Okay," Kaz nods, taking another cautious step towards me. "So maybe she didn't leave for good. Maybe there's an explanation."

I want to lash out again, to reject his reasoning, but doubt creeps in. My magic wavers, the destruction around us slowing.

"Then why wouldn't she tell me?" I growl, though the fight is leaving me.

Kaz is close enough now to place a hand on my shoulder. "I don't know. But destroying your home won't bring her back or give us answers."

I slump, the last of my rage draining away. As my magic fades, I survey the damage I've caused. Well, fuck.

"I... I lost control," I mutter.

"It happens to the best of us," he replies, squeezing my shoulder. "We'll clean this up and then figure out what to do about Astrid."

I nod, that hollow pang still echoing through me, but no longer consumed by destructive anger. I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and I realize exactly what I'm going to do.

"I have to get her back," I say to him.

I can't let Astrid slip away so easily. She's mine, dammit. And more than that... I love her. I'm not just letting her go. I'd rather keep her here, locked up and pissed at me, than her be gone.

Kaz and Malakai exchange a look, and I can see they think it's a really bad idea. But I don't care.

"I'm going to get her," I snarl, turning and storming toward the front of my home.

Footsteps sound behind me, but then I hear Malakai call out, "Just let him."

"He's going to destroy the damn city!" Kaz shouts back, and I keep charging ahead.

I might do just that.

What's the point of anything without Astrid at my side?

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