CALLI
Sunlight floods the room, burning my eyes through my closed lids as Daemon rips the curtains open, immediately waking me up.
He’s obviously got plans this morning, but I could think of more than a few other ways he could have woken me.
My muscles ache and pull as I twist toward the light, reminding me of everything that happened the night before.
A sense of power washes through me once more as I think of holding the gun to that prick’s head. I thought I understood the guys’ addiction to this life. To the dangers, the violence, the darkness, but last night, I got it. I had a taste of that bloodlust I’ve seen shining so brightly in the guys’—hell even the girls’—eyes.And I can’t deny that I want to taste it again.
It’s not until darkness falls over me that I finally look up.
My heart jumps and my stomach knots in excitement as I find Daemon looming over me. But everything changes the second I look into his eyes, because I don’t find the lightness that has been there for the past week, the unfiltered desire that oozes from him at all times. Instead, I find the closed-off darkness that I almost forgot existed.
My heart plummets as panic grips me.
Words fail me as I fight to drag in the air I need.
I know what that look means. It’s one I’ve been dreading would follow any phone call he’s received since the day I woke here.
I want to beg, plead, anything that will stop it from happening.
But I know it’s impossible.
“No,” is the only word I manage to force past my lips in the end as Daemon continues to stare at me blankly.
My Nikolas is long gone. In his place is Daemon, the soldier that everyone else sees.
Tears burn the backs of my eyes as a lump crawls up my throat.
“Get up and pack your shit,” he demands coldly.
“Daemon, no. Please,” I beg, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed and getting to my feet.
The morning chill in the air causes goosebumps to spread across my naked skin and my nipples pucker.
But he doesn’t look.
His cold, detached eyes don’t leave mine, and it fucking shreds me.
“Don’t do this,” I plead, lifting my hand to reach for him. But he sees it coming and takes a step back, ensuring my fingertips don’t connect with him.
“I’m not doing anything, Calli.”
Calli. Not angel, not beautiful.
Just Calli.
It breaks my heart faster and harder than I thought possible.
Tears balance on my eyelashes, and I fight to keep them in, not to shatter this fast in front of him.
“I don’t want to go. I don’t want this. I-I d-don’t—”
“Pack your shit or I’ll do it for you. We’re leaving in thirty minutes.”
He turns away from me, severing any connection that was still crackling between us, and marches toward the door.
“Daemon,” I cry, pain ripping through my chest at this new reality I’ve woken to.