Why You Should Never Rescue Stray Demons Chapter 162

**KACIA**

A moment later, I feel rather than see Oz kneel down in front of me. The air shifts, carrying his familiar warmth, and then his hand finds the small of my back. It’s a gentle touch, steady, careful and genuine, but it doesn’t reach me. Not this time. I’m too wrung out, too hurt. The comfort is real, but I can’t seem to let it in.

“Princess, please.” He murmurs, voice soft and low, almost breaking. 

“I really don’t want to leave you like this.” He admits. 

“Then stay.” I whisper back. The words barely make it past my throat, but they hang in the air between us like a challenge, or maybe a prayer. Oz exhales, the sound rough with frustration and sorrow. 

“I can’t stay. I wish I could, you know that I wish I could. But it wouldn’t be fair to either of us, constantly walking on eggshells. And it would destroy us both if I ever hurt you again.” He says seriously. He means the night with his eyes, the fear reaction, the magic that ripped through me like lightning. I know that. He doesn’t even have to say it. I give a half hearted shrug, the kind that says I hear him but I can’t agree. What does he want from me? For me to smile and say, ‘It’s okay, Oz, I understand why you want to leave me and I’m completely okay with it?’ Because I don’t. I can’t. I’m not angry at him or anything, I just… Can’t pretend I’m fine with this. I can’t pretend I’m not hurting. If he wants to leave, he can. But I’m not going to fake being okay about it. This isn’t about making it harder for him, it’s just about being honest. He shifts slightly, his attention flicking toward Raylah and Tarish. 

“You didn’t find anything? Nothing at all? Even something that might take time? There’s no hope?” He asks. His voice sounds rougher now, like gravel grinding in his chest. Raylah shakes her head, wincing. 

“No. You’d have to either blind one of you or somehow cut you off from that magic completely. Kind of like…” She trails off. Mid-sentence, her voice fades and her eyes go distant. Her brow furrows, finger tapping thoughtfully against her arm. Oz’s head snaps up. 

“Kind of like what?” He demands. He’s on his feet before she can answer, tension in every line of his body. I push myself up too, wobbling a little, but determined not to let him face this conversation alone.

“Well…” Raylah starts slowly, still thinking it through. 

“It’s just a thought. It might not work. I don’t have the power myself, but… Stopping the magic… It’s kind of like binding magic. The kind that was used on your portal abilities.” She explains, then glances at Tarish, like she’s not sure if she’s crossed a line. Tarish blinks, surprised at first, then gives a slow, considering nod. 

“Maybe. It would require binding magic, which is something only Fae Lords or Ladies possess.” He adds. Oz draws in a sharp breath, realisation flashing across his face. 

“And Kacia is one now, right? She has her grandfather’s magic, all of it. So she should have that ability!” He blurts out. My heart stutters. Then races. Wait. Could that… Actually work? I can’t seem to breathe. My chest feels tight, like all the air has been replaced with fire. I force my lungs to pull in air that doesn’t want to come. Tarish continues thoughtfully, unaware that my world has already narrowed to a single idea. 

“Yes, as am I. Although I suspect you’d prefer that kind of magic to come from her. It would be a risk on your part, Oz. Binding magic was originally created for discipline, meant to restrict power from Fae who disobeyed laws or acted recklessly. It’s… Not exactly designed for delicate use.” He pauses, eyes flicking between us. 

“It would require tremendous focus and trust. And I’m not certain Kacia’s new magic is stable enough yet to manage something that complex without significant practice.” He reasons. Tarish keeps talking, about preparation, balance, risks, but his voice starts to fade into a distant hum. Because I already know what I’m going to do. A binding spell. I saw one before, unravelled it, actually. How hard can reversing that process be? If magic is about focus, about intent, then all I have to do is decide. And I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life. I close my eyes, tuning out the noise of the ruins, the voices, the faint hum of worry around me. I think back to the intricate web of energy that wrapped around Oz’s arms when he was bound before, the slow unfurling of vines, the flow of his power restrained. Only this time, I imagine it forming instead of breaking. A binding, but one made of trust, not punishment. Something gentle. Something safe. Something that could let him stay. I focus on his eyes, on the dark, dangerous beauty of them, the thing that both draws and endangers me. My heart pounds so hard it’s almost painful. I pour everything I have into that single image, that single want. The magic rushes through me like a current, fast, electric, alive, and then, just as suddenly… It stops. The world goes still.

My eyes fly open and lock straight on Oz. He’s frozen. Completely still. His head bowed, his gaze fixed on his forearms. And that’s when I see it, the markings. The vines. The same intricate dark patterns I just unraveled from his skin. They’re back. For a second, no one moves. The air feels charged, humming faintly around us. Every gaze in the room swings between me and Oz like they’re watching something sacred or catastrophic, or possibly both. Alyssa’s wide-eyed. She takes a half step towards us, and she looks concerned, which is fair. Tarish, on the other hand, looks like he can’t decide whether to be impressed or to start a lecture so long it requires a whiteboard.

“Kacia, sweetheart…” Oz’s voice breaks through the silence, quiet and shaky. 

“What did you just do?” He asks. 

“Uh…” I rub the back of my neck, wincing. 

“Bound your nightmare magic abilities… I think? That’s what I was aiming for, anyway.” The words tumble out, and the second they do, I realise how insane that sounds. Oh shit. That was a really bad idea. Tarish is RIGHT to look alarmed. I didn’t test this. I didn’t plan this. I just did it. What if I hurt him? What if I blinded him? Or worse, what if I completely shut down his magic and he can’t ever use it again? I didn’t even ask him first! My stomach twists painfully. Sure, I wanted the ability bound so we could finally look at each other, but that should have been his choice. Not mine. I feel horrible. I might throw up! Oz doesn’t say anything. He just keeps staring down at his arms, his expression unreadable. The silence stretches, dragging out too long. The longer he doesn’t speak, the more my mind spirals. 

“Oz?” My voice cracks a little. 

“I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have done that without asking. I can undo it whenever you want, I promise. I’ll practice, I’ll make it better, and then I’ll be able to fix it properly. If that’s something you want. Just… Should I get rid of it?” I ask, rambling a little. Still nothing. He just shakes his head silently. Okay… great. What does that mean? No, I shouldn’t have done it, or no, don’t get rid of it? This is not helpful. My brain is doing cartwheels. I take a shaky breath, trying to rein in the panic fluttering in my chest. 

“Oz?” I say again, and this time I reach out, brushing my fingers lightly against his arm. Finally, he looks at me.

“Yes, princess?” His voice is soft. He’s clearly spinning, caught somewhere between awe, fear, and disbelief. But he called me princess, which gives me the confidence boost I needed. 

“Will you look at me?” I ask. He gives a small, crooked smile. 

“I am looking at you, beautiful.” He answers, but he is clearly avoiding the real request. I roll my eyes. 

“No, I mean REALLY look at me. I want to see your real face, your real eyes.” I clarify. He hesitates, and for a moment I think he’s going to refuse. His voice drops low, rough with worry. 

“Kaci… I can’t do that. It might hurt you.” He says. I frown. It’s not that I don’t understand, he’s terrified of causing me pain, but the new magic thrumming inside me feels different. Calmer. Controlled. Like the danger’s already been quieted.

“It’ll be okay, Oz. Please? Just try.” I plead. He’s still unsure, but I can see how badly he wants this, how much it hurts him that he can’t truly be himself around me. The longing flickers across his face before he can hide it.

“You’re sure?” He asks finally.

“Completely.” I say. Okay, THAT might be a slight exaggeration. I’m maybe ninety percent sure. Ninety-five on a good day. But I’m willing to risk it. He exhales, slow and heavy. Then, with one deep, grounding breath, he lets the glamour fall away. Suddenly he’s there in his full demon form. His skin darkens to that smoky, stone-grey sheen, his horns curve perfectly from his temples, his tail is flicking around us. He lifts his dark eyes, slowly, carefully, and meets mine. And… Nothing happens. No fear. No nausea. No sense of falling into a nightmare. Just warmth, familiar and steady, looking back at me. I smile, relieved, giddy, maybe a little dizzy, and he gasps softly, disbelief flickering across his face. Then, before I can so much as blink, Oz grabs me and kisses me.