Why You Should Never Rescue Stray Demons Chapter 166

**OZ**

Kacia looks… Done. Completely, utterly done. Checked out of the conversation. She’s sitting still and quiet beside me, eyes glazed like her brain’s trying to buffer. Can’t blame her. The whole ‘my father isn’t dead and has been secretly alive for decades’ thing would scramble anyone’s wiring. No wonder Mikey stepped in earlier. But even he looks like he’s running out of patience now. Guess it’s my turn to help out. I slide an arm around Kacia’s shoulders, guiding her gently against my side. She leans into me without hesitation, letting out a shaky breath. I feel some of the tension leave her, just a fraction. My tail curls forward instinctively, looping once around her ankle, a quiet reassurance, a wordless reminder that I’m here. She presses closer, and that’s all the answer I need. I glance up at the man across from us, Kasian. The supposedly dead father, resurrected by sheer dramatic timing. 

“So, in theory you left and stayed away so that Lord Asshole wouldn’t find out about Kacia. What brings you back right now?” I say evenly. Kasian’s eyes flick toward me. Narrow. Hard. There’s a flicker of something in his face, suspicion, maybe even irritation, and it’s aimed directly at me. Which is odd, because that was a perfectly reasonable question.

“And who might you be?” He asks, his tone a fraction too sharp to be polite. I frown, tilting my head. 

“Seriously?” I ask. Mikey glances between us, clearly deciding he wants no part of whatever’s about to happen. Kacia’s mother, Allie, watches the exchange with quiet amusement. 

“My name’s Ozraed.” I say, keeping my voice polite but steady. 

“Oz, for short. And this is my little sister, Alyssa.” I add, gesturing in her direction. Alyssa gives a small wave from where she’s perched on the arm of the couch, expression bright with curiosity and entertainment. She’s absolutely enjoying herself. Can’t blame her, family drama is much easier to watch when it’s not your family. Kasian’s eyes narrow further. 

“Ozraed…” He repeats slowly, like he’s turning the name over for hidden meaning. 

“And how, exactly, do you know my daughter?” He asks. The hostility in his voice makes me blink. Seriously? He wasn’t this prickly with Mikey, and Mikey was basically interrogating him! I open my mouth, then pause. How I met Kacia is not exactly the kind of story you open with at a family reunion. ‘Well, funny story, actually, your father summoned me from the demon realm and bound me against my will, and your daughter saved my life and was so adorable and sweet and funny that I decided not to assassinate her and now here we are.’ Well… It doesn’t really scream normal introduction. But I know what he’s really asking. He doesn’t want the logistics, at least not right now. He wants to know who I am to her. That one’s easy.

“It’s a very long story.” I admit. 

“But the short version is that I’m completely in love with her.” I say it proudly. No hesitation. No guilt. It’s strange, liberating, even, to finally say it out loud without worrying who hears. Without feeling like I’m dragging her into danger by admitting it. Kacia glances up at me, cheeks pink, expression somewhere between exasperated and utterly smitten. It’s a look that makes my chest ache in all the best ways. Across from us, her mother smiles. It’s small, but it’s knowing, the kind of smile that says she’s already seen all this coming. She gives me a slight nod, approval tucked behind amusement. Kasian, though… Kasian glares. Not subtly either. His whole face twists like he is assessing a potential threat. He opens his mouth, presumably to start the kind of speech that begins with ‘Stay away from my daughter’ and ends with ‘or else’ but Allie gets there first. She elbows him sharply in the ribs. Hard. He chokes on whatever he was about to say.

“I wouldn’t start that now. It won’t end well for you.” She says lightly, without even looking at him. Kasian winces, muttering something under his breath. I glance between them, confused. 

“Start what exactly?” I ask. Allie just gives me a patient smile, the kind that says you’ll find out soon enough. But honestly? I’m starting to get the impression that Kacia’s father doesn’t like me. Which seems a little unfair, considering I’ve known his daughter longer than he has.

Eventually, after what looks like an internal wrestling match, Kasian exhales and answers my question. 

“I came back because my father died.” He says finally. 

“His magic came to me. Although it was… Practically nothing. I’m still not sure how that happened. It wasn’t even enough for me to open a portal on my own. I had to call in a favour from an old friend.” He sounds weary, defensive under the explanation. I glance at Tarish, who narrows his eyes slightly at that last part. He might be relieved that his best friend is alive, but that doesn’t mean he’s forgiven him for vanishing for decades. Personally, I don’t know if Kasian made the right call, or if it really was the only way to protect Kacia. But at this point, debating it won’t change anything. What matters is that she’s here and safe, and I plan on keeping it that way. Tarish’s tone stays perfectly even as he speaks, but I can feel the frost in it. 

“The small amount of magic is because of your daughter.” He says. 

“She… Convinced your father to surrender nearly all his magic to her, left him only enough to maintain his longevity. He repaid her mercy by trying to attack her, so her friend… Took matters into his own hands.” His words are calm, measured. But if I didn’t know him, I might think he sounded pleasant. I do know him, and I can hear every ounce of restrained anger in his voice. Kasian frowns slightly, glancing around the room like he’s trying to piece together how much has happened without him. 

“Clearly there’s a great deal I need to be caught up on.” He admits. Then, after a pause he continues.

“But first… There’s something I need to say. To my daughter.” He straightens his shoulders, looking directly at me. 

“I would appreciate some privacy. It’s a family matter, after all.” He says pointedly. Kacia’s hand instantly tightens around my arm. I glance down, she’s gripping me hard enough to leave marks. I look up, meeting Mikey’s eyes across the room. He gives me a small, deliberate nod.

“Unless Kacia asks us to, we’re not going anywhere.” I say, keeping my voice steady. Mikey crosses his arms, voice cool but firm. 

“Kacia’s been my family for as long as I can remember.” He says stubbornly. Tarish folds his hands behind his back, expression perfectly composed. 

“And I’ve been responsible for teaching her magic.” He adds. 

“I’ve been caring for her during her recent struggles. I didn’t wait until everything was over and then decide to walk back in.” He points out. Wow. Shots fired. Kasian flinches at that, just slightly, but it’s enough. He sighs, eyes sweeping over all of us before finally conceding.

“An audience, then. Very well.” He mutters. He turns back to Kacia, his expression softening. 

“Kacia, I can see you’re exhausted. I know it’s been a long few days. So I’ll try to keep this short.” He hesitates, visibly searching for words. 

“To be honest, I’ve rehearsed this speech thousands of times, and I’ve never figured out the right way to say it. So I hope you’ll forgive me if this is clumsy.” He takes a slow, steadying breath, glancing toward Allie before continuing. 

“That apology goes to both of you.” He adds quietly. Allie gives him a small nod, wordless permission to go on. 

“When you were born, Kacia, I fell in love for the second time in my life. The first was the day I met your mother.” His voice catches slightly on the words. 

“I didn’t have a good example of fatherhood. My own father was… Cruel. But I knew I wanted to do better for you. I planned to do better. I intended to turn my back on him, on his title, on everything, if that’s what it took to keep you both safe.” He says softly. He draws a breath, his gaze dropping for a moment before he looks back up at us. 

“But I underestimated him. His cruelty, his paranoia. And I realised that the only way to truly protect you was to turn my back on you entirely.” He explains. Kacia’s fingers curl tighter around my sleeve, but she stays silent.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” Kasian continues, voice rough with emotion. 

“And I still don’t know if it was the right choice. I’ve tortured myself with the thought that I abandoned you both. I know what I did isn’t something that can be easily forgiven, or forgotten. But I’m hoping that, in time, you might… Accept me back into your lives.” He looks at Allie again, eyes pleading. 

“Alice, I want to be the man you deserve. If you’ll have me.” Then his gaze shifts to Kacia, trembling but resolute. 

“And I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness, Kacia.” He says sincerely. The silence that follows is thick enough to choke on. He’s tense, waiting, half braced for rejection, half terrified to hope. Kacia and her mother exchange a look. It’s quick but full of meaning, the kind of silent communication only two people who’ve weathered too many storms together can manage. Kacia gives the smallest nod. Allie’s eyes fill with tears. 

“I’ve been waiting and hoping you’d come back to me since the day you left.” She blurts, voice breaking halfway through. Kasian’s relief is immediate and overwhelming. He moves to her like he can’t stop himself, dragging her into a fierce hug. Allie melts into him, her fingers twisting into his coat as she hides her face against his shoulder. He turns his head toward Kacia. Waiting. Kacia hesitates, visibly torn. Her voice is small but steady when she finally speaks. 

“I can’t promise anything… But… I suppose it’s okay if you try.” She mutters awkwardly. Her cheeks are pink, her tone defensive, embarrassed, even, but the words are real. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her just a little closer. I know how much this costs her, the hope, the fear of being hurt again. She’s probably glad, but also terrified. She’s not alone.

“Thank you.” Kasian says, voice rough and unsteady. He looks like he might actually cry. And for the first time since we arrived, the room feels lighter. Not fixed. Not healed. But it’s a start.