Why You Should Never Rescue Stray Demons Chapter 168

**TARISH**

I stand on the far side of the room, watching fondly as Oz helps the poor, exhausted Kacia toward the portal. She’s barely upright, leaning into him like he’s the only thing keeping her from collapsing, and, truthfully, he probably is. I never expected I’d grow attached to the two of them so quickly. But here we are. A moment later, Alyssa vanishes through a portal of her own, leaving behind only the faint ripple of residual magic. Then there’s Mike. Or Mikey. I can’t quite remember which he prefers. He pulls out his car keys, pauses mid-motion, and frowns as the realisation hits him, he didn’t drive here and does not have his vehicle. 

“Shit.” He mutters. I clear my throat softly. 

“Raylah, would you take him back to his car?” I ask. She blinks, caught off guard. 

“Me?” She asks. I nod once. 

“Yes. I’ll be along later. There’s something I need to do first.” I say. My voice comes out darker than intended, and she notices. Her expression shifts from curious to cautious.

“Okay. That’s fine. I’ll… See you later?” She asks quietly.

“Sure.” I answer without thinking. She gives a small, tentative smile, then turns to Mikey and says something I don’t catch. Together they vanish through a shimmer of magic, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I exhale slowly. I have no idea what I’m going to do about her. Raylah isn’t easily discouraged, I can already tell she’s decided I’m some sort of puzzle to solve. It’s flattering, in a complicated sort of way. But I barely know her, and the last thing I need is another complication. Especially one with a stubborn streak and dangerous curiosity. She is only going to make my life harder, I’m sure of it. 

The room empties out until only Alice, Kasian, and I remain. Alice meets my gaze and offers a small, knowing smile. 

“I think someone needs to speak to you.” She says gently toward Kasian. Then she rises gracefully to her feet. 

“I’ll give the two of you some privacy. It was lovely meeting you, Tarish. Thank you for everything you’ve done for my little girl. I hope you’ll come for dinner sometime soon.” Her tone is warm, open, the kind of kindness I don’t encounter often. I incline my head slightly. 

“Of course.” I answer easily. I look forward to it. This woman raised Kacia, and I suspect that we will get along well. I’ve been curious about her for a long time. She sweeps from the room, leaving Kasian and me in the thick silence that follows. The silence between us hangs heavy, Kasian must feel the weight of it because he finally lets out a long, ragged sigh.

“I can tell you’re upset with me.” He says, voice small. I narrow my eyes. 

“Upset? That would be putting it mildly. I am… Infuriated.” The word slices out of me. Relief that he’s alive warps into something sharp, I want to throttle him and hug him in the same breath. Kasian’s brow folds. 

“I know I left without saying goodbye, but I had a good reason.” He objects. 

“That is crap and you know it.” I snap. 

“You ran. You were scared and you ran. You abandoned your family and you abandoned me. You didn’t come back until the danger had passed.” The words spit out hot. The anger burns deeper than I mean it to, but I can’t stop it, because it’s not just about him. I grew up alone too. No mother, no father. No one who cared enough to notice when I was hungry or sick or hurt. My first magic didn’t come from loving hands or a celebration, it came from a distant uncle who didn’t even remember my name half the time. He dropped a single thread of magic into me like tossing a coin into a fountain and walked away before the glow faded. That was my inheritance. That was family. Kasian was the first person who ever made me feel like I had one. My brother in everything but blood. The first person who looked at me and saw worth instead of obligation. 

And then he left. Just… Gone. No word. No goodbye. No explanation. One day he was my world, and the next, I was a boy again, alone in the dark, trying to make sense of a world that didn’t want me. Sure, I had magic. That distant uncle eventually passed too and I inherited everything. But it wasn’t much of a comfort. And now Kacia, his daughter, lived the same story. Alone, without a father. I suppose she had Alice, but she deserved to have a father who was there for her.  

The thought makes something violent twist in my chest. The anger I feel isn’t just for myself anymore. It’s for her. For every child left behind to wonder what they did wrong. I glare at him, fury and heartbreak tangled into one impossible knot.

“You abandoned your family and you abandoned me.” I repeat, quieter this time, but the words are no less sharp. 

“You didn’t come back until the danger had passed.” I point out. He flinches like I’ve struck him, but it’s not enough. Kasian flinches, guilt flashing across his face. 

“I was protecting them!” He insists. 

“Protecting you!” He adds. I let out a low, furious laugh. 

“I never ASKED to be protected!” I snap, my voice echoing in the stillness. He tries to answer, but I cut him off before he can draw breath. 

“I am not weak or insignificant. I would have stood beside you, Kasian, against your father, against the Court, against anything, if you had only asked. But you didn’t. You decided for everyone. You cut me out. You left your child to carry your fight alone.” I remind him. I step forward, my voice rising with every word. 

“A girl who never even had a father, who never did a thing to your people, and still ended up with assassins hunting her! She had no reason to take up your fight, but she also had no choice. You’re lucky she spoke to you today. If it were me, I would have sent you packing.” I say coldly. Kasian looks miserable, hollowed out by guilt. 

“I thought I was doing what was best…” He murmurs. I shake my head, disgust threading through my exhaustion. 

“Do you still think that? Knowing she grew up without you? That she had no one to give her first magic? No family celebration, no guidance?” I demand. The question lands like a blade between us. For fae, a child’s first magic is sacred, a moment of pride, of belonging. It’s a promise. You’re one of us, you’re not alone. He let her have none of that. And the worst part? I gave her mine instead. I’ve played the role he abandoned, not by stealing it, but by necessity. By fae standards, I have all but claimed her as my own daughter. I look at him, my anger cracking around the edges into something heavier. 

“She had no father or fae family. Just me.” I say. Kasian’s face crumples, and for a long moment, he doesn’t speak. Then he breathes out slowly. 

“Thank you… For taking her in as your own.” He says, voice breaking. He hesitates. 

“I want to say I still believe I did the right thing… But I don’t. I have no idea if it was right. You’re right, I WAS running. But I was scared, Tarish. I was scared for them. For you. He could have killed you.” He says, his voice wavering. 

“Yes.” I say coldly. 

“But maybe that should have been my decision. Her decision.” I glance toward the door where Alice left, my voice softening just slightly. Kasian sighs, straightens, and looks at me with old weariness in his eyes. 

“You’re right.” He admits. 

“You KNOW you’re right. But I can’t change things now. What am I supposed to do, Tari?” He asks desperately. The nickname stings. Old affection buried under betrayal.

“I’m glad you’re alive.” I say, my tone low and even. 

“You’re my best friend, and you always will be. But what you did was unforgivable. It was unfair to me. And it horrifies me that you left your child like that.” I tell him. Honestly. Until now, I didn’t even realise that this was such a big deal to me. Then again, I thought that he was dead. He drops his gaze. 

“What should I do? How can I make this right?” He asks quietly.

“Stop running. Step up. And trust me.” I tell him. He nods slowly, shoulders sagging. 

“I have. I will. I do.” He promises. 

“Good.” I mutter. Then I roll my shoulders back, meeting his eyes. 

“Now, one more thing.” I say. His brow furrows. 

“What-” Before he can finish, my fist connects with his jaw. He stumbles back into the couch, eyes wide, rubbing at the forming bruise. There’s no magic in it, just honesty. Sometimes magic just doesn’t cut it, you just need to hit someone. I nod once, satisfied. 

“I’ll see you around.” I say firmly. Then I turn, form a portal with a flick of my hand, and step through before either of us can say anything more.