Why You Should Never Rescue Stray Demons Chapter 182

**KACIA**

I gasp, loud, sharp, involuntary, and my hands jerk on the steering wheel. The car veers for half a second before I force it back into the lane. My heart slams against my ribs so violently I feel sick. Magic. New magic. Not mine. I pull over immediately, pulse pounding in my ears as I take in the sensation flooding my veins. It’s small, just the tiniest spark, but unmistakable. My father. I sit there breathing hard, fingers shaking around the wheel. I knew he intended to give me his magic eventually. We talked about it. The plan existed. But I didn’t think he meant TONIGHT! I didn’t think he meant right now. I didn’t think he would just… Do it! My throat tightens. It’s so stupid, but something about it feels… Final. Like a door closing on who he used to be and a door opening on something entirely new. He isn’t planning to leave us again. I just know it. Oz is already watching me, eyes wide, posture tense.

“Are you alright, beautiful?” He asks, his voice soft but steeped in concern. I nod, though the motion feels fragile. 

“Yeah. It was just… A surprise. He probably should’ve checked to make sure I wasn’t driving before doing that.” I comment. Dryness covers the shaking underneath. Oz nods seriously. 

“Yes. Definitely. I may have to remind him of that.” He says seriously, his eyes narrowed. Despite myself, I smile faintly. 

“Don’t bother. It’s not like he can do it a second time. I’m fine. Really.” I promise. Oz doesn’t look convinced, not even close. His fingers twitch like he wants to reach for me but doesn’t want to overwhelm me.

“Well… As long as you’re sure.” He says gently. I take a breath, trying to ground myself. This is good news. Good. It means… It means he followed through. It means he wasn’t lying. It means something went well between him and Mum. It means… Damn. He actually did it. Before I can spiral again, I lean over in my seat and wrap my arms around Oz as best I can from an awkward angle. He immediately pulls me closer, hand sliding up to cradle the back of my neck.

“I’m sure. Thank you.” I whisper against his shoulder. He holds me like I’m something breakable. 

“We should get you home. You’re exhausted.” He reminds me. 

“Yeah.” The word comes out on a sigh. 

“But it’s worth it. And it’ll get better once things settle down.” I add. 

“I know, but if you want me to cancel dinner with my family tomorrow… I can. I don’t want to drag you anywhere when you’re already this worn out.” He offers. I pull back and frown at him.

“No way. I want to meet your family. Your sister was really nice. And your brother, well hopefully he’ll like me too.” I murmur. Oz’s face twists into something between discomfort and regret. I narrow my eyes.

“What was that?” I demand. Oz sighs, bracing himself. 

“Well… He isn’t inclined to like you. Right now.” He admits. 

“Excuse me?” I ask. 

“Not because of you!” He adds quickly. 

“He just, he thinks you’ve stolen me away or something.” Oz explains. I stare at him, offended and baffled.

“That’s not fair. It’s not like I kidnapped you.” I complain. Oz snorts. 

“I know. And he’ll get over it. He’s… A little prickly. But once he accepts you, he’ll adore you. I’m sure of it. He just needs time.” He says reassuringly. I slump back against the seat. 

“Fine. I guess.” I grumble. Oz laughs softly at my tone. 

“Come on. Let’s get you home. You need sleep. You’ll feel better after.” He says softly. I nod, feeling the fatigue settle into my bones.

“Yeah. Okay.” I agree. But when I pull back onto the road, that small, new spark of magic still burns under my skin. A reminder. A promise. A terrifying, precious gift. My father chose me. He chose us. And that thought alone makes my eyes sting.

I’m still about ten minutes from home when I slam on the brakes again, hard enough that Oz grabs the dashboard.

“What… Kacia? Sweetheart, what’s wrong? Is it the magic? Are you okay?” His voice is urgent, already moving toward panic. I shake my head, breath puffing out in a shaky rush.

“I’m fine. It’s not the magic. It’s just… Well… I think we have a surprise visitor.” I inform him. Oz blinks at me. 

“Huh?” He asks. I just point out the window. There, under the dim streetlights, walking straight down the footpath like he’s taking a midnight stroll, is a young man with unmistakable demon horns, a long whip-like tail, and zero attempt at glamour. And he looks exactly like Oz. Or rather, he looks like a smaller, younger, slightly stressed version of Oz. Oz takes one look and swears so violently the car’s windows should’ve cracked. 

“What is he doing?!” He snaps. 

“He’s not even wearing glamour! I know it’s dark, but he could run into literally anyone!” He complains. His tone isn’t angry so much as parental, which tracks. From everything he’s told me, he basically raised his siblings. He’s already half out the door when I grab his sleeve. 

“Wait.” I stop him. He shoots me a bewildered look.

 “What? Why?” He demands. 

“He looks upset.” I point again, more carefully this time. Oz freezes mid-motion, following my gaze properly. Then he sees it too. Roth isn’t just walking, he’s wrapped in anxiety. His shoulders are hunched. His arms are folded tight around his ribs. His tail is whipping in sharp, frantic movements behind him. Worst of all, he keeps glancing over his shoulder like he’s scared. 

“Oh… Shit,” Oz mutters, the irritation draining out of him and replacing itself with pure concern. 

“Yeah. Something’s wrong.” He agrees. He rubs the back of his neck, sighing.

“He probably thought he could handle the glamour spell, but then panicked once he got here and lost it. He’s still practicing his portals, so he’ll need at least an hour before he can make another one. And he has no idea where he landed. He’s definitely lost.” He sighs. The image of Roth, alone, frightened, exposed, makes my chest tighten. I know what it’s like to be somewhere unfamiliar, and I know what it’s like feeling as if you’re going to get caught just for existing.

“Alright. Then let’s go talk to him.” I decide, already shifting the car into park. But Oz’s hand shoots out again, stopping me with surprising force.

“Wait. His magic-” He swallows. 

“You can’t look in his eyes.” He reminds me. I blink at him. 

“I know. I’ll be careful.” I promise, Oz searches my face, wanting to argue, wanting to protect me, but also knowing exactly what I’m capable of. He exhales slowly, nodding once.

“Okay. Just stay beside me please.” He asks. I rest my hand briefly over his, grounding both of us.

“I’ll be fine, Oz. We’re helping him. That’s what matters.” I remind him. He squeezes my fingers before we both climb out of the car.

We approach from behind, and I keep my gaze fixed carefully downward, on the pavement, on the streetlights, on literally anything except Roth’s eyes. One look could trigger a fear reaction, and given the state he’s in? Yeah. Not happening.

“Roth!” Oz calls out. Roth whirls around so fast his tail snaps behind him like a startled whip. 

“Oz!” He blurts, voice high and sharp. He sounds… Relieved? Horrified? Mortified? Some horrible mixture of all three. His posture stiffens like he’s been caught doing something illegal, and considering the no-glamour situation, he kind of has.

“What’s happening? Are you okay? Why are you here?” Oz demands, voice already sliding toward older-brother authority. Roth bristles instantly.

“Nothing!” He snaps. 

“I just thought I’d come visit my brother. Or is that not allowed now that you have a girlfriend?” He taunts. Oh. There it is. The defensiveness. The jealousy. The passive-aggression baked into his tone. Oz’s jaw tightens.

“Did you have some trouble with your glamour again?” He asks, too calm for how angry he is. Roth falters. Just for a moment, but it’s enough to see the truth. His shoulders hunch further. His tail curls around one leg like he’s trying to hide behind it. Then he forces the attitude back into his voice.

“Maybe I meant to not have one.” He retorts. 

“Just because YOU think it’s right to hide yourself away doesn’t mean that the rest of us do.” He says harshly. There’s bravado in his words, but I can hear it. The shame underneath. The humiliation of losing control of his magic. The fear that got him stranded here in the first place. And Oz hears it too.

“It’s a safety issue, Roth. You know that!” Oz snaps, louder than before. 

“And it’s not fair to frighten random people walking down the street just because they happen to make eye contact with you!” He points out. Oh no. This is escalating fast. Oz’s tone is sharp, his tail flicks hard behind him, and his eyes flash black in irritation. I glance between them. They’re both furious, and hurt, and exhausted, and neither is capable of backing down. And the comment about me… Yeah. That definitely hit a nerve for Oz. Roth looks between us, between Oz and me, at least I THINK he is. And something in his posture cracks slightly, like he’s been holding together a fragile mask that finally slipped. Oz’s shoulders stiffen, his voice dropping to that low rumble he gets when he’s two seconds from either hugging someone or throttling them. Roth looks like he’s ready to bolt. And suddenly I’m standing in the middle of a demon sibling meltdown, one of them anxious and prideful, the other protective and frayed around the edges. This is definitely not good. Not good at all.