Why You Should Never Rescue Stray Demons Chapter 93

**OZ**

Thinking through the next part of the prophecy is… Unsettling. The words loop in my head like they’re carved there, a weapon meant for her chest, buried in his heart instead… The more I turn it over, the more I hate where my mind goes. Because if I’m being honest, I suspect it might have been about me. The biggest weapon I have isn’t a blade or a gun, it’s my magic. And lately, it’s felt less like a tool and more like a blade twisted in my own ribs. A constant reminder of what I am and what I could do to her if I lost control. I’ve been stewing on it for a couple of minutes when Kacia makes this impatient little noise in her throat. It drags me back to reality. 

“Oh, sorry.” I say awkwardly. Her head tilts. 

“What had you so deep in thought?” She asks, beyond curious. I sigh. 

“I think the ‘weapon meant for your chest and buried in his heart’ was probably talking about me. I was meant to kill you and I didn’t… And you did kind of learn it a lot later than you should have.” I pause

“Because I’m a numbskull.” I add. Kacia laughs, light and genuine. 

“Only sometimes. For the most part, you’re actually quite bright and emotionally intelligent.” She comments sincerely. I blink at her. Flirting, I’m used to. Teasing, I expect. But genuine compliments? The kind that sound like she actually means them? Those throw me off balance every time. I’m not sure what to do with them, so I file it away and move on before my brain short circuits. Kacia leans back in her seat, considering. 

“The second half is a little less clear, but depending how you interpret it, it’s either very terrifying or incredibly romantic. And I’m choosing to believe in romance. It’s saying that everything will work out for us.” She declares. 

“Kaci, sweetheart… There are a million different things those words could mean.” I say gently.

“No.” She states. I frown. 

“No?” I echo, confused. 

“Exactly. No. I refuse to accept any other alternative.” She says stubbornly. 

“You can’t just will the outcome into existence. That isn’t how life works.” I argue. She shrugs like it’s the simplest thing in the world. 

“Why not? That’s how I’ve accomplished almost everything else in my life. Pure stubbornness.” She insists. I groan, shaking my head. 

“You’re a menace.” I accuse. Her grin is all trouble and triumph. 

“And yet… You’re still here.” She says cheerfully. 

“For now.” I add reluctantly and her grin falls away. Ugh, I need to learn when to shut my mouth. 

I decide to move on before Kacia decides to keep poking at the mess we call our relationship. 

“What about the other two prophecies?” I ask, aiming for casual but knowing it probably still sounds like I’m trying to steer the conversation somewhere safer. 

“Any thoughts?” I prompt. She hesitates, then sighs. 

“I hate to say it, but they both kind of suggest that something terrible is going to happen at the library.” She says, her tone heavy. I exhale through my nose, slow and heavy. 

“Agreed. Although…” I glance at her. 

“I WAS hoping you’d have a different interpretation for that one.” I comment. Her mouth twists in a half smile. 

“Hey, at least it seems like Clarence and Vidar will both come out the other side okay. Probably…” She trails off, and I catch the flicker of unease in her tone. I nod, even though my gut feels exactly the same. 

“I’m sure they will,” I say, keeping my voice even and certain, because the last thing she needs is me feeding that same worry. But the words of those prophecies still sit heavy in my mind. Talking about walls burning, shelves falling, mourning and kneeling… None of it sounds good. If those words are to be believed, whatever’s coming won’t just be damage, it’ll be something that cuts deep. And even if Clarence and Vidar do survive it, ‘survive’ is a long way from ‘walk away unscathed.’ I keep my hands loose on my knees, forcing myself to look like I believe the reassurances I just gave her. But in the back of my mind, I can already smell the smoke. 

The rest of the drive is quiet, the silence only broken when we pull up to Mikey’s place and are met at the door by his wife. She’s tall, moves with that kind of easy confidence that comes from knowing her place in her own home, and looks healthy despite the obvious signs of pregnancy. Brown hair pulled back into a loose braid, warm tan skin, and eyes that light up when she spots Kacia. She greets her with a hug so tight I half expect Kacia’s ribs to complain again. I lean toward Mikey

“You’re batting above your level, my friend.” I murmur. He doesn’t even hesitate. 

“I know.” He says with absolute conviction, before pulling Sarah into his side and kissing her temple like he just won the cosmic lottery. Inside, Kacia’s attention immediately goes to Angelo. The little brownie beams the moment he sees her, really beams, like he’s been saving up the smile for this exact moment. He actually looks… Healthy. Happier than I’ve ever seen him. Compared to the hunched, nervous little guy we met in that bar, this is practically a different person.

“I’m not leaving.” Angelo announces, like this is some dramatic twist he’s been dying to reveal. Kacia blinks. 

“Huh? What do you mean?” She asks. He shrugs, but it’s the kind of shrug that says I’ve thought this through. 

“I spoke to Sarah. I’m useful and needed here. She’s going to have a baby! I love children. I can help her prepare, and then help her with the house when she has the baby. I can’t think of anyone who will appreciate me more than a new mother. And then toddlers always make messes. And young children are chaotic. Teenagers are a complete disaster. It’ll be perfect. I’ll be useful here for at least eighteen years, maybe longer if they have more kids…” He trails off and his eyes drift toward Mikey and Sarah in that calculating way that tells me he’s already working out the odds. I glance back at Sarah. From what Kacia has told me, she doesn’t know a lot about the magical side of the world, just enough to be aware it exists. Mikey told her because, honestly, it wouldn’t be fair to dump all of it on him and expect him to keep it from the woman he loves. This would mean including their kid in the circle of trust eventually. It’s a big step, but… It’s mostly harmless, and Angelo’s clearly happier here than he’s ever been. Kacia looks to Sarah. 

“And how do you feel about this?” She asks casually. Sarah beams. 

“Angie is a total lifesaver. I’m happy to have him here for as long as he wants to stay. I was thinking we could convert the old shed out back into a proper liveable room so he can still have his own space. That’ll take time, obviously, but the baby won’t be born for a while and he can stay in the nursery until then.” She explains. She’s already talking in terms of plans, timelines, logistics, the kind of decisive tone that makes it clear she’s picturing the finished shed already. I glance at Mikey, one eyebrow raised in silent question. His only response is a shrug that reads loud and clear. What Sarah wants, Sarah gets. 

“Right… Well. Okay then.” Kacia recovers, still sounding a bit surprised at how firmly this arrangement is already locked in. 

“Still, I did have a few questions for you, Angelo, if that’s okay.” She adds. 

“Of course.” He says immediately, still wearing that faint look of hero worship when he looks at her. Kacia smiles faintly. 

“I want to ask you about the fae.”