3rd Person POV

Cassius sat on Azriel's bed, with the sleeping warlock firmly tucked into his side as he scrolled through his phone. Raphael had checked in with Laura. They were still no closer to finding a cure.

He'd tried to hide how crushing that felt but his brother had seen right through him; promising things would get better before he'd left the room.

The door opened and Catherine stormed in with Desmond in tow. She seemed deep in thought until she realized that Azriel was still out cold. She clambered onto the bed and pressed a hand to his cheek.

"Desmond you said everyone was fine," she argued.

"He is fine. He's just regaining his energy," Desmond replied.

Desmond shrugged off his coat before beginning to explain everything that had happened since Cassius had last seen him. He still couldn't wipe the look Desmond had given him from his mind, that haunting moment when Desmond had realized he'd almost drained the boy of his life.

It had seemed like Desmond was seeing a ghost as he'd stared at the pale, drained boy before him.

Whatever he'd felt then however was brushed aside by the impending problem. Desmond was convinced Rafia wasn't going to look through anyone's memories. Catherine was unsure as she sat next to Cassius biting her nails.

Cassius didn't know what to think but he still hoped.

Azriel stirred then before slowly opening his eyes. Cassius removed his hold so Azriel could sit up. He looked surprised as he blinked the sleep out of his eyes before a lazy smile appeared on his face.

"It's nice, waking up like this," he commented.

Cassius smiled and looked away. Azriel clambered over the side of the bed and headed into the bathroom. A few seconds later, the three of them heard the shower turn on and shifted back to the conversation they'd been having before.

"If we tell him what we told Rafia he'll want to look through the memories himself," Desmond said.

"Shouldn't he have a choice in the matter," Cassius argued feebly.

"He won't feel like he has a choice if we explain everything to him. You know how he is," Catherine argued.

The three of them lapsed into silence, sitting shoulder to shoulder on Azriel's bed, trying to figure out the right thing to do. In Cassius's mind, the right decision was clear. Azriel should be informed.

Their debate was solved when Azriel came out of the shower, looking far more refreshed and focused. All three of them glanced away nervously as he pulled an olive green shirt over his naked torso. If he noticed, he didn't tease as they turned back.

"I need to look through that man's memories, the vampire we captured. It might lead us to a compound," Azriel said firmly.

He moved toward the door like he hadn't just informed them that he was making a life-threatening decision. Desmond moved quickly and shut the door before Azriel could walk through. Azriel looked up at him with a frown covering his features.

It was tame compared to the fury on Desmond's face.

"Do you not remember what almost happened the last time you looked through someone's memories," Desmond asked heatedly.

"Darling I know you're worried," Azriel started.

"Don't do that. Don't try being all understanding when you're not even considering what I'm saying," Desmond snapped.

Azriel softened even more, lips turning up in a tired smile as he reached up and cupped Desmond's cheek. Cassius could see it for what it was. He was trying to soften him, to water down Desmond's anger, but for all his gentleness, Azriel wasn't going to let Desmond win this one.

Cassius stepped off the bed then and sidled over to Desmond's side.

"You're going to go off about people having the right to make their own damn decisions aren't you," Desmond scoffed.

"No actually Azriel, I think we should wait. Desmond and Catherine asked Rafia if she would do it. Let's just wait to hear back from her," Cassius explained.

The argument commenced then with Azriel claiming he'd heard Desmond say that there was no way Rafia was going to agree to this. Desmond then proceeded to call the man an impatient fool. Cassius intervened, trying to make peace to no avail.

Neither of them was backing down and Cassius was resisting the urge to pick one of them up and throw them out of the room so he could get a little peace.

"Enough!"

All three of them froze and turned to the bed. Catherine was no longer on it, but instead rocked back and forth on the floor, hands over her ears as tears streamed down her face. She was gasping for air, choking on it, as she seemed to be curling into a smaller and smaller ball.

Cassius was rooted to the spot in fear and shock but Azriel moved. She put out a shaking hand to stop him and he froze mid-step. Her voice sounded like it had been torn into scraps when she spoke.

"I can't, I don't know what's happening. Get away from me," she said roughly.

She gasped and then lurched forward at a speed he could barely process. She'd shown a small inkling of that speed in the alley with Maia. Desmond shot back and stuck out a hand in front of Cassius and Azriel. Cassius registered the tears pouring down his face as his brain finally realized what was going on.

He was really going to lose her like this.

"Catherine sweetheart hold on. Please block it out. We need you," Azriel whimpered.

She was holding one leg of the bed like it was all that was keeping her from lunging at them. Her face snapped up and a devilish, inhuman smile twisted her features even as her eyes pleaded. Cassius could read the words like it was written on her forehead.

She was looking at him, begging him to come through with his promise.

"Azriel knock her out," Desmond said.

"I don't have enough energy yet," Azriel said despairingly.

"And you wanted to look through a vampire's memories like that," Desmond snapped.

Azriel's hands were glowing faintly as he tried with all his might. It did nothing. Catherine was only looking at Cassius though and her eyes begged him to kill her.

Cassius couldn't do it, couldn't even think of doing it no matter how selfish it made him.

He'd wanted to believe that if the time came, he'd be strong enough to put her out of this misery, but watching her like this only made him realize he'd never be able to hurt her. He'd rather die than kill her even if she wasn't really herself right now. The bed began to give way under her grip and Cassius felt Desmond tense with sheer panic, saw Azriel waving his hands uselessly in one last effort, and saw the light leave Catherine's eyes in the worst way possible as she looked at him like he was prey.

The bed leg snapped and Catherine lunged.

Cassius shut his eyes, knowing he'd never make it to the door. There was a hand in each of his, Azriel and Desmond, and he briefly made peace with the fact that he was dying like this. There were worse ways to die.

Catherine never reached them.

Cassius slowly opened his eyes, to find Catherine's crumpled form on the ground. For a second his heart stopped thinking she'd died. He rushed forward, tilted her head up and desperately searching for her pulse like a madman.

He could only breath again when he finally found it.

He sagged against the broken bed and finally processed the situation. Azriel and Desmond were pale and shocked as they leaned against the wall and each other for support. The door was open, had been kicked open by Raphael, who was now scanning the room with wide eyes.

Rafia Hamilton stood in the doorway with fire in her eyes and hands still glowing with tendrils of blue magic.

Azriel and Desmond crouched beside Cassius in silence. Cassius almost wished that she was completely still but behind closed lids, her eyes flicked back and forth. A tormented whimper escaped her and on instinct, the three of them pressed closer to her still form.

But she didn't open her eyes and Cassius didn't know whether or not to feel relieved.

"Take her down to the cells. The three of you should come to my office as soon as possible," Rafia demanded.

It was a small mercy from the woman to leave them alone with their shock. Cassius couldn't bring himself to lift her up. This nightmare he was trapped in seemed to have paralyzed his limbs.

All he could do was watch her breath, like if he turned away, she'd stop.

It was finally Raphael that came forward and lifted her up. None of them moved to stop him. Raphael brushed past Rafia and headed down the hallway to the cells.

Rafia let out what could be interpreted as a sympathetic sigh before closing the door to leave the three of them alone.

Cassius fell back against the bed, eyes arrested on the leg of the bed that Catherine had broken in. He'd seen her strength and speed but it had never scared him before, probably because it had never been accompanied by that look she'd just given him. That bone-chilling look that was fueled by icy hatred and an utter lack of compassion.

She looked like she'd murder the three of them and lose absolutely no sleep over it.

"She was really going to kill us back there wasn't she," Desmond said.

Cassius looked at Desmond, who looked like Catherine already had killed him as he sat against the far wall looking pale and painfully still.

"We knew this would happen sooner or later," Azriel started.

"That doesn't make it any easier," Desmond snapped.

Azriel looked at Cassius then. Cassius knew if he let himself dwell too long on the coldness in her beautiful eyes, the brute strength, he'd fall apart. He couldn't let himself fall apart.

So he buried it and focused on Azriel's violet eyes until his head stopped ringing.

"It's fine. She'll be fine," he said.

His voice sounded distant and false to his own ears. Azriel looked pained as he glanced between him and Desmond, like he was trying to figure out who was worse at dealing with this.

Azriel was distraught as well but he'd braced himself for this to happen. Cassius had just turned away from it, dismissed this possibility because he wanted to believe that if he rejected it enough, this wouldn't happen to her. He'd been fueled by desperation to run away from the problem because he didn't have the strength to accept it.

But Azriel had always been different. While Cassius had to shut down to think straight, Azriel remained standing.

Cassius found himself realizing that that was the true magic the warlock seemed to possess, to be an unwavering source of light.

The sun had set when Azriel summoned them food and coaxed them to eat. When Cassius finally felt the first tears slip down his cheeks, the warlock had wiped his tears away with his characteristic gentleness. He'd murmured soothing words as the warmth of his magic kept Cassius afloat.

And later when Desmond had announced in a gruff voice that he was going to shower, only to hear him cursing at the walls before throwing things, Azriel just listened. When Desmond came out with a cut running up his arm, Azriel didn't ask questions as he healed it. He'd then walked into the bathroom and cleaned up the mess without uttering a word.

He didn't ask for gratitude or comfort or apology.

It was only much later in the night that Cassius finally heard Azriel's soft crying, almost completely buried by a pillow. Desmond lay on the floor on the other side of the bed, lightly snoring. Cassius got off the floor and peeked over the side of the bed.

Azriel lay in the center with his back facing Cassius. Cassius didn't have any soothing words, so he clambered onto the bed and pulled Azriel close to his chest.

Azriel stopped whimpering immediately but he didn't push Cassius away.

"We'll find a way to help her," Azriel whispered.

The warlock twisted to face him, placing a hand on his chest. Tears glowed in his violet eyes. Cassius settled more comfortably, wrapping one arm around Azriel's waist.

"Yes, we will," Cassius, whispered back.

He leaned forward and brushed his lips against Azriel's, the faintest of kisses that held his promise. Neither of them moved to deepen it any further, recognizing how fragile they both were. They'd find a way, they had to, to bring her back.

Cassius drew back to rest his forehead against Azriel's, feeling their breaths mingle in the small space between their lips.

As Cassius slowly drifted off into a sleep that he didn't think would come, he felt the smallest traces of Azriel's inextinguishable hope fill his own delicate heart. 

30th Chapter!!! Hope you guys liked this one! Catherine, the poor thing. She's been through so much already. We have the boys dealing with the aftermath of loosing her as well. What was your favorite part of this chapter? Let me know in the comments below and don't forget to click the little star to vote as well. 

Thank you to everyone who has been reading this book and supporting me by leaving comments and voting thus far. It means the world to me. I'll be updating soon! Until then, 

LOVE, 

ASH