My Guardian Demon

Chapter 38

A few days had passed since Nathaniel's lies, and the truth about Zac's past settled in. I knew it wasn't true—Zac didn't kill his family or take pleasure in it. His past was dark, but it didn't define him. Still, things had changed. Nathaniel's words had planted a seed of doubt, and I started seeing Marax differently—something between us was shifting, but now wasn't the time to deal with it.

I loved Zac, despite his demons. I knew that's what mattered. I told him everything Nathaniel had said, and he didn't need me to apologize or explain. He knew my heart.

"I know what's in your heart, Athena," Zac whispered, his voice steady. And he was right. With Zac, I didn't need anyone's approval.

But Marax? I couldn't deny the pull I felt, even though I couldn't act on it right now. My heart was already full, and this battle with Satan was bigger than any of that.

Today is my first day back at school, thank god I don't have long left till I graduate.

As I gazed into the mirror, my fingers traced the necklace that hung around my neck, a silent connection to the past. I missed my parents, my old life—before I knew about angels, demons, Satan, and everything else that had turned my world upside down. But then, I wouldn't have Zac or Marax.

It was a bittersweet thought. My old life felt so distant, but these new, unpredictable relationships had become my reality. I wasn't sure which version of my life was harder to accept, but I knew one thing: I wasn't alone anymore.

Tonight, I had more practice with Marax, and honestly, I wasn't looking forward to it. He was the best at teaching control, but the sessions always pushed me to my limits. Zac had warned me before that he'd push me hard if it became too much, even if it meant hurting me to make me stronger. Lately, I haven't thought that this is true anymore.

What was worse, I could feel the tension between Marax and me — the kind that was more than just training. It was undeniable. I wasn't stupid, and I could see it in his eyes too. But I knew better than to act on it. No good could come from these feelings, not with everything going on. Still, the attraction was there, lingering like an unspoken truth between us.

Zac appeared behind me, his smile soft and knowing as he looked at me. I couldn't help but smile back, turning around to face him. Without thinking, I leaned in and pressed my lips against his, feeling his warmth instantly flood through me. The kiss was a quiet moment of comfort amidst everything else, a reminder that, no matter what, Zac was always there.

"I missed you," Zac whispered, his voice soft but filled with an emotion that made my heart race. His eyes locked onto mine as if trying to read my thoughts, and for a brief moment, I felt a pang of guilt for the chaos inside my head.

The confusion between my feelings for him and the growing tension with Marax weighed heavily on me. But in that moment, as I stared into Zac's warm, brown eyes, everything else seemed to fade away.

Without thinking, I kissed him again, my lips pressing against his with more urgency this time. It was like I needed him to ground me, to remind me of everything I had with him. The way his hands cupped my face, the way he kissed me back with so much tenderness—it was everything I needed at that moment.

I could feel the heat between us, the familiar pull of his embrace, and I found comfort in it. Marax's presence had been complicated, his teasing and the undeniable chemistry between us left me questioning everything, but Zac was home. Zac was the one who always made me feel safe, loved, and seen. The connection we shared was real, and I knew, deep down, that he was the one I wanted to be with.

As we pulled apart, I could see the concern in Zac's eyes, like he could sense something was off within me. He always had that ability to read me, to know when something wasn't right. I didn't want him to worry. I didn't want him to think that my feelings were divided. But the truth was, they were, and it hurt to admit it, even to myself.