“Yes, you made a good impression.” I looked at Holden. “Goodbye.”

He tossed his hands up before smiling and leaving. I turned to Della, hoping she would kiss me, but she had that same terrified look on her face that had appeared the other day.

“Please don’t run.”

“I’m not running. I’m using magic.”

“Stay,” I pleaded.

“I can’t.” Something like sadness flickered in her eyes. She stepped forward and gave me a chaste kiss before her magic swirled around her, and once again, she was gone.

I leaned back on the wall and ran my hands down my face. I was fucked. I already missed her, and I hardly knew her. I smiled at the memory of her mouth on mine. Then I tilted my head to the heavens and thanked them for letting her be mine. Della was everything. A noise somewhere close to me had me looking around. Someone was close by—I could feel their eyes on me. At first, I thought it might be Della, but I dismissed that thought when the air became heavy with darkness.

Something evil was near me. I stood up straight and listened closely for the danger. There was an odd sensation as if my body was reacting to this evil presence.

As the thought crossed my mind, I felt that familiar shiver run up my spine, letting me know the void was coming forward whether I wanted it to or not. I didn't understand why this other personality inside of me felt the need to come out right now. I tried to hang on to consciousness and not let him surface. He was being persistent, and I knew I would not win this struggle over who would be the presenting personality. He must think he can handle the danger better, and he was probably right, so I released my control.

My eyes closed tightly as the void swam through my veins and took control of everything, forcing me down into the deep depths of my chest so I wouldn't know what he was doing. The void side of me raced through every fiber of our body, pushing out anything nice about us to make way for his bad attitude. It seeped into my mind, shutting down my emotions and any logical reasoning. My body tensed almost to the point of pain as I switched personalities.

I shook my head as I surfaced. My gaze looked around for a moment because I could feelthemlurking close by. It was why I needed to be present right now because the nice side of me did not know they were here. He didn't even know who they were. They stepped into the dark alleyway I was in. All six of them wore cloaks with the hoods up like I didn't know who the fuck they were.

"Take the hoods off." I rolled my eyes.

"How odd," Elra said as she lowered her hood. She didn't look away from me. "I don't think I will ever get used to seeing yourniceside."

I ignored her, mostly because she pissed me off every single time she showed her face to me. The others lowered their hoods too, but I didn't move my glare from Elra.

"Is the other side of you going to be a problem?"

"No, he doesn't know what I do or say unless I let him. What the fuck do you want?"

"Why do you need the other side of you? Get rid of him; he is a weakness." She was an idiot.

"You realize he and I are the same? We are one man; there is no getting rid of one another. And no part of us is weak, so don't piss me off. One man, two personalities—it really isn't that hard to comprehend."

Her eyes flashed red with her anger. It was too easy to annoy her. I crossed my arms over my chest and gave her a look that said she should start talking or I was fucking leaving.

"Did you meet Ardella yet?"

"Yes." I did not give them any other details.

"And?" Mateo stepped forward.

"And nothing."

"Did she realize who you are?" he asked.

"No." Relief filled their faces. I was also relieved, but it was more because I wanted to kiss her some more before she realized who and what I was. Della did not seem to remember when we first met, thank fuck. It meant my magic worked on her.

"So this will work?" Daya asked eagerly.

"Yes. But do not get comfortable coming here to babysit me. I have this under control and do not need you fucks breathing down my neck. Have some patience; I literally just met her."

"Fine, but you need to make this as quick as possible. Did you have any more visions of the future?" Elra asked.

Yes, I did, but most of them revolved around Della moaning my name.

"No," I lied.