Page 105 of Fated to the Demon Lord

“I should have known this wouldn’t work,” Vaelor said.

“The curse is broken, Vaelor. It is.”

“We don’t know for sure, and even if it is… I could still lose you.”

“And I could lose you.” The idea of him remaining and perishing for me was more dreadful than someone leaving. “But Bargoth, my mother, my brother, Erlinen. They are worth fighting for. If we can do this. If we can protect them without dying, then we’ll know for certain that the curse, our curse, will be broken.” I brushed a kiss on his lips. “Trust me.”

“Do you have any tricks in your book that could help us?”

I gripped it.

I had killed him. Now I’d do anything to save him.

“I just might.”

I swept a few strands of hair from my face as I stirred the bubbling pot. Two books were open wide on the counter of Vaelor’s kitchen. One was the history of Spiritu Malignos and the other was my hedge witch book of spells.

I gave the pot another stir.

What are you brewing? Vaelor asked in my thoughts.

A poison I’ll use to weaken Throk. Kind of like what Raxus just did to us only Mira will add this to the demon’s food.

Vaelor sat at a stool next to the counter, observing. After bandaging Vaelor’s side, we’d come downstairs to get to work. I wanted Vaelor to rest, but he insisted on coming down with me. I knew it was because he was restless. Still, I didn’t fail to notice the dark crescents under his eyes or the effort hidden in every movement. Signs that the poison was in his system and taking its toll.

“In order for us to be successful, we have to take out more than just Throk,” Vaelor said, his speech slower and more labored than usual. “He and his two subordinates hold power over the entire army. If we only kill Throk, one of his minions will assume control.”

I frowned, recalling Throk’s two gargoyle companions and their flesh that looked like gray stone. I was sure it was actually skin—but thick skin. They might be difficult to defeat.

“So we have to kill all three.” That meant all three of them ingesting the poison so that I could have a chance to take them out.

“But only after I’m named commander of the mercenary troops,” Vaelor added. “Otherwise, the mercenary troops will be free to butcher us.”

“What about the non-mercenary troops?”

“If Throk names me fourth in command, I should be able to take over them as well once Throk and the other two are gone.”

“If that is what we have to do, then we’ll do it.”

He stared at me for so long that I shifted under his gaze. “What is it?” I asked.

“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head. “If my determination got me half as far as it gets you, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

I glanced at the boiling pot, thinking of every instant where my life had taken a terrible turn. “It doesn’t always get me what I want. Sometimes my whole life goes wrong, too.”

“And yet you invariably rise and fight again.” He regarded me with admiration in his eyes.

“So do you,” I said, taking his hand.

“No, I gave up.” He pulled his hand from my grasp. “The mercenary army was my last attempt—my last try to save my people. After all I had lost, I’d given up on everyone and everything else, and if my plan didn’t work, I’d decided I might as well end my existence. If I only brought pain and suffering, if I only ended up alone, if redemption wasn’t possible, what was the point?”

“And then I ended your life for you.”

“I almost didn’t take the deal Throk offered when he raised me.” He sighed. “I don’t know why I did. I just remembered wanting revenge on the individual who’d killed me…”

I sucked in a breath.

“You see,” he hitched a small smile. “You brought me back to life in more ways than one. First, after you took my life, and second, when you infused color and purpose into my life.”