Page 2 of Fated to the Demon Lord

We didn’t need anybody else.

After dinner, we wrapped ourselves in scratchy yet familiar woolen blankets and read aged, tattered books by the fire. When we reached the part where the knight faced the dragon, Gerand frowned.

He sat up from his resting spot by the hearth, gazing intently into my eyes with their verdant hue. “When I was out trapping, I saw the demon campfires on our border. There are a lot of them, Denara.”

I shut my book and slid beside him. “We’ll be okay. Even if the army can’t hold them off, they will at least give us enough warning to escape if we need to.” I’d packed some essentials in case we had to run, but I hoped it wouldn’t come to that because we didn’t have everything. We had no tent and nothing to protect us from the elements.

He fidgeted with his blanket. “I know… it’s just⁠—”

I rested my hand on his. “Gerand, I promise I’ll keep you safe.” The words settled deep in my chest, fierce and certain—I would do anything to protect him.

He nodded, and I moved to reopen my book, but he caught my hand. “I don’t want anything to happen to you either.”

I gave him a reassuring smile and squeezed his fingers.

He relaxed beside me, and I flipped open the cover as together we listened to the soft pop of the hearth fire while I continued to read about the powerful knight who defeated a dragon.

A pounding on the door caused both of us to freeze. We exchanged a worried glance. It wasn’t the calm knock of a visitor.

It was the sharp rap of desperation.

A quiet foreboding rippled through my limbs as I went to the door. “Who is it?” I called without opening it.

“Please open up! They’re coming!”

I recognized the voice of my neighbor, John, Mira’s husband. Even though most of the town avoided us, John and Mira had always shown kindness to my brother and me. Dread flooded my chest at his words. I opened the door. A man with dark hair leaned against the frame, gasping for air and holding a stitch in his side.

“Who’s coming?” I demanded. The paleness of his skin and the pointed terror on his face told me the answer before he said it.

“Demons. An entire army of demons,” he panted.

Gerand rose to his feet, his eyes bright with alarm and confusion. “But the king sent an army to protect the border.”

John shook his head. “They took one look at the devils and every single man fled. Mira,” he sobbed. “My Mira was taken.”

Gods, my worst nightmare was coming true. I swallowed back the fear. Grabbing John’s shoulder, I motioned to Gerand. “We’re leaving.”

“There is no escaping. We’re overrun. The only solution is to hide.” John searched around in panic. “Do you have a cellar or any such place?”

I opened my mouth to answer when a spear lodged in his throat. Blood splattered everywhere, across my apron, burning on my face.

John dropped to his knees, making a strange gurgling sound as he fought for breath. I pressed my hand to my lips to stifle my scream. His complexion turned a ghastly blue, his eyes unfocused, then he toppled over.

I glanced up and met the gaze of a troll only a short distance from my front door. He stood taller than me, his heavy jaw thrust forward, and every feature etched with murderous intent. “We got one here!” he called behind him and lumbered forward.

I seized John’s unmoving body and shoved him out the door before slamming it shut and dropping the wooden bar in place. A violent jolt shook the door, and the demon beyond it cursed. But it held.

Thank gods, it held.

I spun to Gerand who stood there, his eyes round and his jaw hanging wide as he trembled.

“Get under the bed,” I whispered, wiping John’s still-hot blood from my face.

Despite his fear, he hesitated. “W-what about you?”

“They saw me, but not you. Hide beneath the bed. Remain silent.”

For a moment, he didn’t move.