Page 25 of Fated to the Demon Lord

Lord Vaelor.

Seven

“Get inside, now,” Vaelor growled.

My fingers curled into my palms. He’d done it again. Acted as if he might actually not be the ruthless demon he was, lulling me into a tentative moment of security and then destroying it with reality. My life had always been like that. Just when I felt secure, when I believed I could trust, that trust was snatched from me.

“No.” I warily stepped around him and headed for the gate.

Even though I couldn’t hear his footsteps, his voice remained right behind me, so I knew he was following. “Do you have a death wish?”

“I’m not your slave.” My demise may be certain if I exited that gate, but at least I’d have died trying to get to freedom.

“No, you are my murderer, my tormentor, my…” He released an angry breath. “Would you stop walking? Any second a spirit might⁠—”

“What? Possess me? Kill me?” I laughed. “Sounds like you were planning to do exactly that except you were going to drag it out over days and weeks and⁠—”

“You’re not listening.” He grabbed my wrist, tugging me to a halt.

I spun to glare at him, wrenching my hand from his grasp. “Oh, I’ve heard enough. I will not be a helpless lamb for you to torture.”

Anger sparked in his gaze, and he drew nearer, but then he looked up and stiffened. “They’ve come.” He raised a finger and pointed behind me toward the gate.

I glanced back to see, and my eyes widened. Dread pulsed through me like a heartbeat. Five spirits were at the gate and they were heading right toward me, deadly violent revenge in their glowing gazes. Two were large, with spread wings and dark gray bodies. Huge horns jutted from their heads. Another was smaller but had considerable sabertooth-like teeth reaching over his jaw. He prowled forward with feline grace. One was a huge, threatening minotaur. I recognized him as the same demon who had struck Gerand when they captured us. The last creature I identified as Tricken, his pointed teeth flashing as he came near.

Vaelor positioned himself in front of me, wings spread wide. “Stay back. She’s mine.”

“She was yours as long as she stayed in the manor. The instant she stepped out, she gave herself over to us,” Tricken said. “Now move aside. We’ve learned a new trick and we all want to try it out on her.”

“Not me,” said the demon with the sabertooth teeth. “I intend to tear her apart one limb at a time and listen to her scream.”

“Ah, an attack from inside and out, even better,” Tricken added.

I retreated a step. There was no escape. They’d be within me, taking over my body before I took five steps toward the mansion.

Vaelor spun around and grabbed my arms, pulling me close. “Look at me.” His hand came to my chin and forced me to stare up at him. There was a harshness but determination about his gaze. “Do not fight me, and I will save you.”

His being enveloped into mine, and he disappeared.

No.

I spasmed.

Do not fight me, Vaelor’s voice growled in my mind.

I couldn’t do this again. I couldn’t. I’d left to avoid this, to escape this.

Denara, trust me.

Something dark and gentle moved through me, and the pain I expected never came. It was cold and unfamiliar—but not harsh—a compulsion, but not force.

Give yourself to me, his tone was blackness moving inside my mind. I resisted, but somehow that felt… wrong.

The demons hissed, angry that Vaelor had stolen their chance. Tricken picked up a large stone and moved in.

Run.

Back to the manor.