Page 35 of Fated to the Demon Lord

Unease curled in my chest. They weren’t much, but at least with Erlinen and Feron, I was safer in numbers. I gave a slow nod.

Erlinen hesitated, then added. “Remember, human, there are those who terrorize and those who protect.”

I held in my scoff. Only one type of good demon existed. A dead demon.

She turned away. I heard Feron’s wings flapping as they disappeared into the sky after the ivy fell shut. The dark woods would soon fill with spirits seeking to kill me, and they’d left me utterly alone.

And yet, perhaps I was a fool for staying here awaiting Vaelor. I was only waiting for him to possess me. Currently, the spirits had assembled elsewhere on his property, and I found myself without company. For the first time, not a soul watched me.

I could run, disappear and hide where nobody, not even Vaelor, knew where I was, and then I’d go and find Gerand.

When else would I have such an opportunity? I had to poison an entire camp in order to escape with Mira. Something told me that once Vaelor came, opportunities to get away would become close to nonexistent. I grit my teeth. But I had already tried running once and almost died and soon this entire forest might be filled with spirits.

A rustling from the brush made me look up. I squinted through the vegetation. Could a spirit demon make a sound like that? Only if it was disturbing the forest in some way. I stood motionless, scarcely daring to inhale, willing it to be the breeze teasing the foliage or some small creature scurrying through the undergrowth. The rustling grew louder. From the way it disturbed the vegetation, it didn’t sound small.

Whatever it was, it was coming closer.

The sound got louder and I shut my eyes, praying that whatever it was would simply go away. But it didn’t. I looked again through the foliage and saw…

A skeletal horse. The creature consisted entirely of bone, except for the bat-like wings extending from its back. Someone had attached a saddle and placed a bit in its mouth. Its eyes were made of flame. Maybe it was lost?

My heart sank when I realized that the eyes had a distinct orange tint.

Shit. A demon spirit possessed it.

And the horse was looking straight at me through the cracks in the foliage.

It took another step toward me. No. I wouldn’t stay here to be attacked and torn apart. I flung the bag over my shoulder and lunged up out of my hiding spot. And ran.

The trees blurred past. I came to a stream and angled away from it. Even as my brain knew running was futile. Demons had a fantastic sense of smell, so I’d be easy to track. They also had excellent hearing—even my heart beating in my chest could give me away.

The trees fell away, and I came to a ledge.

Glancing down, I gaped at how far it went. A low fog obscured the bottom. I hadn’t realized I had ascended so high.

I hurried along the cliff’s edge, hoping to find a hiding spot. Maybe a place along the cliff face where I could slip down and hide among the crags and holes of the rock. It was desperate. My only hope would be that maybe the trickling of the nearby stream might drown out my heart. The creature’s hooves galloped after me, coming closer.

I gripped the handle of the sword at my waist but just as quickly discarded the option. I knew nothing about using a blade. Running was my only option. My pants were much easier to maneuver in than any dress. I raced ahead, my bag and sword both banging against my side, desperately searching for a hiding place that might suit.

The cliff made a sharp turn, and an enormous stone wall blocked my path. I was trapped. I spun around, my heart pounding, and found the skeleton horse standing there looking at me.

A mist lifted from the creature and coalesced. Into Vaelor.

I blinked. It had been him all along?

He glared at me, enraged as usual. “You were supposed to wait for me at the designated spot. And the second I come, you run up onto this cliff, exposing yourself to everyone.”

I leaned against the wall and let out a manic laugh. Of course it was him. “You never said you’d show up possessing a… that.” I gestured to the skeleton horse.

“It will make travel easier. And if I have to possess you, we can still fly away,” Vaelor said, his eyes narrowed. “I shouldn’t have to explain myself. You need to do as I say.”

Anger sparked inside me at his words. “Why should I submit myself to you or anyone? All I want is to be away from you, from them, from everything. I want to find my brother.”

The horse made of bones waited calmly and docile behind him as Vaelor took a threatening step forward. “And you think you can do that on your own?” he snarled, his eyes flaring, the mist at his feet spreading. “That if it’s not me using you, it won’t be some other demon that will find you and do whatever the hell he wants with you? You are in demon lands, Denara. You are food, an object of torture, or both for any you come across.”

“And what am I to you?”

He stilled, his spine straight, shoulders square. “You know what you are. My tool.”