Page 36 of Fated to the Demon Lord

“I’m a pretty pathetic one. I’m small and weak. I don’t know how to fight.” A stinging started behind my eyes, and I blinked to keep the tears contained. I gestured at the skeletal creature he’d brought with him. “That horse is a more suitable subject for your possession.”

The surrounding mist grew and spread. His gleaming eyes stood out against the grayness. “You’re right, maybe I should take it and leave. It is fast and obedient. At least it knows better than to run off and put itself in danger.”

“Maybe you should.” I let my head fall back against the cold stone. Useless. I couldn’t protect anyone. I couldn’t even find Gerand. What made me think I had the ability to journey through demon lands, find him, and manage to get him to safety? Safety was a fairy tale. The human lands were two demon kingdoms away.

He marched up to me. I tensed, turning my face to the side, ready for his blow.

“Get. On. The. Damn. Horse.” He spoke through clenched teeth. He loomed over me, breathing hard, but his fists remained at his sides.

I blinked and pressed a hand to my cool, unstruck cheek. That was what he wanted? Erlinen’s parting words played through my head. Remember, human, there are those who terrorize and those who protect.

He growled when I didn’t move and scooped me up, marching over to the skeleton creature and plopping me into the saddle. I steadied myself by touching the horse’s bony body but looked at Vaelor.

“Why?” I whispered.

He opened his mouth to answer, but then turned away to face the forest, his wings spread, shoulders tense. Only then did I realize the mist had grown, gathering along the ground, wrapping around the trees. Far more than I’d ever seen with Vaelor.

Five spirits faded in from the gloom. Tricken and his violent smile, Raxus and his deadly glare, the minotaur that had taken Gerand and two more demons with wings. They came forward, dark vengeance in their every move.

Vaelor didn’t wait. He turned and met my gaze.

Fear prickled beneath my skin. I knew what was coming.

His body faded into mine in an instant.

He eased into me, but my body fought it. This feeling of not being myself—of someone inside me—was more than I could handle. I had to trust Vaelor, but I didn’t. I couldn’t.

Raxus emitted a cruel chuckle. “She’s feisty, isn’t she, Vaelor?” He motioned, and the other spirits moved in, surrounding us. Trapping us against the cliff side.

The mist spun, increasing and turning the sun cold. The death glare of the demons were lights in the grayness, their thirsty smiles appearing crooked and even more sinister as my visibility dimmed. However, the only thing I sensed was the blackness inside—the demon within me striving for control.

Denara! Vaelor shouted in my mind.

Either I submitted or I died. That was the choice. No alternative existed. Thirty seconds wasn’t long, but it was long enough to kill someone who was vulnerable. Not to mention they could spread out my death among the five demons present. Vaelor tried to move my hand.

I could allow him that much. My fingers curled around the reins.

More Denara. Now.

Only for a moment. I released everything, and my arm jerked, and the horse bolted toward the cliff’s drop-off. Raxus appeared in front of us on the edge between us and the sky, but we blew right through him as the skeleton horse spread its wings and soared upward.

We rose with each wingbeat. The two demon spirits with wings took to the sky after us. I guess being a spirit didn’t stop one from flying if they so wished.

That’s it, Denara, Vaelor’s voice touched my mind like a caress. Give me control and I‘ll get you to safety.

A part of me wanted to give everything to him, even while a deep fear tugged at the back of my consciousness, screaming a warning. It was frightening how easily he silenced the second part. You’ll release me when we are free? I asked.

I will.

The beast beneath me jolted. Vaelor put my hand down to steady my position. The horse reared up and then dove wildly.

“Shit.” The word was more Vaelor than me.

We held on tight, wrapping my arms around the horse’s neck while it bucked and rolled.

What is happening? I thought.

Raxus must be possessing the horse.