Page 49 of Fated to the Demon Lord

Thirteen

The demons burst inside. I was surprised at first to see that they weren’t spirits. No glowing eyes as a sign of possession—these were regular living demons. But then I became aware of the innkeeper looking at me hungrily. I peered at the others with him. These weren’t goblins. They were hobgoblins—bigger, though still lean, with longer horns and wicked claws. The crossed-bone tattoos on their biceps told me everything I needed to know.

Slavers.

Vaelor spun me around, and we grabbed the sword sitting next to the bed. “Stay back.”

“You notice the glowing eyes, Namar? This one is possessed,” the innkeeper said.

“I see it,” Namar said. “You’ll get your payment.”

“For the human and the spirit,” the innkeeper insisted.

“As long as all goes well.” Namar nodded for the other demons to advance.

“What the fuck? We made a bargain in exchange for safety,” Vaelor snarled in my voice.

The innkeeper smiled wickedly. “The bargain is tricky. You see, only you agree not to do harm. I did not make the same promise.”

When the slavers closed in, Vaelor urged me to move, and I relented. I surrendered each tug and movement to him. Our swords clanged, but the demons were strong, and Vaelor was clearly trying to maneuver them so we had a clear shot at the door.

“I don’t think so.” Namar shifted so he blocked the exit, pulling his own blade, ready to engage.

A low growl escaped my throat. I'll take care of them, Vaelor said in my mind. Stay here with the sword. If they come near, move how I taught you, but only fight defensively.

Wait, you’re leaving me?

Trust me, Denara. And trust yourself.

I only had one lesson. I don’t really know how to fight⁠—

But he was gone. His spirit departed from me, and he faded into the first demon approaching me.

The hobgoblin demon gasped and stumbled, releasing a pain-filled groan. But slowly he turned on the other demon, who raised his sword, ready to engage. And they went at it. The body Vaelor possessed easily overcame his opponent and stabbed him through the chest. The wounded one cried out and fell to his knees, then landed on his face, crimson spreading across the floor.

“Well, I’ll leave you to it,” the innkeeper turned and scurried for the exit.

“Send in the hedge witch,” Namar said.

The innkeeper nodded and disappeared out the door. A second later, a woman with long dark hair entered.

Vaelor came toward me, his orange eyes the only familiar thing about the crusty-faced demon he was possessing. His gaze flicked to the woman moving in the direction of the dead body, and his entire form stiffened. He gripped my arm and tugged me close to him. “Let’s go, now,” he said in the raspy voice of the hobgoblin.

Namar threw up his hands. “Of course, be on your way.” He gave a sly smile and retreated from the exit, creating plenty of space between us and him.

Vaelor’s grip was like a vice, and he steered me to the door. I glanced at the hedge witch, unable to tear my eyes away from her even as I was leaving.

She had a large knife out and began chanting as she bent and carved off a finger from the dead demon. Picking it up, she drew out a long glowing thread from her side bag and commenced weaving it into the flesh.

“Denara, go, just go.” Vaelor jerked me out of the room and rushed me toward the stairs. I glimpsed something close to fear on his face.

My stomach churned at the strange power flowing from the woman’s spell, and I moved quicker. If whatever they were planning was enough to make Vaelor worried, I didn’t want to stick around to find out. We were halfway down the stairs when the slaver’s voice sounded from the hall. “Wait.”

Vaelor’s body paused on the steps, his grip still tight on my arm.

“Remain in that body until I tell you to leave but drop your sword.”

The blade Vaelor’s body held clanked against the staircase. Anger sparked in his eyes, along with a bit of panic. “What is this?” Vaelor hissed in the possessed demon’s voice.