Page 53 of Fated to the Demon Lord

“I suppose I fail to grasp why someone like me would deserve your… sacrifice,” I murmured. “Especially after everything I have done to you. Taken from you.”

“And what about what was taken from you?”

“You didn’t take those things. Others did.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but the wagons came to a sudden halt. We had joined up with a few other wagons during the night, and we were now a full-fledged slave train. Huge cages towered over our small one, some with demons, but most with humans—many of whom had a dead, lifeless stare that made my heart twist. None were clean or well-kept, though that said more about the demons that kept them than the humans themselves.

“Are we watering the beasts this early?” I asked about the stalled train.

“I have no idea,” Vaelor responded.

Rising, I eased next to him and looked out through the bars. We were in the middle of the line of wagons. With the greater number of slaves came the increased stench—urine and feces and blood mixing into one massive stink. It radiated around us and soured my stomach.

A large demon with a human’s body, a leopard’s face, and sizable antlers extending from his head walked down the row with Namar. The leopard-headed demon wore fine, cleanly woven clothes. Clearly, he possessed money. He and Namar paused at each wagon, peering inside before moving along to the next one. I stared at the finger tied around the slave dealer’s neck. It was bloody and fleshy. If only I could get my hands on it, Vaelor would set us free.

They came to our wagon. The leopard-headed demon looked me over and then regarded Vaelor, his eyes widening in shock. “What is this? A spirit?”

“Yes, a rare find. I already have a buyer in mind for him. Only the girl is for sale.”

Vaelor’s gaze darkened at the news.

The potential buyer advanced a step closer, looking me up and down, and I shrank away, pulling my shoulders in, hoping he’d pass by.

He stepped aside and turned to the dealer. “I’ll take her. What price are you asking?”

My heart sank. No.

“Ah, that one is special,” Namar said.

“Don’t play games, and I’ll give you a fair price,” snapped the leopard-headed demon.

“You dare buy her,” Vaelor snarled from his cage. “And I will rip out and feast on every organ in your body.”

“Pipe down, you,” the dealer called, the finger jiggling on his chest. Gods, I needed that talisman so Vaelor and I could escape.

“Don’t fight,” I whispered to him, worried the slaver might hurt him if he kept going. “There’s nothing you can do.”

Within seconds, they struck a deal, and money exchanged hands.

“There are a few extra items we found in her possession, if you’d like them?”

The leopard-headed demon nodded. “I'll pay for the items.”

More money passed between them, and the slaver sent a servant to fetch my possessions.

Namar fumbled with the keys at his waist and walked up to the cage. I straightened, my gaze never leaving the bloodied talisman. This was my chance. I had to get it off of him.

The cage door opened.

Vaelor stood close to me, fury in his gaze. I could tell he wanted to attack, but Namar had commanded him not to touch anyone, and the order still stood. The slaveholder reached in and took my arm. My hands flexed at my sides, but I went with him as I stepped down.

And launched myself at Namar.

He released a surprised cry as I bowled into him, and we both fell to the earth with me on top. I attempted to strike out with my right hand while my left fumbled for the finger. I struck Namar across the face, my nails leaving gouges in his skin. Namar snarled, his fist connecting hard with my head, knocking me off him and into the dirt.

The world spun, and I tried to steady my vision.

Vaelor was swearing and raging from the cage.