Page 74 of Fated to the Demon Lord

His thumb brushed beneath my chin, tilting my face up until our eyes locked. “No,” he murmured. “You are… extraordinary.”

Heat unfurled through me in response to his icy touch. His gaze moved over my features before settling on my lips. Gods, I wanted him to kiss me.

His fingers spread along my cheek, their touch featherlight. Vaelor was darkness and light, spirit and flesh all at once, and he stirred something deeper and more real inside me than anyone ever had. I wanted him to touch me. I wanted him to do more than touch me.

The firelight caught in his dark orange-red eyes, making them glow like embers.

My breath hitched. I stepped back, heart pounding, skin burning.

I gripped the finger and turned, striding toward the fire. Heat licked against my flesh as I looked over my shoulder at him one last time before slipping it from around my neck and casting it into the flames.

The fire crackled between us, sparks twisting into the dark as our eyes met across the blaze. He bowed his head, giving me a single, quiet nod as the music faded into silence.

Then he turned and disappeared into the night.

Nineteen

My heart sank into my gut. He was leaving?

Already?

I followed him away from the fire and into the darkness. The trees of the forest rose tall and dark enveloping us, shades of gray within the mist that spun around Vaelor. The moon shone, cutting through the vapor—rays glowing like spun silver.

“Where are you going?” I demanded when I caught up.

“The Final Proving is still underway. I need to find a body, return to Throk and decide if I’m going to fight in the tournament for the position of commander.” He stalked ahead, forcing me to jog to keep up.

“So you’re leaving? Now? What about the celebration?”

“I didn’t say how long I’d stay, and there are only four days left before I dissipate into nothing. I think I should focus on that.”

My muscles tensed, but I nodded. “Then I’m coming with you.”

“No.” He stopped and turned to face me. “You will remain here.”

My hands curled into my skirt. “You still need me. In order to kill a body, you will need someone⁠—”

“There are many other bodies I can possess. I don’t need you.”

I flinched. “I don’t care. I’m coming anyway.”

He stepped closer, an intensity marking every movement. “There are things you don’t know about me. I bring death and destruction on all that are near me.”

“Erlinen explained to me what happened to your people. What if I can help you get them back?”

His head reared in surprise. “She told you about that?”

“She wanted to convince me to stay away from you.”

He didn’t move, his eyes becoming hooded. “What else did she tell you?”

I took a slow breath. “That a demon named Creedan stole them.”

He hissed, his wings spread. “What else?”

“Was she supposed to tell me something else? Vaelor, what if I can use my powers to help you rescue your people?”

“I’m bound to Spiritu Malignos, Denara. I don’t know if there is a way to save my people anymore.”