Page 96 of Fated to the Demon Lord

“Demons attack. Demons destroy,” Vaelor said, his dark red hair appearing black from the water. Streams still ran down his chest from the soaked strands. “But have you seen what happens when a demon tries to protect?”

His proximity proved greatly distracting, and I inhaled unevenly, compelling myself to concentrate. “We broke the curse. Don’t you trust my powers?”

He tenderly brushed my hair behind my ear. “I trust you.”

“And you told me that I’d guide you on your path.”

“You would guide me toward life or death.”

“Raxus has knowledge of the plans your brother tried to establish and will use them to gain favor within the Spiritu Malignos ranks. We are both aware that Spiritu Malignos will not reject the prospect of a land grab. Not to mention Raxus knows where Derand is. My mother is powerful, but I’m sure Spiritu Malignos and Aeria both possess ways of breaking through protective enchantments.”

Vaelor frowned. “They do.”

“So we must do something.”

“Denara, there are so many obstacles.” He stepped back, cooling the heat between us and leaving me disappointed. But as much as I wanted him to make love to me right there, our conversation was too important to let go.

“First,” he said. “I’d need to be declared as the next in line of command to possess any influence.”

“That’s the second part of the Final Proving, right? The fight for command. You could do it. Fight to the top.” He now had his brother’s powerful body, not my weak human one. With Lanzin’s form under his control, he could make it.

“Even if I did, I’m locked in the chain of command.”

I thought about this. “Now that you’re bodied, if you disobey a command from Throk what happens?”

“I’m still bound to obey all his orders. If I disobey, my spirit will end in painful agony and this body will simply become an empty corpse.” He shook his head and sighed. “If Raxus tells the leaders about the idea of splitting Misophae, which he will, and Spiritu Malignos decides to contact Aeria, there’ll be nothing I can do to stop them.”

I stepped toward him, my chin squaring with determination. “You worry about becoming the leader of the new recruits and leave that part to me.”

He gave out a short laugh of disbelief. “You want me to bring you into a camp where all the demons wish to impose upon you a horrible death?”

“We must be careful, but with my powers, I can do so much more than I ever believed possible.” Succeed or fail, protecting my mother’s town was worth fighting for. I wouldn’t allow the fear of a curse or past failures to hold me back. Not anymore.

A small smile crossed his face. “You certainly are a fierce one. Once you get an idea in your head, you don’t let go.”

“I’ll never give up on those I love.”

And I won’t ever give up on you. He stepped close and pulled me into his arms, brushing a kiss over my lips that made my entire body light up with the sensation of him. “I’ll do whatever you say.”

Twenty-Six

We flew over the tops of the trees as we returned to Vaelor’s lands a few hours later.

We set down in the woods a short distance from camp. Trees surrounded us, obscuring everything from view except for the old shack that stood in front of us. Vaelor set me on my feet, and I stumbled.

Are you sure you are up to this? he asked in my thoughts.

Despite the exhaustion in my limbs, I forced a smile. I placed my hand on the tight bandage on my arm. I’m fine.

Blood coated Vaelor’s skin, running down one half of his body, splitting his face in two. Crimson and pale. It was a demon tradition to bathe in the blood of their enemies. My grip tightened on my bandaged wound. I had spent some time earlier that day bleeding onto him, painting him in my blood. I fought past the weariness in my still-recovering body.

As for me, I’d completely chopped my hair and woven a good chunk into Vaelor’s warrior braid that hung beside his face. Signs to the demon army that I was indeed dead. I was pretty sure it would fool the demons of the mercenary army, who would see no reason for Vaelor to keep me alive.

All except maybe Raxus, who had seen how viciously Vaelor was willing to defend me.

I handed Vaelor my bag of supplies, and he took it before entering the rickety shack that was on the outskirts of his property.

He walked in and came out with a large shirt and pants. “Change quickly.”