Page 19 of Demon Lord's Proposal

As I pull away, she collapses on the bar, her breathing ragged, her eyes glazed with satisfaction. But there's something else - a fear, a worry of what the dawn will bring. I don't have the answers for her, but I will. I made my choice, and I'm not turning back. I press a hard kiss against her swollen lips. "We'll figure it out," I vow, and she nods, trusting me.

Yes, the dawn will bring questions, consequences, but for what we just shared, I'd face a thousand underworlds of wrath and heartache. For now, in the shadowy solitude of our bar, we have each other, and that's all that matters.

We lay there for a moment, our bodies entwined, our breaths slowly returning to normal. I look into her eyes, seeing a mix of emotions. Satisfaction, contentment, but also a hint of uncertainty. I know she's wondering what this means, where we go from here.

I don't have the answers. I don't know what the future holds. But at this moment, with her in my arms, I know that I want more. I want to explore this connection, to see where it leads. I know it won't be easy, but I'm willing to take the risk.

I lean in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "We'll figure it out," I murmur against her lips.

She smiles, her eyes softening. "Yeah," she agrees. "We will."

And for now, that's enough. We have tonight, and we'll worry about tomorrow when it comes. For now, we have each other, and that's all that matters.

11

DEUS

Istand in the shadows of my private alchemy lab, watching Sage work. Her movements are fluid, confident. It's been months since I impulsively pulled her behind the bar, and her progress is... unsettling.

"Sage," I growl, stepping into the flickering light cast by the bubbling cauldrons. "That's enough for now."

She looks up, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. Her eyes, once wide with fear and confusion, now gleam with determination and something else. Something that makes my chest tighten in a way I'm not entirely comfortable with.

"But I'm just getting started," she protests, gesturing to the half-finished elixir before her.

I grunt, approaching the workbench. "You've made your point. Your skills have... improved."

Sage raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. "Is that a compliment, Deus? I might faint from shock."

"Don't get cocky," I snap, but there's no real heat behind it. "It's time we moved on to more advanced techniques."

Her eyes light up, and I feel a surge of... pride? No, that can't be right. I push the feeling aside, focusing on the task at hand.

"Advanced how?" Sage asks, leaning forward eagerly.

I reach for a dusty tome on a nearby shelf, its cover bound in what might be dragonhide. "There are alchemical processes that even most demons shy away from. They're complex, dangerous... and potentially devastating in the wrong hands."

Sage's expression sobers. "And you think I'm ready for that?"

I meet her gaze, holding it for a long moment. "I think you need to be."

Something in my tone must betray my unease because her brow furrows. "What's going on, Deus? Why the sudden urgency?"

I turn away, busying myself with arranging ingredients on the workbench. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with. Now, pay attention."

As I begin demonstrating the intricate process, I can feel Sage's eyes on me, absorbing every movement, every whispered incantation. Her focus is absolute, and for a moment, I allow myself to admire her dedication.

"This elixir," I explain, carefully measuring out a shimmering powder. "It can alter the very fabric of reality around the drinker. In the right hands, it can create impenetrable shields or bend space itself."

Sage nods, her fingers twitching as if itching to try it herself. "And in the wrong hands?"

I pause, meeting her eyes. "In the wrong hands, it could tear holes between dimensions, unleashing chaos beyond imagination."

She swallows hard but doesn't flinch. "I understand."

As we work side by side, I find myself watching her from the corner of my eye. Her technique is flawless, her intuition uncanny. It's almost as if...

"Tell me, Sage," I say casually, adding a drop of liquid starlight to the mixture. "What do you know about the current political climate in the underworld?"

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