Page 25 of Demon Lord's Proposal

"The angels? You're working with them?"

A chill runs down my spine. I knew I'd been improving, but to be considered a threat enough for angels to ally with demons?

"There's more," the assassin continues, the words spilling out now. "They don't just want you dead. They want to make an example of you. To show what happens to those who upset the balance of power in the underworlds."

I take a step back, my mind reeling. This is bigger than I could have imagined. It's not just about me – it's about the entire power structure of this realm.

"And Deus?" I ask, dreading the answer. "What do they plan for him?"

The assassin's lips curl into a sneer. "Deus is a fool. He should have known better than to protect you. The Conclave has plans for him too. Even as we speak, they're–"

Suddenly, their eyes go wide. They begin to convulse, foam forming at the corners of their mouth.

"No!" I cry out, rushing forward. But it's too late.

The assassin gives one final, violent shudder, then goes still. Their eyes, now glassy and lifeless, stare up at the ceiling.

I stumble back, my heart pounding. This wasn't supposed to happen. The truth serum shouldn't have caused this. Unless...

Unless it was never about the serum at all. Unless the assassin had been prepared for this very situation.

With trembling hands, I examine the body more closely. There, almost hidden beneath the collar of their shirt, I spot it – a small, empty vial on a chain around their neck.

Poison. A failsafe to ensure they couldn't reveal too much if captured.

I sink to the floor, my back against the bar, as the full weight of the situation crashes down on me. The Ebon Conclave wants me dead. Deus is in danger. And I'm alone, with a corpse in the middle of the bar and more questions than answers.

15

DEUS

Istep into Slim's, and immediately, the hair on the back of my neck stands up. Something's off. The air feels thick, charged with an energy that sets my teeth on edge. My eyes scan the dimly lit bar, taking in every detail.

The usual cacophony of demonic chatter and clinking glasses feels muted, overshadowed by an undercurrent of tension. I stride towards the bar, my senses on high alert. That's when I see her – Sage, her auburn hair a mess, her green eyes wide with a mix of relief and fear.

"Deus," she breathes, rushing towards me. "Thank the underworld you're here."

I grab her shoulders, my eyes searching her face. "What happened?"

She takes a shaky breath. "There was an assassination attempt. I... I managed to subdue the attacker."

For a moment, I'm frozen, shock coursing through my veins. Then, like a switch being flipped, cold fury takes over. My vision tints red, and I can feel my demonic nature surging to the surface.

"Where?" I growl, my voice barely recognizable.

Sage points towards the back room and without another word, I storm towards the room, Sage hurrying to keep up. I throw open the door, revealing a figure slumped over.

I can feel the rage building inside me again, threatening to burst free. My form begins to shift, my demonic nature taking over. My skin darkens to a deep obsidian, horns growing larger, my eyes blazing with infernal fire.

"I need to deal with this," I growl, my voice deeper, more menacing. "Now."

Sage reaches out, her hand on my arm. "Deus, wait. You can't just go charging off. We need a plan."

I turn to her, seeing the concern in her eyes. For a moment, my fury wavers, replaced by an overwhelming need to protect her. But the rage is still there, simmering just beneath the surface.

"Stay here," I order, my tone leaving no room for argument. "Don't leave the bar. I'll handle this."

"But-" Sage starts to protest.

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