Page 26 of Demon Lord's Proposal

I cut her off with a look. "Promise me, Sage. Stay here where it's safe."

She hesitates, then nods reluctantly. "Okay. I promise. But please... be careful."

I give her a curt nod, then turn and stride out of the room, out of the bar, and into the twisted landscape of the underworld.

The air here is thick with sulfur and ash, the ground beneath my feet shifting and unstable.

In the distance, I can hear the wails of tortured souls and the rumble of infernal machinery.

But I pay it no mind.

I have a pretty good idea of where to start.

Elder Malphas, one of the most powerful demons in the underworld council.

I storm into his opulent chambers, the doors exploding off their hinges with a wave of my hand and he rises from his obsidian throne, his six eyes narrowing as he takes in my enraged form.

"Deus," he says, his voice calm despite the situation. "I was wondering when you'd show up."

"You tried to have Sage killed," I growl, advancing on him.

Malphas doesn't back down. "She's a threat to the natural order of things. A hexeblood with growing power in the underworld? It couldn't be allowed to continue."

"She's under my protection," I snarl.

"And that's precisely the problem," Malphas retorts. "You've grown soft, Deus. Letting your feelings for this girl cloud your judgment. You're forgetting your place in the hierarchy."

His words only fuel my rage. With a roar, I launch myself at him, and the battle begins.

The clash between us is epic, shaking the very foundations of the underworld. Malphas is ancient and powerful, but my fury gives me strength. We trade blows that would level mountains, hurl spells that tear holes in reality itself.

The fight seems to last for hours, days even. Time loses all meaning as we grapple with each other, neither willing to give an inch. But slowly, inevitably, I begin to gain the upper hand.

But my cause is greater and with a final, earth-shattering blow, I send Malphas crashing to the ground. He lies there, broken and defeated, as I stand over him, my chest heaving. "It's over, Malphas," I growl. "Sage is off-limits. Spread the word – anyone who comes after her answers to me. Understood?"

"But the angels..."

"Let them face me."

Malphas nods weakly and I turn away, my body aching but my mind clear for the first time since this all began.

The journey back to Slim's is a blur. As I approach the bar, I can feel my demonic form receding, my appearance returning to normal. The rage that's been driving me for hours finally begins to subside, replaced by a bone-deep weariness.

I push open the door, my eyes immediately seeking out Sage. She's behind the bar, her face lighting up with relief when she sees me. In an instant, she's rushing towards me, throwing her arms around me.

"Deus," she breathes. "You're okay. I was so worried."

I hold her tight, burying my face in her hair. For a moment, I allow myself to simply breathe her in, to feel the warmth of her against me.

"It's done," I murmur. "You're safe now."

As I say the words, I'm struck by the intensity of my feelings. The need to protect Sage, to keep her safe, is overwhelming. It's more than just a sense of duty or obligation. It's something deeper, something I'm not sure I'm ready to name.

I pull back slightly, looking into her eyes. "I won't let anyone hurt you, Sage. I promise."

She smiles up at me, her hand coming up to cup my cheek. "I know," she says softly. "Thank you."

As I stand there, holding Sage in my arms, I'm acutely aware of the internal struggle raging within me. These feelings – this protectiveness, this tenderness – they're foreign to me.

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