Page 102 of Their Demon

We parted for our queen, and she stepped forward, only a few feet separating her from one of the most dangerous creatures in Hell. Her face was stone-cold, glaring him down, but I could feel her. I could feel the small flame of fear masked by a stubbornness to appear strong. It was working.

He looked beyond pissed off, his usual intimidation tactics not working as well as they had before. He couldn’t read her, had no effect on her. He had the disadvantage, even though she was the one he was trying to sentence to death.

“How did you do it?” he asked her quietly, his lips pressed into a tight line once he finished speaking. His heavy breathing was audible.

“Do what?” she asked him, amusement lilting her voice.

You’re getting to him, princess, and it’s comical, but tread lightly. We are in his playing field right now, I warned her. I loved seeing him get all worked up, but I also knew we were outnumbered should he decide to attack.

His eyes blazed with an unbridled fury, jaw ticking. He pointed a finger at her, nearly poking her face, but she didn’tflinch. She didn’t even blink. “You cheated at the last trial, girl. I want to know how you did it.”

Don’t tell him anything, I thought to her.

Duh, she answered.Do you think walking out now would be going too far?

My face cracked, and my father took notice. He diverted his attention to me, confused and angrier than before. “What’s so funny, son?” His face was turning red, and before I could react, he grabbed Lillian by her throat.

I took hold of his wrist and twisted it, wrenching him away from Lillian. She fell back against the twins, gasping for breath. I wanted to check on her, but I couldn’t turn back. An unexplainable rage had bubbled over. He’d fucking touched her, hurt her. I wanted to kill him.

His guards rushed behind him, swords drawn and ready to protect their king. I kept my hands down at my sides, squeezing my fists tightly, trying to reign in my shadows.

“Don’t ever fucking touch her again,” I spat in his face.

His eyes narrowed. “This is not like you, Keir. You’re letting thatgirlget to you. This is why you’ll never be a good king. One stupid human girl waltzes in, and you're just as weak as she is.”

I couldn’t bear the insults he threw her way. “She’s so much more than that,” I gritted out, instantly regretting my words.

His eyes widened, and he smiled as he looked past me at Lillian and then to me again. “I see.” He considered something for a moment. “I’d wondered why she looked so well today, considering how she was when you carried her useless, limp body back home.” He chuckled. “You bonded with her, didn’t you?”

I didn’t answer him, refusing to play his game. He found hilarity in my silence, laughing even harder. His guards and councilmen began to laugh with him. Rage was now spilling from me, coating my skin and pooling at my feet. I had to get control of myself before I got us into trouble.

“That won’t do,” my father chided. He snapped his fingers at his guards as he said, “Grab her. I’m done playing games.”

She screamed, and the twins stepped in front of her as they protested. I stepped in front of them before the guards could get close to her, not daring to glance back in case they tried to catch me off-guard.

“You can’t hurt her…” I half-yelled, half-pleaded.

My father looked intrigued. “And why not?”

I took a deep breath.

I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I thought to Lillian.

What are you tal—

“She’s my destined love,” I said with a heavy heart.

I heard her gasp, and the twins cursed under their breaths.

“You idiot,” my father spat at me. “You bonded with yourhumandestined love? A human who is going to die in a few short days? Do you realize what her death is going to do to you? How much it's going to destroy you?”

“She isn’t going to die,” I said as I backed up closer to her. She was standing between the twins now, a mixture of hurt and confusion on her face. “She’s going to destroy you, and there’s nothing you or your army can do about it.” I took great pleasure in the expression that crossed his face, too many emotions to pick out just one. I laughed an evil, wicked laugh, knowing hisend was coming soon, and it was going to be by the hand of my destined love.

“GET OUT!” he shouted, anger taking its hold of him.

“Gladly,” I said before spitting on the floor in front of him.

Our girl had given me the courage to stand up to the man who’d ruined my life, and it felt freeing to grab her hand and lead her out of his fucking building. Things were changing; I was changing, and it left me with a drunk, euphoric feeling.

---