Page 16 of Their Demon

For-fucking-ever.

“You’re not giving up, Lillian. I won’t let you.”

Her gasp was barely audible as she turned to look at me, confusion scrunching her face and filling her eyes.

“How did you—” she started. “I didn’t eventhinkanything.”

“I said I won’t let you.” She looked down. “Look. At. Me,” I said slowly through gritted teeth.

I was angry—at everyone. The twins for dragging us through the portal that day. Me for insisting we bring her to the city with us. My mother for ratting us out and exposing Lillian. My father for threatening her and putting her in an impossible situation. I was even angry at Lillian for being so willing to accept defeat.

Tears filled her eyes as she looked up at me again. “I’m going to fail, Keir,” she whispered. “You even said it yourself. ‘Death would actually be more merciful’.”

I looked away from her and closed my eyes, hearing my own condemning words leave her lips. My chest felt tight, making it impossible to breathe. I’d said that. I’d doomed her from the start. I was the one filling her head with doubt.

“You can do it,” I spoke softly, lifting my eyes to hers. “Youwilldo it.”

“Your mom’s the only one ever to do it, and I am most certainly not the fucking queen of Hell.” She threw her arms to her sides. “I know my odds.”

“She didn’t do it herself. She had help.”

Lillian froze, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind.

“My father cheated for her. That’s why she made it. Withhishelp.”

Her hands flew to cover her mouth. “You know what that means, right?” she asked, her voice muffled by her fingers.

“What?”

“The success rate is literally zero. It’s even worse than I thought.” Tears spilled down her cheeks, her lips quivering as she began to cry.

Panic filled me as I contemplated what to do.

I’m sure she was as shocked as I was when I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her shaking body to mine and squeezing her tightly.

“Shhh,” I said as I rubbed her back with one of my hands. I could already feel the dampness of her tears through my t-shirt. “I said you were going to do this, and I meant it.” I let out a breath, preparing my following words carefully. “I’d never met such a headstrong, determined woman until you, princess. I know very few people who would sit on a couch right next to my father and look him in the eyes.”

“I was terrified,” she admitted into my chest.

“So is everyone else. The point is… he underestimated you, and he will see that once you complete those trials and become a demon, but by then, it will be too late, and he will look like a fool. Make him eat his words, Lillian.” I swallowed, a feeling flooding my chest that I did not want to feel right now. Not with her around. Not where she could potentially sense it.

Before I could pull away, she backed away from me, my body now aching with loss. “Do you really think those things?” she asked, a sliver of doubt still there despite the pep talk.

I wet my lips and took a deep breath.

I do. I believe every word of it.

How do I know that?She looked skeptical.

Can’t you feel it? Focus on my words when I say it.Feelwhat I am saying. I. Believe. In. You.

Her body shivered as she took in my words. I knew she’d felt it—the truth. My gir—this girl, had been able to hone in on my words and feel what I was saying. Pride welled in my chest, though within seconds, I wondered if I’d done something dumb by teaching her this.

“I feel it.”

Her smile was infectious, and soon, we were both grinning as we left the gym and headed to the kitchen for lunch.

The training hadn’t been as physically beneficial as I’d hoped, but she’d needed this, and I was more than okay with that.

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