Page 37 of Their Demon

“Balance,” he’d say. “It’s all about balance. If your enemy throws you off balance, they’ve won.”

I narrowed my eyes, staring this ugly, wretched demon in the face. He wouldn’t win, because I was ready for something like this.

He lunged again, the blade aimed for my stomach, but I spun out of the way, jamming an elbow to his lowered head and slashing the blade across his ribs.

He howled, and pride welled in my chest. I was doing this. I was fighting—winning.

My moment of celebration was cut short as my legs were swept out from under me. I hit the ground with a grunt, and the demon crawled over on top of me.

Before I could slash at him, he gripped my wrist with so much force, I cried out, and he slammed my hand on the ground until I released the handle. The blade fell to the ground beside us, and he kicked it away.

“Stupid fucking girl,” the demon spat. My nose wrinkled at the foul smell of decay that left his mouth. He held his knife up with both of his hands, the blade pointed at my chest. “Seems like I have to kill ya first.”

As he brought his arms down, I grabbed his hands, pushing against him with all my might. He pushed harder, and my armsshook. I screamed. I bucked. I tried to roll over. I tried anything to throw him off or slow him down.

The tip of the blade got closer and closer to my chest, and tears filled my eyes. I was going to die. Keir had been right; I shouldn’t have left the flat. It was dangerous out here, and not just because of their father. I sobbed, my life flashing before my eyes. I saw everyone, the good and the bad, the town and house I grew up in. I saw the princes.

I’d never see them again.

I stared into the demon’s eyes, anger filling my veins. This stupid fucking demon had messed with the wrong woman. As I pushed against him with renewed strength, adrenaline pumping through me, he screamed. His pushing ceased entirely, and I took the upper hand, pushing him with enough force to knock him to the side.

Without hesitation, I scrambled to grab the knife he’d made me drop and jumped on top of him. He was still crying out, cradling his hands, when I jammed the blade into his heart. His eyes went wide as he gasped his last breaths, blood spilling from his chest and mouth, before he went limp.

I jumped off him, not wanting to touch him any longer, and fell on my ass as I got away, kicking my feet until I felt like I’d scooted far enough from him.

Greater emotions than I’d ever felt before—shock, pride, horror—washed over me, and I wept loudly.

I killed someone. I took his life.

I stared at his motionless body, my vision blurry with tears. I could’ve sworn I saw smoke coming from his body, so I wiped the tears away as best as I could, smearing blood and mud allover my face, I’m sure, and crawled on all fours until I could get a good look at him. His hands were sizzling.

Was that why he cried out? Why he’d stopped pushing against me?

My eyes went all over the place as I tried to think of an explanation, looking at my dirty yet otherwise perfectly healthy hands. The hands that had been on his when he screamed.

“Lilly!”

I turned to see Nicholas coming from the tree line, eyes going back and forth between me and the demon lying on the ground.

A choked sob of relief left my throat as he reached me, assuring me over and over that he was here now and I was safe. When I looked up at him, he kissed my forehead, my cheeks, my chin, and my nose, apologizing again and again for not getting to me faster.

We sat there, him holding me tight, for who knows how long before I sat up, finally calm enough to talk to him about what had happened.

“I thought he was you. I… I turned, and when I rea…realized it wasn’t you, I… I screamed.” My tears returned, falling down my face as I spoke.

“I know, baby. I heard you. I came running the moment I heard it.” He looked me over for the millionth time, ensuring I was okay.

Tears continued to spill from my eyes, but I continued speaking through my sobbing and gasping for breath. “He said he was… going to eat me… threw a dagger at me… I fought… him off as best as I could… I was so… scared… I thought I was going to… to die… I was so close… I saw you guys… I couldn’t…couldn’t die like that… then his hands started… burning… he screamed and… I got him off… that’s when I… I… I…” I looked over at the body on the ground.

“Shhh. It was him or you, baby. I’m so proud of you.” He kissed my forehead again. “I’m so fucking sorry, Lilly. I shouldn’t have brought you out here. I didn’t think anything like this would happen. It was stupid. I could’ve gotten you killed.” He hugged me tight against his chest. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Another several seconds—maybe minutes, maybe even hours—later, we stood up together, never breaking physical contact.

“Lilly?”

“Hmm?” I looked up at him.

“What did you mean his hands started burning? Like, he wielded fire?” Nicholas looked confused and gave a sideways glance at the dead demon.

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