Page 35 of Demon's Dark Love

I nod, feeling the weight of their gazes. "It seems so. Our connection triggered something in the castle's magic."

"And now what?" A human, her face etched with lines of hardship, steps forward. "What happens to us?"

Lily steps closer to me, her presence grounding. "This castle, this magic, it's not just ours. It's everyone's now. We have to build something new. Together."

"Easy for you to say," a grizzled demon mutters.

"You're right," Lily says, her voice steady. "But we're willing to fight for a better future. Are you?"

The crowd falls silent, the weight of her words sinking in. The castle, once a symbol of oppression, now stands as a beacon of possibility. And for the first time, I see a glimmer of hope in their eyes.

"It won't be easy, but ask yourself if you want to go on living like you were," I say, looking at each face in the crowd.

A hesitant nod, then another. Slowly, the crowd begins to shift, the line between demon and human blurring. Lily's hand tightens around mine, and I know we’re not alone in this fight.

"Looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us," she murmurs, her eyes meeting mine.

I grin, feeling the fire within me burn brighter. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

The hall echoes with the shuffling of feet and hushed whispers.

I take a deep breath and step forward, my eyes locking onto Bethana's as she emerges from the shadows. Her once regal form seems diminished, but the fire in her golden eyes remains.

"Mother," I begin, my voice steady, "we need to talk."

Bethana's lips curl into a bitter smile. "Talk? It's beyond that, don't you think?"

"Okay then," I reply, my voice firm. "I'll make it simple. It’s time you joined us."

Her gaze shifts to Lily, a mixture of disdain and curiosity. "And you, human, do you think you can forgive so easily?"

Lily meets her gaze without flinching. "It's not easy, but it's necessary. Holding onto the past won't help us build a future."

Bethana's eyes narrow. "And what about Griselda? She's tormented you for months. Can you forgive her too?"

Lily's grip tightens on my hand, but she nods. "Yes. It's not about forgetting, but about moving forward."

As if summoned, Griselda appears at the edge of the hall, her face pale and eyes wide with fear. She approaches cautiously, her usual spite replaced by apprehension. "M-Mistress Lily, Master Enoch," she stammers, "I... I don't deserve your forgiveness."

"That doesn't mean you won't get it," I say bluntly. "This is bigger than any one of us."

Griselda's eyes well up with tears. "Thank you."

Bethana watches the exchange with a mixture of bafflement and reluctance. "Very well," she says, her voice softer. "If we are to bridge this gap, we must all change."

Lily smiles, a small but genuine gesture. "Thank you, Bethana. This is just the beginning."

The hall seems to breathe a collective sigh of relief. Demons and humans exchange cautious glances, the first steps toward a fragile but hopeful alliance.

"And what about the other demon states?" another demon asks, his voice tinged with concern. "They won't just stand by and let this happen."

"We face them together," Lily says. "We've already shown that unity is possible. Now we have to prove it."

"Easy for you to say," a human woman mutters. "You’ve got power. What about us? What protection do we have?"

"You have us," I reply, my eyes locking onto hers. "We’re not just standing here as leaders; we’re standing here as equals. And we’ll protect each other."

Murmurs ripple through the crowd, a mix of skepticism and tentative hope.

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