Page 3 of Fated to the Demon

The dark elves laugh, a cold, cruel sound that chills me to the bone. They don't slow their pace, pulling me relentlessly toward the edge of town. My heart pounds in my chest as I realize where we're headed.

The ravine.

Panic surges through me, giving me a burst of strength. I thrash wildly, twisting and kicking. "No! Narina!"

For a moment, I break free. I scramble forward, reaching for anything of purchase to hold on to, but then I'm yanked back, lifted off my feet. The world tilts crazily as they swing me, once, twice-

And let go.

The air rushes past me. My stomach lurches as I plummet, the ravine's jagged walls blurring around me. A scream tears from my throat, raw and primal.

In that endless moment of freefall, one thought crystallizes in my mind:

Narina. My little sister. I failed her.

2

SATURUS

Apiercing scream jolts me from my slumber. Fuck. Who dares disturb my rest?

I crack open an eye, ready to unleash hell on the fool who's interrupted my beauty sleep. But instead of some sniveling demon or pathetic dark elf, I spot a crumpled form at the base of my altar.

A human. Female.

Interesting.

I push myself up from my lounging position, stretching languidly as I observe the unconscious female. Her scent wafts towards me, something uniquely... enticing. My fangs elongate instinctively, a low growl rumbling in my chest.

How in the nine hells did a human end up here? The glacies isn't exactly a tourist destination, and my territory is warded against intruders. Yet here she lies, broken and battered at the foot of my altar.

I slide off my perch, bare feet silent on the icy floor as I approach her. Dark hair matted with blood frames a face that might be pretty if it weren't so swollen. Bruises mottle her skin, and her clothes are torn and filthy.

"Well, well. What have we here?"

I crouch beside her, inhaling deeply. The scent of her blood is intoxicating, a heady mix of fear, pain, and something... else. Something I can't quite place. My tongue darts out, tasting the air.

Fuck, it's been too long since I've had a human. The dark elves that occasionally stumble into my domain are all well and good, but there's something about human blood that sets my teeth on edge in the best way possible.

I trace a finger along her jawline, feeling the warmth of her skin even through the bruises. My nail catches on a cut, and a bead of blood wells up.

Before I can think better of it, I lean in and lick it off.

Holy shit.

The taste explodes on my tongue, a symphony of flavors I'd almost forgotten. Rich, complex, with an undertone of power that makes my head spin. My fangs ache, desperate to sink into her flesh and drink deeply.

But...

I pull back, forcing myself to think past the bloodlust. This woman is an enigma. How the fuck did she get past my wards? And why does she taste so damn good?

No, I can't just drain her dry. Not yet, anyway. I need answers.

I run my tongue over my fangs, considering. Then I lean in again, this time letting my saliva coat her visible injuries. The bruises on her face start to fade, the cuts knitting themselves closed.

"There you go, sweetheart," I murmur, watching as her features become clearer. "Let's get you fixed up so you can tell me just what the hell you're doing here."

Her eyelids flutter, and suddenly I'm staring into a pair of startlingly vibrant eyes. They're unfocused, clouded withconfusion and pain. Her lips part, and a single word escapes in a hoarse whisper.

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