Page 31 of Fated to the Demon

"You... you did this?" I whisper, awe coloring my voice.

He nods, pulling me close. "Consider it a gift, my dear. No one who hurt you or your sister will survive this night."

I should feel horrified. Guilty. But all I feel is a savage satisfaction. They deserved this. All of them. The darkness inside me purrs with contentment, reveling in the destruction.

Saturus leans in, his breath hot against my ear. "I'll meet you in the glacies. It's my present for you."

"The glacies?" I ask, curiosity piqued.

"My realm is now your realm," he explains, a hint of pride in his voice. "A world of ice and shadow, where desires run wild and unchecked. It's where we truly belong, Claudia. Where you can embrace your new nature fully."

The promise in his words sends a shiver down my spine. A world where I can be free, where I don't have to hide who I am or what I want. It sounds like paradise.

Before I can process his words further, he captures my lips in a searing kiss. I melt into him, tasting blood and smoke and something uniquely Saturus. When we break apart, I'm breathless.

"Go," he murmurs. "Take your sister somewhere safe. I'll come for you soon."

I nod, unable to form words. With one last lingering look, Saturus disappears into the shadows. I turn to Narina, who's staring at the burning mansion with wide eyes.

"Come on," I say, tugging her arm gently. "We need to go."

As we stumble away from the chaos, I can't help but look back one last time. The mansion is now fully engulfed, a beacon of destruction in the night. Flames lick at the sky, consuming everything in their path. The screams have died down, replaced by the relentless roar of the fire.

A smile tugs at my lips. This is just the beginning. The start of a new life, a new me. With Saturus by my side and the promise of the glacies ahead, I feel invincible.

I tighten my grip on Narina's hand and lead her into the darkness. Whatever comes next, I'm ready for it. The old Claudia died in that basement. What emerged is something new, something powerful.

And I can't wait to see what I'll become.

20

CLAUDIA

Narina's arms tighten around me, her tears soaking into my shirt. "Please don't go," she whispers, voice cracking.

I stroke her hair, fighting back my own tears. "I have to, Narina. This isn't my world anymore."

Two weeks have passed since that night of blood and fire. Two weeks of explaining, comforting, and coming to terms with what I've become. A demon. The word still feels strange on my tongue.

Those fourteen days had been a whirlwind of emotions and revelations. I'd spent countless hours recounting the events in the ravine, trying to make sense of it all. Narina had listened with wide eyes, alternating between fascination and horror. We'd cried together, laughed together, and slowly, painfully, accepted the new reality of our lives.

"But why?" She pulls back, her eyes red-rimmed and pleading. "We can figure something out. You don't have to leave."

I cup her face, forcing a smile. "I made a contract, Narina. A lifetime of servitude to Saturus. It's not just duty – it's who I am now."

At the mention of his name, my gaze drifts to where Saturus stands a few paces away. He's giving us space, but his presence is impossible to ignore. My heart races as memories of our last encounter flood my mind – his touch, his taste, the way he made me feel alive in ways I never thought possible.

Servitude. The word should terrify me, but it doesn't. Excitement thrums through my veins at the thought of the eternity that stretches before us. Saturus may own me by contract, but he's never treated me like a slave. If anything, I feel more free than I ever have.

"Will I ever see you again?" Narina's question snaps me back to the present.

I hesitate, not wanting to make promises I can't keep. "I don't know," I admit. "But I'll always love you. Never forget that."

She nods, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. I pull her close one last time, breathing in her familiar scent, committing it to memory.

"Remember when we used to sneak out to the meadow at night?" I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "How we'd lie in the grass and make up stories about the stars?"

Narina lets out a watery chuckle. "You always came up with the craziest tales. Like the one about the star-eating dragon."

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