Page 15 of House of Demons and Bones

“You kissed her,” I seethed. His cozying up with Lilith and my copy had cut me deep.

“I wouldn’t call that a kiss, little scorpion,” he said. “I turned away when she tried. Just a brush on my cheek. I couldn’t avoid it then, but that is no excuse for hurting you. I hate myself for doing that to you.” The wind tousled his dark hair. “I suck at relationships. I never bothered with them since I never thought I’d have a real one. But you’re my true mate. I can learn to do better by you.”

He’d hit every note and said everything I craved to hear. My blood even sang at his words, but reality also closed in like walls crushing me from all sides. Everything had exploded in just a few weeks, with the biggest threat looming—my father was coming.

I couldn’t deal with a relationship now. The oracle’s words swirled through my head like the tolling of a dark bell. My gut knew how this would end, and there would be no HEA for me. But I could still give others, especially Sy, their happy endings after I went out with a bang. I owed Sy that much, and I’d do everything I could to make sure she had a future.

“You hurt me, Killian,” I said, shaking my head. “Even with your reasons, the damage is done. Once trust is broken, it doesn’t just mend itself. It doesn’t matter now, since I don’t think I’m built for relationships anyway. Besides, we can’t focus on romance while the realm is in danger. Ruin’s army is at our door, and they’ll keep coming.”

Killian’s throat worked as he swallowed. “I’m not demanding you stand by me, but you’re my fated mate. It’s not in me or my dragon to watch you flirt with other men. He’ll go berserk. Claiming and protecting our mate runs in our blood. Let’s make a pact. I’ll give you space, commit only to you, and you give me a chance to make it right. You’re not facing this threat alone. I’llalways stand with you. All the kingdoms are aware of this threat from the God of Ruin. The crowns will meet tomorrow to discuss our response.”

My breath eased. “All the kingdoms will back this?”

“The heirs and I will ensure our kingdoms form a joint army against Ruin and his forces,” he said. “I’ll do anything to protect you.” His forehead pressed against mine. “No one can break me except you. Without you, I’m a broken man. I know you won’t have me after how I hurt you, but I’ll fight for you with everything I have.”

Something inside me cracked at his confession. My broken heart wouldn’t mend just because the truth was out. You couldn’t flip emotions like a switch. When I’d thought he’d used me then dumped me for his betrothed, it had cut too deep to heal.

I’d played this scene a hundred ways in my head when I’d imagined him admitting his regret for choosing another.

“I made a bad choice,” he’d say.

“Then live with it,” I’d answer.“Go back to your betrothed and her ward. They’re desperate for you.”

And if he walked away, my heart would bleed out all over again, but I’d leave him and his regrets in the dust while thunder would roll, sealing our tragic fates.

Fuck this shit,Sy had said.Stop playing that dumb shit in your head.

Now he had chosen me in my reality. But I couldn’t be with him, at least not yet, even after he’d declared I was his, even after he’d sworn to claim me publicly.

“Please stop,” I said. “I don’t need you to profess your undying love for me and confuse the hell out of me.”

He looked at me, pain and understanding blending in his storm-blue eyes.

“I can’t turn off my feelings for you,” he whispered. “But you do what you have to do, my little scorpion. I’m not giving up on you, on us,” he vowed. “Never.”

5

The Fallen Star

She knew about the young lovers painting her as their villain.

They’d escaped to the place beyond her reach, thinking themselves clever.

She waited for the pain of betrayal to hit. She’d thought herself beyond such feelings, but the hurt made her want to raze everything. No, she wouldn’t touch this world, but she could destroy them both.

She closed her eyes for long seconds to get her emotions under control. She needed to focus on her true purpose. The Wheel of Fate had begun its final turn. The casualties would be devastating, like in any war. This wouldn’t be the war that ended all wars, but it would be the most crucial one.

Her thoughts drifted back to the young lovers.

Barbie matched his age and power. She was cunning, fierce, full of attitude and lies, and Killian was smitten and tried to hide it. They both plotted against her, thinking she was blind to them.Her ancient angelic eyes missed nothing. She sighed at their youth.

From above, Lilith’s vast ivory wings with ebony tips cut through the clouds. She surveyed Mist of Cinder below—its castles, lakes, forests, all six kingdoms, and Underhill. The magic had grown stronger and more vibrant with Barbie’s arrival.

The realm had feared the fading of magic. That’s why they’d started the Brides Selection, hoping to produce a ruler strong enough to bond with the realm’s power and preserve Mist of Cinder. She’d watched the supernatural races weaken over the centuries while humans rose and dominated with their technology and sheer number. If this last magical realm couldn’t hold its magic, it would become just another human territory.

After she’d bound the chaos heir and established the sixth house in Mist of Cinder, others began to fear her ambitions and her ascension to high power, saying that the demon queen’s rule would bring Hell to Earth.

Their fear amused her. They knew nothing of the true threat or the horror waiting at their door. Being misunderstood and judged didn’t bother her—no one had ever grasped her mind. But soon, everything would come to an end.

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