Page 26 of Demonic Division

He grips my arm once more, pulling me toward the stairs without another look. I remain silent as he leads me into the main hall, then up the large spiral staircase to the second floor of the palace. The soles of my feet burn as he pulls me down a winding passage, the chilled air burrowing beneath Cyprien’s blanket and slicing into my skin. I do my best to remember each twist and turn we make, but the pain in my feet makes my mind hazy, and I worry that I won’t be able to find an escape from the hell Kaebl is taking me to.

We make one last left down a hallway that ends in a single iron door. It sits like a gaping mouth in the center of the archway, breathing stories of the horrors that lie just beyond. A shiver runs down my spine as Kaebl tugs me toward it, and as much as I try to dig my heels in, it’s no good.

Leaving me no time to object, Kaebl shoves open the door and pulls me inside. I blink rapidly, trying to adjust to the dim lighting of the room. It’s a large space but bare. Nothing adorns the walls or floor, save for a small bed of furs laid out in the corner of the room.

“Is this… am I staying here now?”

Kaebl nods, gesturing toward the bed of furs. I follow the line of his finger, noting the pile of clothes laid neatly on top I hadn’t noticed before.

When I don’t move, Kaebl clears his throat, walking over to the clothes and pointing downward. Swallowing hard, I walk over to Kaebl and crouch down, carefully unfolding the layers of shimmering silver fabric. Uponcloser inspection, it appears to be a smaller version of the skintight armor the rest of the demons wear. The material is cold to the touch and smooth like silk—weightless and pulsing with an air of magic—and I’m sure if I try it on, it will fit me like a glove.

Kaebl’s stare burns my profile as I place the bodysuit to the side and reach for the next piece of clothing. I run my fingers over the collar of the tan fur coat, marveling at the craftsmanship, the brown rows of intricate stitching holding the seams of the leather together. It’s the same beautiful pale color as the one Cyprien loaned me, and I have no doubt it’s just as warm.

As soon as I lift the coat from the bed, several pieces of lacy white fabric fall to the floor. Without thinking, I pick those up too, rubbing the material between my fingers with a pinched brow. “What are these—oh.”

My cheeks heat to a crimson color as it becomes apparent.Panties. He got me fucking lace panties.I look up at him through my lashes, the back of my neck heating with mortification. Kaebl’s eyes flash pink for the briefest moment, and he looks off to the side, his jaw clenching hard.

The matching thong and bralette set hang limply from my hand as we both stand there, the tension suffocating. Kaebl clears his throat and looks toward the door, another flash of pink accompanying the motion. He points, signaling his departure.

I nod slowly, my tongue like lead in my mouth. “Thank you… for the clothes. And the… you know.”

Kaebl nods tersely, unable to meet my gaze as he hastens from the room. No goodbye. No indication of my fate. As soon as the door clicks shut, I let out a breath. Kaebl’s presence makes me a nervous wreck, and not entirely in a bad way. But if M's words are true—that he’sthe personification of jealousy—then I need to watch myself around him. Envy is an ugly emotion and not one I wish to associate with.

Shaking off the lingering essence of Kaebl that hangs in the air, I blow out a breath, watching the cloud of vapor swirl and dissipate. Clutching the blanket tighter to my chest, I crouch to the ground and reach for the clothing. A high-pitched mewl breaks the silence just before I touch it, and I snap upright, scouring the shadows for threats.

Perhaps I just imagined it.

Shrugging, I turn back to the clothes, only to whip back around when anothermeowechoes through the space.

Is there a fucking cat in here?

My question is answered a moment later when a tiny animal materializes from the shadows in the corner of the room. It slinks across the floor to me, eyes the color of burning coals piercing me through the dark. Without pause, the creature crawls into my bed of furs and makes itself at home, a deep purring noise rumbling in its throat.

Hair the color of soot covers its body, making it stand out against the tan-colored furs. It's matted in various places and dulled by the amount of grime clinging to the short strands, but its prior beauty shines through on the sleek black hair coating its forehead.

The creature is unmistakably a cat, and normally, I would already have scooped it into my arms to give it a cuddle. But I have to be careful. I have to remember that—just like with Cyprien’s bunny—looks can be deceiving.

“Who do you belong to?” I ask. The kitten looks up, bloodred eyes piercing me through the dark as it lets out a pitiful mewl.

“I bet that whine gets you everything you want,” I murmur, stretching my hand toward its crown. Somethinginside me is pulling me to the fluffy creature, begging me to pet it—to offer it just a small gesture of kindness.

The cat leans forward, stopping just shy of my palm. Its nose twitches slightly as it scents me, testing whether I’m friend or foe. Suddenly, it rears back, the hair between its shoulders sticking straight into the air like needles. The cat’s mouth opens wide, baring a set of razor-sharp canines as it releases a menacing hiss.

Before I can react, the cat skitters off into the shadows. It seems to dissipate into the very air, leaving me alone once more.

“Weird… but okay,” I murmur, checking my surroundings again. I pull my knees up to my chin, holding my jaw closed to quell the chattering of my teeth. The cat distracted me, but now that it’s gone, I realize just how cold my skin has become.

I can’t put on the skin suit with the blanket, so with a deep breath, I cast the thick fabric to the floor. As soon as I do, the chilly air assaults my skin, drawing goose bumps to the surface and hardening my nipples to painful points. My fingertips have just grazed the bodysuit when a door creaking open makes its way to my ears, and I snap upright.

Holding the fabric over my private parts as well as I’m able, my eyes search the shadows of the room, my heart threatening to beat itself to death against my rib cage.

A pair of yellow ones stare back.

A choked noise sounds in my throat as Cyprien steps into the room, his padded feet silent against the stone. Eyes the color of coal blend into the background, showcasing a set of salivating canines, bared in a vicious snarl. Streaks of blood and dirt coat his skin, giving him a fearsome quality I’ve never seen in the yellow-eyed demon. Wherever hewas, and whatever he was doing these past days—it could not have been good.

I scooch back, and Cyprien follows, his shoulders hunched in a predatory position as he nears. His head tips back, nostrils flaring as he scents the air, and when he looks back at me, his face has morphed into the terrifying demon from the woods.

“Cyprien… what are you doing?” I whisper, desperately trying to wrap the coat around my naked torso. “You’re scaring me, Cyppy.”

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