Page 29 of Demonic Division

He slams the door closed.

14

Lir

“Wouldyou wipe that insipid smirk from your face?” I narrow my eyes at the yellow-haired demon, which only causes his smile to widen. “There’s nothing to be happy about.”

“You wouldn’t be saying that if you got to touch her like I did,” he quips, waggling his brows as he follows me into the library.

I roll my eyes as I plop down in my armchair, a headache pulsing behind my eyes. A cloud of dust swirls in the air, settling over the ancient tomes and scrolls laid out on the table. “It will be the last time. You’re not to see her again.”

Cyprien waves me off, turning his attention to a symbol circled in red ink on one of the open book pages. “That looks like mine and Dagny’s.”

“Ah. So you do have at least one working brain cell,” I grumble, reaching over and snapping the book closed. “We’re not here to talk about my research.”

Cyprien scoffs. “Like youreallyhave anything to talk about. You’re no Fenryr.”

The back of my neck prickles, and I turn to Cyprien with a snarl. “I’m doing the best I can. At least I’m doing something other thandeliberatelysabotaging our efforts.”

Cyprien leans his hip against the table, raising a hand up to inspect his nails. “I’m doing nothing of the sort.”

“You—how can you say that?” I throw my hands up in exasperation. “You won’t fucking stay away! And nowI’mhaving a hard time controlling myself around her.”

Cyprien smirks, his eyes gleaming with a knowing look. “It feels good to admit, doesn’t it?”

“I fucking can’t with you,” I grumble, placing my head into my hands. “This is not a good thing.”

There’s a hint of truth to what Cyprien said. Just because I’m nottiedto her doesn’t mean I can’t feel the bond Cyprien has with her. It affects all the pieces—just in lesser amounts. And it puts Dagny in danger. It putsallthe pieces in danger. Because we’re all drawn to the little human. And the longer she spends bonded to Cyprien, the harder it will be to deny—the more the others will want to bond with her, too.

“Go clean yourself up,” I say, not bothering to look at him. “You reek of demon blood.”

“If you’re so desperate to change the subject, you could have just said that.” Cyprien shrugs. “But okay. I’ll leave you to stew and wallow in whatever it is you’re thinking about.”

His hand is wrapping around the handle when my voice breaks the silence, halting him. “Promise me you’ll stay away from the human, Cyprien.”

His shoulders tense. “I’ve been trying.”

“Try a little harder.”

A booming laugh fills the space, though there’s no real happiness init. “Will do, Lir.”

He steps out of the archives, closing the door softly behind him. As soon as I’m alone, I let out a breath and reach for the book I closed earlier. I open it to the middle, running a finger lightly over the symbol inscribed onto the sepia-toned page. Three points of a triangle converge at the edges into three even circles. At the center is a diamond, etched in such a way that each point touches the edges of the triangle.

Since Cyprien brought Dagny here, I’ve been trying to understand the drawings and notes Fenryr left in these diaries, to no avail. It’s all just scribbles and half-penned thoughts, leaving me just as confused as when I started learning about soul bonds.

I slam the book closed, leaning back in my chair and bringing a hand to my forehead. The more I try to find a solution to the problem, the more the threads unravel. And if my actions in Dagny’s bedroom are any indication, we’re running out of time to solve it.

I blow out a puff of air, watching the clouds dance and swirl above my head. Touching Dagny earlier felt too good. Tasting her was even better, and I know I can never experience that luxury again. One more time and my control will snap. One more opportunity for me to do the wrong thing, and I’ll have to take it.

My growing obsession with the little human is something I haven’t even fully admitted to myself, let alone Kaebl. If he knew, there’s no telling what he would do—to me and to Dagny. It’s the latter that worries me. I have this irrepressible desire to protect her, to make sure nothing harms her or even so much as thinks of it.

With a growl, I stand from my chair, shaking away those ridiculous desires. Dagny is not mine to hold, to have, or to protect. She’s a human and a troublesome one at that.I have to keep my head straight and find a way to break this false bond between her and Cyprien. Before it’s too late.

I walk to the window, my vision narrowing at the corners, engulfed by shadows. My wings snap out from my shoulders, catching the breeze blowing through the open space. I step to the ledge, my claws gripping the stone as I lean forward, allowing the wind to keep me upright.

I jump, falling for several moments before my powerful wings take me back into the sky. I loose a pent-up roar to the heavens as I take off into the distance, not caring where I’m going or how long it will take to get there, only that I have to clear my head before I go insane.

I only have to hope Dagny doesn’t get into any trouble while I’m gone.

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