Page 60 of Demonic Division

“I’ll keep you safe, bunny,” he promises, his tone revered hush. “I’ll protect you from anything—even your bad dreams.”

I nod, a small smile creeping across my face despite everything. “That’s a nice thought, Cyppy…”

If only it were true.

By the following morning, Kaebl still hasn't returned. I can tell by the narrowed brows on Lir and Roark’s faces that the demons are beginning to worry about their leader, but none attempt to verbalize it. Instead, we all stay cuddled in Cyprien’s blanket fortress, basking in the pleasure of the bond and doing our best to ignore the strange menacing energy swirling in the air.

It’s nothing palpable—just a feeling that started latelast night—right when I awoke from my nightmare. Ever since, it’s been growing in strength, threatening to burst the happy little bubble me and the demons have created here.

A faraway cry pierces the air, and I snap upright, my eyes going wide as I peer through the opening of the burrow. The piece of sky I’m able to see through the opening in Cyprien’s window looks clear—devoid of threats—but I can’t shake the feeling something is horribly, terribly wrong.

“What is it?” Lir asks, sapphire eyes narrowing on the horizon. “What do you see?”

I shake my head. “I don’t… I thought I heard something…”

Roark shifts onto his forearm, his nostrils flaring as he scents the air. “I didn’t hear anything… nothing smells off, either.”

I continue staring out the window, that sense of dread shuddering down my spine. “Something’swrong. I don’t know what—but I know itis.”

Instead of arguing, Lir, Roark, and Cyprien snap to their feet, claws and fangs elongating in tandem as they stalk toward the opening. Lir is the first to pass through, followed by Roark, but when Cyprien attempts to follow, Lir holds an arm out, blocking his way.

“Someone needs to stay with Dagny,” Lir announces. “If somethingiswrong, someone needs to keep her safe.”

Cyprien nods, retreating to the corner of the burrow with me in tow. He crouches down, pulling me square onto his lap as his arms fold around my stomach, holding me in place. “You’ll call if you need me?”

Lir nods, his mouth set in a serious line. “We’re just going to check the perimeter. I’m sure it’s nothing…” But even as he says the words, I can tell he doesn’t believe them. Shaking his head, he turns on his heel, gesturing for Roark to follow him. Lir jumps onto the window ledge, his great blue wings materializing from the shadows. They beat the air once, twice, and Lir jumps into the sky, allowing the violent wind to take him high into the atmosphere.

Roark does the same, looking back over his shoulder before launching into the void. I watch as their powerful forms disappear over the horizon, that pit of dread hardening with each passing moment.

“Cyprien… what’s happening?”

His grip tightens, claws digging lightly into my skin, but he refuses to answer. I turn my head over my shoulder, surprised to find the usually cheerful demon with an expression of distress.

Sensing my gaze, he tries to fix his mouth into a smile, but it ends up looking more like a grimace. I reach a hand up to his face, and Cyprien’s eyes close as he leans into my touch, some of the worry easing from between his brows.

“Is it that Slaine guy?” I whisper, scared of the answer but needing to know it all the same. “Is that why Kaebl hasn’t come back? Why Lir and Roark are so worried?”

Cyprien’s eyes gaze out the window, his mouth setting into a serious line. “I hope not… but something tells me it is.”

“Is it really that bad?”

He nods. “Catastrophic.”

I follow his gaze out the window, the memory of M’s words pushing to the forefront of my mind. “Maybe it’s for the best… if it’s the only way to stop Kaebl from resurrecting Abaddon…”

Cyprien’s grip tightens on my hips, and in the nextsecond, I’m being spun around to face him. His palms travel to my shoulders, and he uses his leverage to shake me several times. I gaze into his wild yellow eyes, not understanding what could have caused such rage.

“Who told you that?” he demands, gripping my shoulders and shaking me hard. “Was it M?”

My throat dries as he continues shaking me violently, and for the life of me, I can’t make any words exit my mouth. Luckily, I don’t need to. The next moment, a massive crash breaks the air, shaking the walls of Cyprien’s room and calling his attention to the window and the massive clawed hand reaching over the ledge.

He’s on his feet and across the room before I can blink, his powerful muscles shuddering as he hauls the creature over the ledge. A horrible squelching noise fills the air as Kaebl drops to the ground, spewing thick, dark blood across Cyprien’s carefully placed furs. His golden eyes blink up at the ceiling aimlessly, his chest rising and falling rapidly with quick, shuddering breaths. All across his arms and torso, more dark blood oozes onto the ground, pooling around the demon lord like a halo.

Without thought, I rush toward him, crouching in the puddle of blood by his head as Cyprien carefully unfolds his broken wings.

“Gods, what happened?” Cyprien demands, pressing his palm to the gaping hole in Kaebl’s left wing. A faint yellow light pulses to life beneath his hand, slowly pulling the shredded edges of the membrane back together. Kaebl winces as Cyprien moves to the protruding bone near his shoulder blade, sweat beading across his brow as he attempts to mend it.

Kaebl reaches up, attempting to bat Cyprien away, but the arm falls limply back to the ground. There’s a pool ofblood now, spreading out in every direction on the floor, touching the walls. My eyes flit over the horrible wounds on Kaebl’s torso, and I know Cyprien alone will not be able to save him.

---