Page 60 of Court of Heathens

She kicks and screams, flinging magic at me, but all it does is make me stronger.

I know my witch would not want me to kill her, but she dared to attack my woman so she cannot live. I do spare her a more gruesome death though, since I do not want Freya to be angry at me. I simply snap her neck and drop her as I glare at the others in warning.

“I would heed his warning. He is a beast, and he answers only to Freya. If you so much as follow us or dare to attack us when our backs are turned, then I will not be able to stop him. He will eat you without a care.”

Ah, permission. Reaching down, I swallow the witch’s body whole, absorbing her magic into me before turning back to my woman.

Phrixius is wide-eyed. “I didn’t mean literally,” he whispers.

“You said so,” I growl as I head over. “We go, yes?”

The demon chuckles, holding her closer. “Oh, you’re going to be in trouble. I’m so glad it isn’t me. Come on, let’s get our witch home to rest.”

I follow after them, confused. “Why will I be in trouble?” I forceout the words as I shrink back into my other form, feeling too full after the snack.

“You ate someone,” Phrixius hisses.

“Yes?” I ask, confused, and the demon chuckles.

“She won’t like it. We don’t go around eating people,” he explains as we walk.

“But she attacked Freya,” I rumble.

“Solid logic to me.” The demon shrugs, and Phrixius just sighs, pinching his nose.

“How did I even get here?” he mutters, and I answer for him, wanting to be helpful.

“I heard it was a spell . . .” My words fall silent as they turn to me. The demon looks at the god with a knowing grin.

“Note to self, sarcasm is lost on the beast. Come on, Sha, before you have an all-you-can-eat witch buffet.”

Ignoring his laughter, I follow them back to her home. No witches dare follow or attack us. Once inside, I watch Phrixius mutter something before the feeling of magic touches me. I follow the demon to her bed, where he lays her down softly and pulls the covers up.

Climbing in, I curl into her side while Phrixius lies beside her, watching her worriedly. His hand covers hers as if to check her life force. I expect the demon to join us, but he watches for a moment, his eyes hard.

Tucking her between us, I meet the others’ eyes. I care nothing for them, but she does, so I will accept them. “What will happen now?”

I do not understand the hatred towards what she is, but I have spent the last few days learning as much of her history as I can. It is not good. They slaughter her kind.

If they so much as try to lay a hand on a strand of her hair, I will tear them to pieces. She is mine.

“I don’t know,” Phrixius admits. “They could tell the other gods or kick her out. No matter what happens, she’s out now, and there is no going back.”

“You are a god, make them forget,” I demand.

“I cannot do that. I cannot interfere in their coven laws and magic,even if I want to,” he argues, looking at her. “And I want to. I want to help her, but I cannot. My hands are tied.”

“Mine are not,” the demon murmurs as he leans down and places a kiss on her head before stepping away.

Phrixius catches him. “What are you doing?” he asks worriedly.

“Do not worry, god. I will not kill them. Look after our girl, and I will be back.” He leaves.

DEMON

I know she is safe with them for now, which is the only reason I do what I do next. She will not be safe forever, not now that they know.

I appear in her home, and moments later, she enters like a hurricane, but she stills when she sees me there. I allow her to view me, just like my little witch did earlier without realising it.

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