Page 70 of Immortal Throne

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

Chupey shivered in the standing shower as I ran the soapy, warm water over him. Saliva, blood, and little chunks of Borca’s flesh pooled at his feet. He hadn’t said anything as we emerged from the portal and stalked off toward my room. He didn’t even beg for food.

“You’re going to be okay,” I said, running my hand down the tuft of fur on his head.

He shook, tiny vibrations, and his tail remained curled up under his belly. Poor guy. He’d seen the inside of Borca’s mouth and throat, and had to have thought that was how things would end.

Rage simmered just below my skin at the thought. I couldn’t let it out. I couldn’t unleash the fury boiling within me. My anger wouldn’t solve anything right now. If anything, it would only scare Chupey more.

My demon familiar whined and bent his legs, crouching lower in the shower.

“Can you sense my anger?”

He jerked his head up and down.

“Sorry, bud.” I ran more warm water over him and rubbed the blood free from his coat. “I’m trying to calm down.”

He turned and tucked his snout under my arm, sliding his head up until his cold, wet nose reached my armpit. It tickled. But Chupey wasn’t looking for laughter, he wanted comfort.

I turned the showerhead off and grabbed an extra-large towel. Wrapping the fluffy fabric around my demon familiar, I hauled him out of the shower and cradled him in my lap. I wrapped my arms around him and held him. Just held him. Though the trial had ended as soon as we left through the portal, part of me still needed reassurance that Chupey was safe. Alive.

“You’re everything to me, Chupey,” I mumbled into his wet fur. “You’ve always been there for me. Ever since I was an angsty teenager trying to survive high school, you’ve been my emotional support. You were there for me when Suzy Jenkins made me doubt my worth and question whether my ass really was too fat. You were there for me when I lost my v-card to that prick who-shall-not-be-named. You were the first one I told when I got accepted into my first pick university, and you were the one I cried on when I realized I couldn’t afford to go. You were there for me when Mom passed away. You’ve always been in my corner.” Tears spilled from my eyes, but I kept holding Chupey. “You’re my emotional support demon and I’d be lost without you.” I licked my lips.

“When I saw you disappear into Borca’s mouth,” I continued. “When he started to swallow…Something broke inside of me. I’ve lost so much, I couldn’t lose you. Do you understand Chupey? My mortality might make me weaker than some of these douche-canoes, but you are my true weakness.”

He’d stopped shaking and rested his head on my shoulders.

“I love you,” I whispered into his fur. “And if you ever let some demon turds kidnap you to throw you into a demonic trial again, I will absolutely lose my shit.”

Chupey hacked, his dog equivalent of a laugh. “I love you, too, Sloane.”

I pulled back and ruffled his mohawk. “So, I’m not just some job to complete for my deceased dad?”

“Woman, you stopped being just a job the moment you fed me some of your bacon.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. Giggles erupted from my lips, and I ended up cackling like some maniacal witch.

“It wasn’t that funny,” Chupey said.

“It’s the stress.” I wiped the tears from my eyes. “How are you feeling?”

Chupey wiggled free of the towel and stepped back. His limbs no longer shook and his mohawk poofed out like he’d had a professional blow-out. “I’m better.”

“Good enough to go get some food?”

Chupey snorted.

Guess that was a yes.

After I showered and changed into clean clothes, we headed for the dining hall. I unceremoniously dropped the outfit I wore to the last trial in the garbage. There were some things not worth salvaging. That included blood-soaked gear with Borca bits smushed into the fabric.

The anger still simmered below the surface, ready to erupt, but having a hug from Chupey grounded me a little. Yes, he’d almost died. Yes, I’d absolutely lost my mind with rage and unleashed some unknown Dazamon magic inside me. But Chupey survived and the magic wasn’t a bad thing.

If only I could call it at will. I needed to work on my demon power crap before the next trial.

But first, food.

The grand entrance to the dining hall loomed ahead, illuminated by firelight from the torches.

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