Page 35 of Cuddly Demon

I nod, unable to take my eyes off of him. "It is."

"Hey." Onyx stares into my eyes. "Do you remember what I said back in the magic shop? About finding my last master's descendants?"

"Of course I do."

"Well, a new memory returned to me. There's another way to break the curse put on me besides finding them."

My jaw drops. "What's that?"

"I have to get married to my true love in Hell," Onyx explains. "However, it's not just any love. It has to be a love that's strong enough to break the curse placed on me. I need to find someone who truly loves me for who I am, not for what I can give them. And that's not an easy thing to do. Finding a love that's pure and true."

I feel a lump form in my throat. "And... do you think that's what we have?"

Onyx nods with a small smile. "I do. I feel it when I'm with you. I feel like we've been connected for centuries, and that nothing can break us apart."

Tears well up in my eyes. "I want to help you break the curse."

Onyx pulls me into a tight embrace. "Thank you. It means everything to me to have your support."

"How does it work?"

"I'm not sure. My younger brother, Azazel, once had to break a master's curse this way. He's the rebel of the family, so he wasn't content to simply extract the payment his deadbeat master didn't give him. He wanted to find another way to live pain-free—he's the one who actually discovered the power of love."

"We'll figure it out together." My voice is firm. "We'll find a way."

Onyx mulls this. "I think the best way would be to speak to Azazel. The only problem is that I don't know how to contact him."

"That is an issue."

Onyx nods. "He's always been a bit of a lone wolf along with his twin brother. But I have an idea."

"What's that?"

"Moloch managed to visit me the other day when I was playing pool in the rec room. After he left, I remembered that there's a magical portal that can take you to any location in the world in seconds—even the ones that humans don't know about. If a demon wants to travel to a merely physical location, they can fly or use a plane like you taught me about. But if they want to go somewhere with spirits or demons, they're better off using the portal. However, if they don't prepare correctly, it's dangerous."

I squeeze Onyx tight. "I don't want you to put yourself in danger."

"I get what you mean. Only a few demons know how to access it, and even then, it's not recommended. But if we want to find Azazel, we might have to take the risk."

I swallow hard. "What kind of danger are we talking about?"

Onyx looks at me, his eyes serious. "The portal is known to disorient and confuse those who enter it. Some people have reported feeling lost in time and space, while others have never returned."

I shudder. "Is it really worth it?"

Onyx takes my hand. "It's worth it if it means finding a way to break my curse."

I take Onyx to the sofa, then throw a blanket over our bodies. I burrow my head on his chest, relishing the gentle thumping of his kind heart, and his body heat warming me.

"Tell me more about your family growing up." I trace a pattern on his palm with my middle finger. "I want to hear about your brothers. Moloch, Leviathan, Asmodeus and Azazel."

Onyx smiles. "My brothers were a wild bunch. Our parents weren't around much in Hell, so we ran free through the fiery pits, swimming in lava and playing pranks on the other demons. Moloch was always trying to prove he was the strongest; Leviathan was the most caring and nurturing; Asmodeus and Azazel always caused mayhem together; and I was the nurturer, so I had to look out for them all."

I crack out a laugh. "That's hilarious."

He chuckles at the memory. "We had some great times. We used to sneak onto Earth when we could, exploring different parts of Etruria or Greece and meeting new people. It was like an adventure every time—we'd never know what we'd find! We'd explore ancient temples, visit secret hideaways, find hidden treasures. It was incredible." He pauses for a moment before continuing. "Of course, our parents would be furious when they found out about our escapades—but that just made it more fun. Asmodeus and Azazel were especially daring—they'd come up with some of the craziest ideas to get us out of trouble."

"I'm jealous." I cozy up to Onyx. "My family wasn't nearly as fun."

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