Page 53 of Demon Daddy's Baby Girl

"Don't," I whisper. "Don't think about it now. You're safe."

She looks up at me, eyes clearing slightly. "How did you find me?"

"I would have torn apart all of Ikoth." The words come out rougher than intended, raw with feeling I don't bother to hide. "There was never any other option."

24

AURELIE

Rolfo's warmth envelops me, his heartbeat thundering against my ear. His hand cradles the back of my head, fingers gentle despite the blood coating them. As much as I want to melt into him, though, I know we need to move.

He must sense it, too, because he pulls back to search my face. "Can you stand? We need to move quickly."

I nod against his chest, gathering what little strength remains in my battered body. After the initial hits he landed, he came back to inflict more damage, exacerbated by the spells of the room. But the wounds Kaelith inflicted throb dully beneath crusted blood, but the pain feels distant compared to the relief flooding through me.

"I can make it," I whisper, though my legs wobble as Rolfo helps me to my feet.

His silver eyes scan my face, searching for lies. "Lean on me. We're getting out of here together."

The cell door hangs open, the corridor oddly empty. I feel on edge, but I lean into Rolfo as we start out of the room.

We've barely made it three steps into the hallway when the air shifts, growing dense and sulfurous. A chill races down my spine as shadows congeal at the far end of the corridor.

Kaelith materializes like a nightmare, his ice-blonde hair matted with blood, elegant robes soaked crimson in places. I don't see a wound on him, though, so I imagine they are punishments to the guards that Rolfo left alive. His pale gold eyes burn with murderous fury as they lock onto us.

"You dare take what's mine?" he hisses, voice cutting through the air like a blade.

Rolfo shifts, placing himself partially between Kaelith and me. With graceful precision, he draws his weapon, the black blade gleaming in the dim light.

"She was never yours," Rolfo says, each word like stone.

I step up beside Rolfo, refusing to cower behind him despite the way my heart hammers against my ribs. My breath comes ragged, but I stand straight, feeling blood trickle down my temple and along my collarbone.

"Aurelie," Rolfo whispers without taking his eyes off Kaelith, "run when you see an opening."

"No," I say, loud enough for Kaelith to hear. "I'm done running."

Kaelith's face contorts. "Always so defiant. I should have broken that out of you years ago." His hands begin to glow with venomous green energy. "No matter. I'll simply have to start again with our daughter."

The mention of Sephy ignites something primal within me. "You will never touch her."

Kaelith lunges forward with inhuman speed, magic crackling from his fingertips. Rolfo meets him halfway, blade singing through the air.

The fight erupts in violent chaos. Kaelith's magic is wild and unpredictable, tendrils of shadow lashing out like whips. One catches Rolfo across the chest, tearing through fabric and flesh. He grunts but doesn't falter, countering with precision strikes that would have felled any normal opponent.

I scrabble for anything to use as a weapon, finding a broken piece of metal from the cell door. When Kaelith focuses on Rolfo, I dart forward, driving my makeshift weapon into his side. He roars, backhanding me with such force that I slam into the wall, vision blurring.

"I'll deal with you soon enough," Kaelith snarls, turning back to Rolfo.

I push myself up, tasting blood. "You've been 'dealing with me' since I was a child," I spit. "Look where that's gotten you."

Rolfo uses Kaelith's momentary distraction to drive his blade deep into the demon's shoulder. Kaelith howls, retaliating with a burst of magic that sends Rolfo skidding across the floor.

I'm knocked down again when Kaelith sweeps his good arm, magic pulsing from his fingertips. The stone beneath my palms is slick with blood—whose, I can't tell anymore. My body screams in protest as I force myself back to my feet.

Rolfo is bleeding heavily from a gash across his ribs, but his eyes remain clear and focused. We exchange a glance, understanding passing between us without words. When Kaelith advances, we move in tandem, attacking from opposite sides.

The demon is powerful, but he can't focus on both of us at once. For each blow he lands, we deliver two in return. His elegant movements grow ragged, his breathing labored.

---