Page 51 of Taken to the Deadlands

“Get off me!”

Fenix let out a laugh, and I couldn’t help the tilt of my lips at the sound of it.

“Go help her,” I ordered.

He shook his head and pushed himself off the ground to run to her.

With ease, he moved the one sitting on her and helped her into a standing position. She looked like she might cry.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Thera’s yell from the house stopped me.

“The meal is ready! Hurry before the blood thickens!”

The two younger demons bounded inside. I let myself follow them slowly, enjoying the moment of peace we had.

I couldn’t remember a time my realm had been so lively. It was called the Deadlands for a reason. But now, there was grass growing and trees that could even bear fruit someday.

Would the green and the fruit make her more comfortable here?

The mist that had settled over the area was still there, though much lighter than before, and hopefully with a few more demons we could get rid of it once and for all.

My stomach turned, and a sour feeling spread across my tongue.

It was coming along so nicely… Yet there would always be something—someone—missing.

I had tried so hard not to think about Mia—the human—since I had Yien sneak into our room while she slept and send heraway. But her smell still lingered in my bed, on my clothes, and in parts of the house that remained untouched by anyone else.

I had the chance to get rid of the smell, but every time the thought crossed my mind… I found myself unable to.

As much as I tried to distance myself, every part of my life was still very much intertwined with her. And I found myself often wishing I had never asked Yien to take her away from me.

I went back to the auction house for her. I rebuilt my house for her. The entire realm was changing only so I might be able to bring her back home if I ever saw her again.

Can a human survive here?she had asked when she caught sight of my house.

Probably not then, but maybe one could now.

“Aris?” Thera called, her head poking out of one of the first-floor windows. She met me with a smile as if I had not broken her leg for touching my human three months ago. “Come, everyone’s starting without you!”

I gave her a forced smile.

“Coming.”

Yes… this is my life now.

One I should be grateful for.

One that absolutely did not need the human in it.

Right?

Chapter 23

Mia

Ilooked up at my shop’s new sign with a heavy feeling.

It looked great.

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