Page 42 of Hell Sent

Her counter-enchantment hadn’t woven correctly, and as the spell tried to right itself, it was raking over his body and mind. His vision distorted as wild, uncontrolled magic sparked through him.

And then it stopped. He slumped on the floor, breathing hard. Black liquid that he at first mistook for blood drenched his chest. Raiya had dumped her entire bottle of ink over him to cover the runes on his skin, breaking the enchantment and stopping the pain.

Her eyes were wide with horror. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think it would be so bad if it went wrong. I’ve never tried enchanting a person before, and I didn’t know…”She reached out to touch him, and when he pulled away, she looked hurt.

The flame in his heart snapped, like firewood releasing a flurry of sparks. He felt them rising into his throat, choking him. He couldn’t take it.

He sat up and took her by the chin, turning her face up toward his. He stared at her eyes, looking for answers. There were none. He saw only deep, dark depths in their black centers.

All his emotion came out in a burst. “Why—Why are you this way?”

She looked startled. “What?”

“Why worry over me like a mother nyra?” he snapped. “Why cry when I am hurt? Why do you never use my weaknesses to your advantage? Do you not know what I am? Don’t you know that I consume your kind for power? Don’t you have any sense of self-preservation? Just yesterday, I angered you. I threatened you. But still, you worry for me. Still, you attempt to serve me. There is no logic here. I cannot understand it. You are the most baffling creature I’ve ever met.”

“I didn’t—I don’t?—”

“You shouldletme be bound. You should rejoice in my pain. It is a victory for you.”

She frowned, affronted. “I’ve never wanted you to be in pain.”

“But why?”

“There will never be a better explanation, no matter how many times you ask for it. This is just how mortals are.”

“No. It is howyouare. Only you.”

He wanted to shake her, and hold her, and shout at her and cry in her arms, because he was doomed.

He was in love with her.

Eighteen

three years ago

It was rare for Azreth to spend time among other demons, but it did happen on occasion, for one reason or another. Sometimes, even for demons, there was safety in numbers.

He had passed through the vast desert on the east side of the forest of crooked trees only twice in his first seven years of life. He did it not because he particularly enjoyed having his skin abraded in sandstorms, enduring the ungodly heat, and running from massive tunneling beasts, but because he sometimes had no other choice. This time, it was because a group of older, more powerful demons had begun encroaching into what had been his territory, pushing him out.

As he was reaching the last of the trees at the edge of the forest, he saw two kin he’d never seen before. They stood at the top of the first dune beyond the forest, and they carried packs and belts laden with supplies for traveling, just like he did. They had already spotted him and were watching him, still as statues, their expressions hard.

He was surprised. Demons usually traveled either alone or in larger groups, not in pairs. It was too easy for one to betray another in a pair. Many would not be able to resist the temptation.

They were outcasts, like himself—wanderers with no house affiliation. One of them was nearly as tall as Azreth, with large, curling horns, her skin and hair greenish in some places and deep amethyst in others, and she carried a deadly obsidian sword at her hip. The other one was very small for a demon, almost sickly. Her skin was deep, rich red, but her horns were tiny, protruding only a few inches from the crest of her forehead.

Both of them were smaller than Azreth. While he was confident he could best either of them in a solitary fight, the two of them together might be able to take him down. But he didn’t think they would risk fighting him just for a chance to slake their bloodthirst.

It was an ideal situation for an alliance.

He straightened, making himself look as tall and powerful as he could, while not making any aggressive movements. He tried not to look like he was extremely hungry—which he was. If he looked too desperate, they wouldn’t risk coming near him.

“I will accompany you across the desert,” he said evenly. It was not quite a request, but not quite a command. Not too forceful, but not too soft. “We will be stronger as three.”

The women exchanged a glance. One murmured something to the other. They spoke for longer than he expected.

The taller one turned to him. “Come, then. You will do as we command.” She was testing him.

“I will not,” he answered simply. He wouldn’t fight them, but he wouldn’t yield, either.

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