Page 30 of The Demon and the Broken Girl

Eventually, Ryn calls for a rest near a half-collapsed stone wall—perhaps the remnants of an old boundary marker. We settle behind it, out of the breeze. Silas drops the crossbow and rubs his temples, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. Jenna settles onto the grass, breathing shallowly. Cole and Ryn rummage for water, but our supply is nearly gone, just a trickle sloshing in the bottom of the skins.

Daeva remains standing, eyes scanning the horizon. His posture is tense, as if he expects an attack at any moment. Or maybe he’s just bracing himself for a different confrontation.

My stomach flips. This can’t wait any longer. Amalia was right—there’s no point dragging my friends into a deal they never asked for. And if someone must pay, I know it should be me. Shame and dread war inside me, along with a spark of something else: a strange, irresistible pull that I can’t name.

I stand, brushing bits of grass from my legs. “Daeva,” I say softly, pitching my voice so the others won’t overhear. “Can we talk? Alone?”

He glances at me, the storm in his silver-blue eyes barely contained. Then he inclines his head. “Lead the way.”

I move away from the ruined wall, rounding a bend of shrubs until we’re out of earshot. The wind rustles dried leaves acrossthe ground. My heart thunders loud enough to drown out my thoughts. I face him, inhaling shaky breaths, and force myself to meet his gaze.

“I can’t let them pay for my mistake,” I begin, voice trembling. “I’m the one who freed you from that mirror. That means the contract is my burden.”

He tenses, jaw flexing. “Calla, it isn’t that simple?—”

“Isn’t it?” I interject, stepping closer. “You said a life, a soul must be given. But it was me who summoned you—my hands that touched the mirror, my voice that spoke the words. I can’t let Jenna, or Silas, or anyone else bear that price. It’s mine.”

His eyes narrow, pain etched in the furrow of his brow. “I never wanted you to suffer,” he says, voice taut. “But the law of demonkind—ancient magic older than memory—demands balance. Payment for power.”

“I know.” My pulse quickens, a restless fire in my veins. The reality of what I’m about to offer sinks in. “So let me pay it. But you have to promise me something first.”

He folds his arms, tension evident in every line of his body. “Name it.”

I swallow hard. “Promise you’ll leave my friends alone. That no matter what happens, Silas, Cole, Ryn, Jenna… they walk away free.” My throat constricts as I add, “I can’t bear it if they’re forced to make some sacrifice.”

His expression shutters, conflict raging in his eyes. Finally, he nods—slowly, deliberately. “I promise.”

A tremor of relief mingles with dread. I stare at him. “How do we… finalize this? Do you… do you need me to kill someone? Or?—”

“No,” he interrupts, voice rough. “Nothing like that. Typically, a demon demands the mortal’s life or soul directly. You… you offer yourself to me fully, irrevocably. Obedience in allthings.” His gaze slides away. “You sign your soul over, become bound by my will.”

His words slash through me. Obey him unconditionally. The notion sets my heart fluttering between terror and a sudden jolt of heated curiosity.Why am I… excited?The shame of it stings, but I can’t deny that my pulse thunders not just from fear.

I lick my lips, forcing the question: “If I do that… what happens to me?”

He exhales, a long, ragged breath. “You become mine, in essence. You’ll feel the demonic influence. Magic might awaken in you, or shift your emotions, amplify your desires. It can be dangerous.” His voice drops. “I don’t fully know how it will affect a mortal who willingly gives their soul to a demon that was once human.”

A breathless laugh escapes me, high and strained. “So you’re not sure if it’ll make me… insane? Mindless?” My stomach twists at the possibilities.

“Possibly neither. Possibly something else,” he says, words hushed with regret. “But you’ll gain power, Calla. Strength beyond human limits. I—I can’t guarantee it won’t devour you.”

Despite the fear roiling in my gut, a spark of determination flares. I think of the chains I’ve worn, the helplessness that’s haunted me my entire life. Slavery under dark elves, subjugation under orcs, or something worse if we can’t defend ourselves.Am I truly free if I live every day in fear?

“Then we’ll figure it out,” I whisper. “Better me than any of them.”

His gaze snaps to mine. “You’re certain?”

I nod, trembling. “Yes.”

A beat of silence, heavy as a tomb. Then he lifts his hand, and black markings swirl over his skin, stirring like living shadows. “The contract can be sealed by words,” he explains quietly. “A vow. Then… we affirm it with a blood oath. Or a kiss, in sometraditions.” A faint flush touches his cheeks. “I don’t want to force you to cut yourself.”

My chest tightens with a mix of terror and something else I dare not name. “So a kiss is enough?”

He inclines his head. “If you’re sure. It’s unorthodox, but the magic will recognize intent.”

I exhale, trying to steady the pounding in my ears. A thousand half-formed thoughts collide in my mind:Am I really doing this? Will it truly save them? Will I survive this power coursing through my veins?But I find no alternative. Either I pay, or the contract remains unfulfilled, and we all risk damnation.

Daeva’s eyes burn with intensity as he speaks the ancient words—a demon’s binding incantation. The syllables scrape the air, thick with power. My skin prickles, every hair standing on end. The forest hushes, as if listening to our clandestine vow.

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