Page 31 of The Demon and the Broken Girl

He finishes, voice trembling with a raw edge: “…and in the acceptance of this mortal soul, the contract stands. Speak your name and pledge.”

I swallow the dryness in my throat, trying not to falter. “I… Calla… offer my soul to you, Daeva. I swear obedience and… and service,” my cheeks flame at the word, “so that my friends may be spared. Let the contract be paid.”

Even before I finish, I feel it—a ripple of cold energy passing through my spine, coalescing in my core. The air crackles, a static hum raising goosebumps along my arms.

Daeva steps closer, shadows writhing around him. “Calla,” he whispers, voice hoarse. “Then we seal it.”

I can hardly breathe. My heart hammers as he lifts a hand to cup my cheek. The heat of his skin contrasts with the swirl of cold magic between us. Our gazes meet, and in that moment, every doubt and fear collides with a deep, inexplicable yearning.Gods help me, I want this.

His lips descend on mine, capturing them in a kiss that ignites every nerve in my body. Heat surges, devouring the cold, wrapping me in a pulse of raw energy. My knees weaken, and I cling to his forearm for balance, fingers digging into the corded muscle there. His free hand slides to my waist, steadying me with surprising gentleness.

The kiss is not soft or tentative. It’s laced with desperation, an undercurrent of hunger that echoes the swirling power. My skin tingles, molten warmth spreading from where our mouths connect, rushing through my veins like liquid fire. I feel him exhale against my lips, a ragged sound that resonates with the frantic beat of my heart.

A faint spark crackles between us, dancing across my senses. My breath hitches. I taste something wild in him—centuries of pain and longing, tempered by fierce resolve. The swirl of black tattoos on his forearms glows faintly, as if in response to our contact. My entire body feels suspended in that luminous rush of magic, halfway between terror and ecstasy.

Slowly, he breaks the kiss, panting softly. The world around us spins, and I cling to his chest to keep from collapsing. My pulse thrums, energy buzzing behind my eyes. I can barely form a thought.

“Calla,” he murmurs, resting his forehead against mine. “It’s done.”

I tremble, pressing a palm to my chest. Beneath my palm, my heart gallops. I sense a foreign presence fluttering in my mind, like a door unlocked to a room I never knew existed. A whisper of power nips at my consciousness, beckoning me to embrace it.Is this the demon influence he warned about?

“What… what happens now?” I manage, voice shaky.

His gaze darkens, regret and possessiveness intertwined. “You belong to me. I’ll protect you, guide you, but we must tread carefully. Already, I feel the bond pulsing between us, mergingour energies.” His throat bobs. “You may sense my emotions, and I might sense yours. This is more than a contract—it’s… a tether.”

A sudden wave of vertigo hits me. I stagger, and he steadies me. My cheeks blaze with heat, equal parts embarrassment and that lingering spark from the kiss. The memory of it burns on my lips—strange how something so dangerous could also be so… intoxicating.

After a moment, I straighten, forcing myself to breathe normally. “So long as my friends are free,” I whisper. “That’s all that matters.”

A flicker of pain crosses his features. “Yes.” His arms fall to his sides, though I notice how one hand hovers near me, as if unable to fully let go. “But they must never learn the details—some might fear you now. Demonic power draws hostility.”

I recall Silas’s expression whenever he glances at Daeva, the barely masked suspicion. If Silas knew I’d pledged myself so completely, how would he react? I suspect not well.

“Alright,” I agree, voice subdued. “I won’t say more than necessary.”

We linger in silence, the forest breeze caressing our heated faces. The space between us crackles with new tension: I sense him, not just physically, but on a deeper level, as if a chord connects our hearts.Is that his longing, or my own?The lines are already blurring.

At last, he clears his throat. “We should return to them,” he says, voice low. “They’ll wonder what happened.”

My stomach clenches with apprehension. “I need a moment, then I’ll join you. Tell them… tell them I needed water or something.” I want to gather my thoughts, quell the racing of my heart. He hesitates, concern flickering in his eyes, but eventually nods and slips away, leaving me alone in the hush of the scrubland.

The wind rustles the grasses around me, and I tilt my head back, gazing at the pale blue sky. My lips still tingle from his kiss. Beneath that fleeting physical sensation, a deeper thrumming resonates—like a second heartbeat echoing in my chest. The bond.I belong to him.A shiver of dread and excitement courses through me at the realization.

He told me that I might change, that demon influence might twist my emotions. Already, I feel the stirrings of something new inside me: a roiling mixture of raw power and longing. I swear I can sense the faint pulse of Daeva’s presence, as though he stands behind my eyelids, watching. The thought sends a hot flush over my cheeks.

Eventually, I force my limbs to move. We can’t stay hidden forever. The contract’s sealed; no going back now. And my friends—my family—are depending on me to see this through. I push away from the bushes and retrace my steps around the bend.

They’re waiting by the ruined wall, scanning the horizon for threats. Jenna is pale, but awake, leaning on Ryn’s shoulder. Silas stands near the front, arms crossed, eyeing Daeva suspiciously. Cole meets my gaze, relief softening his features. “You alright?” he asks.

I force a tight smile. “Yes,” I lie. “Just needed some air.”

Silas arches a brow. “We all need air. You were gone a while.”

“Let it be, Silas,” Ryn murmurs, giving me a sympathetic glance. “We’re all on edge.”

Daeva remains silent, arms folded, face unreadable. But I sense the tension in him—this unspoken knowledge of what just transpired. My cheeks burn again. Thankfully, no one presses further, though Silas’s eyes linger with a flicker of concern that borders on jealousy.I’m sorry, Silas. I did what I had to do.

Cole helps Jenna to her feet. “Shall we keep moving? We might reach that settlement by nightfall if we push.”

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