Page 21 of Once Upon a Demon's Heart
His eyes widen and he flexes his jaw. “No, but for now it’s good enough. We’ll need to build up to the rest when we get closer to Devicit. We will have more time to be… acquainted that way. Otherwise, the demon-folk will be more prone to try to kill you,” he says with a gravelly tone.
I offer a nod and settle back into the sheets. He gets comfortable in his bed, licking his lips like he wants to keep feeding from me or scenting me.
We watch one another carefully, distrustfully. Borderline lustfully.
A demigod lusting for a demon—gods, I must’ve fallen into madness.
Chapter Eight
ALIRA
It’s still darkwhen I’m woken by sharp, uneven breaths. Pained gasps and groans. I sit up instantly, alarmed. It sounds like someone’s been badly hurt.
The tent is dark and cold. Thetickingof snow against the tarp brings me into my surroundings. I’m still not used to waking up away from the barracks in Alzhor.
My eyes adjust in a few moments, and I realize the distressed sounds are coming from Kalel. Has he been wounded? I rise from my bedding and approach him carefully.
“Kalel?” I whisper, hesitant on getting too close to him.
He snaps his head in my direction, those sharp teeth flashing at me. “Stay back, Alira,” he rasps. His eyes are feverish, and another roll of pain has him clenching fistfuls of his sheets and exhaling heady breaths.
I freeze, something visceral hitting my nervous system and making my core flutter. I watch the rise and fall of his chest, the painful way his veins are protruding from his neck that make his eyes narrow as he tries to stay in control.This is the same way I get when I’m in heat.My chest tightens at the thought.
Is he in his heat cycle right now? Do demons have heat cycles?
Oh gods.
“What’s wrong?” I ask again, trying to keep my panic contained.
He sits up, grinding his teeth and shakes the sweat clinging to his forehead as he bites out, “Nothing. Go back to sleep, godling.”
My brows knit together. “I can’t sleep with you making all this noise.”
He groans and lets his body fall back into the sheets. His breaths are heavy, and he kicks the blankets to the floor as if they are burning his skin.
“Are you… in heat?” I ask awkwardly, cheeks on fire.
His eyes fill with horror, and he looks away sharply. “I won’t tell you again, little godling. Go. To. Bed.” Kalel’s voice is gruff and on edge. Like he’s on the verge of losing his self-control.
I don’t listen to him. Maybe it’s because I know what it feels like firsthand. It’s agony, especially if you don’tdealwith it. It’s almost like he’s never experienced a heat before, because he’s not handling this one well at all.
I take a step closer, realizing it was a mistake a second too late.
Kalel lunges at me, pinning my arms to the ground and breathing heavily over me. His eyes are filled with anguish and sweat beads down his forehead. My eyes trace over his bared fangs.
“Alira, run. I don’t think I can keep myself back much longer,” he growls, forcing himself off and clutching his head like voices are shouting at him.
What do I do? I want to help him. He’s in agony right now and I can’t explain the way that his groans are causing me heartache. Each one digging into my chest more and tugging at my sympathy for him.
“Let me help you,” I whisper, reaching for his arm and trying to give him comfort.
Kalel jerks away from me and shoves my chest back. My shoulders hit the ground, and his hands are slamming on either side of my head in the next breath. “I don’t want your fucking help. Leave!” He shouts an inch from my face. My eyes widen and I stare at him with fear racing through my blood. His eyes narrow with disdain. “I want to destroy everything about you. I loathe every part of you. Why is it that I must be punished to be with a filthy creature such as yourself? You want me to fucking tear you open? You want me to fuck you raw until you can’t walk straight?” His eyes are feral. Drool spills from his lip as he thirsts for hurting me.
My body trembles. Terror has never moved through me the way it does in this moment. Kalel pounds his fist against the ground again and it sends a shiver straight up my spine.
“I won’t tell you again. Get out or I’ll hurt you in ways that I’ve longed for. Ways that you’ll never recover from,” he threatens me with a sinister snarl. Kalel’s breaths are ragged and his expression is hard, but there’s so much agony in his amber eyes. It takes the sting out of his words. I still feel them, but they come from a place inside him that is bruised—a wound that has long since festered into rage.
I force my jaw to stop trembling and stare into his cruel gaze. My heart hammers in my chest and I can’t look away from his torn expression. He’s in so much turmoil right now. Leaving him like this would be harsh. Even if he hates me. Even if it makes me hate him just the same.
