Page 24 of Once Upon a Demon's Heart
Panic races through my veins and my heart pounds loudly in my ears. They're on top of me swiftly, like wolves to sheep, covering my mouth so I can’t scream again.
I try to remain calm, breathing steadily and taking long, slow breaths through my nose. My shoulders are hot and wet, but I can’t feel the pain yet. The adrenaline coursing through my body is similar to what I experienced each time Kalel killed me.
Am I going to die?
What will happen to me if I kill them?I don’t know what Kalel will do as punishment. He wouldn’t believe me, that I’m sure of. I swallow slowly and take in the rage that floods through the demons’ eyes.
“Hand me your devilstone,” the one keeping me pinned to the ground snaps at his comrade. A small black rock that resembles coal is passed over my head.
Devilstone?How do they have one of those? Horror races across my expression. I thought they were all destroyed in the raid Apollo led five centuries ago.
Demigods’ flesh burns when touched by the stones—gods all but turn to ash if they get too close, which is why they were obliterated. It was too great a weapon against the deities. Well, we thought they were all destroyed. Clearly not, though.
Have they dug up more in the underworld?
A cry bubbles up from my throat as the soldier holds the devilstone close to my face. He sneers at my reaction.
“So, it’s true then. Demigods can be hurt by the stones.” He barely touches my neck with it and a deep burning sensation spreads.
I scream but it’s muffled by another knight’s hand. “Amazing,” he mutters emptily as he stares down at my neck. I try thrashing from their hold but get nowhere.
“Don’t worry, I won’t damage your pretty face. But if you think we’re going to sit idly by while filth like yourself is mated to our noble duke then you’re deranged.”
His words don’t make sense to me until he scoots down, sitting on my legs as he lifts my shirt. My blood turns cold. He’s going to use the stone on my reproductive organs.
I try to tell them to stop, but the words are muffled by the gloved hand.
I don’t have a choice.
My heart lurches as I close my eyes and let my deity ability seep into the air. The hand covering my mouth vanishes as well as the weight of the knight on my legs. The devilstone drops to the snow beside me.
I slowly sit up, staring emptily with tear-stained eyes at the four flowers that are lying atop the snow. It’s always the same. They always turn into blush-colored cherry blossoms. I can only use it against foes who’ve touched me. Once contact is made, and our soul essences have met, I can turn them into flowers. What I would’ve given to have had the chance to do this to the Blood Knight before the time loops.
Now, I no longer know him as the Blood Knight.
He’s just Kalel, Duke Lornhelm, my betrothed.
“That must be another gift from your mother.” His dull voice startles me.
I whirl, finding Kalel leaning against a tree with his arms crossed and a bored look on his face. He was here the whole time and just watched them attack me?
My cheeks flush with rage. I stagger to my feet and shudder from the chill that’s set into my bones already.
“Well thank the gods you were here to help,” I say scathingly. “At least I don’t have to try to convince you why I had to kill them.”
His expression remains hard pressed. “Don’t expect me to ever save you, little godling. I’m not here to be your babysitter.”
My jaw ticks. “I didn’t need to be saved, asshole. But your knights would still be alive if you had intervened. Their deaths are on you.” I fist my hands at my sides and head back to camp. The trembling is bone deep; I need to get out of these clothes as soon as possible. My shoulder throbs painfully as gilded blood seeps into my shirt.
Kalel’s footsteps aren’t far behind me.
Is he serious right now?
“Can you give me one godsforsaken moment to myself?” I growl, furrowing my brows as our tent comes into view. It’s still bright out and I haven’t eaten yet today, but I don’t want to see anyone for the rest of the evening. Kalel included.
He ignores me and continues to follow me into the tent anyway.
The warmer air instantly hits me, offering a little relief. I spare a quick, reluctant glance at Kalel before peeling my soaked sweater off. He’s sitting on the edge of his bed, watching me with mild interest.
