Page 30 of Once Upon a Demon's Heart
It’s rumored that deity blood will stain the land it is spilt on. In small instances of death, it goes unnoticed, but this is something entirely different. I’ve never felt so sick to my stomach before. The horses trample small, wilted flowers as we pass through. Peonies.
Tessa pulls her horse close to ours. “Kalel, we should stay at the battlefront camp until the coming storm passes.”
Kalel considers her briefly and then curtly nods.
He really doesn’t speak much, especially while on horseback. Which is a small blessing I genuinely appreciate. The rides are long, but at least I get to remain in my mind prison for most of the day.
The horses walk across the bloodied field until we reach the opposite end on Devicitian territory, finally crossing the border of the holy lands.
Strange, though, there are no bodies of demigods left behind like I had expected there to be. There wasn’t time for King Borlin to retrieve his fallen army, not when the demons had already run them out. So where are their bodies?
Kalel halts his horse as shouting erupts from the back of the line. A pulse of fear shoots through the air—sticky like pine sap on the tongue. It’s a signature fear scent of the demons, and to say that it puts horror into your chest like quick rot is an understatement.
It’s the kind of scent you experience once and never forget. Their essence lashes out like a solar flare, striking every living being in a perimeter to let them know that something awful is coming. It’s a scent I associate with killing them. Their fear hits your very soul and you can never forget it.
Kalel lets out a growl of distress that slips into my veins. “Tessa, keep an eye on her,” he snaps, leaving me atop his horseand taking off toward the back of the group to see what the commotion is.
Tessa eyes me like she actually thinks I might run away. Which, in any other predicament, I most certainly would. But Kalel is the only saving grace my kingdom has left. Where do they honestly think I’d go?
Kalel’s horse stomps his hoof and starts nodding its head like it wants to buck me off its back.
“Whoa, it’s okay,” I murmur as I slide off the tall black stallion and pat his neck to soothe him. The horse grunts and tilts its head away from me like it can’t stand the idea of me touching it without Kalel nearby. I purse my lips at the creature’s indifference toward me. “What’s going on back there?”
“I’m not sure.” Her eyes linger over the heads of the knights as they continue to move toward the back to help. “The horse is responding to the fear scent, but he’s also just a grumpy beast. You’re lucky he even tolerates your presence. He kicked Princess Helen off when she tried to acquaint herself with him.” Tessa changes the subject. She smiles at the memory, making me think she doesn’t like the princess very much.
“I didn’t know the Demon King had a daughter,” I mutter as I move a few steps further from the horse. Just in case it tries kicking me.
Tessa hops down beside me. “Not a daughter—it’s his sister. She was after Kalel’s heart for a few years, but he wasn’t interested in her. He’s never been particularly interested in anyone.” She says the last part with an odd tone that is implying.
I stare at her with tired eyes, not too interested in Kalel’s admirers.
“Helen shouldn’t be a problem, but you should know she’s no stranger to having people murdered.” At least Tessa is thoughtful enough to warn me.
It’s not the first time I’ve heard of royalty using their assassins for personal gain.
I nod. “Thanks for the heads up. Anything else I should know?”
Tessa shakes her head. “Kalel will tell you everything there is, I’m sure. I shouldn’t have even mentioned Helen, please don’t bring it up to him.” She looks away toward the destroyed fields.
“Did you fight here, lieutenant?” I ask, shifting the subject to something other than Kalel. He seems to be the topic of everything and I’m eager to learn more about the others around me instead.
The golden scales tracing her hairline shimmer with a warm hue for only a moment as her eyes soften on the distant trees with sorrow. “I did.”
The shouting from the back of the line increases and draws our attention back to the knights below. What on earth is?—
No.
Dire wolves.
The knights have dispersed and are trying to chase away huge creatures that crash into the groups of horses and try breaking carriages apart. Specifically, the one carrying the demigod captives.
The demigods kept as leverage escape from the caged wagons the wolves pushed over and disperse rapidly. Some make it to the tree line quickly and others fight for their lives against the beasts. Fresh blood quickly curls in the winter air. I search frantically for Hans, the attendant King Borlin appointed to join us to confirm our vows once we reach Devicit.
I don’t find him among the torn-up demigods. A small reprieve, but my stomach curls at the carnage that has unfolded in a matter of moments.
My heart leaps into my throat and my hand instinctively shoots to my side to grab my sword. But it’s not there, I forgot they took it away from me on the first day.
I can’t be weaponless out here.Not with dire wolves. I’m practically a beacon for them. They can smell demigod blood from miles away. It’s sweet to them, like nectar of eternal honey. We eradicated them in our territory long ago, but I didn’t know they still lived in Devicitian forests. Why are all beasts of this world after our holy blood? I bury my teeth into my lower lip.
