Page 38 of Once Upon a Demon's Heart
I nod and stand up to follow him back to the tent. Tessa’s brows are still pinched with concern for me, but she trails us silently and stands guard at the entrance.
Nikolai patiently waits as I grab a chair and sit in the center of the room where most of the natural light leaks in.
“I wanted to make sure I got to you as soon as time allowed. I heard you last nightand I want to make sure you’re not in pain,” he explains as he sets down the bag he brought in with him. I can’t help but find comfort in the worry that accompanies his tone.
Nikolai waits as I roll my sleeve up. I watch his face turn to horror.
“Oh… Alira,” he stammers, seeming to be at a loss for words. I glance down at my wrist and see why. The wound has festered like a snake bite would to a mortal. My entire forearm is bruised purple and black veins sprawl out like branches from the two dark gold puncture holes on my wrist.
Nikolai kneels and gently takes my hand. His brows are pulled together with anguish, and his eyes flick up to me, then back to my wound like he wants to say many things that he can’t find the words for.His kindness will only earn him misery one day.I let out a breath but smile weakly.
“It’s okay. You don’t need to say anything to comfort me, Nikolai. Please continue.”
His mouth is pressed into a thin line. “This may sting a bit.Shit.He knows better than to bite the wrist; it always festers like this on extremities. Usually, he only uses it for interrogations,” he mutters as he raises his hands, a warm glow of magic brightens the space around them.
My eyes widen with awe. I’ve always admired healers’ abilities. Their magic is arcane and passed through their elders. The healers are the demons we have the most research on. For whatever reason, King Borlin found them to be closer to demigods because of their restorative powers. He’s always had a keen interest in their abilities. I heard that once, many centuries ago, some even lived in Alzhor.
Nikolai utters a few words I don’t understand beneath his breath, and a sharp pain spreads through my arm. I hiss and shut my eyes against the assault.
“I know. I’m sorry, Alira. Just a bit longer.” He slides his hand down my arm. I open my eyes in time to watch all the bruising lift from my flesh and into his palm. He flicks his hand behind him, and black liquid hits the ground.
What is that?I stare in horror at the black bubbling ooze and shiver at the thought. The throbbing pain is gone, and my wrist looks perfect again.
“Right as rain.” Nikolai grins up at me—his eyes give away the strain his healing magic takes on him.
I’m overwhelmed with gratitude—I wrap my arms around his shoulders, and he gasps with surprise before patting me gently.
“Thank you for your kindness, Nikolai.” I’m certain that at some point, he’s had to help Mav heal many of the knights who’ve been horribly injured at my hands. Perhaps he’s even borne witness to the aftermath of Thornhall. It must be hard forthem to let me live among them, let alone keep me from being in pain when Kalel left me in that state on purpose.
Nikolai chuckles lightly and stands to pull away from the hug. “It’s no trouble at all. I was just surprised that a demigod threw her arms around my shoulders.” He laughs in a relieved way. “Feel free to find me, should you need healing again, okay? You shouldn’t be left to suffer like that.” His eyes linger on my wrist before he forces a small smile.
“I will. Thank you.”
He nods and stands to leave the tent, stopping at the flap and turning to look back at me. “Can I ask you something, Alira?” His voice is more serious than before. I blink at him with a pressed frown, dreading his question if it makes him look this upset. “What is it like now that you’ve had to be so close to us—to the demons? Do you still hate us?” His expression is filled with sorrow.
I consider him before forcing down the knot in my throat.No.Of course not. They are far from the monsters I was raised to believe they were.
“No, I don’t,” I whisper. My jaw trembles with emotion, but I don’t understand why. Maybe it’s the genuine concern in his tone, or the despair in his eyes.
He offers a weary grin before turning and leaving without another word.
The snow stops falling mid-afternoon,and I overhear Tessa giving orders to the knights that tomorrow we will resume our trek toward the kingdom.
I inhale the cold air as I walk through camp. Tessa trots beside me and talks freely about the next few days of travel andhow excited she is to return to her home. She has an ill brother who awaits her return—she’s the sole provider for him and his young daughter. Life in their kingdom must be complicated right now with all the supplies and money going straight to their army. She shares that the mother of her brother’s child died in the attack on Thornhall.
I stop walking and face her. “Were you there that day?” The battles are a blur to me—I don’t remember many of the demons’ faces. But in Thornhall, they were mainly villagers, and they were running away. I couldn’t see their faces. Is that why it felt so impersonal? It’s horrendous what we did, and it rots the very core of my soul.
Tessa’s cheeks and ears are red from the frigid air. She takes a moment to look over the gray landscape before giving me a sad smile. “Would it matter if I was?” She kicks some snow with her boot and lets a short laugh out. “I knowyoufought there. Their blood lingers on you.” Her voice is low, but she shakes the thoughts and gives me a blank expression. “We’re passing through Thornhall tomorrow, you know.”
My blood freezes.
I don’t know how to respond to that. Her grief is tangible.
My house mother always told us, “Demons are wretched creatures born to destroy the very world we live in. They lie, steal, and murder everything in their paths.”But we were the only ones who did any of those things. I would even say we were the ones who felt nothing.
Tessa’s kindness wears on my weary mind.
We continue walking without another word.
