Page 49 of Once Upon a Demon's Heart
Kalel must have the same train of thought because his eyes darken as he waits for me to say something. I fist my hands at my sides.
I can’t believe I’m doing this.
“Please leave, and do not harm any more demons. They are… my friends,” I say carefully as I extend my hand to the dragon.It nudges my palm, then slowly blinks at me as if it’s saying it understands.
Nikolai’s breath of surprise behind us is all I hear before the dragon lifts its head to the sky and calls to the others. The sound vibrates the ground again and makes my footing unstable. The four on the bridge tilt to the sides to fall into the canyon below, opening their wings and flying away as if they never had business being here in the first place.
The three red dragons at the rear, west side, follow suit and fly south.
Kalel takes a few seconds to take in what just unfolded before turning and looking at me, then his eyes lift to the rest of the fleet behind me. I glance over my shoulder.
Every head is focused solely on me. Shocked. Hopeful. Some are even envious.
Nikolai grins and motions his hands toward me in a grand gesture.
“Alira, peace bringer and a dragon tamer!”
The explosion of cheers from hundreds of knights sends chills up my spine. I take them in with awe as they cheer for me. I never thought I’d see the day when demons would be smiling at me and cheering. Just a handful of days ago, some of them were trying to kill me. I look at Kalel to see how he feels about his army’s sudden approval of me.
Kalel’s expression is considerate, still untrusting, but he doesn’t look at me with as much hatred as he did a few days ago.
“Let’s go home,” he says under his breath and sweeps me off my feet, carrying me back to his horse to ride into the lost kingdom of Devicit.
Chapter Eighteen
ALIRA
The ebony metalgates close behind us with a heavy thud. They are thick enough to keep even dragons from breaking through. How long have the demons been surviving in such extreme environments like this? Did they go this far just to be away from the demigods? A place where even the deities themselves wouldn’t venture?
I’m not entirely sure where we are, but the Gates to Mortem cannot be far. The sharp black rocks are only located near the underworld. A place no god, half or not, should venture. It is said that the dragons dwell near Mortem to guard the gates too. Is that why they came? My lips press together. The gods are up to something.
We step through a bubble-like wall, shimmering and glinting with hints of rainbows when caught by the last rays of sunlight. The air sweetens the second we cross, hitting the back of my lungs like blossoms in summer.
I knew that Devicit was warded with old magic, but I didn’t expect the inside of the veil to have enough power to be a completely different terrain from the outside. I’ve read about concealing wards, but they don’t go into depth of what they really are like. And I doubt anyone in Alzhor would believe it.
This is how they’ve hidden the kingdom,I muse, looking around with awe.
The kingdom is lush with greenery, and the temperature is considerably warmer. A forest stretches between the gates and the inner city. A loose smile draws up the corners of my weary lips. The sky is shimmery with the magic that keeps this place hidden. It’s beautiful, and as the sun sets, the glittering veil mimics the galaxy far above.
We pass cottages along the main path. The lights are on, and as Kalel’s army passes, street lanterns turn on, and the civilians exit their homes eagerly to welcome their knights home. Some of the fleet breaks off in the outer clusters of houses, returning to their loved ones, I assume.
The castle finally comes into view with several palaces surrounding it. My eyes light up at the magnificence of this kingdom. The streets are made from crystal cobblestones, and they light up as the hooves of the horses meet them. Every intersection and storefront is adorned with signs, greenery, and lanterns above every arched doorway.
It’s like stepping foot into a completely different world from the one I’ve known.
Alzhor is mundane and gray, even in the summers. The streets are void of plants and life—only stones and carriages with a few white marble statues. Envy prickles in my chest as I ponder what it would have been like to grow up in a kingdom like this. Are there many orphans here? There are so many things I want to learn.
Kalel guides us to an enormous city square where a water fountain sits at the center. Illuminated liquid spills from the top, a bright blue substance that appears fresher than any mountain stream or potion I’ve ever seen. I let my eyes wander and drink everything in as Kalel orders Tessa and Gabriel to handle dismissing the knights and getting the horses taken care of.Nikolai lingers behind us, casting uncertain looks around the square like he’s preparing for something terrible.
Many demons spill out of doorways to pubs and from streets leading into the square. Their eyes flash almost instantly at me.Oh, that’s why Nikolai is on edge.
It’s not hard to tell a demigod apart from the group. I’m the only one with silvery-white hair and gawking eyes that trace every inch of the city. Kalel seems anxious and nods at Tessa. “We’ll regroup tomorrow. I’m taking her to my palace.”
Tessa firmly places her fist over her heart and nods. Then her eyes shift to mine, and she gives me a warm smile. I return it and hope that I’ll see her tomorrow. I’ve already grown so accustomed to traveling with her and Nikolai, this is all new territory for me, and it makes me uneasy.
I’m conscious of the growing number of demons that fill the square and how their glares burrow into my skin like fire. They probably hate my kingdom as much as Kalel’s knights do, and I don’t blame them.
My head turns, and I catch eyes with Nikolai. He nods and grins. “I’ll be at the palace shortly, don’t worry, lovely goddess.” I take a breath of relief and smile before Kalel urges his horse forward.
