Page 12 of Demonic Division (The Sundering Duet #1)

12

Kaebl

The human's pulse races beneath my grip as I lead her down the hallway. She doesn’t fight, but I can tell from the thoughts swirling in her mind that it’s not from fear. No, the little creature is cunning. She’s biding her time, waiting until I show my weakness. And if she finds it, she’ll strike without mercy.

How remarkable.

I can’t help but look over my shoulder at her, finding her silver-rimmed eyes already trained on mine, shining with malice. But there’s something else there, too. Something softer. Something I have no idea how to place.

I frown, turning and hastening toward the spiral staircase at the end of the passage. Unlike the one off the main hall, this one leads deep beneath the surface of the ice. Dagny’s breath catches as we descend, her muscles tensing as the shadows consume the last of the light from the surface.

Saliva floods my mouth as the scent of her fear fills the small space. The beast beneath my skin rears its head, flicking a long serpentine tongue into the air to sample the intoxicating taste. I hold my breath for the rest of the descent, my skin shuddering with the effort to keep the monster at bay.

My bare feet connect with warm, damp stone, and I know we’ve reached the bottom. I wave a hand, shooting a small reserve of magic from my veins toward the sconces that line the walls. Blinding light flares to life, and Dagny lets out a little gasp as the underground hot spring is illuminated.

The room is set in a stone the color of sand, condensation dripping from the ceiling and collecting in small puddles around the space. Shimmering silver roots pierce through the stone in several places, twining fingers reaching toward the center of the room where a thick cloud of vapor swirls from a large pit filled with beautiful, crystal-clear water. It comes from the same source the Welwigs drink from, warmed and cleaned by the magic thrumming in their roots. Judging by their length, it’s time for a clearing—and I make a note to ask Cyprien to hack away some of the roots when he returns from his scouting.

I look toward Dagny, expecting her gaze to be filled with awe. Instead, I’m met with something much darker.

“What is this?” She juts her chin up to look me in the eyes, fighting to keep contact when I know everything inside her wants to shrink away. “Why did you bring me here? What are you going to do to me?”

I jerk at her accusatory tone, my nostrils flaring slightly as I look her up and down. Without words, I point a finger in the direction of the bath, shoving her forward with the other hand on her back.

A zap of electricity flows through my veins at the contact, followed by a warmth I’ve never experienced before. She looks over her shoulder, making eye contact, and I watch as her pupils blow, engulfing the warm brown of her irises. My fingernails sharpen to deadly points, digging into her skin and drawing pearls of blood to the surface, but she doesn’t make a sound. Her focus is on my neck—at the artery thrumming rapidly beneath my skin.

That same warmth from earlier crackles beneath my skin, and my lids lower in bliss as it spreads from the area, heating my frozen limbs. Before my control can slip, I rip my hand from her skin, clutching my arm to my chest and forcing my eyes from hers.

“You want me to take a bath?” she asks, her small voice echoing off the damp stone walls and ricocheting to the center of my heart. Her gaze burns into my profile, but I can’t bring my eyes to meet hers.

I nod, gesturing once more toward the water.

“Okay…” All the wariness from earlier is replaced with an unfamiliar softness. Her eyes search my face, and when she fails to find any ill intent, she shrugs off Cyprien’s blanket and steps toward the bath.

I sigh in relief, turning on my heel and stalking toward the exit to give her privacy. I close and lock the door with a wave of my hand, sensing Dagny’s stare burning a hole through the thick iron.

Gods, what is wrong with me?

I rub a hand down my face, reeling from the violent tugging sensation in my chest. With a growl, I hasten to the main hall, taking the spiral staircase up to the third floor where the archives are.

As soon as I push through the doors, Lir’s deep voice pierces the air. “You let her out?”

I step farther into the room, breathing in the scent of old parchment and binding glue. My jaw ticks as I meet Lir’s sapphire eyes—at the judgment swimming in their depths.

I couldn’t leave her down there with him. He was getting too friendly.

Lir raises a brow, closing the leather-bound tome he was bent over and turning his full attention to me. “Anything to worry about?”

I don’t think so, I reply. The only thing I’m currently worried about is keeping an eye on her. I give him an expectant look, waiting for him to take the hint.

Lir just shakes his head. “Oh no. No fucking way. I’m not babysitting the human.”

You’ll do it, and you won’t complain. I bring a hand to my face, pinching the bridge of my nose in an attempt to stave off the incoming migraine. Cyprien will be back tonight, and since I will not be here, I need you to watch her and him.

Lir sighs but still nods. “Fine.”

Good. I reach out, gripping his shoulder with a clawed hand. I’ll collect her and take her to her room, then I’ll be off. I’ll be gone a day or two at the most.

“Okay,” Lir murmurs, pulling away from me with a pout. “If this backfires, I’m blaming you.”

My chest shakes with a silent laugh as I step to the open window, my wings flaring out to the sides, catching the breeze. She’s just a tiny human. I think we’ll be fine.

I head out of the library toward the bathhouse, having no idea just how wrong my statement was.