Page 13 of Demonic Division (The Sundering Duet #1)

13

Dagny

I let out a breath, allowing my eyes to close as I sink farther into the water. The dirt and grime are pulled from my skin by some magical force, clouding the heated liquid before dissolving into the surrounding pool like it was never there in the first place. I gaze down in awe, swirling my fingertips in the liquid. Sparks of heat line my bloody cuticles, and I watch in amazement as the deep craters fill in and scar over. My fingernails lengthen, covering the tortured skin that’s been gnawed and picked at for years.

I dip my hands beneath the surface, gasping as pain flares from the cuts in my palms. The skin slowly threads together, healing until nothing but faint crescent-shaped scars remain. A pleasant warmth flares to life in my chest, and I take a deep breath before dunking my head into the water.

The magic cleans and caresses the dark tendrils, coaxing the knots from the base and pouring life into the frayed edges. When I resurface, some of that earlier power thrums in my veins, bursting from my pores and falling in warm droplets down my skin. A smile pulls my lips apart, and I bask in the fullness of some long-lost part of me finally being restored.

Of course, all of it is forgotten when footsteps alert me to the presence of Kaebl. Heat creeps up my neck as I whip my head to face him, sinking deep beneath the surface of the water so he doesn’t see anything he’s not supposed to.

Without pause, Kaebl steps to the edge of the pit and reaches for my arm. I jerk back on instinct, and Kaebl’s eyes flash red, a puff of vapor billowing from his nostrils. He reaches into the water, nearly brushing against my breast in his quest to grab my wrist. His palm wraps around me, and he hauls me from the water.

I squeal as I’m ripped from the warm embrace, using my one free arm to cover my breasts as best I can while Kaebl hauls me away from the bath. Even though the room is warmer than the others, the water coating my skin chills me to the bone, and I begin shivering uncontrollably.

Sensing this, Kaebl stops halfway to the exit. He releases me, and I stumble back just as he turns on his heel to face me. His eyes drag down my body unashamedly—clinically—as if he’s studying an exotic creature.

“See something you like?” I snip, trying to cover my private parts with my hand as Kaebl’s gaze settles on my lower stomach. “Hey! Eyes up here!”

Kaebl blows out a breath, his jaw clenching as he does what I insist. Pulse thrumming, Kaebl waves a hand in the air, making a circular motion with his pointer finger. A vortex encases my body, and my mouth opens wordlessly as all the air is sucked from my lungs.

A minute later, I fall forward onto my knees, replacing the oxygen I lost with great, heaving breaths. I’m so grateful, I don’t realize the water has also been sucked from my skin, and I’m no longer shivering .

With another wave of his hand, Cyprien’s blanket flies through the air into his palm. He wraps it over my shoulders, securing both ends in front of my chest. I gaze back at my discarded pajamas, and Kaebl just shakes his head.

He grips my arm once more, pulling me toward the stairs without another look. I remain silent as he leads me into the main hall, then up the large spiral staircase to the second floor of the palace. The soles of my feet burn as he pulls me down a winding passage, the chilled air burrowing beneath Cyprien’s blanket and slicing into my skin. I do my best to remember each twist and turn we make, but the pain in my feet makes my mind hazy, and I worry that I won’t be able to find an escape from the hell Kaebl is taking me to.

We make one last left down a hallway that ends in a single iron door. It sits like a gaping mouth in the center of the archway, breathing stories of the horrors that lie just beyond. A shiver runs down my spine as Kaebl tugs me toward it, and as much as I try to dig my heels in, it’s no good.

Leaving me no time to object, Kaebl shoves open the door and pulls me inside. I blink rapidly, trying to adjust to the dim lighting of the room. It’s a large space but bare. Nothing adorns the walls or floor, save for a small bed of furs laid out in the corner of the room.

“Is this… am I staying here now?”

Kaebl nods, gesturing toward the bed of furs. I follow the line of his finger, noting the pile of clothes laid neatly on top I hadn’t noticed before.

When I don’t move, Kaebl clears his throat, walking over to the clothes and pointing downward. Swallowing hard, I walk over to Kaebl and crouch down, carefully unfolding the layers of shimmering silver fabric. Upon closer inspection, it appears to be a smaller version of the skintight armor the rest of the demons wear. The material is cold to the touch and smooth like silk—weightless and pulsing with an air of magic—and I’m sure if I try it on, it will fit me like a glove.

Kaebl’s stare burns my profile as I place the bodysuit to the side and reach for the next piece of clothing. I run my fingers over the collar of the tan fur coat, marveling at the craftsmanship, the brown rows of intricate stitching holding the seams of the leather together. It’s the same beautiful pale color as the one Cyprien loaned me, and I have no doubt it’s just as warm.

As soon as I lift the coat from the bed, several pieces of lacy white fabric fall to the floor. Without thinking, I pick those up too, rubbing the material between my fingers with a pinched brow. “What are these—oh.”

My cheeks heat to a crimson color as it becomes apparent. Panties. He got me fucking lace panties. I look up at him through my lashes, the back of my neck heating with mortification. Kaebl’s eyes flash pink for the briefest moment, and he looks off to the side, his jaw clenching hard.

The matching thong and bralette set hang limply from my hand as we both stand there, the tension suffocating. Kaebl clears his throat and looks toward the door, another flash of pink accompanying the motion. He points, signaling his departure.

I nod slowly, my tongue like lead in my mouth. “Thank you… for the clothes. And the… you know.”

Kaebl nods tersely, unable to meet my gaze as he hastens from the room. No goodbye. No indication of my fate. As soon as the door clicks shut, I let out a breath. Kaebl’s presence makes me a nervous wreck, and not entirely in a bad way. But if M's words are true—that he’s the personification of jealousy—then I need to watch myself around him. Envy is an ugly emotion and not one I wish to associate with.

Shaking off the lingering essence of Kaebl that hangs in the air, I blow out a breath, watching the cloud of vapor swirl and dissipate. Clutching the blanket tighter to my chest, I crouch to the ground and reach for the clothing. A high-pitched mewl breaks the silence just before I touch it, and I snap upright, scouring the shadows for threats.

Perhaps I just imagined it.

Shrugging, I turn back to the clothes, only to whip back around when another meow echoes through the space.

Is there a fucking cat in here?

My question is answered a moment later when a tiny animal materializes from the shadows in the corner of the room. It slinks across the floor to me, eyes the color of burning coals piercing me through the dark. Without pause, the creature crawls into my bed of furs and makes itself at home, a deep purring noise rumbling in its throat.

Hair the color of soot covers its body, making it stand out against the tan-colored furs. It's matted in various places and dulled by the amount of grime clinging to the short strands, but its prior beauty shines through on the sleek black hair coating its forehead.

The creature is unmistakably a cat, and normally, I would already have scooped it into my arms to give it a cuddle. But I have to be careful. I have to remember that—just like with Cyprien’s bunny—looks can be deceiving.

“Who do you belong to?” I ask. The kitten looks up, bloodred eyes piercing me through the dark as it lets out a pitiful mewl.

“I bet that whine gets you everything you want,” I murmur, stretching my hand toward its crown. Something inside me is pulling me to the fluffy creature, begging me to pet it—to offer it just a small gesture of kindness.

The cat leans forward, stopping just shy of my palm. Its nose twitches slightly as it scents me, testing whether I’m friend or foe. Suddenly, it rears back, the hair between its shoulders sticking straight into the air like needles. The cat’s mouth opens wide, baring a set of razor-sharp canines as it releases a menacing hiss.

Before I can react, the cat skitters off into the shadows. It seems to dissipate into the very air, leaving me alone once more.

“Weird… but okay,” I murmur, checking my surroundings again. I pull my knees up to my chin, holding my jaw closed to quell the chattering of my teeth. The cat distracted me, but now that it’s gone, I realize just how cold my skin has become.

I can’t put on the skin suit with the blanket, so with a deep breath, I cast the thick fabric to the floor. As soon as I do, the chilly air assaults my skin, drawing goose bumps to the surface and hardening my nipples to painful points. My fingertips have just grazed the bodysuit when a door creaking open makes its way to my ears, and I snap upright.

Holding the fabric over my private parts as well as I’m able, my eyes search the shadows of the room, my heart threatening to beat itself to death against my rib cage.

A pair of yellow ones stare back.

A choked noise sounds in my throat as Cyprien steps into the room, his padded feet silent against the stone. Eyes the color of coal blend into the background, showcasing a set of salivating canines, bared in a vicious snarl. Streaks of blood and dirt coat his skin, giving him a fearsome quality I’ve never seen in the yellow-eyed demon. Wherever he was, and whatever he was doing these past days—it could not have been good.

I scooch back, and Cyprien follows, his shoulders hunched in a predatory position as he nears. His head tips back, nostrils flaring as he scents the air, and when he looks back at me, his face has morphed into the terrifying demon from the woods.

“Cyprien… what are you doing?” I whisper, desperately trying to wrap the coat around my naked torso. “You’re scaring me, Cyppy.”

A low whine echoes along the walls at the use of his nickname, and he shakes his head, seemingly trying to keep the beast at bay. But in the next moment, all humanity is dashed from his eyes, and he continues inching toward me.

“So… hungry… ” he rasps, saliva dripping to the floor. My back presses against the wall, and I take a deep breath as he advances. He crouches in front of me, and his palms smash into the stone on either side of my head as he leans in, his voidless black orbs closing as he inhales my scent. “ So… mine… ”

“Cyprien… please don’t hurt me,” I whisper, my eyes filling with tears. “Please don’t?—”

My voice is cut off as Cyprien lunges forward, crashing his lips against mine. My ears buzz as my veins fill with a heady sensation, and all the oxygen is sapped from the room. My mouth opens helplessly, allowing Cyprien to deepen the kiss. It’s a mess of lips and tongue and raw obsession, but it’s the most alive I’ve felt in years. A moan echoes between us as Cyprien bites down on my bottom lip, raking his teeth across the sensitive flesh, and stars spark behind my eyes.

A metallic taste fills my mouth, but I don’t register the pain. Not when Cyprien sucks my lip into his mouth and drags his tongue across the wound, lapping it clean.

“ Fucking delicious,” he growls. “Just like I knew you’d be. ”

A pitiful mewl falls from my mouth as Cyprien reaches down, palming my ass in both hands. He lifts me from the ground, folding my legs around his waist as he deepens the kiss even further. I can’t think, and I can’t breathe, but I don’t want to. All I want, all I’ve been missing, is this right here.

His fingers trail over my skin, inching toward my needy, dripping center. I arch into his grip, wanting to feel him there right this fucking second.

Of course, before any of that happens, the door slams open, revealing a grumpy blue-haired demon standing in the archway, his chest heaving with anger.

“Take your paws off the naked human, you filthy fucking animal.” Lir steps into the room, his sapphire eyes glowing with fury. “I mean it, Cyprien. Hands off. Now. ”

A low growl rumbles from Cyprien’s chest, and all he does is grip me tighter. I let out a squeal as his claws pierce my skin, but it does no good. He can’t hear me. He can’t hear anyone.

“ Mine, ” he rasps, pulling me impossibly closer. “Mine. ”

“No, not yours.” Lir steps farther into the room, eyes narrowed in concern. “You’re going to hurt her.”

Cyprien lets out a low whine but still doesn’t release his hold on me. “ No… I want… I need… Dagny.” The last word enters the air in a pained howl, and he buries his face in my neck. “ Bunny.”

Lir runs a hand over his face. “I know it’s hard, Cyprien. I know you don’t want to deny the bond any more than you have, but?— ”

Lir’s voice is cut off as Cyprien whips his head over his shoulder and looses a vicious snarl.

“Fucking animal,” Lir grumbles. “Remember, I didn’t want to have to do this.”

Nauseating crackles and pops fill the air as Lir transforms. The skin covering his face tightens, stretching over the sharp edges of his cheekbones and brow as his canines lengthen, piercing his lower lip and causing thick blue-black blood to dribble down his elongated chin. Beautiful blue eyes flicker with dark shadows, consuming the sapphire and filling them with swirling shadows as Lir releases an inhuman growl into the air.

In a flash, Lir is across the room, clawed hands wrapped around Cyprien’s throat and squeezing hard. Cyprien’s grip on me falters for the briefest moment, and I’m able to wriggle free. My ass connects with the cold stone floor as a furious growl pours from Cyprien’s open mouth, and I watch in stunned silence as Lir drags him effortlessly to the other end of the room.

Teeth and claws rip through the air in a mindless fury as Cyprien tries to get the upper hand—to get back to me—but Lir is too strong. He pins Cyprien to the floor, and my stomach twists in horror as his jaw hinges open like a snake, showcasing each row of pointed teeth.

Lir lowers his mouth around Cyprien’s throat, holding him to the ground as the latter thrashes. Teeth pierce flesh, causing thick black liquid to flow from the gaping wounds on Cyprien’s neck. But he doesn’t stop fighting.

I clutch my chest, a painful, clenching sensation squeezing the air from my lungs at the sight of his blood pooling across the stone. “Cyprien! You have to stop!”

At my words, he thrashes against Lir’s hold with a new vigor .

“ Dagny, ” he wails. “Dagnyyy.”

I make eye contact with Lir, but there’s just as much helplessness in his as mine. “Lir… I don’t think he’s going to stop.”

I flick my gaze to Cyprien, and the tugging sensation in my chest intensifies. Using the wall for support, I make my way on shaking legs toward Cyprien and Lir, trying not to think about the fact I’m not wearing a stitch of clothing.

As I draw closer, Cyprien’s struggle eases, and he lays his head back onto the stone, his eyes tracking my every movement. I crouch by his shoulder, and Lir averts his gaze as I reach out to touch his face.

“Cyprien… come back to me.”

His breathing halts at the contact, eyes flicking between black and yellow as he stares up at me. “ Come… back… to you… ”

He blinks several more times, the color of his irises intensifying with each one. Deadly claws retract as his demonic features fall away to human ones, and soon, I’m blessed with the sight of the Cyprien I know.

“Hi there,” I whisper, running my thumb gently over his cheekbone.

He snaps a hand up, grabbing my wrist and holding me against him, all the while his eyes search my face with a desperate longing. “Dagny… you’re naked.”

I blink, dipping my chin to the sight of my tits practically dangling in Cyprien’s face. “Oh fuck.”

I scramble back on all fours, desperately searching for my discarded clothes. A familiar jacket is pushed in front of my face, and I look up to see Lir, gaze averted and jaw clenched. “I believe you’ll be needing these now.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, my face flaming. I shove my limbs through the pieces of clothing as quick as I can, well aware of Cyprien’s heated gaze on me the entire time. When the last button is secured by my neck, I chance a look at Lir, surprised to find his sapphire eyes already on me.

“Are you harmed?” he asks, taking a small step closer. “Did the beast hurt you?”

I shake my head just as Cyprien’s indignant “Hey!” breaks the silence. Lir pays him no mind, his attention solely on the small trail of blood flowing from my lip to my chin.

“He bit you.”

I reach a hand up on impulse, fingertips prodding the fresh wound as the memory of our kiss pushes to the front of my mind. “I suppose he did…”

Lir takes a sharp breath in through his nose, blue eyes gleaming with an indecipherable emotion. “You’re bleeding.”

He reaches toward my mouth, brushing my hand aside as he slides his thumb across my bottom lip, coating it in red. He places it into his mouth, a deep growl rumbling in his chest as he sucks it clean. Lir’s eyes flicker from black to blue in a terrifying, mesmerizing transformation. When he’s done, his arms wrap around my middle, pulling me flush against him as he leans down to my neck, taking a deep inhale.

“ So sweet… ”

I jerk back, only to knock into Cyprien, who has sneakily positioned himself just behind me. His throat vibrates with a purr as he presses his body flush against mine, bucking his hips so the hard thing between his legs pokes my lower back.

Like a switch is flipped, an electric heat thrums beneath my veins at the sensation. My pulse spikes as a shrill ringing pierces my ears, numbing me to everything other than the feel of him against me. Desire pools between my thighs as Lir and Cyprien raise their faces, scenting the air.

With a low growl, Lir steps into me, allowing me to feel the planes of his hard muscle straining with each breath. A groan falls from his lips, and he leans down to the base of my neck, his breath hot against my chilled skin. His tongue snaps out, dragging up the side of my throat and face, coating my entire left side in his demon saliva.

“What the fuck?” I choke, pushing my palms against his chest. “Did you just lick me?”

“Mm-hmm,” he murmurs, gazing down with lowered lids. “You taste divine .”

“No fair. I haven’t gotten to try yet,” Cyprien whines, lowering his own mouth to the same side. “I bet she’s the sweetest thing.”

Just as quick as it began, the fire dies in my veins, allowing sense to pierce through the fog of want. A choked whimper pours from my mouth as I push against them, startling the creatures back to their senses.

Lir blinks several times, his face morphing into shock with each twitch. “Oh…”

I turn my head to Cyprien, my senses returning enough for me to narrow my eyes in a glare. With a sheepish smile, he pries his own hands from my body and moves back a step—though he doesn’t take it nearly as far as the blue demon.

Lir shakes his head, his eyes slowly fading back to a beautiful blue hue. Refusing to look at me, he stalks toward the exit, the muscles encasing his shoulders taut with concern.

He stops at the threshold, turning his head slightly to call to Cyprien. “Come. We need to talk.”

With a low whine, Cyprien goes to follow. Before he can make it two steps, I reach out, gripping his arm to stop him as desperation courses through my veins. “Wait! Please, before you go… can someone please tell me what’s going on? Why did Kaebl move me from the dungeon? What’s going to happen to me?”

Cyprien’s mouth tightens, and he just shakes his head. My brows pinch as I turn my attention to Lir, voice filling with desperation. “Then can you tell me why… that… just happened? And why the fuck did I like it ?” I ask, mortification heating my cheeks at my confession—not understanding why it came out in the first place, only that it’s true.

Lir narrows his eyes, all of the tenderness from earlier replaced with his usual cool indifference. “Kaebl removed you from the dungeons because he thought it was what was best. As for your… sensitivities …” His nose turns up in disgust. “I would never presume to know. Other than that, the bond makes you feel that way.”

He turns and gestures for Cyprien to exit. “Say your goodbyes if you must. This is the last you’ll see of each other. I’ll personally see to that.”

Cyprien turns to Lir, a low whine echoing in his chest. “You can’t make me stay away.”

“Then I’ll have Kaebl put you in the dungeons, too!” he snaps, gesturing for him to walk through the door.

Cyprien scoffs but doesn’t say any more. He does look over his shoulder, his eyes telling me he’ll be back. Lir looks back one last time, his expression scathing.

He slams the door closed.