Page 8 of Demonic Division (The Sundering Duet #1)

8

Cyprien

“I want her out of there,” I growl. I pace the stone floors of the throne room, my claws digging into the fragile skin on my palms, staining the cool gray with dark red liquid. The image of M leering at her through the dark replays in my mind, heating my blood and causing the beast within me to rise. She’s mine. Not his— mine.

“Her body is fragile—she won’t survive much longer down there. She almost died twice on the trip here, for God’s sake!”

Perhaps that would have been better, Kaebl says. It would have solved this problem.

Rage ignites in my veins, and I lunge toward the golden-eyed demon. Lir tackles me midair, intercepting my attack and sending us both to the stone ground.

Kaebl stares down his nose at my snarling face, absent of emotion. If she’s caused you to unravel this drastically already, there’s no way I’m letting her out. The risk of the bond strengthening and affecting the other pieces is too high.

“She’s going to die ! That’s worth any risk!”

Kaebl’s eyes flicker with shadows as he grips the arms of the throne, his pointed claws chipping off pieces of stone with each nervous twitch. He’s affected by the thought of her demise, too—I know it in my bones—but he’ll die before he admits it.

She stays there , his voice growls in my head. Her being in the dungeon is the logical solution.

“I don’t care about fucking logic!” I snap. “I’m going fucking crazy, knowing that she’s down there, in the cold and dark. In pain.”

It’s merely the byproduct of the bond, he deadpans. One you need to do a better job of overcoming. Your thoughts concerning the human are quickly becoming intolerable.

“Yeah? You try being bonded to her. See how well you fare.” I give Kaebl a relaxed smile, though my tone betrays the facade. “See how well you resist thinking about her. Wanting her. Needing?—”

I would not have—nor would I ever—allow myself to be bonded to someone so weak. Kaebl stands from the throne, his chest heaving. You will resist, and you will stay away from her. I do not want the bond strengthening more than it has already, he growls.

Kaebl’s sigh fills the room, followed by the soft brush of his familiar slithering across the stone floor. It weaves between my legs, wrapping its tail around my ankle and squeezing, causing a cold shiver to run the length of my spine.

All these fucking distractions… A deep crease appears between his brows as he brings his fingertips to his lips . Slaine is days from attacking, and we’re still no closer to reversing the sundering than we were eighteen years ago.

I pick a spot on the floor and stare at it hard. “And what if… what if that’s not what we want anymore? What then? ”

Kaebl jerks, shock lighting his shadowed gaze. What are you saying, Cyprien?

“I’m saying that it’s been a long time since the sundering. Maybe we’ve changed our minds.”

He leans forward. You know it doesn’t matter. Whether you want it or not, it has to happen. We cannot defeat him otherwise.

I stare off into the distance, my jaw ticking. “What if there’s been another solution this whole time, and we never realized it? What if she’s it ? I don’t feel like I used to, Kaebl. Ever since that bond snapped into place, I feel more alive. I’m stronger. Things are clearer and?—”

Enough! he commands, sitting back on his throne with a tired sigh. Enough, Cyprien. I don’t have time for what-ifs. We’re breaking this cursed bond with you and the human, and that is that.

With a snarl, I shove Lir off and rise to my feet. Kaebl’s reached his limit, and though I want to argue more, nothing I can say now will change his mind.

Lir follows my lead, keeping a wary eye on me in case I decide to lunge at Kaebl again. “Speaking of the bond…” Lir clears his throat, giving me one last warning look before turning his attention to the demon lord. “As far as I can tell, it should not have happened in the first place. Since Cyprien’s familiar is an extension of himself, it would only have chosen a true fated mate to bond with—one of equal power and ability.”

But Dagny is a human.

“Exactly,” Lir answers. “This is actually a good thing. I believe that Cyprien’s familiar got confused, and the bond between them isn’t a true one. Which means it can be broken.”

My chest squeezes painfully at Lir’s words, and the beast within me rears up, bellowing a roar that has my ears ringing. Kaebl’s gaze cuts to mine, and a deep crease forms between his brows.

You heard Lir. This is a good thing, Cyprien. Your bond with the human is not real.

I clench my teeth, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. I pick a spot on the floor and stare at it, waves of heat and anger rolling off my skin.

“Well, then I’m sure he’ll figure out how to break it soon,” I say, though sadness aches in my chest at the thought. I don’t want to lose the little human—certainly not the way she makes me feel when my hands are on her. It’s more warmth than I’ve known in eons and better than any high the Welwigs could provide.

I decide, right then and there, that I have no intention of giving her up. She’s mine now— my bunny—whether she knows it or not.

Kaebl eyes me warily, a million different thoughts passing behind his eyes. She’s not yours to have, Cyprien.

I growl, clapping my hands over my ears. “Get out of my fucking head! Those are my thoughts, not yours!”

He shakes his head sadly. I wish I could. I’m sorry.

I shake my head with a snarl. “If you’re really sorry, you can make it up by letting Dagny out of the dungeon.”

Kaebl snorts. I’ve heard her thoughts. As soon as she sees a chance, she’ll try to escape. You know this too, Cyprien. She won’t stay for you, no matter how much you want her to.

“You don’t know her!” I shout, my teeth lengthening to points as my control slips. “You don’t actually know what she’ll do. You’re just assuming. Like always. ”

He jerks back, face pinched with hurt. My assumptions are always based on facts. And I would like to remind you that you don’t know her, either. You don’t know what she’s capable of.

“No! This isn’t fucking right, Kaebl. She’s not a criminal, and she’s not dangerous! She shouldn’t be kept down there. Have you really grown so heartless over the years?”

Kaebl’s eyes flick to pure gold as an ominous cloud of shadows swirl around his feet. You’d be wise to watch your tongue.

“Or what? You’ll lock me in the dungeons like M?”

As soon as the words are out, regret courses through my veins. I stand rooted to the spot, unable to move as Kaebl’s power freezes the very atmosphere. He climbs down the steps with leisure, the talons on his feet clacking against the stone. Where hurt should be swimming in his eyes, there is nothing but an endless golden void—but I know it’s there all the same.

This false bond to the human has clearly altered your mind. Since you cannot control yourself, you will go to the western lands and aid Roark in his defense. Lir will stay and guard the castle and continue his research. Formless fingers caress the insides of my skull with his command, and my skin shudders with the effort to fight them off.

My gaze hardens as I push through the last of the wispy shadows. “So your solution to this whole thing is to send me away?”

Kaebl just shakes his head. I cannot risk the bond strengthening more than it has. You have to understand, Cyprien.

“I understand you’re a selfish creature who only looks out for himself.”

His eyes flash gold, and his power over me fades to nothing. He takes a step back, mouth set in a grim line. Everything I do is for you. For all of us .

I bring a hand up, massaging my jaw. “Right. Keep telling yourself that, Kaebl.”

Kaebl turns on his heel, stalking back toward the staircase. I think it’s best if you leave now.

“Took the words right from my mouth,” I growl, turning and stomping toward the door. I stop with my palm around the handle, turning my head to call over my shoulder.

“By the way, you should know that M has taken a liking to her.”

I don’t have to look to see the way Kaebl’s shoulders stiffen.