Page 14 of Hunted By Fear

I see the shock in his eyes, but he doesn’t hesitate to grab her, as if afraid I might change my mind. Which I very well could; I’m already regretting it, and she’s not even fully out of my arms yet.

“Only because I can’t teleport myself, and it’s safer for her to be in the arms of someone who can.”

“I could have taken her,” Asta says as if offering a better choice for me, but I see it for what it really is.

“You’ll have plenty of time with her for lord only knows how long,” Ruin bites back before disappearing, leaving me regretting my choice.

Before I can say anything, a hand clamps down on my shoulder, and the world spins as one of them takes me back to Hell, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I’m happy about it.

It’s dark, and I’m alone.

It’s dark, and I’m alone.

That's all I know. I can’t remember how I ended up here with this ache in my chest, but it’s there. So fucking strong it’s like I can’t breathe around it, the weight on my chest all-consuming.

I was with someone; I remember feeling safe for the first time in so long, and like always, he came and ripped it all away.

Memories sprout up like weeds through the concrete, and as they continue to push through, I suddenly ache for the darkness, the nothingness.

Rome’s hands on me, his lips pressed to mine as a smile pulls at them, and a giddy feeling makes butterflies bounce around in my stomach.

Whispered words of love and plans for a future.

A wedding, a house, a little coffee shop.

A lie!

Wrapped up in a beautiful bow, but still toxic and terrible, nonetheless. As if he hadn’t taken advantage of me, preying on me for years now.

Pushing me so far as to leave everything behind in hopes of escaping him.

But it wasn’t enough…

It’s never enough.

Darkness creeps back in, and I welcome it. Anything to make it stop, to make me forget the way his hands feel on me, even if only for a few moments.

The memories keep coming even as I slowly lose consciousness, and suddenly there’s a face I don’t recognize, but there’s no mistaking the concern in his dark eyes.

Who is he, and why does his very presence call to me?

Istand at the edge of my domain, waiting for them. I’d known when Asta came to me that whatever he was asking was important. He wouldn’t ask it if it weren’t; he’s far too proud. He hid behind Bast, and the mortal possibly being his mate, but I saw through that easily enough.

No, if Asta didn’t care, he wouldn’t have come to me personally. He could have sent Bast, and I would have agreed all the same.

If anything, his interest only piqued my curiosity, and that was even before I learned that Talian and Kai were out looking for her, too.

Demons didn’t work well together typically, and even these four are prone to arguing. But somehow they’ve all agreed to save this mortal from Rome.

Why?

The air heats around me before a shock goes off, like a tiny bolt of electricity that I know means demonic teleportation.

Perks of this being my realm: nothing happens here that I can’t sense; nothing happens outside of my control.

Hopefully, that remains true after what I’m about to do.

Asta, Kai, Talian, Bast and…