Page 33 of Once Upon a Demon’s Heart

“You didn't need to.” His eyes are dull and filled with anger. “I’ll be in the other suite. Tessa and Nikolai will be here in the morning to collect you.” He storms out of the chambers and slams the door behind him, the sound making me flinch.

Did I… hurt his feelings? I look down between my legs and frown at the mess we made. I’m tired, but not ‘sleep in Kalel’s come’, tired.

The bathroom is larger than I thought it would be. Vaulted ceilings and stone finishes from the sinks to the steps that lead to the built-in bath. It’s more like a hot spring than a bathroom.

After figuring out their faucets, I let the hot water run until the square stone tub is filled, and then I find some soaps and salts to make the water smell like fresh blossoms.

No matter how long I bathe and try to find some peace in my thoughts, I can’t.

All I can think about is Kalel. The way he touched me and how hurt he looked when he left.

He hates the demigods so much, more than I ever despised the demons.

But I don’t think he hates me, even if he wants to.

Is that why he always has that anguished look on his face?

That thought brings a hopeful smile to my lips.

I hope for more nights where he holds me, and I can run my fingers through his hair.

“Kill her.”

My eyes flash open at the strange voice, and the next thing I know, a dagger is thrust into my shoulder, pinning me to the mattress. Adrenaline rushes through my body and spikes my pulse.

I’m being attacked.

My training kicks in, and I tear the dagger from my shoulder, lashing out at my attacker. I cut into someone’s flesh, but it’s still too dark to see clearly.

They stumble and fall to the ground. In the next second, all the candles are lit at once, and Kalel is kicking and shouting at the door, attempting to get inside.

Three people are standing in the room. Two men and one woman.

I slashed the shorter, younger male across the chest. He’s writhing in pain on the floor and bleeding profusely.

I don’t recognize any of them, so I doubt they are a part of Kalel’s army, but it’s clear that I’m not welcome here. So much for Kalel’s scenting being enough of a warning to keep them away.

“She cut me!” The young male screams.

The woman glares at me and unsheathes her sword. “Demigods will be extinct. If you think we’re going to let you survive and marry Duke Lornhelm, then you’re fucking insane!” She charges at me.

I chuck the dagger at her, striking true straight through the center of her neck.

Her eyes widen, and she chokes on her blood.

She falls to the side of the bed before slipping to the ground.

The clatter of her sword rattles on the ground just as Kalel bursts through the door.

He takes me in briefly to make sure I’m okay, then he looks at the two remaining intruders.

“How dare you.” Are the only words Kalel says as he unsheathes his sword. “How DARE you try and kill what’s mine.”

“Wait, Sir Lornhelm, we were only trying to free you from this fate!” The wounded male shouts, eyes teary.

The other one nods. “We can all kill her, right here. Right now. Let us get rid of her for you—” Kalel cuts him in half before he can finish his sentence.

The wounded intruder only has time to let out a sharp cry before Kalel swings his arm sharply and lops the man’s head off. His body follows the heavy thunk of the head landing on the ground.

Kalel breathes heavily, his eyes are weary, and have dark marks beneath them. He curses under his breath. “I shouldn’t have left you alone.” He lets his eyes meet mine before he focuses back on my shoulder wound. “I’ll get Nikolai.”

“No, I’m fine. There’s no need to wake him. He can check me in the morning.” I rise and make my way to the bathroom. My reflection is unsettling. The white night gown is drenched in golden blood. Sections of my silver hair are sticky and cling to my neck.

Great, this won’t come out for a while. I frown at my hair.

Kalel lingers by the doorframe, leaning against the wood with his arms crossed. “Are you sure you don’t need him now?”

I roll my eyes and slip out of the ruined gown. I ignore that he’s staring at my naked body and check my wound to make sure I don’t need Nikolai. “Yes. He needs his rest too, and it’s not so bad. It’s already sealing up.” At least our holy blood heals us at a small rate.

I’ll need another bath, though. I make my way over to the tub and start it again. Kalel’s presence starts to wear on my patience, so I give him an annoyed look. “Don’t you need to report them as deceased or something?” The edge to my voice is lost as I take in how he’s looking at me.

There’s a well of guilt in his eyes and more conflict than I’ve ever seen in another’s gaze.

“Just get in the tub,” he says with a tight jaw. Kalel kneels beside me and rolls up his sleeves. When I don’t move right away, he tilts his head to the bath. “Get in, or I will set you in there myself.”

I huff. “You’re one of those guys, huh?”

He gives me a quizzical look. “A gentleman?”

I laugh. “No, I didn’t even think that word was in your vocabulary. You’re one of the people who do things out of guilt to try and make up for something.”

Kalel glowers as I lower myself into the tub and let out a sigh. The water quickly turns metallic gold. His eyes soften just as fast.

“So what if I am? I’m not some heartless fiend.” He grabs one of the apothecary bottles from the side table and pours the liquid into the water.

I smile at the humor in his tone and the uneasy way his eyes lift to mine a few times before dipping his hand into the water and gently rubbing his thumb over the wound on my shoulder. I wince at the dull pain, though it’s nothing like it was a few minutes ago.

“This concoction should heal you enough to relieve the pain.” Kalel slumps against the steps and rests his head on his forearm as he lets his hand rest in the water.

“So, you can make more than just soup, Apothecary?” I tease, and it’s worth the amused look he throws my way.

“I told you that I make medicine.”

We look at each other for a few moments. It’s a rare moment that we aren’t glaring at each other. Our eyes are only filled with curiosity for one another.

“Why did you become a knight, Kalel? Clearly you are suited for your potions.” He doesn’t emotionally pull away like I was afraid he would; instead, he blinks slowly and rubs the back of his head.

“My life took a different path. I still get to have my potions, and I wouldn’t change my decision. Not for anything,” he says softly. “What about you? Tell me what you wanted to be. Surely it wasn’t a knight.” He sounds so sure, a nostalgic grin tugs at the corner of his lips.

I smile and think of my past.

“I wanted to be a dressmaker. I would change my decision if I could.” I move to the center of the bath so I can see him clearly.

“I would go back and make sure I chased that dream until I had it. Until I was dancing at balls and wearing the finest dresses known in Faultore. Of course, we don’t have many balls in Alzhor anymore, but I would’ve left and run to the mortal kingdoms if I had to. ”

His expression is solemn. “Why didn’t you?”

My smile fades. “Orphans in Faultore are assigned roles. I was placed in the knights’ faction, and the rest is history. I was silly to dream of a role that didn’t exist in my kingdom.” I lift a shoulder and drop it nonchalantly.

Kalel dips a finger into the gilded water and pops it in his mouth. “I’d like to see you in those dresses you once dreamed of.” His gaze burns into me.

I wasn’t expecting him to say that. My heart stutters, and I have to clear my throat before changing the subject. “Were you really in the Florum Forest that day just to collect mushrooms?” I ask, bringing the gentle air between us to a mild chill.

His jaw flexes. “No.”

“You were scoping out the kingdom, weren’t you?”

Kalel nods. “That, but I was visiting that place because I played there often as a child. Even I was foolish and too hopeful, once upon a time…” he says with a mundane voice like the memory is tainted.

I sink lower into the water until my chin is touching the surface. “Why were you so far from home?” It makes me think of the demon I found there when I was eight.

He did have some similar features to Kalel, but he died. I watched him die.

Kalel smiles. It’s a sad one, tugging wearily with longing. Regretful in the fluid curve of his lips.

“I was scouting with my uncles. It was the same year that the war started. Mere months before everything collapsed and the trade routes were shut down. We were on the hunt for the wild Griffon’s flower.

It was said only to be found in Florum Forest, and my Uncle Dakre needed it for his potion.

He was teaching me everything I needed to know regarding becoming an apothecary like him.

We knew it would be a dangerous trek through the forest that night.

We went further than we normally did and somehow, I got separated from them. ”

Kalel stares into the water as he twirls his finger around my floating hair.

That’s strange… I remember finding the demon curled up and crying against a tree. He was lost and needed help. He was cold. I will never forget the way he looked up at me when I set my coat over his shoulders. Those big amber eyes were scared of me.

Amber eyes.

My gaze shifts up to Kalel’s. He watches me with deep sorrow, eyes like fire. My attention is brought back to the scar on his cheek. The boy from the vision Mercury sent looked a little similar, but it was too hard to tell with all the blood.

No. I saw the boy die.

How could he…

Tears form in my eyes. “What happened to you?” My voice is low with dread. I think I know how this story ends, and it isn’t good.

Kalel lifts his head from his arm, and he stares at me. Wordless. Scrutinizing me. I may have a blurry memory of that night, but he seems to remember everything.