Page 38 of Once Upon a Demon’s Heart

Chapter Twenty-Four

ALIRA

The next hour is a blur of meeting the high lords that Kalel is acquainted with, accepting their congratulations on the Lornhelm name, along with the disapproving looks they cast me before heading to the banquet.

I’ve never felt so insignificant in my entire life. It’s evident that I’m worthless to them.

A mirror along the far wall reflects the disarray of my appearance.

My hair is mussed, and demon blood smears the side of my face where Kalel touched me.

A burnt, ashy mark is left behind on my neck where the devilstone touched me.

Pain still thrums lightly through my veins, but my body is slowly healing.

As Kalel speaks with an older couple, I look over my shoulder and spot the Krinsle watching me. I spare a glance at Kalel; he’s deep in conversation, so I leave his side to speak with the demon that bound us.

It is still just as intimidating as before, but the magic I felt from the demon beckons me to believe that it can be trusted.

“Half-god, I was hoping you would come and speak with me.” It crouches down so I don’t have to angle my head up to look at it.

I offer a weak smile. “You don’t loathe me? I wouldn’t blame you if you did,” I murmur, gazing down at the woman who tried to kill me with a devilstone. It’s still clutched tightly in her hand. The worry blooms in my chest once more. Where are all these new stones showing up from?

The Krinsle follows the path of my vision and takes the stone from the woman.

It holds the rock up to the light and inspects it carefully.

“I have no reason to dislike you, Alira. I am a tired, old demon who will return to the underworld soon. There are centuries of wars that have come before you, and likely more to follow long after.” Its voice isn’t as eerie now that it isn’t filling the room with it.

The white dots beneath the hood shift to me as it crushes the stone in its palm.

Dust as fine as sand filters through its fingers and trickles to the floor.

“You are different from the other half-gods.”

My brows pinch together. “Different how?”

It stares at me for an uncomfortable stretch of time as it considers its words.

“Alira, we are departing for the banquet,” Kalel calls to me, extending his hand for me to come to him. I smile again at the Krinsle before turning to leave.

It wraps its long hand around my wrist, stopping me dead in my tracks. I shudder and look over my shoulder at it.

“The gods watch you closer than the others. Be careful,” the Krinsle mutters its warning before letting me go.

The Krinsle’s warning puts ice into my veins. Mercury has already warned me too. What will the deities do to me now that I’ve married Kalel?

It bothers me through the carriage ride to the banquet and further into the celebratory supper.

“Must you look so miserable?” Kalel sighs, and it brings me from my thoughts.

I sit straighter and plaster a fake smile on. The banquet hall is bustling with gossip. It’s not the jovial type either. It’s clear that hardly anyone in attendance is happy about the marriage.

“I’m not miserable.” I take a sip of my wine. I catch my reflection in the glass and am relieved that Nikolai was able to fully heal the burn on my neck before we arrived here. He is a saint for bringing maids to redo my hair and wipe the blood from my face too.

I quickly find him in the crowd, speaking with a group of royal knights and laughing, before his eyes flick to me. I offer a smile at his warm gaze before returning my attention to my husband.

Kalel takes a few long swigs from his cup. Is he drunk? I blink at him, shocked that he would allow himself to be this intoxicated when around his peers. He’s usually so put together and in control. Everything he does is always with purpose.

“Come on, I’m your monstrous husband now, you can be honest,” he grumbles as he sets his cup down, throwing me what I think he intends to be a scathing look, but it’s heated and filled with a craving to give in to his desires. His cheeks are flush, and his fangs dig into his lower lip.

He hasn’t had any of my blood yet today, so he might be hungry.

Great. Hangry and drunk.

I turn my head and look away from him. He’s trying to toy with me, and I’m not in the mood.

Kalel wraps his hand around my jaw and guides my head until I’m looking at him again. “Tell me how much you loathe me. Tell me I’m nothing more than demon scum to you. A monster.”

My mouth firms. Is that what he thinks?

I set my hand on his cheek gently. The motion makes his eyes widen with anguish.

“Kalel, I’ve never loathed you. You were never a monster.

It was me all along. Not you,” I whisper, and for some reason, my eyes linger on his mouth.

My tongue swipes over my lower lip, remembering the taste of his kiss.

Kalel jerks from my touch and focuses back on the banquet. He flexes his jaw a few times as he gulps down the remainder of his wine.

Tessa leans in from behind us and whispers, “The ball is set to begin in an hour. King Achill will see you both now—he will be waiting for you in the library.” Kalel grunts and dismisses her.

She gives me a concerned look about his drunken state, and all I can muster is an appreciative nod for her notifying us.

“Let’s go then.” Kalel stands on uneven legs, wrapping his hand around my wrist and dragging me behind him as we exit the banquet hall. The sound of all the chatter and music fades out as he takes me down a few corridors.

My eyes travel along the walls and ceilings. Beautiful white stone pillars and arched ceiling frames lined with ivy and old paintings.

The dream-like walk is abruptly stopped when Kalel pulls me off into a dark hall. He pushes my chest up against a wall, gliding his hands up both my wrists and pinning them above my head. He grips them beneath one hand and uses the other to move my hair to the side, exposing my neck.

I inhale and try to move my hips forward so that my ass isn’t jutted out into his crotch, but he holds me firmly in place.

Kalel’s cold lips coast across my skin, sending heat straight to my core.

Gods, I hate that he does this to me. I hate how badly I want him when I shouldn’t.

But he’s my husband now, so is it so wrong to want him inside me?

I want him to scent my womb with his come again so everyone knows I’m his.

He opens his mouth and lingers as if he’s about to sink his fangs into me. I brace for the pierce of his teeth, but it doesn’t come. Instead, his hold on my wrists loosens, and he sways a little before setting his forehead on my shoulder. The weight of his thoughts are so heavy.

“Are you… okay?” I whisper, but it feels like my voice carries through the ceiling.

Kalel shifts, leaning more of his weight onto me and rests his cheek against my bare shoulder. A half-sigh escapes his lips, and he threads his fingers through my hair once more. “No. I suppose I’m not, little godling.”

I’m not sure what to say, but my heart weeps alongside his.

“Me neither.” I let my hand slide down his arm until my palm smooths over his face. I slowly turn so my back is against the wall and I’m facing him.

Kalel’s eyes are hooded by his lashes, reluctant to look at me.

It’s strange how soft and vulnerable he truly is when no one is around to see.

I like him most in these fragile moments.

When he really lets me see him without his safeguards.

I can’t imagine the pressures that come with having a household name belonging to a duke.

The things he’s witnessed in war. The cruelty he’s experienced at a young age.

The vengeance that festers inside him like a cancer.

“I’m sorry it had to be me, Kalel. If I could go back in time and change it…” My voice breaks. Why did the time loop lead to this? Wouldn’t it have been better if it ended with him slaying me?

“I looked for you.” His voice is broken and wavers. His amber eyes search mine. “I came back to Florum because I was looking for you,” he chokes out the words, and they hit my heart like an arrow.

My lower lip trembles. “You what?” I whisper.

He gives me a sad smile, one that could ground me into dust. “I never stopped thinking about you.”