Page 42 of Once Upon a Demon’s Heart

Chapter Twenty-Seven

ALIRA

As we step into the ballroom, music lifts the unease that the king instilled into me.

I hadn’t realized that we’d be entering from a grand staircase, but gasps roll through the ballroom as we stop at the top of the second-floor landing.

Even the musicians have a hiccup in their song from the distraction.

Large glass containers are filled with peonies, glittering gold water in the base that makes the room feel welcoming.

My heart seizes and my feet stop moving.

Kalel goes down a step ahead of me and turns to face me. His eyes are warm and endearing for once. I wonder if he has nerves in front of this many people like I do. Wouldn’t that be something?

“Don’t let any of them unnerve you. This is by far the least dangerous thing I’ve seen you do.” He brushes the stray hairs from my face.

I nervously smile. “You say that now, but you haven’t seen me dance yet, Duke Lornhelm.” He blinks at my use of his formal name.

A wicked grin that reveals his fangs flashes at me, then he resumes escorting me down the stairs. Every head is turned up in our direction, and I quickly spot Nikolai and Tessa near the back. They are dressed formally, appearing fit to be royalty themselves.

Half the crowd looks up at us in awe, while the other half have disgusted frowns and hateful glares directed toward me. I hold my chin high and walk with a steady stride. We reach the center of the floor, and everyone gives us a wide berth of space.

Kalel makes a low bow, his knee almost touching the floor as he lowers his head to me.

My cheeks warm as he comes out of the bow, offering me his hand.

I slowly place mine over his palm, and he stands tall, pulling me gently into him until our chests meet.

My eyes widen as I gaze up at him. I didn’t know that dancing could be this intimate.

Sure, I’ve watched a few balls in Alzhor, but it was long before the war. I never danced with the royals or partook in the celebrations. I once longed to be the girl in the beautiful dress, dancing with the handsome prince.

Although I’ll take the broody demon any day over a prince.

Kalel leads, moving slow and with purpose.

I follow his strides, and after a few songs, I think I have a handle on the movement of it.

The music stutters and turns more jovial, signaling the rest of the attendees that they can now join in the dancing.

They swarm to the floor and begin moving like lovesick doves with their partners.

The ballroom turns into an ocean of song, a movement of joy and peace.

Kalel doesn’t let go of me as we sway and spin. He holds me close and lets his hands move along my waist when the music demands it. Each time his eyes lower to mine, I find myself falling deeper into his pull, until it feels like his gravity will never let me go.

The song ends, and we come to a stop, staring at one another in awe. Everyone else in the room is worlds away. I only see him, and a warmth moves deeper into my heart.

He blinks, seeming to come out of his own trance. “Let’s take a break, you look like you could use it,” Kalel chides as I inhale laboriously to catch my breath. The room has grown terribly hot.

“What about the king? I thought he?—”

Kalel cuts me off. “We’ll be back before the last dance.” He sounds annoyed that I’d even bring him up, but I’m just trying not to get my head lopped off for pissing off the king.

Before Kalel can guide me away, he’s approached by Gabriel with a grim look pressed into his face. Kalel leans in and listens to him for a moment before looking back at me and frowning.

“I’ll be five minutes. Tessa is across the ballroom, don’t stray from her side.” He gives me a stern look before following Gabriel. Kalel’s one-shoulder robe billows behind him and makes him look like a king.

He’d be a better king than Achill, of that I’m certain. I muse.

As I turn to make my way across the floor to Tessa, I bump into a flat chest.

“Oh, my apologies—” I start before looking up and realizing it’s Nikolai. I’m met with his gentle smile and curious eyes. He looks clean-cut in his formal attire and with his hair styled for once. His jacket is a deep maroon with gold accents, bringing out his naturally warm, earthy tones.

“My lady,” he says as he bows and offers me his hand. “Care to dance?”

I return his smile and set my hand in his. “I was hoping I’d get to see you again tonight.” He and Tessa are the only two people I feel safe around. It’s not exactly easy being in a sea of angry demon-folk.

“I’m honored.” He dips his head and moves into position for the next song that comes on. It’s slower, more timeless than the others. Nikolai moves elegantly. He’s as fluid as his voice was the night of the bonfire sendoff.

“How are you good at everything you do?” I chuckle as he spins me and offers a daring grin.

He shrugs. “I’m ninety-two, remember? I’ve had a long time to learn many different things. I was even the librarian when I was in my fifties.”

My eyes light up. “There’s a public library?” Thank gods, the king’s private one isn’t the only place to find a book here.

His eyes narrow with his grin. “Yes, eager to learn something in particular?”

I swallow my anxiety. If there’s anyone here I can trust, it’s Nikolai.

“I want to learn about curses.” He furrows his brows at me. “How to break them,” I clarify.

Nikolai’s smile fades, and he leans in close to whisper in my ear. “You must be careful speaking of curses here, Alira. But I know a few books that might help you.” He pulls away and glances over my shoulder. “I think our time has come to an end. Thank you for the dance.” He bows.

I flinch and look behind me. Kalel is marching over here with a ruthless set to his brow. My attention falls back to Nikolai. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” I squeeze his hands, more for self-reassurance than anything.

Nikolai nods and quickly turns to leave.

Kalel stops beside me and gives me a disappointed look. “You’re terrible at doing as I say.”

I huff as he grabs my wrist and tugs me outside. “Nikolai is just as safe as Tessa,” I shoot back.

He stops at the stairs that lead down to the garden below and faces me. “I don’t like the way he looks at you. So no, I wouldn’t say he’s as safe as Tessa,” he grumbles.

My eyes widen. Is he… jealous?

I clear my throat. “What did Gabriel have to report that was so urgent?”

Kalel presses his lips into a thin line. “You’re no longer a knight. You are my wife, and you won’t be hearing of military matters.”

I glower at him, but he ignores it and nods toward the stairs. I reluctantly follow.

We walk into the gardens. To say they are far more extravagant than anything Alzhor has would be an understatement. The flowers have a rich scent that floods my senses, leaving a soft smile on my face as the cold night greets us. That sense of belonging fills me once more, and I take it in.

“This garden is beautiful. I can’t believe how many flowers there are. I didn’t know demons had green thumbs,” I chide him.

Kalel gives me a confused look. “Only the sea dwellers have green thumbs, and even then, it’s very select species?—”

“ Pfft!”

His eyes narrow, and a large smile curls his lips. “Ah, I see. It’s a jest.” He bats my nose with the tip of his finger playfully. “Do you like flowers?” Kalel stares at them with an empty gaze, like he’s only now seeing them as something beautiful.

I lift my shoulders and intertwine my fingers together behind my back as we stroll beneath the moon and through the hedges that look as if they can go on forever.

“Of course I do. They remind me that gentle, delicate things hold so much power over us.” I let my gaze lift to his.

Kalel tilts his head. “How so?”

“Because they make me smile. They welcome us home. Brighten any landscape and remind us that life is all around us. Don’t you feel better when you smile?” He nods. “Exactly.”

“Would you be happier if I planted more flowers around my palace?”

It’s a bit sad because I don’t even have to lie. “No. Your palace is already so beautiful, Kalel. This is the happiest I’ve been in a long, long time,” I admit sheepishly.

He looks down at me with melancholy tugging at his frown. “You weren’t happy in Alzhor?”

I shake my head, feeling guilty for even speaking these words. I pray no gods hear me, but I know they will. The Krinsle told me that they watch me closer than most. What did he mean by that? I’ll need to speak with him again soon to pick his mind.

“You know how, when you are in constant, deep pain, you get used to it? You don’t realize how much misery you were in until the pain is gone. I didn’t realize how miserable I was until I left.”

I bring my hands in front of me and stare down at them. They still look smeared in the blood of demons to my weary eyes.

“I never wanted to become a merciless knight. But somewhere along the way, I lost that sense of right and wrong. I’m so sorry, Kalel. I’m?—”

Oof. I walk straight into his back. I rub my nose as I back up and lift my chin. He’s looking down at me with sympathetic eyes.

“Let’s not talk about the past. Maybe another night, but tonight we should try to be happy. It’s our day after all.” He smiles sadly at me before he continues up the path. I follow silently, listening to the hum of the garden insects.

We come upon a marbled tower, pillared with columns that look as if they’ve been built for the gods. Kalel takes us to the top balcony, three stories up. It overlooks the gardens and the palace. My lungs fill with the sweet floral air, and a weightlessness I’ve never known sinks into my chest.

Kalel takes a seat on the stone bench and motions for me to sit on his lap. I assume he’s hungry from the long day without my blood.

It’s so quiet here. I could close my eyes and never desire to leave this place. With the breeze rolling across my skin and Kalel’s warm hands, why would I wish to be anywhere else?