Page 87 of Seared Fates

“My braids?”

She nods in a way that makes me think maybe the coffee and two sandwiches she scarfed didn’t soak up any alcohol.

“Okay?” I say, after a pause.

Summer sweeps my braids back with two fingers and leans in closer. Tilting my head this way and that with her other hand on my chin, inspecting the mottled skin on my left side.

I wonder what she thinks when she looks at it? And I realise with a start, I shy away from my scars so often, I can’t even visualise exactly how they look.

“Do you see something, Summer?” Rurik asks, moving closer.

She spits a curse and falls back into her chair.

“What is it?” Vidar demands.

“You—” Summer’s face becomes serious. “ —are a demon, Kai.”

“A what?” Heat creeps up my neck.

“Well, half-demon,” she corrects way too casually and plucks an apple slice.

I grasp for words. But I’m not even sure how I feel, or what it means.

“A demon?” Golden perks up. “Is that a good thing? It has to be right, if it’s Kai.”

“So you mated with a half-demon, Maker?” Sen remarks. “I had no idea you had such rare tastes.”

“Rare?” I blurt out, still trying to make sense of what I am. Does this change everything? Does it need to change anything? Why do I feel like I’m sweating so much?

“Demons don’t normally leave their realm,” Vidar tells me, stroking between my shoulder blades.

“A different realm?” My voice comes out too high and too loud.

“Yeah, demons live behind this realm. Think of it as a sorta mirror place.” Summer waves around her half-eaten apple, as if that even made sense, and it’s everyday knowledge. At least Golden is also looking as confused as I feel. “Demons also have Script that appears on the left side of their faces when they first touch magic. But your scars hide them.”

“Script?” I utter slowly.

“Yeah, it’s how demons channel their magic. Shadow mages have their obsidian—” She wiggles her fingers adorned with obsidian rings— “Demons have their Script.”

“How do you feel about this, Kai?” Vidar asks.

I open and close my mouth like a fish tossed out of the ocean, the conversation Summer and me had at Kings replaying on a loop.

“Does…” I blink. “Does this mean you hate me, Summer?” I whisper, shaking a little.

“She better not,” Vidar grumbles.

“What!” Summer reels back, her apple dropping to the floor. “Of course not! Why would I hate you?”

“Because you don’t like demons?” I sniff. I don't know what to focus on; all I know is I can’t lose my friend.

“I’m not some lunatic who hates all demons. Especially not you,” Summer replies, sounding offended. “I hate…listen, it’s a lot to go into, okay? But it’s the Demon King who…” Her gaze dips before meeting mine again. “The Demon King and his son, Prince Maddox. Their soldiers. Little you? No way, babe.”

“O-oh. Good. I’m glad.” I sniff again, relieved. A little lost.

“No one could hate you, Kai,” Vidar reassures.

“I’m suresomeonecould,” Sen adds.