Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

G rumbling under my breath, I appear at the very edge of this world. It's a place even the humans do not know about—a mystical place born from every fibre of magic. It stays protected from those without magic and acts as a haven for those born from it. True magical beings reside here, some even older than the gods themselves or the ancient beasts of the forest. It would do me well to be quiet and get in and out quickly. I might be a demon, but if one of those decides I am its mid-morning snack, then I'm screwed, and not in a good way.

I stand here, pressing my fingers to my lips where they still burn from her touch. She tasted like sin and death, and it was so addictive, I'm almost begging for another kiss.

That was my first.

Demons are immortal beings, and although I am one, I am not as old as some. Besides, the sins of the flesh never bothered me before her. I made deals for death and fun until her. When she started to explore pleasure, it felt like I was as well, as if she unlocked something within me—something she controls, even if she doesn't know it. Maybe the deal we made is why, but my little witch controls that part of me .

I have dreamed about tasting her, feeling her, and claiming her for years, yet with one little kiss, I am undone, lingering in a place no foul beast like me should, darkening the lands of ancient magic that fights to reject me.

Shaking my head, I glance around for what I came for. The quicker I get it, the quicker I can return, get rid of that pesky god, and deal with this addiction once and for all. It's time my little witch made her final deal—to become mine.

Luckily, my magic allowed me to home in on the tree, even if it is hard to focus on. They often say it erupted here, taking root as soon as this world came into existence, as if it's the beating heart of this world.

I'm about to strip it for my little witch. I almost smirk, glad to be doing something so evil.

I suppose she does let me have some fun, even if she won't let me eat Hagatha.

The old broad would go down in one bite, and I bet that pure, self-righteous soul would be delicious. No matter how good my little witch tries to be, she's just as dark as I, and I cannot wait for her to give in, which means getting rid of the god first. My lips still burn like the pits of hell as I focus on the tree before me.

There is a river of pure, glistening magic guarding it like a moat. The tree stands tall and proud, reaching into the clouds upon a granite island. Easy-peasy. Taking a few steps back, I get a running start and leap over the moat, landing on the granite island. I feel the magic reaching for me, so I skip to the tree and slap my hand onto the rough bark, knowing it won't touch me now.

"I taste delicious, but only one witch can eat me." I waggle my finger at the magic before glancing back at the deep brown tree. The branches are small down here. Will she need a bigger one? The god is a big bastard, and I don't want any delays.

Gripping the bark, I fling myself up, quickly climbing to the very top of the tree. I'll get her the biggest branch there is so there are no errors or mistakes, that way the god can fuck off and I can play with my witch again.

The tree is big, and by the time I get to the large branches, I'm exhausted, knowing I might not be able to carry one bigger. I climb onto the one I want and then reach above me. I hold onto a branch and slam my feet down over and over again until it starts to crack. I dare not use my magic here. I have a feeling it would not go well. After several jumps, the branch finally falls, and I ride it down to the ground where it crashes. I hop off and roll at the last minute and then grab it, dragging it over the river and disappearing once more.

I reappear back in my witch's house.

"I present to you the branch from the oldest tree in the world, also one of the biggest." I snap my fingers as it floats through the cave and place it on the table. It's so long, it hangs over either end, and I grin happily, waiting for my reward. My smile soon fades when Freya and the god just stare at me.

"What? I know I'm handsome, but there is no need to gawk. Actually, little witch, look all you want. In fact, feel free to test out how handsome I am." I slap my cheek with a wink. "Why don't you ride it and see?"

She just sighs, shakes her head, and turns back to her potions, but her back is tight, and her shoulders are tense. My eyes narrow on her, then I glance at the god. If that son of a bitch did anything to hurt her?—

He must sense my thoughts because one perfect eyebrow arches. "Mors, the god of death, popped by."

My body freezes, my eternal fire dousing as pure fear fills me unlike anything I have ever felt. It must be fear, right? I have heard humans speak of it, but I have never felt it before. I pop into existence at her side, gripping her and turning her roughly. My hands trace every inch of her, even as she tries to slap me away. I look for any wound or grievance.

I was gone, and he was here.

She could have been killed with nothing but a look.

She could have been lost to me forever.

The organ inside my chest squeezes so tightly, I can't even breathe, and it's only when her hands cover mine on her chest that I inhale. "I'm okay," she whispers softly. "Bob protected me."

I swallow hard around the lump in my throat .

Fear tastes like acid in my mouth, my gut churns, and my skin feels too tight, too hot, and too cold at the same time. My chest hurts, and my fingers are shaking.

No wonder humans are so weak.

"He could have killed you."

"But he didn't." She grins softly. "Besides, I wouldn't have gone out so easily."

"Do not even joke about that." My hiss fills the air, and she blinks, her eyes widening as I step back.

She's okay, she's alive, and she's here.

She watches me carefully, looking confused, so I turn away, only for my eyes to clash with the god's. A knowing look fills his gaze as his lips tilt down. He sees too much.

"I just can't believe I missed all the fun," I joke flatly, but the silence after is long. "I will go check on the blood border." I disappear before they can say anything else.

I showed my hand.

No demon cares for another being, not in the way I do for my little witch.

The idea of her being gone . . .

No.

I would end up like the god in Phrixius's story, our creator, searching for her soul for the rest of my immortal life. She will never know or understand why. None of them can, but that terror that took root at almost losing her chases me even as I run away from the feelings inside me.

The blood border is intact, not that it would stop the god of death. It was simply an excuse to escape, and once I calm down, I pop back into our home, but my little witch isn't there. The god is stretched out, his eyes on the TV. He doesn't even spare me a look. "She went to fetch some herbs of some kind. She didn't go far. "

"I didn't ask," I retort as I throw myself on my seat, my head tilted back to stare at the ceiling.

"You know, I have been trying to figure out what you meant about her dying if I broke the deal. At first, I thought you meant you would kill her or the deal would. I thought you were simply here to collect on that deal or for fun, but you are not here for any deal or fun, are you, demon?"

"I don't know what you mean, god," I hiss. "You beings always read too much into things. Us lowly demons do shit just because we can. Don't overthink it."

"That act may work on Freya, but I have been around a long time, demon?—"

"No shit. You're so ancient, your bones are practically dust. I bet you spunk cobwebs." I smirk, lifting my head to meet his gaze.

He simply sighs. "You cannot distract me, demon. Freya is one of mine, and now I want to know."

I don't like him claiming her like that, but arguing that point would only prove him right. It's a bad precedent to let a god think he's right.

"Know what?" I sit up, knowing he is not going to stop talking. That's the problem with these gods: they love the sound of their own voices. Nobody ever dares to tell them they are annoying, so they never learn to shut up.

"The truth, like why you two cannot be separated and what deal was made. Why will she die?"

"Oh, so not much. At least take me out to dinner before you try to fuck me."

Rising elegantly, he steps from the circle. I fall back with a fake gasp, my hand over my mouth as I point at him. "Liar! Traitor! I'm going to tell little witch you are faking it to stay here."

He ignores my threat and doesn't stop until he is before me. "Now, demon, the truth. No half lies or games. What have you done to her?"

For a moment, I stare into his narrowed eyes, and I don't know why, but some of the truth slips out—maybe because I'm worried he will try to take her from me if I don't. "I saved her."

He's quiet for a moment. "From what? "

Luckily, I am saved by our little witch. He hears her too and appears back within the trapping spell just as she enters. She blinks at us before hurrying to her cauldron, talking to herself as she brews, and I can't pull my eyes away from her.

If she knew . . .

No, she can never know, even if it means she hates me.

I have a deal to keep.

Even a lowly, evil demon like me will not break that—not the kind made in blood and death.

I feel his eyes on me, but I ignore them. He can never know—no one can.

It would ruin everything.