8. Selena

8

SELENA

T he wind whips around us, a furious cyclone carrying us back to Zephyr's mountain palace. My stomach lurches as the ground falls away. I cling to him, burying my face against his chest to block out the dizzying blur of the landscape below.

"Hold on," Zephyr growls, his four arms tightening around me.

The scent of pine and mountain air fills my lungs. Despite everything, I feel... safe. Protected. It's unsettling how quickly I've come to trust this demon in just a matter of days.

We touch down on the palace balcony. Zephyr sets me on my feet but keeps a hand on my lower back. Steadying me or ensuring I don't bolt? Maybe both.

"You can't keep me here forever," I say, hating how breathless I sound.

His eyes flash, swirling from stormy gray to deep violet. "I know."

The words hang between us, heavy with unspoken meaning. I turn away, unable to face the intensity of his gaze. The balcony offers a sweeping view of snow-capped peaks and mist-shrouded valleys. Somewhere out there, my tribe searches for me.

My chest aches. They must be frantic, thinking I've fallen victim to the very demon I set out to hunt. And here I am, struggling against the growing warmth I feel for that same demon.

"They're your family," Zephyr says softly. "I understand loyalty."

I whirl to face him. "Then why did you bring me back? You know I have to return to them."

His jaw clenches, and the muscles on his arms tick. "Because I'm selfish," he admits. "Because the thought of you out there, in danger..." He breaks off, running a hand through his silver hair. "Dammit, Selena. I can't lose you."

The raw honesty in his voice steals my breath. I take a step toward him, drawn by some inexplicable force. "Zephyr, I?—"

A distant horn blast cuts through the air. My tribe's signal. They're close.

Zephyr's eyes darken to black; his nails elongate on his arms and his teeth stretch to fangs. He lets out a thunderous roar as the horn continues to blow. My heart sinks as I step forward. I could almost feel his heartache. Or is it my own?

I step closer to Zephyr who is now in true demon form. Even the horns that were once curled stand straight up over his head. Anyone else would have been terrified but not me. I move in front of him, gazing into his blackened eyes. He snarls at me, but I ignore it as I gently caress his cheek. His skin is warmer than usual.

"Ease your storm, demon." I place a hand on his chest. His nails and teeth retract to a normal length as he leans into my caress. I cup his face with my hands while his eyes fade from black to a smoky gray.

He looks torn as conflict etches in every line of his face. I know he could use his powers to keep me here, to hide us both away in this mountaintop sanctuary.

But he doesn't.

Instead, he takes my hand, his touch achingly gentle. "What do you want, Selena?"

I stand on the balcony of Zephyr's mountain palace, the wind whipping my hair as I gaze out at the vast expanse below. I slip my hands out of his grasp and grab my pack.

"I have to go," I say softly.

My heart feels heavier than the pack on my shoulders.

"You don't have to go," Zephyr's deep voice rumbles behind me.

I turn to face him, my chest tightening at the sight of his silver-gray skin. "I do. My tribe needs to understand. You're not the monster they think you are."

His eyes shift from stormy gray to a soft blue. "What am I to you, Selena?"

The question hangs in the air between us. What is he to me? Enemy turned ally? Captor turned protector? Or something more? He's not the only one in conflict.

"You're... different," I manage, my voice barely above a whisper.

Zephyr steps closer, his four arms twitching as if fighting the urge to reach for me. "Different enough to come back to?"

I swallow hard, memories of the past days flooding my mind. The way he tended my wounds after our battle with the monsters. The conversations we shared. The beautiful wind displays he created just for me. The almost kiss that left me breathless and confused. How can I walk away from that? In a long time, I never felt so alive as with him.

"I will come back," I say, surprised by the conviction in my voice. "I promise."

His eyes flash a brilliant gold, and suddenly I'm enveloped in his embrace. Four strong arms wrap around me, and I feel safer than ever.

"Be careful," he murmurs into my hair. "If you're not back in three days, I'm coming for you."

Before I can react, he wraps his arms around my waist, controlling the wind to carry us down the mountain path.

Without a word, his arms leave my side, and I am left with the feel of the wind behind me. My heart pounds in my ears as I make my way toward my tribe.

Three days. I have three days to convince my tribe that everything they know about demons is wrong. Three days to prove that Zephyr is different. Three days until I see him again.

I square my shoulders, wiping the tears that try to fall, and hurry down the mountain path, my boots crunching through the fresh snow. The wind whips at my face, but I barely feel the chill. All I can think about is reaching my tribe and convincing them of the truth.

As the familiar tents and campfires come into view, I take a steadying breath. My heart pounds with nervous anticipation. This won't be easy, but I have to try.

"Selena!" Kira spots me first and comes running. "You're alive! We've been so worried."

I embrace her tightly. "I'm fine, Kira. But we need to talk. All of you."

The rest of the search party gathers around, their expressions ranging from relief to suspicion. I steel myself, meeting their questioning gazes head-on.

"Where did those demons take you? Are you hurt?" Kieran, one of the head hunters of the tribe, asks.

"I know you all think I was kidnapped, but it's not true. The demon, his name is Zephyr. He's different. He saved a human village from a monster attack."

Murmurs of disbelief ripple through the group. Kira grips my arm, her eyes wide. "Selena, how can you defend a demon? After what happened to Tomas..."

I flinch at the mention of my former partner, killed in a brutal demon attack. "I know, Kira. I know what they're capable of. I live that every day. But Zephyr, he's-"

"Enough!" Tomas's father, Bren, steps forward, his face twisted with rage. "You speak of this demon as if he's some kind of savior. He's a monster, just like the rest of them. And now he's corrupted you."

"No, that's not true!" I insist, my frustration growing. "If you would just listen-"

"Listen?" Bren scoffs. "We've heard enough. You're coming back to the village, Selena. And we'll see about breaking this demon's hold on you."

"The demon has bewitched her." The other villagers begin to whisper loudly.

I gape at them, my mind racing. How can I make them understand when they refuse to even hear me out? The sting of their distrust cuts deep. Anger seeps within me as the frustration of being heard falls on deaf ears.

"Bren, please," I plead, "you have to trust me. Zephyr is-"

"Enough!" he roars, his hand closing around my arm in a bruising grip. "You're done speaking of this demon. Now come."

As Bren drags me away, I glance back at the mountain, my heart sinking. Zephyr, I'm so sorry. I tried.