Chapter 5
Getting Logan to stop following me was a fruitless activity. He did prove himself useful, though. As we ventured into the Demonspawn city, it was hard not to stick out and the only thing keeping the locals from crowding me was the angry canine showing his teeth.
The Demonspawn down here looked more like Jess with half her human-sleeve melded with their demonic form. Black horns and claws, as well as fangs, red eyes, and swiping tails removed any doubt about their origins. But the humanoid figures perplexed me.
Do you think they’re all wearing human sleeves? I asked Logan.
He snarled at some Demonspawn who got too close, but word must have gotten out who I was. The murmurs included words like “Your Majesty” and “Princess.”
I don’t care, as long as they keep their distance, Logan snapped back, his words coming with a growl inside my head. Let’s just find Kaito and get back to the others. I don’t like how they’re looking at you.
Walking tall, I cupped my Blood Stone for strength. Royal demonic lineage wasn’t something I had asked for, but now that we were here, I would play my part. I’d do anything to keep my Virtues safe.
That instinct made me smile. We’d all come so far.
When I’d first come to the Academy, I didn’t know who to trust. With the exception of Logan, all of my Virtues had selfishly operated with their own agendas in mind, but now that we faced Calamity together, I could feel all of that changing.
Their priorities were starting to shift and each of them held the key to our redemption.
It was time to accept that maybe I was a monster… and they were too.
And maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.
Dante had hunted down supernaturals, killed, and done unspeakable acts.
Taking me to the Academy had been under orders.
He knew what he’d done had been wrong and everything he did now was to make amends.
My Hunter had my back and he’d do anything to protect me, including facing Hell and the witch spirits that had created him.
Orion had been a playboy demigod with only sex and power on his mind.
He’d resented me at first when I had turned his world upside down.
He’d run from our connection, denied his feelings, and even tried to break his role as my Virtue.
I came to terms that it wasn’t personal.
He hadn’t done those things because he hated me, but because it terrified him.
The idea of loving me, sharing me, and facing the reality that he might give his heart and then lose me was too much to bear.
Now that he had accepted his role in the mate-circle, he would be a force of love, light, and of course, lots of sex.
Then there was Hendrik, the Dark Mage who took what he wanted and gave no apologies.
He had used me, dominated me, and watched me suffer—but for him, it hadn’t been with malicious intent.
That was just the way of his world. Power and change came at a cost, and for Hendrik, that cost required suffering.
He always kept the big picture in mind. He wanted to protect his clan, lead them when no one else cared, and if being my Virtue meant he could do good by his people, then he would embrace it.
I didn’t think he had expected to fall in love with me and his reluctance stung in the mate-circle like a thorn.
He had no problem lusting after me, but love?
That wasn’t something he ever expected a soulless mage to have to contend with.
Logan, though, he had loved me from the beginning. The wolf in him recognized me as his mate and everything he had done had been selfless acts of sacrifice, and I wouldn’t soon forget it.
It didn’t change what needed to be done, though, no matter if my wolf disagreed with my decision.
Kaito was a part of this mate-circle and I wouldn’t just leave him alone.
I sensed him wallowing in self-pity somewhere in the dark, glittering buildings that jutted from the massive cavern walls.
The air shimmered with heat, but it didn’t bother me.
Logan, on the other hand, panted as his tongue lolled and he trotted in a zig-zag in front of me, making sure to keep any curious Demonspawn a healthy distance from my path.
Kaito is in that building, I said, sending my words into Logan’s mind as I approached one of the taller buildings where red lights burst from the windows.
It reeks of alcohol, Logan replied as his nose twitched. Are you sure you want to go in there?
I laughed. I worked at a bar, remember? I patted him on the head. Wait outside. I don’t think the Demonspawn will take kindly to a wolf interrupting their drinks.
He glowered at me and whined and tried to follow me anyway. I cupped my Blood Stone and sent out an invisible barrier, shoving the wolf back as he snapped and snarled.
“Trust me,” I whispered over my shoulder. “I got this.”
Logan’s doubt crept over me as I progressed inside the building, but he didn’t attempt to follow me again.
The Demonspawn jived to a steady beat, reminding me of a nightclub in the human world. I sensed Kaito somewhere in the back and I pushed my way through the crowd, ignoring the sounds of excitement when I was inevitably recognized.
“It’s the Princess!” one female squealed as she grabbed my skirt. Her long talons poked holes through the fine fabric and I snarled, turning on her.
“Don’t touch me!” I instructed and transformed my fingers into claws. I sliced at her, making her jump back.
Her companions laughed as she tucked her tail between her legs. I almost felt sorry for her when she pushed out her lower lip and moisture glistened in her glowing red eyes. Who knew demons could be so… sensitive.
The hairs stood on the back of my neck when bodies surrounded me.
I turned to find a semi-circle of males boasting evil grins and sharp teeth poking from their lips.
One stood out from the rest and his tail wrapped around my ankle, making me jump back.
“If she really was royalty, shouldn’t she be on the lower level with the Queen?
Not in the city running around with the riffraff.
” The male hissed at me and a forked tongue flicked the air.
Gross.
“Leave her alone,” a voice rumbled over the sound of the music and the Demonspawn turned to growl at the source.
Kaito shoved his way through, pushing aside the bulky Demonspawn with ease.
The rest backed off—because, yeah, Kaito looked downright terrifying.
The tattoo that ran up his left cheek shone with a violent red aura and the silver streak of his hairline lit up with blue fire.
The same low flames erupted from his fingertips as he pushed back the last of the stubborn offenders, with the main Demonspawn who still had his tail wrapped around my ankle hissed.
“I wasn’t done talking with her,” he snarled.
Kaito summoned a long katana and sliced down, chopping the Demonspawn’s tail clean off. A horrid shriek echoed over the steady music, causing the crowd to turn and stare at us.
Kaito ignored them and offered me his hand. “Come, Koneko-chan.”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I slipped my fingers into his and shook off the piece of the Demonspawn’s tail that had been strangling my foot.
“Way to not make a scene,” I muttered under my breath and followed my mentor down the dimly lit halls to the back rooms.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” Kaito chided as he shoved me into one of the private seating areas. He slipped onto the cushions and sat cross-legged as he grabbed one of the shot glasses and knocked it back.
The place reminded me of an upscale sushi restaurant—demon style. The low table boasted low blue flames that ran along the edges. I eyed them warily and ran my fingers over them, but it didn’t burn.
Kaito patted the pillow next to him. “Sit.”
“Kaito. We really don’t have time to sit around and drink. How are you paying for this anyway?” I propped my hands on my hips and glowered down at him.
He rolled his eyes and grabbed me by my skirt, yanking me down next to him. “Out of all the things you ask me, that’s your most pressing question? How I’m going to pay for drinks in Hell?”
I chuckled, because yeah, it did sound kind of ridiculous.
Sighing, I gave in and grabbed one of the shots and sniffed it.
“It’s not poisoned, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Kaito said as he took a bottle with a Japanese demon face on it and poured himself another one.
“You don’t know that,” I countered. “Jess admitted to dosing me with pure evil when we’d done shots together back at Cindy’s bar. Who knows what kind of drinks they serve here?”
He gave me a raised brow. “Well, I guess I stand corrected.”
“Damn straight.” I sniffed again and didn’t detect any of the sharp metallic tang I remembered from the drinks Jess had given me.
Taking a sip, I was pleasantly surprised to find it sweet, so I knocked it back and stuck out my empty shot glass as I squinted one eye. “This one’s safe. I’ll take another.”
Kaito chuckled and poured. “This is strong stuff, so pace yourself.”
“I’d expect no less from a bar in Hell.”
We drank together in silence as the beat outside the halls gave the atmosphere a comforting drone. It felt like we could just stay here forever, drink and talk while Calamity and the end of the world passed right on by.
Except, the weight of responsibility nagged at me with every breath I took. I was the Champion of the Third Echo of Calamity and Kaito was one of my Virtues—the first one I had ever bonded with, yet the one I knew the least about.
“So are you going to tell me why your face is lighting up like a Christmas tree?” I asked as I leaned over the table and swayed my empty glass. Or maybe I was the one swaying. It was hard to tell.
He lifted the half-depleted bottle and drank directly from the spout. I giggled after he choked on it and set it down. “Have you ever heard of a Kami?”
I lifted an eyebrow. “No, should I?”