Blood and War

Chapter 28

Twenty-Eight

DEMITRIA

D emitria stretched her sore limbs out before her, the stone floor she’d slept on the night before doing little to ease the pain from her body. For the first time in gods knew how long, she’d slept the entirety of the night, dead to the world around her. Everywhere hurt, but it was the last thing on her mind. The searing pain, as if her skin had been ripped from her bones, had disappeared, only to be replaced with a relentless ache that wouldn’t subside. Easier than the later, but annoying enough as it was. Demitria was grateful to be alive. Grateful to the beings that she’d hated with every fiber of her body. Because she’d hated every single one of them. Angel, demon, Horsemen… she didn’t care that she’d yet to meet them. It made no difference to her, at least not then. Had it changed? Had she changed?

Then there was Kellan.

War, as he’d affectionately been dubbed by her own kind a lifetime ago. From another world entirely. Nephilim. Chaos incarnate, and she’d touched him in a way that should have sent her reeling. His skin had been warm against her palm when she’d held it there, like an inferno ready to consume her. And when he hadn’t moved away from her touch? She didn’t really know what had possessed her to let herself get that close. After the violence she’d endured, she needed something to ground her. A… gentle connection, of sorts, and Kellan had provided that and more. She couldn’t even begin to comprehend the way he’d looked at her as she’d practically caressed his face. It just made things that much more complicated between them. Made everything more complicated than it needed to be. They were so different. Yet that night on the roof… that connection they’d somehow formed without either of their consent. She couldn’t forget it.

Incessant yelling echoing throughout the cavern pulled her from her thoughts. Eire and Kellan were arguing. A bout her . About the entire gods damned war that they apparently now had to deal with.

“Have you lost your damn mind?” Eire shouted at him, anger dripping from her every word as she tossed her arms in the air in an animated gesture.

Kellan gazed at his sister, brows raised as his face contorted into what Demitria could only call confusion, absolutely dumbfounded at the words that had left the other Horseman’s mouth.

“There is no place for a human with us!” Eire pointed at her for a moment, ignoring or quite possibly not even seeing the fact she was wide awake.

“You do not make the rules.”

Demitria could see the struggle on his face as Kellan tightened his jaw, his fingers clenching and unclenching at his sides. The deadly calm he tried to paint on.

“And neither do you.” Eire crossed her arms over her chest, face tight as she fixed her brother in a menacing glare. Kellan opened his mouth to say something but was quickly cut off as the eldest Horseman interjected.

“ENOUGH!” The immense power behind Gabriel’s bellow ran a shudder through Demitria’s body, unable to suppress the movement. “Both of you.” Gabriel looked between the two warring siblings. “Childishness doesn’t become either of you.”

She should have no part in this conversation but she joined them anyway. “I can’t go back.” She’d fight tooth and nail to get her point across. She stood on shaking legs, her body still feeling weak from the night before, but she forced herself to walk toward them and stand beside Kellan. “Whoever this asshole is, he’s after me. And if I go back, that’s a death sentence not just for myself, but for my people too.” Her tone rose as she met each of their eyes. Kellan’s. Eire’s. Gabriel’s, then she roamed back to Kellan once more, giving him a sheepish smile before continuing. “I will not go back.”

“This asshole is the entire damn reason you stupid little humans are in this mess.” Eire sneered, as if Demitria should have known who the Dark King was.

Should she have? She didn’t have a clue about their world, or the beings in it. Their hierarchy—she didn’t know any of it. None of her kind did.

She didn’t like Eire, and the feelings appeared to be mutual. The Horseman looked at her as if she’d kill her at any given moment and the condescending tone of Eire’s voice each time she spoke couldn’t be misinterpreted. If given the chance, Demitria really did think she would end her life.

“We have done nothing to you or your people.” In a stupid fit of rage, she’d gone toe to toe with her as she ignored the burning in her limbs. Despite her brain screaming at her, telling her how much of a fucking idiot she was being, she did it anyway. Stood mere inches away from Eire. Gods, she must be close to a foot taller than her . Idiot . “And I will not be bullied by some insecure Horseman who acts as if I am beneath her.”

The cool tip of a blade poked into the soft skin at her throat. Demitria felt a thin line of blood as it slowly trickled down her collar, disappearing into the fabric of her torn shirt. Eire’s gray eyes were wild as she stared her down, like a rabid wolf ready for the killing blow.

“You little bitch.” She snarled, but Demitria refused to back down as she stepped closer, into the dagger as the cold metal stung her flesh.

Before any more damage could be done, a strong, muscled arm ripped her body from its position, heaving her backward as her legs nearly gave out at the motion. Kellan’s eyes were blazing. Dark as he stared between his sister and Demitria, his grip firm on her forearm. Gabriel now holding the latter by her shoulder in a firm grasp. Eire clawed at him, fighting to break free to no avail.

“You may match her in temper, but not in power. It would not end well.” Kellan spoke, voice low in Demitria’s ear. She shouldn’t have shivered at the warmth of his breath, but she couldn’t help the involuntary movement.

“I don’t care. She needs to understand that I cannot go back.” She turned hard eyes on him. Of everyone here, he needed to understand. He had to. “They are after me for a reason, Kellan. And if you send me back, it’ll be the end of my home. You said that yourself. I can’t let the entire community fall because of me. I want answers just as much as you do.” Azure eyes softened at her words, but his grip on her arm never wavered.

“We need to look into the claims that were made.” Gabriel intervened. “The Dark King is a bigger matter than what we were led to believe, and we need to investigate immediately.” He spoke, finally letting go of a—somewhat—calmed Eire. She wasn’t thrashing around anymore, and Demitria figured that was as calm as the Horseman would get. Yet the female still looked as if she’d kill her at any given moment.

“I want to help. He was after me.”

“Do not make this about you, human.” Eire spat at her feet, the saliva splashing on the top of her leather boots, and it took everything in her to not react. “Having you around would be nothing but a nuisance.”

“Even I don’t feel safe about that.” Kellan sighed. “You don’t know the things he’s capable of. Even with us all there, I can’t guarantee your safety.” He gave her a knowing look as if there was more to the story. One that he wasn’t willing to share. “But I understand your fear of going back. You have every right to feel that, but at least we know what we’re up against, and can deal with it accordingly.” Slowly, Kellan dropped his hand from around her arm.

Holding up a hand, Gabriel continued. “Which is precisely why we don’t have the time for this. He is a bigger threat than we’ve deemed you to be. We don’t have the luxury of waiting around for the orders to act on this. We will return you to your people, and we will ride out immediately.”

“They didn’t answer?” Kane finally broke. He’d been standing with them, quiet as they spoke, digesting the information just as she was, she was sure.

“I’m not going ba?—”

“My word is final!” Gabriel roared, “I will not have you hindering any part of this investigation. Whether you are being targeted or not, that is not our concern.” His dark cloak swished just above the ground as he strode toward where she and Kellan stood. Gabriel was terrifying in those moments, and looked every bit like the Death she had pictured. His dark, forest-green eyes narrowed into a hard stare as he reached them in mere steps. “You will not even have a world to call home if he succeeds, let alone your community.” Gabriel pointed a finger at her, so close it nearly struck her chest.

Demitria willed herself not to cry. Begged every single muscle in her body to cooperate with her to keep the tears at bay. But she couldn’t shake the inevitable feeling. Her people would die because of this. Because or.

Within an hour they were riding out. The rift between Kellan and his siblings now painfully obvious as they rode ahead of the both of them. She hadn’t heard them utter a word since leaving the cavern, and had a growing suspicion that he’d been given the cold shoulder. It had been her fault, she realized. Broken, because of her. Something she seemed to be good at, it seemed. Her actions the other night had been damning enough when she’d reached for him, practically begging him to hold her. Him fighting for her today had all but sealed the deal.

Gods, what was she thinking.

She shouldn’t have liked the way he’d looked at her last night. The thought foreign…forbidden, like it should never have crossed her mind. But the softness in his gaze had just?—

“Thank you. For rescuing me, and taking Atlas in.” Demitria looked down at her hands, focusing in on the detail of the leather reins in her fingers. She was so sure that she would never see him again. “I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to him.”

“I know how much he means to you.” Reaching over, Kellan rested a warm hand on her arm. She was quick to move away from his touch. Demitria didn’t regret the softness that had fallen over her last night, not one bit. And she’d meant what she said to him. Kellan was good, and the thought of feeling that comfort scared her.

His face fell at her blatant rejection. He was probably so confused after last night. Hell, she’d all but fallen asleep in his lap! How quickly it had all changed. Gods, she hated it. Hated always letting people down. Demitria hadn’t wanted to move away from any part of him last night, quite the opposite in fact, yet here she was, shying away from his touch like a fucking idiot. “Thank you.” Voice no more than a whisper, but she knew he heard her clearly.

They rode in silence for another hour. Demitria focused on the sound of Atlas’s relaxed breathing and the thud of his hooves along the hard, dirt ground. The rhythmic sound soothing in a way. Freeing, despite the dread pooling in her stomach as they journeyed back across the barren land toward her home.

Gabriel slowed his horse down beside her own. Kellan shot him a warning look, but his brother was quick to wave it off. “I meant to give you this earlier.” Lightly tugging on her reins, Atlas came to a halt beside him. Atlas was tall, but Gabriel’s horse seemed to tower over them as he pulled up beside her. Demitria marveled at the magnificent beast. The dark, ebony coat gleaming under the sun, almost as if he sparkled in the light. Muscles rippled under the faintest touch from his rider. Powerful, and she couldn’t help but stare in awe at the creature. Gabriel unbuckled the sheath attached to the horn of his saddle, holding it out before her. The sword's familiar pommel glistened in the bright afternoon sun.

“You found it!” She had never been so happy at the sight of a weapon. Demitria pulled it free of its sheath, marveling at the blade, feeling it in her hands once more, like an extension of her own arm. She swung it with ease, unable to hide the growing smile on her lips.

“You have a skilled weapons master in your town. It is a beautiful blade.” He nodded. She didn’t know why, but his approval meant something. It shouldn’t have .

She didn’t even know why he’d given her the blade back. She had been their one assignment, and here they were, arming her once more. Much like she’d done for Kellan back in Solis. An offering, then. “Thank you.” Demitria bowed her head. “All of you.” With a tip of his own head, Gabriel nudged his horse on. Quickly falling into place beside Eire as they soundlessly moved on.

Right .

The landscape never changed. Everything around them looked the same. The rocky earth held nothing of desire, not anymore. She hoped the horsemen knew where they were headed. After the ambush she’d lost all her bearings. Couldn’t decipher what direction the demon had even taken her in. It had been dark, her mind dazed. She couldn’t help but shudder at the thought. Knowing he’d gotten away. Again .

Demitria found her eyes roaming to the Horseman beside her, his mount no more than an arms-length away. She studied him. The planes of his face, the broad shoulders and muscular chest. The azure eyes that had softened far too much in the short weeks he’d been around.

When Kellan caught her staring, she quickly dragged her gaze away. Focusing on anything but the male beside her. Her grip tightened around the supple reins in her hands. She needed to get ahold of herself, but her eyes drifted back anyway. Watching. Curious.

They continued on for hours on end, never stopping once. The sky turned dark as they pushed on, and she fought to keep her body awake, the pull of sleep an irresistible tug at the corners of her mind. It rippled with thoughts of the community. How would they even react? It hadn’t gone well when she’d shown up with a dying—or so she thought anyway— Horseman. Now she was showing up with four, very much alive and at full power. They’d kill her. They’d try and kill all of them, actually. She probably wouldn’t even make it to the gates. One well-placed arrow would have her dead before she’d even hit the cool earth below. The others would fare fine, but her people would pay dearly if they attacked. Kellan may have given his word, but she knew his siblings wouldn’t just stand there if they were attacked. As much as she hated to admit it, she wouldn’t expect them to, either.

Demitria looked at the faces that surrounded her. Eire. The lone female Horseman was stripped of all emotion. Or was that something else on her face? Anger? Hatred? She knew the female loathed her with her entire being. She’d made that point perfectly clear. Demitria couldn’t help pondering the cause of it all. The incessant hate for humans. For the world. What had been done to her to cement those ridiculous notions in her head?

As if sensing her prying gaze, Eire hastily turned around in her saddle. She scowled down at her, her gray eyes radiating with such coldness, watching her as a lion would watch its prey before launching itself full force, unleashing that devastating blow. The scrutinizing look had her blood running thin, and Demitria tried her best not to stare, focusing on their never-ending surroundings instead.

“Don’t pay her any mind.” A soft voice came from behind. She turned to look at the second youngest Horseman that had ridden up beside her. He’d been virtually silent, or maybe she’d just been too lost in her own thoughts to realize. “She’s brooding and cold, but wouldn’t lay a hand on you.” Somehow, Demitria doubted that. She couldn’t shake the threat in Eire’s eyes. Demitria could only nod. His reassurance had done absolutely nothing to ease her reeling mind. Telling Kellan was out of the question. They hadn’t spoken a word to each other since she’d shied away from him. Starting another rift between the siblings wasn’t something she wanted to be a part of either. It would be better if she took a step back. Better for the both of them. For her. She was trying so hard to deny him. Had fought whatever this connection was with all her will. She was failing. Could feel her mental blocks weakening with each passing glance. She hated it. Tried so hard to hate him.

Wanted to, but she couldn’t.

“Are you tired?” Kane was still beside her. How easily she’d fallen prey to her mind once more that the entire world around her had ceased to exist.

“We can keep going.” She refused to meet his gaze, despite her body still weak from the capture. An array of bruises painted her fingers in hues of purples and blues. The tear in her lip mostly mended, but still hurt. Gabriel had only mended the largest of her injuries. The life threatening, but the rest remained. A stark reminder on how truly fragile life was.

“Are you just saying that to not be a burden?” He’d seen through her.

Her presence felt like a burden among the Horsemen. She was slowing them down. They had a duty to perform, and returning her to the community—even though she didn’t want to go—was keeping them from that. Demitria couldn’t seem to keep herself out of trouble. How low they all must think of her.

“Let’s call it a night.” Kellan had been silent for hours now but he must have seen the tiredness in her face. She’d never admit it. Especially not to them. “The horses could use the rest.” Her eyes made their way to his, seeing nothing but that gentle look. The gesture was enough. His boots hit the ground first, swiftly carrying himself to where she still sat atop Atlas. Demitria didn’t reject his help to dismount as every muscle in her legs fought to hold her upright. And when his large hands wrapped around her, plucking her from the saddle with ease, she all but melted at their warmth.

Up ahead, the other two carried on a few more paces before finally coming to a stop. Eire mumbled something to her brother, but Demitria was too far to hear. Kellan’s face didn’t give any inclination on what had been said, either.

“How are you feeling?” He asked.

“Fine.” She lied. Looking anywhere but his face, but he knew.

“No one else can hear you. They’re all too busy arguing over who’ll take the first watch.” She let her gaze drift in their direction, toward Eire who seemed to be having an animated conversation with Gabriel before mounting once more and riding out of sight.

Kellan led her toward a small fire that Kane had promptly started upon dismounting. The warmth was a welcoming change for her body. Normally, she would have never entertained the idea of a fire out in the open like this, but with the Four Horsemen around it, she figured nothing would dare set foot within a ten-mile radius of them, unless they had some fucked-up death wish.

“Have I done something?” The plea in his voice had hit her far harder than it should have.

“I don’t know how I feel anymore.” She didn’t. Toward him? His siblings? She just didn’t know. “You’ve done nothing wrong.” The sigh that left her lips was enough. “You’ve done everything right. That’s the problem.” Well… aside from trying to kill and or maim her in the beginning. They had moved past that. She’d moved past that. Clearly .

“Before all this,” He motioned around them. “I was feared among my kind. Trained from a young age to fight. To kill. But my siblings were my life. They meant more to me than anything in the world, and I made it my mission to ensure nothing happened to them.” Kellan leaned back, looking up at the darkening sky around them. “The scars that mar my body… I was punished, time and time again for what they called foolishness and insubordination. For protecting my kin the only way I knew how, through slaughter and bloodshed. For not completing my assignments in a clean manner, but I wouldn’t have done anything different.” Running a hand down his face, he returned those azure eyes to her as they darkened. “They stripped me of my very being, changed me, until I was this bloodthirsty monster that most coveted.” A shudder ran through him, and she reached a steady hand toward him, resting it on his arm. Kellan stared at it for a long moment. “I?—”

“I meant what I said.” Demitria squeezed his arm for effect. “Whatever happened, you… you’re still good. I can see it in your eyes.”

“I’m anything but good.” He laughed then, the sound full, hearty, as it rumbled through her.

“You went against a direct order to kill me.”

“I had my reasons.” He shrugged.

“Answers, right.” Her own laugh bubbled through, and she stared off toward the horizon, looking for anything out of place. “Despite what I’ve said to you, you aren’t that crazed monster.” She’d watched him maim an Archangel, sure. He’d lived up to every thought in that moment. And maybe he still was that bloodthirsty being, but now? Deep down, Kellan was so much more than that.

“Will you look at me?”

She did. Kellan absently tucked a stray hair behind her ear. His fingers warm as they softly grazed across her cheek, the simple touch igniting a fire within her. Demitria felt her body moving closer. Toward the warmth that called to something in her blood. A pull, until she was no more than a hairs breadth from him. That sweet, woodsy smell wafting through her. Consuming her. And in that moment, she didn’t care who was around them as she let that pull guide her.

Demitria grazed her lips across his. Soft at first. Tentative, and was just about to pull away when his large hand fisted in the back of her hair, his free arm wound around her, pulling her close until she was nearly in his lap. Kellan kissed her with a new found fervor. Rough. Hard, and a hunger filled her as that need welled up in her body. Could hear the rapid thump of her heart, so loud she thought it was about to explode.

When she pulled away a few moments later, breath heavy, she gazed up at him. “I’m sorry, I—” The words caught in her throat as she scooted away from him, turning herself away. What the hell had she been thinking? Begging for his touch had been one thing, but kissing him?

She’d crossed a line.

“Tonight was?—”

Demitria cut him off. “It doesn’t change anything.” Or did it? Where did they even stand now? “It doesn’t change how I feel about you. About your kind.”

Her voice sounded hollow even to herself. It changed everything, and they both knew it.