Chapter 41
Monster of the Castle
Too taken aback to say or do anything, she watched him sleep. He looked so harmless in slumber, softer, almost vulnerable. She watched his chest rise and fall, too shocked for words.
The morning sunlight streamed in from the window, casting a golden light on the demon sprawled out in satin sheets. As if sensing her gaze, Caspian’s eyes opened a fraction. He looked at her, blinking sleep from his eyes.
“Elizabeth,” Caspian said, his morning voice deep and scratchy.
“Caspian.” She nodded in acknowledgment.
“That’s all you have to say?” he asked blearily.
“Well, I admit, I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” she said drily.
He snorted into his pillow.
Caspian propped his head on his arm and looked at her strangely. “Why did you help me?”
“I don’t know,” she said, feeling a bit flustered. “It felt like the right thing to do. I obviously didn’t know it was you.”
“But why? Why are you afraid of me now? I can smell your fear. I can feel your heart race.” He gestured to himself. “But you spent the night with me when I looked like a monster and were not afraid at all. Why is that?”
She paused, considering. “The demon from the library, as I called you in your demon form … has never hurt me and saved me, twice.”
“But I have never hurt you,” Caspian protested. “And I look like a human man in this form. Why would you be more comfortable with a gigantic demon instead?”
“Are you sure now is the best time for this discussion?” she asked, her tone skeptical. “We can talk when you’re feeling better.”
Caspian glanced at her and undid one of his bandages. His flesh was smooth and new.
“Demon, remember,” he said, giving her an amused look that she did not return. “So why did you help me?” he persisted, stubborn as an ox.
“I don’t know,” she muttered, suddenly feeling shy and embarrassed.
She had tucked him into bed and told him a bedtime story. Goodness. Her face flamed.
She stood up, turning to leave. “I’ll be going now.”
“Elizabeth?” he inquired.
She looked back, and he had held out a hand. She placed hers in his, not sure what he wanted. He squeezed, and she moved to sit awkwardly at the edge of the bed. Another squeeze, and he drew it closer. Resigned, her eyes lifted to the ceiling, and then to their clasped fingers.
“Why were you in the library covered in blood?” she asked tentatively.
“The war I’ve mentioned is brewing in the Underworld right now,” Caspian replied. “Raziel continues to send small groups into the third circle. I fought for Lucifer last night, with his household, to keep them at bay.”
“And you won the battle, I assume?”
“For now.” He shook his head in disbelief, releasing her. “He was not present in the battle, though, which makes us worried. They think he is gathering a real army, trying to tire us out with these skirmishes. They say a larger war is coming.”
She smoothed her skirts. “I see.”
“I wish you would stay a while,” Caspian said, his voice low and gravelly from sleep.
He opened his arms. Hesitantly, she slid onto the bed and tucked herself into his warmth, resting her head against his chest. She held herself stiffly, unsure if she should stay.
“Let’s remain like this, just for a moment,” Caspian murmured into her hair.
She should have said no. She should have gotten up and left, refusing to speak to him outside their night together. But instead, she said, “Okay.”
She felt his fingers touch her hair. “Your hair is beautiful—like burnished gold.”
Elizabeth chuckled and leaned over him, running her fingers through his hair. She grinned and said dramatically, “Your hair is dark, like a raven’s wing.”
Caspian’s lips tugged upwards. “That sounds much more ominous.”
She raised a brow. “Fitting, is it not?”
He smiled broadly, showing teeth. He was unfairly good-looking when he did that.
Caspian stroked her back, the gesture purely comforting. He ran his fingers over her arm; the sensation sent tingles down her spine.
After a few hours spent cuddling in bed, she slowly extricated herself. “I should do things with my day.”
He frowned. “What kind of things? Come back to bed.”
“I can’t stay in bed all day. I haven’t even washed my face or cleaned my teeth yet,” she informed him, cocking her head to the side. “And mortals need to eat breakfast.”
“Oh. I had forgotten.” He chuckled and paused. “Will you join me for dinner this evening?”
“Yes.”
He made to get up and halted. “Yell at Iago to bring me some trousers, will you?”
She laughed. “I won’t yell, but I can advise your chief-of-staff that you would appreciate a set of pants.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, drawing the blanket over his waist, and beckoned to her. She extended her hand, and he captured it, bringing it to his lips. “Until tonight, then.”
Breathless, she nodded.
She went about her day smiling—taking Draugr for a ride, then reading a book in the library for the rest of the afternoon.
When she came downstairs for dinner, Caspian was alone.
“Asmodeus is not here?” she asked, raising a brow.
“I’ve ordered him to give us some privacy tonight.”
“And what would you like to do?”
He raised his goblet to her. “I’ve tasked the servants to make you the most elaborate meal you’ve had in your mortal life, and then, I am going to worship every inch of your body as many times as you would like.”
Her face hurt from smiling so much.
After dinner, they slept together three times, each more romantic than the last. The third time, he whispered her name as he came, and her heart felt like it was glowing.
***
Elizabeth made it to Risna’s shop around noon and was pleased to discover Nasera was not around. The woman’s belittling remarks often set her on edge.
“Let’s start with something you can do. Ward yourself,” Risna said.
The familiar green fire bloomed in Elizabeth’s chest, unspooling and coating her arms and legs in translucent green.
“Hold it.” Risna circled her, eyes scanning for gaps in the barrier.
Minutes stretched. Elizabeth’s breath quickened, and she forced herself to take deep, even breaths as she laboured to maintain the spell. Sweat beaded her spine.
Risna held up a hand. “Good. Release.”
“Prepare your mind,” Risna said and sent a probing tendril of awareness into her mind. It was met with Elizabeth’s white walls of stone. The older woman pressed, looking for a gap in her defences, but could not gain entry.
However, the moment she grew overconfident and relaxed a fraction, Risna slipped through, the sensation like water sliding through her fingers. Risna seized control, and her body froze.
They practiced several more times, and Elizabeth was able to keep the witch out only about half of the time. She had improved, but not enough to keep her out indefinitely.
“Better,” Risna commented, withdrawing.
Her shoulders slumped in relief as she was in control of her faculties and body once more.
“Again.”
They sparred—mind against mind—until Elizabeth clutched at her skull, her mind deciding it had had enough.
Risna set out tea and a bowl of warm venison and potato stew. “Your ability to shield yourself is improving rapidly.”
Elizabeth flushed with pride at the compliment.
After eating, they tried several other spells. Flame refused to answer her call. As did darkness. She might as well have not even tried. While she was able to lift a stone and send it spiraling into the air with ease, Elizabeth still couldn’t manifest light.
When Risna presented her with the rope, Elizabeth focused on it until her temples throbbed. She struggled until two strands frayed at the edges.
Elated, she whooped.
“Progress in some areas is still progress! Well done,” Risna said warmly.
They tried twice more before Elizabeth called an end to their lesson, feeling it was better to end on a positive note.
On the road home, she wondered where Ambriel was and if he knew what a fool’s errand he had set her on.
He seemed to think that she would become a powerful magic user and become the fabled woman from the prophecy, but nothing could be more ridiculous.
If Nasera’s snide comments were anything to go by, her magical abilities were pitiful at best.
When she returned to the castle, she sought out Caspian.
The castle lounge was dim when she found him there, silver eyes lifting to hers. They shifted to green the moment he saw her.
“Elizabeth,” he said, smiling.
She lifted her chin and said quietly, “I want to be held tonight.”
Wordlessly, Caspian opened his arms, and she went to him.