Chapter Thirteen #3
“It’s what? What are you not saying?”
Severin hesitated, drawing a quiet breath before admitting, “Hybrids don’t need a bond to use the full extent of their magic. All they need is a fuel source—any human will do, willing or not.”
It felt as if the ground had given out beneath her. Like she was falling, stomach flipping as she tried to catch herself.
“How many are there?” Her words were little more than a rasp as panic surged.
Demons so powerful that they had no need of bonds … By the Light, how would they even stand a chance against such creatures?
“Not many, I don’t think,” Severin said.
“Not yet. But too many have tried to hurt my people, and I’ve been working on a way to get rid of them permanently.
A cure, to turn them back into humans. It’s not complete, but it’s close.
I just need assistance with the final ingredient, and with getting the king to listen to me once it’s complete. ”
“And you think I can help you with that? I’m little more than the king’s pawn.”
“You’re bonded to an angel. Willing or not, he’ll have to listen to you. You and I can help each other.”
Helping a demon. All of this was enough to push Aurelie’s already queasy stomach over the edge. She lurched forward, losing the contents of her stomach—wine, mostly—on the floor of the illustrious sanctum and onto Severin’s robes.
The demon groaned, pushing off her. “I suppose that’s one way to make your feelings known. Subtlety clearly isn’t your strength.”
“Being near a demon is making me ill.” Now that he was no longer touching her, Aurelie felt infinitely better. She wiped her mouth with the back of her arm.
“Of course it’s my fault,” he huffed, stripping off his ruined robes and tunic and kicking them into the corner. “Everyone loves to blame the demon.”
She ignored him and his blasted bare chest. “Tell me more about this supposed cure. How far are you from having it?”
“Days, assuming you come with me.” He checked the pants he’d been wearing beneath the robes, ensuring they’d not been soiled. “But at this rate, I’m beginning to question whether you deserve my help.”
If her father were there, he’d call Aurelie a fool for even daring to consider that the demon might be telling the truth. Azriel, too. And yet, Aurelie asked, “What would I need to do?”
His voice turned tentative. “Well, for starters, you’d need to bond with me.”
Light, she must have been dreaming. That, or her lack of sleep had made her delusional.
“You’re about an hour too late for that,” she told him. “I’m already bonded.”
“What does that matter? Forge a second one.”
A second bond? She sucked in a breath. “That’s possible?”
“Not with two demons, no. But an angel and a demon? What a great experiment that would be. And if it doesn’t work … well, I’ll owe your corpse my sincerest regrets. In any case, it’s the only way I can ensure my safety if we’re going to work together.”
And what of her safety? Aurelie didn’t care for the way his words came faster, his eagerness rising.
She knew what her answer ought to be. Bonding with him wasn’t just against the law, but defied everything she had trained for. Aurelie was meant to slay demons, not consort with them.
But what use was slaying demons if she had no one left to protect?
She should refuse. The word balanced on the tip of her tongue, though it wouldn’t fall. All she could think of was her father’s agony as wings tore through his flesh. The way he’d bowed his head to Solange’s blade, ready to die.
Her father wouldn’t endure as a demon. The moment they realized what he was, he’d become their experiment. And when there was nothing more to learn …
“I’ll consider a bond,” Aurelie said quickly, “but only if you can prove to me that you’re worth the risk.”
Severin folded his arms. “How do you suppose I do that?”
“I want you to help me see my father.” She inched toward the door, not breaking eye contact. “My guess is that he’s being kept in the hold, probably surrounded by no less than ten knights. We’ll need a distraction to get them away.”
Severin let out a low whistle. “I’d like to help you, Badger, but I don’t have a death wish. That’s far too many knights, and not nearly enough exits for my taste.”
“I never said you had to take me to him,” Aurelie countered, taking another step back. “I only said you needed to help.”
Severin’s eyes darkened, and he seemed to realize a second too late what she intended to do. But there was no turning back now. Aurelie threw the doors of the sanctum open, stumbling back into the archives.
And then she screamed as loud as she could.
Severin cursed, but it was too late to silence her. Two knights stormed in through the hall, their swords drawn.
“If you want my help,” she hissed, “then you’d better survive this, demon.” And then she slashed her blade at him, slower than she had before. He dodged back, his glare furious as it shifted from her to the knights rushing in to kill him.
Severin didn’t stay to give them the chance. He lunged instead for the stained glass windows and threw himself outside.