“There are thousands of me,”Veyn mutters.“There are demons everywhere. In every culture, race, and country.”
“I mean here. How many? Are they here with us?”
Marcus sounds as shocked as I feel.
“They are not. I do not allow them near her. They have a tendency of breaking their humans and she is mine.”
I suppose I should thank him.
“Where are they?” Marcus demands.
“Where I keep them in their box,”Veyn says simply.“They shouldn’t be awake, but her grief was too strong. It called to us. Woke us.”
“Are they going to hurt her?”
“No,”the statement is firm. Harsh. A warning growl that scuttles down my spine.“They are forbidden to touch her. You, on the other hand…”
I make a mental note to ask Marcus what happened. He never mentioned being approached by demons.
“How many are there?” Marcus asks instead, seemingly unbothered by the news that there are demons haunting him.
“Two. Dain and Rase. They are idiots.”
I almost smile at the declaration. Ames and Eliah had always been so close. Even when they were angry with each other, they had such a close bond. A twin bond, as Eliah would call it.
But I suppose not everyone shares such sentiments regarding their siblings.
“They didn’t seem like idiots,” Marcus grumbles, and I wonder again what happened.
“Perhaps not to a human, but they are simple.”
“What do they want?”
“It’s never clear with them. They may play with you until your mind fractures, or they might grow bored and eat you. You could always ask them.”
Marcus snorts. “I would rather never see them.”
“That will not be a possibility. We have not fed in eons. Our hunger grows a little more every day. If they do not feed, they will come for her.”
“Then kill them,” Marcus snaps back. “You claim she’s yours. Can’t you protect her?”
Frigid, icy wind blows through the room and I shiver involuntarily. My body curls tighter into a ball. As soon as it had risen, it evaporates and the blankets are pulled around me.
“I have protected her. They haven’t come near her, have they?”
I don’t think so.
Aside from Veyn, I haven’t seen or felt any other presences.
“There are two of them and only one of you. How long can you protect her before they rise against you?”
Veyn bursts out laughing. The sound rolls through the sweet stench of death rough and delicious.
“They have learned what would happen to them if they try to rise against me.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s what every monarchy thought before they were overthrown,” Marcus mumbles.
“They will not retaliate because I am their creator. They have nothing that I do not allow.”
