Caleb returned to the battle. This time with allies. And though it wasn’t easy, they did eventually route the demons.
Itzal survived, though to be honest, he wasn’t sure if that was a good idea or not. No doubt, he’d be the first to tell Azura of Caleb’s defection.
There was nothing to be done for it now. The humans were safe. He was bloody and there were bodies everywhere.
For the first time, he actually felt something for the lost lives. He knew most of them. Had laughed with them.
Celebrated solstice and other holidays with them and their families.
Now, they were gone. The pain in his heart was searing. A demon who cared about human lives. It was prophetic and painful. In that moment, he realized just how much Lil had changed him.
Not for the better.
He missed not caring. Being completely numb to death. More to the point, praying for death every time he went into battle. Anything to make him feel something.
Then, he’d found Lil. He still couldn’t believe how lucky he’d been.
Needing to see her, he flew off to their cave that seemed to be much farther away than it was when he’d dropped her there. Interminable, point of fact.
Worse, it was quieter.
Darker. There was no light whatsoever. And that made his gut clench tight.
“Lil?”
No answer.
Unbelievable terror filled him. A million horrific images went through his mind. The worst ones showed her lying on the ground, like the horror he’d just left on the battlefield.
“Lil?” His voice cracked, and his legs almost buckled as he searched the darkness for some sign of her.
Where could she be?
Suddenly, he saw a flickering light coming toward him. His nostrils flaring, he went to confront whoever had harmed his wife. He was going to rip them…
That thought scattered as he saw the tiny, slight form of his wife. “Lil!”
Lilliana was completely unprepared for the ferocity of Caleb’s hug. She was used to him holding her close and tight. But this…
“Are you all right?”
He trembled in her arms. “I thought you were… I can’t even say the words.”
“I’m right here, love. I’m not going anywhere.”
Still, he held on to her. “You cannot die, Lil. No harm can ever come to you. Do you understand?”
She wanted to call him silly. Of course, she wasn’t going anywhere. She was immortal. But this didn’t seem like the time to point it out. So, she decided to change the subject. “Did we win?”
“No.”
Tears filled her eyes. “What?”
With a ragged sigh, he stepped back from her and cupped her face in his hands. “I mean yes. Technically, we won. They’ve been routed. But no one ever wins a war. A lot of the villagers died. I’m sorry.”
Her heart broke for the families who would be torn apart. For the lives that were gone. It was so unfair.
“I still have you. That’s enough. Thank you for helping them.”
