Page 4 of Demonic Affliction

Rhune is on his feet before Nyx finishes speaking, pulling me up with him, his wings already unfurling at his back. “Hold on, pup,” he whispers in my ear.

We launch into the sky, and I immediately know something is wrong. The wind that greets us isn't the familiar chill I've grown used to. It's furious, screaming past my ears and clawing at my skin like it’s trying to dig beneath my flesh and pull me apart.

The storm picks up with terrifying speed. Within moments, it’s turned into a blizzard more violent than anything I've felt since I arrived in this world.

I’m wondering how we’re going to navigate in this weather when a gust slams into us from the side, sending us careening off-balance. Rhune tips, letting out a strained roar as his wings straighten in response to the sudden shift in pressure.

For one horrifying second, we plummet. As we fall from the comforting embrace of the sky, we can do nothing but watch the ground rush up to meet us.

Rhune manages to right himself before it’s too late, and with several powerful strokes, we sail back into the skies.

What's going on? Why does it feel like the world is angry?

I wait for the entity to answer. For that smug drawl to tell me I'm being dramatic, and that I should calm down. But there's nothing—just silence.

For some reason, that worries me more than the raging storm.

By the time we drop through the tunnel and into the cave, my body is trembling. My lungs feel like they’re covered in ice crystals, but I’m so relieved to be out of the storm, I can hardly feel it.

“Thank God.” I press my face into Rhune’s neck, stealing his lovely warmth. “I thought we’d never make it.”

Rhune carefully places me on the ground, but my knees nearly buckle, and he has to pick me back up to stop me from falling. “You okay, pup?”

“Peachy.” My teeth chatter wildly. “Just cold. And worried. ”

“We will warm you up, lovely. And please don’t worry,” Nyx soothes, running a large, warm palm over my arm. “We managed to escape detection by the demons. We are safe. ”

For one blissful moment, I let myself believe him. The tension bleeds from my shoulders, and I sink deeper into Rhune’s embrace, my eyes drifting shut as my mate's warmth finally chases the ice from my bones.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I register how quiet it's gotten. Something isn’t right.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.”

The stranger’s voice slinks through the air, low and amused, laced with something evil. The relief I felt curdles into something cold and sick in the pit of my stomach, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe.

A shadow unfolds itself from the far corner of the cave, bloodred wings stretching wide enough to brush the walls on either side of the space. There's a dry, scraping sound like claws dragging lazily against the frozen ground. One eye opens and glows to life, shining through the dark with barely restrained hatred. Red. Bright, horrible, impossible red.

“Hello,” he drawls, lips tipping upward in a feline grin. “You have no idea how long I have been trying to find you.”

Rhune's arms tighten around me, and Nyx's whole body goes rigid, a low growl building in his chest as he steps in front of us.

The demon steps into the light, powerful energy swirling from his broad shoulders and beaming from his one good eye. Maroon hair falls loose around sharp, cruel features, highlighting his malicious smile and a mouth filled with teeth built for tearing rather than talking.

A black cat slinks around his shoulders, twin horns reaching up to the ceiling and a wicked cunningness swirling in its bright red eyes. It watches me the entire time, unblinking, its tail flicking in the air tauntingly, as if it's deciding how I'll taste.

The demon’s gaze flicks from Rhune to Nyx, then lands squarely on me. His expression flashes with surprise before falling back into a cool wall of stone. “A human… how unfortunate…”

His dismissal terrifies me. This creature is evil. This creature is vicious. This creature will do whatever it takes to get what it wants. And based on the way he’s looking at me… he really wants to kill me.

My heart slams against my ribs so hard I'm sure he can hear it, and I have to fight the urge to shrink back into Rhune's chest, to disappear entirely under the weight of his stare.

The demon shakes his head, then forces his attention back to Nyx. “Tell me where Slaine is, and I will let the female live. If not…” His grin widens, sending a shiver of horror down my spine. “If not, then I will strip the skin from her bones and make you watch your human draw her last breath.”

2

Rhune

My arms tighten around Willow as some deeper, primal instinct takes over, pumping rage through my veins and lighting my soul with a hungry, unquenchable fire. There is no softness left in me, no room for the compassion or gentleness that Willow has fostered. There is only the singular, burning need to keep her whole.