Page 23 of The Demon God's Desire
If he doesn’t leave, I don’t think everyone will survive.
11
GUILRI
Allan stares at her, hatred and violence etched into his features, and it’s all I can do not to attack him on the spot for simply looking at her that way. Eventually, however, the tension snaps, and he slinks off, leaving Bridget and I standing alone in her doorway.
“Andyou!” She barks, whirling on me. “Get inside so I can stitch you back up!”
I follow her in sheepishly, ducking and hunching in on myself. I’m awed by the way she commanded the space, the way she was so willing to defend me in the fight, that she threw herself on me to protect me...she’s so brave and strong.
Gods, she’s beautiful too. I don’t think I’ve ever thought about fighting as sexy before but somehow she makes it seem sexy.
I know I’m staring at her as she redresses the wound on my ribs, her kneeling in front of me, carefully redressing and re-bandaging the injury...it has me thinking uncouth things.
Bridget continues to treat my injury with the utmost care and consideration and I feel like I might be falling a little in love with her.
She looks up and catches me staring. “What are you staring at?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.
“You,” I breathe out. I flush immediately and cough to cover it up. “I just mean that you were amazing out there. I’ve never seen a human act with such bravery before.”
She snorts, sitting back on her heels. “I’m sure. I mean, you’ve seen plenty of humans but you’ve probably never seen them do much besides run and scream before.”
I know it’s supposed to be a joke but it falls flat for me. It’s not funny. Not in light of all the things I’ve learned about what I’ve been a part of in the service.
I’ve always tried to stop my men from behaving dishonorably. I’ve made sure that the most deplorable actions are discouraged or outright punished. But I’ve let them get away with plenty that I shouldn’t have. I’ve turned a blind eye for years against things my superiors did to get ahead.
I catch her chin gently in my hand and Bridget turns her warm, honey eyes on me, growing large. “I’ve seen humans do a great many things in the time I’ve been here,” I tell her softly. “And it’s all thanks to you.”
She blushes pink and my heart flutters. I love when she does that. It’s so cute.
“I know you think the worst of us,” she says. “I’m sorry that you were attacked. I promise that not everyone is like that. Even Allan, Andrew, Dean, and Marcus aren’t usually like that. They are normally so much more reserved. But I see now why you look at us as the enemy.”
“Your friends weren’t wrong to try to assess a potential threat,” I tell her. “It’s sound thinking, highly strategic. They would make great soldiers. I don’t hold it against them. They’re only trying to do the same thing all of us are trying to do—to protect their way of life.”
“Right,” Bridget nods gently in my hand. “But still. You shouldn’t have been attacked like that. You probably think worse of us now than you did before.”
“No,” I shake my head. My perception of humans has truly, completely changed thanks to Bridget. She’s shown me more of the real side of humanity than I’ve ever allowed myself to see before.
“I was raised with a strict father who taught me that the only thing that mattered in life was seeking glory and honor through being a miou. He was always gone, having long since decided that serving was far more important than being around his family,” I tell her. “So it colored my view of things. I learned from him how to have a strict, black and white view of the world. So yes, I am upset about being attacked but you’ve got me wrong.”
“When I said my perception has changed, you assumed I meant for the worse. But...that’s not what I meant,” I say, releasing my hold so I can slide down and sit next to her on the floor. “I’ve seen so much more good than bad. Did you know that Sarah and Judy watch Ash for Laura when she needs to go tend the garden? And I watched as Dean brings Laura back little presents every time he goes out hunting,” I tell her.
“And there’s the time I watched Ash help one of the other little ones learn how to walk. Her mom was busy with hanging out the laundry and Ash was watching her for the woman. But he patiently played with the tiny girl and even helped her stand on her little wobbly legs and take her first tentative steps. I was awestruck by the small act of kindness in even the youngest of your kind.”
Bridget seems mesmerized as I continue talking. “I saw Marcus tell a joke that had half the village in tears, they thought it was so funny. I don’t think I fully understood it...it must have been a human thing but they laughed so hard that actual tears were streaming down the faces of some of them. The joy and light it brought on...it was incomparable.”
I keep recounting stories of the little things I’ve seen the humans doing that had slowly helped change my perspective. “And I watched Jake courting Julia, bringing her flowers and little trinkets and taking her out to see the stars...it was intriguing watching human courtship rituals. They’re remarkably similar to elven ones.”
Bridget smiles at this. “Julia and Jake snuck a kiss behind the market last week and then I watched Julia grin so big the whole way home.”
“Oh my goodness, that is just so sweet,” Bridget says, grinning wider. “What else did you notice?”
“Let’s see, I saw you,” I tell her. “I saw the way you cared for Kelly’s baby when she brought him to you in tears because her son was so sick. I watched how you calmed her down and made her feel as though everything was going to be alright.”
“I remember that. That was weeks ago,” Bridget murmurs. “He’s doing so much better now.”
“Yes, because you took the time to help him, to listen to what Kelly had to say. You didn’t belittle her fears at all. You listened and you helped and you healed.”