Page 55 of The Demon God's Desire
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BRIDGET
Igroan, holding a hand to my throbbing head. Being blasted by the Hearthkeeper wasfarfrom fun. Staring at Guilri, I try to piece together what happened. I was thrown into the wall and I was in tremendous pain. I remember him clutching my body and felt as though I was dying.
But then suddenly I felt air rush into my lungs and I woke up, almost completely fine. Except I’m still in pain and my body feels as though it’s on fire.
But as I stare at Guilri, everything fades away. I have a startling realization that he had to have made some kind of request or wish or deal with the Hedonist for me.
“Guilri?” I ask.
“I’m so sorry,” he says. “Fuck, I’m so sorry Bridget. I thought… I thought…” He sighs raggedly, the despair on his face enough to bring me to my knees if I wasn’t already on the ground.
“I’m so sorry I dragged you into this mess. I was the reason you nearly got killed by the goddess. I promise I’ll take you back to your home.”
His eyes are downcast, his shoulders slumped over. I want to reach up and touch his flushed cheeks, but we’re interrupted by the Hedonist.
“This is cute and all, but you’d better damn well hurry if you’re getting out of here. A fight between the gods in such a small desert city is sure to attract plenty of attention, after all. Maybe even a crowd.”
He looks far too pleased with that but Guilri and I both turn to each other at the same time, our eyes widening simultaneously.
Before I can utter a word, Guilri grabs me, gathering me up and carries me in his arms princess-style as he rushes us both out of the ruins inside the temple, dodging broken pillars and piles of rubble. A crowd has already begun to form outside and he slips through, trying to avoid any curious gazes.
It seems that while I was out, his powers must have leveled up or something because as soon as we’re clear of the crowd, he begins to run at an unnatural speed.
By the time we’ve cleared the city limits and stopped for a moment, he’s not even breathing hard. I gape at him. “What the heck? Did you gain new powers?”
“Something like that,” he says with a wry laugh as he looks up and spots a bird-of-prey circling overhead. He concentrates for a moment and identical wings sprout from his back.
“Fucking thirteen!” I curse. He shoots me a grin but gathers me in his arms once more, holding on tight as he takes to the skies, flying high overhead on enormous wings.
Guilri flaps the wings hard and we glide quickly through the air, back to the village. It takes nearly no time at all and I’m too stunned to speak by the time we land.
Everyone in the village clearly sees what happened as we land right in the center, near the well. Many rush forward, including Allan and Dean, holding back from Guilri warily as they take me in.
The power still radiating off Guilri is enormous. He’s got crimson lightning running along his body in streaks and his eyes are glowing nearly white. We share a look momentarily before he sets me down softly and steps forward, kneeling with his fist to his chest in front of everyone.
“I am sorry!” he cries out. “My men came here to conquer the land. We intended to wipe all orcs and humans from the face of the continent! But I have realized in my time here, in my time with all of you,” he looks at me when he says this. “That I was wrong. I deserved to be attacked by your men. I don’t blame them for protecting you from me.”
A gasp ripples through the crowd at his words. Allan’s eyes narrow and Dean lifts a club he’d been holding. I want to reach out and hug him but he continues, head hanging low.
“I was given great gifts by one of the elven gods and her manipulative ways led me to hurt the people I care about most. But I have disavowed her and intend to stay here for the rest of my days and use my powers only to protect the people of this village.”
Murmuring rises up and he holds out a hand, stopping it. “I promise here on out to protect you as my own family—after all,” he pauses and glances at me. “You all are now, that Bridget will be my mate.”
My eyes widen and my jaw hangs open. “I’m sorry...I think I misheard you. Yourwhat?”
“My mate,” he repeats.
“Uh...you never asked me that. I definitely would have remembered if you’d asked me that,” I tell him, hand on my hip. “I distinctly remember no asking for my hand.”
He gives me the most charming and somehow predatory grin before standing up and brushing off his tattered trousers. “You did see the portal,” he tells me. “Remember? It’s inevitable. You are to be mine and I am to be yours.”
“Well but...” I sputter out. “I mean, that’s not...”
“I did fight a literal goddess for you,” he teases me, encircling my waist with his arms.
“You fought a what?” Dean calls out. Laura shushes him but I ignore the curious stares and the suspicious looks and throw myself at Guilri, letting him catch me in his arms.