LOGINMila’s POVThe river flowed quietly beside me. Its gentle current carried fallen leaves downstream, disappearing into the early morning mist.I hugged my knees tighter, I wasn’t crying anymore and I felt much better. I wasn’t being ungrateful, I understand why they did that, but it still hurt, I had to tell them it hurt me and now I felt better.The year in the demon realm replayed itself over and over in my head and now I knew the truth, the memory had changed.Every conversation I had with Lord Vaelor, how did I not know he was my mate? Every time I’d looked at him and wished Knox were there… Knox had been there.The realization made me laugh, then I heard footsteps behind me and the bond pulsed. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.He stopped a few feet away. “I figured you’d be here.”I didn’t answer.For a long moment, neither of us spoke.The noise of the river flowing filled the silence.Finally he spoke “I’m sorry.”His voice was calm and not defensive.“I know
Mila’s POVEverything hurt.The first thing I felt was the dull ache in my stomach.The second was a different warmth from the suffocating heat of the demon palace.I could hear birds chirping, what? I hadn’t heard that in a long time. I frowned.Where was I ? Slowly, I forced my eyes open. The first thing I saw was a face hovering above mine.My breath hitched. “Lord Vaelor?”Relief washed over me so suddenly that tears stung my eyes, he was here with me, i wasn’t alone.I tried to sit up and pain shot through my side, and I winced.A warm hand steadied my shoulder. “Easy.”His voice was different but very familiar, it made my bond flutter in my chest.I frowned and looked around. A campfire crackled a few feet away and trees surrounded us. A river was just nearby.This wasn’t the demon realm. My eyes wandered farther.A familiar red haired woman sat beside the fire.She looked up the moment I moved, our eyes met and I froze. “Hansel?”She shot to her feet. “Mila!”Before I could
Knox’s POVThe demon’s claws dug deeper into my ankle. Pain shot up my leg. I gritted my teeth and tightened my grip on Mila’s wrist.“No!”The portal was shrinking, if it closed now, we’ll be trapped forever. The demon snarled and pulled harder.Behind him, the Demon King raised his hand.Dark magic gathered around his palm.“You’re not leaving,” he said coldly.I looked at Mila and admist all thr chaos she was still unconscious, her body halfway through the portal.I wasn’t letting go.Not after everything we’d sacrificed to get here.A growl rumbled deep inside my chest.Nikal answered. Power surged through every muscle in my body.I planted my free foot against the floor and twisted sharply.The demon wasn’t expecting it.My heel slammed into his jaw.Crack!He cried out in pain, his grip loosening for just a second and that was all I needed. I kicked again, this time with everything I had.His claws tore away from my ankle. The force sent him crashing backward into two other gua
Knox’s POVThe door handle turned. My entire body went rigid.I tightened my grip around my sword.Hansel froze beside Mila.Conrad stood on the other side of the room, blood still dripping from the wound on his side. The handle moved again.Someone was outside, I stepped in front of Mila.If they came through that door they would have to go through me first.The handle stopped shaking, I waited but nothing happened. I glanced at Conrad and he looked just as confused as I was.Another second passed and the door handle didn’t move again. I slowly released the breath I’d been holding.“What are they doing?” Conrad whispered.“I don’t know.”Hansel was staring at the window, I followed her gaze and saw the moon.It had changed.The pale red light that had illuminated the demon realm was slowly turning blood crimson. The transformation was happening right before our eyes.The Crimson Moon.Hansel’s eyes widened. “It’s time.”I turned toward her.“Time for what?”“The spell to take us ho
Conrad’s POVI didn’t like the sound of that horn. The moment it echoed through the palace, something inside me told me that we’d run out of time.I glanced at Hansel and she was still clutching the Dark Grimoire against her chest.“We need to split up.” I said Her eyes widened. “What?”“You stay here.”“Conrad there’s no need to play hero”“Hide Hansel, I need to get Mila and Knox.”I looked around the narrow corridor we’d slipped into. There was an abandoned storage room nearby.The door was barely visible behind a massive stone pillar. I pointed toward it. “Go in there.”Hansel stared at me. “You want me to hide?”“Yes.”“While you go after Knox and Mila?”“Exactly.”“Absolutely not.”I sighed. “Hansel coming with me isn’t safe.”“No.”“We don’t have time to argue.”“I’m not letting you go alone.”“I’m not going alone.”I pointed toward my sword. “I’ll have Knox.”“That’s not what I meant.”I stepped closer. “We need that book.”Her arms tightened around it. “I know.”“If the King
Knox’s POVI didn’t let go of her. I couldn’t.Mila was still in my arms, her head resting against my chest as I carried her away from the arena, she was bleeding all over.Her body was frighteningly still.“Mila.” I whispered her name and nudged her awake.Nothing.I tightened my arms around her. “Stay with me.”Her eyes remained closed.The poison was taking effect, where was the healer?“Lord Vaelor!” I heard footsteps rushing toward us.I looked up and saw a group of demon healers were running toward me holding a blue box.“Put her down!” The oldest yelled “No.” The word left my mouth immediately.The lead healer stopped and sighed “Lord Vaelor, we need to examine her.”I stared at him. “She’s been poisoned.”“We know.”“Then help her.”“We’re trying but you’re not co operating.”His expression was serious. “We need to get her somewhere safe.”I carried her into a nearby chamber they led me to and the healers immediately surrounded us.“Put her on the bed.”I reluctantly lowere
Mila’s POVThe dungeon smelled like damp stone and sweat.The moment they threw me inside the cage, the iron door slammed shut with a finality that echoed far deeper than the sound itself.I let out a fustrated groan and kicked the doors, Bastian was so evil for making me go through this.The momen
Knox’s POV“Call the healer!”My voice tore through the hall, sharp and raw, but it felt like it wasn’t loud enough.Nothing felt loud enough because my mother was dying in front of me.Blood spilled from her lips as she coughed again, her body trembling under my hands. I dropped to my knees beside
Mila's pov…I stood there for a moment longer after Knox spoke, the tension between us was still thick enough to choke on.“The investigation has already started,” he finally said, his voice calmer now. “No one leaves the premises without being questioned.”I didn’t respond immediately i just… loo
Knox's POV….The plane landed smoothly, though my stomach had twisted from hours of anticipation. My hands clenched the edge of my seat as Caleb and Conrad guided me through the protocol for the meeting. Every detail mattered every gesture, every word was very important I couldn’t afford to make







