“I-I apologize.” She turned away from those piercing eyes, her head hung in shame.
“Brother.” Kellan interjected, dismounting from his horse and moving toward her.
“I don’t want to hear it.” Gabriel barked, stopping him in his tracks. Demitria knew a rift had been created between the siblings over whatever it was going on between them. She hadn’t meant for that to happen, either. “Where are your people?”
Jace schooled his features as he glanced in her direction. She knew he would never give up the whereabouts of their people, especially after everything.
“We can trust him.” Gripping Jace’s arm in a reassuring gesture, she nodded toward Kellan. Deep down, she knew she could trust him. The others? She still wasn’t so sure.
“Mount up.” Was all Gabriel muttered before he turned away from them.
Kellan watched her move toward Atlas, as if waiting to speak with her. She wanted to say something, anything, to try andchange their minds, but with Jace on her heels, all she could do was smile.
“What happened out there? How did she get ahold of you?” Demitria asked, climbing into the saddle. Jace scrambled up behind her, and she scooted as far into the pommel as she could to make room. His body seemed to mold around her as he anchored his arms around her waist for balance. They’d doubled on Atlas many times before, but never with the saddle. It made her seat awkward. Sloppy.
“I was out looking for survivors when I came across hoofprints.” He started, his breath ghosting across her ear. “I’d hoped it’d be you and Kellan, but it turns out I wasn’t so lucky.” He laughed, the sound rumbling through her.
“I’m glad you’re safe.” She whispered, the sigh heavy on her lips.
Demitria nudged Atlas in front of the group to let Jace lead the way. They passed Kellan, that tug forcing her gaze up, over the planes of his face. The softening of his features as he looked at her, smiled at her.
Shit.
She needed to get herself together. Had to stop thinking about the way those eyes seemingly roved across her body. The warmth of his lips against hers when she’d kissed him just days ago…
Forbidden. Every single one of her thoughts was forbidden. Demitria knew she shouldn’t—couldn’t feel it. Her fingers tightened around the pommel of the saddle, moving that tortuous look to the land ahead.
They all rode in silence in a slow procession, one after the other. Kellan rode directly behind her, followed by Eire, Kane, and then Gabriel took up the rear. She heard nothing but hoofbeats and the steady rhythm of her heart beating in her chest.
She should be happy more than anything. She was returning to her people. Keeping herlife. Yet… why did she feel upset? She’d made a vow to end the Dark King, and had told the Horsemen just that. But the thought of not fulfilling what she’d now set out to do? That irked her.
Demitria wanted her own answers, now. And if she returned with Jace and the others? She wouldn’t get them. She wanted to know why a price had been put on her head. For what reason? Had she been destined to do something so wrong? What if she still was? She wanted to know how to change that, because what if their council just sent someone else for her in a year’s time?
“We’re wasting time.” Eire groaned, and Demitria could all but picture her head leaned back, eyes to the sky in sheer agony at the sound.
“Don’t listen to a word she says.” She muttered, turning her head so Jace could hear her better. “She feels like she has some sort of entitlement to the world. Better than everyone.” With a roll of her eyes, she chuckled.
“I can hear you!” Eire shouted, a vulgar gesture on full display for her siblings to see. “Humans…” She growled.
She heard Kellan’s own laugh rumble through him, like a song to her ears. He’d told her how much his family meant to him, and yet, he seemed to enjoy the way Demitria all but taunted Eire, and that only made her smile grow. She was happy for the small distraction.
Jace lead them through the canyon, pointing around winding turns for what felt like hours before the large, rock walls opened up to the barren land.
“To the left, it’s just around this bend.” He motioned, and she steered Atlas in the direction he’d pointed. The horse moved on steady feet beneath them, despite the added weight. Demitria let her fingers trail down his soft neck, feeling the muscles beneathher hand, smoothing out the long, black mane. He deserved a long break.
Demitria spotted the opening some twenty feet away, large stalagmites jutting from the ground like an open maw, ready to devour them. As they approached the cavern, the others emerged, weapons drawn and ready in case of an incoming attack. She counted four bodies. The twins, Tyler, Cory, and Evan stood outside, like they’d all been waiting for Jace to return. Unaware that he’d been captured and held hostage by a Horseman. Aside from the twins, Demitria was happy to see the others. With a smile, she reigned Atlas to a halt before pulling her body free from the saddle and dismounting as she rushed to greet the other three.
Upon spotting her, Sam rushed them, grabbing Demitria in a choke hold before she could react. His hands enclosed around her throat, squeezing the air from her before she could muster the energy to evade his grasp.
“It was your fault!” Sam screamed, tears streaming down his face as his hands held her in an unrelenting grip. Demitria had never seen him cry. It all happened so fast, he had her pinned against the stone before she could blink. Her nails dug into his arms as she tried to break free of his hold, but the guilt consumed her once more, and she was unable to contain her sob as it broke. She knew. She already knew it was her fault.
“I left to prevent it, but they came anyway.” She cried, barely able to get the words out. The image of the fire burned her vision. Their home. The bodies. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“You’re the reason everyone is dead!” Flecks of black began to dot her vision. She couldn’t breathe, the panic setting in as new images replaced the burning inferno in her eyes. Reim and the Demon Lord exploded from her mind and she grew frantic. A wave of panic surged through her as the memory of the demon'shands flooded her thoughts. The unrelenting grip of his hold as he’d brought her closer and closer to death. She clawed at his arms. Face. Anything she could reach.
“They came looking for you. You! You killed every single one of them. I’ll kill you for what you did!” The air came rushing back as Sam lay splayed across the ground, the tip of a sword ever so slightly piercing through the flesh of his throat.
“Remove your hands if you wish to keep them.” Kellan snarled, his lips pulled back over his teeth. Murderous. “If you touch her again, I won’t hesitate to end your life where you stand. Your head will roll, you understand?”Rage. So much rage filled his entire body. He left Sam in a heap as a thin line trickled down his neck as a reminder.
