Page 37 of The Demon's Due

He reached back and pulled Síofra toward him while Morgan brought up the rear, his wolf simmering just beneath his skin.

Before them, the towering gates of the fortress loomed, black iron etched with runes that pulsed faintly at Ashmedai’s return.The night watch spotted them first, a cry went up, horns sounding, and torches flared along the battlements.

The gates shuddered as they were hauled open. A surging crowd of males and females of various sizes and colours surged forward . From the crowd emerged the tall, green-eyed general Síofra had glimpsed once before in vision. He was broad-shouldered, his armor scorched from countless battles, his presence commanding even as he dropped to his knees.

“Alsiel”, Ashmedia grunted as he moved forward to greet him.

Alsiel’s forehead touched the earth, his voice thick with reverence. “My king.”

Ashmedai, now clad in blood-red robes that had materialised from thin air ,seemed woven from fire itself, lowered his hand to Alsiel’s head. “Rise.”

The general lifted his face, eyes shining, and kissed the hem of Ashmedai’s robes before standing. He pulled him into a fierce embrace, the kind of clasp brothers might share after centuries apart.

“This is my friend and my right hand,” Ashmedai murmured, his voice softened in rare affection.

Alsiel’s gaze flicked to Síofra, still trembling with the power that lingered in her blood. His eyes widened. “The Mistress of Portals,” he breathed.

Ashmedai’s arm tightened around her waist. “Síofra and my queen.”

Wherever her bare feet touched the ground, green shoots unfurled, curling up through the cracked black earth. Grass spread in her wake, flowers daring to bloom in a realm that had forgotten such things.

Alsiel fell to one knee again, awe breaking across his face. “It is true,” he whispered. “She is the goddess of the Green.”

The gates swung wide, and they were ushered into the Undercroft.They were led up to a massive bedroom wheredemon bearers brought a claw-footed tub and hot water to bathe. Later torches blazed, tables groaning beneath feasts of roasted meats, spiced wines, and fruits Síofra had never seen before. Demons cheered until the cavernous hall shook.

Ashmedai stood tall, his robe a living flame, his horns casting light across the crowd. He introduced Morgan with an uncharacteristic gravity. “This wolf is my vessel, my comrade. I owe him my life. You will treat him with honour.”

There was murmuring, but none dared contest the king’s word.

Later, when the feasting was done and the moons-two of them, one pale and one blood-red-hung high in the night sky, they retired to chambers carved from obsidian. Síofra fell asleep quickly, exhausted and sated after they had both taken their turns with her, her breaths soft against the silken bedding.

Ashmedai stood at the window, firelight flickering across his horns, while Morgan leaned against the wall.

“She is ours,” Ashmedai said quietly. “We must protect her.”

Morgan’s jaw tightened. “Always.”

For once, there was no mockery between them-only a shared oath.

**

Epilogue

Weeks later, sunlight slanted across the university courtyard. Síofra blinked awake in the sunlight of an ordinary classroom. Chalk dust hung in the air, pages rustled, and Professor Halvorsen droned on about Proto-Indo-European root structures. She scribbled notes with trembling hands, the strangeness of the Undercroft lingering at the edges of her mind like a dream that hadn’t let her go. She still went into realms unknown as she was just getting acclimated to her powers. Ashmedia tutored her relentlessly. Once ,when asleep in their giant bed for three, he had held her close and muttered about not being able to find her.

When class ended, Rand fell into step beside her, chatting easily about an assignment. She smiled distractedly, her thoughts elsewhere.

She stepped out of her linguistics class with Rand at her side, his hands moving animatedly as he spoke. She laughed at something he said-until an all too familiar shadow loomed.

Morgan.

Morgan stood waiting, arms folded, eyes glinting gold even in daylight. He caught her hand possessively the moment she stepped out and inserted himself neatly between her and Rand, tugging her against his chest with casual dominance. His gaze flicked to Rand in warning.

Rand lifted his hands, wide-eyed, muttering something about catching her later, and beat a hasty retreat.

Síofra swatted Morgan’s arm, but he only grinned, bending to murmur at her ear. “I have to share you with grandpa already. I will not share you with the nerd..”

Her cheeks heated. “Shut up.”

Ash’s voice purred from inside him, smug as ever.“Glowing indeed. Twins, perhaps. The wolf’s and the king’s. How… poetic.”

Síofra froze mid-step, colour draining from her face. “What did he just say?”

Morgan coughed into his fist. “Uh… nothing important.”

Ash’s laughter rumbled, low and wicked.

And Síofra realized with horror and a tiny, traitorous thrill that their story had only begun.

*