Page 5 of Gilded Curses

The small window over the toilet only offered a view of the house behind this one. He couldn’t see Sahira from here and didn’t like it.

Leaving the room, he strode down the small hall, past the bedroom he’d already explored, and on toward the room facing the street. He’d intended not to stray so far from the windows facing the road, but the demon had gone into the attic, and they had to explore this floor.

He’d vowed only to take a few minutes away from the windows, and it had probably been less time than that. It was still too long.

Through the doorway, he saw Zeth, having returned from the attic, approaching the window. The demon’s shoulders stiffened when he gazed down at the road.

As Orin stepped into the doorway, the demon spoke. “Something’s not right.”

Forgetting all about keeping his calm, Orin rushed over to the window. Sahira stood with her back to Elsa, her spear before her and Fath on her shoulder.

Nothing looked wrong, but they were all tensed as their eyes darted around the street. They hadn’t been this on edge earlier.

With a sick feeling settling in his stomach, he sprinted out of the room. Pip’s tiny hands entangled with his tunic as he took the stairs two and three at a time on the way down before leaping the last five feet down.

His bare foot didn’t make a sound against the wooden floor while his one remaining boot thudded against it. Orin had always prided himself on remaining calm in any situation.

Still, Sahira had completely rattled all his restraint and turned him into one of those more emotional immortals he’d always disdained. He should hate her effect on him; all he could think about was getting to her and ensuring she was safe.

Without caring about any noise it created, or what it might draw to them, he flung the front door open and descended the steps. As his gaze searched the night, he held his sword at the ready.

He’d gladly kill anything that came at them, but when Sahira’s eyes flicked to his, the uneasiness in them slowed his steps. He didn’t understand it when he saw no sign of a threat.

“What is it?” he demanded.

Before she could reply, girlish laughter came from his left. Orin’s head turned in that direction as his brow furrowed.

It sounded like a child, but he didn’t care what it was. In this realm, everything was the enemy until proven otherwise, and he’d carve it to pieces if it attacked them.

A flash of movement caught his attention; someone poked their head around the corner of a nearby house as Zeth’s boots thudded against the steps. When more laughter sounded behind them, Zeth froze; his eyebrows drew together over the bridge of his broad nose.

The demon had a wife and son waiting for him at home… or so he hoped. Because of this, he might have a soft spot for children. And Sahira, with her too-big heart, would hesitate to kill them, and so would Elsa.

That might leave only him to fend off these things. While he didn’t relish the idea of destroying a kid, he suspected these ankle biters were far deadlier than their childish laughter and playful hide-and-seek indicated.

With his eyes scanning the road, Orin closed the distance between him and Sahira. “Have you seen them?”

“No,” she whispered. “We’ve only heard them.”

“There’s been a couple of flashes,” Fath said.

As soon as the brownie spoke, something small dashed across the road. It moved so fast it was nearly a blur, but a banner of gold hair followed the small creature.

He gripped Sahira’s arm as he held her gaze; she had to understand this was a battle for her life. One he wouldn’t let her lose. “It might look and sound like a child, but that doesn’t mean it is.”

Sahira gulped before wiping away the sweat beading across her forehead. Unable to stop himself, his hand squeezed her arm as he sought to comfort her.

Comforting someone had always been a waste of time to him and a sign of weakness from those who needed their hands held. But Sahira was far from weak, and it didn’t feel like such a waste of time with her.

What had the Cursed Realm and Barren Lands turned him into? He barely recognized himself anymore.

He’d always tried to protect his family, even while on opposite sides of the war, but he’d never been like this with them. If something happened to her….

No. Nothing is going to happen to her.

And he’d make sure of it, even if he had to fight these new monsters alone.

CHAPTER SIX