Demon Daddy's Secret Twins by Celeste King

Author:Celeste King [King, Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Protheka Publishing
Published: 2025-03-20T00:00:00+00:00

18

MAZAN

Pain pulses through my skull as consciousness creeps back. The familiar weight of my wings feels wrong - compressed, bound. Cold metal bites into my wrists, the chains rattling as I shift. Every breath sends sharp needles through my ribs. Definitely broken.

I force my eyes open, copper-red gaze scanning the dim chamber. Stone walls. Iron bars. The acrid stench of blood and sweat hangs heavy in the stale air. Three other demons lie unconscious nearby, similarly bound. Krenoth's obsidian horn is cracked, Vazral's wings are bent at unnatural angles. We were overwhelmed - I remember that much. Something went wrong when we stepped through the portal.

The King's missive... My hand instinctively tries to reach for the hidden pocket where I'd secured it, but the chains hold firm. I close my eyes, focusing inward. The faint golden lines etched in my skin remain dark, my magic suppressed by whatever enchantments they've worked into these bonds.

I breathe slowly, steadily, calming myself. Panic serves no purpose. Each detail could matter - the direction of light filtering through the high window, the echo patterns of distant footsteps, the composition of the stonework. I observe, I calculate, I plan. It's what's kept me alive this long.

The ambush had been well-coordinated. Though I’m not sure what a group of xaphan were doing on the demon content, given our current circumstances, it seems they were out for blood. And we were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

My wings ache from being pinned, but I keep still, conserving energy. Patience has always been my strength, even when other demons rush headlong into conflict. I've learned that sometimes the wisest course is to wait, to watch, to understand before acting.

A groan from Krenoth draws my attention. His eyes flutter open, confusion quickly replaced by fury as he tests his bonds. I catch his gaze and give a slight shake of my head. Not yet. He subsides, trusting my judgment. I might just be a servant of the palace but we are all trained as warriors. We'll need that trust to survive whatever comes next.

Heavy boots echo down the corridor, accompanied by the whisper of feathers against stone. A xaphan steps into view, his pure white wings nearly brushing the cell bars. His presence fills the cramped space with an insufferable self-righteousness that makes my teeth clench.

"Well. I hope you’ll forgive my less than stellar welcome." His voice drips with false warmth. "But when I see a group of demons…I can’t help but want to play. Especially when you reek of foreign magic.”

I meet his gaze steadily, saying nothing. His wings may be pristine, but there's blood under his polished armor - our blood. The faint scorch marks on his gauntlets suggest he was one of the ones throwing fire during the ambush.

He circles the cell, studying us like specimens in a collection. "We were hunting deserters, you see. Imagine our surprise when we found you instead." He pauses, golden eyes narrowing. "Though perhaps it's not so surprising. Demons do love to meddle where they don't belong.

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