1599

~Tove

A couple of days have passed and Keo has bothered me once about training.

It's gotten on my nerves for multiple reasons.

Firstly, Mary is awaiting a cure, and the sooner I get it to her by completing Keo's task, the less she has to suffer.

And secondly...well, I'm bored.

Keo doesn't show at breakfast, so, once afternoon rolls around, I amble down to where I know he will be working on whatever business a Demon must attend to.

Sure enough, he's leaning over his desk, one hand delved into his dark hair, the other scribbling something I would assume is important onto the paper in front of him.

"So, what are we doing today?" I ask, leaning against the doorframe.

He doesn't look up.

"I'm working."

I sigh irritably, expecting this response. "I thought we could do some more training."

"That won't be happening." He starts to drum his fingers on the surface of his desk, conveying his unspoken irritation at my unannounced presence.

"Why not?"

He looks up through dark, thick lashes. "You need to rest."

I roll my eyes. He has been awfully cold to me since the incident. I had fallen asleep on his lap in front of the fire, and when I woke a few hours later, he was carrying me to bed.

Obviously he had allowed me a decent amount of time cuddled up against him before he decided to take me upstairs.

The gesture warms my heart, even if the feeling is edged with the dark reminder of danger.

Keo is not someone I can get close to.

"I'm feeling much better today," I assure him. In fact, I awoke this morning forgotten I had even used my magic to such an extent.

Being able to recover from using that much magic so quickly is more incredible to me than the magic I actually used.

"It's not worth the risk," he mutters, rubbing his forehead.

"What risk?" Does he think I'm going to die or something? Does he think his prized possession is going to become useless?

"Why don't you just relax. You don't want to push your powers beyond what you can handle, and then bring that self doubt back. It's about knowing when to push and when to pull back. Okay?"

I stare at him as he shifts his attention back to his work.

He's right, I shouldn't push it. I've spent so much of my life not believing I'm capable of harnessing as much magic as I did yesterday, and now that I have, I don't want to go back.

"How many people have you trained to do your bidding?" I question. He seems so used to this.

The edge of his lips quirk up a little. "Far too many."

I frown, wondering what those poor souls were used for. They aren't in his life anymore, which isn't a good sign.

Sitting on the edge of his desk, I ignore his irritated sigh.

"I want you to tell me about that book I found. About Demon history," I say. If I'm going to spend so much time near this man, I would like to learn more about his history.

He narrows his eyes warily. "Why?"

"It interests me. Come on..." I insist.

Keo settles back into his seat, considering whether to oblige me.

"The Angel's killed all the Demon's after the Great War, and then cursed the most powerful out of spite," he starts, anger simmering in his eyes at the memory.

I sit up a little straighter. "What kind of curse?"

I know of the Great War, of the fight between the Angel's and Demon's. I know it ended poorly for the Demon's, with most being exterminated.

I'm interested to hear about it from the perspective of a Demon, because it's not some heroic conquest for him.

"It varies. Almost all that they chose to spare have been buried deep under ground, unable to be risen due to magic placed there by Angel's," he says, swallowing uncomfortably.

I frown. Underground? How many Demon's have I walked over that are trapped by magic? It's a horrifying thought, especially if they aren't yet dead.

"Why would they do that?" I question.

"Torture, I assume. Maybe they didn't have enough power to kill them. Who knows." He shrugs casually, as if it doesn't bother him.

It's obvious that it pains him to brush this off, but showing weakness, even to me, isn't acceptable.

"What happened to your family?" I ask gently.

"My father was an almost pure Demon. He was spared by some Angel who couldn't kill him. He hid for the rest of his life, raising me in secret before he..."

He breaks off, a frown deepening in his forehead. I can feel the pain, even if he doesn't openly convey it. For a fleeting moment, it's as if that wounded young boy who experienced all this is sitting at this desk right now.

"He what?" I press softly, not sure if Keo will be willing to tell me this or not.

I swallows tightly. "There is another powerful Demon out there who hasn't been cursed. More powerful than me, even, and no Angel blood's know about him."

I inhale sharply. Another powerful Demon like Keo is out there?

"We should find him." I don't know why I said that.

"I've tried. For centuries, in fact. But I can't hunt him down," Keo mutters, digging his fingers into his hair, frustrated.

This has clearly been an endevour he has been engaged in for a long time. I'm not sure two powerful Demon's existing in these lands would be a good thing, although I suppose that's the point.

"How do you know he's alive?"

"I have visons, dreams. Ones induced by the connection all Demon's have. He's out there. I know it." He shakes his head, as if he's scolding himself for not being able to figure this out sooner.

I smooth my hands down my thighs, curiosity still burning through me.

"Would you ever stop running? To settle down with someone one day?" I ask lightly, casually.

Keo narrows his eyes, as if he is suspicious about me asking. Regardless, he tips his head back, considering it.

"I would like to stop looking over my shoulder one day. I doubt it will be anytime soon, however." He scans my face, probably wondered if I'll be satisfied with that answer.

I'm not. Not yet.

"What if you ever found your mate?" I question tentatively. I shouldn't care, but it's an interesting thought. How much of this strange life would Keo be willing to give up for something like his mate?

"I would feel terribly for them," Keo admits, laughing breathily.

"Why?" It's pointless trying to sound disinterested, in but I know there's no point to that.

He tilts his head back and forth. "My life isn't exactly favourable."

I nearly laugh. That's an understatement. Not to mention he isn't exactly a normal person's idea of a perfect mate. He's definitely not mine...

"What about you? You seem like the romantic type who is searching for their mate," Keo exclaims, getting up from his seat, prowling over to me.

"This isn't about me," I murmur uncomfortably.

My body stays ridgid as Keo draws closer. He has a wicked smile on his face, happy to turn this conversation onto me.

"There has to be someone out there who I took you from."

I shake my head, my cheeks flushing with heat. "I haven't had much luck in that department. Hence why I went on that date with you."

Keo laughs a little, remembering the circumstances in which we met. To him it was a way of baiting me in. But to me, it was an actual date.

"Before that date. Who were you with?" he presses.

I teeter back and forth on the desk. "I've only had one boyfriend. It was out of high school. We dated for a while, but it didn't work out."

"Was he good in bed?"

I slap his arm. "That is none of your business!"

"You were the one asking all about my history, about whether I wanted a mate. I thought I would turn it on you," he admits with a smirk.

I roll my eyes, glaring at him.

"You know what, you seem to flirt with me with such an ease. It makes me wonder how many others have been the subject of your lust," I mutter distastefully.

A lot, I'm sure. It makes my head hurt a little just thinking about it.

"No one has been subject to my true lust. If you were, you would know about it." His gaze flickers down to my lips for a moment. It takes everything in me not to lick them.

"Interesting," I mutter drily, although my heart is thundering in my chest.

Keo takes a dangerous step closer to me. "You speak as though you want to sleep with me."

I nearly choke.

"That is absolutely not what I said," I correct him. I'm not about to be seduced by him because he doesn't want to talk about himself.

Keo doesn't look convinced. "Uh huh."

"Keo!"

"Deny it all you like, but were I to invite you to my bedroom tonight, you would come," he taunts, backing away toward the office door.

I gape at him, hardly believing what he is implying. "I would not."

He just winks at me. "See you there tonight, Tove."

🤎••🤎

~Midika 💜🐼