2023

~Tove

I burst through the door, twirling around.

"I can't believe I did that," I exclaim proudly. I feel on top of the world, having accomplished something I never knew I was capable of.

Keo walks into the house after me. "I can..."

This morning when he told me he wanted me to try transporting two people at a time I didn't think I could do it. With a little encouragement on my mates behalf, I was able to do it without any problem, and now I can hardly believe it.

"There's a slight pain in my head, but other than that I feel fine," I tell him.

My symptoms when transporting people are getting better, although when I first accomplished today's task, I did nearly faint. Now that those feelings have worn off, I feel amazing.

"Sit down and drink this. Just because you had success today doesn't mean you can push it," he tells me sternly, filling me a glass of water before handing it to me.

I slide into a chair at the dining table, looking into the kitchen where Keo lingers.

"I feel really good," I admit, sipping on my water.

"Do you feel ready?" His voice is tight, wary. Recently it feels as though there has been a massive shift in him.

Before, it was clear Keo's priority was getting Demon's out of here. Now, I can see him becoming uneasy about me pushing my magic more than he recommends.

It's starting to become clear how much he cares about me. And it's terrifying...

"I'm not far away from it," I muse.

He nods. "Good, because tomorrow I'm going to be teaching you about this new realm so you can start preparing to go there."

My eyes widen. Everything is happening so quickly now. Soon enough this mission will be done, and I will be faced with a new life that will have Keo in it.

However, all too soon, a dark, cold shadow drapes over me.

"What about Relm?"

I watch his shoulders tense at the uttering of Relm's name. He's busy making something for me to eat, which has been a common occurrence recently. He won't turn to look at me, not wanting to make it obvious Relm is a threat.

"I'm working with someone that should be able to mask your presence long enough for you to get everyone there," he explains tersely.

I frown. "Then what?"

"Then we are done."

He says it as casually as he can manage, although I don't fail to notice the doubt playing in his voice. This doesn't seem like such a simple, straightforward problem that we are forced to deal with.

"Will you go with them?" I'm scared of his answer. I don't want to move away from this realm to one I didn't even know existed until not long ago, but at the same time, I don't want to never see my mate again.

Even if things are still uncertain between us...

Keo turns around, sensing my discomfort. "I can't go there, Tove. Relm will kill me."

"Oh...right."

"But he won't kill the Demon's...not if this magic will work," he mutters, reaching into the fridge. He's making me a sandwich I believe, which is such a simple gesture but reminds me each time that I'm always at the forefront of his mind.

I rub my hands down over my face. "What if he does find them?"

"He won't be able to do much. His power is limited within the actual realms, and even if he does find them, they will be able to look after themselves as they won't fear being revealed, as there will be no Angel-blood's to harm them," he explains darkly.

I shiver. From what I can tell, he means collectively Relm won't be able to harm the Demon's, and now that they don't fear being hunted down by Angel-blood's, they can freely use their powers to protect themselves.

"What if Relm kills me?" I ask, my throat tightening.

I don't know what he is capable of. I know nothing about him, and when I spoke to him, he frightened me. Chances are he will happily kill me to avoid this happening.

"He won't. I won't allow it." There is a dark storm playing Keo's eyes as he turns, handing me a plate. I'm not sure I can handle eating right now considering this conversation.

"But he could?"

"Certainly. But I don't believe he would," he assures me. Keo is the kind of person to sat something to make me feel better. If he doesn't think Relm would hurt me, then he is probably right.

"Why not?"

He sits down at the table opposite me. "He's a strange man, Relm is. He's cold at times, but only when he needs to be. He's not a punisher, he's a problem-solver. Once this is done, he won't touch you."

I wrap my arms around myself. I'm still in danger, which puts pressure on our need to get this done as soon as possible.

"What about before then?"

"We have to hold him off," he murmurs. The full weight of that statement settles over me. My future, now more than ever, isn't guaranteed.

"That doesn't sound easy," I note. How am I meant to protect myself from a threat I know nothing about?

"Let me deal with that," Keo remarks sternly, giving me no room to question otherwise. I want to feel better, knowing there is no one capable of protecting me better than him, but this twisting feeling of fear in my stomach isn't going anywhere.

I rest my hand against my forehead. "My head is spinning a bit, so I'm going to lay down and rest."

He nods solemnly. He knows how hard this is. He once haunted me, and back then, I was terrified about what my fate would be. Now that I know I'm his mate, I feel more comfortable knowing he won't kill me once he doesn't need my magic anymore.

"Go ahead."

Dragging my feet, I collapse into bed, burying my head into my pillow. I did something incredible today, and yet it is shrouded by the shadow of the mysterious man who wants to kill me.

Despite my whirling mind, I pass out quickly, not even managing to pull my blankets over me.

A loud banging sound wakes me.

Gasping, I sit up. The room is drenched in darkness, enough time having passed for day to shift to night.

Looking around, I release a long breath. The banging was the window that must have been left ajar slamming against the wall. It's raining outside, wind howling violently past the house. Shivering, I drag a blanket up the bed, wrapping it over my shoulders.

What time is it?

That thought is quickly banished from my mind as I realise someone is sitting on the old rocking chair in the corner of the room, shrouded by shadows. I flinch, squinting my eyes, quickly recognising who is sitting there, watching me.

"Relm?" I ask tentatively.

He sits forward, pale moonlight cast across his face. "Finally, you're awake.

I scramble back until my back smacks against the headboard. Fear spikes within me as I drink in the sight of the man Keo and I were talking about only a few hours ago.

"What are you doing here?" I question tightly, glancing at the door. He sits far too close to it for me to make a break for it, successfully trapping me in.

"I think you know why I'm here," he murmurs, examining me with those creepy coloured eyes.

"I'll scream," I threaten lowly.

Keo will only be a couple of rooms away, likely sleeping. The moment I scream he will come to my aid and as far as I know, him and Relm are fairly matched right now.

Relm holds his hand up. "Don't. I think we need to have an honest conversation before you bring that insufferable Demon in here."

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say," I growl.

I'm risking angering him, making him hostile toward me, but I don't care. If he wants to kill me, he will go ahead and do it without any warning. People as powerful as Relm and Keo don't sit around and talk before dealing to people.

"You're still using your magic. I thought I warned you not to engage with Keo any further," he mutters, sweeping a hand through his dark curls.

I think what is most terrifying about him is his deceptively beautiful face and captivating eyes. Those eyes have seen horrors, I'm sure of it. One's he has caused by his own hands.

"I'm choosing not to listen to you," I snap back.

"That's not in your best interest."

"And what is? Abandoning my mate and everyone he is trying to protect?" Relm is asking me to trust him over my mate, who I have spent the past few months getting to know. I care about the Demon's now, and I want to help them.

Relm rubs his gloved hands together calmly, not a single emotion shattering his perfect calm.

"Keo has always had a one-track mind. He cares about other Demon's, yes, but he doesn't care about anyone else. In the realm he plans to move his people to, there are others there that will be affected."

"They won't hurt anyone. Keo has promised me." I wish I could reign in my shaky voice to come across more confident.

Keo hasn't promised me anything, I've just assumed. In fact, he has been quite vague around any implications on the new world the Demon's are shifting to.

"I don't trust that. I can't trust that they will remain isolated from the rest of the world's population," he muses.

"Maybe they need a strong leader there. Maybe you should let Keo go." I don't think I want that, but I know it would keep them from harming anyone.

Not that I think they would anyways...most of what is said about them is by Angel-blood's.

"He's burned me before, so no." He leans back, stretching out his long legs in front of him. "But there is another problem."

"Such as?"

"The boundaries, you may say, between the realms are very fragile. I pass through at my leisure because my very existence allows the realms to exist in the first place. But when others pass through, the boundary starts to wear down, which can lead to many problems," he explains.

I frown. "There must be some way to fix it."

Keo hasn't mentioned any of this. Does he know? I would be surprised if he didn't, since he seems one step ahead of everyone at all times.

"If there is, I wouldn't know." He shrugs, staring off out the window. He's considering what I assume has been a large unanswered question for a very long time. I mean, how does Relm himself not know how to fix this?

"So what happens if the boundary breaks?" I ask slowly, unsure if I want to hear the answer.

He tilts his hair back and forth. "Everything falls apart. People suffer, people die. And Keo knows that."

"I don't believe you," I snap.

"Ask him. He may deny it, or he may tell you the truth. Either way, you need to stop," he tells me firmly. There's a bite to his words that serves more than just a warning. If I don't stop, I'm in trouble, but I already knew that.

Still, I have a lot to figure out regarding Keo.

"If you're right, I will," I promise him.

He stands, overwhelming me with his true height. I squeeze myself as far back against the headboard as I can, wishing I could just disappear within it.

"I'm trusting you with this, Tove. Don't disappoint me," he warns before vanishing.

I let out a long breath, tipping my head back. I'm screwed.

🤎••🤎

~Midika 💜🐼