Chapter 18 Chapter 18
“That’s a relief. I was concerned when you never called me this entire week,” Ashton said. “I tried my best to find a way to help you, but so far, I haven’t gotten anywhere. No spellbook describes how to undo a bond. I’m afraid you might have to learn to live with it.”
Her words felt like a punch to the gut. Valerie clenched her hand into a fist, her body going rigid. “That means I have to say goodbye to the life I wanted to live,” she said hollowly. “I will never be able to start a family with a demon around….”
“Don’t lose hope yet, Valerie. We’ll make it work somehow,” Ashton replied optimistically. “I also have some good news for you, by the way. I found a witch sharing a bond with a demon and told her about your situation. If you’re interested, I could arrange a meeting with you so she can explain some things to you.”
Valerie took a deep breath, her eyes opening wide. “What, really? That would be great. I have so many questions and would love some answers.”
“There’s just one condition she has. The demon will accompany her,” Ashton added, dimming Valerie’s enthusiasm.
“That’s okay, I guess,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “When does she have time?”
“Would later today be okay?”
“Yes. Just tell me the time and place, and I’ll be there. Thank you so much, Ashton,” Valerie smiled, ending the call with newfound hope in her heart. Maybe this would bear fruit, and she would learn something important.
She threw her phone on the sofa and got up, her thoughts running wild as she pondered over the witch she would soon meet, wondering why she had willingly chained herself to a demon.
What kind of demon was she bonded to? Valerie, once again lost in her thoughts, didn’t notice she was walking straight towards the low coffee table and promptly fell over it, hitting her shins against the table's edge. Tumbling down with a cry, she cursed and gritted her teeth.
“Human,” she heard Maxwell scream from the kitchen, his voice angry and distorted in pain. “What the fuck did you do this time?” He appeared in the living room and strode over to her, fixating her with a murderous look. “How can a human be this clumsy and fragile?”
“Sorry, I’m not made of stone,” she retorted sarcastically, clutching her bleeding shin.
“I can see that,” he sighed, rolling his eyes at her. Before she knew what was happening, he had crouched down and lifted her, prompting her to hold on to his shoulder for support.
“I’ll walk myself.”
“You obviously can’t, and you just proved it.”
Valerie kept staring at him, her fingers catching the end of his chain that dangled around in front of her. She tugged at it in hopes of getting a reaction from him. Maxwell’s expression conveyed mild annoyance and something else she couldn’t decipher.
“Stop that, human,” he said as he passed through the door to the bedroom.
“Why are you always wearing this chain?” she wondered, reluctantly letting go of it.
“Are you questioning my fashion sense, little human?” he said, his voice dropping a few octaves. She flushed under his piercing gaze.
“No, I was just… curious.”
“Do you not like it?”
She cleared her throat, not quite looking at him anymore. “I never said that.”
“Oh? I see how it is,” he drawled, leaning closer, his hot breath fanning over her face. She froze, knowing he had again gotten under her skin without even trying. This demon was dangerous in more than one way.
He dropped her on the bed like a sack of potatoes—her landing was not exactly elegant, so she pouted at him, but his intense gaze froze her in her spot. Red had seeped into his gorgeous blue irises again, contrasting his natural eye color.
Not two seconds after dumping her, he left the room, making her wonder what he was doing until he returned with a pack of Band-Aids. “Here, use this,” he said, throwing it at her. She caught it, looking down at it and back up at him with confusion written all over her face.
“Huh?”
“What is it now?” he muttered, crossing his arms.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I don’t want you to die an early death.”
“I won’t die because of a small scratch,” she pouted, opening the package.
The corners of Maxwell’s lips curved up ever so slightly. “I’m not convinced.”
\---
The woods were silent, and the pleasant smell of rain and moss permeated the air. A light breeze blew through the maze of trees, shaking their branches.
Valerie slid her hands into her pockets to keep them warm and nervously observed her surroundings, unsure of what she was getting herself into. Hopefully, the encounter with the witch and the demon would go well and help her figure out a solution.
“This is so boring,” Maxwell complained as they followed a gravel path winding through the trees. The demon continuously voiced his displeasure about their trip to the woods, and Valerie was getting sick of it. “Why should I meet with a demon bonded to a human? What a disgrace.”
He didn’t wear his signature leather outfit today, sporting black jeans and a biker jacket. She wondered where he got his clothes from since he didn’t have a way to earn money. Thus, Valerie could only assume he stole them since she doubted he had enough respect for the human shop owners to bother paying.
“Oh, shut up. This might help us,” Valerie countered, giving him a sharp look. “And you better not be rude or attack them, demon.”
Maxwell clicked his tongue, his lips curling into an evil smirk. “What would you do to stop me, little human?”
She mumbled something under her breath, folding her arms. The pair soon reached the old ruin in the woods where they were supposed to meet the witch.
She had proposed to meet here instead of in the city center, where they couldn’t talk without the risk of being overheard. Valerie didn’t mind the hike, but Maxwell’s opinion differed…