Word Count: 1725
~Tove
Keo brushes my hair back, gazing at me.
"How are you feeling?" he asks softly.
As much as I hate my mother for what she has done, it is a strange feeling knowing she is locked away in a prison, her freedom taken from her because of what I did.
I refuse to feel guilty about it. Others like Vail aren't alive now because of her, and now she is paying the price.
"I'm doing surprisingly okay," I admit. We have returned to Territory Two, giving me a chance to relax. "This went the best way it could have."
"Let's hope Dax keeps his word."
I smile a little. I appreciate him acting like he cares what happens to my mother, because him and I both know he wouldn't mind if she was killed.
"He will. I don't think he is evil, he's just doing what he thinks is right," I say tentatively.
I'll never forgive Dax for his hatred of Demon's, but I can't help but wonder what makes him think like that. Angel-blood's have always been told Demon's are evil, and now, Dax needs to change that narrative.
"Thank you, by the way. For not killing her," I quickly add.
His gaze softens. "She is your mother. I couldn't take her away from you."
I don't know how I got so lucky to find a mate like Keo. He let his own hatred for Angel-blood's melt away so he could truly love me. And now, he is defending me and those I care about, regardless of his own feelings.
"I love you," I breathe.
He leans forward. "I love you too."
His hands delve into my hair as he draws my lips to his. They are soft, his kiss gentle and comforting.
"The love of mates, huh?"
Keo and I pull away from each other fast, casting our gazes toward the sound of the intruding voice.
My heart falls from the sound of his voice before I even see him.
Relm saunters into the sitting room, looking around distastefully, as if he would rather be anywhere but here.
Keo stands, tense. "Relm. Aren't you brave, coming here, in my home to threaten my mate."
He's jumping straight to the point, avoiding any pleasantries. We both know he's here because my allocated time has come to an end and now I have to have an answer for him, or he's going to kill me.
"Tove and I had an agreement. Time's up," Relm reminds us, pinning me with his gaze.
"Don't worry, I have a proposition that may intrigue you," I tell him.
I spent all night since getting back from Dax's thinking of my plan with Relm. Well, at least when I had time between Keo ravaging me.
Relm doesn't look convinced. "Let me here it."
I steady myself. I'm about to take a massive risk, and with the freakishly tall, scary looking Relm looming over me, I'm prepared to have my neck snapped in an instance.
Keo knows I'm in danger too, which is why he stands so close by, monitoring the situation keenly.
"I know you're in love with Astera," I say confidently.
Relm's expression falls.
I can't tell what's surprised him more. Me successfully finding the Demon's, or deducing that he has feelings for one of them.
There is a chance I'm completely wrong, but by the slightly mortified look on his face makes me think I made the correct leap of faith.
"So, you met the twins," he mutters, sweeping a hand through his dark locks.
"I did, and I know you're in love with her," I say steadily.
"In love is a strong word," he muses. "She's as intolerable as most Demon's."
He casts a look at Keo, who narrows his eyes. Still, I'm on the right track with my brave assumption, because although Relm is making a stupid excuse, he isn't outright denying me.
"You find her intolerable, yet..."
His jaw hardens. "What does this have to do with anything?"
"Would you trust her to rule over the Demon's in another realm? With the help of you, of course." I realise this is a massive ask and I'm likely going to be turned down, but what other choice do I have?
It's either this, or he kills me.
"I have no business looking after rampant Demon's," he mutters, shuddering as if the thought disturbs him.
"You would be alone with the woman you desire, in a realm where her brother is not," I point out.
I only spoke to Ziah for a short period of time, but I can't imagine he makes it easy for Relm or Astera to be together. It's imperative the two Demon's keep their existence a secret, and anyone getting close to them puts them at risk.
Including someone as powerful as Relm.
"I can't trust her to do a good job," he says slowly, folding his arms.
"She doesn't need to," Keo jumps in, glancing at me. "The Demon's can look after themselves, they just need to be safe."
I'm sure Keo has scouted much of the new realm, ensuring there is as little risk to Demon's as possible, but there still needs to be some leadership. And that leader needs to have enough power to keep a large group of Demon's under control, if needed.
"How do you know I feel anything for Astera?" Relm question, a shadow passing over his face.
"You're not denying it." I shrug casually, reigning back my satisfied smile. "I put two and two together and made a lucky guess."
He narrows his eyes. "Lucky indeed."
I smother my smile. I'm not going to celebrate yet. I may have gotten lucky by examining the situation and deducing that Sire has feelings for Astera, but that doesn't mean he thinks this is a good idea.
"I have had feelings for her for a very long time. Decades, perhaps even centuries," he admits, casting a look off out the window to the sea that churns beyond.
My eyes drift to Keo, he stills. Both of us are surprised Relm is being so candid.
"What got in the way?" I ask tentatively.
"Her brother. But you already guessed that as well," he notes.
I laugh under my breath. I was only around Ziah for a short period of time, but that was enough to understand why this romance between Relm and Astera never went anywhere before that.
"He won't be in the way there," I assure him. That is, if we can keep him away.
Relm rubs the back of his neck, looking a little insecure. "How do you know she will agree to this?"
"Because I'm sure she feels the same way about you." I don't actually know that, I'm just hoping. Astera also needs to agree to this.
His face is a storm of conflict. "This is a risk."
"If you don't do this, you're essentially agreeing to have me killed and allow Demon's to continue to be in danger," I remind him, fear spiking in my voice.
My gaze flickers down to his gloved hands. Visions of him wrapping them around my throat, choking the life out of me suddenly floods my mind.
His eyes are suddenly dark. "I don't like being threatened."
"I'm not threatening you, I'm simply pointing out the truth," I snap back. "Remember, you're in love with a Demon."
Not only is he in love with a Demon, but he is in love with one with the purest blood out there. Even more than Keo, who continues to stand by and watch this exchange quietly.
He knows I have a better chance at convincing Relm into something than he does.
"I sympathise with the Demon's plight, I can assure you. But this issue is very complicated," he says softly, sensing my growing irritation.
He may be stronger than us, but he clearly doesn't want to start something.
"Why don't we do a trial run, of sorts?" I offer, sensing his apprehension to step over the line and agree. "We bring over a handful of Demon's and we see how they go. If it goes poorly, then we take them back here. And if it goes well, we move more over."
It works well for everyone. If the Demon's don't like it there, or something else becomes a danger, then we can move them back with little disruption.
Relm narrows his eyes on Keo, skeptical. "And you're willing to wait?"
"One of the most prolific Demon Hunters has been apprehended," he says, choosing his words carefully as not to reveal exactly who this Demon Hunter is. "I feel safer having the Demon's here for the meantime."
Relm tips his head back in an uncannily human like move that doesn't suit him at all.
He knows he needs to make his decision.
"I suppose I can speak to Astera, although I can't guarantee she will wish to move," he eventually concedes.
It takes everything in me to scream out in joy. "I get the feeling she will. How can someone enjoy a life hiding away, not being able to be with someone they love?"
"If she says no, you understand what is going to happen, right?" Relm reminds me darkly.
Mentally preparing for that doesn't make it any easier to accept. Still, I'm certain this will work.
"If you harm her, you are asking to be tormented by me for the rest of your existence," Keo warns him quietly. He's barely removed his burning stare from Relm this entire time, contemplating all the ways he wishes he could kill him.
Relm rubs his hands together. "Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that."
I step forward, pushing on his broad chest. I know it's dangerous, but I want him to go ask Astera right now.
"Go now, Relm. Don't waste anymore time," I encourage, letting a smile slip.
He too smiles. For the first time in centuries there is a flicker of hope for him, a chance at love. The smile doesn't last for very long though.
"The next time I see you, everything is going to change," he warns us. "For better or worse."
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~Midika 💜🐼