Unfortunately, he had no doubt the creatures would snap her neck before he even got the chance to rescue her if they were separated.

He dipped his jaw to his chest, twisting his head so he could see her past his snout. She was asleep, curled up as best she could while he held her. She was turned away from him. Humans... So fragile, so frail, so weak. He was currently the most dangerous thing to her.

If he curled his arms and hands around her much more than he already was, he’d squeeze the life out of her with his strength and burst her at the seams. He had to constantly put effort into making sure his claws didn’t extend, otherwise they’d cut through her buttery skin.

It had taken her a while to fall asleep, most likely because she was wary of him, but she’d eventually fallen under just past midnight, despite her futile attempt to remain awake.

The moon shone just beyond the trees but was full enough to make the Demons unwilling to endure its subtle light, knowing it would burn them much like the sun if they were exposed for too long. Only the old and strong could remain in the light of the moon.

Orpheus had never needed to worry about the sun or the moon. He was called a Duskwalker for that very reason, able to walk freely in the day and the night.

He lifted the woman closer to his face, bending over so he could sniff at her neck. He gave a huffing sneeze and pulled away. I hate it when the humans bathe my offerings in those herbs and oils. It was hard for him to sniff through it, and he wanted to smell the true scent of the woman in his arms.

If he didn’t like the way his offering smelt, he’d often felt a desire to destroy it. However, it helped to mask the worst of their fear so he wouldn’t be suffocated in hunger, mindlessly falling upon the humans and devouring them. It was still

present, he’d always be able to smell it, but it was masked enough that it didn’t wrap around his mind like a terrible ache.

He disliked the fake scent wafting from his offerings, but it helped to give him time to lessen their fear before his ability to control his hunger lost against that delicious scent –

sometimes. And sometimes, it just didn’t matter. No matter what he did, what he said, the human could not shed it.

She does not reek of fear. The subtle hints were to be expected. She no doubt thought he was a monster, and she was right to feel that way. However, it wasn’t strong, and if he was lucky, he’d be able to rid her of it completely.

I still do not have faith in her. Her asking to be released from their bargain had helped solidify that. Orpheus refused to allow himself even a flicker of hope. Other humans had also not been totally afraid of him, and they still hadn’t survived. I do not trust her.

A part of him knew this would end in failure.

He let his mind go silent, halting his thoughts to listen to their surroundings while he walked. There was no point in thinking of the future when it was uncertain. He didn’t have the ability to foresee it, and he wouldn’t allow the hollow of emotions that would come at his assumptions that it would be blood-filled and lonely.

It was well into the morning when she woke.

He’d managed to catch her wake since he’d been staring down at her, watching the sparkles of sunlight glittering against her snowy skin through the tiny gaps of leaves above them. It had been near-hypnotising, and Orpheus had been enchanted by the gentle beauty of it since he’d never seen anything like it.

Beautiful sights were not a common thing for something like him. He was used to darkness, was used to being shrouded in loneliness and solitude.

This had been a peaceful and pretty sight.

He was sure any human with any array of colour he’d taken, since humans had such different skin tones –

something he was curious about – would have been just as appealing to watch with the sparkles of sunlight. He didn’t think it had anything to do with Reia in particular.

It had never escaped his notice that the snow glittered as well.

I should carry all my offerings if this is something I would be able to see. He’d attempted to carry a handful, but they had immediately resisted, too frightened, and it would generally induce the emotion into something that made him salivate. He’d be forced to put them down and have them chase him until they collapsed in fatigue.

He’d always pitied them, but he wouldn’t stop while they were out in the open.

I have not held a human in a long time. It had been decades, and the last time had been because it was dying, not by of his own hand. I forgot how soft they are.

Reia felt warm and soft, making him want to squeeze her tighter against his chest. Can’t do that, I will kill her.

Her face twitched, starting in her cheeks as her eyes clenched tighter, before they fluttered open slightly. The green in her eyes was more vibrant than the forest she peered around at before they slowly came to him.

“Shit. I fell asleep?” Her eyes then narrowed into a glare.

“Did you use a spell against me or something?”

Her limp body, relaxed from being asleep, bounced lightly in his arms from his steps as he twisted his head at her.

“No. I don’t have such magic. I can only create illusions, cast protections, and other minor spells, but something must be sacrificed for me create them.”

Her sharp brows drew together to create a deep crease between them. “You’re not all powerful then?”

“No,” he answered plainly, turning his head up to watch where he was going better. “My magic is quite minor in strength.”

“How can you even use magic? Demons can’t, and only certain humans can.”

Orpheus was surprised she wasn’t demanding for him to cease cradling her like this. She hadn’t preferred this position over sitting in the crook of his elbow, yet she wasn’t asking to be moved straight to it now that she was awake.

“Some Demons can use very minor magic. However, there is one who can freely use magic and is even stronger than me.”

“Who?”

“Someone you do not need to concern yourself with. You will never meet him.” Despite his constant effort to not squeeze her, he couldn’t stop his hands from clenching around her.

No. She can never meet him. Orpheus tried to make sure none of his humans did, even though he wasn’t always successful.

“Fine, but you still didn’t answer my question as to why you can use magic.”

He said nothing because he didn’t want to answer. They do not like it when I tell them the truth.

“Orpheus?” she said with a frown in her voice.

His eyes turned to black, which was the only way she would have been able to tell that he’d closed them for a short while. When was the last time I heard someone speak my own name?

It was even said softly. It sent a tingling thrill throughout his body, ruffling his flesh and making his insides shudder.

Only a handful of offerings had deigned to know if he had a name, choosing to call him Duskwalker as if that was all that he was, but none had ever spoken it to him.

“Is the answer actually that terrible or do you not know?”

He allowed a tsking sound to resonate from his mind as her words caused his eyes to open. He turned his head down and twisted it to see her.

“I’ll give you a boon.”

Her relaxed body tensed as she lifted her arms to fold them across her chest. “Are you seriously bargaining with me over the answer that could be you simply saying you do not even know?”

He almost felt the urge to chuckle if he wasn’t so serious.