His brow cocked again, his lips twitching like his smile was threatening to fall.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“You’re offering me a chance, not a guarantee.” She sliced her sword up so the sharp tip was pointing at his nose. “And pawns are usually insignificant to the grand plans in a game of chess. They are sacrificed without care and are often the first to die.”

He flashed his fangs while grinning once more.

“Regardless, if they are pushed forward, they are eaten by the choices of the attacking player, and I cannot guarantee what the Mavka will do.”

Her back stiffened. He’s after Orpheus. She didn’t care why. There was a threat to him, and that’s all she needed to know.

“Well, it’s too bad for you that I have no intention of going with you, so you can kindly fuck off.”

She stabbed forward, making him duck his head back, so she could get enough space between them to bolt towards the house.

Jabez materialised in front of her right before she reached the steps. Reia ran into his chest, his body like a hard wall and knocking the wind out of her. Groaning, she stumbled back as pain radiated through her nose since she’d bashed it.

“That was close. I didn’t expect you to do that.” He grabbed her arm holding the sword while wrapping his arm around her torso to trap her. “Now, let’s get this off you. The Witch Owl will sneak into my castle and steal it back anyway.”

He grabbed the amulet on her head, hissing in a sharp breath, as he tore it from her head. Reia cried out when he pulled multiple strands of her hair before he tossed it to the ground.

“Fuck! I hate that thing,” he bit, wiping his burnt hand on his chest like he was attempting to soothe it. “Always burns.”

She pushed against him but was unable to break free of his hold. She uselessly swung her sword, trying to cut him with it, but it only swayed behind his back.

“Get off me!”

Since she couldn’t use her arms, she started kicking him in the shins with the heels of her boots and stepped on his bare feet, trying anything to get away from him.

“Quiet,” he snapped, slipping his wrapped arm around her more until he was covering her mouth his large hand. “If he is close, I don’t want him to hear you struggling. My scent being here is enough for him to know you have come with me.”

His hand muffled her shout of ‘no’ while she was shaking her head, her eyes wide.

No, I don’t want to go! Reia fought harder, squirming with every fibre of her being to get away from him. He said castle.

He’s... Reia tried to look over her shoulder when she heard a roar in the distance not too far away. Orpheus was close, and knew she wasn’t alone. He’s the Demon King.

“Orfes!” she tried to shout against his palm.

They disappeared before she even got the chance to see him.

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Orpheus roared when he smelt the Demon King’s scent on the wind coming from the direction of their home. Reia! He dropped the full bucket of water and immediately began to sprint.

He broke through the trees minutes later, finding the yard empty as he ran past the salt circle. She wasn’t training with her sword like when he’d left to go get her water.

His sight was white, his heart thrumming with fear. Please be inside. He darted towards the house, tearing at the grass and dirt with his boots as he focused on the doorway.

Something glittered on the worn-down grass at the porch steps, the dirt more visible here. He slowed when he saw it and then stopped to pick it up, his heart constricting in his chest.

The amulet. It felt warm, like she’d only moments ago been wearing it. He could also tell her scent was fresh here, as well as Jabez’s, the Demon King’s.

His knees almost buckled.

“No.”

He shook his head as he stared down at the blue teardrop sapphire and silver circlet filled with glittering white crystal diamonds.

She can’t be gone.

“Reia!” he yelled, going up the porch steps to open the door of the house, wanting to hear her yell back to him.

Silence greeted him when he opened the door. Cold, foreboding silence. He didn’t go inside. He knew she wasn’t there.

“Reia,” he whined, closing his hand around the amulet to fist it. Standing in the doorway, he drifted his gaze over the yard with a heavy heart. “Did... Did she go with him willingly?”

She had her sword. Why didn’t she fight him if she wanted to stay? He couldn’t smell Jabez’s blood, and he wondered if she’d removed the amulet in front of the house as her way of saying she wanted to leave.

But I want her. She was his, and he wanted her more than any other human. Why? Had she truly slept in her own bed because she hadn’t wanted to touch him anymore, to be with him anymore?

He opened his hand to stare down at the amulet in sadness and loss, his sight turning blue. I don’t want to be without her.

Was history repeating itself? Was the Demon King going to steal another human from him? But she... Reia isn’t like Katerina – the woman from centuries ago.

She was warm, and bright, and always held his snout with affectionate hands when she didn’t have to. She petted him, read to him, allowed him to snuggle with her near the fireplace. Katerina had never done any of this.

Katerina had only smiled when she was given something she wanted, and she only ever directed it at what she’d been given. Her smiles never turned towards him like Reia’s were.

She’d never tried to touch Orpheus in return, only accepted it when he wanted it. She’d never slept in his bed, which is why there was a second sleeping room.

She never kissed me.

He’d never felt Katerina’s lips on his body, and yet Reia openly licked Orpheus’ tongue in return, as if she was kissing him back the only way he could.

He’d never noticed the barrier between himself and Katerina. That her narrow eyes were actually glares, that her touches were filled with hate, until after she cruelly told him she was leaving with the Demon King.

And she’d made sure Orpheus had witnessed it. She’d accepted Jabez’s offer, and he’d come back from hunting to find her in the arms of the Demon King. She’d told him that she didn’t want him to come after her, that she was making this choice, and that if he had any care for her happiness, to leave her in peace.

Of course, Orpheus had ran through the forest to go after her in rage, but it was a long distance and he’d lost his anger along the way, left filled only with desperation to not be alone.

When he’d arrived at the castle, she’d told him to go away, and he’d understood there was no point in trying.

Jabez had sworn to fight for her, and Orpheus knew that battle would have been one that neither of them would have won.

Reia is not Katerina.