Beyond His Evil

FORTY-THREE.

EVELYN🤍

“Can you mount on your own?” Devon asked, watching me stroke the horse’s mane.

I shot him a sideways glance. It’d been a while since I rode, but I wasn’t about to admit that.
“Of course,” I said and nearly slid right off.

Devon laughed quietly. I flushed. Before I could protest, he was behind me, heat radiating from his body. His hands settled lightly on my waist, steadying me until I was finally seated.

“Thanks,” I muttered, avoiding his gaze.

He hummed softly and vanished, probably off to get Kira. I exhaled, surprised by how tense I’d been.

Devon always did this to me, making my heart race when I didn’t want it to. From the moment I first saw him, barely clinging to life in that clinic, I knew there was something bigger at play. The gods, fate, whatever you called it, had pulled us together.

I’d lost everything in the war— my family, direction, hope. Revenge and anger consumed me until the general found me, and practically dragged me to safe land. Even surrounded by thousands who admired me, I’d never felt truly whole, never happy until Devon.

A demon. Different from anyone I’d known. And over time, I realized it was more than admiration... I was in love with him. He showed it too in quiet ways: a lingering glance, a protective touch. He said we were two halves of a whole, but I craved something deeper... more.

I never spoke those words aloud. But that afternoon, when he appeared in my room and led me to a garden alive with light and color, his kiss told me everything. I knew then he felt the same.

He returned, Kira cradled in his arms.

“We have to ride fast, Evelyn. Before sunset,” he urged.

I nodded. Together, we galloped through the six protective walls, leaving safe land behind.

The sun dipped low, and the forest still lay miles away. Fear crept in despite my best efforts to push it down. The seer had said it could take a full day to reach the forest, and even with an early start, we wouldn’t make it before dark.

“Evelyn, we need to stop,” Devon’s voice was low beside me.

I scanned the empty landscape. Ruined buildings, scattered belongings, twisted metal. It had been so long since I’d seen signs of life outside of Safe land's walls. My throat tightened. Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back. All because of vampires.

“Evelyn,” Devon called again.

His crimson eyes caught mine... intense, commanding. “Focus.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Sorry.”

He dismounted, lifting Kira onto his shoulder with practiced ease. I slid down and followed.

“We’ll teleport closer to the forest from here,” he said.

“But what if—”

“If we keep riding, we'll ride into vampires. And with Kira, fighting them off would be impossible,” he interrupted firmly. “Teleporting to the hut is safer. We can return more easily from there.”

I nodded. “Makes sense.”

“Hold onto me.” His voice left no room for argument.

I wrapped my arms around his waist, heart pounding as the familiar rush of teleportation hit. Seconds later, we stood at the forest’s edge.

Devon swayed, and I grabbed his arm. “You okay?”

He grunted. “Fine.”

“Really?”

Before he could answer, he pulled me close, teleporting us deeper into the forest.

He nearly collapsed on arrival. I steadied him. “Devon, what’s wrong?”

A low growl escaped him. “Nothing.”

Other growls surrounded us, growing louder, closer. The forest had swallowed the light, turning it almost pitch black.

My heart pounded as I crouched, placing my hand on the cold earth. Flames flickered, surrounding us in a protective circle.

“Devon?” My voice trembled. “Please tell me.”

He shook his head but grabbed me again. In a flash, we were out of the forest.

I steadied myself, watching as he gently set Kira down, then crumpled to the earth.

“Devon,” I whispered, cradling his head. “Please, what’s wrong?”

His crimson eyes shimmered with an unsettling red glow. “I’m… weak,” he admitted quietly.

I glanced up at the fading sky. We had to reach the half-breed before sunset.

I stroked his cheek. “Can you keep going?”

He nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. “I won’t let anything happen to you or Kira.”

Heat rose in my cheeks. I pressed a kiss to his forehead.

He hummed, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “I like that.”

I gently pushed his head away. “Get up, demon. No more collapsing.”

He chuckled as I stood, but when he rose, I caught him before he stumbled.

His fingers brushed my hair, tucking a loose strand behind my ear. The smile was thin but reassuring.

“I’m fine,” he insisted.

I frowned but let him go. He lifted Kira once more, swinging her over his shoulder.

“She’s heavier than she looks,” he muttered.

I smiled softly. Together, we pressed onward.

Please leave this chapter a vote, leave a comment, and share with another person❤️.