Once Upon a Demon's Heart (Cruel Fates #1)

by K.M. Moronova

I wasn’t prepared for his girth. The sudden intrusion and stretch tears a scream from my throat. Kalel’s hand comes down hard over my mouth as he ruts into me ha...

“You made me a monster. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.” He stares down into my watery eyes as he thrusts his hips into me like I’m nothing more than a ragdoll. His face is contorted with hatred,...

I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down so our chests a...

“I would take your suffering if I could.” I hug him tightly. He allows it for a moment, then seems to remember himself and pulls away.

Kalel’s arms are veiny as he stares down at me. Furious tears fall from his tormented eyes and pelt my face. I catch myself admiring how beautiful he is when he lets his emotions bleed into the night. How he alone is a somber song only the nightingales know.

Kalel resumes his ruthless thrusts. His hand is heavy against my lips, keeping all my cries and screams muffled. I hate me too. I try to tell him with my gaze, but only streams of tears fall from each of my temples. His jaw flexes and he looks away sharply. He pumps his hips into me a few more times before cussing and abruptly withdrawing from me. He pulls his pants back up, snags his coat, and storm...

I carefully rise, feeling bruised everywhere, but especially at my core. He was merciless and rough just as he said he would be. I’m glad for it. It makes it easier to see him as the devil he is. It hurt, but...

I collapse in my nest. Thinking of death and how it would ease the suffering I’ve brought everyone in this world. Yet even death itself evades me. He hates me. I can’t stop thinking about the way he looked at me with such loathing. The thoughts remain in my head until dawn. Sleep eludes...

“Here, wear these.” He tosses a bundle of clothes at me. I unravel them and find a cream colored, thicker long-sleeved garment, winter-grade pants, and a fire fox cloak. A frown pulls at my lips at his kind gesture, but I’m not about to decline it. The cold allows no mercy, and after yesterday’s horrendous trek, I don’t think I’d make it without the extra warmth today. Is he just going to pretend last night didn’t happen? I wonder as I lift the cloak to admire its quality.

A small necklace falls onto my lap. It’s the one Korin gave me—I thought they’d thrown it away with my other belongings. I raise a brow and look up at Kalel. He’s watching me closely and takes a deep breath when our eyes connect before forcing his gaze to the ground.

“I had it fit with a warding charm,” he says gruffly, refusing to look at me. My brows pull closer together. He kept it for me. I clutch the necklace, the only thing I have left of Alzhor, and try to not ...

Kalel’s cheeks are starting to turn red. “Having to scent you is causing my heat cycle to flare up.” He covers his mouth as he says it, looking like he’s about to be sick. I know our kinds find each other repulsive, but I thought Kalel was the most beautiful creature I’ve laid eyes on. He must feel differently… and for some reason that hits me in the gut. “You need to wear it to prevent any more,” he clears his throat, “mishaps.” My eyes widen as I finally understand.

“Oh. I didn’t know that was something demons were affected by. I didn’t even know you experienced them. Why is it happening? Have you had a heat before?” My eyes travel to his hands. There are bite marks on them, and they look like they belong to him. Was he trying to desperately stop himself last night? My thighs ache with the memory of his ruthless thrusts.

His eyes narrow with annoyance. “Haven’t you been educated in scenting and heat cycles?” I lift a shoulder and let it fall. “No, I’m the only daughter of Venus in Alzhor. Demigods don’t ...

He opens his mouth a few times like he wants to say something, but he can’t get the words to come out. Finally, he says quieter, “I shouldn’t have to explain this to you.” Kalel drags a heavy hand through his hair and sighs. “The scenting I did last night is something only partnered demons do with one another, so the act of it increases our natural instincts. I’m not one t...

“Kalel, I have frequent heats, and I know how painful they can be. It’s okay if you need to do it again.” My voice waivers and I try not to dwell on the way his shoulders tense. I focus my attention on the tips of his ears and how red they turn. He drags a hand down his jaw with discomfort as he shifts to face me. “I’m sorry if I… if I frightened you last night.” His eyes soften as he stares ...

The healer made quick work of me this morning, and I’ve been relieved all day that I didn’t have to ride a horse with soreness.

It’s the first day that I don’t feel entirely drained from the ride, so I decide to sit by the campfire and listen in on some of the knights as they share stories of their families. The longer I sit here, the more burdensome the guilt of what I’ve done becomes. They’re talking about their loved ones just as demigods do.

I jolt when I hear footsteps. I conclude that it must be Kalel, so I let my shoulders relax and continue looking over the landscape solemnly. Two hands slam down onto my shoulders and shove me to the ground. The snow is easily a foot deep, and it instantly pushes up into my shirt. The cold stings my skin, muddling my senses as I turn to face my attacker. My heart drops.

There’s more than one. It’s a group of angry soldiers, still dressed in their armor. Three of them surround me with a fourth on his way up the slope. “You killed my cousin, you witch,” One of them snarls at me, unsheathing his sword. My heart skips a beat. I’m unarmed and defenseless. The others glare at me with hatred. “You killed my fiancé.” “My childhood home was burned down by your soldiers.”

“I’m your duke’s betrothed. Don’t you want this godsforsaken war to end?” I shout, gnashing my teeth together and shaking my head with frustration.

The broad-shouldered demon closest to me cackles. The hair on the back of my neck rises as I prepare to fight for my life. “You think we want peace? Now of all times when we finally had you abominations cornered? All it would’ve taken is a single breath and we would finally be rid of the demigods for good.” His grip adjusts on his handle and I move just in time as he swings his sword at me.

“I don’t want to hurt any of you.” My voice gets stolen from me as a sword is swung across my shoulder blades. A pained scream is torn from my lips as I’m thrown down into the snow again. Panic races through my veins and my heart pounds loudly in my ears. They're on top of me swiftly, like wolves to sheep, covering my mouth so I can’t scream again.

My shoulders are hot and wet, but I can’t feel the pain yet. The adrenaline coursing through my body is similar to what I experienced each time Kalel killed me. Am I going to die? What will happen to me if I kill them? I don’t know what Kalel will do as punishment. He wouldn’t believe me, that I’m sure of. I swallow slowly and take in the rage that floods through the demons’ eyes.

“Hand me your devilstone,” the one keeping me pinned to the ground snaps at his comrade. A small black rock that resembles coal is passed over my head. Devilstone? How do they have one of those? Horror races across my expression. I thought they were all destroyed in the raid Apollo led five centuries ago.

Demigods’ flesh burns when touched by the stones—gods all but turn to ash if they get too close, which is why they were obliterated. It was too great a weapon against the deities. Well, we thought they were all destroyed. Clearly not, though. Have they dug up more in the underworld? A cry bubbles up from my thro...

“So, it’s true then. Demigods can be hurt by the stones.” He barely touches my neck with it and a deep burning sensation spreads. I scream but it’s muffled by another knight’s hand. “Amazing,” he mutters emptily as he stares down at my neck. I try thrashing from their hold but get nowhere. “Don’t worry, I won’t damage your pretty face. But if you think we’re g...

My blood turns cold. He’s going to use the stone on my reproductive organs. I try to tell them to stop, but the words are muffled by the gloved hand.