TIMELINE: ONE MONTH BEFORE KILO ESCAPES HADES
DENZYL'S POV
I am lying in a room in the clan house when I wake. The crypt is gone and so is Devyn. Devyn!! Where is he? I sit up quickly and look around. A woman enters carrying a tray of ointments and medicines.
"Where's Devyn- was a human brought here?" I inquire of the woman. I startle her, the medicine bottles clinking together on the tray.
She nods.
"Where is he?"
"In the hold. Where we keep them."
The word 'them' sparks a fire in my bones. Devyn is not one of them. At least not to me.
I throw back the blanket and rush out of the room. My family is shocked when they see me run through the house. I dash onto the busy street and race to the hold at the edge of the town.
They better have not touched a single hair!!
I burst through the door and rush to the cages to see a demon assaulting Devyn. I barge into the cell and get Devyn away from the demon. After gently setting the human on the ground and burning off his restraints, I turn around and face his attacker.
"What are you-"
I cut off the demon by punching him in the jaw.
"How dare you. Stay away from him," I hiss.
"How dare I? What say do you have? Is he yours? I didn't find your mark anywhere on his body. And trust me, I would have seen it if it was," Ryiak sneers.
I ignore Ryiak and help Devyn to his feet. Devyn leans against me as I wrap my arm around his shaking shoulder.
"You have no right to stop me," Ryiak smirks.
I turn to leave when Ryiak adds, "I'm going to claim him tonight...since you don't have the guts to take him. I've gotten quite attached to him, you see."
I stop in my tracks. I clench my jaw as I realize what I have to do. I cannot let Ryiak claim Devyn. I carefully spin Devyn and hold him from behind. He is too tired to resist and just leans against me.
"I'm sorry," I whisper before pressing my lips to Devyn's bare shoulder.
"What are you doing?" Ryiak asks as my eyes turn red. "No! I was going to do it! He's mine!"
I stare Ryiak down as I feel my power flow through my mouth and into Devyn. Devyn lets out a whimper as the heat burns my mark into his back.
"Denzyl."
Tears touch my eyes as I hear Devyn say my name through the pain, but I cannot stop. This is the only way I can protect him. I remove my lips to see the red glow of the fresh mark burned into him.
My eyes revert to their usual grey as I pull away. I can now feel Devyn's pain through the bond as some of my power and energy is burned into his body. Devyn's breathing eases as the pain slowly resides.
"Are you okay?" I reach for Devyn, but he shrinks away.
He retreats to a corner. "What did you to do me?" He asks between breaths.
"I'm sorry. It's the only way I could protect you."
"Congratulations, Denzyl. He's now officially yours."
I look at Ryiak to see an evil glint in his eyes.
"I'm curious to see how the elders will react to you marking a sacrificial human. This is gonna be fun," Ryiak smirks before sauntering out of the cage.
I watch Ryiak leave before turning my attention back to Devyn. I hear him gasp in pain as he pulls his clothes back on. He leans against the side of the cage after he slips my shirt back on.
"Devyn."
"Explain. Now. What is this?" Devyn looks at me through tired, scared eyes.
"It's...my mark. Each demon has their own, specific mark that signifies their power and identity."
"And why did you burn it into me?"
"So Ryiak, or any other demon, can't touch you. You're...mine." As soon as that word escapes my lips I feel disgusted with myself.
Tears swell in Devyn's eyes as he looks at me. "What...what are you going to do to me?" Devyn whimpers as he slides down the cage and sinks to the ground.
My heart breaks as I hear the fear and vulnerability in Devyn's voice. I can also feel a shadow of his emotions through the bond. I rush over to Devyn, but stop just in front of him. A tear escapes his eye as he looks up at me.
"I won't hurt you. I could never hurt you, Devyn." I bend down and slowly wrap my arms around the shaking human. "I'll protect you. I promise."
Devyn lets out a relieved whimper and rests his head on my shoulder and cries.
"Shhh. It's okay. I'm here," I sooth. I slowly bring my hand up and pet Devyn's head. "I won't let anyone hurt you."
I shift positions and sit next to Devyn. He leans on me and continues to cry...and I let him. I continue whispering soothing words and stroking Devyn's head as he cries out his fear, shock, and trauma.
My blood boils as I think back to what Ryak did. It takes every fiber of my being to not rush out after Ryak and rip out his throat. Eventually, Devyn's breathing slows and becomes quieter as he grows calm.
"Let's get you washed up, hmm?" I look down at the human softly.
Devyn nods his head. I stand, but Devyn remains sitting. "I-I...don't think I can walk yet." He says quietly as he lowers his head.
I reach down and gently scoop him in my arms. Devyn holds on to me as best he can as I carry him out of the hold. I take a route which bypasses the town and leads to my house at the opposite edge of town. Devyn closes his eyes and rests his head against me as I walk along the edge of town. He is fast asleep by the time I reach my private residence.