Runes of Truth (A Demon's Fall #1)(28)

“Let’s get you out, little girl,” Nix coos, and puts the cage on the floor, opening the locked door.

“Girl? How do you know?” Connor asks as we watch the tiger come out of the cage, stepping on the sand and watching us all.

“Just a guess, but she is too pretty to be a boy,” Nix shrugs. The tiger looks straight at me as Nix talks, and runs, jumping at the last second straight into my arms. She starts licking my face, and I pull her away from me, making her start to cry, so I hold her close again.

“She likes you,” Connor chuckles as I try to get the tiger to stop licking my chin.

“Can you blame her?” Nix grins, and I roll my eyes at him as I look down at her as she settles in my arms. I notice she has a collar on when she turns her head to lie on my arm, and I turn it around until I see the tag.

“She must have had an owner, she has a tag. Her name is Star, apparently,” I tell them, and they all step closer to inspect the tag. There isn’t anything else on it other than the name. The collar looks expensive though, with silver stars embedded into the black leather.

“Maybe I should catch up to them and find out where they stole her from,” I say, looking around, but I can’t see the traders anymore, they are long gone. “Or not.”

“They are likely dead, that means you will have to look after her,” Nix says, folding his arms. “Think of it as a present.”

“Er, nope. I don’t do pets, or cute animal sidekicks like heroes have in movies. I’m not the hero here, buddy,” I say, making them all chuckle at me as I scowl at them. I try to put Star in Nix’s arms, but she cries, crawling on my chest, and scratching me.

“Alright! Fine!” I say, glaring at the stupidly cute animal, and walking back to the rocks. Trex just raises his eyebrows at me.

“Don’t say a word. Not one word,” I warn him, opening my bag and looking down at Star.

“I will carry you, but you have to go in the bag in case I need to fight. Do you understand?” I ask, and then realise I’m talking to a tiger who can’t understand me. I’m surprised when she doesn’t fight me as I place her in my bag doing up the sides a little bit to hold her in. She puts her paws out, tilting her head as she looks up at me with a happy expression. I don’t know how to explain that I know she is happy, she just looks it. I would let her walk, but the sand is deep, and we don’t have any kind of lead.

“Here,” Trex kneels down next to me, offering Star a stick of jerky. She jumps and snatches it out of his hand, lying down in the bag to chew it.

“Thanks,” I say, for Star. “Didn’t know you had a kind side.”

“I wouldn’t want her to starve, that’s all,” he grumbles at me and stands up, walking away to grab his bag. I lift my bag on my back, trying not to swear at how heavy Star makes it now.

“Let’s go,” I say, walking straight towards the pyramids, with a purring, cute tiger as a new friend.





Evie


“Why do demons end up with so many blondes in hell?” Connor asks, and I raise my eyebrows at him.

“Not another bad joke. You really aren’t going to make me laugh by telling me these. Hasn’t the last half an hour taught you anything?” I say, and he laughs.

“Nope. And the answer is . . . because they’re so hot! Get it,” he knocks my shoulder, and I just shake my head at him. “Okay, okay. What do I need to do to make you laugh, then?” he asks me.

“Nothing, I don’t know,” I mutter.

“I will find a joke that makes you laugh one day, blue,” he grins, and it makes me smile. No, he won’t, but I’m not going to burst his bubble. I look forward as we walk over a sand dune, seeing the entrance to the pyramid. There are demons everywhere, walking around the small market outside the entrance. We will have to keep our heads down to get through them and hope no one important notices us. I hold my hand up, waiting for the others to catch up to me. They all stop, sliding their bags off, and getting out their water for a drink. I do the same, reaching around Star who is sleeping in the bag, snoring loudly. I gave her some water an hour ago, so I know she is alright. Cute little tiger. I drink my water, pouring some on my face to wash the sweat away, before speaking.

“We are getting close, and we can expect there will be something waiting for us. Whoever took your princesses must know we killed and escaped their traps by now. Demons talk,” I tell them. Trex picks his axe up, holding it on his shoulder.

“We will be ready,” he says.

“Everyone be ready and keep your heads down. None of us look like demons, other than red eyes over here,” I point a finger at Azi.

“I will walk ahead,” Azi says and walks off before we can agree with him. I catch up, walking just behind him as we go down the sand and towards the stone path where there are a few demons dotted around.

“How much do you trust these Protectors?” Azi asks me quietly, never turning to look at me as he speaks.

“Not at all,” I answer simply. They could betray me at any second.

“I could take you out of here, and we could get Hali back together,” he whispers. I look back at Connor a few steps behind me, and then Trex and Nix.

“It wouldn’t work. Trust me, I have thought about killing them and leaving here, but that risks Hali’s life. I can’t do that,” I whisper back. We walk past a few demons talking quietly, their eyes watch us with curiosity, but they don’t move.