The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride
Chapter 84: A weird offering.

Chapter 84: A weird offering.

A thick and chilling silence coated the air. Their gazes flicked between one another, but Ren’s eyes found Kai’s. For a moment, neither spoke. Then, his fingers slipped from hers.

"Stay behind me," he commanded, guiding her back before drawing his sword in a fluid motion.

The next moment was a blur of steel and motion. A flash of silver and Kai struck.

The vampire shrieked, a high, piercing sound that scraped against the walls, vibrating through the stone like a death wail. Blood erupted into the air, splattering in dark arcs. Where the silver blade had carved through its skin, the skin blackened, sizzling, burning from the inside out.

Ren fought the instinct to shield herself, to squeeze her eyes shut against the sight and cover her ears from the wretched sound. But she couldn’t. She wouldn’t. If she wanted to understand, if she wanted to fight, she had to see everything.

"It works!" Rail exhaled, the relief in his voice unmistakable.

Kai wiped his sword clean of the vile substance that clung to its edge. Ren’s gaze drifted to the blade, catching the shimmer of silver beneath the bloodstains.

"You changed your sword," she murmured.

Kai gave a curt nod. "Just plated it with silver. We can’t forge strong weapons entirely from silver, it’s too fragile. And we can’t mix it with steel. I had to find another way to coat our weapons."

Ren nodded slowly, realization and relief washing over her. All this time, she had wondered where he had been, foolishly suspecting he was avoiding her... spending time with Elaika or some other woman. But in truth, he had been preparing for this.

"Not just silver."

Agara’s voice cut through the tension. He gestured toward Siamon. "Chain it back to the wall. We’ve seen enough. They’re evolving, faster, stronger, and hungrier."

Then, Agara turned toward Kai, his expression grim. "Calibsoe can kill them too."

"My father’s sword!" Kai sighed.

She had never known a sword could have a name. A name that carried weight, and power. But what unsettled her more was why Agara was wielding the demon god’s sword.

"That sword was forged in the Third Realm of the Heavens," Siamon declared, stepping out from the dark corner where he had just secured the creature back in its chains. His voice carried a significance of reverence. "It can destroy any evil that walks this world. It once belonged to a high saint before his corruption."

"That’s good Silver wounds don’t heal," Rail added grimly. "Our regular weapons? They’re useless unless we sever the head and burn the body."

Ren’s stomach tightened. That method took too long. These creatures moved faster than any human, faster than their swords could swing. Two of them alone were enough to tear through an entire group before anyone had a chance to react. Time wasn’t a luxury in battle, it was the thin cord of difference between life and death.

"I’ll make poison that can slow vampires, or even kill them." Ren declared, her voice steady despite the anxiousness curling in her chest. A part of her recoiled at the thought of using it on something that had once been human. Once. But now, it was something else entirely, a predator, a killer. Mercy had no place here.

"With silver?" Arkilla asked.

"Yes." Ren nodded. "I’ll use all the Devil’s Heart stem poison and mix it with silver powder. But I’ll need help."

Kai’s lips curled into a smirk, unwavering in his resolve. He loved how hardworking she was in saving others and beating down Luther. "We’ll help you."

°°°

After the suffocating tension in the cell, after staring into the face of something beyond fear itself, Ren needed air. She went to check on Ogain.

The little creature was playing, his boundless energy sending Org into a state of pure frustration. Ren let out a soft breath, watching the griffin toddle toward her, something clutched carefully in his beak.

She smiled.

The way he approached—head held high, steps precise—was almost majestic, as if presenting a sacred offering.

But when he placed the thing at her feet, her stomach lurched.

Her smile vanished.

A choked noise caught in her throat as the horror of it fully registered.

She staggered back, screaming.

Ogain flinched, eyes and wings widening in alarm. With a distressed cry, he bolted away, vanishing into the shadows of his nest, believing he had made some terrible mistake.

"Good Gods, is that a mouse? He actually hunted a mouse as an offering?"

Arkilla grimaced in disgust and gestured toward the corpse.

Ren closed her eyes to steady her breath. "Gamma Org, please take this out of my sight!"

The startled fledgling peeked at Org, his eyes following him closely as he took the mouse by the tail and tossed it out the window.

Ren felt awkward. She had just faced a disgusting vampire, and yet a mouse still managed to unsettle her, just like always. She knew her baby griffin was sincere in showing his love for her, but damn... a mouse?

"Wow, Your Grace! His love for you is so strong!"

Ren glanced over her shoulder. "Calisa! You’ve arrived."

She tried to push the image of the mouse from her mind and knelt down, calling softly to Ogain. "Come here, love. Sorry, I scared you."

Ogain lowered his head and leaped down, his claws scratching against the floor before he came to a stop, peering at her sheepishly.

"I’m not mad. Come here."

She extended her hand, and Ogain slowly padded toward her, pressing his beak into her palm. Ren lifted him into her arms and gently stroked his head.

"Calisa, I want you to help him learn how to fly."

Calisa’s eyes lit up with excitement. He straightened his shoulders. "Not everyone gets to see a griffin in their lifetime, and I’m allowed to teach him to fly? Are you serious, My Queen?"

Ren beamed. "I am. I want someone loyal, and you’re the best choice."

Calisa bowed his head. "It would be my honor. I’ll come every day after my classes."

The military academy was a massive structure on the eastern wing of the castle, built near a deep chasm. Those who trained there were under Kai’s supervision, and he used to visit three times a week to lead sessions. He might joke about shifters wielding swords and other weapons, but he was dead serious about this skill and insisted shifters should never rely solely on the powers they were born with.

"Alright then, I’ll leave him in your and Gamma Orgeve’s care. I believe starting from the forest is a good idea."

As she spoke, she set Ogain down and instructed him to listen to his tutors so he could grow strong. He listened intently as if understanding every word.

After leaving the nest, Ren and Arkilla found Agara waiting for them near the training hall entrance.

"Are you ready to begin your first magic session, Luna Queen?"

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l