Of Thorns and Ashes: Demon Sacrifices Duet, #2

By Kenzie Skye

Cyrus

 

Village Thorns has literally been the thorn in my side for centuries. I'm tired of their sacrifices, and after what happened to my brother, I'm even more determined to thwart the higher power that condemned us to this fate.

But when I can't fight the pull to collect my annual sacrifice, the little redhead might just be my undoing. She's feisty and won't let me ignore her no matter how hard I try.

 

I can't be swayed from my purpose, though—even if it means I have to burn Village Thorns and my entire kingdom to ashes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenzie Skye
• Release date: Jun 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215984949

Kenzie Skye

Kenzie Skye writes romance for every dimension. Her paranormal romances are over the top and always feature obsessed heroes who will do anything for the women they love. Go to www.authorkenzieskye.com for a free book!

Book preview

One

Cyrus

F uck you, you high-handed bitch! I roar at the priestess at the top of my lungs. Seriously, the bitch has a lot of nerve. I don't care if she is the ruler of this twisted universe.

First, she condemns my brother and me to our respective hells, and now she makes it so I can't even see him. The only thing that was keeping both of us at least partially sane was being able to travel to one another's kingdoms.

When we stumbled across the priestess that day in the field, our lives were irrevocably changed forever. All it took was one moment for her to shackle us to our doom. My brother was sentenced to eternity as the ice demon, while I was made the fire demon.

It's appropriate I guess because I'm angry enough to bring hellfire down on the entire world. I wish like hell I could use fire and brimstone on the cunt who sentenced us to this fate.

The worst part of all this is we never understood what we did to warrant this punishment. We were simply two normal demons, minding our own business. Did we inadvertently offend her, or are we just the unlucky pawns in her game of amusement?

I don't know, and at this point, I'm beyond caring.

I'm livid.

I refuse to do any more of your bidding! Do you hear me? I'm screaming up at the sky. I don't know where the priestess of the universe likes to hang out, but I imagine the high-handed bitch can hear me somewhere up there.

I refuse to go get the sacrifice she requires my brother and me to get annually. Hell, my brother went and got his, and now he's not to be seen or heard from again, so what's the point in obeying?

As if on cue, my disobedience lends itself to that telltale prickling of my skin. I grit my teeth together as those prickles begin to burn until it feels like fire is licking through my veins.

Motherfucker! I scream as I fall to my knees in agony.

I've never considered myself a weak demon, but I've never been able to withstand this fiery torment for long.

I fight like hell, of course—like I always do when I decide that I'm going to be defiant.

But in the end, I cave—and hate myself for it.

I stomp the entire way to the village, making it take as long as I can. Sure, I could teleport myself there in an instant, but I need the physical punishment, and if it'll prolong giving the priestess her way, then the merrier.

I finally reach the village and sneer when I see that the idiot villagers already have their young sacrifice ready.

Idiots, the entire lot of them, thinking that by giving away their beautiful young innocents, they somehow parry favor with us demons—as if we have the power to help them. Hell, my brother and I can't even help ourselves. No, all these humans are doing is condemning their own to death.

I do as I always do and stalk over to accept my sacrifice, intent on not paying her any attention. What good does it do to even feel sorry for them? There's nothing I can do to save them. I know that at this point.

But when I grab this girl's arm, an electric current zips through me like I've been zapped.

I glance at her without thinking, startled at the contact.

Big mistake.

She stares up at me with eyes as green as emeralds. Her face is framed with red locks that curl wildly across her shoulders and down her back.

Her little lips are shaped in a perfect bow, and they're sinfully pink and puffy.

She's the most mesmerizing thing I've ever seen in all my centuries of existence.

I can't help but feel drawn to her, my desire for her overwhelming my logical mind. I can hear her heart thumping against her chest, and I can smell the sweet scent of her innocence.

Who are you? I ask, my voice coming out like my throat is full of rocks.

Damn it.

My name is Mariah, she says, her voice trembling even as she juts her chin up at me defiantly.

I study her, intrigued not only by her beauty but by the bravery she's showing—so different from all the other sacrifices.

I'm Cyrus,