CHAPTER FORTY (40)
The journey continued without pause.
The fortress had long since disappeared behind them, swallowed by the vast forest.
Only the rhythmic pounding of the demon beasts' feet remained.
Damiel sat silently, one arm still around Reyna.
Her head rested against his chest.
Then—
A faint sound reached his ears.
He lowered his gaze.
Another growl.
This time, there was no mistaking it.
Her stomach.
Damiel's brows drew together.
He looked down at the girl sleeping peacefully against him.
Of course.
He had forgotten.
Reyna was human.
He could go for long periods without food. So could most demons.
But she couldn't.
She must have been hungry for hours.
And judging from the way she had remained silent the whole ride without telling him, she probably hadn't wanted to disturb him by asking for food.
She really is stubborn.
His gaze remained on her head rested on his chest.
He remembered how she had insisted she could endure the ride.
How she always seemed more concerned about becoming a burden than taking care of herself.
Damiel exhaled quietly.
His eyes lowered again.
Azaelth was still there.
He could feel the ancient presence beneath his skin, unusually close to the warmth of Reyna against his chest.
It hadn't retreated.
It simply remained.
Damiel tried not to think too much about it.
Instead, he turned his head toward Kael.
"Kael."
Kael immediately looked toward him.
Damiel slowed his beast.
Kael increased his pace slightly to ride alongside him before slowing his beast as well.
They continued riding at the same pace.
"The food supply."
Kael understood immediately.
He reached behind him and untied the large leather bag secured to his saddle.
He held it out.
Damiel took it.
Roan and Zaiel watched from behind, neither saying anything.
Kael glanced down at Reyna.
She hadn't moved.
Her face was turned away from him, so all he could see was the back of her head.
Damiel rode ahead.
Then he placed the food beside him.
He stared at it thinking,
Should he wake her?
Or should he let her sleep?
She clearly needed the rest.
But she also needed to eat.
Damiel was still contemplating what to do when—
Reyna stirred.
Her fingers moved slightly.
Slowly, she lifted her head.
The tip of her forehead brushed lightly against his chest as she gently rubbed both eyes with her hands.
She looked completely unaware of where she was.
Still half asleep.
But greater than the sleepiness...
was hunger.
"Are you hungry?"
Damiel's cold yet calm voice immediately pulled her back to reality.
Her eyes widened.
She quickly raised her head, as Damiel stirred awake, moving around as though searching for where she was.
"Y-Your Highness..."
Damiel watched her.
He had noticed something about her.
Whenever she was startled, she called him by his title.
As though she needed the words to remind herself who he was, and what she was.
"I asked a question."
His voice was cold.
Yet smooth.
"No, Your Highness."
She answered his question immediately.
Then—
Grrrrrrr.
The sound echoed loudly between them, as though in protest of what she had said.
Reyna froze.
Her eyes widened in shock.
She immediately placed both hands over her stomach.
Damiel stared at her.
For a moment, there was silence.
"Hm."
Reyna lowered her gaze.
Damiel leaned slightly closer.
"I really should start punishing you every time you lie."
His voice dropped to a whisper beside her ear, as he continued.
"But it makes me wonder..."
His breath brushed against her skin as he tilted his head sideways.
"...how long you'll last, little lamb."
Reyna swallowed.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness."
She lowered her head.
"I didn't want to be a burden."
Damiel said nothing.
He simply picked up the food supply Kael had given him and placed it in her hands.
"Eat."
Reyna looked down at the bag.
"We still have some distance to cover."
She hesitated before opening it.
Inside were several small millet cakes, their surfaces lightly glazed with honey and wrapped carefully in broad leaves to preserve them during the journey.
Reyna picked one up.
She ate quietly.
Her head remained bowed.
She wanted to turn around.
It would have been more comfortable.
But doing so would mean changing her position, and that meant slowing them down.
She didn't want that
So she remained exactly where she was.
Damiel knew what she wanted.
He could feel the hesitation in the way she shifted.
Yet he preferred her this way.
Close.
Her warmth against him.
He didn't understand why.
And he didn't intend to question it.
Reyna continued eating.
Halfway through her meal, she suddenly paused.
She looked up.
"What about you?"
Damiel glanced down at her.
"Unlike you humans, we don't survive on food."
Reyna quietly nodded.
"Oh."
She lowered her gaze again and continued eating.
The journey went on.
By the time she finished, darkness had completely settled over the forest.
Reyna sat quietly for a while.
She was tired.
Very tired.
Her eyelids felt heavy again.
She wanted to rest her head against his chest again.
But she couldn't simply do that.
Not when she had already been allowed so much.
She shifted slightly, trying to find a comfortable position without inconveniencing him.
Damiel noticed.
He said nothing.
Instead, he lifted one hand from the reins and gently pushed her head against his chest, as Azealth immediately went where she was as he rested there again.
Reyna froze.
Damiel's voice was low.
"Move closer."
She looked up.
"You've been sitting in that position for hours."
Reyna hesitated, for a heartbeat before
She obeyed.
She moved closer.
Her cheek rested against his chest.
This time, she didn't fall asleep immediately.
She remained awake for several minutes, listening to the steady rhythm beneath his chest.
Then sleep slowly claimed her.
Damiel looked down as he felt her body relax.
She was asleep, he thought.
The night passed beneath the endless movement of the demon beasts.
When Reyna opened her eyes again—
The morning sun was shining directly in her face.
She blinked.
Her body felt stiff.
She had been sitting in nearly the same position for hours.
Slowly, she rubbed her eyes.
They were still riding.
She straightened herself and looked around.
Then she turned her head toward the distance.
Her eyes widened.
There.
Beyond the trees.
The capital fortress.
"You're awake."
Damiel's voice came from beside her.
Reyna turned toward him and nodded.
"Good morning, Your Highness."
Damiel gave a slight nod.
Then he slowed his beast.
"You can turn now."
Reyna blinked.
"We'll be there soon."
She stiffened slightly.
Her body had been in one position for far too long.
Unlike humans, the demons were accustomed to long journeys like this.
Reyna quickly turned around.
The moment she settled into the new position—
Damiel urged the beast forward again.
Faster this time.
Reyna immediately grabbed the saddle.
The capital gates grew larger with every passing moment.
Then—
A voice rang from the watchtower.
"Prince Damiel and his men are back!"
The guards immediately began opening the enormous gates.
"Open the gates!"
The gates swung apart.
Damiel and his men rode through.
Once inside, Damiel slowed his beast.
Several soldiers hurried toward him and bowed.
"Your Highness," they greeted.
Then they turned toward the men behind him.
"Welcome back, Generals." The soldiers greeted as they answered back with a nod.
The soldiers' eyes widened when they noticed Damiel riding with Reyna, but they quickly composed themselves and lowered their gazes.
"Anything different around here?"
One of the soldiers shook his head.
"No, Your Highness."
"Tell the king, the Captains, and the Council that I want them assembled in the hall immediately."
The soldier straightened.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"And make sure no one enters through this gate without my knowledge."
Damiel's eyes hardened.
"Not even animals."
The soldier nodded quickly.
"Yes, Prince Damiel."
They turned and hurried away to deliver the message.
Damiel watched them leave.
Then he turned toward his castle.
They rode directly to Damiel's castle.
The moment they arrived, servants hurried forward to greet them.
Inez stood in front of them.
The moment she saw Damiel and the others, her face lit up with excitement.
She looked over them all, relief and joy shining in her eyes.
"Welcome back, Your Highness," she said warmly.
Damiel dismounted first.
"Thank you, High Steward Inez."
Her gaze lingered lovingly on him.
"You returned safely, am glad"
"Hmm."
His response was short and simple.
Inez smiled even wider.
Then she turned toward the others.
Kael dismounted and approached her. His usual cold expression softened slightly as he greeted her.
"Lady Inez, it is good to see you again."
Inez smiled warmly.
"Welcome back, Kael. I hope the journey was not too difficult."
"It was manageable."
Roan stepped forward next, his face bright with his usual bubbly expression.
"High Steward Inez! Looking as beautiful as always!"
Inez laughed softly.
"Thank you Roan, and welcome back. You look as cheerful as ever."
"Of course! Someone has to keep everyone from looking too gloomy."
Zaiel smiled as he approached her.
"Oh you must be the new recruit, Zaiel." Inez said with her usual cheerful smile.
"Yes I am, and it's nice to finally meet you, didn't think you'll be this beautiful", Zaiel said.
"Oh you boys", Inez chuckled.
"Welcome back, Zaiel. It is wonderful to see you all safe." Inez chuckled.
Zaiel turned to help the servants offload the supplies from the beasts.
Around them, the servants began unloading the belongings.
Damiel then turned toward Reyna.
Without a word, he held out his hand.
Reyna looked at it briefly before taking it.
He helped her down from the beast.
She stepped onto the ground and immediately bowed.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Damiel gave no response.
Reyna then turned toward Inez.
She smiled.
"Good morning, High Steward Inez". Reyna said with a bow.
Inez's smile widened.
"It's good to have you back, Reyna."
Reyna nodded quietly.
The servants continued carrying the supplies inside as Reyna helped not wanting to be idle, while Zaiel helped them offload the supplies.
Soon Damiel and his men gathered together with Zaiel.
Go change to your uniform, let's head to the Main Castle to meet the others. Damiel said.
The journey was over.
But the real battle was only beginning.