The Demon King's Vow

CHAPTER 5

Syrrel hadn’t expected Sael to agree so easily.

Actually, she hadn’t expected him to agree at all.

The speed with which he accepted the binding vow was nearly unsettling. His response had been too quick, too eager, as though he were agreeing to spend the night at a fair and not something that put the safety of the entire kingdom on the line.

Not like she truly expected him to give a damn about the safety of the kingdom, of course.

The terms of the vow were clear, though the consequences of breaking a binding vow were far beyond her comprehension. But Syrrel couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right. Sael doesn’t do anything for free. The thought lingered, heavy and unwelcome.

Ellis, unaffected by the tension, moved swiftly to complete the vow. In a matter of moments, the bond was placed with a crackle of energy that vibrated throughout the room and made her teeth clench. The surrounding air thickened, almost oppressive in its intensity. Ellis clapped once, a sharp, decisive sound that seemed to sever any lingering weight.

He stepped back, grinning as though nothing of consequence had just occurred. He raised a hand, gesturing to the guards who were peeking inside the cell without looking at them.

"You can remove his chains now. He can’t hurt you." His casual tone was nearly a mockery of the gravity of the situation. Just another Tuesday, it seemed to imply. Syrrel fought to remain composed and not roll her eyes.

The guards exchanged hesitant glances, their faces pale in the dim torchlight, like the act of standing in the room with Sael might burn them alive.

Still, the guards complied, though the trembling in their hands was obvious as they approached the dark figure bound in his prison. The chains clinked loudly as they were removed, a deafening noise in the stillness. But when the final link was broken, the release of tension in the room was palpable.

For a fleeting second, Syrrel almost found herself smiling at the spectacle. It was almost comical, the way the guards bolted back, as though releasing him could somehow unleash an explosion. The fear in their eyes mirrored the tension weighing in her gut, a discomfort she couldn’t fully mask. But then she shifted her focus, drawn back to Sael.

He rolled his shoulders in a slow, almost languid movement, each muscle shifting beneath his skin like something alive, stretching and snapping back into place with a quiet groan. The sound of his joints popping was thunderous in the quiet of the room, and Syrrel couldn’t help but feel a shiver dart down her spine.

His arms, immense and coiled with muscle, lifted with a grace that didn’t seem like it could belong to a creature of his size. The movement was fluid, but it was also terrifying, like watching the stretching of a lion’s limbs before it pounced.

She instinctively took a step back, her pulse quickening.

Sael was enormous; monstrous, even. She had heard the legends, the whispered stories, but nothing had prepared her for the raw, overwhelming presence that stood before her. The tales didn’t do justice to the true scale of him, the sheer magnitude of his form.

Broad, powerful shoulders, a chest that seemed to be carved from stone, dark tattoos that nearly writhed with a life of their own—he was a walking embodiment of chaos. Every inch of him radiated danger, as though he could obliterate anything with a thought, a flick of his wrist.

Despite everything she knew about him, her breath caught in her throat. He wasn’t just some ancient living legend, bound by chains. He was something far worse: a living, breathing nightmare that had been unleashed. And now he was free. And he was beautiful, in a way that could make even angels weep.

It wasn’t f*****g fair.

His eyes flicked toward her, glinting with amusement as if he could sense the flutter of her heart. She wouldn’t be shocked if he could. There was something darkly predatory in his gaze, as though he found her discomfort amusing. He probably did. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Just her and the King of Demons, their fates now inexplicably tied.

Sael’s eyes remained locked on her, his gaze an unsettling mix of amusement and something darker. Syrrel could feel the blood pulsing in her ears, her heart pounding against her ribs as she tried to steady herself. He was an elemental force of nature, and now that he was free of his chains, she began to doubt how much control she truly had over the situation.

The air between them was charged, but it was Ellis who broke the tension, his voice light as always. He raised a hand, waving it in front of him as though dismissing the entire room’s unease.

"Alright, alright," Ellis said, his grin wide and unbothered as he casually strolled to the center of the cell. His carefree demeanor was almost a mockery of the moment, as if he hadn’t just bound an ancient, malevolent curse to the heir of the kingdom. "Let’s recap, so we’re all on the same page. You’re stuck with Sael now, Sunshine, and trust me, he’s going to be with you every step of the way."

Sael didn’t speak, but the slight curl of his lips was enough to make Syrrel’s skin prickle.

Ellis continued, either blissfully oblivious to Sael’s amusement, or uncaring. Syrrel wasn’t sure which was worse. “Now, a few things to go over. Sael will be by your side at all times during the day. All day, every day, unless… well, unless you’re sleeping or bathing, of course. Otherwise, he’s not going anywhere.”

Syrrel’s brows furrowed at the mention of bathing. She could feel her cheeks flush at the thought of that kind of proximity. Her gaze shifted nervously, but again, Ellis either didn’t notice or didn’t care.

"It’s simple," Ellis went on. "As already stated, Sael can’t harm you or anyone else unless they directly threaten your life. The rest of the time? He’s your guard. He’s bound to keep you safe, even if you piss him off." He turned toward Sael, giving him a wide, sarcastic grin. "Isn’t that right, King of Demons?"

Sael’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of something else beneath the surface. A dangerous, almost hungry look that made Syrrel’s stomach twist uneasily. Sael said nothing, but his silence spoke volumes. He had no intention of being any less than what Ellis had promised; or perhaps he intended to be more.

"The two of you will be inseparable. Meals, walks, all of it. Wherever you go, he follows. This is how it is now, for your own safety. Got it?" Ellis raised an eyebrow at Syrrel in question.

Syrrel nodded slowly. She understood the gravity of the situation, understood it with a sharp clarity, but that didn’t stop the dread from creeping into her thoughts. What had she agreed to, really?

Deep breath in, an attempt to steady the storm of emotions swirling in her chest. I can do this, she thought. The weight of the responsibility that now lay on her shoulders, the expectations of those around her, the uncertainty of having a beast by her side, all of it seemed almost impossible to bear.

"Alright," she replied, her voice far steadier than she felt. "Then let’s go."

Ellis beamed, clearly pleased with the progress, and gestured to the door with a dramatic flourish. "Excellent! Now, if you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to your new quarters. We’ve got to make sure everything’s set up properly for the king’s—" He shot a playful glance at Sael, who didn’t even acknowledge him this time, "—comfort."

Syrrel forced herself to nod. With a final, lingering glance at Sael, she turned, feeling the weight of his presence follow her.