TIMELINE: ONE MONTH BEFORE KILO ESCAPES HADES

DENZYL'S POV

I am lying in a room in the clan house when I wake. The crypt is gone and so is Devyn. Devyn!! Where is he? I sit up quickly and look around. A woman enters carrying a tray of ointments and medicines.

"Where's Devyn- was a human brought here?" I inquire of the woman. I startle her, the medicine bottles clinking together on the tray.

She nods.

"Where is he?"

"In the hold. Where we keep them."

The word them sparks a fire in my bones. Devyn is not one of them. At least not to me.

I throw back the blanket and rush out of the room. My family is shocked when they see me run through the house. I dash onto the busy street and race to the hold at the edge of the town.

They better have not touched a single hair!!

I burst through the door and rush to the cages to see a demon assaulting Devyn. I barge into the cell and get Devyn away from the demon. After gently setting the human on the ground and burning off his restraints, I turn around and face his attacker.

"What are you-"

I cut off the demon by punching him in the jaw.

"How dare you. Stay away from him," I hiss.

"How dare I? What say do you have? Is he yours? I didn't find your mark anywhere on his body. And trust me, I would have seen it if it was," Ryiak sneers.

I ignore Ryiak and help Devyn to his feet. Devyn leans against me as I wrap my arm around his shaking shoulder.

"You have no right to stop me," Ryiak smirks.

I turn to leave when Ryiak adds, "I'm going to claim him tonight...since you don't have the guts to take him. I've gotten quite attached to him, you see."

I stop in my tracks. I clench my jaw as I realize what I have to do. I cannot let Ryiak claim Devyn. I carefully spin Devyn and hold him from behind. He is too tired to resist and just leans against me.

"I'm sorry," I whisper before pressing my lips to Devyn's bare shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Ryiak asks as my eyes turn red. "No! I was going to do it! He's mine!"

I stare Ryiak down as I feel my power flow through my mouth and into Devyn. Devyn lets out a whimper as the heat burns my mark into his back.

"Denzyl."

Tears touch my eyes as I hear Devyn say my name through the pain, but I cannot stop. This is the only way I can protect him. I remove my lips to see the red glow of the fresh mark burned into him.

(This is the mark, except the mark is red)
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My eyes revert to their usual grey as I pull away. I can now feel Devyn's pain through the bond as some of my power and energy is burned into his body. Devyn's breathing eases as the pain slowly resides.

"Are you okay?" I reach for Devyn, but he shrinks away.

He retreats to a corner. "What did you to do me?" He asks between breaths.

"I'm sorry. It's the only way I could protect you."

"Congratulations, Denzyl. He's now officially yours."

I look at Ryiak to see an evil glint in his eyes.

"I'm curious to see how the elders will react to you marking a sacrificial human. This is gonna be fun," Ryiak smirks before sauntering out of the cage.

I watch Ryiak leave before turning my attention back to Devyn. I hear him gasp in pain as he pulls his clothes back on. He leans against the side of the cage after he slips my shirt back on.

"Devyn."

"Explain. Now. What is this?" Devyn looks at me through tired, scared eyes.

"It's...my mark. Each demon has their own, specific mark that signifies their power and identity."

"And why did you burn it into me?"

"So Ryiak, or any other demon, can't touch you. You're...mine." As soon as that word escapes my lips I feel disgusted with myself.

Tears swell in Devyn's eyes as he looks at me. "What...what are you going to do to me?" Devyn whimpers as he slides down the cage and sinks to the ground.

My heart breaks as I hear the fear and vulnerability in Devyn's voice. I can also feel a shadow of his emotions through the bond. I rush over to Devyn, but stop just in front of him. A tear escapes his eye as he looks up at me.

"I won't hurt you. I could never hurt you, Devyn." I bend down and slowly wrap my arms around the shaking human. "I'll protect you. I promise."

Devyn lets out a relieved whimper and rests his head on my shoulder and cries.

"Shhh. It's okay. I'm here," I sooth. I slowly bring my hand up and pet Devyn's head. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

I shift positions and sit next to Devyn. He leans on me and continues to cry...and I let him. I continue whispering soothing words and stroking Devyn's head as he cries out his fear, shock, and trauma.

My blood boils as I think back to what Ryak did. It takes every fiber of my being to not rush out after Ryak and rip out his throat. Eventually, Devyn's breathing slows and becomes quieter as he grows calm.

"Let's get you washed up, hmm?" I look down at the human softly.

Devyn nods his head. I stand, but Devyn remains sitting. "I-I...don't think I can walk yet." He says quietly as he lowers his head.

I reach down and gently scoop him in my arms. Devyn holds on to me as best he can as I carry him out of the hold. I take a route which bypasses the town and leads to my house at the opposite edge of town. Devyn closes his eyes and rests his head against me as I walk along the edge of town. He is fast asleep by the time I reach my private residence.

I enter the house and walk up the set of stairs, lights flickering on as I walk beneath them. I set Devyn on the bed in my room and find him the softest pair of clothes I have.

"Devyn," I gently nudge his arm. "You should get cleaned up."

"Mmm...too tired...Can you do it?" The human mumbles.

"What?" His words startle me, but I quickly regain my composure. I look at Devyn. His eyes are still closed.

"I want to wash him off, but I can't move. Can you bathe me?"

"You trust me?"

"Mmm hmm. Just get him off of me."

"Okay. I'm gonna get the water going."

Devyn nods, and I walk off to the bathroom. I turn on the water and make sure it is a comfortable temperature before returning to the bedroom.

"I'm going to undress you, okay?"

He nods. "Just get him off," Devyn begins to whimper and struggle to undress.

"Okay, I will. It's okay."

I calm Devyn down before gently slipping the shirt over his head. Devyn lies back down as I remove his pants. I lift him in my arms and carry him to the bathroom. The human relaxes as I set him in the hot water.

Devyn lets out a soft moan as I begin scrubbing his head after lathering it with shampoo. I cradle his head with my hand and gently lie him back so that the water covers his neck halfway. Supporting his head with one hand, I gently rinse his hair with the other.

Devyn leans against the back of the tub as I begin scrubbing his body. He winces slightly as I clean the fresh burn but does not resist. After the dabbing the mark dry, I gently work my way down Devyn's body until he is clean.

Devyn wraps his arms around my neck as I lift him from the tub and carry him to the bed. He is still holding my neck as I set him on the bed, bringing me a breath away as I lie him down. I place my hands on the bed and hover above him. My heart skips as Devyn's green eyes slowly open and gaze at me deeply. My desire surges, and I fight to keep it restrained. My eyes move down to his soft, red lips, and my heart feels as if it is going to explode out of my chest. I look up to stop my eyes from traveling down any farther.

"Uh...Devyn. I need-I need to get you dressed," I clear my throat and look back into his eyes.

Devyn nods before whispering, "Thank you...Denzyl." He slowly unwraps his arms from around my neck.

I quickly stand and grab the pair of clothes.

"It's so soft," Devyn smiles as I help him dress.

This is the first time I have seen him smile. My heart flutters as I look at his sweet smile. I retrieve a bandage and ointment from a cabinet in the bathroom and get onto the bed. Devyn looks up at me as I kneel over him. I gently turn him over and pull down his shirt. He grabs the sheets as I dab the ointment on the mark.

"Does it burn?" I ask as I notice him clenching onto the bed.

"Mmm hmm."

I bend down and gently blow on the wound. Devyn's grasp loosens, and his body relaxes. I put the bandage on and turn Devyn back over. I pull up the shirt to cover his exposed shoulder and help him under the covers. Once Devyn is comfortable, I go to the bathroom and shower.

I wipe the fog from the steam off the mirror to reveal my tired eyes. I look into the mirror and notice my wounds are gone. I run my hand over the area where Devyn stabbed me. Not even scars remain. How long has it been? How long were they watching us, waiting for the crypt to shatter? Will the elders let Devyn live?

I let out a breath and continue drying my hair. I will think about this later. I am too tired right now. After dressing into some comfortable clothes, I walk down to the lower level of the house to check the house's surrounding sensors and set the security to the highest level. The clicking of locks bolting in all of the windows and doors sounds throughout the house as the residence enters 'Red Level' security.

After getting the couch ready with a pillow and blanket, I walk back upstairs to check on Devyn. I sit on the edge of the bed and rest the back of my hand on his forehead. His temperature is normal, so I stand to leave. A hand reaches out and grabs my fingers as I turn.

"Can you stay?"

I turn back around and look down. Devyn's green eyes flutter open. "I don't want to be alone."

I nod and get into the bed. I slip under the blankets and lie down on the other side of the bed. I sigh and close my eyes, ready to finally get a good night's sleep when I hear Devyn roll over. A soft head touches my arm.

"Can you hold me?" He asks quietly. Slightly surprised, I raise my arm, and Devyn scoots closer. He nestles into me as I turn on my side and wrap my arms around him. "I feel safe...with you," Devyn says into my chest.

"Mmm. You're safe with me. I'll protect you." I hold him tighter and subconsciously rub my hand up and down his back in a soothing motion. Devyn sighs happily before snuggling in and falling asleep. I listen to his steady breathing and let it lull me to sleep.