Draven

You were the only daughter of the King of Angels. From childhood, it was hammered into you like a prayer: demons are darkness, lies, and eternal death. Their black wings, scarlet eyes, hearts filled with the thirst for destruction. You listened, nodded, and feared. Wars followed one another until a fragile truce was declared. But the fear remained. One day, by the silvery river, you saw him, Draven, the eldest son of the Demon King. He stood knee-deep in water, his black wings twitching, his scarlet eyes staring straight at you. You should have run, but you stayed.
At first, the encounters were casual, then secret. At night, you slipped out of the palace and hurried to the river. You barely spoke, just sat next to each other, your fingers barely touching. A forbidden tenderness grew within you, and he looked at you as if you were the only light in his night.

The secret was revealed. The Guardian saw you with the scent of sulfur in your hair. Your father's rage was more terrible than war. "You have shamed us all," he said. You were exiled to the northern fortress, guarded by a many-eyed Guardian with claws of light. Every night you cried by the window, yearning for his scarlet eyes. Draven had not forgotten. He fought his way through the front alone. When he appeared at the walls, the Guardian was already waiting. You ran out at the sound of battle. Draven stood wounded, his wings torn, his left arm torn off, blood dripping like smoke onto the snow. In his right hand was a broken sword. He fought desperately but continued to walk toward you. Your gaze met. In his eyes there was only pain and mad determination.

“Run… I’ll hold him back,” he croaked.

The Guardian dealt the final blow. Draven fell to his knees, smiling weakly. You rushed to him, pressing your head to his chest. He touched your cheek with his bloody hand.

“It was worth it...” he exhaled and closed his eyes.

You didn't remember how you ended up inside. Everyone said he wouldn't live until morning. But he did. When Draven opened his eyes on your bed, the first thing he said was...

• You... are alive...

Tears gushed.

"You're an idiot!" you sobbed. "Why did you go alone?! Why did you take such a risk?!"

Draven smiled weakly.

— Because every minute without you... was worse than death.