I stared at Mal. Mal stared at me. Neither of us spoke for several seconds. Finally I pointed at him "You said our souls are connected."
"Yes."
"That sounds like a problem."
"It is." He agreed.
"Great." I dropped onto a broken stone bench and rubbed my temples. "You're telling me I accidentally summoned a demon king, made a blood contract, and now our souls are tangled together."
"Yes."
"And you're surprised?"
"Very."
I let my hands fall into my lap. "Why?"
Mal crossed his arms and raised a brow at me. "The ritual you activated should have created a temporary bond," he said.
"And instead?"
"It created something deeper."
"How deep?"
He tilted his head slightly. "I can feel you."
My stomach tightened. What kind of weird game was he playing. "Feel me how?"
"Your emotions."
Oh. So I guess he's not some creepy lust demon. Oh no.
"That explains a lot," he continued thoughtfully.
"Explains what?"
"You're currently terrified and trying very hard not to show it."
I straightened immediately. "I am not terrified."
Mal raised an eyebrow. "You are absolutely terrified."
"Stop reading my emotions." I snapped.
"Stop having them."
I glared at him. "This is already the worst contract I've ever signed."
Mal's lips twitched slightly. That was the first time I realized something. He looked amused. Not angry. Not threatening. Amused. Which was strangely less terrifying than I expected. Then something else hit me. "Wait."
Mal paused. "What?"
"If our souls are connected…" I trailed off in thought.
"Yes?"
"Does that mean you can hear my thoughts?"
His smile returned. "No."
I relaxed slightly.
"For now."
I stood up. "Fantastic." I took a few steps toward the tunnel entrance before stopping suddenly. Something tugged in my chest. Not pain. Not exactly. More like a rope pulling gently somewhere inside me. I turned. Mal hadn't moved but he looked confused.
"Why did that feel weird?" I asked.
"You moved too far."
"How far?"
"About ten steps." He said more like a question.
I stared at him. "You're joking."
"No."
I walked two more steps away. The tug turned into pressure. Then discomfort. I stopped immediately.
"You're telling me I'm magically on a leash."
"Temporarily."
"This contract is getting worse by the minute."
Mal seemed deeply entertained by my suffering. "Look on the bright side."
"There is no bright side." I almost screamed.
"You won't lose me in a crowd."
"I was hoping to." I narrowed my eyes at him.
He smiled. "Unfortunate." Then his expression shifted slightly. "Someone is coming."
My pulse spiked. "Guards?"
"Yes."
I groaned. "Of course they are."
Mal glanced toward the tunnel entrance.
"How many?"
"Four."
I looked at him. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"You're the demon king."
"Yes."
"Do something."
He sighed. "Humans are always in such a hurry."
Footsteps echoed down the tunnel. Torches flickered in the darkness. A voice shouted.
"This way!"
I turned back toward Mal. "Now would be a great time for the terrifying demon power."
Mal stepped forward calmly. "Very well." His eyes darkened further. Black smoke curled faintly around his fingers. When the guards burst into the chamber, swords raised They froze. Every one of them. Their faces went pale. One of them whispered "What… is that?"
Mal smiled. "Hello."