Awakening the Demon's Queen (15 page)

“
Hello, brother. You’re
looking pleased with yourself. What have you done?”

“
Just changed the future of
our kingdom, pet.”

“
I love how you think every
action you take affects the world.” Danae had a snarky spirit that
Rathan had always adored. “You’re an egomaniacally arrogant demon,
Rath.”

“
But one you adore.” He
smiled at the girl then turned serious. “Have you heard anything
from Ren’s camp?”

“
Nothing that tells me that
he’s trying to overthrow you. Are you sure he is? I mean, he’s our
brother, too.”

“
Half, pet. Half. It means
the world of difference to Renakletos. And do not forget that his
mother was one of those rare breeds of women, a
Warrior.”

“
I did hear something of
that nature. Seems that the king of Warriors is seeking ways to
compensate for his people’s serious lack of females. Said he’s
consulted witches, warlocks, and Druids. Sent his people to the
other kingdoms searching for answers. Rumor also has it he was
given a prophecy about how to help his people.”

Rathan filed that information away for a
later time. “Many of our kingdoms face dire situations now. I
believe it was predicted centuries ago.”

“
And our situation is just
political. At least we don’t have to worry about not having any
women. There are plenty of demon women. And plenty of us witchy
women!”

“
And I am thoroughly
grateful that you are the main witch in my life, pet. Discounting
Mother, of course.”

“
Of course, but who counts
her anyway?” Danae leaned against the wall and peaked through the
ether into his new quarters. “You in a prison somewhere? This isn’t
exactly Hottie Wolf’s house.”

“
Stop that!” Her persistent
crush on Rand was the one thing that filled him with consternation.
His sister was not to think of any male that way. It was not right.
“And he’s found his mate, so now he’s off limits.”

A sadness entered Danae’s eyes. Rathan could
have cursed himself; most witch females found their mates long
before their seventieth year. That Danae hadn’t was a sore spot for
the girl, and she had been the brunt of sharp ridicule at their
mother’s hands because of it. Rathan knew Danae wondered about her
mate, and whether she would spend her life alone.

Loneliness was a real bitch; Rathan knew that
keenly.

His thoughts turned to his woman. He would
never feel that loneliness again. It would take him time, but he
would see to that they were happy together. They both deserved it.
“I need you to do something for me, poppet.”

“
Anything except save the
world.” She smiled then, her blue witchy eyes flashing her humor.
“I’ve not the power to do that, yet.”

“
Yet. You will. You were
destined for great things, little one. I need you to contact
Phelius, our chief healer. I want him to record every bit of
medical science we have.”

“
Wow. Sounds like something
major is going down?” Her words held a definite hint of her
curiosity. She was smart, inquisitive, humorous, and good-hearted.
She had been raised well and he took great pride in
that.

“
It is. I have spawned,
little sister. With a Dardaptoan woman.”

“
A
dar
-what woman? Is that even close to
being a demon?”

Rathan thought a moment. “I suppose so. They
are close to the human legends of vampires. Have you never met
one?”

“
Nope. Someone keeps me
pretty well sheltered here at Castle Doom.”

“
It’s for your protection,
poppet.”

“
Yet you get to go out and
travel the worlds? Sexist, big brother. Someday, I will go on a
remarkable journey. Just you wait. Anyway, back to the
dar
-what woman. Is she
nice, is she good to you? When will the spawn be here? Why this
medical stuff now?”

Rathan smiled then turned more serious as he
thought of threats that now hung over his woman and spawn.
“Dardaptoan people are sophisticated in many ways, but they were
cursed by a god centuries ago.”

“
Why?”

“
Something to do with the
goddess who created Dardaptoans falling in love with
him.”

“
She fell in love with him
and he cursed her? Wow. Thought our people were vindictive and
crazy. Go on.”

“
He spurned her, she got
angry and turned his people into what amounts to
werewolves—”

“
Like Hot Stuff Taniss. Ok.
Continue.”

“
She tried to fix what she’d
done but it was too late. He cursed her people to have primitive
medical care that nothing of their world can fix, no matter what,
and cursed the women—including her—to be weak
physically.”

“
And you think that
something of our world can help them?”

“
Mesmus
works beautifully on her.”

Danae groaned. “Don’t tell me you knocked her
out to spawn. You know that’s illegal in several realms,
right?”

“
No, nothing like that. She
was attacked by a Lupoiux and hit her head. I simply killed the
pain. Something they do not even have. Pain killers. I cannot have
someone as delicate as she going through spawning with no pain
killers!”

Danae sobered. “I get it, big brother. I’ll
get you whatever I can find, through this entire damned realm.”

“
Good girl. I will check
back with you tomorrow.” Rathan watched as she nodded and stepped
back toward the ether. “Take care, poppet. Soon, I will return and
the kingdom will be whole once again.”

“
See that you do. In the
meantime, I will prepare the people.” She waved a hand and the
black mist she had arrived in parted. “Love you,
brother.”

“
And I you,
sister.”

****

She was stretched out over the silk blankets
when he returned to her side. One delicate female hand rested over
the spot where their babe nestled within her. Rathan raised that
hand to his lips before returning it to its resting spot. She
hummed before rolling to her side. Satin pajamas in Dardaptoan
white hugged her thin body, separating her skin from his. He was
torn; should he wake her? Feed from her like he so wanted, or let
her get the rest she so obviously needed. Dark circles were visible
under her eyes even in the low moonlight shining through her
windows.

That made his decision for him. He lifted her
carefully, smiling when she snuggled her head on his shoulder. One
handed, he pulled the blanket back and placed her lovingly on the
sheet. He pulled the blanket over her, not wanting his little
Dardaptoan to get chilled. He shucked his clothes with barely a
thought, then slipped beneath the blanket with her. He would hold
her through the night, and do nothing more. On his honor, he would
do nothing more.

Chapter
Seventeen

She was warm and comforting arms surrounded
her. She knew who it was, too. It was not Iavius; this smelled and
felt like the demon. Gods, it felt good to be held again. Kindara
opened her eyes to find the male responsible for her current
predicament sound asleep in her bed. Kindara sat up and grabbed the
nearest thing she could. She thumped the demon in the head with the
medical book she’d placed on the nightstand days ago.

He jerked awake with a curse on his lips and
hell in his eyes. “You hit me.”

“
I hit you. What the two
hells are you doing in my bed? Can you not understand that I don’t
want you here?”

“
But I belong here. And will
be here, no matter what.” He grabbed her shoulders and nudged her
backward. For some reason Kindara couldn’t figure out, she didn’t
fight him. “You will not hit me again.”

“
Or what? You’ll leave?” She
pushed against a naked demon chest, fighting the urge to sink her
claws in and hold on. “How is that a problem? This is my space. My
space. It’s rude, arrogant, and completely disrespectful for you to
flash yourself in here!”

Momentary regret showed on his face, but he
seemed to push it away. He pulled her wrists together over her head
and held them there with one hand. He liked her in that position;
she knew it and he knew it. She fought the urge to squirm beneath
him.

“
I will be by your side as
much as I am able. To protect you and to protect our
spawn.”

“
Stop calling it
that!”

“
Calling it what? He is
ours.”

“
Spawn. It sounds so evil.
So wrong. It’s a babe. A baby. A baby...” Terror hit her and she
fought the urge to roll into a ball around the babe.

She couldn’t do it again. It just wasn’t
possible. But she could see tiny hands and feet, bright eyes, and a
toothless grin. Like Jierra. And it was real. Barlaam had confirmed
it. There was a babe; one that was hers and this demon’s. How could
she handle that?

The demon must have sensed how she felt. His
features softened, his arms tightened. Instead of a threatening
male pushing her back into the bed cushions, she had a pair of
loving arms pulling her close. His words were soft when he
whispered, “Demon babes are strong and hardy, my pet. We will not
lose this one. This I swear to you. And I am here. You will not
face any of this alone. You have my oath on that.”

She only wished she could believe him. “Go
away, demon. I need to sleep, and I am used to sleeping alone.
Please.”

****

If she had not said
please
he probably would
have stayed. Rathan flashed back to his quarters and stared at the
empty bed. It looked cold and boring, though it was designed to be
inviting. But she was not there. His skin crawled with the idea
that his woman and spawn were somewhere without him, completely
unprotected. He grabbed a pillow and blanket and returned to the
hallway outside her door. She might not want him in her space with
her, but she was for damned sure not keeping him from protecting
his family. He spread the blanket out over the floor next to her
door, as close to the wall and out of the way as possible. He had
slept in far worse places in his two thousand years of life than a
luxury hotel hallway. He would rest here, then be ready to join her
in the morning on all her day’s adventures.

He slept lightly, listening for sounds or
indications that his woman needed him. He would be there in an
instant.

****

A booted foot plowed into his abdomen,
jerking him awake.

“
A demon. In my hall.”
Kindara’s brother stared down at him, evil clear on his darkly
menacing face. “I used to have to hunt your kind; you’re making it
almost too easy.”

“
Even if I were not a guest
in your home, to kill me while I sleep would hardly be sporting.
And your woman would probably object. She likes me.” Rathan stood
unhurriedly, though he was poised to strike if the brother of his
woman made so much as a threatening move in his direction. “Where
is the beautiful Jocelyn?”

The Dardaptoan’s face darkened. “Do not speak
of her.”

“
Why? Is she well?” Rathan
tensed even more. “I will tell you, Dardaptoan, I will kill and die
for her. She had best be happy and healthy next I see
her.”

“
And if not?” The challenge
was all the more lethal due to the quiet assurance in the male’s
tone.

“
Then you will not live
long, despite your training in murdering my kind.” Rathan meant it.
“It is only your connection to my woman that you still live. How
many of my kind have you killed?”

Predatoi were loathed by demons. Much like
Lupoiux were loathed by the Dardaptoans.

“
I only kill to survive.
Except Taniss. I’ll kill a Taniss on sight. And any affiliated with
them.”

Rathan smirked. “Until now.” He sobered. “If
you have hurt that child any more than she already has been, I will
kill you. Josey is as special to me as my own wee sister. Do you
understand? I expect you to treat her at least half as well as I
will treat your own sister.”

“
That will be impossible;
you will not be around my sister much longer to treat her in any
way.”

Rathan hesitated. Kindara’s brother was a
killer; that was written on the male’s face. But Kindara and now
Josey cared for the male. Put him in a hell of a position. Had it
not been for the women Rathan would have quickly dispatched the
male. “That is not for you to decide. Kindara is my concern now.
You tend your own woman, I’ll tend mine.”

The Dardaptoan slammed his arm into Rathan’s
throat. Rathan let him back him up to the wall next to Kindara’s
room. The Dardaptoan got in his face. “You go near my sister again,
I’ll kill you. War or not. Demon king or not. No one hurts Kindara.
No one.”

Rathan jerked the Dardaptoan to his knees as
the scent of sulfur rose around him. The Dardaptoan’s eyes met his,
fury clear on the younger male’s face. Rathan let the flames free,
knowing the full power of his rank and family would be visible in
his eyes. “I will never hurt your sister. I do not hurt what is
mine. Learn your place, brother. For we will be family soon. I will
have her.”

He felt the door behind him begin to open and
he fell to the ground, placing himself in a supplicant position to
the Dardaptoan.

“
Cormac! What are you
doing?” His woman’s voice held the indignation that Rathan had
counted on. A woman such as her, a healer with a heart made of
compassion, would side with whomever she thought was being
tormented. Bullied.