Awakening the Demon's Queen (9 page)

His suite of rooms was on the top floor and
he carried her there, depositing her in the center of his bed. He
stripped off his clothing, then slid in beside her. She snuggled
into him, resting her head on his chest like they’d slept together
a thousand times before, instead of a handful.

He closed his eyes and gently slipped into
her dreams.

Chapter Nine

Kindara stared up at the red and black canopy
over her head. It hadn’t been there when she’d slipped into sleep.
The demon hadn’t been wrapped around her, either. He lay quietly,
staring at her.

“
This wasn’t part of our
deal.”

“
Our deal was you’d feed me
until you went home.”

“
No, it was that I’d feed
you until you took me to my daughter. You’ve done that. And I’ve
held up my end of the bargain.” Kindara pushed the blankets aside
and sat up. “Now I want to contact my brother and have him come get
us.”

“
He’s already been
contacted. He and your king.”

“
And?” Kindara evaded the
hands sneaking around her waist. “Stop that.”

“
The king was made an offer.
He could bring two of Rand’s relatives here by noon today, and we’d
discuss a truce. Or a trade.” His eyes flashed once before he
sprung at her. He knocked her flat against her pillow. His lips
covered hers and his fingers sank into her hair. His other hand
dropped to the front of her shirt, and began flicking open buttons.
He pulled back to stare at her. “But I’ve decided not to trade you
back.”

“
Excuse me?”

“
You heard me. I’ve decided
to keep you.” He grinned, his eyes telling her exactly what he
wanted from her.

“
What about your vow? Won’t
you die if you break it?”

“
Absolutely not. Just be a
bit painful for a few years. But you...I’ve decided you’re worth
the pain.” He pushed the pajama top off her shoulders. His hand
dropped to cover her breast. “Now, feed me. I’m starved for you.
And I think you want me, too.”

His tongue flicked against her skin and she
released an involuntary shiver. “Let me up, demon.”

“
Not yet.” He nipped at her
neck and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to bring him
closer. “Yes, you do like that, don’t you?” His teeth brushed her
pulse again and Kindara gasped. He laughed as he started to push
her pajama bottoms down her hips. “What would you do if I bit you
here?”

He did just that, and white-hot pleasure shot
through her. He didn’t take her blood, demons had no need for that,
but his teeth and tongue on her skin had her skating close to the
edge quicker than she’d ever thought possible. She whimpered and
parted her knees, letting him settle against her. “Please...”

“
Please, what? Do it again?
You have to do something for me, pet...”

“
What?”

“
I want you to do the same
to me.”

She nodded, anything for him to continue. He
kissed her, hard, then dropped his head back down to her neck. He
ran his tongue over her skin, once, twice. Then he guided her mouth
to his neck and tilted his head back to allow her access. Kindara
knew what he wanted.

His blood called out to her, his pulse
frantic against her lips. Gods, she was hungry, starved for what he
could offer. His hand slipped between her thighs, touching damp
feminine skin, slid deep to tease her. Kindara bit down, hard, and
the rush of a blood unlike any other she’d ever tasted filled her
mouth.

She vaguely heard his triumphant laugh as he
spread her legs wide enough to make room for himself. He filled
her, taking from her while she fed from him.

****

Rathan had never felt anything like it,
though he had fed Dardaptoan women in the past. Her lips pulled at
his flesh, milking him for what she needed. Her eyes were closed, a
look of intense pleasure on her pretty face. He stroked her until
both his body and hers had calmed. She still didn’t release his
neck, though he sensed she wasn’t feeding as voraciously now. Not
that it mattered, as a demon he had an unlimited blood supply and
could give her whatever she wanted. Now she suckled him like a
child would a piece of candy. Finally, she pulled back, seemed to
become aware of where she was and what had just happened. Her eyes
clouded, and she shot a fist toward his face.

He grabbed it and placed a kiss upon her
knuckles. “Did you get enough?”

“
Did you? I told you I
wasn’t going to feed you again!”

“
But I fed you this time,
too.” Made her take his blood, his slightly addictive blood. Every
other host she found would pale compared to him. “Didn’t you enjoy
it?”

“
I wasn’t ever going to feed
from a living host again!”

The pain in her words had his attention
sharpening. “Why?”

“
Because I made a
vow!”

“
Tell me.” He pulled her
against his chest, then pulled the blankets up to cover them both.
“Tell me why you fight what is natural to your people.”

“
Because I got him
killed!”

“
How? I thought Taniss
killed him.” Rathan kept his tone as gentle as possible. “Tell me,
Kindara.”

“
I was hungry and we went
out hunting. Iavius, his brother and sister, and me. I was so
hungry, from the babe. We were feeding and didn’t realize it was a
trap. It was my fault, if I hadn’t wanted to go out that night,
Iavius and his sister would still be alive. My baby would still be
alive. I made a promise I’d never take blood from any living being
ever again. And I haven’t. Until now.”

“
You aren’t responsible for
what Taniss did, pet. He is. Had it not been you and your family he
caught, it would have been others.” Rathan silently reaffirmed his
vow to kill the old man, only now he decided to make it as painful
as he possibly could. He’d extract revenge for his female. “Feeding
or not feeding from a living host will not atone for a crime you
aren’t guilty of. And I freely offer whatever you need.”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t want
it.”

But she would take it, of that Rathan was
sure. Even if he had to force her compliance, she would feed for
herself and the spawn. “Kindara, you have to be reasonable. You’ve
centuries left to live--are you going to only half-feed that entire
time?”

“
I’ve studied my people,
demon. Bagged blood is more than adequate.”

“
But not ideal.”

“
It suffices. And it’s
really none of your business what I eat, anyway.”

Yes, it was. “Let’s not argue. While you are
with me, you’ll feed from me whenever you need it. I am not
providing bagged blood.”

“
Fortunately for you then
that my brother will be here at noon.”

“
You may visit with him, but
I’m keeping you.”

“
No, you’re not.” She pushed
away from him and slid from his bed. He tossed the blankets back
and followed her, stalking her around the room as she pulled her
pajamas back over her body. “Despite what you think I’m not a pet!
I’m taking my daughter and going home.”

“
But you’re not taking my
spawn away from me!”

Chapter Ten

Kindara stared at the demon in silence as he
paled and stepped toward her.

“
Pet, I...”

“
What did you say?” She’d
been mistaken, surely. “Say that again.”

“
I said I won’t let you go
and take our spawn with you.”

“
Spawn? What the hell do you
mean by spawn? Is that like...”

“
Yes. I didn’t mean for it
to happen...” His voice trailed off but then he straightened. His
face tightened with what could only be determination. “I didn’t use
the protection spell. That means you’re most likely carrying my
spawn. I can’t let you leave. I have to know you and the spawn are
cared for. By me.”

“
No. No. No, you’re crazy.
There’s no way, no way. It took two hundred years for me and Iavius
to make a baby! You’re crazy!” Kindara stepped back from his
reaching hands.

“
Pet...”

“
I’m not your damned pet!”
Fury filled her and she hissed, took giant steps back. “How am I
supposed to deal with this? I don’t want this!”

“
I’m not going to apologize.
I didn’t do it deliberately.” Even as angry as she was, it was hard
to miss the hurt on his face. He flashed to her side, and she
didn’t have time to escape his hands. He held her to face him, not
letting her budge an inch. “Kindara—”

“
What? Do you think anything
you say can make this better? If this is true, it changes
everything! All of my plans, everything. What am I supposed to do
now?” Tremors shook her, her stomach clenched and unclenched with
every ragged breath she took. “I can’t...”

There couldn’t be a babe. There just
couldn’t. She wouldn’t go through that again. To know a babe was
growing within her and to know that she could possibly lose it like
she’d lost the other would kill her. She stared at the demon,
hating him with every bit of her soul.

His face softened as if he’d read her mind
and he tried to pull her to his chest.

She gave a strong jerk, ripping herself from
his arms. “No! Don’t you touch me. Not ever again!”

****

Rathan was frozen in place, watching her run
from him. He hadn’t meant to tell her like that. Hadn’t meant to
upset her. He’d been filled with hope that she’d accept the spawn
and love it like she did her daughter. Was that too much to
ask?

He mentally shook himself before following
after her. He caught up with her on the second floor. “Kindara,
dammit. Wait!”

“
Rot in hell!” She opened
every door on the landing, obviously looking for her daughter.
“You’ll be lucky if my brother doesn’t kill you! If I don’t tell
him to kill you!”

“
He can try. But he won’t
succeed. I am millennia old. He’s a mere fledgling compared to
me.”

“
He’s the best Predatoi of
our Kind. You think he’s never killed demons like you? Please.” The
tears on her cheeks detracted from the venom of her words. Poor
little creature; Rathan just wanted to hold her. “He’ll rip you to
shreds.”

“
The father of your babe?
He’d do that?”

“
Why not? I’ve raised one
babe without a father; Cormac is a wonderful uncle who loves Jierra
immensely. He’ll help me. If there even is a babe.”

“
My spawn will not be raised
by a demon killer! Are you insane? This is the heir to all
Demonkin!” He crowded her against the wall, ignoring the hissing
she made.

“
Too damned bad! If there’s
a babe, it’s in my body and will be raised by my Kind!” She shoved
at him, the attempt pitiful.

“
Not if I don’t let you
leave!”

“
Just try and stop
me!”

****

She avoided him for the next few hours, until
the sound of helicopters flying over the mountain drew everyone to
the front porch.

Kindara clutched her daughter, and Rathan had
no trouble seeing the effort she made to ignore him. She was pale
and clung to her daughter as much as the girl clung to her. Hope
was in their eyes, and it hurt him. She wanted to leave him.

She wasn’t. If he had to he’d keep kidnapping
her and kidnapping her until she learned that she belonged at his
side. Even if it took decades for that to sink into her head. He’d
be able to provide and care for her for the rest of their days. He
was the king, after all, even if he ruled in absentia. But it was
time he resumed his throne and he’d do that with his woman by his
side. Her.

Rand had six of his men meet the helicopter
on the pad when it landed. Rathan knew they were experienced
Lupoiux fighters who could hold their own against Dardaptoan
warriors. Rand kept his body between the intruders and his female,
and Rathan attempted to do the same.

Kindara wouldn’t let him, stepping around him
as if he wasn’t there. A tall, dark male Dardaptoan was the first
to spot her. He strode to where she stood and scooped her up
against his chest.

Rathan flashed to his side, barely
restraining himself from ripping the male’s arms off. “No touching
her!”

“
Back off, demon. This is my
brother. I told you he’d come for me.” Despite the bite in her
words, Rathan didn’t miss how she burrowed into the male’s arms for
comfort.

“
Kinney, did the bastards
hurt you or Ji? Tell me now, because if they have I’m sure Rydere
won’t have any objections to me killing them both.”

The brother was a dark and imposing creature,
nothing at all like Rathan’s female. He’d expected someone who at
least favored her.

“
Not in the ways your
meaning. But we’re ready to go home.” No one missed the desperation
in her voice, and it cut through Rathan sharper than a
blade.

“
We have some...negotiating
to do.” The brother set her aside and scooped the younger girl
close. He rocked her when she clung to him. “Then we’re out of
here. And the next time you convince me to let you go somewhere
without a dozen guards I’ll remind you of this.”

“
I don’t think you’ll have
to remind me.” Kindara peaked around her brother’s shoulder. Rathan
had never realized she was quite that small for one of her Kind.
Worry for her safety while carrying the spawn once more consumed
him. How could he provide for her and care for her if she left him?
“Who came with you?”