Demon Possession (23 page)

“I can’t take this!” Shaking her head. “Guys, thank you for everything, but this is too much.”

“It’s not up for debate,” Cale interrupted. “I expect you to bring it to every training session.” Reluctantly she took the sword, then threw one arm around Cale with the other ful of heavy metal. RigidlyCaletapped her shoulder. Then she moved to Sebastian,whosebody stiffenedas she embraced him. Their kiss stil hung between them, heavy and obscure. Anya lingered a little longer than she should have, taking in his masculine scent, before she reluctantly pul ed away.

Gazing at the sword Anya said, “I don’t think I can carry this thing around al night.”

Xandar let out a hearty laugh, “That would certainly make things interesting,if you know what I mean.” He didn’t notice the death-looks of three demons.

Somehow she had become theirs to protect. Her lips curled at the thought.

Xandar continued, oblivious, “Are you thirsty Anya? I’l get us some drinks.”

“Uh, sure. Thank you.”

Sonya took the sword from her and handed it back to Cale. “Find a place for that, Anya can take it with her on the way out.” Cale disappeared with the sword. “I told them to find you something nice. Never send a male.” She sighed. A new song began to play and with renewed excitement Sonya pul ed a random male from the sidelines to dance with her, leaving Anya and Sebastian to themselves.

They stood in silence for a moment before he spoke. “Are you having a good time?”

“Yes, thank you. It’s amazing that you guys did this.”

“Have you eaten?”

“No, not yet. I’ve just danced so far.”

“I noticed.” He murmured. “You should try the cake. I hear it’s layered in chocolate.”

She laughed at that, Bastian raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Marik wants me to warn him before I do,so he can watch me go mindless from the taste, as I’m sure I wil .” That pul ed a smile from Bastian and she relaxed a little.

“Here you go.” Xandar moved in beside her and handed her a cup fil ed with a red liquid.

“What is it?”

“I’m not sure, you’l have to ask Sonya. I think it has some alcohol in it though.”

Anya took a sip. A fruity tang encompassed her taste buds. “Mmm.”

Xandar slipped an arm around her waist. A show of possessiveness? Sonya mentioned that males can become possessive when they strongly desire a female. Anya swal owed hard.

“Do you want to dance some more? Or we could grab some food and take a seat.”

Bastian’s features had darkened and he was scowling dangerously at Xandar. “I think we should eat now.” She quickly said.

“Good I’m starving.”Xandargrabbed her hand and pul ed her toward the table of food. Anya turned backfora last glance at Sebastian, but he was gone.

After gathering a plate of food they sat at one of the empty tables. Xandar refreshed their drinks and they both began to eat. As always, the food was excel ent. Marik was amazing. She sipped her drink and thought what it would be like to cook for herself when she was final y on her own. Inwardly she cringed. She should ask Marik to teach her a few things at the first opportunity.

“You dance wel for someone who’s never danced.In factit’s hard to believe you’ve never danced before.”

“Wel it’s true. I haven’t.”

“Why is that?”

“Never had the opportunity.”

“How is that possible?”

I was locked away by a madman for my entire life. “I was never asked to dance.”

“So I’m your first? That’s nice to know. Are you ready to dance again?”

Anya smiled, feeling slightly affected by the alcohol. “Sure why not.” Deciding this would be her last drink of the night, she finished what little was left and they entered the dance floor.

Sonya was stil dancing, occasional y pul ing in an unsuspecting male to dance with her. Each of her partners would nervously glance around the room, Anya suspected, to locate her brothers.

Xandar pul ed her against him and started swaying to the music. “I real y like you Anya.” Xandar stared into hereyes the way Sebastian sometimes did, but she didn’t react the same way. There was nothing in his eyes that made her heart skip, her stomach flip, andmake hershiver with anticipation al at the same time. She needed to tel him she wasn’t interested.

I’m in control.

“Xandar I …”

“May I cut in?” A gruff voice spoke from behind her.

Xandar gave a look of annoyance. “Sure, as long as it’s okay with Anya.”

“It’s okay,” she said trying to keep the excitement out of her voice.

Xandar stepped back and Sebastian’s hands were suddenly around her waist. Her body reacted to him instantly, warming to his touch, her heart began to pound. The music became measured and steady. As he led her through the dance floor, their movements became synchronized. It didn’t escape her notice that he was taking her farther and farther away from her date. It didn’t matter. Al that mattered was that she was once again in Bastian’s arms, nothing felt better. It made her realize how uncomfortable she’d been with Xandar.

Together they swayed to the music, him looking down at her, her looking up. With his eyelids drooping he said, “I love it when your eyes go silver.”

Remembering his kiss her gaze fel to his lips. “Are they?” When he pul ed her closer their dance slowed and everything around them disappeared. His muscular chest rubbed against her. “Bastian,” Her voice was low and throaty. His liquid gold eyes growing heated, she thought he might kiss her right here on the dance floor.

He broke the spel when he said, “I don’t like seeing you with Xandar.”

Anya took a moment to catch her breath.“It’s only a date.”

“You can do better than him.”

“Can I?” They were stil swaying to the music, bodies pressed against each other. “Who would you consider better?” Sebastian didn’t answer. “What concern is it of yours anyway?” Stil he remained silent. “Xandar is a nice enough guy, and he actual y had the guts to tel me he likes me.” Though she didn’t return the feeling.Why was she defending him anyway?

Maybe because Sebastian kept her at a distance when it was obvious he wanted her. Why would he kiss her, or dance with her if he didn’t? He seemed to pul her to him and then push her away in the next instant. Even now, she could feel the turmoil inside him.Why? Does the thought of her being a slave repulse him?

Suddenly a wave of nausea rushed through her and she had to grab her head to keep the room from spinning, which didn’t work anyway.

“What’s wrong?” Sebastian steadied her.

“I feel dizzy.” As she said the word, the world flipped upside down and she had to grab onto Sebastian for support. “I need to lie down.”Right here on the floor would be perfect.

From far away she heard Xandar’s voice. “Anya, are you okay?”

Sebastian answered for her. “She’s not feeling wel . I’m taking her back to her room.”

“I can take her,” Xandar protested.

“No, you stay and enjoy the rest of the party.” Sebastian’s tone left no room for discussion. He led her from the room, al owing her the dignity of walking out on her own before he scooped her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way. “How much did you drink tonight?”

“Two?” It was a question not an answer.

“You don’t know?”

“Two.” She repeated, more sure this time. “Stop bouncing.” She groaned, closing her eyes,and immediately openingthem whenherdizzinessgrewworse.

Sebastian was saying something but she didn’t hear him. Every fiber in her was concentrating on not retching al over him. After what seemed like hours she felt a soft cushion beneath her and a blanket came over her. With her hands, she searched for the back of the couch to get her bearings. When she found nothing she cringed.Not the couch. The bed. Anya let out a sound of protest but didn’t dare move.

Sebastian leaned over her. “Do you need anything?”

“Couch.”

“Aren’t you more comfortable in the bed?”

She was,dammit! And she was too tired to argue further. Drifting she closed her eyes for what she thought was only a second. When she opened them again Sebastian was setting a glass of water on the nightstand. Sweeping the back of his hand along her forehead, then her jaw, the touch eased her nausea slightly.

Then, without warning or provocation her body exploded with want. Needing to be touched everywhere. But her body had become like a lead weight, sinking into the soft mattress, she was unable to reach for Sebastian as he pul ed away from her. Fuzzily she heard him speak.

“Sleep wel . I’l return in the morning to check on you.” Then he turned to leave.

An intense wave of fear swept through her, almost stealing her breath. In a shaky voice she cal ed to him before he was out the door. “Bastian!”

With one hand on the doorframe he turned to her. “Yes?”

“Don’t leave.” Her voice was barely a whisper. With obvious concern, he came back into the room. “Please don’t leave me alone.”

Sebastian saw the fear in her eyes. “What are you frightened of?”

At first she didn’t answer. “I don’t know. I feel … wrong. I’m just … don’t leave me alone. Please.”

Fierce primal protectiveness overcame him. He wouldn’t deny her request and he didn’t like that she felt unsafe in her own bed. The desire to join her and wrap his arms around her until she felt at ease almost overwhelmed him. But hewouldkeep his distance.

Claiming the couch he said. “Very wel ,I’l sleep here for tonight, how’s that?” For a moment he thought she might protest his chosen location, but she relaxed against her pil ow and only watched him for a moment before closing her eyes.Hethought, just before her lids joined, thatthey had fired silver, but assured himself he was mistaken.

Soon her breathing slowed. She was asleep. If only he could fal asleep so easily. The couch smel ed of her, drowning him in her scent, keeping his body tense with need, and constantly reminding him of the way her warm soft body felt against his. The way she tasted on his lips, the feel of her perfect ass.

Grinding his jaw he thought, at this rate he would be up al night with a raging hardon, but at leastshewould sleep through the night. It fil ed him with gratifying pleasure that she felt safe with him.

According to Anya, she’d only had two drinks tonight. It didn’t make sense that two drinks would knock her on her ass so quickly. Especial y since Sonya didn’t put a lot of alcohol in the punch.

At some point during the night, whenSebastianwas drifting somewhere between sleep and awake he heard the door to Anya’s room slide open.

Footsteps came near and Sebastian was awake in an instant, shooting straight up.

“Oh shit.” Xandar jumped and fumbled with something in his hands, almost dropping it.AfterRecoveringhe asked in a breathless voice, “What are you doing here? You scared the shit out of me.”

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing sneaking into Anya’s room in the middle of the night?”

“I wasn’tsneaking. I was worried about her. She didn’t look too good when she left so I was coming to check on her. Plus she didn’t get any cake so I thought I’d bring her some before it was al gone.” He pointed to the covered container in his hand.

“She’s asleep now and shouldn’t be disturbed. Leave the cake if you want, I’l tel her you brought it.” Sebastian didn’t like his excuse andreal ydidn’t like that he was able to get into her room so easily while she was unconscious. Suspicion clouded his mind. Xandar set the cake on the coffee table and turned to leave. “Xandar, how many drinks did she have?”

“I’m not sure. She must have had quite a few though to get sick like that. Tel her I stopped by to check on her.” Then he was gone.

Sebastian glared after him long after he was gone. There was no way he was going to tel Anya that Xandar came into her room while she was sleeping.

She was frightened enough as it is, and that wouldn’t help things. In the morning he would reset the lock on her door.

Anya awoke to a splitting headache.

“How are you feeling?”

The light in the room was brighter than Anya remembered. She squinted up at Sebastian, “Like I fel on my head some time during the night. What happened?”

“You might have had too much to drink last night.”

That didn’t sound right. She tried to remember the party. There was the one drink before dinner and one during. “I’m sure I only had two drinks. The last thing I remember is dancing with you.” She felt her cheeks grow warm. “What happened after that?”

“Not much. You got dizzy so I brought you back here and put you to bed.”

Bed?No,he didn’t!She looked around her, then regretted the quick movement. “You put me in the bed instead of the couch?” Her hackles began to rise and despite the pain in her head she was ready to yel at him.

“Yes.Itook the couch.”

That was like a splash of cold water to the face. “You slept … here? Why?”

“Because, you asked me to.”

Why would she do such a thing?

Reading her expression he answered her unspoken questions. “You were afraid. That’s al . And see, you slept the night through, in the bed, and you’re stil alive. Amazing isn’t it.”

Through grinding teeth, “That’s probably why I was afraid in the first place.” Sebastian just smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. She tilted her head at him.

“What is it?”

“Nothing. You can stay here al day and recover. No training, no serving in the gal ey, or at the pub. Are you hungry?”

“A little.” She sensed there was something else he wasn’t tel ing her. His energy was tight.

“I’l bring your meals to you,so you don’t have to leave.” He pointed to the bedside table where a large glass of water and plate of pastries rested. Anya downed the water in a matter of minutes and relaxed back on the bed, leaving the pastries for later—when her stomach and head were finished with their acrobatics.

Sebastian departed, promising to return with lunch.It didn’t take long afterAnya closed her eyesfor her to drift back to sleep, not even realizing that she hadn’t bothered to move herself to the couch like she’d planned.

The door to her room slid open and she was instantly awake. The noise was, for some reason, disturbing. She bolted up in bed and had to grab her head between both hands.