Demon Slave (28 page)

Then she focused on Cyrus. His eyes were
just as clear as she remembered. Before she could ask the millions
of questions floating around in her head, he cleared his throat and
spoke.

“
What are you doing out
here with demons?”

“
Well, the daughter of a
noble family was taken by the rebels. Lidian. Do you know her? I
thought I heard her name spoken.”

“
I believe so. We raided a
rebel group just last week and rescued two females. Lidian and
Jusibell.”

“
I will want to speak with
them later.

“
Of course.”

“
Well, anyway, I was
hunting the rebels when Marik saved my life.” From the corner of
her eye, she could see Marik jutting his shoulders back.

“
How? What
happened?”

“
Tamir and Nakul were
planning to assassinate me.”

Cyrus took on a dubious expression. “Are you
sure? I know them both. And I fought alongside Tamir.”

“
I didn’t want to believe
it at first. I really didn’t. But, the more I thought of it, and
the more I got to know Marik, I must consider it to be
plausible.”

“
You trust these demons
then?”

“
With this? I
do.”

With other things? Not so much.

Cyrus turned to Marik. “I thank you for
saving her.”

“
I didn’t do it for
you.”

Nadua shot him a look of warning.

“
Of course not, but I’m no
less grateful. She is very important to me.”

“
Am I?” She tried to keep
the hurt from entering her tone. “Then why the lies,
Cyrus?”

Looking a little sheepish, Cyrus started to
speak but was interrupted by the appearance of Collet. He seemed
grateful for it.

“
The evening’s meal is
ready, my lord. Shall I serve it now?”

“
Please do,” Cyrus
replied.

Nadua stood. “May I go alert Rex? I’m sure
he’s hungry too.”

“
Collet will retrieve him.
Please sit.”

Collet partially hid her surprise at being
volunteered for the task. Without a word, she scurried up to the
balcony. A few minutes later, Rex was seated on the other side of
Marik. He was stiff, and looked to Marik and Nadua for reassurance.
Nadua smiled at him. Marik nodded.

Steaming plates were placed in front of each
of them. The smell was glorious.

Rex started on the food like a beast, using
his hands and ignoring the utensils. Marik was a little more
refined, but still gripped his fork with his entire fist. Cyrus
eyed them with repressed irritation.

The dish was delicious and it was a relief
from their repetitive meals over the last few days. Nadua had her
fill and then set her utensils aside, unable to wait any
longer.

“
Tell me,” she said. “No
more delaying.”

After draining the last of his drink, Cyrus
let out a heavy sigh. “Do you remember what happened between us
before I left?”

“
Before you died,” she
corrected, and then flushed, knowing exactly what he meant. A week
before his
death
,
they had shared a brief moment of passion. While attending a party
arranged by one of the nobles, they had ended up spending the
entire night together, dancing and drinking in a lonely side
room.

In their inebriated state, they had
forgotten what would happen if they kissed. It had been a brief
touch, but their lips had been swollen for two days. She smiled,
remembering.

Then she realized Rex had frozen completely
in mid scoop. Marik’s fork was bent at an odd angle and the sudden
heat rolling of him brought her back from the fond memory.

Cyrus noticed this too, and watched both
demons warily.

Nadua broke the tense silence. “A week
later, Fineas told me you died fighting the rebels.” She couldn’t
stop the quiver in her lip. It still hurt to think of it. She’d
locked herself away, mourned for months.

“
I’m sorry it hurt you. It
hurt me to leave.”

“
Then why did
you?”

His shoulders slumped. “Well, it wasn’t
difficult to figure out what we’d done. Fineas summoned me the day
after. He thought we were growing too close, and he was right. We
could never...” He trailed off.

A low rumble came from Marik.

In an attempt to get his attention, Nadua
placed her hand on his thigh. Marik quickly covered her hand with
his. The action seemed desperate.

She looked to Cyrus. “Perhaps we should
speak about this in private.”

“
Over my bloody dead body,”
Marik barked.

She ground her teeth. “Marik, please
don’t—”

“
Actually,” Cyrus
interjected. “I would like to speak with Marik alone.”

Nadua looked up in surprise. “Cyrus, I don’t
think—”

Marik stood, as if ready for battle. “Let’s
go.”

Nadua was too shocked to say anything. Cyrus
led Marik out of the room. She turned her wide eyes to Rex, who had
resumed the assault on his meal.

Following behind the blue tinted asshole who
was far too familiar with his mate, Marik could barely contain his
building rage. He had to continue telling himself that Nadua would
hate him if he took the life of this bastard.

Maybe. Probably. Anyway, it wasn’t worth the
risk.

They didn’t walk far. Cyrus led him through
a hall that broke off from the main room, and into a rather nice
chamber. Books lined one wall. On the opposite side stood a small
fire place. A few paintings hung above it, and one in particular
caught his attention.

The woman’s beautiful red locks, flowing
freely, were unmistakable. He recognized the slender curve of her
shoulder, peaking out of a soft frill gown. There was excitement in
her eyes, as though she’d just been laughing. Her breathtaking
smile made Marik jealous of whomever it was gifted.

“
I painted that a little
after I left her.” Cyrus spoke from behind Marik. “I couldn’t stand
not seeing her any longer.”

“
Are you trying to make me
kill you?”

“
I know a little bit about
your kind. I know you have more honor than we give you credit
for.”

“
You’re sure about
that?”

“
I’m hoping.” He paused. “I
fought in the demon war long ago. I was there from the beginning.
We tried for diplomacy at first, but as often it does, fear and
ignorance claimed the masses. Before we knew it, we were at
war.”

Marik kept his back to Cyrus, listening
while taking in the happy image of Nadua. She’d smiled at him
before, but never like that.

“
One day, I followed a
demon into the Caves of Kayata. My brigade had been battling a
group of them for days out in the open. We were caught off guard
when the cave-in started and we halted our fight to save ourselves.
When the dust settled we found we were both trapped inside, and on
separate ledges of a deep impassable cavern.”

To Marik’s surprise, Cyrus chuckled. “After
what must have been two days of screaming curses at each other, we
got bored and started an actual conversation. He was rather funny.
I wish I could remember his name. Well, anyway, I have to believe
your kind are honorable because that day the demon and I made a
promise to each other. If one side of the cavern was open, we would
free the other and go our separate ways without conflict. His was
opened first.”

Marik waited for him to continue.

“
I fully expected him to
betray me. Especially since his men were telling him to leave me to
die. But he ordered them to dig me out too. He told them simply
that he’d made a vow and then they didn’t hesitate.”

Finally, Marik turned to face Cyrus. “Would
you have done the same?”

Cyrus looked him straight in the eyes.
“Without a doubt.”

“
Why are you telling me
this?”

“
Is Nadua
yours?”

Marik hesitated. “She is.”

Cyrus shook his head and lowered his gaze.
“I love her.”

Red flooded Marik’s vision. His teeth began
to grind, and his claws itched for action.

“
I’ve never told her.” He
paused. “And I never will. She is an impossible dream. I know
this.”

“
Again, why are you telling
me? Why did you bring me here to see this?” Anger marked his tone
as he gestured to the exquisite painting.

“
Because I figured you
would need proof of my feelings. And so that you would know I will
do anything to keep her safe—to put you at ease around me.” His
expression was sincere. “Another thing. I find it hard to believe
Tamir or Nakul would plot against her. But if they did, I’ll need
to find out why. Please, tell me everything you know.”

Marik hesitated for a moment. Sensing the
truth in his words, Marik decided he could trust Cyrus and revealed
what he could.

Cyrus looked saddened by the time he
finished. “I will send a message to the palace immediately. You’re
welcome to stay here as long as you need. I’m assuming you’ll be
taking Nadua away from Undewla?”

“
That’s the plan.” Marik’s
hatred for Cyrus began to dull, replaced in part by pity. He
couldn’t imagine never being able to touch Nadua without causing
her pain. The mere idea sickened him.

Cyrus nodded solemnly. “Take care of
her.”

“
I intend to.”

* * *

Nadua was growing increasingly irritated.
Rex had already finished his dinner and was back in his room. Now
she sat alone and sipped her drink, feeling the tingle of the
alcohol. She debated retiring for the night.

Finally, Marik and Cyrus returned, both
grave and somber.

“
What happened?”

They claimed their seats and requested
refills from a waiting servant.

Cyrus spoke. “I’ve sent a message to Wren,
warning him about Tamir and Nakul.”

Nadua sighed in relief. “Did you add that
I’m here?”

“
I did.”

“
Good.” She was sure there
was more to their chat than that, but she was determined to make
Cyrus finish his story. “Can you please continue? Why did you feel
you had to fabricate your own demise?”

Cyrus’s lips thinned, but he obliged. “When
you first came to this planet, very few were happy about it. Fineas
was a strong ally of your Father, so he didn’t hesitate to grant
you his protection. But when the news spread, our people were torn.
There was great fear that the Kayadon would come here and destroy
us to find you. Many are still afraid.”

The drinks arrived, and both Cyrus and Marik
swallowed half their glasses. Nadua took another sip of hers.

“
People fled Sori, looking
to hide in case their fears were realized. Fineas truly loved his
people, and hated that they were suffering beyond the walls of
Sori. So this place was built.”

He gestured around the room. “A refuge of
sorts. But Fineas needed to send someone of the royal blood line to
represent the crown, and keep the peace. When he realized how close
you and I had become, he decided it would be better for everyone if
I disappeared.” He paused. “Fineas understood that if you knew I
was alive, you’d come looking for me. And because there was fear in
the people who lived here, that wouldn’t have been a good idea. So
he told you I died.”

Tears were streaming down Nadua’s cheeks.
She wanted to protest that she wouldn’t have come looking, but that
would have been a lie. Cyrus had been her only real friend until
Ava was born. He’d been the one to teach her to fight, and to use a
bow. How to be strong in the face of the Cyrellians who looked down
their noses at her. Living without him had been nearly
unbearable.

“
I’ll be leaving soon,” she
blurted.

“
I know. Marik told
me.”

The mention of his name reminded her that he
was still sitting next to her, surprisingly quiet, though she was
crying for another man. His face was almost void of emotion. Only a
slight tick in his jaw indicated his mood.

“
I should retire.” She
stood and so did the two men. Nadua said good night to Cyrus and,
as expected, Marik followed her up to her room.

A fire had been started in the stone hearth,
making the room a comfortable temperature. Inside, she turned to
Marik, years of loneliness crashing down upon her. Nadua found
herself kissing him, loving the warmth and softness of his lips.
She wanted him to dull her mind with his expert touch. But she
realized he wasn’t kissing her back.