Demon Untamed (21 page)

Sonya lifted a single shoulder, hating to dash Anya’s hopes. She clearly decided it would be romantic if all of her sisters found love in the demons she cared so much for.

“If it’s possible, I’ve never heard of it. Besides, isn’t Ethan set on having one of your sisters for his own?” Saying that out loud caused an odd pang to spike in Sonya’s chest. It should be a relief to know that Ethan had his sights set on another, but instead, something like despair clamped her heart.

“I know. It’s just you were all so surprised when it turned out that I was Sebastian’s mate. And now Marik and Nadua?”

Sonya had wondered about that herself. It was a strange coincidence. Coming across one’s mate was rare these days, what with potential candidates scattered throughout space. And yet it had happened twice in such a short amount of time, with sisters, no less. What were the odds?

Anya brightened. “Oh, before I forget. I asked Jade if she would take a few shifts in the pub like you asked. She said it would be an interesting experience and will start tomorrow.”

“Good. Thank you, Anya.”

“Why is it you don’t want to work there anymore?”

“I need a break, is all.”
Technically not a lie
. It seemed as though every part of her life was being flipped upside down, inside out, and backward.

Anya scrutinized her in that way that made her feel like an open book. Yet it didn’t seem as though Anya could figure out what was the matter. It probably didn’t help that her emotions were off-the-wall chaotic. Although, every now and again, she got the feeling that Anya had finally put the pieces together, her gift garnering any number of damming evidence.

Either way, Anya was kind enough not to press. Or maybe she sensed Sonya wasn’t ready to peel back the cover of her mental state and examine the jumbled contents.

* * *

Sebastian waited outside the docking bay as the small craft settled and the room pressurized. Then he stepped inside to greet the petite Serakian female before delivering the news.

“I’m sorry you had to come all this way,” he offered. “We had attempted to inform the council that we no longer required your assistance, but we could not seem to get through.”

The dark-haired female gazed up at him with a pair of shrewd onyx eyes. An eerie electricity prickled his skin, making him uneasy.

“This is disappointing,” she replied, not shifting her glare.

“We will, of course, still compensate you for the inconvenience.”

“This is no mere inconvenience,” she countered, her eyes flaring. “This is a disaster. It is the season of the dark moon, a time for all initiates to perform their last rite and earn a permanent place among the Serakian. Not only the council, but my entire society is gathered in the sacred ritual of the dark esbat. Even I cannot contact them now. And this assignment was to be my last, to secure my place among them. I cannot go back unaccomplished.”

“Again, I apologize. I’m not sure what I can do—”

The Serakian raised her palms over her eyes. “This can’t be happening.” Then she returned her gaze to Sebastian. Her spine straightened. “You’ll provide me with lodgings for the time being, till I can figure out a way to fix this.”

“I, uh…”

“A quiet room will do. Nothing near the engines. And a view would be nice. I’ll unpack my own things. No one needs to touch anything of mine, and that goes for my shuttle as well, except to refuel it, which can be done any time you see fit.”

Sebastian frowned and glanced at the small vessel she had arrived in, dwarfed next to
Marada’s
shuttle. “Alright, I can provide fuel, but—”

“Perhaps we can work out the details later. I’m quite weary from my trip.”

He blinked twice. “Uh, of course. Then I suppose I’ll have a room made up for you.”

“Wonderful. Thank you for your hospitality.”

* * *

The next day, Sonya convinced herself how ridiculous she was being. Besides being cooped up, her stomach was grumbling something fierce, and she didn’t want to keep bothering Anya to bring her food. The burning desire that had overwhelmed her after Ethan’s kiss was now a shadow of its former self. She wondered if it really hadn’t been all that bad to begin with.

After a long shower, she made her way to the salon. Marik should be back to cooking, which meant the food would be palatable again.

On her way, she ran into Raka, the ship’s botany expert, who greeted her with a motherly expression. “How are you feeling?” Raka asked in her deep tongue-rolling accent.

“Much better,” Sonya replied. “Starving, actually.”

“Well, that is a good sign. Will I see you in the pub later?”

“Actually, I’ve decided to take a little time off. Jade will be taking over for me.”

“Jade?” Raka sounded thoroughly surprised. “The lascivious one?”

“Yeah, she’s the only one available. She should be starting today, I believe.”

Raka offered a crafty smile. “I’m headed that way now. I’ll let you know how she does. By the way, have you met our newest arrival?”

Sonya tilted her head.

“The Serakian,” Raka elaborated. “Her name is Portia and she calls herself a witching—a witch in training, or some such. I met her briefly this morning. She seems nice enough, though a little on the small side.”

Sonya smiled at that. To Raka, with her towering physique, nearly everyone measured tiny.

“I’m sure I’ll meet her soon enough.”

As Sonya entered the salon, Marik greeted her with a smile so bright she almost lost her footing.

Marik never smiled!

A bit of Sonya’s worry for him eased away. He must truly be happy with his little redheaded mate.

“Nice to see you out and about,” he called through the long serving window that separated the galley from the salon. “I’ll make you something special.”

“Thanks,” she replied, grateful that he didn’t inquire about her health. Though he wasn’t related to her by blood, he could catch a lie from her better than either of her two brothers.

Moments later, he offered her a plate of thick noodles, well-seasoned and covered in sauce. It was mouthwatering just to look at. She claimed an empty seat and dug in, reveling in the rich taste.

Maybe things would finally get back to normal.

* * *

“Jade,” Ethan chided from across the tavern as he set a drink on the table in front of Raka. “Get out from behind the bar. You know you’re not allowed back there.”

“What are you grumbling about? Didn’t Sonya inform you?” Jade tossed her sleek hair back with the swipe of her hand.

“Inform me of what?”

“I’m taking over her shifts.”

Ethan stilled. “I don’t believe it.” Sonya wouldn’t hire a replacement without so much as informing him. Or would she?

He’d suspected she’d been unnerved after what had transpired between them, but was she so distressed that she would allow someone as careless as Jade total access to her beloved tavern?

  Raka took a sip of her beverage before responding. “It’s true. That’s what Sonya told me just a moment ago.”

Ethan turned to Raka. “You saw her?”

“Yes. I do believe she is feeling better. She was on her way to the salon.”

Ethan watched as Jade explored behind the bar. She picked up a dirty cloth from the wash bin and held it between her thumb and forefinger. Looking appalled, she dropped it back in its place and searched for something clean to wipe her fingers on.

Without another word, Ethan rushed out of the room, heading for the salon. Once there, he spotted Sonya by herself at a table. He knew she caught sight of him too because he felt her unmistakable desire to get away. A desire he would not allow her to fulfill. She’d spent enough time avoiding him, and now they were going to have a real damn conversation.

She stood, pretending not to notice him by brushing imaginary crumbs from her skirt. That brought his already burning temper to a boiling point.

“What the fuck, Sonya!” Fury coated his words.

She gathered a facade of nonchalance. “Morning, Ethan.” She proceeded past him to the door. He followed her into the hall, his infuriated gaze burning into her back. “How is Jade getting along?” she added, without even glancing at him.

Frustrating female!

He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to curb his anger. “Jade is standing behind my bar, thinking she’s a new employee.”

“It’s
my
bar, Ethan,” Sonya shot back at him. “And Jade
is
a new employee. I hired her yesterday. I need some time off.” She turned a corner and picked up her pace.

“That’s crap, and you know it. You’re using her to avoid me.”

She feigned an outraged laugh. “I have no reason to avoid you.”

“We need to talk about what happened.”

“There’s—nothing—to—say,” she insisted through gritted teeth.

“I have plenty to say.”

She rounded on him, crossing her arms. “Go ahead then.”

He slanted a look down the length of the corridor. “Well, not here in the hall.”

As if on cue, a small group of children barreled past.

Sonya started walking again. “Look, Ethan, what happened between us meant nothing. Okay?” As if needing to reaffirm the point to herself, she repeated, “Nothing. You did nothing wrong, and I’m not mad at you.”

Ethan growled back, “No,
I’m
mad at
you
.”

Sonya snorted. “Oh, really? What possible reason could you—”

“You know why.”

Sonya stopped again, her tail flicking. As her horns darkened with rage, he couldn’t help but smile, ready to sort this out, one way or the other.

“You have the audacity to be angry with me! When you are the one…” She paused. “Just get back to work, pirate.”

He clenched his jaw and ground out, “Stop calling me that.”

She leaned with a sneer. “Pirate.”

He hadn’t even realized he’d moved until he had Sonya pinned to the wall, her wrists locked beside her head.

Her eyes went wide, but then stubborn indignation overrode her surprise. Even before she repeated the taunt, he sensed a shift in her.

Wild desire smashed into him.

Every inch of his body went stiff, focused. They were supposed to talk, but the vixen was distracting him from his purpose. His shaft swelled, aching to punish her in the most delicious way. The thought alone siphoned away the last of his control.

“Demon witch.” Unable to restrain himself, he took her lips with rough abandon, pressing her harder into the wall at her back.

A betraying whimper escaped her, and his nostrils caught the intoxicating flare of her scent. He deepened the kiss, swiping his tongue out and demanding entrance. After an agonizing moment, she yielded. Their tongues met, searing and hot, trapped in a sensual dance of submission and domination. Neither wanted to relent.

He groaned, engulfed under a flood of unbridled need that bordered on mindlessness. When she let out an urgent sound that announced she was drowning alongside him, he laced one of his arms around her waist and pressed his body tighter against hers.  He undulated his hips so she could feel how much he wanted her. How much he needed her. Her palm wrapped around the back of his neck, holding him in place as her nails lightly scored his skin.

Voices echoed down the hall. It took Ethan a moment to realize whom the deep timbres belonged to, but Sonya had already tensed at the sound of Aidan and Sebastian’s approach.

Ethan tore away from her, both of them panting. Something in him thrilled to see she was so overcome with passion that she needed the support of the wall.

The thrill was snuffed out when he caught sight of her tiny fangs peeking from below her glossy upper lip. Icy dread drained the blood from his face.

Can’t be
.

She noted the direction of his gaze, and the tip of her tongue darted out to lick along one fang as if needing confirmation that it was truly there. Then she gasped and covered her mouth with both hands before taking off down the hall, blasting past Sebastian and Aidan.

“Hey, Sunny,” Sebastian said in a surprised greeting.

She pushed off the wall and sprinted past him, not responding.

“Is everything alright?” he called after her, but she was already gone. Sebastian focused on Ethan. “Is she alright? She looked about to vomit.”

It had never taken Ethan so much effort to school his features into a blank mask as it did now. “I was just thinking the same thing.” With a bit of quick thinking, he added, “Jade’s taking on her shifts at the pub for the time being.”

Sebastian’s brows shot up, and he let out a hearty laugh. “Jade? That ought to be entertaining. Look, if you’re heading by sickbay, can you have Oshwald pay Sonya a visit? She can be stubborn, and I know she won’t go see him voluntarily.”

Ethan bit back a snort at his comment. “Sure thing.”

As he walked away, his mind reeled over what had just occurred.

He didn’t bother with the doctor. Sonya wasn’t ill, at least not in a way that would require a healer.

Chapter 19

Sonya woke from a dead sleep.