Kiss of the Betrayer (A Bringer and the Bane Novel) (27 page)

“A Bringer?” Small sticks snapped under Luc’s feet as he continued to inch away. He shook his head and furrowed his brow. “I find that hard to believe.”

“It’s true,” the smaller demon continued. “I hit him over the head with a rock. Dropped him just like—” He tried to snap his crooked fingers, but the misshapen phalanges wouldn’t connect. “That.”

“How do you know he was a Bringer and not just a man?”

The demons glanced at each other, again as if mentally discussing their answer. Perhaps it took two of their brains to form a complete thought. Finally, the big one said, “Tasted different.”

“Yeah, like chicken,” the little one added. “Humans taste like mutton. Bringers taste like chicken. He was definitely a Bringer.”

“Hmm, I never knew that,” Luc said. “I’ve learned something new today.”

“All this talk makes me hungry.” The larger demon took a step toward him. “Time to eat.”

The Bane’s foul breath wafted toward him. Luc coughed, crouching, ready for the attack. The large demon lumbered toward him and swiped with a hugging motion. The movements were slow and capture easily avoided. Luc dove to the side and rolled to his feet a few yards to the right of him.

The smaller demon charged, moving much quicker than his companion. The sharp points of his talons raked across Luc’s tunic, shredding the material but not touching his skin.

The larger demon spun to face the direction where Jade hid and lifted his nose to the air. Large nostrils flexed, sniffing. Luc spewed a war cry, drawing the creature’s attention away from Jade. With a demon on each side, the only direction he could move was toward Jade or backward.

Fire rippled down his arms and burned along his fingers. He gripped the dagger, trying to stem the flow. Burning the demons would be a temporary fix. What he wanted was to release their souls. From what Ravyn had told him, all he had to do was stab them with the blade. Easy.

They rushed him. He dove forward into the clearing, landing hard but managing to gain his feet and spin. The larger demon barreled toward him, arms spread wide like a giant bear. Luc faked a move to the left and the demon followed. Before the creature had a chance to right himself, Luc snapped back and thrust the blade up and into the monster’s heart.

The demon froze, his watery yellow eyes round, his black lips going slack with surprise. Luc yanked the dagger free and jumped backward to crouch for another attack. The creature’s knees buckled and he dropped to the ground.

The smaller demon skidded to a stop, his eyes darting from Luc to his kneeling companion. “What did you do to my brother?”

Luc straightened and produced the knife, holding it up for the Bane to see. “Set him free.”

The big demon’s body folded, crumpling in the grass. His brother stumbled forward and dropped to the ground. He scooped up the bigger demon and cradled his brother to him.

“It’s so beautiful, Colin.” The bigger demon’s gaze stared at the empty space above him. He swallowed hard and struggled to speak, his hand clutching at his heart. “So light. No dark.”

“You gotta stay with me, Seth.” The smaller creature gave him a hard shake. “You can’t leave me alone.”

Seth’s reptilian gaze slid to his brother’s face. “Coooome.”

White vapor slithered from the wound in his chest and slid around his black talons and swirled around Colin’s arms, enveloping the demons’ torsos. His eyes grew wide, a small shriek escaping him. He released his dying brother and scrambled away from the sparkling wisps, swiping at the fog. A draft of air captured the white mist, spiraling it upward until it disappeared from sight.

A heavy breath rushed from the large demon, the final exhale rattling his body. Yellow eyes clouded and turned white. The gray, leathery skin paled and began to peel like bits of old paint.

A warm wind blew across the clearing. The demon’s body softened and turned to ash, flaking away with the circling breeze. Colin cried out and grabbed at the blowing bits, but the ash turned to powder and when he opened his hands they were empty.

He looked up, his expression so stricken it made Luc’s throat tighten. “What will I do now?”

“He wanted you to follow.” Luc took a step and the demon recoiled. “No more darkness, only light and freedom.” The need to console Colin overwhelmed him. This was not like anything he’d ever experienced or anything he’d expected. The dagger made everything different. “Instead of death, I can give you life.”

The demon struggled to his feet, locking eyes with Luc. His lips curled in a snarl. Harsh, as if he struggled against some inner foe, the words fought to get free. “Do it—quickly.”

Without hesitation, Luc stepped forward and thrust, but before the dagger could pierce the thick hide, the creature caught his hand. Pressure like a vice crushed Luc’s wrist and as he stared into Colin’s eyes, he saw the change. Muddy brown swirled to the color of cognac and began to fade. His chance was nearly gone.

Calling the fire, Luc felt the heat build in his hand. The creature’s neck was too thick to wrap his hand around, so he clamped down on the muscular shoulder. Heat radiated from his palm, searing the demon’s flesh.

The Bane reared back, roaring in pain. Luc thrust the dagger into the demon’s heart. Instantly, the fire cooled and the massive body slackened, dropping to the ground. Luc pulled the dagger free and crouched next to Colin.

A look of peace settled on the demon’s face, his mouth stretching into a smile of pure wonder. “So beautiful.” His gaze shifted to Luc. “Thank you.”

Luc covered the taloned hand pressed against Colin’s chest. This was not a happy moment, but one of necessity. The lives of two brothers had been forever changed by the Bane. A senseless and cruel fate. One he had put right to the best of his ability. “Go in peace.”

Like his brother Seth, Colin’s vaporous essence seeped from his body, passing through the Veil and the monstrous form disintegrated into ash.

The snap of twigs cracked behind him signaling Jade’s approach. He squared his shoulders before facing her.

She crept forward to where the demons had fallen and knelt. “Look at this.”

Tiny white flowers spread in a perfect circle, marking the spot. He stroked the petals, which opened to him, responding to his touch.

“They’re together and happy.” Jade placed her hand on his thigh. “I truly believe that.”

He nodded. The experience had awakened the Shield inside. To give all converted humans the same peace was a quest worthy of his life.

“Come, let’s find the camp site before it gets dark.” He took her hand and stood, pushing away the question of whether he would be able to give Esmeralda the same peace he’d given the brothers when the time came. “I could use a nice soak.”

C
HAPTER
N
INETEEN

The horse slowed, and Jade groaned. Dull pain radiated up her calves and thighs. Her shoulders ached from the constant tension of holding the reins and pommel all day. Without looking, she suspected that the top layer of her skin had been rubbed raw on the inside of her legs. Whoever invented riding horses was a fool.

She sat atop the horse and stared at the ground. The prospect of reaching solid earth without falling from the saddle seemed like an impossible feat. Luc slid from his horse with the expertise of an experienced rider. She silently cursed him. When they’d agreed to undertake this mission, she hadn’t imagined that her equine experience would be her downfall.

Luc turned and propped his hands on his hips. “Are you getting down?”

“Yes.” Her head seemed to be the only body part willing to work. “Yes, I am.”

When she didn’t move, he crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head to the side, narrowing his gaze. “Well?”

Maybe if she could slide from the saddle, she’d be able to make it to the ground and he’d be no wiser to the fact that she was so inexperienced. She tilted to the left, squeezing the pommel in a white-knuckled grip while trying to bring her left leg high enough to lift over the horse’s back. One minute she was balanced, naïvely believing she could perform the maneuver, and the next she was face down on the hard earth.

“Jade!”

Blades of grass tickled the inside of her nose and prickled against her throbbing cheek. The weight of her body trapped her arms beneath her, but she didn’t have the strength to push herself up. Luc’s hands wrapped around her upper arms and hauled her to her feet. Every muscle in Jade’s body protested against the movement, causing a throaty growl to erupt from her.

“Are you all right?”

Her knees buckled, but he held her up until she found her legs. “Yes, just a little stiff from riding.”

He released her and stepped away, watching her as if she could topple over any minute. She rubbed her cheek and turned toward her horse, praying he said nothing more about her ungraceful dismount.

It took all her effort to lift her arms and untie her bedroll from the saddle. Even her fingers hurt. When the bundle dropped to the ground, she groaned and stepped back. Luc still stared at her. There was no possible way her aching legs would support her if she crouched to pick up the blanket. Perhaps she could just bend at the waist a fraction.

Spasms rippled across her lower back in protest. An involuntary gasp escaped her and she straightened. Her gaze snapped to Luc. From the expression on his face, she hadn’t fooled him for a second.

Her shoulders relaxed. “Fine, maybe I’m not all right.”

He smiled and picked up her bedroll. “A bit sore?”

“Not a bit.” She scowled. “A lot.”

“I know just the thing.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her to a large, flat rock.

“Please don’t make me sit again.” The idea of putting any more pressure on her rear end made her want to cry.

“I’ve got something better.” He tossed her bedroll on top of the rock and turned to face her. “Take off your clothes.”

Jade blinked back her surprise. “Excuse me?”

He pointed to the hot pool. “You’ll probably heal naturally by morning, but the water will soothe your muscles and relax you.”

“I’m not taking off my clothes.” Heat crept up her cheeks. “Especially in front of you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” He bent and grabbed one of her legs, lifting it off the ground. “We’re about to enter the Shadow World and face the Bane. We need to be at our best. Now is not the time for modesty.”

Jade grappled for something to hold on to. With nothing but Luc within range, she grabbed his waist. He yanked, tugging her boot off. Before she could protest, he removed her other boot. Now barefoot, he targeted the ties of her pants.

“Stop that.” She slapped at his hands. “I can undress myself.”

He raised his hands and stepped back. “Right, sorry.”

They stared at each other for several long seconds. Propriety warred with common sense. To enter the Shadow World injured in any way would be foolish, yet being naked around Luc Le Daun seemed equally imprudent.

“Turn around.” She held her arm out in front of her and circled her finger. “And don’t peek.”

A coy smile spread across his face but he pivoted and walked toward the pool. Jade’s mouth dropped open when he tossed his vest to the side and pulled his shirt over his head. All that smooth skin she remembered from her healing in the chapel rippled with his movements. He stopped at the edge of the water. Jade couldn’t tear her eyes away, and when he slid his pants over his hips, her stare grew wide and her mouth dry.

She should have looked away, squeezed her eyes shut, done something other than watch his hands glide over his muscular rear end and down his thighs. Sweet mother of the Forgotten Gods, the man had a body made for sin.

She turned away and stared at a nearby bush, but the image of his naked body lingered like an unwanted guest. If her powers had consisted of fire vision, the shrubbery would have erupted in flames.

The sound of slapping water let her know he had entered the pool. Not sure how she could ignore his advice to soak, Jade tugged her tunic over her head. She’d lost track of the number of times she’d bathed in this exact pool. His reasoning to heal was sound. It was her own tangled web of emotions that had her questioning not only his, but her motivations as well.

She removed her pants with as little movement as possible, but decided to leave the thin linen shirt on. Since there had been no reason to hide her identity, she hadn’t bound her breasts. Once wet, the shirt would be worthless in hiding her body. For now, the garment would be good enough to get her into the pool with her modesty intact.

It was a man’s shirt, something she had stolen from a laundry basket more than a year ago. Though she was grateful for its long hem that brushed her mid-thigh, the wide neck hung off her left shoulder and nearly exposed her breast. She turned toward the pool.

“Are you done yet?” Luc stood facing away from her, the water lapping just below the dip above the curve of his cheeks.

She swallowed and brushed a hand across her forehead. “Nearly.”

With no other reason to stall, she walked to the edge of the pool. He slowly turned and faced her. Bless the Sainted Ones, but the glimmering blue algae clung to him like a second skin, outlining his thighs. She cleared her throat and shifted her gaze to his face.

“I used to bathe here when I was a child,” she said, trying to make conversation. “Since it’s on the other side of the mountain from the main entrance of the Shadow World, it was fairly safe.”

“That’s good to know.” Luc sank into the water. “Hopefully we won’t be disturbed.”

She watched the blue algae glisten and swirl around him.

“Coming in?” He pushed off the bottom and glided toward her. “I promise you’ll feel better.”

“Yes, just give me a chance to ease into it.”

“I find…” A few feet separated them. “The best way…” With little movement, he effortlessly cut through the water. Jade’s eyes raked his body. “To get in…” He stopped at the edge and peered up at her. “Is to jump.”

A warning flashed through her mind a second before his hand snaked out of the water and latched onto her foot. She shrieked, but her cry barely escaped her lungs before she found herself hauled off the bank and tossed into the water.