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

by Boone Brux

  “Jade?” He cradled her to him. “Jade?”

  Her eyes grew wide and Luc followed her gaze. The shaft of an arrow protruded from her chest. Her mouth opened and shut a few times before forming words.

  “I’m hit.”

  He lowered her to the ground, trying not to disturb the arrow. Anger rolled through him like a dust storm across the desert plains of Alba. He looked up, his sight narrowing on her attacker. Rage took over, blotting out any thought for his safety. Without hesitation Luc jumped to his feet and cast a ball of energy toward the archer. The strike veered wide, blasting a tree into a hundred pieces. The man dove, but gained his feet to flee into the shadows.

  Unable to stem his fury, Luc blasted anything that moved, sending fire into the dark recesses of the forest. Flames erupted around them. The thieves scattered, leaving the whore, who still cowered on the ground.

  The uncontrollable lust for destruction roared through him. He searched the clearing for his enemies but saw no one. His gaze fell on Jade, the need for conquest instantly bleeding out of him. He knelt, forgetting the thieves and growing flames. Shivers racked her body.

  “Don’t worry, Jade.” He smoothed her hair from her face. She looked ghostly white in the fiery glow. He glanced at the spreading fire. “It’s going to be all right.”

  She mouthed something he couldn’t hear and reached a trembling hand toward the arrow. Not wanting her to tear open the wound, Luc stayed her hand.

  With as much care as his panic would allow, he scooped her into his arms, making sure not to bump the protruding shaft. The whore stumbled to her feet, clutching her arm, and approached them. Fear flared on her face—whether from him or the growing fire, he couldn’t be sure.

  “The fire spreads,” she said.

  Smoke billowed around them, thickening the air. Jade coughed and cried out. Luke laid her on the ground again and gripped the bottom of her tunic. He yanked, tearing a wide strip of material, and tied it loosely over her mouth and nose. Following his lead, the whore reached for the bottom of her skirt and did the same.

  He glanced around, looking for some familiar marking to guide him out. Nothing was recognizable. Flames licked the surrounding trees. Best to head the direction the thieves fled. He lifted Jade again and looked at the whore. “Follow me.”

  The woman nodded and fell into step behind them. If she remained calm and obeyed him, she’d survive to see her children. Heat seared his skin as the underbrush caught fire and swept across the ground like spilled wine. He hoisted Jade higher and breathed into the crook of his arm, the smoke nearly choking him. In an effort to stay ahead of the flames, he wove his way around the twisted trees and gnarled brambles.

  He stopped and looked around. “Damn it.”

  Though these woods were not unknown to him, the fire distorted their path. Loud pops echoed through the treetops.

  “These flames are spreading faster than gossip travels through court.” The woman’s voice was steady despite the growing danger. She stepped around him and veered to the left of their previous direction. “There’s a dirt path not too far ahead.”

  Luc followed, surprised by her calm demeanor and quick pace. Blood spread across Jade’s tunic. Each breath rattled in her chest. He had to get her to the boat. Ravyn could help her. Ravyn had to help her.

  Within minutes they stepped onto a narrow trail. A blaze of orange illuminated the treetops, turning each leaf into a small light. The footpath glowed for several yards before plunging into darkness. Obviously familiar with the forest, the whore guided them out into the cool, black night.

  The crackle of the now-raging forest fire sounded behind them. Luc didn’t have time to worry about the destruction he’d caused. His Shield instincts to protect and save replaced his anger and guilt about his and Jade’s current situation. She needed help. Town was far enough away to not be in danger from the blaze, but some of the closer huts might suffer.

  The three traveled in silence. The whore ran from hut to hut, beating on each of the doors and giving warning. Luc didn’t stop, pushing forward to get Jade to the ship. Each time the woman caught up with them and took the lead.

  She led him through sections of town Luc had never been in before. The strong smell of the sea sent waves of relief through him and signaled they were close to the docks. Despite his urging, the whore wouldn’t leave, following him onto Rhys’s ship. He’d deal with her after he took care of Jade.

  “Ravyn?” Luc’s voice billowed across the deck of the ship. “Ravyn!”

  The door to the captain’s quarters flew open. “Luc? What happened?” In seconds, she was at his side. “Oh no.” She stepped from his path. “Lay her on the bed.”

  He carried Jade to the same bed he’d occupied only a day earlier. Despite the warm glow of candlelight, nearly all the color had bled from Jade’s complexion.

  Ravyn followed him into the chamber and knelt beside the bed. The whore hovered near the door, but didn’t enter.

  “What happened?” Ravyn said.

  “Thieves.”

  He kept his answer short but knew Ravyn would not let the subject go so easily. His sins pressed around him like a pack of wolves from which he couldn’t escape. To tell her about Esmeralda would not only lay open his failing, but betray Jade and her sister a second time.

  He stared at Jade’s still form, now so frail and near-death. She was a colossal tyrant stuffed inside the tiny body of a woman. She annoyed him, had always annoyed him, even as a child. He didn’t trust her, but he wouldn’t fail her again, even if that meant lying to Rhys and Ravyn.

  “Can you save her?”

  “This is a grave injury.” Ravyn turned and stared at him as if searching for the answer to some unasked question. “What are you not telling me?”

  Curse her new Tell intuition. The greatest talent of the Bringer Tells was knowing when someone lied. After she’d been brought to full power, Ravyn had developed an overabundance of the gift—or curse, depending on whether he was on the receiving end of her scrutiny.

  “Nothing.”

  “You’re lying.” Her eyes narrowed. “We’ll speak later.” She flicked her head toward the door. “Take the woman and wait outside.”

  “I’ll stay and help.”

  Ravyn shook her head. “I can’t concentrate with you here.” She lowered her voice. “I’m still learning to control my powers and right now my Tell instinct is screaming that there is more to this story than you’re telling me. I can’t focus.”

  She looked at Jade and examined the entry point of the arrow. Luc stood and backed away.

  “Close the door behind you,” Ravyn called over her shoulder as she slipped her immortal dagger from her boot.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  A heavy chill enveloped Rell, pulling what felt like the last bit of heat from her body. Rarely did she venture into the lower regions of the Shadow World. When raising Jade, it had been safer to live near the surface in warm caverns, far from the concentration of the Bane. Most demons never hazarded beyond the main level of the throne room, choosing to exist near the king.

  She shuddered from the heavy presence gathering around her, like being watched when she could see no one. The dark, narrow corridor appeared empty, but one could never be too sure in the bowels of the Shadow World.

  She ran her hand up her arm, attempting to rub away the ominous foreboding filling her. The action helped stay her impulse to skitter back to the surface and hide in the safety of her hidden caverns, where hot pools bubbled and warmed an otherwise bitterly cold world. She focused her thoughts on Luc and fed off her desperation to exact revenge.

  Icy rivulets of water oozed down the rough slab walls and disappeared into thin cracks along the base, cut by eons of constant dripping. The crisp air burned her nostrils with each deep breath. She exhaled, trying to calm her rapid heartbeat. Dampness seeped through her muscles and into her bones, causing them to ache.

  She wouldn’t be here if not absolutely necessary. This section of
the Shadow World resonated with everything she hated about being a Bane, everything she could never accept about the change that had been forced upon her. This was the true demon realm.

  Only twice had she followed Icarus to the lower levels, needing to satisfy her curiosity about where the deadly demon traveled. Protecting Jade had required her to ferret out secrets and know who moved where in the netherworld.

  Sha-hera’s army dwelled here, planning and plotting in the war room. Luck had been with Rell so far, having neither drawn the attention of nor made an enemy of the succubae army captain. Rell stopped and scanned the passage in both directions. Still empty—or so it appeared.

  She leaned against the wall and gathered her courage. What she was about to do was sheer madness, but she needed Icarus’s help; and though he didn’t know it yet, he needed her help as well.

  She glanced around and slipped into the gap separating two behemoth slabs. If one didn’t know the passage existed one would have passed right by. Rough stone scraped against her wings as she inched to the end and exited into a small circular chamber. A rock staircase beckoned her forward. Her heart beat faster. Again she chided herself for the madness of her plan.

  Small stones crunched under her foot when she placed it on the first step. Her quiet shuffle up the narrow stairs sounded overly loud.

  Rell paused, listening for movement above her. Raised voices filtered down the spiral opening. A female voice, more than likely Sha-hera, bantered with a male. Was it Icarus? The arguing grew louder the higher she climbed.

  At the top step, Rell stopped. It wasn’t Icarus, but Vile.

  From where she stood, she could peer directly into the succubae army’s plotting chamber. Several of Sha-hera’s commanders lined the wall, their stances rigid. The Demon King and Sha-hera faced each other on opposite sides of a large stone slab, debating over several sheets of parchment. Each drawing looked to be a map of some kind. Rell squinted. Not maps, layouts of buildings and grounds. What were they plotting?

  Vile slammed his fist against the table. “I speak but you do not seem to hear me. So I will say it again. Your plan is flawed, and will not work.”

  Rell leaned toward the opening, making sure to stay clear of the torchlight that brushed the first foot of rock ledge on which she stood. With controlled impatience, Sha-hera clenched and unclenched her hands behind her back. Tension radiated between the two powerful demons, but Sha-hera wisely made no further argument.

  The sensation of being watched skittered along Rell’s skin. For a moment she’d forgotten her purpose, but when she turned the reason came rushing back.

  Icarus was there, standing in the shadows, watching her. His golden gaze held her in place, making it more difficult to breathe. Suddenly, success of her plan paled against the cost her encounter could reap. She mustered her courage and took a step forward.

  His mouth peeled back in a silent snarl. Her steps faltered but it was too late to retreat. She focused on her anger at Luc and managed three more small paces. Icarus straightened away from the corner he’d been leaning against, his body tense as if readying to fight. Rell glanced away and peered into the army’s strategy room, giving her bravery time to rally.

  Turning to the demon, she inched forward slowly and raised a talon to her lips. His snarl relaxed slightly but his stance did not.

  On silent feet, she closed the distance between them. He could have been made of stone if not for the suspicion burning in his eyes. His aura was palpable, radiating a power that thrummed against her skin. He was like no other demon she’d ever encountered.

  “We must talk.” Her voice was almost inaudible but she knew Icarus had heard her by the way his gaze narrowed even further. “It is urgent.”

  He stared at her for a long moment, assessing the situation with the skill of a demon who knew treachery firsthand and trusted no one. She held her breath. Never had she been this close to him. Never had she dared. His skin was black and smooth like polished leather, perfect and unblemished, each muscle sculpted to perfection. His almond-shaped eyes followed the contours of his high cheekbones, giving his face perfect symmetry. Stunning—and deadly.

  Icarus’s hand snaked out and wrapped around Rell’s arm. She didn’t resist when he dragged her toward him. He pivoted and pushed her into the corner, his warm body pressing against hers. She stifled her surprise when his skin touched hers. Instead of being cold and hard like marble, heated velvet covered her. Warmth seeped into her body, sending tingles across her skin.

  The voices below fell quiet. Icarus’s gaze cut from her face toward the ledge and then back to her. His hand moved to her chest, pressing her more firmly against the wall. She opened her mouth but the words died in her throat when a heavy thud thundered behind Icarus.

  He didn’t turn but his eyes narrowed, boring into her with the silent command to remain quiet and hidden.

  “Why not come and join us, Icarus?” Vile’s voice filled the small cove. “Lurking is beneath you.”

  Icarus straightened, his hand sliding across her chest, gently raking the leather that covered her breasts with his talons, and turned. Fear paralyzed every muscle in Rell’s body.

  “I find the company you keep not to my liking, Father.” He braced his shoulder against the wall, effectively blocking her in. “Besides, you don’t appear to want my participation.”

  From the sound of his movements, Rell knew that Vile moved deeper into the space. She pressed against the rough stone wall, the rocks poking painfully at her skull. The demon’s presence seemed to swallow the air around her. She closed her eyes and sent up a prayer of help to the Sainted Ones.

  “I care not about your strife with Sha-hera.” Vile paused. “You each have your duties and I expect you to accomplish them.” The threat in his voice was unmistakable. “Any conflict that threatens the success of my plans shall be dealt with swiftly and without mercy.”

  Rell stared at Icarus’s profile. His expression was unreadable. Though he didn’t openly challenge his father, neither did he cower from the threat. His posture remained rigid and unyielding. She had been right to think that Icarus held no love for the Demon King.

  “I am aware of your methods,” Icarus said.

  “Are you?” Three footsteps paced away from where she hid and stopped. The sweep of Vile pivoting swished along the walls. “Because if I didn’t know you better, I might think you have designs on my throne.”

  Icarus gave a convincing laugh of surprise. “I have no wish to rule your mongrel horde, Father—until it is my rightful time.”

  Silence stretched between them but Icarus remained unmoving, his gaze peering steadily forward.

  Vile’s answer was pitched low, cutting through the strain. “For your sake, I hope that is true—son.”

  The sound of wings extending was followed by retreating footsteps. A rush of air hummed from what must have been Vile leaping from the ledge.

  Another few seconds passed before Icarus’s stance relaxed. He turned his head and leaned toward her.

  “Hot pools.” His lips brushed against her ear. “Go.”

  He stared, unmoving. No emotion showed on his face. Rell gathered her wits and stepped around him, wanting nothing more than to get as far away from the Demon King as possible.

  She eased toward the stairs, but stopped to glance one more time into the war room, making sure to remain completely in the shadows. All appeared as it had when she’d first entered. Before she could slip away, Vile’s gaze traveled upward and stared steadily in her direction. Could he see her? With a measured step backward, she eased out of his visual range and crept down the stairs.

  As silently as possible, she moved down the passage until she reached the first corner. Rell stopped and looked behind her. Nobody followed. She turned the corner and picked up her pace, fairly sprinting by the time she reached the upper level of the Shadow World.

  Moist, warm air settled on her skin when she entered the cavern and slowly seeped through the chill of the Shadow Wo
rld. The chamber’s ceiling soared, a welcome change from the tight, low passages winding through the lower levels. Layers of steam billowed off the water.

  Rell paced around the edge of a bubbling pool. Would Icarus come? Or more important, did she want him to come? There was definite contention between the king and his son. Taking sides might be too big of a price for revenge.

  A vent of warm air hissed next to a large, flat-topped boulder. The rock had always been Jade’s favorite spot to stretch out. It was the closest thing she’d had to a bed. Rell climbed on top and perched like a waiting vulture, her arms wrapped around her knees. She spread her wings and let heat from the vent blow over them, the gentle vibration relaxing her muscles and thawing her body. Even her talons were cold. She rested her chin on her knees and waited.

  The minutes dragged by, fueling her folly of asking Icarus to help her. The slow bubble of the water and quiet hiss of the vents were the only sounds.

  Then she heard it. Stone crunched beyond the doorway. Her head snapped up, her gaze riveted on the entrance, her heart beating against her chest. Seconds passed and then he was there.

  Icarus’s body filled the arched entrance. He ducked his head and stepped through the doorway. Spike-tipped wings scraped along the stone arch of the entrance.

  Rell didn’t move, waiting for some indication of his mood. Icarus ignored her, turning to examine the chamber. Satiny black hair hung in a long tail down his back. Five gold rings banded the silky strands and glinted in the green-blue glow of the cavern’s pools. He flared his wings, stretching them to the warmth of the cave, and held his arms out to the side. A gold bracelet glimmered at each wrist. He flexed his fingers. She watched, surprised by his reaction to the heat. Was it not only her then who hated the bone-chilling burn of the Shadow World?

  Icarus pivoted to face her, wings still spread. The demon was magnificent, every line of his body sculpted with perfect symmetry.

  Desire stirred inside her. Rell straightened, taken aback by the twinge of lust. She’d seen other demons fornicating, but she had never partaken. Turned before her maidenhead had been taken, she had never had the chance to explore the sensual secrets between men and women.