by Calista Fox
The sudden raw edge to him caused Jade to take his word on that.
“At any rate,” she said, getting back to the current issue, rather than getting caught up in his emotional turmoil, “the gifts I showed you today are the ones I’ve always had. Nothing new here, other than a heightened awareness of knowing when someone’s hot on my heels.”
Davian frowned. “This is definitely a new power I’m sensing. And it’s incredibly strong. But you’re right,” he contended. “I’m not getting that signal now.”
They both seemed to draw the same conclusion in the next instant.
“Damn it,” the king said as he pounded a fist so fiercely on the desk, the legs shimmied. “There’s a certain mystique around you, but it’s not coming from you. It’s someone else who watches you, someone else who stays close to you. Someone I haven’t detected.”
Fear snaked through her. “If it’s not just you keeping tabs on me, then who?”
“A very determined demon.” His hands remained balled at his sides. The dire look he gave her was filled with worry, dread and rage.
Spiking her anxiety.
“Question is,” he said, his voice still razor-sharp, “what the hell does he want from you?”
Chapter Five
Davian’s mind raced. Why would a demon track Jade? And was it one from his kingdom?
No.
Their allegiance never faltered. Granted, the vampire who’d allowed Jinx to experiment on him had stepped beyond a reasonable boundary, but the accord had been made by mutual consent. Jinx had willingly taken the risk.
Something much bigger was at play when it came to Jade. And Davian had to find out what it was. If neither he nor Morgan had discovered what followed her, but had realized evil surrounded her, that would likely make the stalker another wraith.
Fuck!
Poltergeists were the damnedest demons to hunt. One of the reasons Morgan made such a brilliant general and military strategist. Although Davian did not lack tactical skills himself.
“You’ll be safest at the castle while I search for the demon,” he instructed Jade.
She shook her head vehemently. “The slayers would never stand for it. Nor would I put myself in that sort of compromising position. Vampires live within your walls.”
“Who no longer prey on humans,” he said in agitation of the critical situation.
“Regardless, I wouldn’t feel the least bit comfortable there. Or safe.”
He fought the anger pressing in on him because she actually thought he’d let someone harm her. “Have I not given you a good enough idea of my feelings for you?”
Her sooty lashes fluttered as she seemingly tried to comprehend all they’d been through thus far. “What happened last night…that was only a dream.”
“Really?” he challenged.
She moved away from the fireplace, as though the additional heat were suddenly too much. “I can’t explain why it was so powerful.”
“Are you going to conveniently say I manipulated your senses?”
She spun back to face him, appearing indignant. “Of course not. That would suggest I have absolutely no control over my own thoughts or body. I assure you, I do.”
The admission contradicted her point about it only being a dream that had transpired between them.
His brow quirked. “You didn’t exactly demand I leave your body or your bed after I’d mentally removed Michael from both.”
Her cheeks sucked in for a moment. Then she said, “This isn’t something we should discuss.”
“Hard to deny how we responded to each other.”
“I can’t explain it,” she repeated. “I’m sure you can’t, either.”
“Yes, I can.” Despite his better judgment, he reached for her, hauled her up against his chest and sealed his mouth with hers. A quick, yet scorching kiss that caused adrenaline to pump through his veins and made his cock swell.
When he released her, she stared at him with murder and desire swirling in her eyes. A heady combination.
He quietly demanded, “What bothers you most, Jade? That I pulled you into my arms or that you willingly came?”
“I—” She gave another shake of her head. Visibly seethed. Then said in a breathless voice, “I don’t know. I don’t understand what happened last night. How…real…it felt.”
“Perhaps that was because we both wanted it. We wanted each other.”
“But I didn’t even know you at the time. I’d never even seen you before.”
“And yet I commanded your passion in a way Michael never has. Am I correct?”
Now her eyelids drifted closed. Likely so he couldn’t see the flicker of blatant need and yearning in them—an easy assumption to make because her body tensed and her chest rose and fell rapidly with her labored breathing.
His head dipped and his lips grazed her temple. He whispered against her skin, “I can’t have you in reality. That fantasy was the only intimate connection I can ever make with you.” A notion that disturbed him greatly, especially as his gut twisted and his groin tightened. But he couldn’t give into his own lust and longing.
Instead, he stepped away.
Her eyes flew open at the sudden distance he’d put between them.
As she stared up at him, there was a tinge of regret in her expression. “You won’t invade my mind like that again, will you?”
“No.” Not an affirmation that pleased him, so he changed the subject. “If you won’t allow the security of the castle walls, then I’ll have Morgan, the general of my army, escort you to your cottage. I only ask one thing of you. Stay there until we’ve isolated your hunter.”
Her jaw slackened in protest. But before she could muster a response, he silenced her with a stern look.
“It won’t take long,” he said. “I promise you, Jade. Now that we have an idea of what we’re up against, we’ll act expeditiously. Just stay put. Can you do that for me?”
He studied her while she mentally debated all that he’d said, what he’d requested of her. Clearly, she couldn’t fully process what had transpired between them in less than twenty-four hours. It didn’t compute for her, he had no delusion about that. And yet…
She reached out with her previously injured hand and swept the pad of her thumb over the dip in his brows, which he’d felt crease with his worry over her wellbeing.
“You want to help me? A human?”
“Yes,” he said in a low tone, his body tightening further at her intimate touch. “If you’ll allow me.”
Her hand fell away. Confusion flitted over her beautiful face, clouding her eyes. Her teeth nibbled her lower lip a moment—tempting him beyond all belief to capture it himself. Then she resolutely said, “I will do as you ask. Only for a few days, though,” she informed him with her usual tenaciousness. “I don’t want to leave Michael and Dane without help at the tavern for long.”
“Nor do I want you to remain in danger. We’ll be hasty in our pursuit.” He retrieved the cloak. Giving it over, he said, “You’ll need this on the way back to the hall. It’s snowing again.”
She gazed out the window and then at the garment. “That’s much too personal and people will take note.” Squaring her shoulders, she added, “You are the Demon King, after all. Try not to forget it.”
He grinned. “Nice to see you have a sense of humor.”
“It’s not all doom and gloom being a human. We have roses and sunshine from time to time.”
“You do like to mock me, don’t you?”
“No,” she said. “I’m trying to understand you. Relate to you.”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
Jade let out a small, strangled sound. “I don’t know. I’m still trying to comprehend everything that’s just happened. No easy feat.”
“No, I’m sure it’s not. Come.” Pulling open the door of the library, he gestured for her to precede him. He trailed behind her on the sidewalk, wondering how he’d go back to separating his existence from her
s. Their dream had felt remarkably real to him as well, and now that he’d spoken with Jade and had truly kissed her lips, he was more captivated by her than ever before.
An inconceivable scenario, to be sure. Increasingly convoluted because he’d just sworn his protection and was willing to take on any demon, no matter how treacherous, in order to keep her safe.
A human. A mortal. A woman he could never have. Except for that one time in the fantasy they’d shared. And holy hell had his climax been an explosive one as he’d reveled in her heat and her tight, wet depths. He could recall every sensation his mind had conjured, even now. Her soft skin against his. Their arms and legs entwined. Her sexy moans. The way she’d moved in perfect sync with him. How she’d bowed her back to keep their bodies sealed.
A groan of frustration fell from his lips.
Peering at him over her shoulder, she asked, “Something wrong, my Lord?”
“No.” He rolled his eyes. “Yes. But…no.”
She gave him a look that made him believe she knew exactly what he was thinking. Then she returned her attention to the lightly populated walkway. The sideways glances they received from the villagers were of sheer relief. The Demon King had not harmed the human.
Fucking fantastic.
He was a monster in everyone’s eyes.
Though…perhaps not in Jade’s…?
* * *
Michael, Lisette and the slayers awaited her return—with mounting anxiety if their nerve-wracked appearances were any indication. Jade entered the community hall and Michael rushed toward her. She warded him off with a discreet lifting of her hand and he stopped in his tracks.
Sparking conflict between both her former and her phantom lovers would not bode well for any of them.
Davian announced, “We’ve deduced it’s a rogue demon hunting Miss Deville, not one from my kingdom. My general and I will see that whatever tracks her is discovered and removed from the village. I’ve asked her to remain in her cottage and I suggest no one visits her, lest either of you,” he said to Michael and Lisette, “find yourselves in jeopardy. I’m sure she would have difficulty reconciling any tragedy brought on by this unfortunate incident.”
Jade nodded.
Walker said, “Toran and I will come by the cottage at regular intervals.”
“Very good,” Davian told them. “The general and I will cover the woods surrounding her house and the riverbank. You ought to keep a close eye on the village itself. I’ll restrict my demons from crossing the perimeter, so if you see anything suspicious, you’ll know it won’t be from my alliance and you have my permission to take action.”
The gravity of the situation made Jade’s stomach coil. She gazed up at Davian, whose face was a mask of hard angles, revealing nothing.
Heavy footsteps on the stone floor drew her attention. A tall, lean-muscled, blonde-haired man strode toward them.
Davian introduced him to Jade and told her, “Morgan will see that you make it safely home.”
The general gave a simple nod.
“Thank you,” Jade said. “I appreciate your assistance.”
Michael looked deeply disturbed and opened his mouth to speak.
Jade quickly assured him, “It’ll be fine. They’ll locate their demon and that’ll put everyone’s minds at ease.”
“But why is it stalking you?” he asked.
Jade couldn’t help but smile, wanting to alleviate some of the pressure, even if her own nerves wouldn’t settle. “I’m sure the king and his general will learn that soon enough. Don’t worry about me. I have castle and slayer protection. I’m probably the most guarded human on the continent.”
Lisette said, “Then do as they say. You tend to have a stubborn side. This isn’t one of those times it should prevail.”
“I understand.” A thought suddenly occurred to her and she added, “Damn, Lisette. I made a small mess at your library and didn’t get a chance to clean it up.”
She’d bled on the floor. Not something she wanted to say in front of the group.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Don’t make anything of it,” Jade adamantly told her. “It was entirely my doing. And I’m obviously fully intact.”
This caused the older woman’s brows to knit and caught the interest of the others as well.
Davian intervened before anyone could question Jade. “We should be going.”
He turned abruptly and she walked a step behind him, with Morgan and the slayers bringing up the rear.
Leaving the village proper, Jade learned the general wasn’t a man of many words. He uttered not a one on the way to her cottage.
As she slid off the bare back of his cinnamon-colored horse, she said, “I’ll stay inside and wait for someone to tell me the danger has passed.”
Another brief nod. Obviously, something about her bothered him. Likely the fact that she was human and he had to look after her.
“Well. Again, thank you for…everything.” She headed toward the front door, but Morgan finally spoke.
“He might be immortal…”
She drew up short.
“…But he’d still put his own credibility—perhaps even his life—on the line for you.”
She whirled around, pinning the general with a solid look. “Excuse me?”
“The king.”
She knew to whom he referred. “Why?”
“Because,” he said in a measured tone, “not all demons are evil.”
Then he signaled to his horse and they took off with lightning speed, snow flying in their wake.
Jade stared after them, the breath leaving her body on a single puff of air.
Not all humans are good.
Not all demons are evil.
Her mother’s creed.
Jade’s stomach twisted further. Painfully so.
Yet she had no time to consider the unanticipated reiteration as a chill forced her thoughts back to the situation at hand—and the hazardous dilemma she’d inadvertently found herself in. She hurried into the cottage, barricading the entrance.
Chapter Six
Captivity didn’t suit Jade well, but she had so much to mull over that two days passed as though in a matter of hours. She didn’t sleep much, her mind too preoccupied with the bizarre events of late. On occasion, she found it tempting to nap, just to see if Davian would keep his word about staying out of her dreams. Depressingly, he made good on his promise.
Her life had never been particularly full and satisfying following her parents’ deaths, but somehow, being in Davian’s presence—whether in reality or by way of a fantasy—sealed the hollow cracks and crevices. Being alone in her cottage tore them wide open again.
Loneliness was not a foreign feeling for Jade. She’d lived in the modest home by herself since she was eleven. There was no child protective legal system or group homes in the post-war days, so no one had whisked her away to a different shelter against her will.
Yes, the adults of the village had urged her to stay with them and their families. But she’d had no desire to leave this house and all the memories she’d collected in her youth. She felt closer to her parents here and she cherished the quaint cottage.
Above all else, she found a degree of strength in knowing she’d practically raised herself and possessed the spirit and determination to be accountable for her own actions and needs. Well, most of them, anyway. One elusive yearning could not be sated by anyone other than the Demon King.
She sighed as she tossed another log on the fire, which had dimmed as she’d pondered her tumultuous existence. Admittedly, she enjoyed her friendships and she loved reading about civilization before the war. But she’d always felt something was missing. Several somethings, actually. Her place in the new world. A significant connection to someone.
As much as she adored Michael, he was not the man for her. Not after everything she’d just experienced—shared—with Davian.
Yet the almighty Demon King wasn’t a viable option for a companion
either, and he proved he felt the same way by steering clear of her. It was the slayers who checked on her and gave status reports. Not the king. Not even his general.
Davian’s glowing amber eyes and incredible physique—his sizzling kisses and deep, masterful thrusts into her body—were insanely difficult to push from her mind, regardless of the multitude of times she told herself there was no point in replaying every single second with him, dating back to that night outside the tavern. Making her current solitary confinement even more disconcerting.
She poked at the fire with little enthusiasm. The log was much too big and she’d all but snuffed out the flame. As thick streams of smoke ribboned in the hearth, the distinct snapping of branches out back sent a jolt of fright through her.
Her gaze flashed to the windows that overlooked the river. But only for a moment. The wood in her fireplace suddenly exploded into a raging blaze that caused the abundant flames to lick the outer edges of the stone hearth.
Jade cried out and jumped back. But instinct kicked in and she lunged for the pot of water she kept in the corner for fire emergencies. Gripping the container, she dumped the liquid on the inferno, instantly extinguishing it.
She fought the panic that seized her. Losing her cottage was her biggest fear of all, for with it, the tangible reminder of her life with her parents would incinerate as well.
Jade attempted to compose herself, but a movement out of the corner of her eye snagged her attention. Once more, she turned toward the windows at the back of the house and a heartbeat later, a ghastly apparition appeared before her eyes—a wraith draped in a cloak as dark as the night, but with the edges of it lit by flames, burning all around him.
Another shriek fell from her parted lips.
A fire wraith?!
She’d only heard about them from her father—no one else had conceded they existed, not even the slayers.
The demon’s sockets blazed where there should have been eyes. When he opened his mouth and fire spewed forth, she let out a full-on scream. Terror tore through her, but she managed to propel herself into action.