by Kresley Cole
"I've known Crow forever. She's always bringing me things," she said. "But she's rutterless."
"What does that mean?" he asked, astonished when water began to trickle up from the bottom of his hole. 'Twas everywhere here. Malkom was beginning to love this place of plenty.
When he was young he'd wanted three things. A home that no one could ever force him to leave. As much food and water as he could ever enjoy. To be noble and respected like Kallen.
Here he could satisfy at least two of those desires.
"It means she didn't have anything," the girl said, then added proudly, "Not until me."
Malkom began to put it together. Carrow's own parents had treated her so callously that the idea of mothering a child in need called to her. Could he hate her for this?
For that matter, could Malkom turn his back on this girl? She was seven years old. Roughly my age when I no longer had a mother, my age when fate began punishing me.
"What happens when you return home?" he asked her. "Who will provide for you?" When her brows drew together at the question, he said, "How will you buy things?"
"Carrow makes a fortune off her spells."
A fortune. He'd known she'd come from money, but he hadn't wanted to acknowledge that she had wealth in her world—whereas he would not.
"We're going to get a pad."
"A pad?"
In a singsong tone, she answered, "A house. Like a lily pad. We're going to have parties. It has a pool. She said we can invite you over."
Invite him over. The witch didn't plan to reside with him? On this island, she would be forced to. Here, he could provide for her. He had no guarantee of it in her world.
The girl had collected some insect on her hand, letting it roam as she tilted her hand this way and that. Weren't little females supposed to be scared of such creatures? He thought back, searching his memory, but he could recall only the young demonesses who'd laughed as he'd eaten from their garbage. He remembered being stung with humiliation.
He shoveled harder, wanting to lose himself in his task.
"You really come from a world with no water?" she asked. "Do you miss it?"
Without looking up, he said, "There was little water. And no, I do not miss it."
"I bet you miss your friends. I miss mine."
Digging faster. "I had no friends."
"What? You have to have friends. You don't have a gang? I have a gang of witches. We meet in the attic. Elianna—she's my nanny—she says we're going to take over the world." Ruby took a breath, then said, "Did you have a family?"
"None. I left no one behind." His pit was as deep as his chest, water now past his ankles.
"No parents?"
Exasperated, he ceased digging. "No, Ruby, my mother was killed, and—"
"So was mine," the girl interrupted in a shocked tone. "The humans did it." She gazed away, her bottom lip trembling.
Malkom's eyes went wide; he dreaded her tears more than he would a kick to the teeth.
When Ruby stemmed her tears, wiping her nose on her sleeve, he felt abject relief—and a grudging respect for the girl.
"Did the humans kill your mom, too?"
He exhaled. "No, child, it happened long ago."
His respect for Ruby grew when she murmured, "I'm going to hurt the people who did it."
"I believe you will one day," he said honestly. And who would make sure she was prepared to exact her revenge, skilled and strong enough to punish without being harmed herself? "But you cannot go after them, unless you're ready and know you will win."
She canted her head. "How will I know?"
I could make sure. I could help you get vengeance. "I am sure your coven will teach you. Or Carrow will."
"You know, you're just like me. We both lost our moms and now we both have Crow."
Wanting to change this subject, he asked, "What are your powers?"
"I'm like Crow, in the same three castes as her." When he motioned for her to go on, she said, "Warrior, enchantress, and conjurer. But I can't do anything with this collar on." She glared down at it.
He'd already known Carrow was an enchantress, just hadn't known that was a literal power. He wished he could believe that she'd enthralled him to desire her, but what he felt for her was too consuming to be a mere spell. "Carrow's magic seems to come and go." Last night, she'd told him that her collar had been turned off in Oblivion. So why had her magic been so unpredictable?
"I guess." Ruby shrugged. "If she doesn't have a source."
"A source? Of power?"
"I'm not supposed to tell anyone."
Eking out an awkward smile, he faced her. "But 'tis only me, child."
With a suspicious expression, she said, "Why'd you tell me you were married to Crow?"
His shoulders stiffened, feigned smile gone. "I am."
"I asked her if you were."
In as unconcerned a tone as he could manage, he asked, "And what did she say?"
"She said that even if you were, you wouldn't want to be with her."
So Carrow hadn't denied it. And last night, she'd acted as if she'd wanted him to claim her. When he'd told her to leave him alone, he'd seen her disappointment.
It would be easy to believe she wanted to start a life with him. Easier still to believe that she'd been ready to feign affection for his protection.
Sounds familiar.
"But I think you do want to be with her," Ruby said. "You were sad on the beach last night when she was hurt."
Sad? He was nigh out of his mind with worry, anguished.
Yet there were two issues with the witch. Malkom couldn't bear to lose her; he was definitely going to lose her. Once she found out about his past or returned to her home...
And he didn't know if he could ever believe in another again. It only brought misery.
I will get through this hour by hour, denying myself what I want most.
"We talked about you last night."
"Did you?"
"Yeah, if you're married to Crow and she's adopting me, then you do, too. You're my stepdemon."
"Stepdemon?"
"Yeah, like a stepdad who's a demon."
Stepdad was some kind of father? Why had Carrow told the child these things? To put pressure on him? She had a lot of nerve, assuming he'd provide for her and her adopted one. Without even asking him.
Malkom ran his hand over his face. Why would Carrow want him for this role?
Why do you think, fool? She and the child were both defenseless here.
When Ruby's stomach growled, he immediately looked up. "You are hungry."
She grinned sheepishly. "Uh-huh."
He gazed from his half-finished pit back to the child, then exhaled. "What do you usually eat, then?" He would return and complete this later.
"I like dinosaur chicken nuggets, pizza sticks, tangelos, and organic juice boxes."
Puzzled, he asked, "Are those things here?" She shook her head. "We could catch something to eat."
She shot to her feet, eyes wide. "I love catching things! I catch frogs and spiders and green snakes!"
"Very well." He took his shovel, climbing from the pit. As he passed her, she stuck her hand up to him.
He frowned at it. "What? Did you hurt yourself?" Carrow would have his head—
Ruby slipped her tiny hand into his.
He gazed down in consternation, about to draw away. Why would the child do such a thing? I do not understand this.
She peered up at him. "Aren't we going?"
Though he felt a hint of that uncomfortable tightness in his chest, he said, "We are going, deela." And he kept her hand in his grasp.
Carrow was pensive in the wooden tub, and not just because she was afraid of getting splinters in all the wrong places.
Earlier she'd tried yet again to get her torque off, this time using rope and a tourniquet system. She'd almost asphyxiated, yet the collar hadn't budged. With a bitter curse, she'd accepted that she would be magicless until she return
ed home.
Now she sat with her knees to her chest, lathering her hair, contemplating how she might get back in the demon's good graces. She was used to being well liked. She didn't go around putting mittens on destitute kittens or saving nuns from a nuclear winter, but she tried to do right. Surely the demon would thaw to her, would recognize that she'd acted out of necessity.
Though he was angry with her, she knew he still cared. She recalled his reaction on the beach, faintly hearing him pleading for her to wake up. Just thinking about that made her toes curl.
But she didn't have time to let things sort themselves out naturally. She'd realized two things today. First, this being powerless and dependent on a male sucked worse than being in the "great outdoors." And second, she needed the demon to be firmly on their side—now—so they could escape this place as soon as possible.
Among all the other threats, La Dorada could still be out there, with her trained Wendigos.
When Carrow was little, she used to have nightmares about those creatures. They were ravenous, eating any living thing they came across, mortal or immortal, falling upon it in a frenzy. And worse than being eaten alive was joining their number. Sustain a single bite or scratch, and within days...
Carrow trusted Malkom to keep her and Ruby safe in the short term, but how long would it be until the contagious members of the Lore overran the entire island?
She scooped water up over her head, beginning to rinse her hair, imagining what would happen once the three of them returned to New Orleans. What would Malkom's life be like? She knew he'd have a job at least. With his strength, speed, and healing ability, he'd be so in demand as a mercenary it wouldn't even be funny.
Would the other demons who lived there accept him as one of their own? The witches would, eventually. Mari and Elianna would adore him once they heard he'd saved Carrow's and Ruby's lives repeatedly—
Ruby's shriek rang out.
Carrow bolted out of the tub, suds dripping down her face as she blindly sprinted out of the cabin and down the stairs. Outside in the sprinkling rain, she heard another shriek.
"Ruby!" She followed the sound through the woods to the calm side of the cape, screaming, "Where are you?" Brush scraped her bare legs. "Ruby! Answer me. ..." Carrow trailed off when she spotted them, her tension fading as she took in the scene.
On the beach, Ruby squealed and laughed as she dodged fish flapping all around her feet.
Malkom was shirtless, knee-deep in the water, easily hand-catching them to toss up on the shore. And Carrow could have sworn he'd been sporting a grin until she ran out.
Carrow ran her forearm over her eyes, stepping back behind a waist-high bush. She wrapped her other arm over her chest. "You scared me."
"We're fishing, Crow!"
And I nearly had a heart attack, Ruby. "That's good, honey." Her irritation vanished when she realized this had to be Ruby's first real laugh since her mother had died.
Carrow gazed at Malkom, wanting to thank him again, but his heated look robbed her of breath. Ruby hadn't seemed to notice—or care—that Carrow was naked.
But Malkom...
As he hastily backed into deeper water, his eyes flickered black, his lips parting. And gods, she responded. His tanned skin was damp, the sculpted muscles in his torso flexing with his movements, that tattoo twining up his body. I used to follow it with my mouth.
Once she could pry her eyes upward, even his face made her want to sigh. His blond stubble, those chiseled features, that wicked mouth. But when she bit her bottom lip, he jerked his gaze away, scowling.
Oh, well, Rome wasn't built in a day, she thought breezily, delighted to see his interest was as marked as ever. He definitely still wanted her. "Fish on," she called. As she sauntered back to the cabin, she felt his eyes return to her, burning like a brand.
Chapter 38
The witch, naked to all the world. Her face pinkened from her bath. Tendrils of black hair clinging to supple skin. And the brush she'd hidden behind had revealed as much as it'd covered....
If Malkom could get that image out of his head, he thought he might find this night enjoyable, relaxing even.
After he and the witches had eaten fish, he'd sat in front of the fire, watching Carrow and Ruby playing cards on the rug, a game called blackjack. They were wagering seashells. Either Carrow was letting the child win or she was a poor player indeed.
They'd asked him to join them, but even if he'd been inclined, he couldn't read the symbols.
So he'd reflected on his day, realizing it hadn't been miserable. The girl was bright and had proved to be agreeable company. This island was a paradise, filled with all the things they needed to survive and even to thrive. The air was clean, the water from the cloudy sky sweet.
Which meant he couldn't hate the witch for where he'd ended up. However, for her deceit ... that was another matter.
And still he wanted her just as much as before. Hell, more so.
Now he regarded her expressions, watched the firelight on her shining hair. He missed touching her, missed taking her neck. Or breast. He missed merely sleeping with her against him—
"So, you two were busy today," she said.
Ruby answered, "We put traps out, and now nobody can get here. And tomorrow, we're going to string pots that will make a lot of noise if anybody gets too close to our ter'tory."
At that, Carrow grinned in his direction, as if she wanted to share her amusement with him.
"The peninsula is closed off," he said stonily. Preparing for an attack was normal for him. Relaxing with others like this, hearing their laughter, was foreign. "You should be safe." And if anything approached by air, he would hear its wings from a mile away.
"Then, Malkom, I have a favor to ask you," Carrow said, taking another card. "I need you to search for a way to get us off this island."
To get them to the home she spoke of. Malkom knew it surely couldn't trump this place of plenty, with food all around. He'd scooped the night's meal straight from the water! "What do I know of that, witch? 'Tis not my world."
"You could venture out and try to find any of our allies, or maybe a boat. Perhaps there's another island nearby—this could be one of a chain. And as you said, we should be secure here until you return."
"I will consider it." He would never consider it.
The child asked, "Why can't you just trace us away? Demons can trace, can't they?"
"I could, long ago. But I no longer have that talent."
"Why?"
"Because I am not truly a demon anymore."
"Then what are you?"
"Ruby, I'm sure he doesn't want to talk about this," Carrow said, clearly growing nervous.
The witch had all but signed Malkom up to be a protector for the child but hadn't revealed what he was? Out of shame?
The old anger simmered up, that rage he'd felt at being turned into an abomination against his will. Made into something hated.
Carrow acted as if she could accept it, but she didn't want others to know.
"I became a Scarba," he said.
"What does that mean?"
Something that must not be. Neither a true vampire nor a demon. "A vampire demon."
"V-vampire?" Ruby's eyes went round. "You drink blood?"
"I do," he said. "I have drunk Carrow before."
Ruby swung her gaze to Carrow, who looked like she wanted to throttle him.
"Did it hurt, Crow?"
"Yes, witch, did it hurt?"
She faced him with a determined glint in her eyes, then turned to the girl. "No, honey. It's like a hug. It's what Malkom and I do when we want to feel close to each other." She turned to him once more. "Isn't that right, demon?"
His lips parted.
"In fact, I could use a bite right about now."
Woman, I would kill for another taste of you!
Their gazes held.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ruby demanded. "I'm not supposed to talk to vampires. Unless they're married to Va
lkyrie."
After a laden moment, Carrow dragged her gaze away to answer Ruby. "Because I wasn't sure that Malkom wanted you to know. Besides, he's not a vampire."
"He's not?"
I'm not?
"Nope. You remember how Peter Parker got bitten by a spider and had superpowers?" The girl nodded. "But he's not a spider, is he?"
"Of course not!"
Who is Peter Parker?
"Malkom got some superpowers from a vampire, but he's still a demon," Carrow said decidedly.
"Ohhh, so he's like a superdemon."
Carrow's lips curled at him. "The stuff of legend, honey."
Malkom sat there, wound up with tension, grappling with what Carrow had said. Was that truly how she saw him? Not as something less but somehow as something more?
In that cell with Kallen ages ago, Malkom had vowed to find a way to become fully demon again. In Oblivion, he'd even briefly considered asking the witch to help him. Now I do not know....
"So, are you going to let me win back my shells?" she asked the girl.
"But I want Malkom to play," Ruby said with a pout.
He and Carrow shared a look. Would she tell the child he couldn't read the symbols?
"They might not have cards where he comes from. Maybe he could team up—"
"With me!" Ruby bounded over to him, dropping her cards all over to grab his arm. "You can be on my team." She pulled him until he relented and joined them on the floor.
Carrow looked surprised. "Okay, then. The object of the game is to get to twenty-one points without going over."
"The cards with people on them are worth ten." Ruby displayed a card that depicted a crowned man.
Carrow said, "And aces can be one or eleven."
Ruby showed him a card that looked like all the rest. "This is an ace. It's got an A on it."
Reading and ciphering. Any remnants of his relaxation disappeared.
"Ruby, since you're on vacation from school, why don't you do all the adding? Ask Malkom if you can."
"Can I, Malkom?"
He gruffly replied, "As you will ..."
The next hour flew by in a haze of numbers and even some amusement. Additional rules to the game were revealed, which made it even more interesting. Soon he could recognize aces, and he'd even learned some of the number symbols—easy enough to deduce when Ruby counted on her fingers with many of the cards.