by Sam Cheever
“You love him.” Slayer sounded surprised.
I blinked away tears and swallowed a lump the size of my fist. Shaking my head in denial, I straightened away from the bed. “I care about him, yes. Love...that’s something I can’t afford. Especially with a Royal.”
“Yet you are his queen.”
I shrugged. “It’s a political arrangement, nothing more. Dialle needs a queen to keep his court healthy. I fill the spot and he helps me...with my Settling and other things.”
“Very cynical.”
My laugh was slightly more watery than I’d hoped. “Don’t tell me the big bad, dragon slayer believes in happily ever after?”
Slayer looked at me with deep sadness and maybe even a little pity. “I do, actually. Just not for me. I went that route once and it didn’t work out so well for me.” He looked so sad that I wondered if he was thinking about Crisanne, the halfling he’d told me about.
“Then you know exactly how I feel.”
He shrugged. “Before the advocate arrives, there’s something I need to tell you...”
The doors opened and Milc strode in, closely followed by Gerch.
“Hold that thought,” I told Slayer.
Milc stopped in front of me and slanted Slayer a glance. “What is this creature doing here...my queen?”
Slayer leaned against a sturdy chair and crossed well-muscled arms over his chest, sliding an arrogant gaze over Milc.
“He’s not your concern. I need to ask you a few questions.”
Milc inclined his head, fixing an intense, black gaze on me. “I’m always at your service, my queen.”
The words held so much innuendo I felt the need to clarify. “The only service I need from you is the truth.”
He inclined his head again.
“What do you know about the Puka King?”
Milc held my gaze for a moment before responding. “I know he will be crowned Council Sovereign in a few days.”
He gave no sign that he knew the king was missing. Despite that, I knew he was lying. “At the meeting of the Dark Council?”
“Yes. Surely you were aware of that also, my queen. Have your advisors not provided background on the event?”
I did a mental head slap. Oh yeah, all that crap I trashed from my information unit as soon as it hit. “Humor me. I want your perspective.”
His dark gaze flashed briefly before becoming hooded again. “As you wish.”
“Tell me what happens if the Puka King can’t be crowned.”
“That wouldn’t happen.”
“Milc!”
He expelled air. “I do not have time for fantasies. I must find the person responsible for the attacks on you and the king.”
I gave him an evil smile. “How’s that going for you?”
He frowned. “Not well. It appears that many hate you. If I were to go by that alone I would be arresting half the court.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Only half? I’m pleasantly surprised.”
“Do not be. The other half hates you too, but they wish to find your secrets before ridding the court of your stain.”
Power rose in the room in a thick wave as we glared at each other. The hairs on my arms stood up with it, and the temperature in the room rose noticeably.
“Don’t make me go to King Dialle with your subordination. Let’s try this again. Tell me what happens if the Puka King cannot be crowned.”
“As next in line, King Dialle would be crowned in his stead.”
“And if something happened to Dialle?”
Milc stared at me for a long moment. He didn’t blink. I watched him carefully and noted the exact moment he got my inference.
“Has something happened to the Puka King?”
“It’s possible. He’s disappeared.”
“And you believe King Dialle was poisoned to ensure someone else’s spot as Sovereign?”
“You tell me.”
He flung his hands up in a fit of piqué, flames dancing around him on the air. “How in Hades would I know, you imbecile? This is your fantasy, not mine.”
I pulled my power forward and Slayer did the same. The room was so drenched with power at that point I could barely breathe.
I lifted my hands, power sizzling in my palms, and my devil came up in a big way. I pictured Milc ripping into hundreds of tiny little pieces as I pounded him with my magic. A red haze slipped before my gaze and my muscles clenched in anticipation. I let the power slide, sending it to my fingertips, ready to fling. I could almost taste the pleasure of blasting him into the next room. Unfortunately for me I never got the chance. A powerful, husky voice boomed through the magic, vibrating on the air and reverberating around the room.
“Milc!”
All eyes turned to the owner of the sexy baritone. Dialle sat upright in the bed, his face dark with rage and his silky black hair lifting off his shoulders on a power induced wave. His hands were lifted, the fingers clenched in tight fists, and power snapped around them. “You will prostrate yourself before the queen and apologize. Now!”
His voice throbbed across the waves of magic, emphasized by them rather than dimmed, and rattled the very walls of the large room.
I felt its vibration in my bones. I glanced at Slayer and he nodded, shimmering away while Dialle’s attention was focused on his advocate. I’d have to get his report later.
Like a marionette on knotted string, Milc jerked downward, no doubt impelled by Dialle’s magic, and banged to the floor on his knees. His voice came to me muffled and sounded as if it were delivered through gritted teeth. “You have my heartfelt apologies, my queen.”
Dialle surged from the bed on a roar and lifted his hands, opening them to emit double streams of pure, black power from the palms.
Milc flew away from him and smashed into the wall thirty feet away, coming to his feet with an angry cry.
I turned to Milc with power still sizzling in my palms. “Step down, Advocate. You’re lucky the king didn’t kill you.”
Gerch closed ranks with me, obscuring Dialle in the bed. But Dialle was way too pissed off to let us shield him. The air before Milc shimmered and Dialle was suddenly standing inches away from the advocate, his fist bunched in the taller man’s shirt. “Get thee from my sight, boil, before I kill thee with my bare hands.”
With a final sneer in my direction, Milc shimmered away.
Dialle stood staring at the wall for a moment, his chest heaving as he fought for control. I glanced at Gerch. “Leave us.”
Gerch stepped close. “Are you certain?”
I was touched, the big guy looked as if he was actually concerned about me. I smiled. “I’m sure. Thanks.”
With a final, uncertain look at Dialle, Gerch nodded and left quickly, closing the heavy doors quietly behind him.
I stood silent for a moment, allowing Dialle to calm before I spoke. I wasn’t worried about Dialle’s anger. It wasn’t directed at me. But the look on his face when he turned around made me suck in a breath.
Maybe I shouldn’t have sent Slayer and Gerch away after all.
I needed to bring his devil down fast or we were both gonna be sorry.
“Too bad you stepped in front of me, I was just about to kick his ass.”
Dialle’s black gaze swirled with the colors of rage. His fists were clenched so hard at his sides that the knuckles were white.
Power flowed from him in angry waves. He growled.
Well. That hadn’t worked.
I tried a different tack.
“You’re looking much better.”
Dialle moved so fast I didn’t see it until it was too late. Suddenly he was standing right in front of me, his face so close to mine I could taste his breath.
One, large, golden hand lifted to tangle in my hair and he pulled me roughly into a kiss, his other hand grasping my hip and dragging me close.
The power ball I’d been holding deflated and disappeared with a pop as my nether regions fired up under a different kind of power.
My Settling surged into awareness and growled, licking its lips in anticipation as Dialle’s mouth ravaged mine.
He kissed me so hard I felt the sharp tips of his slightly oversized canines and I relished the pain. The taste of my blood added a salty-sweet tang to our kisses.
I tangled my fingers in his thick mane of hair and groaned against his mouth, my hips nestling the long, hard thickness resting against my belly.
Dialle’s tongue speared my lips and danced roughly with mine. He tasted of heat and sexual musk. His scent wound me in an unbreakable web of lust.
I dragged at my clothes desperately, becoming frustrated by their refusal to give way. When they disappeared on a wisp of Dialle-induced magic, I immediately climbed his body, my legs wrapping around him like the slut monkey I was. My channel convulsed hungrily as it found his shaft and I pressed against it with manic need.
Moaning, I grabbed his face and lifted my mouth from his, biting his lips and jawline, and licking his face and lips like a submissive pup. I bit and licked my way down his throat, heading for the daemon hickey I’d given him.
He grabbed my chin between two strong fingers, gently but firmly dragging my lips back to his. He carried me to the bed and dropped me onto it, climbing over me and settling his shaft between my legs.
He found the tear-shaped mark on my throat and sucked it. My world rolled and wobbled, crashing, as delight speared through me, sharp and bright.
My hands found his delectable buns and I grabbed hold, trying to force his shaft into my body.
But Dialle resisted. He used the mark on my throat to send me screaming into orgasm over and over again, until I panted from the aftermath.
Finally, I screamed his name, begging him shamelessly with my body, and he drove himself deep. I knew from the moment he entered my body that it would be no gentle mating. He was an animal in need, a beast driven by sheer, unbound lust that needed to be assuaged.
I was no less driven. I wrapped his hair in my fist and held on, my legs twining around his as he pounded me into the soft mattress beneath us.
His teeth closed on my bottom lip and he nibbled it as he thrust into me, lifting my hips to drive even more deeply into my channel.
My world was woven completely from my need and the sexual fire I felt sizzling at the edge of our sphere. I was nothing more than a collection of roiling sexual cells...mindless and ravenous.
My cells had expanded with it...my skin was so alive it hurt. Every touch of his hands burned me as he stroked my arms, back and buttocks.
Dialle’s skin felt as if it was on fire beneath my fingers. A fine sheen of sweat coated us both, creating friction as our bodies ground together in frenzied coupling.
He growled my name as his muscles tightened and I felt him jump within me. As he came, he lowered his lips to my throat and captured the mark that was spitting magic between us. His fevered lips staunched the magic fire and sent me soaring into release with him.
Bright stars fractured before my eyes. Pleasure burst from my sensual core and rolled through me, warming and softening my muscles as Dialle draped himself over me. He covered my lips and face in soft, lingering kisses.
I sighed, running my hands over his arms and back, and wished he would stay with me for a bit rather than jumping up and returning to the fray.
I wasn’t surprised when he started to roll away. Suddenly I couldn’t stand it. I needed him to stay. Placing my hand on his arm, I looked up into his face.
His gaze fixed on mine, unwavering, filled with coolness that made my stomach clench. “Stay. Don’t run away.”
He stared at me for a long moment and then, to my amazement, lowered his lips to mine. His kiss was filled with such tenderness that tears stung my eyes. Even so, he pulled away.
“I cannot. I have dignitaries to entertain and a council to plan.”
“Can’t somebody else do it?”
His perfect lips tipped upward and he reached out to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Nay. ’Tis my task to perform. I’m next in line, Astra. You received the information on the Dark Council meeting, yes?”
I looked away to cover the guilty expression easing onto my face. “Oh yeah, that. I just forgot.”
I felt his gaze on me but couldn’t meet it. Finally he chuckled and turned away. I watched his perfect backside striding toward the door, frowning as a skintight pair of black pants and a gauzy white shirt suddenly appeared out of thin air to cover him.
“I will see you later, my love. Stay safe.” He turned at the door, something dancing in his gaze. Something that looked a lot like concern. “Please?”
I nodded, fighting tears. If I thought he cared for my sake it would have made me happy. But I had a strong suspicion he really only cared about the health of his court.
Maybe that would be all he ever cared about.
I guessed I’d need to start preparing for that. Problem was, how did one prepare to have her heart shredded?
CHAPTER TWELVE
My Girlfriend’s Back!
She settled down he settled up, their love was meant to die,
Our heroine still rides the edge, but love may be the lie.
Slayer was waiting for me when I got back to my office. I blinked when I saw him sprawled in my chair with his big feet up on my desk. Up until that moment, his report had flown from my mind. It came back with a jolt.
“Hey.” I motioned for him to get out of my chair. “What’s up?”
Slayer dropped his feet and unfolded his long form from the chair. He slipped past me, way too close, and moved around the desk. He didn’t even take the opportunity to flirt with me.
That was when I realized he was upset.
He didn’t sit down, instead he walked around the office, looking at things on my walls and shelves. He touched some of the items without even seeming to know he was doing it, as if he didn’t really see them.
I dropped into my chair and leaned back, putting my much smaller feet on top of my desk so I could watch him squirm. I could have put him out of his misery but, hey, part devil here.
Finally, after a couple of moments of pacing and the appearance of gathering his thoughts, Slayer looked at me and frowned.
“Spit it out, Slayer.”
He expelled a harsh breath and looked at the floor, his hands on his hips. “I think I know who’s behind the kidnappings and your poisoning.”
I sat up straighter. “Who?”
“She came to me about a week ago.”
“Crisanne?”
He looked surprised that I’d figured it out.
“Hey, I do watch the show you know.”
He nodded. “I haven’t spoken to her for a couple of years.”
“I take it you used to have a relationship with her?”
“I did.”
“What happened?” I had a feeling the reason they’d broken up was important.
He glanced at me and looked away, seemingly reluctant to tell me.
“Hey, if it’s too personal...”
“It’s not that. I’m just not sure you want to hear the reason.”
I frowned. “I don’t want to hear most of what people tell me but that never stops anybody from layin’ it on me. So lay it on me.”
“She went through her Settling and came out the other side quite a bit darker than she went in.”
My stomach clenched at his words. It was my greatest fear. That my devil would gain the upper hand during my Settling. As I sat there paling before him, my light and dark sides were head to head in brutal combat. The outcome of the fight was too close for me to call.
Unfortunately for me I hung out with all the wrong people. With that type of constant influence there was a better chance I’d come through my Settling more devilish than I’d been when I went in. “I see. And you couldn’t live with the new her?”
“We gave it a good try. But the first time she jumped on another guy in front of me and was surprised I didn’t want to join the fun, I kn
ew we probably weren’t gonna make it.”
“Okay. So that sucks. And now she’s back? Is she trying to get together with you again?”
My question made him frown. “No. I mean, not really. I’m not sure exactly why she came to me again. She seemed...unsettled. I got the impression that she was mixed up in something she couldn’t handle.” He fixed an intense gaze on me. Worry brought out the black flecks, making his eyes look darker. “I think she was going to ask me to help, Astra. But, stupidly, I sent her away before she got around to asking.”
“Given your history, I don’t think that was stupid at all. If she’s in trouble, you don’t want to get dragged into it, Slayer. Believe me. I know how the devil’s mind works. She would have used you all up and left you to deal with the consequences.”
He nodded. “I know. Which is exactly why I threw her out. I don’t trust her and I’m certain her motives were far less than pure.”
I cocked my head, leaning back in my chair again. “So what’s the problem?”
He expelled a quick burst of air and dropped into my client chair. His gaze was nearly black when he looked up at me again. “I’m about ninety-nine percent sure she’s behind the kidnapping of the Puka King. I’m at least that sure she had something to do with your poisoning. And I’m dead certain she’s working with the devil’s advocate.”
Gulp. Well frunk me right to Hell.
“Tell me everything you know, Slayer.”
He stood and started pacing again. “I caught her magic signature at Mx. Davis’ house. It was faint, so I managed to convince myself I’d imagined it. And what would she be doing there anyway?” He looked at me as if he wanted me to respond.
I clamped down on a surge of impatience and shrugged. “Go on.”
He scrubbed a hand down his face. Such a handsome face. And oh so full of angst. Under the best circumstances I didn’t do angst well. It probably would surprise you to know that I’m not real compassionate.
No really.
I forced myself not to scream at him as he gathered his thoughts before going on. I could be patient when I needed to. I just hardly ever needed to.
“I sensed her again at the Diamon house, stronger that time. Really strong in the kitchen.” He slid me a meaningful look.