Bound To The Demon

by C. J. Brookes

  Rathan had little trouble identifying the Redd Gothan alpha after he flashed to the coordinates Jason had provided.

  The Redd Gothan alpha was bigger than the rest, though his coat was just as ragged as his companions’. This pack had little money, little resources, and appeared to be mostly unmated males. Rathan watched them for a while, counting wolves carefully. Jason had underestimated—there were more than fifty. Closer to sixty. And all were after little Jade.

  That was not going to happen.

  Rathan would see them all dead first.

  They must be very young wolves—or very dumb ones.

  The alpha seemed to be waiting for something. Rathan flashed closer as the wolf changed into human form. He wasn’t an intimidating male, stood barely six foot in Rathan’s estimation. He was dirty, and the pants he’d fashioned himself were of poor quality and dingy color. There was nothing remarkable about this alpha wolf.

  That he had thought to challenge Rand and Jason Taniss so near their own turf was another clear sign this wolf possessed little common sense.

  A trio of males in human form stepped into the clearing, pushing a young male dressed in the clothing Dardaptoans preferred.

  His garments were white, a sign he was of a royal blood. He wore the orange sash identical to the one Rathan had seen on the Dardaptoan king and on Emily, denoting a relationship to the king.

  To Emily now.

  Rathan flashed dangerously closer. If a Lupoiux were to step in his direction, his outline would be seen, if one stepped in to Rathan, it would prove extremely painful. For both of them.

  The alpha approached the Dardaptoan and circled him twice before speaking. “You owe my pack a considerable amount of money.”

  “Do I?” The Dardaptoan’s voice held clear disdain for the Lupoiux. Interesting—why would a royal Dardaptoan owe money to an obviously shabby Lupoiux pack? The hatred and animosity between the two races was extraordinary. Treachery was the only real answer. “But you attacked the wrong damned female. I owe you nothing.”

  “Blond female, white clothes, green sash, in the gardens, with a dog. That’s who was there, and that’s who we got. I lost some of my pack that day, including my own brother. You owe us for that job.”

  “But it wasn’t completed successfully. So why should I pay you more than what I gave you five weeks ago?”

  The Dardaptoan held obvious contempt for the wolves. Rathan wondered just how stupid the youth had to be to act so badly in front of so many dangerous animals.

  “Because if you don’t, we’ll kill you and dump your body on your king’s doorstep. Wrapped in that pretty orange sash.”

  Before that could happen, Rathan acted.

  He wanted answers.

  He materialized by the youth and wrapped his arms around the Dardaptoan’s neck. He flashed back to the Taniss compound, pulling his new captive through the flash with him.

  He wanted answers now. One thing stood out in his mind—Kindara was a blond female, who’d worn white clothes tied with a green sash. This little bastard could have targeted her.

  38

  Cormac was demanding answers when Rathan returned.

  Kindara fought the urge to curl into the demon’s arms. She had missed his annoying ass the entire time he’d been gone.

  She’d known when he’d left the property—instantly. It hadn’t taken her overhearing Joselyn’s father telling Jierra’s wolf that Rathan was scouting for her to know that much. The jerk should have told her where he was going.

  So that she wouldn’t constantly be looking for him.

  She instinctively stiffened, though she fought the urge to look at him. Kindara wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

  The surprise and tension that encompassed the occupants of the small garden house beside the helicopter pads had her turning to him. Her eyes landed on the Dardaptoan who’d been one of her daughter’s playmates Jierra’s entire life. One Kindara had actually delivered. “Jambu? What—”

  The demon cut her off and then stopped her when she stepped toward them. “Kindara, I thought you’d have left with your brother by now.”

  The rebuke was clear for her to hear, and it had her ire returning to replace her surprise. “I make my own decisions, demon. Don’t forget that.”

  “Damn it, female; it’s not safe for you here anymore!”

  Dhar Rydere interrupted before she could reply. Rydere was good at diffusing tension when needed. “Malickus, care to explain why you have my young cousin with you—in this particular manner?”

  “Cousin? More like a traitor to your Kind.” The demon held Jambu with a hand wrapped around the back of the boy’s neck. He shook him effortlessly, despite Jambu’s impressive size.

  One handed. Without breaking a sweat.

  In that moment, she got an inkling of just how powerful he actually was. How strong. The charming rogue who had teased and played with her was a dangerous creature through and through. Equally as dangerous as her Kind’s fiercest warriors and deadliest hunters.

  Maybe even more so.

  “Found him in negotiations of a sort with the Redd Gothan pack.”

  Rydere’s face darkened, his anger rising just like Kindara’s surprise. “What type of negotiations?”

  “Seems the boy here paid the Redd Gothan pack to attack a blond female, wearing white, tied with a green hasha, in the gardens of your hotel.” The demon forced Jambu to his knees in front of Kindara, Rydere, and Cormac, then shoved him into a supplicant position. Rathan held him there. As the scent of sulfur rose around him and his eyes glowed eerily red. “I want to know who that female was.”

  “Joselyn.” Cormac growled the words as he reached for Jambu. Rydere held out a hand to stop him. Before Cormac tore Jambu limb from limb.

  Without blinking.

  “I don’t believe so.” Rathan was shaking his head as he spoke. Kindara just watched him, warily. He was just as angry as her brother. She easily sensed it. Maybe more so. “Because apparently, the Lupoiux were paid a deposit five weeks ago. The intended target was not our Joselyn. She was probably attacked by mistake.”

  “Because she is of Cormac’s House, high enough to wear white and be in those gardens. There are only two others that it could be, then,” Rydere said as the sound of the helicopter starting up just outside the building filled the small room. “Jambu? Anything you want to add in your defense?”

  “They were looking for a blond female of your family, Jareth, who was with her dog, if that helps narrow it down.” Rathan pressed Jambu harder into the floor.

  Cormac yanked Jambu from the floor, shaking the smaller male viciously. Kindara half feared he’d start rending the boy limb from limb. “You threatened my niece. Your friend. Someone who cares about you greatly. Tell me now, and I won’t rip out your throat and leave you here for those Lupoiux to eat your damned carcass.”

  “Enough, Cormac.” Rydere pulled his cousin from Cormac’s hands. “Now isn’t the time. He’ll stand trial as soon as possible. In the meantime, we need to evacuate now.”

  “My House tribunal?” Cormac wasn’t satisfied, and everyone knew it. Kindara wasn’t surprised—her brother was the head of their House, and he was extremely protective of his only close relatives—her, Jierra, and now Joselyn.

  “Mostly yours, and some of mine will make the council. My Rajni was attacked that day, too.” Rydere shot a glare at his cousin as he pulled Emily closer to his chest. “I will not ever forget that. He will pay.”

  Jambu was pale and silent as he stared at their king and Cormac. Kindara almost felt sorry for him. Almost. Except that he had threatened her daughter, and nearly killed her sister-in-law—and Cormac.

  Kindara’s family was her everything.

  None of this made sense. He and Jierra had been playmates all through their childhood, had gone to school together—including the small private college that all recent Dardaptoan graduates attended.

  His betrayal stung. And when her daughter learned of it, it w
ould hurt Jierra. Deeply. They’d have to ensure the wolf alpha didn’t tear him to pieces as well. If he had been in the building Jambu would already be dead.

  It was the Lupoiux way.

  Cold howls split the air around them, drowning out the helicopters’ blades. It told them their time was up.

  There were Lupoiux hunting far too near as the sun was starting to set. She shivered. She wanted Jierra home and safe as soon as Dardaptoanly possible.

  The demon’s arms slipped around her instantly. Until she could feel and smell him so close.

  Rydere gave the signal and Cormac pulled Kindara away from the demon, as Jierra and her male joined them. Jierra came to her quickly. Cormac yelled to her over the sound of the helicopters. “Don’t stop until you and Ji are inside, understand?”

  Kindara nodded. She might hate to fly—especially in the flimsy helicopters—but it was the lesser of the two evils. She and Jierra headed toward the helicopter seconds after Mallory and Emily, all surrounded by the male Dardaptoans.

  A hand grabbed Kindara’s and pulled her a step quicker. It was the demon. He lifted her into the helicopter, passing her to Barlaam, who waited inside. Jierra was lifted next. Then the rest of the remaining males climbed in, Dardaptoan and Lupoiux.

  And one demon.

  They’d arrive in Dardanos in just over an hour. Then she could put this strange ordeal behind her and get back to the goals that consumed her.

  She had to revise all of her plans. She could not work herself to the point of near exhaustion now.

  She would have Barlaam do a thorough examination to determine if what the demon had said was real. Her hand dropped to cover her stomach as she worried that it was.

  All Kindara had to do was look inward for herself. She could not bring herself to check. To seek inside to check for the babe. She just couldn’t do it.

  If something were wrong, she couldn’t face it.

  If there wasn’t a babe, she wasn’t sure she could face that yet either.

  Weren’t demons potently fertile?

  Then again, that could be a myth perpetuated by Alaun Woald’s novels.

  She didn’t know what she would do with a half-demon babe.

  If it was male, he would be mostly demon just like its father. His father. And if it was a girl, she would be Dardaptoan like her. Like Jierra.

  A rush of warmth hit her as she looked at the daughter she’d raised from only four weeks old. Jierra cuddled against her side. Kindara pulled her close, wishing there was another blanket to wrap around her child’s shoulders.

  Jierra had been a beautiful babe and a beautiful child. So sweet and kind, a joy to all around her.

  If there was a demon spawn, it would be ok if it was a girl. And even if it was a boy, she would find a way to manage somehow. She would love him, and would find a way to protect him. Cormac would help. As would Barlaam and Thadd, and all the rest.

  But she still had to find a way to deal with the demon.

  39

  The hotel that masqueraded as a luxury resort had served the Dardaptoan people as their palatial home for four hundred years. He knew the schematics inside and out, thanks to his own warriors and their work in this Gaian world.

  Rathan prided himself on knowing as much about the various Kinds as it had been possible to learn. Especially those that might bring threats to his Kind.

  That resolve had just doubled when he’d first learned years ago that Dardaptoans were responsible for the attack on Mallory.

  He had despised the creatures since.

  Now, his opinion was changing. He had tied himself to a Dardaptoan for the rest of his days, after all.

  Each Dardaptoan tribe had a ruler, known as a Dhar or a Dahn. Within that tribe were Houses—or main family lines. They were ruled by Equa and Equan.

  The head of each family and that of the dhar/dahn pairing wore bright white to denote royalty. Each House line was denoted by a specific colored scarf. It was a rather simple system.

  With one look at the four Taniss females he loved so much, he could place which family they now belonged to.

  Joselyn wore the same jade green as Kindara.

  Family.

  Like demon families, Dardaptoan families felt even the smallest ties between their siblings and cousins and extended family greatly. Far more than most humans did. No doubt, Joselyn felt connected to Kindara, just as much as she did her sister and cousins. To some, Joselyn would already be considered Rathan’s next-sister as well, through that male of hers, since Rathan had claimed Kindara as his own.

  He had many next-sisters that he admired. Adored. But Joselyn would probably long be his favorite.

  Mickey, that sweet quiet little impish brat, wore a wine color that matched the tunic on the tall, muscled male next to her. He had his hand on her shoulder, as if to hold her to him and away from her family. Possessively.

  Rathan studied them closely, pleased when Mickey reached up and patted the male’s hand—then wove her fingers through his.

  She beamed at Rathan, an impish grin on her face.

  Mickey was happy, then.

  That left three others.

  Joselyn’s male had her wrapped in his arms, rocking her slightly. His forehead was pressed to hers. His eyes were closed. Her legs were wrapped around the bastard’s waist. She was clinging to that male in a way he had never seen her cling to another.

  Well. He’d always thought she had better taste than that.

  Emily was easy to understand—she had found the one for her soul. And was easily taking to her role as queen. He had long thought she would make a damned good demon queen. She would do just as well as a Dardaptoan.

  But it was Mallory he would worry about forever; that female had a piece of his heart. His blood had been all that had kept her alive in the dark days after her attack. A part of her soul had attached itself to his for eternity.

  He did not, would not, take that lightly.

  He found her easily; she stood with her massive warrior—he was almost as tall as Rathan’s own brother, the king of all Phrymos demons, Renakletos—hovering at her side. The male was taller than Rathan himself by a good two inches. The warrior cupped the back of Mallory’s head and pulled her close, dropping an affectionate kiss upon her brow.

  Mallory tolerated the male’s closeness, not pushing away from the male. Not afraid of the warrior at all.

  Good. The warrior looked strong enough and capable enough to protect Mallory for eternity.

  That was a burden lifted. He had long worried for Mallory.

  They were speaking with a female Dardaptoan, who had just hugged Kindara fiercely. He studied the female for a moment. Taller than Kindara, built along the curvier lines most Incubi appreciated. Curves like that were so rare for Dardaptoans. The female had chestnut hair identical to the big warrior next to Mallory. The turquoise hasha she wore matched that of the scarf Mallory wore, attesting to a family connection. The white tunic and trousers shouted of the highest family of that line.

  Mallory laughed at something the female said, as the female hugged Kindara again. Kindara and the female clung to each other fiercely for a moment. Then the dark-haired female reached out and pulled Mallory close in a three-way embrace.

  He relaxed.

  His greatest fear for the Taniss females was that they be unhappy in this life they had been forced into. Humans were so rarely changed into the Kinds. And for good reason. It just wasn’t safe. He still had one more female to check on, to make certain she had arrived in this new place safely.

  Jade. His Jade. He had first met her when she was no more than eleven, and she had taken a piece of his heart—in a purely paternal fashion. He had looked out for her ever since, as if she was his own spawn.

  That imp was off snooping around the hotel lobby. Even her own father hadn’t noticed yet.

  She needed a keeper, most certainly. He considered it for a moment. He could convince Rand and Jason to assign a personal guard to her. He had several warrio
rs among his hundreds of brothers who would be capable of keeping her in hand.

  The girl was going to find trouble one day. He was almost certain of it.

  She was following behind the Dardaptoan Healer Barlaam, and it was clear she was plotting something in that wicked brain of hers.

  She bore watching. Just to ensure she remained safely out of trouble.

  But the real focus of his attention now was his female. And the spawn she carried.

  Rathan studied the occupants of the lobby, then cursed.

  Kindara was gone.

  40

  “Was it willing?” Barlaam asked, bluntly, less than two hours after they’d returned to the hotel. They’d worked together for almost four centuries now—only a handful of years separated him from her and Aureliana in age. They, and Thadd, had been close friends for those centuries.

  Other than her brother, there were few males she would ever trust as much as she did this one. Rydere had his team of advisers—she had hers. Barlaam, Aureliana, and Thadd were it.

  “It’s true, isn’t it?” Kindara could see the answer in his eyes. She hadn’t needed to visit the healer herself. She was the highest healer of her tribe—and probably of the entire continent—all she had had to do was seek inside herself, and she would have seen. Felt.

  Felt her new babe as he grew within her.

  But she hadn’t. She had been too afraid of what she would find.

  “Yes. It’s true. Did he force you, Kindara?”

  “It was consensual; he got what he wanted—and I got what I demanded. What am I supposed to do? How can I tell Cormac or Jierra about this, that I willingly lie with a demon? Is the babe ok? I’ve never even heard of a Demon/Dardaptoan babe before.”

  “The babe will be strong and healthy, considering that his father is the strongest demon of that Kind. It’s your well-being that will be so precarious.” Barlaam frowned at her as he leaned back against his desk. The desk he’d carved with his own hands more than a hundred years ago. She’d stitched his hand back together after he’d injured himself doing it. “You’ll need more than just bagged blood. You’ll need to rest more than you do. I mean actually rest. You’ll need some sort of supplements, too, but what those will be, I’m not sure yet.”