Demon Slave (Shadow Quest Book 2) (15 page)

“
I’ve learned how to take care of myself over the years. Whatever I can hunt, I hunt. Whatever I can’t hunt, I steal.”

That sparked something in Nadua, her eyes going wide. “Steal from whom?”

“
Whomever I can,” he said simply.

Nadua’s eyes worked back and forth, processing his answer.

“
What is it?” Marik asked.

Her resulting glare was piercing and he wasn’t sure she would respond to him.

“
There is a legend,” she finally said.

Marik threw up his hands in exasperation. “Of course there is.”

Nadua stepped toward Rex, but Marik stayed her with a hand to her elbow and a look of warning. When she ripped away from him, he quickly convinced himself that it didn’t make his heart sink a little. He wanted to pull her against him and demand she forgive him for his harshness, but that would most likely just aggravate her further.

“
You steal from the outer cities, don’t you?” she continued.

“
Sometimes. It’s easier there. Less people.”

Marik grew hopeful. “So you believe me now that I’ve never met him before?”

With a coldness that equaled the entire span of Undewla, Nadua said, “Yes.” Her answer wasn’t reassuring.

Eyes blazing, she turned back to Rex. Her tone was hard. “Have you ever kidnapped anyone?”

* * *

Ethan poured drink after drink, chatting with the patrons and accepting a few shots from those who wanted to share their exuberance. Sonya would knock him in his fun-zone if she knew, but he figured it was rude to refuse. At least that’s what he told himself. Besides, it was only a couple of drinks, and he was adding them to the client’s bill.

The three hundred and fifty years he’d spent drinking as a pirate he had built quite a tolerance for the stuff. Usually his kind could only handle small amounts. But most of the individuals he’d dealt with in his guise as a pirate had insisted on discussing business over drinks that would tear the skin from his throat if he wasn’t used to them. Ethan had nearly gotten himself killed the first time he choked after taking a sip. The pirates had not been impressed.

“
Hey, Ethan!” Aidan sat down at the bar.

He was one of the ship pilots, and a dragon shifter. Ethan had nothing against dragons, but they could be tricky, and were known to have an extremely determined and motivated culture, which is probably why Aidan is one of the best pilots Ethan had ever seen.

“
Hey Aidan, what can I get you?”

“
Whatever. Surprise me.”

Ethan began filling a large glass with one of his own favorite mixtures. “Did
she
send you to check on me?”

Sebastian and Anya had departed for Undewla this morning, and now Sonya was captain.

Aidan’s silence spoke for him.

“
Go back and tell her I’ve burned the place down, will you?”

“
She definitely doesn’t think much of you, does she?”

Ethan’s teeth clenched at the statement. “What does it matter? She’s only a demon.”

Aidan’s eyes widened. “Don’t let her hear you say that. You’ll be eating your own entrails for a week.”

Aidan finished his drink and asked for another one. He wasn’t much of a talker, which allowed Ethan to simmer in his irritation. If that female thought so little of him, then he thought even less of her.

Ethan was destined to be a prince, soon to wed one of the king’s daughters. At first he thought it would be princess Analia. She was sweet and kind. But she had chosen a demon, which was only a little insulting since he happened to admire Sebastian as a leader.

There were two others, however, and the king had promised one of them would be his. So whatever Sonya thought of him was not important, though her attitude toward him was more than aggravating.

Ethan supposed it didn’t help that he derived enjoyment from egging her on. The twistedness of it wasn’t lost on him. To arouse her anger for fun and then despise her contempt for him was something only a seasoned psychologist could puzzle out.

Nadua ignored the way Marik’s eyebrows rose at her question to Rex. She had never been so angry at someone in her life. Marik’s careless threat about her never seeing Ava again—even though he’d promised—had nearly brought her to tears.

But if Rex knew where Lidian was, then this horrible trip could be...well, a little less horrible.

“
Well? Have you ever taken anyone? A Cyrellian female, named Lidian?” Nadua prompted, ignoring the hurt that still tore at her.

It wasn’t from being kept from Ava. No matter what that demon thought, Nadua was going to see her again. What caused the painful ache inside was that she had actually begun to trust Marik, and enjoy his company. She was even starting to get used to her attraction to him.

Then he’d turned into a lying warden, threatening to take away what she wanted most. The bastard had even flashed his fangs at her!

Sure, she had run. But for all the gods, where was she going to go?

“
Why would I kidnap one of them?” Rex brought her back to the conversation. He was looking at her as though she were a crossed eyed edisdon with no legs. “Their retched skin burns. What use would I have for a female I can’t touch?” Then he raked his vision down her body. Luckily she was covered up, or she would be displaying a full body blush. “You’re different though, aren’t you?”

A low, menacing sound rumbled from deep within Marik. He clenched his fists and peeled back his lips to reveal his fangs. His black horns warmed to a glow as he glowered at Rex.

Nadua took a tentative step back, registering the difference between this Marik and the one who had tackled her in the snow. This Marik frightened her.

Rex raised his palms and uttered something to Marik in a language she didn’t understand. Whatever he said made Marik go tense. His sharp gaze suddenly focused on her and a mixture of emotions raced across his features, so fast she could hardly read them. Astonishment. Confusion. Maybe even a little fear. And, finally, anger as he seemed to shake himself out of a trance.

Demeanor returning to normal, Marik gave Rex a short reply in the same language. Rex looked confused as he responded back.

Irritated at being left out of the conversation, Nadua asked, “What are you saying?”

“
Never mind,” Marik snarled. “We should get moving.”

Nadua shook her head. “Sorry, but that’s not going to happen.”

Marik countered, “I remember saying something about kicking and screaming.”

She jutted her chin. “I may have mistaken your intent, but I thought the goal was to deliver me to my sister
alive
.” She shrugged. “But if all you need is a body, sans soul, then let’s go.”

“
What are you talking about?”

She pointed to the churning sky. “This storm is just beginning. My furs only go so far to keep me from freezing to death, and if you take me out there, with no guarantee of shelter, you’ll be carrying my empty shell back to your ship.”

Rex sat up. “Ship?”

Ignoring Rex, Marik narrowed his gaze at Nadua, as though weighing the validity of her claim.

“
She’s right,” Rex said. “The storms here rival those of our planet, and that one looks bad. You intend to continue south?”

Marik offered a tight nod.

“
The next cave system is more than half a day from here, and that’s in good weather. But once you get there, you can travel within the caves, rather than out in the open as you have been.”

“
Within?”

“
Aye. It’s safer than following the mountain’s edge.”

“
How so?”

“
We’re on the cusp of two tribal territories. The one you want to avoid is more hostile and lives”—he pointed into the distance, past the caves entrance—“just that way.” The direction was congruent with where Nadua suspected the rebels compound to be, but the news of a possible second faction of rebels was alarming.

“
And the other?” she asked.

“
The other lives within the caves, far south as well. But they are easily avoided. For many years these caves have been my home. I know them well. I could show you the way, if you like.”

Marik leaned against the rocky side of the cave, arms crossed. “I’ll consider it.”

Rex nodded.

A gust of wind blew into their little crevice. Nadua moved to see a wall of darkness inching toward them from the north. She wrapped her arms around her torso. Unfortunately, the fire that had raged for them last night was no more than a mess of ash. But what was worse, the cave opening was large, and the chamber was not all that deep.

It was going to get cold.

Marik came to the realization too. “Rex, what supplies can you provide?”

Eyes darting side to side, he said, “I-I can provide pelts, such as she wears. I will need to travel back north to get them.”

“
Go, then.”

“
Wait,” Nadua interjected. “Rex, can you make it back here in time?”

The wind whipped again. The coming storm could quickly grow dangerous, even for a demon. Rex must know that.

With a slight hesitation, he nodded, which only worked to worry her.

She felt guilty for jumping to the wrong conclusion so swiftly, and then for snapping at Rex. Everything about him screamed frightened and lonely, from the simple nuance of his movements, to the sadness in his eyes. It spoke to something inside her. Raising Ava must have brought out some sort of protective instinct in her, because she was actually concerned for a demon’s safety.

* * *

Nadua stared after Rex long after he’d gone. For whatever reason, that bothered Marik more than the way she continued to scowl at him.

Turning to him, she snapped, “You do realize he just wants to please you so you’ll take him with you.”

“
I know.” Marik was counting on it. Another demon meant more defense for Nadua. And a possible ally on this strange world.

“
He’s one of your kind and you don’t care what happens to him?”

Marik moved toward her. “Do you? You’re very interested in his well-being, though you’ve just met him. I don’t recall you being so concerned for me. In fact, you were ready to have me tortured at the first opportunity.”

“
That was when I thought you were here to hurt my people, and before I knew you.”

She thought of those barbarians as her people? Marik glared down at her, but she refused to back away from him. “And now that you know me?”

She took a stubborn moment to answer. Marik realized he was holding his breath. Why should her answer matter to him? He briefly recalled what Rex had said to him, but instantly put it from his mind. It was impossible.

“
Now I know you’re as heartless as the stories suggest.”

He gnashed his teeth and barked, “Heartless!” His loud tone bounced off the cavern walls. Nadua jumped, but continued to challenge his gaze. “If I were heartless, would I have risked my life to save you? Would I have come looking for you at all? Would I have kept you warm each night—”

“
Oh, you enjoyed that. Believe me, I could tell. Just like you enjoyed nearly forcing me to—”

“
Oh, aye, I enjoyed it.”

Immensely
.

“
And I’ll enjoy it when you come to me tonight as well. As for forcing? Perhaps next time you should respond as someone who is being forced, rather than kissing me as needy as you had.”

When no sound came out of her gaping jaw, Marik turned and headed for the opening.

“
Where are you going?”

“
If I’m not mistaken, we will need fresh wood for the fire. And when I get back, maybe I’ll have the heart to let you near it.”

* * *

Anya trudged through the snow in the ridiculous outfit Bastian had forced her to wear. He refused to let her out of the shuttle until she put it on, though she had a decent cloak with her. She felt like some kind of snow monster in the thick rubbery ensemble, with a tiny built in heating mechanism.