Demon Slave (Shadow Quest Book 2) (17 page)

Nadua’s brows knit together. “The rebel said that?”

Marik nodded. “That’s what he told me.”

Nadua looked troubled. Marik had an idea what she was thinking. If Tamir had the same goal as the rebels, then Ava was probably not their intended queen.

Which meant Ava was in danger.

The next few days were grueling. The storm rampaged outside the shallow cave. Usually Nadua would be within the safety of the palace during a storm like this, watching through a reinforced window with a warm cup of tea and plenty of soft blankets to keep her content.

Rex had come up with an ingenious way of using the rope and many of the pelts as a sort of barricade against the wind. It did help quite a bit.

Marik never failed to sense her discomfort—even though at first she’d tried to hide it, not wanting to be a burden.

She was still a bit angry with him, but she needed his heat—this storm was unusually cold for this time of year—and Marik’s attentiveness was starting to soften her. Whenever the fire went low or the chill became too much, she would lean into him, and he would obligingly wrap his arms around her, enveloping her in his warmth.

She hated she could not do more for herself. It made her feel weak and helpless. She, who had led a nation of people and fought alongside her soldiers in battle.

But she was grateful to Marik and Rex. They were both destroying her idea of what a demon was supposed to be. Especially Rex. A bit withdrawn, and somewhat shy, he often looked to Marik for approval, as if he were the younger of the two, but it was revealed that they were nearly the same age. And though Marik treated him gruffly at times, Rex continued to regard him as his leader.

Around the fire, they would regale her with stories of their home planet, before the Kayadon had even been a thought in their minds. They talked about their summer heat waves and how they would strive to keep cool.

“
After this,” Marik declared. “I will never again wish for a freak snow storm.”

In turn, Nadua told them about her planet. Near where she had lived, the double suns allowed for mild weather almost all year. And the most it ever did was rain, which created breathtaking forests blooming with every color imaginable.

Rex gazed at her in awe. “I would like to see that.”

She smiled at him. Their situations were similar in some ways, but where she had only felt isolated on Undewla, Rex actually had been. She still had people to talk to, friends to confide in and share her time with. Rex had none of that.

But his eyes lit up when he spoke of his family next. Five wily older brothers and three older sisters. He was the youngest. Out of all of them, only one had been mated, and out of all of them, Rex knew the location of only two—one sister and one brother.

“
At least I
had
known where they were, before I got stuck here. Now I can’t be sure.”

Nadua sat with Marik on a small boulder that the demons had maneuvered by the flames. Her back was pressed against his front.

“
If you get off this planet, will you search for them?” Nadua asked Rex.

“
If they have moved on, I will continue to seek them out. But I’m afraid only luck will be my guide.”

“
You think it would difficult to find them?”

Marik’s deep voice rumbled from behind. “He would do well to forget them. Concentrate on rebuilding his own life.”

“
Marik!” She turned to him and scowled.

Marik shrugged. “I’ve spent much of my life in space, luv. And short of coming across an enchanted book with their locations detailed, it’s nearly impossible to find any specific person.” His tone held a hint of remorse.

“
I agree with him,” Rex replied. “I would love to reconnect with my family, but I would also like to start one of my own. I crave a mate and young ones.

“
Not me,” Marik replied. “I prefer my freedom.”

Nadua assumed “mate” to a demon must be akin to the joining of two people.

Her brows furrowed. “You don’t want to fall in love?”

* * *

Love?

Marik scoffed in answer.

Matehood had nothing to do with love. Cale and Sebastian thought otherwise, but Marik believed when a demon recognized his mate, he became trapped into an obsessive need to claim her, whether love was involved or not. It meant leaving oneself open to the possibility of being tied to a horrid creature. Calic was a prime example. He still fancied himself in love with a woman who had torn his heart out and smashed it under her heel.

Then there was Sebastian’s constant worry and endless desire to protect Anya. Marik didn’t want to be so responsible for another person’s well-being. Not after he had already failed in protecting his sister, and so many others.

Suddenly, Nadua shivered in his arms and he tightened his grip.

“
Rex, throw another log on, would you?”

“
Thanks,” she said, as Rex moved to obey. She burrowed her back into Marik’s chest, and he found himself reveling in the feel of her. “I think the storm is finally starting to wane.” Defiantly, a gust of wind whipped against their wall of pelts. “Or maybe not.”

Nadua’s stomach continued to grumble, but she said nothing. Her refusal to complain was both admiring and irksome. If she would just tell him what she needed, he would find a way to get it for her.

Hearing it too, Rex stared at him, waiting for orders. Finally, Marik nodded. Rex pulled to his feet and slipped behind the pelts.

“
Rex?” Nadua called after him.

“
Just getting some more wood while I can,” he answered.

She always protested when they left, especially if it was to hunt. Rex had made the mistake of boasting to her that demons could go months without sustenance. Before now, Nadua probably hadn’t gone a day, but she was more than willing to deny herself if it meant Rex or Marik didn’t have to leave the cave.

Her compassion was heartening. But they had set some traps for the elusive creatures outside, and it was time to check them.

Marik had no doubt that if she could get all her warmth from him alone, she wouldn’t even let them out to gather wood. That would be fine with him. He was finding that he liked being so close to her, even though the side effect was a painfully hard shaft, and her scent burning a spot into his mind, possibly for the rest of his life.

He had never spent so long with a female and enjoyed it half as much as he was with Nadua. It made no difference that the conditions around them were miserable.

And now he had her alone.

“
So, you didn’t answer my question,” she pointed out.

“
Hmm?”

“
You don’t want to fall in love?”

* * *

Marik’s tone went low. “Do you?”

She tried to call up an image of Cyrus, but time had eroded the accuracy of her memory. “I thought I was once.” Nadua became aware of the sudden change in Marik. He was cocooning her in his arms, and his head dipped so his lips barely brushed the tip of her ear, making her shudder.

“
And who was this lucky man who almost had you?”

She thrilled at the word lucky, but suspected he was only trying to distract her and evade the question. But she answered, anyway. “He was a soldier. A truly great fighter. He taught me to use a blade and shoot a bow. If circumstances had been different, we would have wed I think.”

Marik’s arms shifted with his palms flat on her stomach, caressing her soft skin. He spoke into her ear. “And if you see him when you return to Evlon?”

Why were his hands so distracting? His lips found their way to her neck and he slid them back and forth in such a way that she had to concentrate on breathing correctly.

Her clothing suddenly felt very tight. “He was from Undewla, and he died in battle a long time ago.” She paused, trying not to notice how incredibly warm Marik had become “Your turn. Wait, what are you doing?”

He was unfastening her cloak.

“
I’d rather not talk when I finally have you to myself.” He slipped his hand into her hair and turned her head to him. Hooded lids covered his lusty gaze. “I’d rather be doing what we’ve both been thinking about.”

“
I haven’t been thinking about having sex with you.”

“
What a saucy mind you have. I was talking about a kiss, but if you have other things in mind...” His lips descended, pressing against hers, and preventing her outraged reply.

Rational thoughts abandoned her as his tongue came out to taste her lips. A heady rush of adrenalin sparked in her brain, making her dizzy with a desire for more.

He demanded entry and, with her heart slamming, she relented. Pressing her lips firmly against his, their tongues met. She had been daydreaming of kissing him like this since their last encounter, but had feared he’d only wanted her then because of his demon madness.

Now he was himself and his need was flowing off him like water. Her body was responding in kind.

Feeling her submit completely, Marik’s hands found the entrance of her outfit.

Nadua gasped at the first touch on her skin, first on her stomach, and then slowly inching higher as his kiss consumed her. Struggling to keep her wits, Nadua stammered through breaths, “Marik...this isn’t...we can’t.”

His responding growl reverberated from his chest and traveled down through her spine. The sound of it made her breath hitch, and her body quiver, putting an end to her protests.

One callused palm covered her breasts and she couldn’t prevent herself from arcing into his touch. Another desperate sound rumbled out of him, causing her to grow damp. Heat rushed through her, creating a warm thrumming sensation that rivaled the fast beat of her heart. She leaned back against him and offered herself to his roaming hands.

His other hand slipped inside her fur cloak and all she could do was concentrate on its slow descent.

“
Marik?” Her voice shook.

“
What, luv? Tell me what you need.”

The sensation of his lips on her neck shot hot liquid to her core.

Between breaths, she said, “Rex.”

Marik stilled then pulled away, “What?”

“
He’ll be back soon, we need to hurry.” She was suddenly aroused at the idea of being caught.

Lips curling back into a smile, his voice rumbled with promises. “My Faieara wants to come badly, I can tell.”

“
Gods, yes.” Nadua melted against him, needing this more than she realized. The way he gazed into her eyes, she suspected they must be deeply violet, and this time she didn’t care if he knew why.

Thick fingers found her center, making her jerk in surprise.

He groaned when he discovered her wet. “Later I will taste you here. When I have more time.”

Her eyes rolled back in her head, her breathing erratic as she imagined him doing just that. “Please.”

It’s been so long, she added to herself.

While his fingers played, his other hand fondled her breasts, teasing the sensitive flesh of her nipples. He took her lips again, stealing her breath with his masterful kiss.

His slow, maddening strokes began to build a steady pressure. Panting, she gripped the fabric of his pants. A finger breached her entrance and the first hint of an orgasm rippled through her. She moaned softly into his mouth.

Her hips undulate in rhythm to his movements and her head fell back against his shoulder as she gave herself to the moment. Marik found the spot that ripped sounds from her and he captured her in a cage of pleasure. Her body went tense and she screamed as it tore through her, taking her over until every cell exploded in ecstasy.

Marik held her tight, kissing her neck and circling her sex, until she went boneless.

“
Been dying to see that,” he said when it was over.

Fiery heat spread through her cheeks, as embarrassment replaced desire. No one had seen her like that in ages. But the only thing running through her mind was what he would feel like against her palm.

Finally, her breath returned to normal and she turned to ask, “What about you?”