Demon Slave (Shadow Quest Book 2) (31 page)

“
Prince Cyrus, My Queen.”

Ava’s shock was replaced with indignation. “Prince Cyrus is dead,” she snapped. She had never known her father’s brother, but had read about him in her history books. Nadua had always spoken fondly of him.

Wren finally looked at her. A hidden knowledge blazed from within the stormy depths of his eyes.

Ava couldn’t find her voice. She was so immersed in the disturbing idea that Wren was keeping something from her that she hadn’t heard Anya murmur in her mate’s ear, and she hadn’t noticed Sebastian slip out of sight.

“
Well,” her voice cracked. “Give him the message.”

Wren stowed his blade and reached for the small piece of parchment. He was silent as he read. Then his body went tense and his head snapped to Tamir.

Tamir’s blade rose swiftly and he struck at Wren.

Ava screamed.

From seemingly out of nowhere, Sebastian appeared behind Tamir. His fist clamped around Tamir’s wrist, halting his swing just in time. A loud crack sounded and Tamir cried out in pain as his blade fell from his grip. His free arm formed an angry fist aimed at Sebastian, but the demon easily subdued it and broke his other wrist.

Wren nodded in thanks and called for a garrison of soldiers to take Tamir to the dungeons, adding that Nakul should be found and arrested as well.

“
What is going on?” Ava demanded.

Wren gave her a guilty expression. “We need to talk.”

Marik hadn’t left his room in four days.

The first day, Nadua left him alone, hoping he only needed time to cool down. The second, she knocked, but it was as if he knew it was her at the door and didn’t answer. The third, she demanded he let her in and kicked at the thick wood but he yelled for her to go away. The forth, she warned that she would have Rex knock down the door, but when it came time, Marik threatened to leave him here to rot and Rex caved.

Today was day five.

The only people he opened for were the servants, who were apparently ordered to keep his supply of alcohol coming. Scared out of their minds, they would leave pitchers by the entrance, knock, and then scurry away.

Often, Nadua would pace her room, worrying about him, wondering if she had approached him wrong, or it he would have reacted so badly no matter what.

At night she couldn’t sleep, missing her demon’s breath on her neck as he cozily slumbered, molded against her. One night she crept down the hall and rapped lightly on his door, asking if she could but sleep with him. He had given a gentle no. It was hard not to feel like a beggar.

Cyrus was true to his word, gifting her with an exquisite edisdon cloak and matching boots. The decorative chain at the neck matched her necklace. It was beautiful. Yet, all she could think was how upset Marik would be if he saw it.

Or maybe he no longer cared.

Before he’d locked himself in his room, he sounded totally on board with her Serakian plan. His voice had been so harsh when he said it she almost wanted to cry—suddenly horrified by the idea that she might lose him. But wasn’t that what she wanted?

Then later she realized all she was doing was thinking about Marik. His absence made her feel strangely hollow.

When had she grown to care for him so much?

Rex was becoming more comfortable with his surroundings, and had even begun striking conversation with the people around him. They’d been fearful of him at first, but seemed to tolerate his presence more and more each day.

Desperate for advice, Nadua asked Rex what she should do about Marik.

He looked uncomfortable with her direct questions, but replied, “I’ve never been mated, but demons in any state respond most strongly to physical persuasion. Fighting or, uh, other physical contact.”

Nadua was afraid Rex was going to ask her if she wanted him to beat Marik senseless, but he left it at that.

After watching yet another servant produce a pitcher, an idea sparked. Nadua followed a short ways behind the girl and waited for her to knock before rushing away. When the door creaked open, she caught it with her foot.

He tried to force the door shut, but she faked a sound of pain, hoping it would weaken his resolve. It worked. He backed away from the door and she barged in, slamming it closed behind her.

His room looked just like hers. A small hearth with a fire bathed everything in a soft orange glow.

Voice like gravel, he ground out, “Are you hurt?” His eyes were rimmed in red, and didn’t make contact with hers.

“
Yes.”

“
How? Where? Do you need a doctor?”

“
No. My heart is hurt.”

Marik snorted, and took a large gulp from the heavy pitcher. “Whose isn’t?”

She supposed she deserved that a little. “I want you to talk to me about what happened to you.”

“
Not going to happen.” He paused, swaying slightly. “Didn’t I tell you I don’t want to see you? Go be with your ice man while you can.”

“
I don’t want to be with Cyrus.”

Marik shook his head and drank deep again.

“
It’s true. I want to be with you.”

“
Well
I
don’t want to be with
you
. So—go—away.”

“
You’re lying.”

“
Am I?” He snapped. “Look at you. Tiny little thing with barely any meat on you. Nearly helpless without your army and that beast you ride. More trouble than you’re worth.” He put his finger in the air as if he remembered more. “You whine over some young chit. What’s her name? Ava. How you miss her and wish only to see her again.”

Nadua crossed her arms and held her tongue.

“
At least you handle a bow like a seasoned warrior. Watching you wield it is...your hair and skin are too soft.” He shook his head as if he’d forgotten his point. “You’re not even my kind.” He lifted the pitcher to his lips, but looked at her over the top of it, waiting for a response.

“
I need you to stop drinking, and to stop pouting.”

“
Get out, Nadua. Leave me be.” He gave her his back, gulping from the pitcher. “I don’t pout.”

“
I’m not leaving this room until I get through to you one way or another.”

“
I can force you out.” He continued to drink and made no move toward her.

“
Look at me.”

He didn’t.

Sighing, Nadua pulled at the tie of her bodice and began removing her clothing. His shoulders went stiff but he still didn’t turn when the fabric hit the ground, pooling around her feet. She stepped out of it and sauntered toward him, pressing her hands against his back.

No response.

She tried to move in front of him but he sidestepped her.

“
Marik, please look at me. I want you to touch me, hold me, kiss me like you did before. Bite me, I don’t care.” He made no reply. “Are you afraid you’ll blackout again? We can work on that too, like you suggested. I want to help you.”

“
You don’t get it. I’m done. Just go.”

Her throat tightened. “You’re just giving up? Because I saw something you didn’t want me to see?”

“
It’s more than that, but that is part of it, yes.”

“
What more?” Nadua held her breath, surprised at how badly his words were hurting her.

Marik was cold and dismissive, speaking to her as if she were no more important to him than any other person. She suddenly felt as though she had lost something magnificent. Something few experienced. Nadua couldn’t describe it, but the loss of it was devastating.

He shook his head.

Something snapped in her. “Just tell me already!”

“
It’s because I can’t make you happy!”

Nadua halted in surprise. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Yes, you can.”

With his back to her still, he turned his head a fraction. “When can I? Maybe when I’m fucking your brains out.”

She was taken aback, but knew he was only being churlish to make her want to leave. He thought she should find him repulsive and unworthy. But there was a deep sense of integrity inside him that he didn’t even see. He had proven it at every turn.

“
Now look at you. Naked as a whore and looking for more.”

“
You bastard!” She kicked out the back of his leg with her heel. He went to one knee with a growl, but sprang back up. So she did it again. “Do you want me to hate you? Fine, I hate you. Are you happy? Does it make it better?”

“
Yes, it does.”

“
You don’t care about me at all then?”

His shoulder twitched.

Nadua decided she needed to change tactics. Standing naked arguing with him wasn’t working. Not to mention she felt quite silly.

“
Fine, you stubborn demon. Prove it.”

She crossed to the bathroom and hesitated next to the tub. The servants filled it with fresh water every morning, not realizing the freezing temperature did not appeal to any of them.

“
What are you doing?” Marik leaned against the door jam. The fact that he followed her was a good sign.

“
First, you will apologize for that comment. Then, I want your arms around me.”

He shrugged and swallowed more alcohol. To her delight, he was drinking her in too.

“
I’m not going to beg.”

“
Good, it wouldn’t do you any good.”

“
But I
will
get what I want.”

“
How’s that?”

Nadua stepped into the tub, hissing at the icy temperature.

“
That water is not warm.”

She lowered herself farther. Every cell screamed in agony, but she forced herself in until she was submerged up to her neck.

“
You daft woman. Get out of there.”

Her body went stiff from the icy shock. She had to rip apart her jaws to speak. “First, apologize.”

“
You can’t stay in there forever.”

After a moment she began to shiver, teeth chattering and skin turning nearly as blue as a Cyrellian.

Marik sat down the pitcher. “Damn it, Nadua! Come out of there.”

She pulled her knees to her chest as if that would help. The water was so much colder than she’d expected.

Looking bewildered, Marik’s features turned to concern. “Fine, I’m sorry. Stop this now. Your lips are turning purple.”

Nadua wanted to speak, but she could no longer form words. Pain laced up her arms and legs. The task of breathing was increasingly difficult.

Then Marik went to her, pulling her from the tub and carrying her to the bed. She couldn’t feel his hands. He wrapped her in a blanket, and then crossed with her to the fire and sat with her at the hearth. His arms folded around her.

“
T-t-told y-you.”

“
That was stupid,” he growled, staring into the fire.

Probably the stupidest thing she’d ever done.

Nadua laid her head to rest on Marik’s shoulder and curled into his heat, but the shivers continued.

“
Blanket’s n-not helping. I n-need you.”

Marik didn’t hesitate. He stripped and wrapped them both in the blanket, pressing his warm flesh against her. She smiled with triumph, even though her skin was prickling with tiny explosions of pain.

“
Why did you do that?”

“
You w-wouldn’t listen.”

“
So you hurt yourself?” He was shaking with anger.

“
D-Didn’t think it w-would be so bad.” She wiggled closer to him.

“
Do not ever do that again.”

“
I have to speak with you about your past. I have to tell you what I saw.”

He went stiff. “Nadua, don’t.”

“
You didn’t hurt those girls. It wasn’t you.”

“
Stop it.”

“
It’s true.”

“
For the love of the gods, Nadua! I was there, I know what I did!”

“
No, you don’t. You were driven to madness but you didn’t touch them.”