Awakening the Demon's Queen (7 page)

“
I will help you, pet. You
can bottle as much of me as you’d like.” He pulled the small grass
blanket he’d shrank from his pack and resized it to cover both
Dardaptoans. He settled it over them, tucking the edges around
Kindara’s left shoulder and her daughter’s right. His to protect,
now. They both were. “You two stay here and rest. I’ll return with
some food and water for you. Rand will stand guard.”

“
Guarding against what? My
brother?” Kindara eyed them both with suspicion.

“
No. We don’t expect your
people for a few days, but while you were sleeping Rand did some
scouting.”

“
And?”

“
There’s a rogue pack of
Lupoiux in these woods. We don’t want them catching your scent, or
your daughter’s. Especially hers.” As a newly bred female, every
unmated male Lupoiux would be seeking ways to steal her from Rand.
And there were enough of the rogues to prove a problem.

Kindara nodded her understanding. “Be
careful.”

Her concern for him had him kissing her
lightly. “I will, pet. I will always return to you.”

****

“
Mother?” Jierra’s whisper
had Kindara’s attention shifting from the demon as he left to her
daughter. “What is he?”

“
Demon.” Kindara sighed.
“Incubus.”

“
Oh...” Jierra’s eyes
widened. Kindara knew her daughter had a fascination with romance
novels featuring Dardaptoans and demons--that was probably all the
information Jierra had about demons, what came from those books.
“So did he...feed from you?”

“
Ji! That’s not really
something you should ask.”

“
So he did.” Jierra scooted
closer, laid her head on Kindara’s shoulder. “Was it terribly
awful? Him not being your Rajni? I mean, it’s not even that great
when it
is
your
Rajni.”

That told Kindara so much about what happened
between her daughter and the wolf. “Oh, honey. It should be great
with your Rajni. It starts off great, and just gets better over the
decades.”

“
Oh.” Jierra was silent for
a moment. “So was it good with the demon? He’s kind of
hot.”

Kindara felt heat hit her cheeks. Yes, it had
been good. But there was no way she was sharing that with her
daughter. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“
Killjoy.” Jierra yawned.
Kindara wrapped her arm around her daughter and snuggled her
close.

“
Take a nap; I’ll wake you
when it’s time to move again.”

“
What are they planning to
do with us?” Fear was clear in the younger girl’s voice.

“
I don’t know, honey. The
demon said we’ll get home as soon as possible. Swore an
oath.”

“
So it’s true, then? That if
a demon swears an oath they have to honor it?”

“
Yes.”

“
So we’re going home soon
then.”

“
I think so, yes.” Kindara
smoothed the strawberry blonde curls off her daughter’s cheek.
“Rest, sweetheart. For you and the babes. We’ll figure out what to
do when you wake.”

****

Rathan flashed back to the Taniss vacation
compound, making sure to arrive in his rooms. Just in case there
were humans around. He hurried to the massive kitchen, not
surprised to find it empty. Rand had sent most of the compound’s
occupants elsewhere for the week. Only a select few security
personnel remained--Lupoiux numbering about a dozen. Still, Rathan
didn’t want to have to explain how he’d arrived so quickly, when it
was common knowledge he and Rand were working on a project
elsewhere.

He grabbed a bag and began filling it with
food for his woman and her daughter. He and Rand would have been
quite fine roughing it, but two women carrying babes would need
more than fish or small game. Rathan knew Dardaptoans existed
mostly on fruits, vegetables, and grains when not needing
blood.

Would
she--
they
--need
blood anytime soon?

Demons didn’t possess red oxygenated blood in
the manner that other beings of any origin did, but what he did
possess in his veins would provide powerful strength and abilities
to his spawn--and hopefully healing agents to his child’s
mother.

Yes, even if she balked, he would insist on
feeding her. He’d meet her every need until she was totally
dependent upon him. Then she’d never want to go back to her
people.

When he flashed back to the camp he found
Rand sitting a few yards away from the females, watching them as
they slept.

Rathan sighed, setting the bag of fruits and
rolls aside. “We’ve exhausted them.”

“
Yes. I didn’t realize
they’d be so...”

“
Weak? Delicate? Frail?”
Rathan settled beside his woman, pulling her to lean against him.
She snuggled her face into his neck and he shivered. She was not
the only one who’d be fed this day. “They are Dardaptoan, after
all. And add in the pups and spawn--”

“
Spawn?”

“
Yes. There is a spawn
growing.” Rathan was torn between embarrassment and pride. She
carried his spawn. The future king of all Demonkin.

“
Purposefully?”

“
No, it was an accident, but
I am not unhappy about it.” It was time he started a family, as
king of his people shouldn’t he lead by example?

“
She will be.”

“
Yes. But that matters
little. She’ll adjust.”

“
So you don’t intend to let
her go.”

“
No. I intend to convince
her that staying with me is what she wants to do.” He placed a tiny
kiss on her forehead before shaking her awake. He kept his touch as
gentle as possible while whispering her name.

Her eyes slid open, momentarily clouded with
confusion. Then they cleared. “Demon. You’re back already.”

“
It didn’t take me long to
flash home, pet. I’ve brought you something.” He pulled an orange
from the bag and handed it to her, followed by a small loaf of
banana bread. “I want you to eat it all while Rand catches us a
fish to go with it. I’ve brought some for your daughter, as
well.”

She took the offering, muttering about
solicitous kidnappers and the irony involved. Then she thanked him
before taking her daughter’s share and shaking the girl awake.

It was much harder to wake the girl than
Rathan would have expected. He didn’t miss the concern on Kindara’s
face as she let the girl sleep a little longer. She could eat as
they walked, but the rest seemed more necessary.

“
Is she well?” Rand
stiffened at Rathan’s question, though he didn’t turn around from
where he stood by the small creek. Rathan knew the wolf listened
closely. “Kindara?”

“
She’s exhausted,
frightened, and newly pregnant. And she’ll need blood soon. At
least twice as often as she did before. Pregnancy is hard on
Dardaptoan women--one reason why our birthrates are so low.
Tramping through the woods is not doing her any good.”

Rathan’s eyes narrowed. Kindara was concerned
for her daughter, yet she was just as vulnerable. Should he tell
her about the spawn? Or just protect her the best he could and wait
until she looked upon him more favorably? Until she was in
agreement to stay with him? “The wolf can carry her.”

Kindara started to protest, then looked at
her sleeping daughter. The girl had curled up against the log, and
looked so pale in the afternoon sun. “That would be best.”

Rathan pulled Kindara to her feet shortly
after she finished eating, then tucked the blanket tighter around
the girl. Rand shouldered him aside, and scooped his female up,
tucking her against his chest. “Let’s move.”

Rathan kept Kindara at his side, and kept his
attention on their surroundings. While the Lupoiux would be after
her daughter for the pups, Kindara was just as great a prize as a
healer. He would not lose her to a pack of dogs.

“
How much further?” Kindara
stumbled several hours later and he caught her, pulling her against
him. Her daughter had wakened an hour earlier and walked on
Kindara’s other side. No one had spoken much, but Rathan knew the
women were still exhausted and probably overwhelmed.

“
We’ll be there shortly
before sunset.” Rathan didn’t give her a choice before swinging her
up into his arms. He guided her legs around his hips and then her
arms around his neck. Every step he took over the rough terrain
sent her bouncing against his groin. He tightened his arms as
hunger filled him. A few more hours and he’d have her in his bed,
where she belonged.

Chapter Eight

“
I’m not helpless, you
know.” Kindara tightened her arms around the demon’s neck when he
stepped over a large log. His body was warm and she was chilled.
October in Colorado was not the warmest of times. But when was the
last time she’d been carried around like a babe? Not since she’d
been carrying Iavius’s babe thirty years ago. He’d gotten such a
kick out of hauling his family around that she’d let him. A wave of
grief hit her and she dropped her head to the demon’s
shoulder.

She missed him. Had he still been alive he’d
have torn this demon and the wolf to pieces to rescue her. But he
wasn’t, and it was up to her to get her and Jierra home safely.

“
You are Dardaptoan
and...”

“
And what?”

“
Female. Weak. It is my
responsibility to ensure your safety until you are returned to the
proper men folk.”

“
I didn’t know demons were
such chauvinists. I’m not an object and I’m not a child.” She
pulled back to look into his demon-dark eyes. She kicked her legs
once, then froze when she felt how aroused he was. “The only reason
I’m cooperating with you at all is because we had a deal. Not
because of any antiquated ideas you have about ‘me man, you
woman’.”

“
I’m twenty-three hundred
thirty-six years old, pet. I’m allowed to be
antiquated.”

He dropped his hands and
Kindara felt his strong fingers clench on the muscles of her
behind. He canted her hips, pushing against her, pulling her into
him. Her thin cotton pants were little barrier between their
bodies. Warmth filled her stomach. He knew how to arouse and she
knew he was doing it to her deliberately. “So? I’m your hostage.
Hos-
tage
. That’s a
temporary position, as far as I’m concerned.”

His face tightened, a look of evasion
entering his eyes. Kindara felt her own narrow. Was the demon
plotting something? Demons were known manipulators, schemers, yet
he had made her an oath.

A squeal from Jierra diverted their
attention. Kindara jerked toward her daughter as Jierra fell--had
it not been for the demon’s grip on her she would have followed
Jierra to the ground. “Ji!”

“
I’m ok, Mother.” Jierra
struggled to her feet, wiping mud from the palms of her hands. “I
just slipped.”

“
Rand!” The demon barked the
word, then followed up in another language. It was obvious he was
angry with the wolf. Kindara squirmed, wanting Rathan to let her
down, let her check on her daughter for herself. He refused to let
her go.

The wolf cursed, long and low, before jerking
Jierra into his arms. Jierra didn’t struggle, just wrapped one arm
behind his neck and lay her head against the wolf’s shoulder. Her
eyes dropped and Kindara saw her give a visible sigh. The wolf’s
face was stormy, but his hands were gentle on her daughter. Kindara
released some of the tension holding her body and relaxed against
the demon once more.

“
She’s too frail for this.
We should have planned differently.” The demon’s tone was
apologetic and angry. “I’m sorry, pet. We’ll get her to our home
and get her settled soon, I promise.”

****

Rathan made good on that promise; they
reached the compound just minutes after sunset. He still cradled
her in his arms, but now she refused to speak to him. She’d been
stubbornly silent for the last two hours, since he’d refused to put
her down so that she could walk and have some dignity. He’d told
that as his hostage, she had to do what he said. She hadn’t liked
that.

He sat her on her feet as they hiked up the
long driveway to the six story vacation cabin that housed the
Taniss family during their holidays and vacations. A few lights
were on in the house, signifying that at least one Taniss had
arrived while they were gone. Rathan hoped it was Jason, Rand’s
uncle who’d also become a Lupoiux twenty years earlier. With anyone
else, how were they to explain the presence of two female hostages
dressed in the strange white garb of Dardaptoan royalty?

Rand entered first, calling out to see who
was present. Rathan stood back with the females, using one hand to
hold the daughter up and the other to restrain his own female. Just
in case.

Feminine footsteps clattered on the fourth
floor landing, and a blonde head peaked over the railing. The girl
rushed down the stairs. “Rand, Rathan. I thought I was the only one
up here.”

“
Dammit, Jade! You came up
here alone? Where’s your father?” Rand grabbed the blonde by the
arm and pulled her to face him. “Don’t you know how dangerous it is
right now?”

“
Who are they? Why are they
so filthy? Did their car break down?” Jade studied the two
Dardaptoan females curiously. “And I just couldn’t stay in Denver.
I kept expecting my sister to walk through the door or Free to
bark.”