Clutch of the Demon (21 page)

Aodhan approached and neither of them so much as twitched a muscle. Aodhan's eyes weren't on Cara, they were fixed on Vanity. When he was close enough, he reached out for Vanity who let out a frightened sob. Cara finally snapped out of her daze. She stepped in front of Vanity with her arms stretched out on either side of her.

"Don't, Aodhan," Cara said.
 

Aodhan's eyes met hers and she swallowed hard.
 

"Move out of my way," Aodhan said in a voice completely devoid of emotion.
 

"She saved me," Cara said as her legs threatened to give out beneath her.

"She's a demon."

"Not all demons are the same," Cara said and realized she was repeating what Vanity told her yesterday.

"She's a demon," he hissed with such venom that her stomach turned to ice.
 

"She's the only demon that would answer my summon." She swallowed hard and it took every ounce of courage she possessed to meet his eyes again. "She gave me the compass and told me where you were."

Aodhan's eyes slid behind her to Vanity who had tiny hands fisted in the back of Cara's shirt.
 

"She killed those three demons in the road," she added and felt Vanity nod vehemently behind her back.
 

"And why would she help you? What's in it for her?" Aodhan asked in a menacing tone.
 

"She's different," Cara said desperately.
 

"She's using you."

Vanity moaned into Cara's back and the sound of despair made Cara stiffen her spine.
 

"Don't you think I know the difference? Why would any demon court Luc's wrath by helping me find you?" she demanded.
 

Aodhan was silent for a minute and Vanity trembled against her, waiting for the verdict. Aodhan's eyes traveled over Cara before he nodded.
 

"For bringing Cara to me, you get a pass. If I ever lay eyes on you again, I won't be as merciful," Aodhan said.
 

For a few moments, Cara wasn't sure that Vanity heard. She elbowed Vanity who suddenly came to life. Vanity stumbled sideways in her heels and bowed like a crazy geisha five times before she took off, sprinting over the grass like a cheetah in her Manolo Blahnik's.

Cara watched her go and felt bereft and exposed. She bowed her head and contemplated her shoes. She heard Aodhan's heavy footsteps a moment before his hand collared her throat. His thumb pushed her chin up. Her hair nearly crackled from the heat that poured from him and she was as frightened of him now as she'd been when she encountered him for the first time.
 

He grabbed her hand and dragged her out in the middle of the lane. He released her and erupted into the silver dragon. He spread his wings wide and she didn't dare run as he swiped her up in his talon. They rose into the air and she saw that Linnea's car was totaled. She didn't have the money to help fix or replace it with another car. She was so screwed.
 

The castle came into view way too quickly and as Aodhan glided towards it, she realized he was going to land on top of it. She yanked her legs up reflexively as Aodhan slowed and then released her. He followed her down a second later as the warrior. They faced each other on the top of the roof as the wind whipped around them. He was so pissed, for a moment, she thought he might just shove her off the edge and be done with it. She closed her eyes.
 

Aodhan grabbed her hand and hauled her over his shoulder. She clutched the back of his shirt as he walked down a narrow staircase that led into the castle. He turned left and slammed open a door. She had a brief view of a gorgeous room with three levels that included a balcony and sitting area along with the largest bed she'd ever seen. Aodhan set her down in the middle of the room and took several steps back as if he didn't trust being so close to her. Cara swallowed hard and waited.
 

"Tell me why you left," Aodhan ordered in a voice that threatened death.
 

She said nothing.
 

"I told you not to leave the castle," Aodhan hissed and began to circle her like a shark. "You disobeyed me and you were attacked. The car has extensive damage and you claim a demon killed other demons to help you."

A heartbeat of silence and then his hand shot out and collared her throat. Her eyes flicked up to his and she stopped breathing.
 

"Tell me, Cara, what am I missing here?" Aodhan hissed.
 

She shook her head wordlessly. If she told him, he'd kill her.
 

"You're afraid. Why?" he barked and she jumped.

"I-I want to go back to Montana," she said.

Aodhan's eyes narrowed. "I told you why that wasn't a smart idea."

"I want to see my mom and sister. I swear I'll come right back," she lied.

"No."

She stiffened her shoulders. "I fulfilled our bargain, Aodhan. Let me go."

"No."

"Aodhan, please."
 

"No!" Aodhan exploded with such force that she staggered back. "You're not going anywhere. Tell me what secret has you so frightened you'd risk being killed to protect it."

She stared into his face and images of last night passed through her mind. Last night was a gift. She had a night filled with affection, lust and need. Last night he didn't look at her as a prisoner but as his equal, as his. She'd never had a man look at her that way and she couldn't blurt out the truth and see the revulsion in his eyes. There was no one that could help her, no one that could shield her from what was to come.
 

"I can't," she whispered.
 

"After everything we've gone through, you don't trust me?"
 

The rage and disbelief in his voice made her eyes prick with tears.
 

"For your own safety, I'm locking you in here," Aodhan said. "When you're ready to trust me, you know how to reach me."
 

With that, Aodhan walked out and slammed the door behind him. She felt a blast of magic seal the doors and windows and then a roar echoed throughout the castle. Cara crumpled to the ground and covered her face with her hands. She wished for a world without demons, without the burden she carried since she was eight years old. What had she done?

Chapter Fourteen

Cara, 8 Years Old

Cara locked herself in the bathroom and tried to align her thoughts, which scattered everywhere. The smell of gasoline made her sneeze. Mom pounded on the door, begging Cara to let her in. Cara didn't dare open it, not until she figured out what was wrong. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and prepared to yell. Something large and invisible clapped over her mouth, stifling her scream of horror. Her scarlet eyes stared wildly at her reflection.
 

No need to panic, baby
, a silky voice cooed in her head.
 

She rocked forward and planted her hands on either side of the mirror. That invisible hand was so tight over her mouth, she saw her skin wrinkle as the pressure increased.
 

You're a very special little girl.

Invisible hands stroked over her lips, hair and then her chest. She struggled, but her body wasn't listening to her. Tears trickled down her face and the voice in her mind clucked his tongue.
 

Don't be afraid of what happened today. It's just the beginning.

Beginning of what?
Her mind shrieked.
 

She felt a lick of surprise and pleasure that wasn't her own.
 

You're strong. Good. I'm gonna need that. It's time I introduced myself. I'm Luc.

"Cara! Open the door!" Mom shouted.

Cara's eyes flicked to the door, but she was physically incapable of doing much more than blinking.
 

Who are you?
Cara asked.
 

I'm a demon.

Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest and the demon chuckled.
 

You'll understand more as you get older. All you need to know is you're very important to me. I won't let anyone hurt you
, Luc said.
 

You let those kids die
, Cara choked.
 

The demon scoffed.
They deserved to die. If I hadn't interfered, you wouldn't be here right now and they'd be celebrating with their parents. Is that what you want?
 

What do you want from me?

Nothing right now,
Luc said and began to pet her again.
 

His touch made her skin crawl and she felt like she might be sick.

I met your mom many years ago.
 

The mischievous note in his voice made bile rise in her throat. She stared at herself in the mirror and knew.
It was you, wasn't it?

Clever Cara. You don't disappoint
, Luc said.
 

"Cara! Are you okay? Open the door, honey," Mom screamed.
 

Your mom's a good woman.
 

Cara tensed.
Leave her alone.
 

Taunting laughter in her mind.

I stepped in and saved her, didn't I?

Cara took a deep breath.
What do you want?

I think you're old enough to understand exactly what you are to me.
 

The entity drained from her chest. A dark cloud appeared in front of her in the tiny bathroom. The face that materialized in front of her made Cara reel back and hit her head against the tiled wall. The spirit laughed and divulged his secrets to her. Cara screamed her denial, which resulted in a violation that made her sob and shriek until she was hoarse.
 

You can't fight me, Cara. No one can protect you from me.

When the spirit left Cara, she slumped on the tiles, quivering. When Dawn shoved the door open into the bathroom she slipped in Cara's blood and fell to her knees beside her daughter.

"Cara, what have you done?" Dawn whispered and grasped her wrists, which gushed rivers of blood.
 

Cara wrenched away and scooted backwards. "Don't heal me."

"Everything's going to be fine," Dawn said as she followed Cara across the floor, jeans soaked with her daughter's blood. "Just let me touch you, baby."

Cara flinched away. "You knew, didn't you?"

"Knew what?"
 

"What I am."

Horrible knowledge filled Dawn's eyes. "You're my daughter."

"You know what I am. He's going to use me," Cara panted. "I won't let him use me to hurt anymore people. You need to let me go."

Dawn shook her head. "You're not evil, Cara. You have a choice."

"He told me what my destiny is. You know."

Dawn lurched forward and grabbed Cara's wrists. Before Cara could push her away, Dawn healed the slashes on her wrists. Cara sat in the corner of the bathroom, shaking uncontrollably.
 

"You shouldn't have had me," Cara whispered.
 

"I know you," Dawn whispered and cupped Cara's clammy face between her hands. She would have put this day off as long as she could, but Luc had other ideas, that bastard. "You're in charge of your own fate, Cara."

She shook her head. "No."

"Yes," Dawn insisted. "I'll make sure of it."

"You can't stop him."

"
I
can't, but you can, Cara. Fight him. Don't let him win."

Cara sat in the corner of Aodhan's room and wiped away useless tears. She'd known at eight years old what she was and what she'd been created for. She fought her fate every day. She didn't belong on Luc's side and she wasn't wanted on Aodhan's side, he just didn't know it yet. Even if Aodhan didn't kill her, Khan definitely would.
 

Hours passed and she didn't register when the sun set. She snapped out of her reverie when the door opened. Aodhan entered with a bundle of clothes. His gaze seared her and she looked down. He dropped the clothes on the bed.
 

"Get dressed," he said and walked back to the door.
 

"Why?"
 

"I'm not going to take chances with you. We're going to Doolin."

Before she could ask another question, he slammed the door. She walked over to the bed and examined the outfit Aodhan brought her. She rubbed the thin, wispy material of a skirt and strapless top between calloused fingers. It made her think of candlelit dinners and walks along the beach. Why hadn't he brought her jeans and another shirt? Her clothes were splattered with blood and mud and she dug shards of glass out of her skin while she was locked in the room. Her hands were tender, but not unbearably so. She cleaned herself up and got dressed. When Aodhan returned, she was ready. She didn't ask questions as he led her up the narrow staircase to the top of the castle. Aodhan faced her and she couldn't meet his eyes. She glanced over the side and saw the moon reflected on the surface of the lake just like her dream.
 

"Do you believe I can defeat Luc?" Aodhan asked.
 

She didn't hesitate when she answered, "Yes."

"Luc can't use your family against you so what hold does he have over you? What are you afraid of?"

She didn't answer his question. "Why are we going to Doolin?"
 

"Khan."

Aodhan didn't need to elaborate. She shivered even though the night was warm. Aodhan didn't say anything else. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. His touch was cold and impersonal and her heart ripped a little as he engulfed her in his heat. They were over before it began.
 

"Tell me why, Cara," Aodhan said into her ear.
 

She shook her head and he cursed in a language she didn't recognize before he launched into the air. She would have preferred dangling from Aodhan's talon rather than being clasped in his arms, but it was too late now. They raced across the Irish countryside too fast for her to make out landmarks or villages along the way. The trip to Doolin took less than twenty minutes, but every moment she was pressed against him was a form of torture for Cara. Aodhan landed on the outskirts of Doolin and clasped her hand in his as they walked. Aodhan's massive height and bulk received a lot of stares and whispers from the locals, but no one approached.