Demon Hunters 3: Tainted (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.) (9 page)

Cassidy hit the foot of the bed, slumping to the ground. She felt hands on her and brushed them away. Her body ached and she wiped at the blood across her throat. Her eyes stayed on Remedy, blood streaking his throat. “What is the truth?”

“Cass. Cass, please. You’re going to get yourself killed.” Gabe twisted the dagger from her hand.

She finally turned to him. Pain filled her as she met his eyes. “You know it all. Why aren’t you running?”

Gabe wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “Because I know nothing. Maybe one day you’ll tell me.”

Remedy roared behind them, dragging them apart. Energy crackled around him as he pointed a finger at Gabe. “How many times must I warn you?” He stalked forward.

Gabe rose to his feet. “Haven’t you ever witnessed comfort before? Do you think I’d be stupid enough to do more than that while you’re watching?”

Cassidy leapt to her feet, throwing herself at Remedy, pounding against his back. “Don’t you dare. Leave him be.” She was flung to the ground to stare up at Remedy. The world seemed frozen. Silence filled the room. Then a trickle of blood ran down Remedy’s throat and Cassidy had the urge to consume it. Revulsion shuddered through her and instead she wiped the blood from her throat across her demon mark. Energy flared. Pain momentarily increased before receding. She rose slowly, her eyes never leaving Remedy’s. “Never touch him again. Ib-”

“Do not speak that name to me.”

She slowly stalked towards him. “You offered me the truth. Where is it?”

“Cass. No. Not now. Wait till everyone is calm,” Gabe protested.

She ignored Gabe, reaching out with her right hand to run a finger across Remedy’s throat. He caught her hand, pulling it away. “Well?”

Remedy nodded and released her.

Wondering what Remedy’s blood would do, Cassidy ran her bloodstained finger across her demon mark. She tensed at the pain, her lips curving into a smile at the rush of even more energy. It felt like a victory. “Guess that was a little something you weren’t going to share.”

Remedy shrugged. “It doesn’t matter how it enters your body once the bond has been formed. A wound, drinking it.” He shrugged again. “It’s all the same.” He gestured towards the bed. “Are we doing this or are you finding ways to postpone it?”

She walked across the room and lay on the bed beside the weapons that were still on it. She looked up to find Gabe leaning over her, Remedy behind him. “Set your alarm.”

“Cass-”

Cassidy interrupted him. “Please, Gabe. Not now.”

Gabe stared at her a moment longer before he nodded. He took out his phone and set his alarm before placing it on the bedside table and sitting next to her on the bed. He linked his fingers with hers. “I will watch over you.” His gaze went to Remedy. “Now who is wasting time?”

Remedy leaned over Cassidy, his hands reaching out to cup her face, fingertips at her temples. Her eyes were caught in his, red flames overwhelmed by blackness until all was black. Then an image formed.

A woman with long reddish brown hair and dark blue eyes smiled at Remedy. “What would I do without you, Protector? Before my husband summoned you I was afraid to even leave my bed of a morning. How it must bore you to forever trail in my shadow.”

“They are the terms I agreed to, Iulia. To protect you and guard you against all men but your husband until the birth of your first child.” Remedy returned her smile. It was an easy task and once he had completed it, he would be free to roam the world. Alone. His smile became harder to hold in place.

Iulia’s smile faded. “What if I am barren? We have been married two years and still there is no child. I have left offerings to the goddess Diana and she has never answered my pleas.”

He wanted to reach out and comfort her. Instead, he remained still. “Then I will guard you till your last days.”

Iulia reached out and took his hand. “You always know what to say to cheer me, Protector. I wish I could do the same for you when I see sorrow in your eyes.”

“No life is without sorrow.” He placed his other hand over hers, cupping it between both of his. “Not yours, not mine.” Especially not his.

The scene faded, and reformed.

Iulia was wrapped in Remedy’s arms, his lips pressed against her throat. “My love, please, I would not have you break your terms of service.” She tried to pull away from him.

Remedy met her eyes, a smile curving his lips. “This will not break them. I swore to protect you against men. I am a demon.” Flames leapt in his eyes at her answering smile.

“The thought of having a child terrifies me, Protector. I would not have you leave me.”

“Four years and no child, I think you can stop worrying. But even if you should one day prove fertile I will still remain at your side. No one will take you from me.” His arms tightened around her.

“One day time will.”

He shook his head. “No. That I will not allow.” He smiled. “I will give you my name. With that you will be able to defeat even time itself.” His lips met hers.

Again the scene faded to be replaced by another.

Iulia stared up at Remedy with tears in her eyes. “I waited in the hope it wasn’t true, but it has been three months now. I am with child, Ibaelcaurzanon.”

Remedy pulled her to him, one hand cradling the back of her head. “Why the tears, Iulia?”

“I don’t want you to leave me.”

Remedy smiled at her, a finger wiping away tears. “Then stop crying. How many times must I say I will never leave you?”

“But the terms set by my husband are nearly ended. What if you are returned home?”

“It will not happen. Your husband is a fool and didn’t say what was to happen to me once the contract was ended. I am free to roam where I please when your child is born. But I have no desire to stray from your side, Iulia. And even if something was to happen to send me home, you have my name and can call me to you.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, her smile radiant as she rose on tiptoes. “I cannot stop thinking that it wasn’t until you become my lover that I fell pregnant.” She pressed her lips against his, cutting off any words he might have uttered.

His arms tightened around her as he returned her kiss. He’d been thinking the same thing.

When the scene faded and reformed it was Remedy and another man.

“What do you want of me, Castigate?”

“To end the favour I owe you.”

“What do you offer?” He wished Castigate would hurry. He had an errand to tend to so he could return to Iulia’s side. This close to the birth he’d hated to leave her, but her husband had ordered it and he was bound to follow his orders for a little longer.

“Information about your human lover.”

Remedy showed no emotion, but wished he could rip Castigate’s tongue from his head for even mentioning Iulia indirectly. Instead he inclined his head. “If it is of sufficient value I will call us even.”

“Her husband has found out that you are her lover and plans to have you murdered. She will be put to death once the child is born.” Castigate paused. “Providing it looks human the child will be allowed to live.”

“When.” Remedy had never felt fear before but he had a feeling it was the emotion that now filled him with an almost paralysing power.

“Demons have been called to rend you to pieces. They wait by your lover’s bed.”

“And where is the human woman?” He couldn’t bring himself to speak Iulia’s name in Castigate’s presence.

Castigate shrugged. “Her husband’s soldiers took her away about an hour ago. That’s why he sent you on this errand.”

Remedy nodded. He had no time to haggle over the worth of information like he should. “Your debt is settled. We are even.”

Castigate began to move away when a scream seemed to pierce the air around Remedy. He turned back in time to hear Iulia’s voice scream, “Ibaelcaurzanon, run.”

Remedy fell to his knees as pain filled him. His hands dug into the dirt, fingers becoming claws as he threw his head back and roared.

Castigate stared down at Remedy. “She is yours? The human? You made her yours? Gave her power over you?”

Remedy rose to his feet, his eyes meeting Castigate. He spoke no words before he pictured Iulia in his mind and transported himself as close as he could. It wasn’t close enough. Her and her husband were in the middle of a salt circle. Two guards with them, holding Iulia up between them. Remedy roared when he saw the sword driven through her stomach, the child dead at her feet, furled wings at its back.

“Do what you must, my love.” Her voice faded as she slumped, only held from the ground by the guards.

He knew she meant run and survive, but more than that, he needed to avenge her. And needed to hold her in his arms. Remedy’s eyes sought out the man who’d called him to this world. He was no longer his master. The child had been born. “You will die. Slowly. Painfully.”

“You broke the contract,” the man screamed at him.

Remedy shook his head. “No man but you touched her in all the years I protected her. And if it wasn’t for the contract I would have cut your hands from your body the first time you did.”

“I have called demons to deal with you. They will tear you into shreds and scatter you from one end of Rome to the other. I will feed parts of you to my dogs for daring to ever touch my wife. For forcing her to bear your unnatural progeny.”

Remedy felt the demons the moment they entered the room and turned to face them, pain and anger filling him with their power. “I give you fair warning, brothers. What has been asked of you I shall do instead. If you left an escape in your contracts use it now.”

The demons launched themselves at Remedy, laughing at his words. Remedy relished their choice. He wanted to tear the room apart. He made do with tearing into the demons instead. When he finally turned back to the circle of salt he was covered in demon blood. His anger and pain were not diminished in the slightest.

His gaze was drawn to Iulia who now lay on the floor with their child. He strode to the edge of the circle of protection. He yearned to cross it and take her in his arms. She still lived, barely. He turned his attention to the two guards who stared at him, wide eyed with fear. He pointed at each of them.

“I have marked you for death. There is only one means to escape my punishment.” His gaze fell to the salt before returning to the guards. “Break the circle.”

The two fought to be the first to comply, dusting away at the precious commodity with trembling hands. Behind them Iulia’s husband screamed abuse at them, trying to pull them away from their task. Remedy watched as they ran from the room, leaving a path to Iulia.

He knelt at her side, gently pulling her into his arms. “Iulia.”

She looked up at him, reaching out with a blood stained hand to touch his face. “I love you, my protector.”

“I failed you.”

“No. We were betrayed.” Her eyes closed as her hand fell to her side.

Remedy roared as he felt her life slip away. He pulled her tight against him, pressing his lips to hers before he laid her gently on the ground, drawing the sword from her body. He turned to face the man who cowered in the corner of the room. Remedy strode towards him, the sword dripping blood onto the floor. Losing control of his human shape, his wings snapped out around him.

“Please. It wasn’t my plan. Castigate came to me. He offered me the information only if I promised to do something with it.”

“Castigate.” Remedy shook his head. “No.”

“It was your own fault, brother.”

Remedy turned to face Castigate who had entered the room at the sound of his name. “Why?”

“How many times did I try and offer you something to make things even between us? None of it was good enough. You would have kept me in your shadow for a millennium. Now though,” his lips twisted into a smile. “I can keep you in my shadow, Ibaelcaurzanon.”

Self preservation warred with revenge. “This is not over.” Remedy spun, dropped the sword and lifted Iulia’s husband, snapping his neck. He raced into the night, wishing he could have taken Iulia and the child with him. But he didn’t have time, not if he wanted to live. He held the signature of Castigate in his mind. He’d be able to find him anywhere. If he could overcome the problem of a true name in the wrong hands. Somehow he would avenge Iulia and their child. Hate burned in him as he continued to flee, putting as much space as possible between him and Castigate.

Cassidy came back to herself, with tears and Remedy’s hands still on her face. She met his gaze, the pain still filling his eyes. She placed her hands over his. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” It was a relief to finally be able to speak the words. Even if they were spoken to the wrong person.

Remedy pulled away from her like he’d been struck, then Gabe was there, wrapping his arms around her. “Are you okay? Cass? What happened?” He brushed at her tears with his palm. “Cass?” His green eyes stared at her intently.

She blinked, unable to speak. Instead she slid her arms around him and pressed her head to his chest. Remedy watched her from where he stood beside the bed. Flames flickered in his eyes and energy crackled in the air. I’m sorry. The words echoed over and over again in her head, the taste of Remedy’s truths on her lips. She squeezed her eyes shut and bit back a sob as she felt both her loss and his. Iulia! Dad! She wanted to scream for both of them.

“Cass.”

The concern in Gabe’s voice pulled her away from the overwhelming grief as she struggled to gain control. “I’m okay. I’m okay.” She shuddered as she tried to convince herself. Her eyes opened and she looked up at him, pulling away slightly. “I’m okay.” She drew away from him, still sitting on the bed. She could feel Remedy behind her, his gaze still on her. She had no words for Gabe, but she did need to speak to Remedy. Sliding off the bed, she held a hand out to him.

Remedy stared at her hand for a moment before he took it and tugged her forward. He remained silent, staring intently at her.

“I can’t forgive what you did. But I hate him too. For both of us.”

Remedy’s fingers tightened on hers before he nodded.

“But don’t expect me to like you. If I ever liked you I’d have to hate myself.”

“Sometimes the one you blame isn’t the one who deserves it.”

“You were still partly responsible.”

“So were you.” He released her hand and walked away.

Cassidy watched him go, her feelings for him a confusing mess. As she felt him leave the house she became aware of another sense. Castigate’s signature burned within her. She could tell exactly where he was. The direction. The distance. Anger rushed through her, demon energy on its heels. She turned to face Gabe. “I can find him.”

Gabe swore, crossing the room in seconds. “Don’t lose yourself, Cass. You have demon eyes.”

She pulled away from him, turning to the mirror that was painted over, refusing to believe his words. She ran fingernails over the paint but it didn’t help enough.

“Here.” Gabe handed her a shaving mirror, a toiletry bag and contents now scattered on the bed. He pushed it towards her. “Take it.”

Cassidy’s fingers hesitantly touched the mirror. It had been so long since she’d wanted to look in one. And she’d only used a mirror once since painting over them the first week after… her world had changed. She slowly raised it, noticing her jagged reddish brown hair, pale tear-streaked face and the blood at her throat. She took a deep breath and forced herself to meet her own eyes. In the hazel depths was a flicker of flame. She jumped back, dropping the mirror as if it had burned her.

Gabe leapt forward and snatched the mirror from the air before it hit the ground. He tossed it onto the bed before he pulled her towards him, wrapping his arms tight around her. “Shh. It’s okay.”

It was then she realised she was crying. “No. It’s not. It’ll never be okay.” Her voice broke on a sob. “I killed him. I killed my own father.” And then she told him everything, through sobs and tears and gasps of pain.

He drew her back to the bed, his arms still tight around her, and told her over and over again that everything would be okay. But she didn’t believe him. How could anything ever be okay again? She fell asleep in his arms, exhausted.