How to Love a Blue Demon (15 page)

When there was peace, he was at peac
e. His people busily, happily, conducting the activities of their lives without incident, squabbling over the best deals in the market or placating irritable houris concerned they had not gotten their fair share of largesse during a gift-giving session.

When there was
strife the King knew that too, and he rose up immediately to squash petty quarrels or the more serious fights that exploded from time to time.

Now he sighe
d, doing a final, mental sweep of the eastern most borders of the Cyani plains that touched space. There was a vulnerable spot there he made note of, sending instructions to the guard to quietly shore up their defenses. There was no point in alerting the enemy that he was aware of their surveillance. It was always better to be underestimated. Then he would have the advantage should he need to strike out suddenly.

“But sire I could –”

“No. Focus on my son. Watch over him. Guide him. He will need you soon.”

Rierdane scowled,
his favored position allowing him to show more emotion than many would dare.

Carlow smiled.
“You are thinking that is easier said than done. That the prince is headstrong and not prone to listen, and you are right. But you can still give him valuable information. He is not so silly and in love that he will not listen and take your good advice.”

“I would also be of service to you
, my King.”

“
You will have your chance to aid me, my friend. But for now guard my seed. He is the most important thing to us all right now, and I want him to enjoy this time with his love. Just in case,” the King broke off.

Just in case he was unable to hold onto his crown. Rierdan
e knew what others outside the royal family did not; Carlow would kill them all before he allowed his wife and daughters to be despoiled or sold off as trophies of war, his proud, powerful sons turned into the lowest of slaves or tortured and displayed like toys for common rabble.

And Rierdane would help him, just as he always had. Now
, however, he did as the King requested, bowed and faded away, praying the King would be able to rest soon, that there would be a resolution, and that he – and Eyoen unknowing of the drama unfolding at home – would be able to return to the star as they knew it.

*****

Eyoen continued to accompany Cass on her various meetings. He even helped her land the movie role. The director’s mind was mostly made up; the meeting had just been a formality to look her over and see if she was as smart as he’d heard. But when Cass was too clever, poking gentle fun at the man’s rather frail but over inflated ego – something he wasn’t at all familiar with – Eyoen coaxed him to forget his pique, and TomTom was able to unofficially seal the deal before the dessert plates had been cleared from the table.

“Do you know what this is going to do for you?” she hissed as they waved the director off.

“Since you’re talking through clenched teeth, I’m guessing a lot,” Cass laughed, swinging Eyoen’s hand happily as they waited for the valet to bring her car.

“This is the entre we
’ve been waiting for, baby girl. One movie means more movies. Action, romantic comedy, maybe even a drama.”

“I’m no movie star, TomTom,” Cass warned
her friend and colleague. “My music will always come first.”

TomTom waved her hand irritably as she slid
behind the wheel. “That doesn’t mean you can’t sip from more than one well. I’ll call you tomorrow! Bye, Lee.”

Eyoen
waved, then dismissed the valet, opening the driver’s side door for Cass himself when the car arrived.

“Do you believe in magic?” He asked
her later that night.

They’d just made love.
And the emotion, the care behind the loving had brought a tear to his eye. He managed to dry it in the bed clothes before she noticed – how undemonlike to be caught crying while still in a lovers arms! – but it had sharpened the pleasure, made it so intense, Cass was able to get him onto his back and ride him to his crisis. That had never, ever happened before either.

He’d enjoyed that position before, but never ended that way. He preferred to remain in con
trol. Or he had. Now he realized that he liked the vulnerability of being on his back, forced to accept his lover’s demands, his own neck arched as he cried out beneath Cass’ gentle weight. Her face as she watched him, the pleasure she received from driving him near out of his mind, had drained him of his seed completely.

Afterwards he’d lain there blinking like that silly virgin who had gotten him sequestered, totally shocked and in awe of what had taken place.
The loving between them seemed to get better and better. Yet he wanted, needed more. He’d have happily spent all his time – what wasn’t needed for her work, eating and personal grooming – with his cock buried inside her. Any separation made him nervous and antsy. He wanted them constantly connected. He blushed, grateful she couldn’t see his face or know his thoughts since he was mentally acting like a woman.

Cas
s lay sprawled over him like a blanket, idly stroking his chest. He wondered if she would still stroke it when his blue skin was revealed.

“What kinda magic? Like spells and witches and shit?”

“Yes, like demons and the supernatural.”

Cass laughed. “I don’t know. My first ins
tinct is to say no, but I’m sure there are many things in the world that I don’t know about, or that I can’t explain. Why? You about to tell me you’re a witch or somethin’?”

Eyoen took a deep breath and said, “Or somethin’.”

Cass raised her head up and propped her chin on her hands. She grinned at him. “Really? How come you never told me this before?”

“It’s a fairly new development.”

“Do tell?”

“I’m afraid so, my dear.
You see, I’m a demon.”

Cass began to laugh. “A demon, huh? I thought demons were red with horns and hooves for their hands and feet.”

“Some are, but there are many demonarchies, many species. We are no different than humans in our variety of looks and ethnicities.”

“Really. Well, don’t stop there. Tell me more!”

“What would you like to know?”

“Where are you from?”

“A star several billion miles away called Cyanus.”

“And what is life like on the star?”

“Wonderful. I’m a prince of the realm, quite young, though not in earth time, as I am more than 250 human years old by your calendar. I’m wealthy, connected, I have a harem of houris and servants who cater to my every whim, brothers and sisters to keep me company, and an entire kingdom rich with resources at my disposal.”

“I
t sounds fabulous,” Cass said solemnly, but he got the feeling she was laughing at him. “Why come to Earth?”

“I came for you. I’ve been watching you for years. There are devices that allow
one to see into other worlds, very expensive tools, made of rare, powerful magic and materials that only royals have access to. I stumbled upon your life one day while watching my seer, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

He knew perfectly well she thought he was joking, but he kept talking.
He told her about her life. Deliberately sharing conversations she’d had with Priti more than a year before she’d met Lee. Things no one could have known except the two of them, and of course, an unknown observer.

“I listened as you shared your anger at the year
s you wasted not following your dream. I sympathize, but I don’t completely agree – sometimes time spent in the metaphoric fire is what brings out the natural talent we call on later in life – still I understand why you felt as you did, or perhaps still do.”

Cass laughed
uncomfortably. “You are a trip, man. You’re wasted on modeling. I can’t believe you’ve hidden this penchant for storytelling from me all this time, Lee. I should put you to work writing song lyrics.”

“My name isn’t Lee.”

Her smile faltered. “Oh? What is it?”

“Eyoen trans
Cyanos.”

Cass sat up in the bed
, humor gone. “Lee, what the hell are you talking about?”

“Eyoen,” he corrected softly.

She stared at him, then rose and put on a robe.

He watched as she paced a few steps, throwing him looks as she picked up their scattered clothing.

Eyoen kept talking. He told her how he’d watched them work together – her and Lee – how he’d watched as they were introduced. He’d even watched them make love the first time. After that he couldn’t bear to, but that first time he hadn’t been able to help himself. It was the first time he’d seen her in the throes of passion.

He told her about petiti
oning to come to Earth, how he’d worked long and hard to convince his father the King that he could make her happy on their star, and successfully convince her to give him sons to help continue their lineage. He told her about traveling through space, how restricting it had felt lying in the hospital bed practically immobile, but that her touch had made him so happy he’d been able to bear it.

“You’re crazy,” she breathed, voice breaking as her eyes filled with tears. “The accident knocked you crazy.”

Eyoen sighed irritably. Damnit! He’d known trying to make her believe him was not going to be easy. But he hadn’t thought through exactly how horrid it would make him feel to have her deny him the truth.

“No, Cass. The accident
killed Lee. And I took his body. It was the only way I could come here and be with you. I needed a host. I would’ve taken any suitable match, but then your lover was in the accident, and as sad as it was, I was thrilled at the chance to be with you. I would never wish you a moment’s unhappiness, but you must understand. I’ve been watching you for years, my dear, and –”

“Stop it,” she said, holding up a hand like a traffic cop. “Lee, just stop it. This is ridiculous. Do you hear yourself?”

Eyoen’s face hardened, and her eyes widened as a shadow of who he really was wafted over him. He saw her step back and got a hold of himself. He would never hurt her, not even unintentionally, and having a temper tantrum would not help his cause.

“I know it’s difficult to believe, my love. Bu
t I can assure you, all that I say is true, and I can prove it to you. I had hoped to delay this moment. To deepen the bond I can feel growing between us, but I know you are suspicious of me, unsure, and confused about my seemingly changed behavior.” He shrugged. “And quite honestly, I can’t bear to lie to you any longer. I want to be with you as myself. I want to take you home to meet my family.”

“You have no family, Lee
,” Cass whispered. “You’re an orphan.”

Eyoen stared at the woman he’d come to love more than his own life and knew that he’d have
to do something drastic to convince her of the truth. He locked the door.

Cass turned sharply when she heard the click and then back to him. “How did you
do that?”

He smiled sadly. “That’s the least of what I can do, my dear.”

She shook her head. “We’ll make an appointment for you tomorrow. This is probably some residual head trauma or something. I knew you were doing too much. No one heals that quickly. You –”

“I do, Cass,” he said gently. “I want you to sit down.”

She shook her head, frowning as she walked toward him. “I think you should rest, baby. I’ll lie down with you, and –”

“No.”

She stared at him, having never heard him speak to her in that sharp definitive tone before. But then, Eyoen knew very well, outside of their bed, she wasn’t used to him behaving in a dominant way at all.

“
It’s best she get used to it, sire,” Rierdane said. “I think you should get tough.”

Get tough?

Rierdane nodded. “Yes, you must force her to see the truth. Show her who you really are physically. Then she won’t have any choice, she’ll have to believe you.”

“Sit down, my dear. I want to show you something. Me actually,” he laughed,
and her eyes widened at the deeper timber of his voice. That more than his request made her sit down on the bed.

In reality Cass had no choice;
her knees had given out.

“Be at ease
, my love. No matter what I look like, I’m still the same man that you love,” he whispered, and then he began to change.

His disguise, Lee’s host body
, fell away. The bright blue eyes faded in a fierce glow of gold as his features sharpened, his cheekbones grew higher, his nose stronger, straighter, slightly wider. When the lightly tanned hue of his skin deepened to a rich, lovely blue she blinked in shock.

“My God.”
She watched, appalled as he seemed to stretch before her eyes. His body elongated until he’d grown almost half a foot and broadened just as much. His hair was no longer blond but a black so deep it was almost blue and shone like new money even as it clung gently to the scalp around his neat, slightly pointed ears.