The Warlock Who Hungered for a Demon (8 page)

Rhys arched a brow at the Sidhe sovereign. “I thought they were a

myth.”

Sterling shook his head. “You should know better by now. Every

myth has a grain of truth in it. You might not realize this, but half-

breeds aren’t a new thing. Pixies are an example of it. They originate

from a mix of Sidhe and demon blood, and through thorough

inbreeding within their own kind, they managed to become a race that

is separate from both species.” A small smile appeared. “Perhaps in

decades, your own offspring, or Winter’s, or Alexis’s, would have

placed the basis of a new race themselves. But back to the pixies.

Generally, they are neutral in everything, even more so than vampires

have been. However, they have been known to be drawn to a certain

cause, for a price.”

“A price?” Rhys repeated. “I don’t understand, King Sterling.

What price?”

The Warlock Who Hungered for a Demon

49

“Money is meaningless for the pixies. They tend to be quite fickle

and unreasonable, which is why my position makes it impossible for

me to deal with them. The last time a Sidhe sovereign asked for a

favor from them, they asked for a replica of the Silver Pool, with

genuine water taken from here. Naturally, they were refused.”

“And these are the people who can help me heal Noah?” Rhys no

longer knew what to say or think. “It’s true I’d do anything for him,

but are they really trustworthy?”

“The Sidhe part of them is, but you must be careful what you say

around them. While they’ll fulfill your wish, the price might be too

steep. Alas, they’re the only demons with access to black magic that

you’d be able to reach.”

“I don’t like this, Rhys,”
Noah said in Rhys’s mind. Rhys realized

that during his conversation with Sterling, Noah had finished his

treatment in the Silver Pool and was now headed their way.
“I can

only imagine what they’d ask of an incubus.”

Rhys sighed to himself. Yes, he guessed that as well. The favors

an incubus could provide would be sexual in nature. While Rhys

hated just the thought of being touched by a person other than Noah,

he’d do it should it be required to rescue Noah.

A knock sounded at the door of the throne room. “Yes?” Sterling

called out.

A guard entered and bowed lowly. “Noah Hall to see you, Your

Majesty,” he announced.

“Thank you,” Sterling replied. “Let him in.”

The soldier moved aside, and Noah stepped into the throne room.

To Rhys’s relief, he looked much better than the last time Rhys had

seen him. However, Rhys could also feel Noah’s anger, and it didn’t

take a genius to realize its cause.

Noah bowed in front of the Sidhe king as well, and as the guard

left, Sterling gestured for him to rise. “I’m glad to see your condition

has improved,” he said. “The Silver Pool helped this time around as

well.”

50

Scarlet Hyacinth

“Yes. Thank you, Your Majesty. Your generosity is much

appreciated.” He paused. “However, I cannot agree with the

suggestion you made to my mate. He is not a whore to be passed

around, no matter the cause.”

Rhys gasped, shocked that Noah dared to speak like that to

Sterling and somewhat hurt by the words as well. Noah stepped

toward him and hugged him close.
“I know it’s not what you want,

baby, but those people are going to take advantage of you,”
he said

through their bond.
“Anyone would be able to see how much you want

to help me.”

“You don’t know that will happen. Besides, what other option do

we have? Just wait until the Silver Pool stops working?”
Rhys

clutched Noah tightly, willing the warlock to understand.
“If they do

ask for that, it might be hard, but in the long run, it’s much preferable

to the alternative.”

“It is your choice,” Sterling said. “So far, it is the only option I’ve

found that presents some chances of success.”

For a few moments, Noah remained silent. He took a deep breath

and finally spoke. “I will go alone. That way, they won’t be able to

force Rhys into anything.”

“Absolutely not,” Rhys answered. “We’re not going to be parted

ever again. No matter what I have to do, we stick together. We’re

stronger like this, remember?”

Noah seemed torn between his instinct to protect Rhys and the

trust he had in their bond. Rhys hated this entire situation. They

shouldn’t have to choose between demeaning themselves in front of

people who would use them and giving up their lives and happiness.

Nevertheless, the option gave them some hope, so Rhys forced

himself to be optimistic. “Thank you, King Sterling,” he told the

Sidhe. “We’ll do it. Just show us the way.”

“It’s going to be tricky. I do know where they are, but going there

unannounced would automatically forfeit any possibility of aid from

them.”

The Warlock Who Hungered for a Demon

51

“Then can we send a message?” Rhys inquired.

Sterling nodded. “Be honest, polite, but not too solicitous. That

will give them the opening they need to take advantage. I will send it

for you to their location.”

Rhys didn’t even bother to ask how the Sidhe king had found out

about the lair of the pixies. Sterling often showed evidence of

knowing things he definitely shouldn’t, but Rhys had stopped

questioning it a long time ago. As long as Sterling was on their side,

this ability could only be helpful.

Noah still didn’t look very happy about the circumstances, but

eventually, he agreed. Later that day, the message was sent, and Rhys

and Noah were left waiting for a response. To his surprise, it arrived

the next morning, telling them to get ready for a meeting with a pixie

representative. Sadly, the message stressed the fact that Rhys needed

to be there as well, which confirmed Noah and Rhys’s original guess

about what the pixies had in mind for them.

Upon their departure, they were led to their plane by the entire

royal family. Winter, Corbin, and their son, Lamont, were visiting, so

they came as well. “Be very careful,” Winter told him. “I know it’s

very important to find out what’s going on with the demons, but

pixies are tremendously dangerous.”

“If they try anything, just leave,” Corbin added. “Nothing’s worth

surrendering to their whims.”

Honestly, Rhys disagreed, and he thought that if Corbin and

Winter fully understood his circumstances, they would realize it also.

He didn’t say what he was thinking, though. Instead, he kissed

Lamont’s furry head. “Thanks for the advice,” he told Corbin and

Winter. “We’ll be fine. We’ve dealt with worse threats.”

“Don’t underestimate them,” Sterling warned. “Stick together no

matter what. Treat them as potential allies, but don’t be afraid to

defend your dignity. Above all else, defend your bond. You might

find that the pixies can surprise you in a positive way. You must not

52

Scarlet Hyacinth

refuse to embrace new friendships. Remember this, because it’s very

important.”

“We will remember,” Rhys promised. He didn’t know what to

make of Sterling’s cryptic words, but he suspected that he would find

out soon enough.

They said their good-byes and boarded the jet that would carry

them to the meeting spot. As they sat down, Rhys took Noah’s hand

and squeezed it. “Don’t worry, love. This is the right thing to do. I’m

convinced of it.”

Noah released a heavy sigh. “I wish I could say the same, baby. I

wish I could say the same.”

The Warlock Who Hungered for a Demon

53

“Well, well. You’re both far prettier than I imagined.”

The female pixie eyed Noah and Rhys with great interest. Since

those words had been said in place of a greeting, Noah thought that

the meeting might not go very well.

They had been told to go to a remote area in Spain. Another plane

had taken them from there and brought them to this location, a grove

in a forest that seemed absolutely untouched by mankind. Noah didn’t

know exactly where they were since they had been blindfolded until

they’d gotten here, but judging by the fauna and flora he detected

around them, he guessed they must still be somewhere in Europe.

“Thank you for agreeing to see us,” he said between gritted teeth.

“As we mentioned in the message, it’s a matter of life and death.”

The woman sat on a tree stump, crossing her legs and playing with

the blades of grass. The plants seemed to twine around her fingers, as

if caressing her skin. All the while, the pixie never took her eyes off

Noah and Rhys. “So you said.” She arched a perfect blonde brow. “I

don’t suppose this has anything to do with recent developments in the

demon world.”

Noah felt tremendous satisfaction upon knowing he would take

her by surprise. “Not really. It’s a more…private matter.”

“Oh.” The pixie grinned, her appreciation of Noah and Rhys

growing even bolder. Abandoning the grass, she pinched her own

nipple through the near-transparent material of her garb. “That’s very

interesting. Please, tell me more.”

Rhys didn’t seem fazed by the display. Naturally, he was used to

overt sexuality and had no problems with a random pixie touching

54

Scarlet Hyacinth

herself in front of them. “We come in search of some information

about black magic,” he replied.

Just like that, the pixie’s pleasant expression vanished. She shot to

her feet, her eyes glaring daggers at them. “Then you’re speaking to

the wrong people,” she answered. “Leave now.”

The tone of her voice made the guards that had been looming at

the edge of the grove advance toward them. Noah could probably cast

a spell to immobilize them should the need arise, but their attitude

actually encouraged them.

“You misunderstand. We don’t want to use it. We want to heal its

effects.”

“Effects.” The female pixie peered at him closer, as if trying to

find something. “Ah, I see what you mean,” she said after a brief

pause. “How…unpleasant. Well, you made your bed and now you

must sleep in it. We can’t help you.”

“There was no other choice at the time,” Rhys answered. “Please.

There’s no one else we can turn to.”

“Too bad,” the woman said cruelly. “We have a strict policy

against black magic users.”

Noah couldn’t help it. He laughed. “And you think you’re so

much better than me. Remember yourself. You’re still half-demon,

pixie. You’re basically refusing a dying man and his mate, all because

of your biased views. You don’t even know me, and you judge me

following your arbitrary standards.” He shook his head, baring his

teeth in disgust. “Come on, Rhys. We’re wasting our time here.

They’re useless.”

Rhys straightened his spine and took Noah’s hand. “You’re right.

Let’s go.”

“Not so fast,” the woman replied. Noah tensed, ready to attack

should they stop him and Rhys from leaving. To his surprise, the pixie

snickered. “Follow me. I shall grant you an audience with our

shaman, but don’t hold your breath. He’ll probably refuse you.”

Noah shared a look with Rhys.
“What do you think, baby?”

The Warlock Who Hungered for a Demon

55

Rhys shrugged
. “I don’t like this, or her, but this is what we came

here for, right? We can’t back out now.”

Unfortunately, Rhys had a point. “Thank you,” Noah told the

pixie. “We appreciate your help.”

“I doubt that very much,” she answered. “For the moment, let me

introduce myself. I’m Saaze Ketsara, teacher of the Yadiran tribe of

the pixie nation.”

“I’m Noah Hall, and this is Rhys Whitaker,” Noah said in turn. He

wondered what being a teacher meant for the pixies. If she was an

example of how pixies were educated, it wasn’t very promising for

Noah’s future.

“Please, follow me,” Saaze said again. “Don’t talk to anyone until

you speak to the shaman. He will let you know whether you’re

allowed to say anything or not.”

“Uh…All right.” This was getting confusing. “Any other rules we

should know?”

Saaze shook her head. “You probably won’t be here long enough

for that.”

Without another word, she turned her back on them and glided out

of the grove. Her elegance and grace did remind Noah of Rhys, but