TheWardersDemon (3 page)

“How is it that no one comes to this place?”

He grinned and his crimson skin darkened. “There is a glamour around this place. People see it but don’t notice it, so Elise has all the privacy she wants and yet can delve out into the world whenever she wishes.

His thoughtful nature at providing the woman with a sanctuary cemented the blooming of love in her heart.

When they entered the cottage, Elise was all smiles and congratulations. Elhara was happy that their first witness to their pledge was pleased for them. She knew that that would not be the case all around. Warders had prejudices against demons and the same was true in reverse. Explaining to her father that an incubus had stolen her heart was going to be a delicate matter, explaining it to her mother was going to require alcohol.

Hannah Warder was a good woman, a great mom and the most aggressive defender that Elhara had ever known. If she thought her daughter was in danger from her fiancé, then he and his clan had better run for it.

When Solar and Elise had said their goodbyes, he and Elhara made their way back down the path with foolish smiles on their faces. She glanced down at the ring to confirm that it was real.

“Yes, Elhara, it’s real. I am yours and you are mine, we need only confirm it with our families and then we shall make it official.” He walked her to her car and gave her a kiss that scorched her toes.

She was leaning into him, clinging to him with both hands. Her body ached and her clit throbbed as his tongue teased her. When she gasped for air, he pressed his forehead to hers.

“We will meet here tomorrow and from then, we will plan our future.”

She grinned up at him. “Tomorrow at dawn. Don’t be late.”

He disappeared in a puff of smoke and her heartbeat started to work its way down to normal. Smiling with complete and utter joy, she unlocked her car door and paused to look at the park around her.

There was a rush of black and a hard strike to her jaw that sent her skidding sideways. She tried to see what was coming at her, but it was a cloud of black mist. She heard a voice hiss, “He is mine and will always be mine.”

She felt a clawing at her left hand while an incredible pressure weighed on her mind. Her memories of Solar flitted through her thoughts and one by one, they disappeared.

Chapter Four

Elhara had a headache that wouldn’t quit. She was sitting in her car and the scent of green grass was all over her. She knew that she was forgetting something, but she didn’t know what. A quick glance at her watch told her that she was late back to work, but her belly was telling her that she hadn’t eaten lunch, so what had she been doing?

Her left had burned slightly, as if she had run it through hot sand or something. She shook it and started her car. Whatever just happened had left her coated with magic and it wasn’t hers.

Her parents would need to know about this and it was going to be far easier if she got her father in on it before they let her mother know. Her first stop would be the workshop and the second would be her parents’ home.

Her hands were shaking as she drove and the moment she entered the workshop, all the males turned to her, nostrils flaring. Elhara was out of luck, Hannah Warder was next to her husband and when he stared at his daughter, she did as well.

“El, what happened to you? Why are you crying?” Hannah rushed to her and examined her from head to toe.

“I don’t know. I don’t know what happened, I am just so sad.” She brushed at her cheeks and wiped away the tears. She ran her fingers through her hair and rose petals fluttered to the ground. Elhara knelt and lifted a petal to her nose and warmth spilled through her followed by an ache so great she thought her heart would break. Without another word, she broke into heart-rending sobs.

Her family gathered around her and she could feel the warmth and support that they offered as they took her home and helped her change clothes. Her aunts, grandmother and cousins came by and they all agreed. Whatever had happened to her, her family would get to the bottom of it and they wanted her somewhere safe. Nowhere was safer than at her grandparents’ home in the Crimson clan of the goblin territories in Realm.

Her cousin Asha agreed to come with her. Their fathers were brothers and they shared the same goblin grandparents. No one would think twice about two Warders visiting goblins.

Asha took Elhara into her charge and they entered the gateway to Realm opened by their fathers and grandfather.

Gran and Gramps were only too happy to have them as guests and despite Elhara’s disorientation, she tried to make herself useful. Her family was working to find out what they could about her situation, so she only needed to keep the pain in her head at bay. How hard could that be?

* * * *

She was gone. One moment she had been in his thoughts and a part of his very being and the next she was gone.

“You were saying, brother Solariec?” Therogan, the head of his clan gestured for him to continue.

“I was saying that I have found the woman I wish to marry and am requesting authorization for a wedding.” He was unable to rush to Elhara’s side. Protocol and the demonic restraints bound him until his petition was heard and a decision was made.

“We have found a woman for you. H’cheri is a lovely succubus who will bear you many strong children.” Therogan inclined his head and the woman in question snaked out of the shadows.

“H’cheri is lovely, that is true, but she is not the mate of my heart. I have met my soul mate and she has agreed to be mine when we can get the approval of both our clan and family.”

The succubus in question bristled for an instant before a smug smile crossed over her features. “Are you sure that she will gain the approval of her family?”

Solar knew that something was up. There was no way that H’cheri shouldn’t be clawing his eyes out right now. “I am sure. She can be very convincing.”

Therogan scowled, leaning forward on his throne. “Why would you propose before you gained the acceptance of your clan?”

Solar bowed low with deference. “Because the bonuses of an alliance to her family outweigh the desires of one succubus. While H’cheri has had her eye on me for centuries, I have never returned her affections. I wish to wed a woman who can be my equal, who compliments my darkness with light and who will enrich not only my life but our bloodlines.”

H’cheri was still smug and that boded ill.

Therogan leaned back. “What kind of woman would take a demon and how could a human be a benefit to our kind?”

Solariec straightened. “She is not a human.”

H’cheri froze, her smug grin fading. “What do you mean?”

“My bride is not a human. She is a Warder and her clan has ties to almost every species in Realm.”

Therogan grinned and with his horns and exposed teeth, it was not a good look for him. “Excellent. You have my authorization to wed your Warder.”

H’cheri paled. “He can’t, you can’t…”

Their clan leader and H’cheri’s uncle turned and stared at her. “Why can’t he carry out my orders, niece?”

The succubus fidgeted and looked embarrassed. “Uncle, I am afraid that his bride will not want him anymore.”

Solar tensed. “What did you do?”

H’cheri turned to him and hissed, throwing a small object at him. “She can’t remember you, Solar. I took all her memories of you and if she tries to get them back, her mind will erase even more.”

Solar caught the ring and his belly churned as her words sank in. “Where is she?”

H’cheri shrugged. “I suppose she is where she was when I left her minutes after you did.”

The bindings of the demonic hall were all that kept Solar from ripping the bitch’s throat out.

Therogan caught his niece in a grip of power and lifted her off her feet. “You are saying that you have destroyed our only chance to get a Warder into the demon bloodline?”

She choked and her legs kicked in midair. “He is mine.”

Her uncle shook her. “He will wed who I say he will. You will find another male to wed and you will give up your fixation. Is that clear?”

She squeaked. “Mine.”

Therogan shook his head and growled. “H’cheri, you are confined to the stronghold until Solar is safely wed, on pain of death. You may be my niece, but I have nine nieces and I can afford to lose a few. Are we clear? You leave here and I send the shadows after you.”

She nodded and paled at the mention of the shadows.

With a burst of smoke, Therogan banished her to the far end of the stronghold and returned his attention to Solar.

It took all of his self-control not to force his frantic search for his mate. Solar gathered his power around him and faced the demon who would control his fate.

“Find your female and bring her family here to meet us. I am sure that it will be a fascinating experience for them.”

“What about the charm that H’cheri put on her?” Solar’s muscles were twitching with the urge to do
something
.

“That is your problem. If she truly loves you, she will come around. If not, H’cheri will be waiting for you and I am sure you don’t want that. Go. You are released to find your woman.” Therogan waved his hand and Solar was free.

He disappeared and emerged at the point where he had last held Elhara in his arms. They had been laughing and looking forward to the dawn.

H’cheri’s strong and musky scent overlaid the more delicate scent of Elhara. He needed to find her and he knew the first place he needed to look. Her cousin. The woman that she had been with the night that he met her would know where she was.

He closed his eyes and remembered the scent of the woman who had been sitting next to Elhara. It scented the edge of her coat on the night that he met her and with the talents given to all incubi, he used his senses to take him to her.

He didn’t have time to wrap himself in his glamour before she saw him.

He took three strides toward the woman and she stared at him, eyes wide. Her right hand grabbed her left and she closed her eyes just as he was opening his mouth to speak. In an instant, she was gone and nothing but a spray of sea water was left behind.

“Damn it!”

There was nothing to do now but face her family directly. It would have to wait until the morning, because he had the feeling that they would be less likely to kill him if their workshop was in the path of danger.

He was going to tackle the dwarf and goblins in the morning. If he could get them on his side, they could help with their wives. That was the sticking point. Would the Warders accept that one of their own was in love with a demon when she couldn’t even remember him?

Chapter Five

Caaverna’s Jewellers was a tidy shop and when Solar entered, a polite, young woman smiled at him. “Good morning, sir. How may I help you?”

“I wish to talk to the owner about getting a custom piece appraised.” He smiled and flirted lightly with her, but it didn’t sit right the way it had before he had met Elhara.

“Just a moment, sir.” The woman smiled brightly and disappeared into a back room. She came back with the same smile. “Please come with me.”

He followed the human and brushed at his sleeves. He was wearing Elhara’s favourite suit. She had said it made him look like a model for a businessman-of-the-month calendar.

The dwarf working at a bench looked up as he approached and spoke to the woman in a controlled voice. “That will be all, Gillian. Thank you.”

“Gwelvar Caaverna, I have something to ask of you.”

Two humanized goblins came in from a storage room and stared at him, scenting the air. One of them lunged forward with a snarl. His eyes were Elhara’s eyes and Solar braced himself to take on the father of the woman he loved.

Claws slashed and he winced as his skin parted under the male’s assault. It only took a few seconds for the dwarf to pull his son-in-law away, but Solar was bleeding on the pristine floor, his suit in tatters.

“Reytil, back up. Reycon, hold your brother.” The dwarf was no-nonsense. “Demon, why are you here?”

He straightened as best as he could and held out his hand. “This ring was on your granddaughter’s hand yesterday when a succubus bespelled her and stole it.”

“Where were you?” The dwarf’s tone wasn’t accusing, merely questioning.

“I was at the demon stronghold in Realm, bound to wait until my clan leader decided to hear my plea. For nine hours I was locked in place, waiting my turn and that was all the opportunity that the succubus needed. She attacked Elhara and I did not learn of it until last night.” He looked at the ruins of his suit. “She loved this suit.”

“Reytil knows your scent, as well as that of the female who attacked our girl. He acted out of frustration.”

The goblin had gained his composure. “How long have you been seeing my daughter, demon?”

“My name is Solar. I have been seeing your daughter for two weeks.” He dropped his glamour and let her relatives see the true him.

“Have you had sex?” The bold statement was definitely within goblin protocols.

He answered honestly. “No. I have tasted her as per incubi engagement protocols, but nothing beyond that.”

Her father sighed in relief. “Good, then a pregnancy is not likely. I was dreading explaining the possibility to Hannah.”

Solar quirked his lips. “There are no worries on that front.”

Gwelvar rapped his fist against the countertop. “Now, incubus, start at the beginning and tell us how you know our Elhara. Our wives are going to want to know and the more we are aware of, the better off you will be.”

A peculiar relief ran through him. It seemed that despite the initial attack, the men of the Warders were on his side. Now, he just had to run the gauntlet with the women and he could find out where his mate was.

Icy was a polite way to describe the trio of females facing him. Andrea, Hannah and Inora, the matriarchs of their little grouping, all were focussed on him with freezing glares.

As an incubus, this kind of female hostility was unusual, but each of these women had their wards up high and wide. Their mates were standing behind them and backing them up.

Inora scowled at him. “You are telling me that you, an incubus, are in love with our little Elhara?”