Demon Slave (Shadow Quest Book 2)

by Kiersten Fay

  Soon she was looking over the entire battlefield, on an unsteady pillar. Marik’s angry bellow grew dimmer the higher she went.

  Nadua pulled to her feet. Using her arrow as her line of sight and rolling her gaze over the onslaught, she sneered under her breath, “Where are you, you bastard?”

  A Kaiylemi had to be close enough to see everything—that was the only way he could work his magic—and they were always guarded. Following the edge of the forest, she noticed a small assembly of stationary soldiers, watching but not participating.

  The pillar started to sway to one side. It was still growing. She stowed her bow and arrow and reached for her dagger. Leaning over the edge, a thick gulp stuck in her throat.

  * * *

  Marik and Rex struggled to keep the swarm of Cyrellians away from the shaft of ice that held Nadua.

  The horde was relentless, and worked as if they were of one mind. They aimed to hack at its base and bring her down. The fall would kill her.

  Marik felt the Edge overtake him, and invited the surge of strength it brought.

  Their Cyrellian allies rushed to help, slaughtering rebels as they went. Marik spotted Cyrus fighting to hold the enemy back. His technique was masterful and, for the first time, Marik was glad Cyrus cared so much for his mate.

  When the pillar tilted, Marik let out a pained cry as fear spiked through him. Then he saw Nadua edge to the sloping side, and his heart nearly stopped. She was going to try to slide down.

  She stabbed her dagger into the ice, and proceeded to make a swift and purposeful descent. Her feet, one in front of the other, led the way as the small blade cut a line down the face.

  Marik yelled to Rex and Cyrus, “Make room!”

  Their jaws dropped when they spotted her. Then they came together to push back the crowd and open a space for her.

  “Marik!” she called, landing with a soft thud. Her bow was at the ready and she dispatched two rebels in seconds. She turned to him and pointed in the distance. “The Kaiylemi is there, beyond the trees. We need him taken out if we are to win this.”

  Marik looked over the carnage. Spikes of ice were sprouting up, taking out Cyrus’ people.”

  “All this is done by only one?”

  She nodded. “I believe so.”

  “Rex, stay with Nadua.”

  “No, take Rex with you. You’ll be crossing the entire battlefield.” Her voice was high with panic.

  “He stays with you.”

  “I’ll be fine without him.”

  “I’ll go with Marik,” Cyrus offered.

  Nadua glanced between the two of them. Swallowing hard, she nodded. But before letting them go, she threw her arms around Marik and brought him down for a fierce kiss. “Don’t die, okay?”

  Marik grunted. “You, either.” He shot Rex a look that promised pain if he let anything happen to her. Then he and Cyrus started down the hill at a brisk pace, carving their way through the melee.

  The fallen bodies were so many that Marik couldn’t keep from stepping on them. As for the ones that were still moving, Marik was unable to differentiate between Cyrus’ people and the rebels, so whoever was bold enough to make a move at him died. There seemed no steel left on his sword, only deep red liquid that dripped a trail beside him.

  Cyrus was gathering a following. Some of his men must have deduced they were trying to cross and were helping to make a path. Ice shards sprang up around them, but there was a detectable grinding sound before they sprouted and Marik was able to dodge out of the way.

  An ax wielder ran for him, swinging brazenly. Baring his fangs, Marik shoved his sword through the man’s right eye. The other eye rolled to the sky. Marik took his blade back, and continued on his way.

  The soldiers at the edge of the forest noticed their approach and braced for battle. In an instant, all ice manipulation ceased. Two hefty Cyrellians came forward to block them, while the others moved deeper into the forest.

  Escaping.

  With his men holding their backs, Cyrus lunged for the soldier on the right. Marik took the one on the left. Sparks flared as metal bit into metal. Marik ducked a wide swing and, going to his knee, countered with a thrust into the man’s shin. His assailant screamed but didn’t falter, and brought his blade down on Marik. A loud clang sounded as Marik blocked it just before the sharp edge became intimate with his skull.

  * * *

  Nadua cried out. Marik was on one knee, with a rebel trying to drive his sword into him. But she had her own problems to worry about. A large group of rebels were fighting their way toward them, and she was running low on arrows. Rex was amazing at keeping them from her, but he couldn’t go on forever.

  At least the Kaiylemi had stopped his assault, but the damage left behind was substantial.

  At the crest of the hill, edisdon riders appeared from the north. A lead weight settled in the pit of her stomach. More rebels? They were doomed.

  Nadua sucked in a harsh breath as a familiar figure stood out from the pack. “Ava?”

  Atop her edisdon, she was dressed in a soldier’s tunic and metal breastplate. She looked like a warrior. Pride flooded though Nadua at the sight.

  Then, like some sort of mythical creature, a small gray craft rose up from behind them, hovering ominously.

  The rebels took one look and began a furious retreat. Only a few stayed to fight, hollering curses at their departing brothers. They were soon silenced.

  Nadua scoured the field for Marik. He and Cyrus were caught between the forest and the escaping rebels, still fighting. From her distance, she couldn’t tell if the blood drenching their clothes belonged to them or not. Bolting down the hill, Nadua raced across the field toward them, dodging corpses as she went.

  She didn’t notice a bloodied hand reaching up from the ground till it was too late. It wrapped firmly around her ankle and the packed terrain rushed at her, knocking the air from her lungs with a painful grunt. She glanced back and saw angry eyes glaring at her from a deeply slashed face.

  Rex placed a heavy foot on the aggressor’s back. Both let out a sneering growl, and the hatred wafting from the Cyrellian made her stomach roll. Blade aimed straight down, Rex slid it easily through the rebel’s neck.

  Nadua kicked his gnarled hand away. “Thanks.”

  Rex pulled her to her feet and gave a masculine grunt in reply.

  To Nadua’s relief, Marik was already headed their way. The field was now full of cheers and victory cries as the last of the rebels either perished or fled. Nadua leapt at Marik, clutching him tight in a cage of arms and legs. He held her just as tightly.

  Brushing his blood soaked hair away from his face, she asked, “Are you hurt?”

  “Now that I have you in my arms, you could cut off my leg and I wouldn’t notice.”

  “I would notice when we’re falling over.”

  His smile was exuberant.

  To their left, a throat cleared. “My Queen.”

  “Wren!” Nadua jumped down from Marik. “Ava!”

  Ava came forward, throwing herself into Nadua. “I thought you were dead!” Her voice cracked and cool fingers duck into her back.

  “No,” she cooed. “I’m fine. I missed you, though.”

  “I missed you too.” Ava sniffed. They clung to each other for a long while. Neither wanting to let go. “You’ll never believe what I did.”

  Behind her, Wren had a wide grin.

  Nadua’s gaze drifted to the large army waiting on the hill. “What did you do?”

  Ava backed away and bounced in place. “I claimed my title as queen! My aunts were in shock, one nearly fainted, but it is done.”

  “You did?” Nadua looked to Wren. “How is this possible?”

  “She spoke like a queen and took what was hers. Plus, she has the weight of the army behind her. As you did.”

  “But wait!” Ava cried. “Now you can come back and be queen again. I won’t mind.” Ava’s expression fell when she registered the look on Nadua’s face.

>   Nadua swallowed hard. “I can’t come back with you, Ava,” she said softly, glancing toward Marik, who was now in an excited discussion with a strange new black-haired demon. Rex was standing a few yards away, quietly watching them. Nadua turned back to Ava. “It’s time for me to go. Do you remember what I told you?”

  “That one day you would go home.” Her lip quivered. “But you don’t have to.”

  Nadua’s throat clenched. “I do. My people need me now, just as yours need you.”

  Ava gave the tiniest of nods, but her eyes were glossed and brimming.

  “I’m so glad I got to see you before I left.”

  In response, she buried her face in Nadua’s furs and mumbled something incoherent. She grasped so tightly that Nadua was afraid Wren would have to peel Ava off her.

  “Now, now, queens don’t sniffle.”

  “Yes, they do. I say what a queen does now, and a queen can sniffle if she wants to.”

  Nadua laughed. “Yes, My Queen.” It was then that Nadua noticed Cyrus, flanking her just as Wren was flanking Ava. “But I have someone I need to introduce you to.” Ava wiped her tears and straightened. Nadua smiled at her. “Ava, this is Cyrus.” She gestured toward him.

  Cyrus bowed. “Hello, young queen. I am your father’s brother.”

  Ava shyly nodded. “Wren told me about you on the way here. Thank you for your service to our people.”

  Nadua gave Wren a sharp look, remembering that he had kept the information from her all this time. He smiled, a little sheepish. To Ava Nadua said, “You should stay here a few days and get to know each other. He’s the one who taught me how to fight.”

  “Speaking of,” Wren chimed in. “We weren’t expecting to come upon a war. What happened here?”

  “It was the rebels,” Cyrus replied. “Since this is the first time they’ve attacked us, I can only assume they were going after Nadua. They seemed to know she would be here.”

  Nadua noted the undertone in his words. Cyrus had a traitor in his midst.

  “And what of Tamir and Nakul?” she asked.

  Wren answered, “Tamir has been arrested. Nakul has not been found, as of yet.”

  That worried Nadua, but she would have to leave Ava and Wren to deal with it.

  * * *

  After Sebastian was finished slapping him on the back in greeting, Marik was relieved to hear that Anya was well and waiting for them in the shuttle. She waved with both hands and brandished a giant grin when he glanced through the window at her.

  Sebastian’s arrival couldn’t have happened at a better time. A bit of weight was lifted from Marik, only to be replaced by a dozen heavy boulders.

  What will he think of what I’ve done?

  Marik was almost too ashamed to tell him. But there was no way around it.

  But before he could form the words, Sebastian asked, “Who is that?”

  Rex was standing a few yards away, eyeing them both. Marik motioned him over. “This is Rex. He has been a great help to Nadua and myself.”

  Sebastian held out his hand. “Much appreciated.”

  Rex eagerly took his hand and nodded silently. Marik could see the stress marring his features.

  “Rex would like to join us, and I vouch for him. He would make a good addition.”

  Sebastian looked him up and down. “Everyone works on my ship unless you can pay.”

  “I’ll work. I worked the engines on my last ship, but I can do any job you need.”

  “You’ll take your orders from me.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Also, I have a rule on my ship about sleeping with crew members. I don’t approve of it.”

  Marik coughed, pulling Sebastian aside. After explaining Rex’s unique situation, Sebastian grumbled, “Hell, I should just throw the rule out the porthole, no one follows it anyway.”

  Nadua chose that moment to join them. Sebastian took one look at her and shot Marik a stunned expression. Marik tried to keep the guilty look off his face, but feared he did a poor job of it.

  Without hesitation, Nadua strolled up to Sebastian. “Hello, I’m Nadua.”

  “Sebastian.”

  Moving to stand by Marik, Nadua replied, “Oh! The captain of Marada. How is my sister?”

  Nadua followed their gazes to the shuttle. Anya was pressed against the window, staring straight at her with wide eyes.

  “She is eager to meet you.”

  “As am I. Will we be leaving right away?”

  “As soon as possible, yes.”

  She looked a little sad and Marik wanted to embrace her. “I will go say goodbye then.”

  Marik avoided Sebastian’s hard gaze by watching his mate as she walked away.

  “You’re mated.” The statement in no way accusatory, but it still felt that way.

  “I...It wasn’t...” Marik trailed off, hating himself anew. Rex was stepping away, obviously curious to see if Sebastian would follow the old laws. “It was not a proper claiming.”

  At first, Sebastian looked confused. Then, understanding, he closed his eyes in dismay. “Fuck.”

  The disappointment he saw in Sebastian was worse than a lashing. “She recommended we contact the Serakians. To see if they could undo it.”

  Head snapping up, Sebastian balked, “Undo it? I’ve never heard of such a thing.” His brows knit together. “I suppose it’s possible the Serakians could...Is that what you want?”

  “If it is still what she wants, I will not argue.”

  They all looked to Nadua, who was leading the small white-haired girl their way. “Marik, this is Ava.”

  He nodded in greeting. The chit looked to be on the verge of tears.

  Ava gave a slight bow. “I am in your debt. Thank you for saving Nadua. Is there is anything we can do for you before you leave?”

  “Thank you, but no.”

  Ava looked desperately around the group, then to Nadua. She sighed, “Very well, perhaps in the future. Know that you are all welcome at the palace, any time.” She turned to Nadua. “Please do come back and visit.”

  “I will try.” They came together for one last hug. “I’m so proud of you. Your father would be as well.” Nadua’s breath faltered. “I love you.”

  “I love you too. Ouch.” Ava pulled away, rubbing behind her ear.

  “Oops. Sorry.”

  Marik quirked a brow at Nadua, who nonchalantly winked back at him.

  After a few more goodbyes, they headed for the shuttle. Nadua took one last look behind her, and then bravely stepped into a new world.

  Chapter 27

  The shuttle ride was mostly a blur. Not only did Nadua discover she had developed a fear of flying—by the fact that her nails were digging into the cushion of her seat as the craft bounced through the clouds—but leaving, what had essentially been her home, was causing her emotions to run rampant.

  Her sister, Analia, seemed to sense her distress and was trying to distract her with stories of Marada and its people. She was enthusiastic about it, which did lighten Nadua’s spirit a bit.

  The resemblance between the sisters was only clear in their matching blue eyes. Their fathers’ eyes.

  Nadua was proud to see that Analia had grown into a lovely young woman. After Marik told her about Analia’s past, Nadua feared she would be dejected, but the opposite was true. Kindness oozed out of her.

  When they first spotted each other, there had been a strong burst of emotion that had come from Analia and had nearly knocked her back. They held each other for long a moment, until Sebastian put his hand on Analia’s shoulder and she finally let go, tears dampening her cheeks.

  The shuttle had six seats, two by two, with a small aisle between them. Marik and Sebastian took the helm, Analia sat next to Nadua in the middle, and Rex was behind them watching out the window.

  From his seat next to Sebastian, Marik kept glancing back to see if she was alright. She tried to give him a reassuring smile a couple of times, then gave up. Once they got out of the rough atmosphe
re, Nadua’s stomach was almost ready to settle itself.

  Then Sebastian spoke. “Once we dock, we will head straight for Earth, but I will contact the Serakians and see if they can be persuaded to send someone to meet with us on the way.”

  Apparently, it had been the first thing Marik suggested upon reacquainting with Sebastian.

  After that, no amount of Analia’s cheerful stories could ease her churning gut. Hadn’t she told Marik she wanted to be with him? His bonding with her had been a complete accident, but she always assumed, deep down, that he had wanted her. With the possibility of an out did he no longer wish to be with her?

  Her insides twisted at the thought.

  Nadua recalled their lovemaking. She thought she had seen something more than lust in Marik’s eyes, but it must have only been what she wanted to see.

  Out the window, Undewla sat like a large heavy snowball against an infinite black abyss, melting away. It made her heart ache worse.

  * * *

  Marik feared she wouldn’t protest at the mention of the Serakians. And she didn’t. He had hoped their time together had changed her mind, but her indifference was clear as she gazed through the porthole.

  It was not right how he had claimed her. So it was only fitting that he be the one to suffer. And being without her would be suffering—an entirely new kind of torture to add to his list. It would be difficult, but he would let her go. He had to.

  Would she be with other men after him? Of course she would. Ethanule’s face flashed in his mind and he had to tamp down a feeling of sorrow, so strong it threatened to invoke the Edge. Then Calic’s blond hair and arrogant face came into view. Marik’s eyes burned, and his teeth gnashed together.

  No, Cale would know that I’d kill him.

  Sebastian was watching him from the corner of his eyes. It reminded him of the way he looked at Cale sometimes—with a good dose of pity. Cale’s mate had done the unthinkable and betrayed him, nearly getting him, Sonya, and Sebastian killed when the Kayadon came to take their planet. No one knew what happened to her after they escaped the onslaught, only that she was gone. Cale had never been the same.