The Demon Master's Wife (Fantasy, Space Opera, Science Fiction Romance) (FORCED TO SERVE)

by McDonald, Donna

  Ania stopped eating after a couple bites. “Gwen is not really the kind of female who confides. It was more like she suggested Chiang to me and said he was highly recommended as a bonding partner. According to Gwen, the Greggor possesses the ability to wipe other males from a female’s mind.”

  Synar frowned. “Really. I wasn’t aware that Chiang possessed such a talent.”

  “It was lost on me at the time she offered anyway. Learning about the demon still ruled my thoughts,” Ania said with shrug, going back to her food, fighting not to smile at the concern on Synar’s face.

  “I don’t know whether to apologize again for my part in creating your worries or just be thankful you didn’t give Chiang a try,” Synar said sincerely.

  Ania looked over and smiled at him as she pushed her food tray away. She just wasn’t hungry enough to finish it.

  “We are beyond apologies, Synar,” Ania said. “Whether you accept it or not, I am likely now fulfilling the purpose for which I was saved. You and I are both bowing to the will of the creators of all. Everything in me is saying this is truth.”

  “Aye—it is truth,” Synar said reluctantly. “But what is also truth is that I still want you despite your changes. I admit the shock when you first told me of your merger was great. Much like the first time I had to put Malachi inside you, I had a strong negative reaction.”

  Instead of responding well to his confession, Synar frowned as he watched Ania laugh humorlessly and shake her head. It bothered him that she almost seemed not to care about his thoughts—or the he had reconsidered.

  “You want me, and then you don’t want me. When confronted with decisions I have made to serve myself, you turn away. I do not believe you know what you want,” Ania said bitterly. “I’m waiting for my intuition to tell me if I can avail myself of your bonding expertise without suffering further emotional pain. Part of me says keeping my distance is the wiser thing to do with you.”

  Synar smiled. It was inappropriate, but also self-deprecating. He was never going to be able to stay away from her. Ania owned every thought he had that wasn’t about the Liberator and crew.

  He leaned over the side of the bed, grabbed her foot from the floor, and used it to drag her and the chair to him. Pulling her foot into his lap, he proceeded to run his thumb along her insole while Ania groaned in pleasure.

  “Now that’s a sound I haven’t heard in a while,” Synar teased. “I missed it.”

  “I’m sure. When was the last time you gave me a foot rub?” Ania asked. “You used to do it to talk me into bonding.”

  “Never did I do that—but if I did, that’s definitely too long ago,” Synar said firmly, swinging up into a sitting position and pulling the other foot into his lap to work on it. “Will you come to witness the healing tonight?”

  “I can’t see anyone thinking it’s a good idea to have a demon be present at a healing,” she said softly, leaning her head back. “Malachi’s energy is not always controllable.”

  “Yet Dorian tells me Malachi listens to you and you to him. He said the demon did only as you asked and no more. It means you are as much his master as I ever have been,” Synar said, his strokes changing to a caress.

  “I am not his master,” Ania said with confidence. “Malachi and I are in accord, and yes—I have some authority over his actions. But I do not use the sacred contract between us to control him. If I did, I would be no different than Fener Sel and his kind. We are all equal beings to the creators.”

  Synar caressed her foot, wishing he dared to run his hands up her legs.

  “To understand your changes, I have been reading the books my father gave me. It is slow because I have to seek to understand the spiritual side of it all. Would you like to read them as well?” Synar asked. “There is quite a bit of information about merging to heal a host body.”

  Ania’s head came forward. “You would let me read the sacred books of training?”

  “Yes—but hear me out first. There is a stringent condition for reading them that I cannot change,” Synar said, keeping his gaze on her feet so he wouldn’t be influenced by her hopeful gaze. “The books can only be handled by family. You would have to be—my family—in order to read them.”

  “Speak your mind, Synar. You know I hate it when you hint at things,” Ania said gruffly.

  “Move in with me and declare yourself my mate,” Synar said, feeling her feet leave his lap and hands abruptly as she rolled backwards in the chair.

  “You rejected me two years ago and again when I let Malachi heal me. Why would you think I would even consider such a permanent and visible arrangement?” Ania demanded. “I trust you less now than I trust the demon. How is that for a truth?”

  “We will always be mates,” Synar said. “I brought this life to you and regret it, but since you have it now, I will use it to hold you to me. Perhaps I am dishonorable and selfish where you are concerned. Think what you like of my motives—just be with me.”

  “If this is about bonding, I brought a number of new females onboard,” Ania said sharply. “It’s obvious to everyone that I carry the demon now. You called me the walking dead even before Fener Sel did. How can you want me?”

  Synar sighed. “I deserve your disbelief, but I can only tell you again what I have told you before. There are no others. I want no others. There is only Ania Looren—whoever she chooses to be. I regret that I did not show you more compassion.”

  “Go away, Synar,” Ania said. “You weary me with how you change your mind at every twist of fate.”

  “Then teach me fidelity, Ania. Teach me to be worthy. Maybe that’s why my spirit picked an older, wiser female to align with. Maybe I need the guidance as much as Malachi,” Synar said, rising to stand over her in the chair.

  “Stop looming,” Ania ordering. “Your body fills up the space enough as it is.”

  “Does my body not please you?” he asked, reaching to take her hands. When he had them, Synar tugged her up and out of the chair. “We haven’t much time to debate our reconciliation. The healing will begin soon. I want to spend this short time exploring your body to see how much it has changed beneath those larger clothes you wear.”

  “Synar, it is of no use. We can’t bond,” Ania said coldly, ignoring the flutters his words caused. “Norblades don’t do it fast. Remember?”

  “We’ll just do you,” Synar whispered. “Just you. We’ll do me later. We’ll do both of us later. Let me pleasure you now. Let me—taste you. I’ve always wanted to try that with you.”

  “Synar,” Ania whispered, color creeping at what he was asking of her. “It is not done by my kind. How could you even want such a thing anyway? I am not even as pleasing in appearance to you as I used to be.”

  “Ania—you are your kind now. You are unique and there is no other. You can do whatever you want. And you are quite appealing, just as beautiful, and very lush in ways I truly wish to discover,” Synar whispered, dropping to his knees and pressing his face against the front of her. “Please. I want this very much.”

  “Synar, you may not like the changes,” Ania warned.

  “Doubtful—given how desperately I want to see what you look like. Sarinnea said she never understood why you chose to alter your appearance in the first place. She said you look very much like you used to when she met you long ago.”

  “Yes, Sarinnea berated my changes when I had them done, but I am female. Stop—Wait—What if I don’t like you doing that to me?” Ania demanded, sighing at Synar laughing softly as he lifted her shirt from her uniform slacks.

  The fasteners gave in his hands without protest and Ania soon felt her pants sliding down over her hips.

  “What if you don’t like it?” she asked more quietly.

  Synar laughed again, moaning in pleasure as he kissed her belly.

  “We will learn the answers together. I will leave your straps mostly in place so you won’t have to undress completely,” Synar said, moving the one aside. “I’ll destroy them for you later wh
en you beg me to do so.”

  Despite her apprehension, Synar’s little joke had her laughing.

  Her reaction to Synar’s request was both incomprehensible and illogical, Ania decided as his hands explored her curves. She had felt almost no fear facing Fener Sel and a room full of armed soldiers with weapons aimed at her. Yet here she was quaking over a male kneeling between her legs and asking to taste her desire for him.

  No wonder demons preferred males as hosts. Females had such strange concerns.

  “Now what?” Ania asked nervously, trying to sound brave as she felt his lips gliding over parts of her Synar had never explored with his mouth before.

  When his tongue tested the area, sliding over the outside and then into her, the pleasurable sensation of it caused Ania to fall over his head.

  Laughing and temporarily ceasing, Synar turned Ania until she was suddenly sitting on the bed with her knees spread wide. “Much better,” he said, tipping her back as he dragged her hips forward to meet his now much braver tongue.

  He felt the vibration growing in his mid-section and wondered how in Helios it would find an outlet, then Ania choked out his name, arching toward him to let his tongue invade her even farther. The desire to please her rose swiftly and Synar felt the vibration travel through him, igniting him on its way. When it hit his now quite busy tongue they both hit the peak together.

  Her climax tasted like nothing he’d known before.

  “Ania,” Synar said, breathing her name against her, kissing his way across her, and promising himself to do this again when they had more time. “You are the first I ever wanted to pleasure this way. I am glad to know it is possible. Thank you for letting me. Please let me do it again sometime.”

  Synar kissed her quivering thighs and slid the straps back into place with trembling hands. Reaching out to where she had fallen backwards on the bed, he pulled Ania roughly to a sitting position again, admiring her dazed expression of lingering pleasure.

  It was new information to Synar that he didn’t need to fill a female to feel possessive of her, or at least he didn’t need to fill this one to feel that way.

  “Despite your release, I know you remain worried. Want to know how amazing you tasted?” Synar asked.

  When Ania nodded, Synar leaned forward to match their mouths and press his tongue in deeply, stroking it along hers. He pulled her quivering spread legs around him as he held and kissed her, sharing all he had learned and hoping she realized how wonderful he found her.

  When he finally freed her mouth, Synar leaned his forehead against hers, willing his body to settle and his breathing to regulate quickly. He had wanted her before, but this was worse. Now he needed her with everything in him. His feelings for her were evolving.

  “With the creators of all as my witnesses, I swear we are meant to be,” Synar vowed. “Let me have you tonight. You will not regret it. I swear I will learn to be a better mate.”

  “Do you want me to be with you even if I can’t agree to being your mate?” Ania asked, weakly stroking his hair.

  “Yes. I will take whatever you allow—as long as you do not make me suffer too much. You must also take care of my needs,” Synar demanded. “It is only right.”

  “I agree then,” Ania said breathlessly, feeling Synar practically swallow the words when he took her mouth again.

  Chapter 19

  “Is this going to hurt?” Gwen demanded. “I can deal if it does, but I just want to know so I don’t try to kill anyone while it’s happening. My pain threshold has been breached several times lately.”

  “I don’t know if it will hurt or not,” Dorian said honestly. “It depends on what’s keeping you from healing.”

  Gwen frowned, ignoring everyone else milling about in medical to meet and hold Zade’s gaze. “What do you mean you don’t know?”

  “Physical healing is a whole body experience, no matter what Earth doctors have told you,” Dorian said gruffly. “The mind must heal with the body.”

  “Look, Zade—,” Gwen began, then softened her voice. “There are some things we didn’t discuss fully about what happened to me when I was captured. I’m still having problems thinking about them. Okay?”

  Dorian laid a hand over hers. It bothered him more than he anticipated feeling it tremble beneath his. He preferred her defiance.

  “I read your written report. You will not be required to talk about anything that happened to you there, but you must be willing to let the negative feelings you still have about what happened find an escape. Scream, cry, beat on the nearest male,” Dorian suggested dryly, trying to make her smile. “I sent for Chiang to help. Feel free to beat him up all you want. I owe him anyway.”

  Gwen yanked Zade’s hand to pull him to her until his ear was close to her mouth. “That’s history,” she whispered fiercely.

  Dorian turned his head and whispered back. “Good, but I wasn’t referring to you. Chiang bonded with Sarinnea.”

  When her grip loosened immediately, Dorian moved away wanting to laugh at her befuddled expression.

  “Sarinnea didn’t tell him the whole truth about her relationship to me,” he said flatly.

  “But she’s your—mother,” Gwen said weakly, still in shock.

  “Well, most females are someone’s mother,” Dorian said with a shrug. “It was just disconcerting to hear initially. I’m mostly over it now. Sarinnea is over two thousand years old. It’s certainly not my place to choose her bonding partners.”

  “Two thousand? I can’t even imagine the number of partners someone that old has had,” Gwen said, wincing as she realized Zade might be offended by her comment. “Thelorians live to be five hundred or so. An Earth human’s life span reaches around one hundred fifty now. If you live to be as old as your mother, I suppose I’ll just be one mate in a long line for you, right?”

  “During my first century, I bonded indiscriminately, but never with any true sharing of self. When I began training with Ania, I found my spiritual life more fulfilling without those distractions. But it is not easy for a Siren to live a life without pleasure, so eventually I mated. My first mate lasted one and a quarter centuries. My second mate didn’t even last one. I had gone almost a century without mating when you came along. I find grieving for a mate to be torturous. It takes me years to let all their energy go,” Dorian said.

  “So what they did to me—they essentially did to you?” Gwen asked, hurting all over again.

  Dorian nodded. “Yes. Now I realize the dread I felt the night before was caused by what they were doing to you. My body grieves you as if you were dead, only it feels like you’ve been ripped away from me before we got to start.”

  “Is it—will we ever be like we were?” Gwen asked quietly, studying his face, looking for the truth, not liking it when she found it.

  “I don’t know,” Dorian said honestly. “I can only tell you that you never leave my mind even though I don’t feel your energy anywhere else within me.”

  Gwen swallowed and looked away. “I regret that I resisted you for so long now.”

  The admission said so simply and sincerely had Dorian sitting in the chair beside her bed and taking her hand again.

  “Then we are both in similar emotional states. I regret the last two years when I refused the gift of you,” he said. “But wishing we had acted differently isn’t going to help us deal with what has happened. Just know I sincerely want you to get well. The rest we’ll deal with over time. We will research and discover what can be done safely in cases like ours.”

  “Zade, I know you don’t feel the same about me now, but will you kiss me anyway?” Gwen asked, hoping it would keep her from dissolving into tears.

  His answer was to pick up her hand and bring her fingers to his lips. He held them there, chanting softly over them. “Do not fear any further loss of us. I would serve you for your entire life as your mate even if I felt nothing at all for you for the duration of it, but that’s not the answer either. You deserve to be desired as fier
cely as breath.”

  “Is that a yes—or a no to the kiss question?” Gwen asked. “I’m just worried about the next couple of minutes. You have no idea how mad I get when I start crying.”

  Dorian sighed and leaned over to cover her mouth gently with his. The pleasure was tactile and cool, but it did not race through either of them.

  Gwen kept Dorian tethered to her with a firm grip, reaching out to run her other hand over his face. “You are without a doubt the prettiest male I have ever known.”

  Dorian laughed against her stroking hand, whispering his thanks in the Rylen tongue.

  “I thought you said I was the prettiest male you ever met,” Chiang teased, running a hand along one of Gwen’s injured legs as he walked to stand close to her. “Give me a hug, Commander. The Siren will just have to share that much of you with me.”

  Gwen kept Dorian’s hand in hers as Chiang hugged her. “Stop being nice to me—I’m on the verge of crying as it is. I can’t stand crying. I’m hurting all over and I just want to get back to work. I’m going crazy like this.”

  Chiang pulled away and patted her cheek. “Warriors have to handle their emotions just as bravely as shedding blood. Both require equal amounts of bravery. Healing requires it too.”

  When Gwen nodded without spitting back at him, it was a very worried Chiang who looked at Zade. “I prepared as much as I could.”

  Dorian eased his hand from Gwen’s grip and stood. “Of the two of us, you possess more healing knowledge. Do you have a preference for where to start?”

  Chiang nodded. “I suggest we start on her legs. Her body will tell us what they did to her when it is ready to do so. We’ll move along the path we are shown. You may want to sit while we work on Gwen. This is going to be hard on you as well. In fact, we need help.”

  Chiang looked around and saw Sarinnea standing with Ania and Synar.

  “We need a filter. No offense, but I don’t think it’s safe to use Ania. Sarinnea—have you ever filtered negative emotions?” he asked.