by Kiersten Fay
Cale was scrutinizing the entire scene. “Sebastian?” He said slowly. “What did you do?”
“Nothing. We’re just playing a game, she and I, and I’m winning.”
Cale rol ed his eyes and let out a snort. “Yeah right.”
Sonya sauntered over and sat at their table with a dramatic plop. “Hey guys, do you see Anya with Xandar? He’s laying it on thick. Someone should keep an eye on that.” They al looked at the two in question. They were laughing, Anya’s face wasturningred,and she was halfcoveringit with her hands in a show of embarrassment. Xandar reached out and pul ed her hand away. Keeping her hand clasped in his, he whispered something in her ear. Grinding his teeth Sebastian looked away.
“Sonya,” he rasped. “Keep a close eye on her. Walk her back to her room if you have to.”
Sonya nodded. “Ok, but you’l have to stay andkeep an eye on the bartil I get back.” When Sebastian nodded in agreement she continued. “She’s never had a lick of alcohol. I gave her very little, but …” She looked back at Anya and shook her head. “I’l watch her.”
Calic cleared his throat. “Yeah yeah, she’s a big girl. Grown woman and al that.” He looked pointedly to Sebastian. “If your objective is avoidance, then don’t go interfering in her affairs. Two Infernos,” He grumpily ordered at Sonya.
Sonya’s entire body went hard. She slammed her hand down on the table with such force,that the entire room wentquiet,and focused on their table. Most quickly realized it was a table of demons,and resumed theirownconversations,unconcerned by the outburst. However, Anya’s gaze lingered. Sonya angrily faced Cale, “First and foremost, don’t order me around! Second Anya has had a tough life, and she deserves a little looking after. Got it?” Her horns had gone ful y red, indicating her level of anger.
Backing down,Cale replied, “Got it, watch the chit, keep her safe. Why’s everyone got such a hardon for her anyway?”
Refusing to respond Sonya left,and returned shortly with their drinks. Sebastian’s glass was set nicely in front of him, Calic’s was slammed down on the table, causing half of it to slosh and spil on the table. Calic ground out a sarcastic thank you as Sonya walked away.
Usual y a quarrel between Cale and Sonya would amuse Sebastian,but today it barely registered. His constant attention was on Anya. She was laughing and enjoying herself with another male,and that bothered him more than it should. He gulped down his drink, a rush of warmth and an aftershock of a sting entered his throat. When Sonya glanced over he motioned for another. Calic, silently brooding, had finished his drink just as quickly.
When Sonya came with two more drinks she had a slightly sweeter demeanor,and gave Sebastian herpoutyeyes. Inwardly Sebastian cringed.This ought to be good.
“You know.” She drawled. “With the wards, and contract and such, I’m going to be real y busy here at The Demons Punchbowl, don’t you think?”
Sebastian looked at Cale who was now grinning, knowing the battle had switched from him to Sebastian.
Sonya continued. “I was thinking about keeping the pub open longer, to capitalize on the constant flow of customers.”
Sebastian gave her a dreary look.
“When Anya leaves the ship, wouldn’t it be good if she had some money in her pocket? I could pay her.”
Sebastian’s stomach twisted,Cale laughed out loud. Thinking aboutAnya working here,in the pub, serving drunken malesmade his teeth grind. Sonya was tough,and could handle herself. But Anya?
Sonya read his face perfectly. “I’l train her, stay with her til she can do it on her own. Come on,Marik doesn’t need help in the gal ey,and she would be such a draw, I could pay her so much.” She pleaded. “You have to admit, it would be a real y great opportunity for her, and she would get some experiencewithhow to deal with males, I’l be sure of that. I’m worried for her when she leaves us. I want her to be prepared.”
Sebastian suddenly felt like his skin was being stuck with a thousand pins and needles. Anyashouldlearn how to handle herself before she leaves theMarada. Otherwise, she could easily end up back where she started.
Sebastian glanced in Anya’s direction, Xandar had his hand on her thigh and Sebastian thought she looked a little … uncomfortable. Sebastian registered the feel of Sonya patting his shoulder,and he realized he had been growling out loud. If Anya had more experience with males, and a little more confidence in herself, Xandar’s hand would possibly be shoved up his own ass at the moment.
Sonya had always been good at dealing with males of al kinds, and could help Anya in certain ways. He hated the idea, but Anyaneeded to know how to protect herself. Sebastian nodded to Sonya and she jumped out of her seat with joy, rushing back to the bar. Sebastian cal ed after her, “I’l tel her in the morning Sonya!” Then he looked at Cale with an expectant gleam in his eye.There was something else Anya should learn.
“Wait wait wait.” Cale held up both hands. “What are you thinking? And the answer is no. No!”
“She should know how to protect herself Cale.”
“So get her a dog, one with three heads, I don’t care.”
“I’l expect you to train her.”
“No! I’m no trainer. Ask me to kick the shit out of someone sure, but I’m not a trainer. I don’t even believe the chit’s story. She’s fooling you al .”
“It doesn’t matter. We’re al stuck together for possibly the next seven or more months.” Once they reached the first rendezvous point their real destination would be revealed, which meant Sebastian had no idea how long this mission would last. “You need something to occupy your mind, what better way?”
“With loads of women!What about you, why don’t you train her?”
Sebastianlooked back at Anya and Xandar. Xandar’s was no longer touching her,but he was stil too close for comfort. “Do you real y need the answer to that?”
“Right,” he sneered, “Because you can’t control yourself.”
“Seems so.”
“Wel , what about Marik? Or … anyone else? There are lots of decent fighters on the ship who would suffice.”
“I only trust you to do this.”
Cale growled. “Fine,but I’m not going easy on the chit. She’d better be ready to deal with a demon.”
Trying not to focus on Sebastian,Analia kept her attention on Xandar. He was a talker,and kept the conversation at a steady rhythm. But she was constantly steeling glances at Sebastian.
Under a long black coat, heworea plain white shirt. Below that wasa pair of black pants that fit him just right. A thick silver chain necklace hung around his neck, mirroring the neckline of his shirt. Dark horns poked through hisdarkhair, which ruffled around his face. The sight of him made Analia’s body respond in a big way. Blood quickenedthrough her veins as her heart pumped. He looked intense as he spoke to Sonya and Cale, glancing her way every-so-often.
Xandar had asked her a question,breaking her attention away. “What?”She asked.
“I asked what your home planet was like.”
Analia buried her distress at the questionshe had no answer for. Of al the invasive questions from the last few days, no one had asked her that one. She shook her head. “I’d much rather hear aboutyourhome planet.”
Xandar chuckled. “I don’t have one. I’ma space-lifer. Born and raised.I’l probably die in space too. What about you?”
Again, she avoided the question, “You don’t ever want to settle on a planet?”
“Nah, from what I hear,it’s a boring existence. There are planets I like to visit,but I’ve never found one that was so enticing it could make me want to stay in one spot forever.”
Analia took another sip of her almost gone drink. She was feeling a little strange, she suspected she was the gigglytype,but was suppressing the urge.At least she thought she was.
Suddenly, Sonya bounced toward them with a satisfied grin.
“Why are you so happy?” A little slur crept into Analia’s voice.
Sonya simply smiled at her. “Are you ready to go
back to your room? I have a feeling you’l have a big day tomorrow.”
Anya tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
“I can’t say for sure, I just have a feeling.”
“I do need to get some sleep.”Analiaslid off the chair, needinga moment to steady her balance. Then she real y did giggle.
“I’l walk her back,” Xandar offered.
“No, I’l take her. You stay and finish your drink. If you need anything, Sebastian and Cale wil be watching over the bar.”
As they walked out together,Analia tossed Sebastian another angry look.He only grinned and waved.
Sonya helped her down the hal —in the last hour,her heels seemed to have become harder to walk in.
Next to her Sonya Chuckled. “I guess next time we’l go even lighter on the alcohol. I think it might have an abnormal y strong effect on your kind. Or maybe it’s just you.”
For some reason, Analia found that extremely funny, and after laughing herself to the floor, she remembered she needed to speak with Sonya about something.About Bastian. “What is wrong with your brother?” Analia blurted.
Sonya picked her up from the floor. “Which one?”
“Bastian.”
“He’s a bit of a control freak mostly, strong fighter, an unnatural sense of integrity, a little too honest in my opinion. Why?”
“He’s being a jerk!” Again her mouth seemed to have no filter.
Sonya snorted. “I can imagine. He’s … odd aboutyou. More protective than I’veever seen him, even more than he is with me. He just wantswhat’sbest for you I think.”
Now Analia snorted, mimicking Sonya. “Likeheknows what’s best for me.”
When they entered her room Sonya asked, “Anya? Where’s the couch?”
“Exactly!”
“Ookaaay.”
Analia waved her hand at the empty space.“He took it. It’s gone. No more couch.If he thinks this is over, then he issowrong. I don’t need a damn couch.
I’ve gone withoutfor decades.”
Sonya looked truly confused now, Analia couldn’t understand why. She had explained herself perfectly.
Sonya helped her dressed in the comfortable shirt that Sebastian had given her,and—after asking her for the umpteenth time ifshe was okay—bid her good night.
Once Sonya was gone, Analia angrily stripped the bed,and fashioned a nest out of the covers in the corner of the room. Bastian was trying to force her to his wil by taking away the couch, and she felt it was essential to her new sense of freedom that she not submit. She threw the pil ows down with a little more force than necessary and then snuggled in. Sebastian might show up in the morning or he might not. She didn’t care.
In the morning Sebastian showered and strapped on his clothes. He’d kept himself up al night,debating having Anya work at the pub. When he thought hehad final y cometo a decision another worry would crop up. The males on his ship werefairlytame, while on the ship anyway, but the pubs and bars in the spacecities were rowdy feral places. Imagining Anya in one of those places tweaked every protective bone in his body.Why should he care?She wasn’t his responsibility. But he couldn’t send her out on her own without some knowledge of what was out there. Hel , her natural curiosity alone would get her kil ed.
Over the last few days,he found himself thinking over al the spacecities and planets that he’d frequented as a merchant—there were a lot—he wanted to find the best place for her, where she could be safe, free from harm. He was at a loss.
Leaving his room,Sebastianheaded toward the salon to inform Marik of Anya’s move. He thought, at the very least, Marik would be happy about the situation.
How wrong he was.
WhenSebastianentered the salon, Sonya was already there, seething,and Marik looked pissed. Marik stalked toward him. “Bastian! What the hel is this?
Sonya says Anya’sgoingto work in the pub?”
Sebastian hesitated only slightly,and gave Sonya an irritated look. “We talked it over last night. We think it would be good for her.”
“And she’l earn some money,” Sonya hummed her satisfaction.
Marik glared at Sonya, “You meanyou’l earn some money. Why wasn’t I there for this discussion? I need her here, she’s doing fine here. You promised me an assistant and I get her for, what, only two days? There’s more to learn in a gal ey than there is in slinging drinks. What wil that teach her?”
Sonya’s body shot stiff, “I do more than sling drinks!I have to manage people …”
“You manage friends, and people you’ve known for years.” He interrupted.
“Wel Anya doesn’t know them. And it would give her some much needed experience for when she leaves us.”
“So would working in my gal ey. You don’t think she’s learned how to manage people here? There’s not much difference between my gal ey and you’re pub.”
“The hel there isn’t. You serve people to fil their bel ies and then they leave. I serve drinks that make people lose their common sense. I have to keep an eye on everyone to make sure nothing gets out of hand, and when it does I have to take command of the situation. There is much more skil needed for my job.”
Marik growled, getting in Sonya’s face. Sonya didn’t back down at his closeness, her horns were beginning to turn deep burgundy.
“Enough!” Sebastian bel owed. The two backed away from each other,but didn’t lose the chal enge in their stare. “Marik, I thought this was what you wanted.”
He didn’t answer, instead, he commented, “I suppose you believe her working in the pub wil give her some kind of skil that wil protect her in the future.”
“Cale wil be training her to fight as wel .”
“It won’t help.”
Sebastian eyed him. “Why not?”
“Yesterday, she wouldn’t say for sure, but she gave me the impression that someone would be coming after her. She’s afraid.”
Sebastian digested this new information.It made sense thatwhoeverAnya had escaped from would want her back,the question was how badly.
“She should keep working here.” Mariksaid.“She feels a connection with me, because of our similar backgrounds, and I might be able to get her to open up more.”
Sonya shook her head. “Thatmeans nothing unless she’s staying on the ship for good. When she leaves,she’l need certain skil s for her own protection.Besides,she might feel more comfortable opening up to me.”
They both turned toward Sebastian.
For a long while he said nothing. He needed time to digest everything. Glancing around,Sebastian recal ed how elated Anya hadbeen, to be working in the salon.She seemed to have settled in wel .ThoughMarik and Anya shared a common past,Sonya was a strong female, and Anya couldlearn much from her. Sonya never failed to put an abrasive male in his place,andcouldtake hold of any situation.
Either wayAnyawould be starting her training with Cale today, first thing. If someone wasin factsearchingfor her, as Marik suspected,Anyashould learn how toprotect herself.
Final y, Sebastian broke the silence. “I’l consider both sides and come to a decision by lunch.”
Sonya’s jaw dropped, whileMarik nodded.
Sebastian turned, and walked away without another word. It was time to see how Anya faired without her couch.
Chapter 9
Anya came awake slowly. For thefirsttime she awoke to a room bathed in darkness, which meant Sebastian wasn’t here yet. She wondered of the time,but elected to stay in her warm col ection of blankets.Once again, she’d slept poorly.Releasing a soft sigh,Analiawonderedwhy she hadn’t just accepted defeat and taken the bed.
The rumble of this ship was different fromwhat she was used to.Unfamiliar sounds,and vibrations throughthe floor woke her constantly.
Suddenly Analiasensed an energy in the room besides her own. Shooting straight up,she scanned her surroundings. A dark male figure, sat across the room facing her.Analia sucked in a harsh breath. Scooting back she hit the wal . Not a single movement betrayed him, only h
issilhouettewas visible.He was so stil , she couldn’t even tel he was breathing.Her heart spiked in her chest.Was this a nightmare? If it was, it was adamnreal one.
“Good morning.”It was Sebastian.
The revelation didn’t calm her. He was malevolent,watching her fromachair that was pul ed out deliberately to face her. He must be livid.Oh, why had she chal enged him?Curling tighter into the corner,Analiaawaited his first move.
Then, in an undecipherable tone he cal ed, “Lights!”
The lights flashed bright. Analia shut her eyes to the sting, struggling every so often to open them,and keep him in her sights. After rubbing them vigorously,Sebastian came into view. His expression unreadable, almost void of emotion. Wel ,al but one, there was definite anger there, but as soon as she caught a glimpse of it, it was gone.
They stayed like that for—she didn’t know how long. Him, staring ather with emptiness in his eyes. Her watchful and wary. He seemed to be studying her, every-so-often itlooked as though he would speak, but then changed his mind.What was he thinking?He must be deciding on a punishment.
Final y,“Get yourself ready, there’s been a change in your schedule.Pick out someclothes that you can move easily in.”
Uh oh.
“What change?”
“I’l explain when we get there.”
His expression was blank,but she could sense his ire. Why hadn’t he commented on her sleeping arrangement? Was the change in schedule her punishment? She closed her eyes at the thought, wanting toburyher face in her hands. Instead she stood, holding his cold gaze for a moment,before searching for some clothing that she couldmove easily in.
Quickly,Analiashowered and dressed, whileSebastianwaited outside—she’d chosen a soft pair of pants and a simple T-shirt. The mirror reflected her fearful expression,and she took a moment to gather her courage. Sebastian couldn’t possibly be more creative than Darius when it came to doling out punishment. Could he?
