Demon Possession

by Kiersten Fay

  Soon her breathing slowed. She was asleep. If only he could fal asleep so easily. The couch smel ed of her, drowning him in her scent, keeping his body tense with need, and constantly reminding him of the way her warm soft body felt against his. The way she tasted on his lips, the feel of her perfect ass.

  Grinding his jaw he thought, at this rate he would be up al night with a raging hardon, but at leastshewould sleep through the night. It fil ed him with gratifying pleasure that she felt safe with him.

  According to Anya, she’d only had two drinks tonight. It didn’t make sense that two drinks would knock her on her ass so quickly. Especial y since Sonya didn’t put a lot of alcohol in the punch.

  At some point during the night, whenSebastianwas drifting somewhere between sleep and awake he heard the door to Anya’s room slide open.

  Footsteps came near and Sebastian was awake in an instant, shooting straight up.

  “Oh shit.” Xandar jumped and fumbled with something in his hands, almost dropping it.AfterRecoveringhe asked in a breathless voice, “What are you doing here? You scared the shit out of me.”

  Sebastian narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing sneaking into Anya’s room in the middle of the night?”

  “I wasn’tsneaking. I was worried about her. She didn’t look too good when she left so I was coming to check on her. Plus she didn’t get any cake so I thought I’d bring her some before it was al gone.” He pointed to the covered container in his hand.

  “She’s asleep now and shouldn’t be disturbed. Leave the cake if you want, I’l tel her you brought it.” Sebastian didn’t like his excuse andreal ydidn’t like that he was able to get into her room so easily while she was unconscious. Suspicion clouded his mind. Xandar set the cake on the coffee table and turned to leave. “Xandar, how many drinks did she have?”

  “I’m not sure. She must have had quite a few though to get sick like that. Tel her I stopped by to check on her.” Then he was gone.

  Sebastian glared after him long after he was gone. There was no way he was going to tel Anya that Xandar came into her room while she was sleeping.

  She was frightened enough as it is, and that wouldn’t help things. In the morning he would reset the lock on her door.

  Anya awoke to a splitting headache.

  “How are you feeling?”

  The light in the room was brighter than Anya remembered. She squinted up at Sebastian, “Like I fel on my head some time during the night. What happened?”

  “You might have had too much to drink last night.”

  That didn’t sound right. She tried to remember the party. There was the one drink before dinner and one during. “I’m sure I only had two drinks. The last thing I remember is dancing with you.” She felt her cheeks grow warm. “What happened after that?”

  “Not much. You got dizzy so I brought you back here and put you to bed.”

  Bed?No,he didn’t!She looked around her, then regretted the quick movement. “You put me in the bed instead of the couch?” Her hackles began to rise and despite the pain in her head she was ready to yel at him.

  “Yes.Itook the couch.”

  That was like a splash of cold water to the face. “You slept … here? Why?”

  “Because, you asked me to.”

  Why would she do such a thing?

  Reading her expression he answered her unspoken questions. “You were afraid. That’s al . And see, you slept the night through, in the bed, and you’re stil alive. Amazing isn’t it.”

  Through grinding teeth, “That’s probably why I was afraid in the first place.” Sebastian just smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. She tilted her head at him.

  “What is it?”

  “Nothing. You can stay here al day and recover. No training, no serving in the gal ey, or at the pub. Are you hungry?”

  “A little.” She sensed there was something else he wasn’t tel ing her. His energy was tight.

  “I’l bring your meals to you,so you don’t have to leave.” He pointed to the bedside table where a large glass of water and plate of pastries rested. Anya downed the water in a matter of minutes and relaxed back on the bed, leaving the pastries for later—when her stomach and head were finished with their acrobatics.

  Sebastian departed, promising to return with lunch.It didn’t take long afterAnya closed her eyesfor her to drift back to sleep, not even realizing that she hadn’t bothered to move herself to the couch like she’d planned.

  The door to her room slid open and she was instantly awake. The noise was, for some reason, disturbing. She bolted up in bed and had to grab her head between both hands.

  “It’s just me.” Sebastian carried a tray of food toward her and then pointedly eyed the forgotten pastries. “I brought lunch. Did I wake you?”

  Lunchtime already?Her stomach growled as she nodded at him. “But it’s okay. Obviously my stomach is happy to be awake.” The food smel ed delicious and she dug in without another word. As she chewed she closed hereyes, enjoying every flavor. It was already making here feel better. When she was done she noticed Sebastian watching her.

  “I enjoy watching you eat.” He said. “It’s like you savor the last bite as much as the first.” Sebastian seemed a little different today, softer. He was smiling and relaxed. His usual mask was nowhere to be found. She smiled back at him and set the finished tray aside.

  “I can’t help it. Al the new flavors are too good to ignore. I want to commit them al to memory so I never forget them. So the next time I taste something similar it wil always remind me.”

  “Remind you of what?”

  “My time here with al of you. No matter what happens to me I’l always remember how happy I was, am, on this ship.” She settled back down and cuddled into the pil ow.

  Sebastian’s smile had faded slightly. “I hope wherever you end up you’l be happier than you are here.”

  That made her smile. “That’s a nice thought.”However hard to believe.

  Sebastian walked to the door. “Do you need anything else?”

  “No. Thank you.”

  When hewas gone Anya felt his absence like a heavy weight. She liked it when he was near and was starting to think of him constantly when hewasn’t.

  In chunks,her memory of the night before was returning. Soon after Sebastian had carried her from the party she hadbegunto feel—besides dizzy—an almost maddening desire to be touched. But she couldn’t get the words out,or even get control over her body. If she had the usual control over her body, Sebastian would have had to fight her off of him.

  She remembered asking him to stay with her. He’d given little, almost no protest at al . Only, she didn’t mean for him to sleep on the couch. She had almost outright invited him into her bed. Luckily she had the sense—or was it the degenerating vocal skil s—not to push the issue. She must have passed out at that point.

  She should be thanking the gods for that.

  Should be.

  Chapter 13

  By the evening, Anya started to feel better and was getting restless. She felt wel enough to put in some hours at the pub. After a long shower, that washed away the last of the effects of the alcohol she dressed in a white blouse, fabric light and airy, and a patterned skirt that fel just above the knees. Her blond curls were left to flow free.

  Anya thought of Sebastian, knowing he’d bring dinner and find her room empty. She was certain he’d show up at the pub, if only to complain about her working instead of resting. But Anya didn’t feel right about taking a whole day off, and she was embarrassed that she hadn’t been able to last until the end of the party. Her own party at that. Disappointed in herself, she hadn’t even had a taste of Marik’s cake.

  Exiting the room she was immediately pushed back in by a pair of strong hands. At first she thought it was Sebastian butthe energywas wrong. “Xandar?”

  “Anya, I’m sorry our date got interrupted. You truly are a lightweight.” He continued to guide her further into the room as he spoke.

 
; “Uh … That’s okay, Xandar I … What are you doing?” The backs of her legs hit the edge of the bed.His energywas darkandmuddy, it reminded her of…

  Darius.

  It felt like Darius was in the room with her.

  “I thought you would want a proper ending to our date.” She watched in despair as the door closed behind him. Then he was on her. Pushing her into the bed,covering her with his body,whileholding her arms on either side of her. His mouth latched onto hers.

  Turning her head Anyacried out. “Xandar! Stop!” He didn’t. He released one hand only to fist the material of her blouse and pul . She heard a rip and her mind went wild, fol owed closely by her body. Struggling like a crazed animal Xandarhad to restrainher arms once again as she continued to squirm.

  “You’l like it, I promise. Though you would have liked it better last night.” His lips pushed into hers again and she bit him as hard as she could.

  “Ow! Bitch!” A heavy hand came fast across her face,and for a moment she saw only splotches of color. His strike put him off balance and left her right arm free. Without thought, she drove her palm into his nose, causing his head to bow backward, giving her time to pul her body out from under him.

  Before he could regain himself, and lunge for her, she smashed the heel of her foot into the part of him that would render him nothing but a puddle on the ground—good thing she was wearing a pair of spiked heels. The sound that poured from him was one of pure anguish.

  Cale’s words rang through her head.“Never hesitate. When your opponent is down either kil him or run.” She knew she couldn’t kil him so she ran out the door in a flash. Anya glanced behind her to make sure he wasn’t giving chase, and ran into a solid wal of muscle. The impact threw her backward and she landed hard on her ass. Quickly pul ing herself up Anya fixed her position to defend herself again.

  Sebastian was staring at her, brows drawn together. “Where’s the fire?”

  Xandar stumbled from the room and Anya changed her posture preparing again to fight him off.

  His nose and lip were gushing blood. “Fuck!” He growled,while holding himself between the legs, and pinning her with a stare that promised suffering.

  She’d seen that look many times before.

  Sebastian’s head moved between the two of them. Then his eyes dropped to her cheek—which made her notice the sting there, she was probably bleeding—and then to her torn blouse. Only now did Xandar notice Sebastian, painful y he tried to straighten himself.

  Anya felt the change instantly. One minute there was Sebastian, and then, poof, something else entirely stood in his place. Only a second had passed for her to notice the energy shift, a thickening pulse that seemed to push at her.

  So fast, faster than even Calicmoved, Sebastian had Xandar around the neck and slammed him against the wal with so much force that the metal let off a vibrating ring. Xandar’s feet were dangling and his face was quickly blanching from the sudden lack of oxygen. Sebastian’s horns shifted to crimson,lookinghot to the touch, and his fangs seemed to grow, doubling in size before her eyes. The sound that came out of him shot a stream of pure terror through her heart. She wouldn’t cal it a roar, it was far more than that, with terrible promises of gruesome and agonizing pain buried through the layers of it. What she saw before her was no longer a man but a primal beast in his place. She couldn’t help but back away from the sight, trembling worse now than when Xandar had attacked her.

  When Sebastian finished with Xandar,what would he do to her?

  Her frightened movement caught his attention and he ripped his infuriated gaze from Xandar’s struggles to focus on her, stil holding him in place. His stare made her blood run cold. Xandar’s flailing slowed, becoming weaker and weaker attempts at escape.

  Something in her eyes must have snapped Sebastian out of his rage because his features softened and he loosened his grip on Xandar, al owing him to suck in a straggled breath. But just as quickly, the beast was back in ful control, focusing on Xandar again, who was straining for breath once more.

  Torn—heart racing—Anya could either watch Sebastian kil Xandar or she could risk herself to intervene. The death of Xandar wouldn’t bother her, he deserved no less, but she couldn’t bear to be any part of it. She’d seen too many deaths already.

  “Sebastian,” She breathed. “Don’t kil him. Okay?” Sebastian only tightened his grip and bared his fangs at Xandar. Terrified, she moved to touch him,but before she could he looked at her hand as though he would bite it off. Hesitantly her hand clamped over his muscular arm. “Let him down.”

  At first she didn’t think he could even comprehend her words, his face twisted into a mix of emotions. As though he wanted to do what she asked, but he also wanted to squeeze until he popped Xandar’s head from his body.

  “Please.” Her hand was stil perched on his arm, tremulously holding his gaze with hers. The sound of another breath being sucked in gave her mixed emotions, to say the least, but she persisted. Final y, she felt him switch. The beast, or whatever it was, was retreating somewheredeep within Sebastian.

  Witha firm grip on Xandar,he pointed to her room andina harshgratingvoice asked “Is anyone else in there?”

  “N … No.”

  “Get in there and don’t leave until I return. Don’t open the door for anyone.” He didn’t wait for her to obey, dragging Xandar by the neck, kicking and screaming down the hal .

  She entered her room with a new kind of fear soaking through her.

  Fear of Sebastian.

  Sebastian dug his claws into his palms, needing to regain control. Cale wasn’t near to act as a release for the violent rage seething inside him. Beating the living shit out of Xandar, before dropping him in the cel ,had helped a little, although it would have felt better tohavekil him.Why had Anya asked him not to?The man had bloodied her. Tried to force himself on her.How far did he get?Sebastian’s roar reverberated, bouncing off the metal of the cel wal s.

  Peering down at Xandar’s broken body Sebastian slammedshutthethick metal door. This is where he wil stay until his fate is decided. The bastard wil wish he’d died this day.

  Rushing back, Sebastian needed to get to Anya. To make sure she was okay. He’d seen the fear in her eyes.Fear of … him?Her touch had been abashed. Who knows how he might have looked to her. She’d been terrified of him, Sebastian could smel her fear, but stil she braved it to bring him back from the Edge. He needed her now, could feel himself slipping back. Soon his control would be gone once more, fury’s grip was tightening.

  Anya.

  Eyes wild, he raced through the hal s to where she’d be.

  He’d reworked the lock on her door so that it would only openwith a code from the outside. Xandar must have been waiting outside the door. Then realization hit him, almost forcing him back to Xandar’s cel to truly make him suffer. Xandar must have slipped something in Anya’s drink, planning to take advantage of her last night. Slamming his fist into the wal , Sebastian could feel his fangs elongating once again. He was losing it. The only thing that could calm him now is Anya.

  Stomping through the hal s he came to her door, entering in a rush. At the sight of her he felt instant relief. She was standing in the middle of the room with her arms wrapped protectively around her torso. She had changed her ruined shirt, replacing it with a black top with white fril , the sleeves blossomed out at her wrists, and the col ar showcased the sculpted delicacy of her neck. If she meant to look less appealing, then she failed. Her features were drawn tight, watching him warily. When he moved toward her she backed away.

  “Don’t be frightened.” He eased toward her again, and again she moved back, almost against the wal . He didn’t want her to feel cornered. With his hands up he assured her, “Okay. I won’t come any closer. I just need to know that you’re okay. He didn’t hurt you did he?”

  Reaching up to touch her cheek she dabbed at the smal track of blood that lingered there. “I’vehad worse.” She said, as if that were meant to reassure him, it o
nly made his hackles rise. Her gaze dropped to his tightening fists and she gasped. “You’re hurt!”

  Sebastian hadn’t realized until now that his knuckles were cut from the beating he’d given Xandar—and possibly from using the ship as a punching bag.

  Forgetting her fear Anya reached for his hand,examining the cuts with concern.

  Before she could protest he pul ed her into him, wrapping both arms around her. “I’ve had worse.” Breathing in her scent he felt the last of his rage dissipate.She is safe.

  “Did you kil him?” Her tone was hol ow.

  He pul ed back to look at her. “No.” He said, unable to tel if she was relieved or distressed by that. Her bruised cheek was starting to swel . “Come,” he commanded. Pul ing her into the bathroom he lifted her onto the counter. She made no objections, but he could stil sense she was frightened. She wouldn’t meet his eyes. After retrieving a washcloth,Sebastiandampened it with cool water and began dabbing at the blood on her cheek.

  Silently Anya watched Sebastian from the corner of her eye as he went to work cleaning away the blood. He was focused and intent on his task, but couldn’t seem to stop touching her in little ways. Softly touching her hair, her shoulder, her hip. Was he checking her for further injuries? It seemed more intimate than that. It was almost as if he didn’t even realize he was doing it. His gentleness with her was astonishing. While he was focused on wiping the blood from her cut, Anya al owed herself to study him closer. He seemed calm now, though his energy was stil erratic.

  When he had first returned stil resembling the monster, it had terrified her. He’d stil been enraged, much more so it seemed, and she expected violence from him. His energy was screaming for it. Notfor the first time,she’d thought he might hurt her. But when he saw her he’d visibly relaxed, instantly morphing back intoherBastian. With a gentleness contradictory to the man standing before her, Sebastian cleaned her wound. By his soft pats and concerned looks, she knew he would never hurt her. She felt sil y for ever thinking otherwise. He’d shown her nothing but kindness from the beginning.