Demon Retribution (Shadow Quest Book 3)

by Kiersten Fay

  She took a moment to digest the information. Demon, on this planet, was a bad word. Begrudgingly, she understood why he’d avoided telling her, and why he’d led the conversation into earthly myths earlier.

  “Cale, what freaked me out is that you lied to me, not what you are.” Then she added, “And because you snarled at me…and your eyes.” Thankfully, they were normal now. “What the hell was that?”

  His face relaxed, and she realized how anxious he’d actually been. “You startled me,” he admitted, abashed and a touch chagrined. Much more softly, he added, “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  “You need to understand that I’ve had to be extremely careful about who I trust. I’m always having to watch my back. I won’t tolerate you, or anyone else, lying to me, for any reason.”

  His lips thinned. “You’re right. I apologize.”

  “Okay, then. Good.” A moment of silence passed between them. He still held her in place. His warm body offset the cool rain splashing over them. “You can let me up now,” she said.

  “Not yet.”

  “Why?”

  He leaned in so that only an inch separated them. “In the spirit of honesty, I have to tell you that I am extremely attracted to you.”

  She felt her mouth open, but whatever words her brain had conjured got lost on the way out.

  With his nose, he nudged her chin, slightly moving her head. She gasped when his lips traced her jaw line. Her heart picked up speed, but this time it wasn’t from fear. She still couldn’t speak. When his lips traveled back, they brushed hers for only a second before continuing down the other side. His heat seemed to melt into her. When he reached the spot just next to her earlobe, her body shuddered and she gasped again.

  “Ah, there it is,” he growled low.

  She never knew there was a spot that could leach away all thought, but he’d managed to find it in less than a minute.

  Relentlessly, he ran his mouth over her flesh, thoroughly exploring until the moan she’d been holding back forced its way through. He let out a satisfied chuckle and then moved to her collarbone, discovered an even more torturous patch of skin that apparently connected every hot spot in her body. She moaned again.

  It wasn’t until his hand came around the small of her back that she realized he no longer held her down. But instead of putting an end to this, her palms ran down his naked back, feeling every coiled muscle, while her mind repeatedly murmured, bad idea. Or maybe she’d been saying it out loud because he replied in a broken, guttural voice, “Very, very good idea. Genius idea.”

  His hand left her back and made its way along her waist, down her jean clad thigh, which was soaked through from the rain. Her knee came over her hip, to give him better access. He took advantage and gripped her backside. A husky groan left him, the sound of it made her shiver.

  The heat flowing off him spread through her body, consuming any hint of cold from the damp ground and rain.

  She shook her head, trying to clear it.

  Thwarting her, his lips came over hers with a barrage of small, tender kisses, then a long demanding one. She was helpless to resist. Another deep groan rumbled out of him, fueling the desire that raged inside her.

  Bringing her other leg around his waist, she threaded her fingers through his wet, spiky hair. Of their own accord, her hips undulated against him, and he rewarded her with a rough groan.

  In the distance, buried behind the pounding rain and breaking through the clouds of her mind, was a distinct repetitive clicking.

  They froze.

  His gaze mirrored her terror.

  A second set of clicks joined the first.

  Chapter 7

  Kyra’s heart sank as three Kayadon stepped into the clearing. Cale pulled her to stand. A low rumbling reverberated through him and his eyes flashed, turning to liquid lava. A pair of fangs visibly lengthened. His horns darkened, and then shifted to a fiery red.

  Demon, her mind supplied.

  Behind the fiends, like some twisted pack of hyenas, a group of those spider creatures trotted into sight. There were four of them this time, and looked to be the bigger brothers of the one Cale had ripped to shreds.

  “Run,” he growled, placing himself at her front.

  “I can’t,” she whispered, glancing back.

  “Damn it, do as I say!”

  “Cale, I can’t. There are two more behind us.”

  He followed her line of sight and cursed. “I’m sorry, Kyra. I shouldn’t have let this happen. But you can still make a run for it. I won’t let them get you. My shuttle is in the mountains, north of Alder Lake. If you can get to it, I know my brother will find you.” He pushed her toward the opening between the two groups. “Now go.”

  She hesitated for a second before sprinting away, her emotions mixed. She hated to leave Cale, but this is what she did to survive. She ran.

  Two spider-things broke from the pack, going for her. Cale raced to block them. Veering left, she distanced herself from the sounds of growling and sharp whimpers.

  To her horror, a spider creature loped next to her, black eyes fixed. Anticipating its attack, she dodged, slowing just enough so that it leapt in front of her. Her hands shot out and grabbed the sides of its head, twisting as hard as she could till a snap rang out. She resumed her sprint as it flopped to the ground.

  Another came up on her left side, and she turned to the right as it nipped at her heels. Knowing she couldn’t outrun it for long, she twisted into a wide kick. Her aim hit home, and her heel bashed the side of the creature’s head. She stumbled and then resumed her course. The creature fell, lifeless.

  She reveled in her victories, feeling that she would make it to safety, but then bony arms closed around her, taking her by surprise. She lashed out as two Kayadon fought to restrain her. Though she thrashed and kicked, they managed to pin her wrists behind her back and wrap something that felt like thick rubber around them. They did the same with her ankles, despite how she kicked, and carried her back to the clearing like a log.

  As they got closer, she craned her neck, seeing Cale fighting off three Kayadon and a horde of creatures. He seemed to be holding his own, though he was outnumbered.

  One of the Kayadon stepped back and pulled a gun-like weapon from within his robes.

  He bellowed a harsh order that she didn’t understand. The attackers pulled away from Cale. His eyes found hers just before the weapon discharged.

  He crumpled to the ground in obvious pain as white hot sparks, like miniature tendrils of lightning, assaulted him.

  “Stop it!” she screamed.

  They did, but not because of her. Cale lay motionless. Two Kayadon positioned her to stand, gripping her upper arms tight, but she hardly noticed. Her eyes locked on Cale.

  “A demon?” A Kayadon said, almost amused. “I thought we eradicated your kind.”

  When his shoulder stirred, she let out a relieved breath. Her relief was short lived. Cale struggled to pull himself off the ground, slipping in the mud.

  The Kayadon growled. “You’re forcing me to waste precious ammunition cells.”

  Cale managed to make it to his knee when the weapon took him to the ground again. The sound that came out of him burned in her ears.

  “Cale! I’m sorry!” she cried. “I’m so sorry.”

  She couldn’t help him, just as she couldn’t help Zoey, just as she couldn’t help her family. The guilt tore through her in a terrible, familiar way, and for the first time in her life she didn’t fight it. She embraced the chaos as it sliced through each cell, cutting like barbed wire in her veins. She let it take over, let free the consuming fire.

  Nothing in existence compared to the agony that raked though Cale’s body, paralyzing him. He needed to get up and help Kyra, but his muscles were contorting from the continuous electrical charge.

  He heard her scream and managed to turn his head in her direction.

  Her back bowed fiercely. He feared the Kayadon had done something to her. A stran
ge light spread over her skin, growing brighter by the second.

  The Kayadon holding her leaned away, exchanging looks of alarm. The weapon cut off as his attacker turned to see what was happening, but Cale still couldn’t move. His lungs worked hard to capture air. Kyra’s harrowing shriek forced him to take charge of his muscles, and he pushed to his feet.

  The light from Kyra turned blinding. An explosion lifted him off his feet and hurled him back, forcing air from his lungs.

  He gasped, willing his vision to focus and his head to stop spinning. It wasn’t until he’d sucked in five harsh breaths that his mind registered what had happened.

  A bubble of…something—energy, maybe—had exploded outward, with Kyra at its center. Just before it had nearly knocked him out, he’d witnessed the Kayadon disintegrating in its wake.

  He lumbered to his hands and knees. Every muscle screamed in protest as he crawled to where Kyra lay motionless at the center of a shallow crater. The grass around her looked as though it had been burned. Her breathing sounded as bad as his.

  “Kyra?”

  She didn’t move.

  Past the ringing in his ears, there were voices—human —growing louder. Coming to investigate the noise, no doubt. Or the strange light that had flared.

  As gently as he could, he lifted her limp body in his arms. He spotted a dense thicket and headed for it, finding cover just as a small group reached the crater at his back. Their confused mumbles were drowned out by the pounding rain that came down as if siphoned straight from the ocean.

  Certain no one was near, he set her down on the flooded turf and patted her cheek. “Wake up.” He brushed tendrils of her red-blonde hair away from her face.

  An individual with a light entered the clearing. Cale heard a voice announce, “I saw someone run off in that direction.”

  Picking her up again, he meandered through the uneven terrain, staying clear of the walkways. Each muscle burned with the aftermath of his assault, but he steeled his body and pushed the pain to the back of his mind.

  When they were close to her apartment, he felt her jerk. He sighed in relief as her lids cracked open, her expression pained. Her eyes were red, making him wonder if the heavy rain was masking tears.

  “How are you? Are you alright?”

  “I will be.” She winced. “Did it work?”

  “If your intention was to blow everything up within thirty feet, then yeah, mission accomplished.”

  She gave a tiny smile. “I think I can stand on my own.”

  Reluctantly, he set her feet on the ground, but she leaned on him for support.

  “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” she asked. “I wasn’t sure if I could control it like that. I’d never tried before.”

  “Well, this test subject is grateful that you could.” He looked across the too crowded street. “We should leave this city immediately. Your little trick has attracted some attention. Do you need anything from your apartment?”

  “I have an emergency car parked down the street, but the keys are up there. You’ll also need your shirt. Sorry, it didn’t make it to the dryer.”

  In response, he gave her a dubious look and lifted his hand to let the rain drip over it.

  “Right. Doesn’t matter.” She glanced toward the entrance guard. “You can leave me here.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “Then we’ll have to go through the front door.”

  “Unless you can fly.” He meant it as a joke, but then looked at her, considering the possibility.

  “If I could fly you never would have caught me.”

  “Oh yes I would have. It would have just taken more time.”

  She let out a small laugh and then winced again. “Are there more Kayadon near?”

  “Not at the moment, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t on the way. Can you walk?”

  “I can, if you help me.”

  He lifted her over the wall, and she used it to keep herself up as he vaulted over it. She fluffed her hair, making sure her ears were covered. Cale did the same with his, trying to make the spikes cover his horns. The rain worked against him. He’d just have to take his chances.

  With her arm around his neck, they crossed the street. The guard recognized her and waved politely, then turned a skeptical gaze on him, noting Cale’s lack of clothing and the rivers of mud being washed away by the rain.

  “You okay, Miss Okora?”

  “Oh, yes. Just too much to drink.”

  “Would you like me to call for assistance?” The man asked, distracted by a long gash on Cale’s arm.

  “No, thank you, Phil.”

  Cale stifled a growl at the other male as they passed, heading for the elevators. The doors swooshed open with a touch of the button. They entered, and Kyra gave one last reassuring wave to Phil, who still looked uneasy.

  As soon as the elevator doors closed, Kyra slumped against him, as if she’d been using all her strength. Without asking, he scooped her up. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

  “Does it take that much out of you?” he asked.

  “It’s like being torn apart from the inside out.”

  At the third floor, the elevator stopped for a waiting passenger. Cale gritted his teeth when an ancient-looking woman gasped at the sight of them.

  He realized how thrashed they both looked. Aside from his half-dressed state, they were dripping wet and shoeless. Kyra looked near death.

  “Heavens, what is going on here? Are you alright, dearie?” The woman’s eyes couldn’t decide if they wanted to look at Kyra or at his torso.

  “I’m fine, Miss Montana. Just had a really bad night,” Kyra replied, her voice weary.

  “Did someone attack you?” Ms. Montana glanced at Cale’s face.

  “No, nothing like that. I slipped in a puddle and hurt my ankle. Cale here is just helping me get back to my apartment. Do you mind taking the next elevator?”

  “Not at all, dearie. I hope you feel better. I’ll have Randall bring you some soup tomorrow.” She offered an expression filled with implication as a Cheshire grin crawled at the edges of her lips.

  “Thanks, Miss Montana.”

  The doors slid closed.

  Kyra leaned her head on his shoulder again and explained, “She’s our resident nosy old lady. If we weren’t leaving tonight, tomorrow everyone would be gossiping about the hot half-naked man that Kyra brought back to her apartment. But now I guess they’ll talk about how Kyra was last seen with a good looking stranger.”

  “Well, which is it? Hot, or good looking?”

  “Someone’s fishing for compliments,” she teased. When Cale stepped onto the fifth floor, she added, “It’s a good thing you are half naked, though. No one seems to be noticing your horns.”

  “Yes, I was wondering about that.”

  “What would you have done if they had?”

  Kyra studied his gaze when he went quiet. He looked like he was weighing his answer, as if trying to be careful with it.

  “I would do whatever I needed to,” he finally replied.

  Kyra shivered at his dark tone and decided not to question him further.

  When they reached her apartment, she barked out a curse, realizing she didn’t have her keys. Her muscles groaned in protest at the thought of having to go back down to the first floor and request a master key.

  When she suggested it, Cale snorted. He glanced to his right, then his left. Then, with far too much ease, he kicked in her door. She hadn’t even been jostled by the impact.

  “Or that works,” she grumbled.

  Rain flooded the balcony, seeping inside through the still open door. He set her on the couch. After he stepped away, she shivered, only now realizing how cold she felt.

  She wanted nothing more than to pass out under a pile of covers.

  Cale retrieved his shirt and pulled it on as he crossed to close the balcony door, his feet squishing on the rug.

  “Where’s your keys?” he asked.

&
nbsp; “They’re in my purse.” Her eyes closed for a second and it felt like heaven, but she pulled herself to sit and took a deep breath, knowing she couldn’t give into exhaustion.

  She heard Cale grumble from inside her room. Then he emerged, arms full of her extensive collection of bags.

  “Which one?”

  She pointed to the plain black one that she’d left by the front door. “That purse.”

  The colorful pile dropped to the floor, discarded as junk. She was about to chastise him, but stifled it. It wasn’t as if she could take them with her. Then she saw he was about to tug open the zipper of her purse.

  “Hey! Don’t go through my purse!”

  His eyes rolled and handed it out to her.

  Snatching the bag, she added, “You never go through a lady’s purse.” She opened it to make sure her keys were there. Then, out of habit, she checked her phone. “Zoey called!” Seven missed calls, three messages. “I bet she’s worried.”

  “So she’s safe then,” Cale said, unconcerned. “Is there anything else you need before we go?”

  “Dry clothes from the drawers in my room. I’ll change in the car. First, can you get me an energy drink? There’s a couple in the fridge. The bright orange cans.”

  He did as she asked, handing her a Jolt-n-Bolt before heading into her room.

  She cringed at the idea of him rummaging through her things. Heat flooded her cheeks. She wasn’t exactly a grandma underwear type girl. When something like a soft groan rumbled from her bedroom, she tried to convince herself it was the wind.

  After clicking the sequence to get to her messages, she put the phone to her ear and slammed the bad tasting energy drink, needing the chemically induced boost. She nearly spit it out on the fifth gulp when she heard the panicked start to Zoey’s message.

  “Ky? Oh, god. Are you okay? Call me.” Next message. “Ky? I was scared, so I went to Kevin’s. Call me when you get this.” The next message was above a whisper. “Ky. Kevin’s going ballistic. He’s mad that I won’t tell him what happened tonight, and he won’t let me leave to come find you—”

  Kevin’s voice hollered from the background. “Who are you calling? Give me the phone!”