Demon Retribution (Shadow Quest Book 3)

by Kiersten Fay

  “Aye, to both. Can we do this later?”

  Another pause before the owner of the voice replied, chagrined, “Her sisters would like to know if she’s okay.”

  A cheery female voice rang out. “Hi, Cale!”

  Cale lowered his head in defeat. “Hello, Anya.”

  Kyra covered a gasped with her hands. Analia? Truly? A massive wave of relief washed through her, and she had to move her hands to her heart as if it would burst if she didn’t.

  Cale registered the change and added begrudgingly, “Kyra is here. Would you like to talk to her?”

  The communicator went quiet. Then Anya’s voice suddenly turned shy. “Yes, I would.”

  Kyra grabbed the communicator like it was a lifeline and put it to her face, even though Cale had been holding it away as he’d spoken. “Analia? This is Kyralyn. How…” She pushed through her tightening throat. “How are you?”

  “I’m good.” Anya sounded a little shaky too. “And you?”

  “Good.” Kyra swallowed hard. Her eyes began to burn. “I’ve missed you, so much.”

  “I missed you too. I can’t wait to see you. Aidan estimates we should be there in a day or two.”

  “Is Nadua with you?” Kyra asked.

  “She is. She’s not in the control room right now, but I know she’s excited to see you too.”

  Her vision blurred, and a hot tear escaped down her cheek. “I love you, sweetie.”

  The communicator went silent again, and Kyra wondered if the transmission had cut off. A near sobbing reply followed by sniffles crackled through the speakers. “I love you too.”

  “Cale,” the male’s voice came back in a softer tone. “When we’re closer, we’ll contact you for coordinates.”

  “Sure,” Cale replied.

  The transmission ended.

  Kyra threw her arms around Cale and buried her face in his neck. “Thank you, Cale. Thank you so much.” Mostly to herself, she muttered, “I’m really going to see my family again.” The idea had been surreal until now, a transparent thought in a kaleidoscope.

  Aside from placing an arm around her and lacing a hand through her hair, he made no reply.

  The heat that had sparked so fiercely between them only moments ago was now a pile of cooling embers. The sound of the cabin door opening snapped them to attention.

  Zoey’s voice traveled through the thin wall of trees. “Ky! You out there?”

  “What’s up, Zo?” Kyra hollered back, thankful to have regained control of her voice.

  “We’re on the news!”

  Cale helped her up, then snatched her shirt and held it out to her. His visage was both perturbed and comical.

  She leaned in to kiss him lightly on the lips and whispered a teasing, “Later.” Then slipped into her shirt and turned toward the house.

  Before she realized it, she was pinned between a tree at her back and Cale’s hard body at her front. His lips crushed to hers and his tongue slipped inside, twirling with hers and causing her body to blaze with need once more. He pressed a hand to her ass and brought her against his erection.

  He echoed in a deep growl, “Later.”

  A shiver ran through her as the warmth from Cale was replaced by cool air. He gave an arrogant smirk and she pursed her lips, trying to keep them from mimicking his smile.

  His message was clear.

  Whereas her kiss had been a flimsy promise, his had been an outright guarantee.

  Chapter 14

  Inside, Zoey had paused the television. When Kyra and Cale were in position, she hit play and the frozen newscaster jumped into motion.

  “A new development in the Kevin Vanderburg murder. According to an eye witness, Zoey Powel, Mister Vanderburg’s alleged girlfriend, along with two unidentified people, were spotted exiting Vanderburg’s apartment moments after gunshots were heard.”

  An old picture of Zoey flashed on the screen. Her long dark hair was pulled back in a half ponytail and she was smiling at something off camera.

  “We looked further into Miss Powel’s background and found that she may also be connected with the back alley fire that devastated at least one local business.

  “Miss Powel, along with Kyra Okora,”—a grainy image of Kyra, taken from Litter Jitters’ surveillance displayed—“were reported missing after police discovered they had both been working at a nearby café the night of the fire.

  “According to coworkers, the two women are close friends. At this time, police will neither confirm nor deny whether either women is considered a suspect in the gruesome murder.

  “In other news…”

  Zoey decreased the volume and slouched.

  Kyra’s mind raced. What could she do? How could she fix this? They couldn’t move. Not now that Cale’s ship was so close, and not with the confirmation that the authorities were looking for them.

  “Okay. That wasn’t so bad,” Kyra encouraged, trying to add conviction in her tone.

  “The Kevin Vanderburg murder,” Zoey repeated robotically, shaking her head.

  Kyra shot Cale an accusatory look. She didn’t mean to; it was an involuntary action.

  His response was guarded. “I’m not going to apologize for what I had to do.”

  Kyra exhaled a sigh and checked her expression. “It was self-defense. We both realize that. It’s just a tough situation for Zoey.” She reached to place a hand on his arm and continued her train of thought. Perhaps if Zoey were caught, she could claim to have been kidnapped, except there were those scratches on Kevin’s face to explain. DNA would prove Zoey had made them.

  Zoey glanced at her then, giving an odd expression. “What have you been doing? Rolling around on the ground?” Zoey plucked a piece of leaf from Kyra’s hair.

  Kyra looked down at herself. She was covered in gravel, twigs, and dried leaves.

  Oops.

  She smiled, feeling the tension ease a touch. “It was windy out.”

  Zoey studied her dubiously. “Uh-huh.”

  In an attempt to change the subject, she informed Zoey about the transmission they’d received. After hearing it, Zoey went quiet, unable to hide a bout of renewed stress.

  It sunk in then.

  Kyra wasn’t just regaining a long lost life—she was preparing to abandon her current one.

  Dinner was a quiet endeavor, aside from a bit of background noise provided by the television. Everyone ate as if deep in thought, not quite seeing their food before it entered their mouths. Kyra wondered if Zo or Cale even tasted the soft buttery potatoes and chicken stir-fry. She hardly did.

  After the meal, they cleaned their plates with the same muted contemplation. She didn’t ask what was going through their minds. Zoey’s frown was defined, and Cale’s brows were so furrowed that, if she didn’t know better, she’d be inclined to think he was in pain.

  For her, she imagined what it would be like seeing her sisters after so much time had passed. Would she even recognize them? Would they recognize her? What kind of individuals would she find them to be, and how might they have changed? Four-hundred years of waiting and it was down to a handful of hours till she found out.

  Later, they all settled on the couch, cozy in their night clothes, with Kyra flipping through channels. Cale made her stop on some old kung-fu flick and demanded they watch it. Zoey and Kyra rolled their eyes at each other, but neither of them complained. After setting down the remote, she didn’t realize when her eyes began to drift closed.

  The sense of movement jostled them open again. She was in Cale’s arms as he climbed the stairs. Zoey walked ahead of them and offered a soft goodnight before heading to her room.

  Cale looked down when Kyra replied groggily, “Night, Zo.”

  “I was hoping not to wake you. You looked so exhausted.” He proceeded through her door and placed her on the bed.

  “I am,” she replied, digging her way under the covers.

  The day’s events had tumbled down on her like a thousand pound anvil, crushing her body into s
ubmission. She knew working with magic would take a lot out of her, but it was irritating all the same.

  Cale gazed down at her with an expression she couldn’t decipher, his jaw tight. Too tight. And his gaze became intense. No, not intense. Confused maybe. Yes, that was it. He looked utterly confused. Why?

  When she tilted her head at him, he schooled his features and stood to leave. Her mouth spoke before she could stop it. “Do you want to sleep here tonight?”

  He paused to look at her and she flushed, suddenly unsure of his answer. Technically it was later, wasn’t it? He turned his head to the door and then back at her. Did he want to leave? Embarrassment burned in her cheeks. She was about to rescind the invitation when he started for the door again. She frowned at the affront, preparing to brush it off, but he eased the door shut and then flipped out the light.

  Kyra swallowed.

  Past the darkness, she detected his approach. Something light hit the floor…Fabric? Her pulse jumped a little. It was strange how silent he was. After another moment, her eyes began to adjust, bringing the room into monotone view just as he slipped in beside her. His chest was bare but he still had on a pair of loose pants. The brief glimpse of his smooth muscles had her licking her lips.

  Catching the movement, Cale shifted to his side and faced her with the grin of a man who knew damn well how hot he was. “I’d love nothing more than to get this thing that’s between us over with, but my ego couldn’t take it if you fell asleep right in the middle.”

  She gave him an impish look, but was startled by the phrase “over with”. Then she remembered for him this was a fling. And it was for her as well, wasn’t it? Of course it was.

  “Thing?” she feigned confusion. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. There’s no thing.”

  “Isn’t there?” His smile widened.

  “What? Are you feeling a thing?”

  His eyes narrowed, but remained amused. “Perhaps I’m mistaken.” He leaned forward, placing one arm on her other side so that his torso hovered over her, caging her without actually touching her. Then his head dipped so their lips were but inches apart and his gaze captured hers. She worked to keep her breath even, expectantly waiting for his kiss. But it never came. Instead, he trailed his nose along her jaw, with maddening slow movements, breathing her in as he went. He stopped when he reached his favorite spot. Or was it her favorite spot? A betraying shiver rolled over her after only the slightest brushing of his lips.

  A sinister chuckle lumbered out of him. He pulled back, triumphant, and rested the side of his head on his fist, seemingly unaffected while her body roiled with need.

  “Still no thing?”

  She let out a breath. “You really are a wicked demon.”

  He smirked. “Now that that’s settled, we should get some sleep, don’t you think?”

  She snorted and rolled away from him, determined not to let him know just how much he affected her. Without warning, his arm came around her, and he pulled her across the mattress so that her back nestled against his front. His breath along her neck sent delicious goose bumps over her skin. She contained a sigh of contentment as her body melted.

  She rarely slept like this with anyone. It was a vulnerable position to be in. But with Cale, it was a non-issue. In fact, it felt pretty normal, as far a sleeping with a demon went, and soon she slipped into a peaceful slumber.

  With his arm folded around her, Cale openly stared at Kyra’s sleeping form. The dying moonlight feathered over her cheek. Her hair fell back, revealing a pointed ear and slender neck. He beat back the urge to wake her with his tongue.

  How could he sleep when the edge of her desire was still sharp in his nose? Stubbornly, he ignored the fact that it was his fault he was lying next to her, hard as stone and unfulfilled. He should not have teased her like that.

  More importantly, he shouldn’t have stayed. He should have taken her body and then left. She had certainly wanted him to. If she hadn’t been so exhausted, she probably would have jumped him before the lights went out. And he would have let her. Hell, he would have laid himself out like a feast, had she wanted.

  He recalled their earlier kiss. No, kiss wasn’t the right term for it. Mind-blow, maybe. He’d never needed to fuck somebody so badly in his life. Nothing had ever felt so essential. He feared he was losing his mind to the near constant lust bubbling inside him and it continued to make him reckless. He couldn’t believe he’d been willing to ignore Sebastian’s transmission. What was wrong with him? Why did he allow her to cloud his judgment so thoroughly?

  Luckily, at the pivotal moment, that familiar burning had coursed through him, bringing with it clarity. In a way, he was coming to rely on it, but it piqued his curiosity. What was it about her that caused it? For that matter, why did he crave her with such intensity, in spite of the consequence?

  While training, she often closed her eyes and bit her lip in concentration. The sight was like a jolt to his groin. He must have run through five hundred scenarios of him taking her by surprise. On the ground, against the tree, sopping wet in the lake with her hair wrapped around his fist.

  He groaned softly as his cock jerked.

  For some reason, he flashed back to a conversation he’d had with Sebastian, before his brother had known Anya was his mate. Cale had advised him, in so many words, to just screw her and get her out of his head. It had made perfect sense at the time. It made sense now. Kyra should be no different.

  His decision made, he lowered his mouth to her ear and took her earlobe in between his teeth. She waved him away with a sleepy hand. He let his palm trail to her stomach, moving it in a direction sure to catch her attention.

  Her body went stiff just as he reached under her waistband. She sucked in a soft breath and turned her head to look up at him. He felt his expression was too harsh, but couldn’t find the power to soften it.

  “I’m going to take you now,” he said in a dark voice.

  Her mouth dropped open and she blinked rapidly, no doubt still waking up. Slipping his hand under her panties, he found her growing damp. She gasped at his touch, her eyes going wide as their color began to change, growing warm. He almost growled when she closed them and tilted her head back. As he teased her sex, she let out a soft moan, and his growl turned into a groan.

  Gods, he wanted to taste her, but more, he needed to lose himself deep in her tender flesh. He slipped a finger inside, reveling in the resulting sound that whispered from low in her throat. Her body shifted, giving him better access, and his mind roared with triumph.

  Her hand came down to cover his, stunning him as she took control and showed him just how she liked it.

  Fuck, that’s sexy.

  His own breathing became unusually difficult to control. She looked at him then, and her eyes burned like the sun. His jaw clenched, and he had to strain not to take her soft parted lips. He wanted to watch her come. He could tell she was close. Her breathing was rapidly growing clipped and harsh, and her hips moved with his fingers.

  Damn but he wanted his cock thrusting inside her, but this was the hottest thing he had ever seen. Her irises blazed as her body spasmed. She threw her head back with a moan.

  To his surprise, his veins began to burn. He hadn’t even kissed her, but the sensation was a shadow to the clamant need overtaking him. He tossed the covers away and made quick work of their clothes, registering that she giggled at his urgency.

  “You think I’m funny?”

  She clamped her mouth shut, but her eyes danced with humor. He stood and walked to the end of the bed, not breaking eye contact. Propped on her elbows, her gaze followed him. With his palm wrapped around one of her slender ankles, he pulled. She squeaked as her back met the mattress and her body slid toward him. Again she giggled, and he couldn’t help but smile in return. It was a lovely sound.

  She went quiet, however, when he positioned himself between her legs. Those blazing eyes stared up at him full of renewed desire. Slowly, he entered her, groaning as h
er warm sheath took him in. She gasped, and as he pushed in, they both closed their eyes, loosing themselves to the pleasure.

  Soon he fell into a steady rhythm, enjoying the vision of her writhing on the mattress. He increased his pace and lowered over her, placing a knee on the bed for support while he lifted one her thighs over his.

  A part of him realized she was tempering her moans, and he growled, “I want to hear you.”

  Between breaths she said, “No, don’t wake Zo.”

  “Screw that.” He pounded her hard, slapping his flesh against hers, yet she managed to contain herself, though just barely.

  She narrowed her eyes at him, and he gave her a wicked grin. He didn’t give a damn if Zoey heard them, but this would be a fun game.

  Gripping her hips, he increased his tempo. He could see her throat working to muffle the sweet sounds that escaped her. Still too quiet for his liking. He palmed her ass with one hand and then dipped his head to tongue the flesh of her nipple.

  She moaned his name and it sounded like a plea as her nails raked through his hair. That simple touch, coupled with her soft cries, undid him. He stilled as his seed burst out of him in a hot release, and she let out one final soft moan.

  Collapsing on top of her, he struggled to catch his breath. The fire in his veins became an inferno, and he pressed his forehead against her chest so she wouldn’t see his pain. Still cradling him between her legs, she ran her hands across his back and neck. That helped a little. He concentrated on her touch until the feeling ebbed. Finally he rolled over, half off the bed.

  “Well, that was a surprise,” she said with a smile.

  “Next time I will have your screams in my ear,” he heard himself say.

  She laughed. “I have no doubt.”

  “That was intense,” he muttered, amazed at the truth of his words.

  “You're not just whistling Dixie.”

  “What?”

  “I agree.”

  He shook his head and heaved off the bed, slipping into his pants. At the same time, she reached for the blanket and wrapped it around herself. He found his shirt and put that on as well.