Demon Retribution (Shadow Quest Book 3)

by Kiersten Fay

  Aidan gave her a grateful smile and said, “There is a space city called Uli Rings.”

  “I’ve been there. Let me guess, they want to meet in Between the Rings.” The club was a popular destination, named for its location in the center of the three rotating ringlets that made up the complex.

  “That’s the place. If we warp again we can be there in a couple of days.”

  “I’ve been meaning to ask about that,” Cale finally rejoined the conversation, seeming to have regained himself. “How is it we warped? Anya didn’t—”

  “No,” Aidan interrupted. “We stockpiled fuel before we got to Earth. Sebastian loaded up more than enough for another ten warps, if needed.”

  Sonya hid a guilty expression. Anya had still been sneaking energy to the ship. Sonya didn’t like it, but she’d been sworn to secrecy. Usually she would never have agreed to such a thing, but the sneaky little chit was learning the finer points of blackmail.

  A masculine palm embraced her backside and Sonya stilled, squelching a surprised gasp. Next to her, Ethan feigned interest in the conversation with a smug expression.

  She gnashed her teeth. The bar counter hid his actions from the others, but he was still risking detection—especially with Cale present—although her brother seemed to have receded into his own thoughts again, completely unobservant at the moment.

  She bristled when she felt the pressure on her ass increase. What the hell was he thinking? She suspected he thoroughly enjoyed throwing her off balance, the bastard!

  Two could play this game.

  Ignoring how his touch affected her, she slid her tail up his leg, making no secret as to where it headed. Ethan went rigid, his smile frozen in place. When she met with her target, he gulped loudly and she couldn’t help a triumphant grin. Still nobody noticed. She felt so naughty.

  His fingers dug in tighter, and she responded in kind, this time rubbing along his length. He’d once called her tail wicked. Ha. He had no idea.

  “Woops!” Jade’s voice sounded from behind, and they pulled apart. “I uh, thought I was working tonight.”

  Sonya resisted the urge to smack that insipid mischievous expression right off her face. “You’re working tomorrow night, Jade, when we will resume your training.” If I don’t kill you first.

  “Oh, then I’ll see you later.” She waved seductively at Ethan. “Later, Ethan.”

  Sonya speared Ethan with a violent look, daring him to wave back. Her fangs descended as she approached the Edge, the slightest hint of interest threatening to set her off. However, his attention never wavered from her. His eyes, intense and keen, darkened with hunger. She repressed an oncoming shiver and sternly shook her head. Spurring her lust any further was a terrible idea.

  As if reading her thoughts, he seemed to come back to himself and offered an apologetic look—something she had never seen before. The sight took her aback. And, surprisingly, it was enough to ebb her fury.

  For now.

  Chapter 19

  Cale ground his teeth.

  Isn’t that your last name? Zoey had asked.

  Kyra’s blush said more than she probably intended. And for some reason, red had flashed across Cale’s vision as his mind invented all sorts of loathsome scenarios that might inspire Kyra to desire the name.

  Most involved her lusting after an overgrown lizard.

  She’d lived with the dragons—princes, no less. In their home? For how long? And for what reason?

  When Aidan insinuated a possible match, Cale’s blood reached boiling point, feeling as though it would burn through his veins. A familiar rage came over him, and he dug his nails into his palm to assuage it. For a time, he regained a measure of focus, losing track of the conversation again when Kyra’s face lit up at the prospect of seeing her old acquaintances. Still, he managed to conceal his turmoil.

  Why did he care, anyway? They’d had one good night together. A really, really good night. But that was where his interest ended…usually. Almost as soon as they’d boarded Marada, he’d decided to distance himself, get back to his routine. Taking her to his bed again would only increase her attachment. And, an errant part of his mind added, his own.

  On the first night back, he should have been relieved to be free of his charges. He’d accomplished his task. Kyra was safe, and now everyone could concentrate on the next objective. But he’d be lying if he said he didn’t crave her touch. Aside from that, he found it impossible to look at her without growing stiff, and for the last few days, she’d had complete dominance over his thoughts.

  A couple of times, he’d tried seeking her out to prove he could maintain an easy acquaintance, but with each attempt words had failed him. All he’d wanted was to guide her into the nearest darkened room and finally have her sweet cries in his ear as he lost himself inside her.

  Player.

  That’s what she thought of him.

  The definition was turning out to be more on point than he had allowed himself to admit. He heard whispers around the ship, speculating on his newest conquest—whether it was the Faieara or the human. Or both.

  He recalled having no interest in Zoey. She was desirable enough, and it was true that he’d had ample opportunity. He had even inadvertently caused her to become aroused on occasion back in the hotel room while Kyra had been unconscious, though he hadn’t even entertained the notion of seducing her.

  Sonya’s nearly inaudible growl pulled Cale from his thoughts. Seemed something Jade did had really pissed her off. He watched Jade saunter away, and before disappearing out the door, her gaze shifted to him with clear invitation.

  Jade was always up for a quick screw.

  If he went with her now, perhaps she would break him of his dangerous new obsession. Yet more than just his brain lacked enthusiasm for the idea. Besides, he overheard Aidan ask Kyra about her visit to Legura.

  “My father was grooming me to take the throne,” she explained, “and wanted me well acquainted with our allies.”

  Cale seethed. Exactly what did she mean by “well acquainted”?

  Aidan countered, “I remember hearing you were very young at the time. He was preparing you even then?”

  “Nineteen wasn’t so young,” she protested. “But I guess my father was rushing me in my studies.”

  “Studies?” Cale heard himself ask. “Your visit was purely for educational purposes?”

  “Yes, to learn the language,” she replied. “And culture. But also to develop a positive relationship with the Okoras and strengthen the alliance between our people.”

  “And how did you go about strengthening this alliance?” From the corner of his eye, Cale saw Sonya raise a brow just as he registered the snide innuendo in his own tone.

  Unamused, Kyra remarked, “Well, Cale, I simply slept with every male in the clan. No surer way than that.”

  Obviously she was joking—she’d better be joking!—but aggression flooded his mind nonetheless. Everyone suddenly focused on him, displaying a range of expressions, none of them good. For something to do, he swigged his drink, pretending he didn’t care if she slept with all the clans in the universe.

  Because he didn’t.

  Cale’s throat drew Kyra’s gaze as it worked to guzzle the last of the beverage. She wasn’t sure what his outburst had been about, but if his intention was to irritate her…well, he succeeded. A small part of her suggested he might be jealous, but her more rational side discarded the conjecture.

  When he brought the glass down, his features remained tight. She tried to imagine what he might be thinking. Most likely he was trying to fabricate an excuse to cut out. Hard to miss Jade’s unabashed eye-fuck as she’d slithered out the door, inspiring in Kyra a shocking urge to rip out the girl’s hair.

  God, I need to get a grip.

  She’s never felt so possessive over a male before. The intensity of it was rather frightening. Especially because she could imagine herself seated in a darkened room, a bourbon in one hand and a bat in the other, waiting
for an unsuspecting Jade to enter.

  Suddenly Portia pushed her way to the center of the group. “What evil plots are we discussing this evening?”

  In an instant, the heavy tension dissipated as Zoey fawned, thanking her repeatedly for the language spell.

  Portia simply waved her hand, replying, “You’ll pay me back later.”

  Kyra recalled the awkward sniffing from earlier and asked, “Why did you think Zo was a vampire?” Even she had thought them nothing more than a human myth.

  “I was warned that there would be one aboard this ship, but now that I think of it, they could have just been screwing with me.”

  “Are there really vampires?” Zoey sputtered.

  Portia shrugged, not answering, but Zo lost interest when Rex muttered something in her ear. She let out a flirty giggle, and they fell back into their private bubble. Ethan and Sonya returned to serving drinks, and Kyra was left to converse with Cale, Aidan, and Portia.

  A demon, a dragon, and a witch, oh my.

  She chuckled to herself, realizing the alcohol must be starting to affect her.

  “So Cale,” Aidan said, moving to a new topic. “What do you think of Sebastian and Marik mating Kyra’s sisters? A lot’s changed, huh?”

  “Aye,” Cale said with a bit of a bemused look in his eyes.

  “Some of us had wondered if…” Aidan trailed off as his gaze shifted to Kyra. “I mean, we all thought it was a funny coincidence, you know, them being sisters and all. What are the odds?”

  Kyra’s brows furrowed. “Why should it be so strange?”

  Aidan smiled, growing slightly more enthusiastic. “Well, it’s said that demons only have one mate out there.” He held up a finger in emphasis. “A single destined mate that they wait all their lives to find.”

  “One? In all the universe?” Kyra asked, disbelieving.

  “That’s what they say.”

  Cale’s jaw locked.

  “That’s just silly.” She raised her glass to her lips, but paused, realizing how that may have come across. “No offense, Cale, but that sounds ridiculous. Idiotic, actually.”

  His only response was a tight shrug, but his expression had gone cold.

  Unfortunately, she didn’t seem capable of stopping. “What if a demon’s mate is from another planet that doesn’t travel space?”

  Like Earth, her mind whispered. With a bit of a struggle, she kept her head from turning to Rex and Zoey.

  And still her mouth went on. “If that were the case, then you would never ever meet them in all your life! What would you do then? Just live alone, taking the occasional random partner who doesn’t mean anything?” She stifled a wince. Ouch, that was close to home. “Again, no offense, Cale.”

  His gaze narrowed. “You’re drunk.”

  “So?”

  “So, I’m going to let that slide.”

  Something else came to mind. “And what if one of said mates dies? What happens to the other? Are they dammed to a loveless existence? Could there never be another?” She wasn’t sure if her last question was rhetorical or directed specifically at Cale.

  He answered anyway. “No, there can’t.” His tone demanded she shut her mouth but…

  “Why not? Do you still love her? Is it a loyalty thing?”

  “It’s because there can’t!” His words reverberated off the walls and the room went quiet. She saw a glimmer of red in his irises and managed to lock her jaw.

  Sonya appeared between them. “Hey, Cale, how about you and I head over to the exercise room? It’s been too long since I introduced your face to the mat.”

  “Later,” he said dismissively. To Kyra, he sneered, “What is it you think you know about me?”

  “I, uh…” She shook her head, realizing she’d gone too far.

  He hollered, “You think you know what I’ve been through?”

  “No,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean—”

  He moved closer, his demeanor menacing. “You don’t know shit!”

  “Okay, I get it. I don’t know shit. I’m sorry.” She should look away, but couldn’t. Pain flashed across his face and it dug into her heart. She noted two things then: Cale was still in love with his mate. And she…she was in love with Cale.

  He mistook her expression for pity. “Don’t look at me like that!” He turned to make his way out the door, knocking a chair out of his way as he went.

  Chapter 20

  Rage roiled through Cale like a blaze out of control as he stormed down the hall. Those in his way wisely took evasive action. He should have taken Sonya up on her offer. His aggression was nearing the point of no return.

  Everyone knew of his past. Why had it bothered him so much that Kyra did too? Anyway, it was none of her business. Who was she to judge him?

  He’d been furious with Velicia after her betrayal, but over the years he’d convinced himself that she had merely been led astray by his wretched mother. Velicia had been a victim, same as he, same as the rest of his family. His biggest regret was leaving her behind. He should have gone back for her. If she were here now, she would know just how to sooth him.

  “Cale!” Kyra’s voice bounced down the hall.

  He stilled. As she jogged toward him, her delicious feminine fragrance surrounded him. Calling to him. Making instinct war with common sense.

  “I’m sorry,” she started. “I didn’t intend to upset you.”

  “I—Am—Not—Upset.”

  “Uh, you look pretty pissed,” she argued.

  “Pissed I’ll agree to.”

  She had no idea the danger she was in, the tumult coursing through his veins. Desire flared inside him so strongly he had trouble deciphering what it was he wanted. He needed to get away from her, before he totally lost himself. He was on the verge of something he couldn’t describe. A new kind of pain made itself known, crawling up his spine, over his shoulders.

  “Cale, would you please just talk to me?” She paused. “Look at me, at least.”

  His grip on sanity faltered, and he careened closer to the Edge. Falling. He had to keep control. He could hurt her if he didn’t.

  He made the mistake of meeting her eyes. Their lovely gemstone depths captured him completely. Their color continued to stun him, even though her irises looked unusually dull today, sad.

  They should be brighter, sexier, with a golden heat. He wanted to infuse them with the inferno that currently coursed through his every nerve. He wanted to see the sun in her eyes again.

  Something inside him shifted.

  A sliver of his rage waned, even as he gripped her wrist and led her down the corridor.

  “Cale, I’ll follow. You don’t need to drag me.”

  He didn’t let up as he walked with purpose. She stumbled to keep pace. Reason abandoned him. He hardly noticed the rooms they passed, the doorway they entered, the scent of the pool in his nostrils. Pushing her into the changing room, he locked them inside and stalked toward her. She backed up, studying his expression with a hint of fear.

  He didn’t like that, but couldn’t seem to stop himself. “I am going to have you now.”

  Her reply was breathy. “Yeah, I got that.”

  He grasped the slender arch of her neck, and she came to him with almost no resistance. Their mouths gnashed together, his tongue plunging, sliding between her parted lips, tasting her with every silky touch.

  A needy whimper bubbled from deep inside her, enflaming his desire. But then she went quiet again, spurring his urgency to hear more of those sweet sounds.

  Hooking her waist, he twisted their bodies, forcing her against the wall and capturing her there. His thigh found its way between her legs, and he lifted it high against her center. He was rewarded with an erotic moan as her scent washed over him, somehow managing to increase his lust further.

  He lifted her arms over her head, seeking her total surrender as their tongues danced. She met his passion with equal savagery, rolling her hips against him. His shaft jerked painfully.

&n
bsp; He growled, going mindless. Yet some part of him clung to a thread of lucidity. His mind cried danger, telling him that he was riding the Edge in a way he’d never before experienced. One unsteady step, and he wouldn’t be able to keep from slipping into its murky depths.

  He pulled back and lost his breath. Her eyes glowed under heavy lids, like liquid honey. The most beautiful thing he’d ever seen, even while the burning in his veins turned into molten lava. He ignored it. All he could focus on was her.

  As he took in her beauty, her expression grew beseeching. Why? Had he done something wrong? Was she hurt? His body shook with need.

  He was about to release her when she muttered seductively, “Cale, don’t stop.”

  With a relieved groan, he resumed his frenzy, losing himself once more in her soft warm flesh. Opposing thoughts battled in his head, fighting for supremacy: Take her now, make her come, slow down till she begs.

  He wanted all of her, to wring every last cry of pleasure from her and then some.

  “What do you want?” he asked.

  After a hint of surprise wore off, her features turned defiant. With a wry smile she replied, “I want you to make me scream, Cale. Do you think you can handle that?”

  A huge grin spread across his face at the challenge. That he could do. He had her clothes off her in seconds. She reached to undress him next, but he caught her around the waist and lifted her over his shoulder. A confounded sound pushed out her lungs.

  The dressing room was fairly bare, with only a counter adjoined to a mirror and a small couch in the corner. He dropped her on the couch, riveted as her breasts bounced with the impact. She looked up at him quizzically, then turned hungry when she realized he what meant to do.

  He knelt between her legs, forcing her thighs over his shoulders. Their eyes locked as he lowered to take his first taste. His mind blanked, and the Edge fell away. If he wasn’t already on his knees, he would have toppled over. Desperation devoured him, desire becoming a demand. His tongue slipped greedily over her tender flesh, caressing every inch while she gave herself to him completely.