He clapped his hands again and turned in a circle. That was one weird Incubus. Rydin had said he was deranged. “Oh, this is going to be fun, fun, fun.” He turned his attention back to Kean. “Where ever did you find her?”
Oh shit, they hadn’t gotten into details, so she hoped Kean pulled something believable out of his ass and quick.
Kean answered, “My dog found them for me just hours ago.”
“Ah yes. I recently acquired a Tengur for just that purpose, but it refuses to cooperate so far. Perhaps, I’ll kill it and get a dog instead. You’ll have to teach me how to train it to do such wonderful things!”
Debol moved on to appraise Fin, his delighted smile turning to a scowl. “How is it that you live?”
Fin shrugged.
His frown deepened. “Do not shrug at me, abomination! Unless you’ve no tongue, speak.”
Valia saw the Sempire on the floor raise her bowed head just enough to take a sideways peek at their group. Valia noticed how her eyes lingered on Fin for a second longer than the rest of them, and shock crossed her face before she looked back to the floor. Something like disgust passed through her aura. She’d always been able to read Sempire’s better than anyone else, but in this moment, she wished she couldn’t. Valia wanted to save her, sympathized with her plight, but she’d kick the bitch’s ass if she kept up the disgust thing where her brother was concerned.
Fin answered simply, “My mother spared me.”
Debol strode to the Sempire on the floor, grabbed a handful of her hair, pulled her to standing, and walked her to stand before Fin. The hatred for the Incubus washed through her aura so clearly it practically blinded Valia.
“What do you think of this?” he asked her. “Look at him standing here making a mockery of your species. Do you want to kill him?”
The Sempire looked from Fin to Debol but didn’t answer. He grabbed her by the hair again and pulled her head backward. “You never learn, do you?” He looked at Kean. “Is yours this hard to train?” He shook his head and didn’t wait for an answer as he addressed the Sempire again. “Your punishments will only get more severe.” His eyes sparked with an eerie light. “I’ll keep this one just for you.” He pointed at Fin. “Every time you disobey me, you’ll fuck him.”
He let go of the Sempire’s hair, and she dropped to her knees with her head bowed. “Please, no. I-I-didn’t mean—”
She was obviously repulsed by the thought of fucking Fin, and in that moment Valia wanted to leave her there to rot, but she tried to remind herself the female was addicted to an Incubus and that had a lot to do with it. And she hadn’t missed the way Fin gazed at the Sempire, the way his aura flared as she’d approached him. No doubt, he wanted her. Big time.
Debol laughed, sent her back to her corner, and addressed Kean again. “Very nice gifts indeed. They’ll be so much fun. How did you manage to capture them? Surely not by yourself.”
“Araya helped.”
“She is loyal to you, yes?” At Kean’s nod, he continued. “Then I would not be hiring you, I’d be hiring a team. A human/Incubus, a Sempire, and a dog. Interesting. Interesting indeed.” He took a seat behind the desk, propped his feet on it, and nodded at the guard closest to Kean. The guard released Kean from the shackles. “Please sit,” Debol motioned to the chair on the opposite side of the desk. “But move the chair to the side and turn around. We’re about to watch a show.” Debol told the guard who’d released Kean to “bring him in.” Kiberry followed Kean and sat by his feet.
A few moments later, Valia gasped despite herself as the guard returned with Rydin. His face sported black and blue marks, one of his beautiful horns was chipped, and his hands were chained behind his back. Rydin looked directly at Valia the second he’d walked in the door as if he’d known she was there. Guilt racked her, knowing his condition was her fault.
Rydin felt Valia’s presence before the guard had come for him. He’d known the second she’d materialized in the demon realm, had been absurdly excited, but concerned for her well-being too. Silly female. What the hell had she hoped to accomplish by coming here? Seeing her busted lip infuriated him. If Debol had done that, he’d kill him. He didn’t know how or when, but one day he’d make that motherfucker suffer.
The guard, holding the chains attached to his wrists, kicked behind Rydin’s knees, and he fell to the ground. He righted himself with some effort and sat back on his heels. “What the fuck is going on Debol?”
“Tsk, tsk. A little more respect in your tone, please. You are on my shit list, you know.”
Rydin humphed. “No, I hadn’t noticed.”
Debol nodded at Rydin’s guard, and he punched Rydin in the side of the head. His head whipped to the side, but he didn’t make a sound. Valia, however, did. She yelled “stop” and rushed forward, sinking to the ground beside Rydin.
Rydin hissed, “Get away from me,” in a hushed tone, hoping only she would hear. The hurt that crossed her face cut him, but it was better this way. If Debol thought he was a weakness for her, he would exploit it. Why had she been so upset at his condition anyway? And why the hell did she come back here? She could be home, wrapped in her soft sheets, and eating her fancy fruits.
“What’s wrong?” Debol asked him. “Not happy to see your girlfriend?”
“I have no girlfriend.” But damned if saying that didn’t stick in his craw. If he ever did have one, she’d be like Valia. Sexy, stubborn, defiant, insatiable.
“Bring her to me,” Debol told another guard who brought Valia around to him. Rydin ground his teeth as Debol’s gaze brazenly appraised her. “Yes, I think she’ll make a nice addition to my collection. Don’t you think, Rydin? A Sempire to kneel on each side of my desk.”
Rydin knew Debol was taunting him, trying to bait him. He got off on shit like this, but if he showed concern over Valia, it would only be worse for both of them. If only he didn’t have the damn contract bond restricting him from kicking Debol’s ass, he’d kill the fucker, broken and bruised as he might be. “Sure, why not,” he answered Debol casually.
Debol pulled Valia into his lap. Rydin decided he liked the dog when it growled in Debol’s direction, and the mixed breed had to put a hand on the dog’s neck to keep him in place. Rydin barely held back a growl of his own.
“Oh fuck no, Incubus,” Valia said and struggled against his hold. Would she succumb to him? The thought of Valia being touched by Debol almost made him lose it, but he had to stay calm. He wanted nothing more than to defend her, to keep her safe, but he couldn’t. Feeling helpless was not something Rydin was used to, and he didn’t like it one bit.
“What’s wrong, Sempire? Don’t want your boyfriend to see you swoon over my Incubus scent? You know you can’t resist me for long. Maybe we’ll give Rydin a break from the beatings. He let you go. Knowing what would happen to him, he let you go. I think having him watch you suck my cock will be far worse punishment, don’t you think?”
Valia slammed her head back, and a loud crunching sound reverberated in the room. She’d broken his nose. So many times he’d wanted to break Debol’s nose and much worse. He loved that Valia had done it, was proud of her, but feared for her. Debol shoved Valia off his lap and covered his nose, muffled expletives flying.
“You will pay for that, bitch.”
Kean jumped up to get in front of Valia when Debol made a move for her. Kean held up his hands. “Hey, let’s just calm down.”
“You gave her to me, mixed-breed, get out of my way or I’ll dispose of you.”
Kean stood his ground. “We have no agreement yet, so technically she’s still mine.”
Debol’s bloody face was a mask of fury as he spit out, “You’re hired. Name your price and get the fuck out of my way.” He shoved Kean aside, and a guard held him in place as Debol grabbed Valia.
The dog bit the guard holding the mixed-breed, and the guard kicked it, sending it flying across the room.
Valia thrashed and struggled to get out of Debol’s hold, but the s
hackles thwarted her efforts. Rydin roared and jumped to his feet when Debol struck her across the face and ripped open her shirt. It took all of the guards in the room to hold him back.
Rydin took in her appearance again. Her busted lip was healing, but her ripped shirt and unzipped pants refueled his rage. Thinking of her being defiled by that fucking Incubus boiled his blood.
Being calm and acting indifferent were no longer options as Rydin’s skin prickled and burned, fury engulfing him, driving his actions. This kind of rage hadn’t overtaken him in many years. An animalistic roar emerged from deep within. His muscles corded and bunched as he burst upward from the floor.
He smashed his head into the closest guard’s face. The guard’s head swung so violently to the side his neck snapped, and he crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap. Rydin turned and saw the former dog had turned into a Tengur and charged the guard holding its master. The Tengur shredded the guard in seconds.
Kean jumped to action, fists flying at the guard closest to Araya. Araya lifted her shackled arms high and jumped up to get the chain around the guard’s neck while Kean continued pummeling him.
Another guard stuck a dagger into Rydin’s back. He whipped around and drove his head into the guard’s stomach, his horns piercing the guard’s flesh. They weren’t long enough to reach any vital organs, but he kept ramming them in until the guard dropped.
Valia yelled to the Sempire on the floor, “Get up and help us! We’ll take you out of here.”
The Sempire watched, with wide eyes, the carnage going on around her but didn’t budge. Valia ran to her, but the remaining guard grabbed her.
Debol had no means of escape, the exit blocked by Kean and Araya who had their guard on the ground now with the Tengur backing them up, snarling and snapping his teeth.
Rydin rammed his horns directly into the spine of the guard who dared put his hands on Valia.
“Thanks,” she said breathlessly and winked at him. Then she reached into her boot and pulled out a green handled dagger of her own. Damn thing came complete with what looked like diamonds and emeralds set in the hilt. She headed toward Debol.
“No,” he said as she started toward Debol. “He’s mine.”
“But, I thought you couldn’t hurt him.”
Rydin rushed Debol, but the kneeling Sempire screamed and jumped in front of him, protecting him.
“What the fuck? Are you kidding me?” Valia exclaimed.
Rydin advanced, and the Sempire spit and jumped on him, clawing at him.
“I don’t wish to hurt you, female.” He grunted as she pummeled him.
Valia grabbed the female’s arm and jerked her off Rydin.
“Thanks,” he mimicked her earlier response.
The female was wild in her attempts to break away from Valia, but his female was a spitfire. She was handling herself just fine even shackled at the wrists, and Fin rushed over to help her.
“Rydin,” Debol said, sounding unconcerned, “you can’t hurt me. All you’re doing is making it worse for yourself.”
“You touched her, put your filthy hands on her. You must die.”
Shock contorted Debol’s face as Rydin slammed him against the stone wall. Holy shit, he was actually able to do it. To hurt the bastard. He kicked at Debol’s knees, and the Incubus dropped to the stone floor.
“I’ll reduce your contract. Keep the Sempire. Just go,” he said frantically.
“Reduce my contract? Killing you will eliminate my contract.”
Four new guards burst through the door, completely ignoring everyone but Rydin. Kiberry bit the foot off the guard Araya and Kean had been struggling with, then sniffed the air wildly, his eyes bulging. An odd howling noise erupted from him as he shot out of the room. Valia knew Kiberry could take care of himself, but she worried anyway, wondering what the hell he was doing and what danger he might face.
Valia recognized one of the guards from the front entrance. He and the other three charged Rydin, and before he had time to defend himself, they stabbed and beat him. He swung and kicked at them, but in his weakened state, he was no match for them. His huge form crumpled to the floor, his blood pouring from gaping wounds.
Valia’s heart seized in her chest. She needed to help him, save him, but her feet seemed frozen in place. Anger and pain, his pain, radiated through her as a raging sickness swamped her. Sparks of color suddenly surrounded the guards as their auras became brighter and brighter, until she could see every intricate detail, clearer to her than the blood running from Rydin’s wounds. It was beautiful, blinding, somehow empowering.
Time slowed as the colors moved, shifted, and weaved an intricate pattern. Was she doing that? An electric chill skittered over her skin, her nerve endings hypersensitive.
The breath was ripped from her lungs in a whoosh, and then she felt it. Felt a connection to the guards, a power over them. She focused her thoughts on stopping the brutality, stopping them from hurting Rydin anymore.
Suddenly, two of the guards stopped mid-swing and turned their attention away from Rydin and to the other two guards. Valia pushed her will on them, straining until she felt her head might explode. The guards began pummeling the others—punching, beating, breaking—making quick work of incapacitating them.
Rydin struggled to get to his feet and failed, his gorgeous bloody body sagging against the wall, but at least he wasn’t being beaten any longer. He would be okay. He had to be.
Debol tried to make a run for it, but Kiberry chose that moment to bound back into the room, blood coating his fur and dripping from his pointy teeth, another Tengur, with purple tinged fur, right on his heels. At first, Valia thought the other Tengur was going to attack Kiberry, but it was backing him up.
Debol wisely stopped and took a step backward.
Valia ran to Rydin’s side and almost puked at all the blood, his beautiful body marred by stab wounds. He was Ferox, but could he survive that much blood loss?
She palmed her dagger and jammed it into Debol’s gut. Once, twice, three times. Debol crumpled to the floor. She wanted to kill him, but she wouldn’t. She’d save that pleasure for Rydin. After all the years he’d had to suffer this bastard’s bullshit, he deserved to be the one to end him. But if he couldn’t because of the contract bond? She’d do it happily, slowly, as Rydin watched. Maybe make him some popcorn to munch on as he enjoyed the show.
“Get these shackles off us,” she demanded of one of the guards. He complied instantly. “And my family.” He did as she bid. “Now chain him.” She motioned to Debol.
“What are you?” Debol shrieked, his voice high-pitched, panicked. “How are you doing this?”
Rydin moaned and tried to pick himself up off the ground. That snapped Valia out of her daze. She bent down next to him. “You gonna be okay?”
He grunted. “I’ll be fine. Just need a minute. Or several minutes.” He watched the guards string up Debol. “How did you do that?”
Her face flushed. She knew Sensus demons had power, but she’d never done anything like that before. Most of the time she could barely even read auras properly. But she’d been so furious, so upset at the sight of Rydin being stabbed and beaten, that miniscule part of her, the remnants from her father the Sensus demon, had taken over her body. And she’d done to them what she’d done to Rydin those years ago. She’d bound their auras to hers and forced them to bend to her will.
It wasn’t the time to tell him. She didn’t think there’d ever be a good time. But right now he needed medical attention.
Chapter Seven
“You need to get out of here,” Rydin said through gritted teeth. “Debol will have called more guards and assassins through the contract bond. This place will be swarming with them any minute. You have to get out of this realm.”
“Well you’re coming with. Gotta patch ya up. We’ll bring him too, and you can kill him later. It’ll be fun.”
“I can’t leave.”
“Why the hell not?”
“The bon
d—”
“Bond? You knocked him around, maybe you can flash outta here too.”
“No clue how I was able to do that. Don’t have the strength to port now anyway. My fate is sealed.”
“Bullshit. I’ll flash you.”
Araya’s voice cut in, “We need to get out of here, Valia.”
Fin and Kean had the wild Sempire secured. Barely.
“No!” she screamed. “Please, my brother. We have to find him.”
“Brother?” Araya, Fin, Kean, and Valia all said in unison.
Rydin grunted, trying to stand. “He’s down the hall, third door on the right. Name’s Baden.”
“Stay still,” Valia told him. “Your blood spurts when you move. You’re gonna run out.” Then to one of the guards she said, “You, get the brother.” He complied.
“I am Ferox. I am fine.” Rydin reached into Valia’s boot and removed the dagger. “He must die now.”
Valia helped Rydin inch closer to Debol.
“Araya, Kean, Fin, get out of here. Kiberry, you too.” Kiberry extended a wing and wrapped it protectively around the other Tengur. Holy crap. Kiberry found himself a girlfriend. If the situation wasn’t so dire, she’d take a minute to enjoy how precious that was. “She can go too, but you gotta make sure she doesn’t kill anyone at home.”
“We’re not leaving you alone,” Araya said.
“I’m not alone. I have two guards and Rydin.”
They looked skeptical until the remaining guard spoke out. “We’ll keep her safe. She freed us from his hold.” He motioned toward Debol.
Valia avoided Rydin’s gaze. She could feel his questioning look scrutinizing her.
“Fine, if you’re not back in five minutes, we’ll be back. Gotta get this one secured.”
“Hey dude, what’s your name?” Valia asked.
“Aidor.”
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