Forest of Demons

by Debbie Cassidy

  “Say what?”

  “Crud Bojan, I’m not blind. Just say what it is you want to say, and let’s move on.”

  Bojan hung his head, his shoulders rising and falling. When he spoke his voice was low, soft, but in no way judgemental.

  “I understand chief, I do, but you need to stop. You can stop, and everything can go back to the way it was. If you don’t . . . if you don’t, it won’t end well. Fen’s an idiot, but he’s not stupid. Crud, I’m not explaining myself too well, am I?”

  Aryan didn’t respond, because to do so would be to incriminate himself. He’d given Bojan the opportunity to vent and he had. Bojan hadn’t said anything that Aryan hadn’t thought already, but what his warrior brother didn’t understand was that words and thoughts paled in the face of Valasea’s beauty. All that mattered was action, his hands on her, and hers on him.

  “Chief? Aryan? Are you listening to me?”

  “I heard you.” He pushed off the wall. “I’ll see you inside.”

  “You’re playing with fire, you can’t just—”

  Aryan shut the door, cutting off his words.

  Valasea was seated in his spot when he returned. She pinned him with her sunshine eyes, a tiny smile playing on her lips. He looked away.

  “Aryan love, could you taste this?” Mia beckoned him from the stove.

  He joined her, opening his mouth to taste the sauce on her spoon. He licked his lips, nodding in approval.

  Mia cupped his cheek, running her thumb fondly over his jaw.

  Valasea was watching. He could feel her eyes burning holes into the back of his head. He pulled away from Mia, pretending not to see the hurt that played across her face.

  He rejoined the group at the table.

  “Where is Victor?”

  “Checking on Hera,” Cadoc said.

  The door opened, and Victor appeared, shaking his head. “She’s still sleeping. I’m not sure when she’ll wake up.”

  “That’s fine,” Cadoc said. “Let her sleep. I should get back to Alma. The baby has been keeping her up, and she’s exhausted. I’ll be back later.”

  Fen rose with him. “We should be going too. I’ll come round later with Cadoc when Hera’s awake.”

  “But shouldn’t we be here when she wakes?” Valasea asked.

  Fen turned on her, his eyes flashing. “She barely knows you. I’m sure you won’t be missed.”

  Valasea flinched, her eyes misting. She glanced in Aryan’s direction as if imploring him to intervene. Aryan averted his gaze. There was nothing he could do. She belonged to Fen.

  “Come on. Get up!” Fen reached for her arm, but she dodged him and stood, her head held high. Without another look in his direction, she strode out of the room.

  Fen stood by the table for a moment, his chest heaving.

  “Fen?” Cadoc reached for him.

  Fen pulled his arm away. “I’m fine. We’ll be fine. I’ll talk to her, I promise.”

  Aryan watched him leave, and after a few minutes Cadoc followed. He was alone with Mia and Victor.

  “What was that all about?” Victor asked.

  “Nothing you need to worry about.” Aryan said.

  Victor snorted. “Typical. They tell you that you’re a man, but they treat you like a child.”

  Mia placed a bowl of stew and a plate of bread before him, and then took the seat beside him. “Victor, I suspect this has more to do with the fact that what happens between life-mates is no one’s business but their own.”

  Victor tore a hunk of bread and dipped it in the stew but didn’t bring it to his mouth. He kept his eyes fixed on his bowl. “Is what happened to my da my business? I am a man now, and I want to know what killed my da. I have a right to know. I know Ama asked you not to tell me, but I have a right to know.”

  Aryan glanced at Mia, who gnawed on her lip a moment before nodding.

  Aryan sighed. “You have a right to know, but your ama is trying to protect you.”

  “But—”

  Aryan held up his hand. “But I will tell you, because yes, you are now a man. It is your duty to protect your ama now, so you must be strong.”

  Victor put down the hunk of bread.

  Aryan licked his lips and began to speak.

  Aryan had seen Victor become a man before his eyes. As he had relayed the events leading to Earl’s death, the boy’s spine had straightened, his jaw broadened, and his whole demeanor had shifted from uncertain to sure. Afterward, when all had been said, and Hera still slept, Victor had urged them home, assuring them that he would fetch them if needed.

  As they washed and undressed for bed, Aryan became aware of a strange tension between him and Mia. She had been more subdued than usual on their journey back, and now as she combed her long locks, her movements were jerky, almost angry. He was weary, but to ignore this was to allow it to fester, and so he did what a good life-mate would do.

  “Mia? Are you all right?”

  She paused in her combing, raising her face to his. “How well do you know her?”

  Frack! “Who?”

  Mia held his gaze. “Valasea.”

  She was staring at him, studying his face. He had done nothing wrong . . . he had to believe it or she would see. “About as well as you would suspect. I’ve met her once before, briefly. Fen speaks of her often though. The man is truly in love.” He forced a chuckle.

  Mia dropped his gaze. “Oh.”

  He wanted to leave it at that, but knew that an innocent male would not. An innocent male would question his life-mate, ask her for the reason behind her question, so, he played the innocent.

  “Why do you ask?”

  Mia shook her head. “It’s nothing. It’s silly.”

  He cupped her shoulder. “Tell me.”

  “I saw the way she was looking at you. I saw the way you looked at her, and then at the stove you pulled away from me as if ashamed of my touch.” Her lips trembled.

  Crud, the woman was more perceptive than he had given her credit for. He would need to be more careful in the future. He slid his hand up her neck to caress her cheek, and she leaned into him closing her eyes.

  “Mia, you have nothing to fear. I pulled away because it felt wrong to feel contentment at your touch in such terrible circumstances.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s been a long day. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”

  The crisis seemed to have been averted, but Aryan realized he would need to show Mia more affection in the future. Maybe a child would put her mind elsewhere.

  He slipped into bed behind her, pulling her against him. He closed his eyes and summoned Valasea’s face.

  Mia gasped, but didn’t protest as he pushed her forward and slid into her from behind. He fucked her with intent. A child, he would give her a child, and all would be resolved.

  Later that night he found himself at the baths. It had become their secret meeting place. They met frequently late at night, snatching moments here and there. He needed to see her, to touch her. A week was too long not to have tasted her. Time ticked by, and he was about to give up hope when her scent reached him. She appeared a moment later, but where he expected to see smiles he saw only tears.

  “Valasea? What happened?”

  She rushed into his arms, burying her face in his chest.

  “Valasea?”

  “Fen.” Her voice was muffled by his furs. “Fen was furious with me. He suspects, I swear he suspects something.”

  Aryan grabbed her upper arms, pushing her back slightly. She winced. He froze, slowly uncurling his fingers from her flesh. What he saw underneath brought a red haze of fury to his vision.

  “He did this?” He indicated the dark bruises on her skin. “I’m going to kill him!” He pushed her aside, his fists aching to sink into Fen’s face.

  Valasea grabbed at him, trying to pull him back. “Aryan, please. You can’t say anything. It’ll make things worse.”

  Frack! She was right. He couldn’t act, not without alerting Fen to the affair
. He was impotent, useless! He slammed his fist against the rock, relishing the resulting pain.

  “Aryan!”

  Fen had laid his hands on her, hurt her, and he could do nothing. But she was here now. She belonged to him in every way that mattered. He had her heart, and she had claimed his. She was his.

  He turned to her, pulling her against him, taking her mouth in a desperate kiss. He pushed her to the ground, tearing at her robe. His vision tunnelling until he saw only her. Her lips, her eyes, her breasts, her nails raking across his skin, there was nothing and no one else, and when his seed erupted inside her, he knew he was home.

  ELEVEN

  “I saw your ama today,” Mia said, handing him a mug of spiced milk.

  “How is she? Is she looking forward to our visit tomorrow?”

  Mia winced. “Actually she has plans.”

  Aryan froze, the mug partway to his lips. “Plans?”

  Mia giggled. “Oh my love, if only I had a looking glass at hand so I could show you your face.”

  Aryan frowned, returning the mug to the table. “What plans?”

  “Well, she seems to have made some new friends among the Transition community, other females such as herself who have lost their life-mates to the eternal flame. They play cards and games, bring food.” She shrugged. “I think it’s sweet.”

  “But . . . she hasn’t seen me for weeks!”

  Mia frowned. “Well maybe you should make the effort to see her more often.”

  How dare she suggest that he was neglecting his ama? He was a good son, he did his best but he had duties, rotation and . . . Valasea. His anger evaporated. Maybe Mia was right. Maybe he had been negligent.

  He exhaled softly. “You’re right of course. I’ll go see her before I go to The Tap.”

  “Good, and don’t be too late home.”

  “Why?”

  Mia flinched as if he had struck her. “Well if you can’t think of a reason to come home then I’m obviously not being a very good life-mate.” The words were delivered like a slap.

  Aryan stared at her in shock. Mia never snapped. The only time she’d snapped at him was when . . . his face broke into a grin.

  Mia glared at him, hands on hips. “What’s so funny?”

  “You. Come here.” He held out his arms, and she looked at them warily. “Come on.” He wiggled his fingers. She pouted and capitulated, slipping into his arms and onto his lap.

  He cradled her to him and whispered in her ear. “I think I would like a daughter this time.”

  Mia tensed and then squealed with delight. “You do? Really?”

  He nodded against her hair, turning his head to place his lips to her temple. “I do. I’m sorry for last time.”

  She curled against him, her slight frame so different from Valasea’s powerful one, vibrating with happiness. He felt answering warmth spread through his abdomen, and in that moment he was truly happy.

  Aryan dropped by to find Ama entertaining friends. She proudly introduced him to the females in her group and even invited him to join them, but he politely declined. She kissed his cheek at the door and held him tight.

  “I’m glad you’re all right, Ama,” Aryan said.

  Ama smiled sadly. “It passes the time until I can be with your da again.”

  “Don’t say that. You have time. Enjoy it. Besides, you’re to be a grandama again soon.”

  Ama’s eyes lit up, she clapped her hands together. “Oh, my sweet boy, you have no idea how happy you have made me!”

  He left her to spread the news among her friends and made his way to the Tap. Bojan was waiting for him. The warrior had been insistent he not be late.

  He found Bojan seated in the darkest corner of the Tap. The blubber lamp had burned low, and he could barely make out the warriors features.

  “What are you doing sitting in the dark?” Aryan asked.

  “Trying not to be seen.”

  Aryan slid onto the bench opposite him. “So what did you want to speak to me about?”

  “In a moment. I’m waiting on someone.”

  Aryan sat back and crossed his arms. Bojan looked worried, his eyes shifty in the shadows.

  “Help yourself to the brew.” Bojan pushed a jug toward him. There was no mug, so Aryan swigged direct from the jug.

  It hit the spot just right. He sighed in contentment.

  “Who are we waiting for?” he asked.

  “No one,” Bojan said, “because he’s here.”

  A man slipped onto the bench beside Bojan. He looked vaguely familiar.

  “This your chief?” he asked Bojan.

  “Yes. Tell him what you told me.”

  The man nodded. “All right, but you didn’t hear it from me all right?” He fixed his eyes on Aryan and waited.

  Aryan frowned, what was he waiting for?

  Bojan kicked him under the table.

  “What?”

  The man leaned in. “Your word as a warrior.”

  Oh. “Yes, of course. My word, I didn’t hear anything from you.”

  The man nodded, satisfied. “They got the reserves in the tunnels now, working the rock. Word is there is no blue fluid. They’re coming up empty. The black rock’s scarce too. I heard Marduk talking to The Voice the other day when I was managing the tunnel workers.”

  “Wait. The Voice was at the tunnels?”

  “That’s what I just said. He was there, I heard him. Marduk said it was over. No more fuel. He said The City was living on its last breath. He said that conquest would be the only way to save Borea.”

  “That can’t be. How can they keep that from us?”

  Bojan held up his hand. “Wait, there’s more.” He nodded at the man, urging him to continue.

  “Bojan said you saw the monster . . . in the forest? Well you’re not the only ones. My Hand, we lost two men to that thing a few moons ago and Marduk wouldn’t listen to a word we said. I tell you, this whole thing stinks!”

  “We need to keep this between us for now,” Bojan said. “If Marduk finds out we know, who knows what he might do. He’s gone to great lengths to keep this from the citizens.”

  And what would happen if they found out? Panic, that’s what. Marduk was infuriating at the best of times, but now Aryan understood his dismissive attitude had been a cover. He already knew about the problem and, was working to overcome them best he could.

  “Conquest is the name of the new fleet. Do you know about that?” Aryan asked the man.

  He shook his head. “No. Marduk mentioning it was the first I’d heard of it.”

  “So we wait. Marduk will have a plan, and when he reveals it we do all we can to help.”

  The man bid them farewell and slunk out of The Tap.

  Bojan sipped from his mug before turning up the lamp to casting a cheery glow of light around them. “Have you seen Hera today?”

  “No. Cadoc said he would check on her and Victor.”

  “It’s been days, and we still haven’t been assigned a replacement.”

  “If things are as bad as your friend says then maybe we won’t be getting one. Maybe we’ll be shipped off on this Conquest fleet sooner than we think.”

  They drank in silence for a while.

  “How’s Mia?”

  “Good. She’s carrying.”

  Bojan perked up. “That’s wonderful news. I’m glad.” He reached out to pat Aryan’s shoulder. “I’m glad our talk helped.”

  What was he talking about?

  Bojan’s smile faded. “You’re still seeing her aren’t you?”

  Frack!

  “How can you do this? Bring a child into the world when your heart is divided? It’s wrong!”

  Aryan drained his jug. “My personal life is none of your business.” He swung his legs over the bench and made to stand, almost crashing into Fen.

  How long had he been standing there?

  “You’re leaving? I just got here. Come on, stay for one more.” Fen slapped a hand on his shoulder, pressing him ba
ck into his seat.

  Aryan caught Bojan’s worried frown before he wiped it.

  Fen raised his hand. “Emille! Another jug please!”

  Aryan stared at the table, confused. Had Fen heard them talking or not? Rotation today had been strained. Aryan had been unable to wipe the image of Valasea’s bruises from his mind, and his words had been delivered more sharply when aimed at Fen.

  Emille slapped another jug and two mugs on the table.

  Fen filled the mugs. “You looking forward to your respite day?”

  Aryan took the proffered mug. “Yes. You?”

  “Very much, now that Valasea and I have resolved our differences. We had a talk.” He gulped his brew, wiping his mouth with back of his hand. “We have an understanding.” He pinned Aryan with his icy blue eyes, and for the first time Aryan saw a grown man staring back at him, a grown man filled with menace and knowledge.

  He raised his own mug and took a swig. “Good to hear.” He drained it and set it down. “Well, I promised Mia I would be home early, so enjoy your brew, brothers.” Aryan swung his legs over the bench and stood, stretching to his full height. He looked down his nose at Fen, ignoring Bojan’s warning glare. “Females are such delicate things, their feelings bruise so easily.”

  He studied Fen’s face as he spoke, expecting to see a flash of guilt, some sign of awareness, but the male didn’t even flinch.

  Aryan snorted. Shaking his head, he turned to leave.

  “May we meet again.” Fen called after him.

  He entered his home to the smell of freshly baked bread. His irritation with Fen, and his longing for Valasea instantly melted. This was the scent of home.

  In the family room he smiled at the neatly set table—two plates and two mugs, and a jug of what looked suspiciously like Red Brew.

  “Mia?” he wandered into the bedchamber and lost his smile in a frown. It was empty. Where was she?

  The door slammed. He hurried back into the family room. “Mia?”

  She was standing, arms braced on the table, head hanging between her shoulders. At the sound of her name she raised her head to look at him with red-rimmed eyes.

  “Mia? What’s happened?” He took a stride bringing him to her side.