“He gave me his blood.” Kindara remembered exactly how he had tasted. “Will demon blood impact anything? Negative or positive?”
It shouldn’t, considering that the babe was half Demon, but…she wasn’t.
“I’ve never studied demon blood, Kinney. Or its impact on females of our Kind. I just don’t know. If I had some to test, compare with ours, I’d maybe be able to answer that. But it will take time.”
“I’ll get you plenty of demon blood. I’m going to go drain him dry right now.”
She took the back way, around the indoor pool where Jierra and Jambu used to spend so much of their time while in high school. Jambu’s treachery would still have to be dealt with, but Kindara felt the medical needs and research of her people must ultimately come first. She had lived long enough that betrayal was not new to her.
Very little was.
Her hand dropped to cover where her babe now rested.
A half-demon babe most certainly was new.
How was she to reconcile a babe’s needs with her those of her people? Could she do it? When Jierra had been young, Kindara had focused on her exclusively. Had needed to, in order to heal from her own loss. But now the stakes for the Dardaptoan race was so much larger. Would it be fair—could she be fair—to a babe in the midst of trying to save her people?
She would have to be. Nothing would keep her from seeing her babe had everything he needed. Nothing.
Damn that demon. And damn herself for not even considering the possibility that a demon and Dardaptoan could reproduce...
Had she ever heard of a half-demon/half-Dardaptoan babe before? They weren’t even of the same worlds, demons and Dardaptoans. Demons lived in what she understood to be a completely other realm created by gods far different than the ones who’d created her peoples, the Kinds of her worlds. Yes, humans inhabited her world, but they had come after. Well after.
Demons followed the humans to this world occasionally—so Cormac had said—usually for nefarious reasons. No Dardaptoan and demon had cross mated, that Kindara had ever heard.
Lucky her to be the first. She’d go down in the history books for this one.
She brushed a hand over her stomach where her babe rested. She would do anything to protect the babe, already. Anything.
And she could never truly regret a babe.
A babe.
She carried a babe again. Intense love and fear mingled inside her. Dardaptoan females were hardwired to long for babes. Families.
She was no exception.
A pop behind her had her spinning to face the bastard who’d ruined her careful plans. “You!”
He grinned, sending his eyes flashing flame. Kindara could actually smell the heat of him. It took everything she had to keep from throwing herself right at him and snuggling close to that muscled chest.
She was stronger than that.
“Me. I’ve come for you, pet.”
She evaded reaching hands with a quick sidestep. “To do what? Ruin another plan I’ve made?”
She knew she was being unfair—she’d taken her clothes off pretty damned quick for him. Practically the first time he’d crooked his finger in her direction.
The babe was just as much her doing as his.
But demons were supposed to be able to stop spawning from happening with a simple magic incantation. That he hadn’t used it—that was fully on him.
That it hadn’t even occurred to her that it would be necessary—creating babes was exceptionally hard for Dardaptoans—was on her.
She was a healer, for Goddess’s sake. She knew where babes came from.
Equal culpability. They shared that.
Her hand covered her babe again.
Culpability wasn’t the only thing they were going to share.
His hot hand covered hers, where it rested over the babe they had created together.
“To determine what it is we are to do. For you, for our spawn. Rathanulus will be a great leader someday.”
It took every ounce of her willpower to refrain from thunking him on his thick head. “Iustis will be a great healer. If the babe a boy. If the babe is a girl, I don’t know what I will call her yet. Nikanna, after my mother, most likely.”
“Of course, it will not be female. Firstborn Malickus spawn are most often male, although my brother has a female spawn who I adore. She is his only spawn and is all of five years old. She’s quite the little dictator. You will like her.” He stared at her for a moment, as if he was contemplating something. Then he nodded, a look of heat in his eyes she couldn’t quite interpret. “We will have daughters later. At least one daughter will be nice. If you can safely carry more spawn after this one. I will not risk you again if it is not safe. But I think I would like a dozen daughters who all look like their mother.”
He stepped closer, sending her retreating. She stopped only when she felt the cold of the wall behind her. His scent surrounded her.
Her fangs erupted.
Goddess above, she was starved for him.
He loomed in front of her, his silk-clad chest brushing her bare arms where she’d crossed them in front of herself. “We have all the time in the world to discuss it. Well, a little more than nine months. Come, I think you’ve been on your feet long enough for today, don’t you?”
There he went again, telling her what to do. She was constantly warring with the desire to strangle him, and the desire to throw herself against him and take her fill. Damn him. “I am not going anywhere with you.”
“What if I simply took you again? I vowed to get you home safely. I’ve done that. Nothing says I cannot take you again. And again. And again. Of course, there are multiple definitions of take.” His words slipped against the skin of her neck, and Kindara fought not to react.
Damned sex demon—she was a weak idiot where he was concerned. Completely. Her fingers wanted to touch. She clenched her fists instead. And willed her fangs to recede. A part of her subconscious was screaming out to taste him. That he was hers. She had every right to whatever she wanted to do with him. “And again, and again. As many times each night and day as you want me to. Just say the word.”
Of course, she would find him attractive; his Kind was designed to lure females physically. But she should be stronger than that. Her hands flattened against his chest. She tried to push, but he was as hard as granite against her. “Back off, demon!”
“Or what?”
Sharp teeth grazed her neck. That most extremely sensitive skin on a Dardaptoan female—above the waist. He knew. Of course, he knew. Kindara bit back a whimper. She hadn’t felt lust like this in a long, long time. “Damn it, demon…”
“I know you want this, pet. You’ll deny me—us—this? I don’t think you can. I know you enjoyed what we did as much as I. You’re a healthy and beautiful female. You have needs as much as any other female does. Why should I not be good enough to fulfill your needs? I am the king, after all. The highest demon king in existence. The epitome of Incubi in all the worlds. Who better than me? I can give you everything you want. And will do so happily. It is my right as your lover. As your gamata.”
“You coerced me under conditions that were false.” Tears of anger had her words choking out. Anger…anger was easier than desire. “How does that give you rights over me? You consider me less than real, more like property. You want—you take. How is that right?”
Confusion covered his face when he pulled back slightly. “Of course, I consider you real. That’s a ridiculous assumption. Don’t you understand? I would die for you and our spawn. Willingly. And I would give you all that I can. And that is a considerable amount. How can that be so wrong? A demon female would kill for what I am offering—”
“But that’s just it. I’m no demon female, and you are no Dardaptoan male. And this should never have come to be.” Fear for what would happen next had her shivering against him. His warmth surrounded her immediately. As if he knew exactly what she needed in that moment.
Like a Rajni woul
d have.
But that…that was not who he was to her. He never could be. This…this was a false feeling. He’d caused it. For whatever reason, he’d done this. To her.
Made him feel like a Rajni. When he could never be.
“We can make the best of this, pet. Make a family for our spawn. Do we not owe it to him...or her?” His hand covered her abdomen.
Scorched her skin, even through her healer-blue vestis.
“How? I’ve a purpose for my people. One I will not give up, even for a babe. Especially for a babe. Do you know how many of our females are taken by blood loss during childbirth? Or strange infections that weaken our bodies afterward? Making it difficult to nurse our babes—who often are lost to starvation in the months past birth? It is my task, my calling, to find a way to stop this. And now I have even less time to do this. My daughter—she carries Lupoiux. I have to do this.”
“I know of your females’ plight. And if it will help you, I pledge all my Kind’s resources to assist you in your search for answers. My entire realm is at your disposal. A mate is to help, and isn’t that what we now are?”
“We will never be mates. I have had only one mate, and you are not him.”
“I will not be him, but I will not compete with a dead male either, pet. You and I have a future together. We are gamatas. What we make of it is up to us. Do not tempt me to just take you from this place altogether. I can do it, easily. I just have to open a single port opening, and you and I can pass through to my lands. Do you want me to do that? Just take you from your home and your daughter? I don’t want to do that. But this is my spawn, my heir growing here.” He cupped her abdomen, ignoring her hissing protest. “I will stop at nothing to protect him—and you.”
“And if I tell my brother to kill you? To set his warriors after you? What will you do then?” Even speaking it caused sweat to bead on her forehead and fear to rush through her heart. The idea of something happening to him sickened her. Somehow, her hands wrapped around his biceps and clung to the hard flesh.
“Think you that he would do it? Joselyn is a particular friend of mine, like a wee sister to me. Think you she would allow your brother to hurt one of her family? Would he choose you over his mate? Might as well accept it, my love. I am yours, and you are mine now. We might not be Rajnis in the true sense of the word for your people, but we will be more. A gamata bond is just as unbreakable. Probably more so. I will follow you to the next world, when the time comes.”
“I’m not your gamata.” She had to do some serious research. Because she didn’t know what he was talking about. And that terrified her. Because what he was saying sounded right. Perfect. She needed to find out everything she could about gamatas. Fast. Alaun’s books hadn’t prepared her for this. “I will not be told what I can and cannot do by one such as you. I’ve made my own decisions for decades, even centuries. That has not changed now, despite your delusions.”
“It’s not a delusion, pet. I’ve claimed you now. Gamata. You…” He stepped closer until his hot hands were wrapped around her shoulders and he was pulling her to him. “Are now the queen of the world. My world. Relaklonos. Best get used to it. You are mine. For eternity. You will never be away from me again.”
Holy Goddess.
He meant it.
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Her slight body shook. Rathan ran a soothing hand down her arm and stepped back, though he truly wanted nothing more than to carry her off somewhere private. Where he could show her how it could be between them.
He slipped his medallion off his neck, the disk given to him by his father when Rathan had taken the realm from him. He placed it in her hand and wrapped her fingers around it. “If you have need of me, touch this and say my name. It will bring me to you instantly.”
She stared down at it. “From anywhere? Seriously?”
“Anywhere in this world. I must be in the same world as the wearer for it to work. But it will bring me to you. It works off the gamata bond, which will only grow stronger between us. It was my father’s, but he has never found a gamata. He gave it to me before he left. Now go. I shall find you after your meeting. We have much to discuss between us.”
Rathan watched as she scurried down the gilded hallway, as if the fire of the three hells was on her heels.
She should be safe enough within the walls of her people’s resort. There were Dardaptoan guards on every entrance. Security camaras were visible.
She had his medallion.
But letting her out of his sight made him damned nervous. In a variety of ways.
He popped into the room where Rand prowled, staring at the Dardaptoans surrounding him. Mallory was on her twin’s left, and only she seemed glad at his appearance. “Hey, Rath, Kindara kick you to the curb?”
“She has a meeting. I will be finding her again once it’s over. I don’t want to be a smothering mate. Unlike your beast of a bloodsucker. What is this? Everyone-glare-at-Rand time?”
“How could you guys do it? And why did you keep all of...what you are secret? Didn’t we have a right to know?” Mallory’s temper sparked in her green eyes. She’d always been so beautiful, so fiery. One of his favorite female humans ever. “We get that Grandfather was a great bastard to these people. He wasn’t that great of a guy to us. But you took innocent people in retaliation. Not smart there, boys.”
“Back off, Mal,” Rand said from near the entrance to the garden. His female was visible through the glass, walking a small reddish-brown puppy. “We did what we had to do. We’ll continue to do what we have to do.”
“Did you, then?” Mallory’s words hissed out between her newly acquired fangs. Rathan had to admit she made a beautiful Dardaptoan female. Fangs suited her. “Just as the king here thought they were doing what they were supposed to as well.”
“So all is not what you would have it?” Rathan knelt beside her. Took her soft hands in his. “Do you wish to leave this place, then? Are you not happy with your Rajni? Mickey? Are you not?”
“I’m very happy with Theo!” Rand’s younger sister shook her head. “That’s not what Mallory is saying. We just want to know if this is the end of all of it. We need to focus on the future. Apparently, it’s going to be a lot longer than we first thought. And I, for one, want to know that my baby is going to be safe.”
“You’re pregnant.”
Mickey blushed and nodded.
Children of her own had long been a private dream of hers. But Rathan had known.
Her babe and his spawn would be born around the same season, would grow up together as playmates. As they would with Rand’s.
Mallory didn’t answer Rathan’s questions, and he did not overlook that. Was the female still troubled by her past? She was at ease with her large Dardaptoan protector, though he was not in the room with her now.
Rathan could only hope her Rajni had been gentle with her.
“It does end for me, here. I must focus on other things. I must soon return to my realm. My home. I have unfinished business I must attend to.”
“Other realms? Come on, Rath. This isn’t exactly sci-fi.” Mallory challenged him openly. She always had; it was one of the things he loved about her.
Oh, what would she think if she saw the wonders his Relaklonos held? At one time, before the vicious attack on her, he had considered asking her brother to bring her to his world. But she had been human, and that was against all the rules of the Kinds. He could have made the exception. Mallory and Jade, especially, would have loved his world.
After the attack, Mallory was far too fragile, and he had set that thought aside. But not now.
“Is it not? Your brother and uncle are werewolves. And you are a vampire, my fiery love.” Rathan smiled, flashing fangs fully for the first time in the females’ presence before throwing his head back to expose the horns his hair normally covered. “And I am demon. Head demon, king of all demon Kinds. I returned to help Rand with this…matter. Now…my world awaits their king, as does my family. Someday, kitten, your warrior
should bring you to my world. It holds wonders you cannot ever imagine. I think you will like it there, if you are ever to visit.”
“You have a family? There are more of you?” Mickey asked.
“I have many siblings—half siblings, mostly. At last count, I had eighty-three or eighty-four younger sisters. And nearly four hundred brothers. That is the way of it in my world. We are not close, not like you. One thing I have enjoyed being with your family here. My father is gone—I think. I battled him for the throne some four thousand years ago. He stepped aside willingly. He could be out wandering, wreaking havoc, but I’m not entirely certain. He is just one task I must deal with upon my return.” Others included making certain his castle and world were as safe for his gamata as he could make it.
“Why?” Mallory asked, suspicion on her face. She at least realized his story had a few holes.
“My world is as complex as this one, pet. Maybe even more so, considering how ancient the Kinds there are. With kingdoms and factions and even different demon species vying for control of it all. That control is currently in the hands of my court, but that could change so easily. It is time I returned as leader of my Kind. I’ve been gone almost a month now. And that is just far too long. Anything can happen in that time.”
“And where does my mother fit into this?” A feminine voice asked him from the garden door. Rathan caught the tightening of Rand’s features out of the corner of his eye. Rand’s mate clutched her young dog close and eyed the crowd.
Eyed her male like he was poised to bite her.
The two were proving difficult. Rand needed to just carry the female away and fix things between them. Before the girl gave birth.
“That is between us, do you not suppose? I will tell you this; I will see to it that she is happy.” Rathan kept his words gentle. Did the girl know of the sibling growing within her mother yet? He did not think so. It would be Kindara’s secret to share. When she was ready. “And protected.”
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