He also looked to be exactly the same age as his two sons, but before Selma had a chance to reflect on that startling realization, the demon’s black eyes landed on her, and all her contemplation halted as she tried to suppress a shudder. Something was off in his deep gaze—like she was staring into an abyss, not a person’s soul.
Thankfully he shifted his disturbing eyes back to Kesh after perusing her for only a few seconds.
“Why else would you come? I take it the woman is the Breeder your brother claimed a few days ago. Is he dead?”
His calm tone made Selma frown. He was talking about his child’s potential death with no more emotion than if they’d been discussing the weather.
“No, but the prince attacked him and gave him away to the queen so she can breed him. He needs our help.”
Selma hadn’t meant to draw the disturbing demon’s attention back to her, but his apparent lack of care made her push past Kesh’s protective shoulder to glare at the man who’d raised her mate.
“Our help, little Breeder?” Kirigan’s eyebrows crept up a few millimeters. “You care what happens to the beast who raped you?”
Unexpected anger flared in her chest at hearing the gentle giant who’d protected and cared for her spoken about as if he were anything like the monster who had actually raped her.
“He’s no rapist. He was going to set me free. Yes, I care for him—he’s my mate and the father of my child, and I don’t care what fucked up relationship you obviously have with him! I am going to save him—and if you’re not going to help me, I’m wasting my time.”
Something shifted in the dark, dangerous depths of Kirigan’s gaze, and realization of what she’d just said set in like a cold shock. Reflexively she stepped back, plastering her back against Kesh’s strong torso in instinctive search of protection.
“Well, well, aren’t you a little firecracker?” Kirigan mused before taking another sip of alcohol. “And pregnant? I suppose that explains why Kain would send her to you for help.” He raised an eyebrow at Kesh.
The demon behind her let out a low rumble, almost imperceptibly putting his shoulder back between her and his father.
“Apparently. Nevertheless, if he’s still alive as she says, I’m going to go get him. I assumed you would care what happened to your oldest son too, or I would not have brought his mate here.”
Kirigan’s upper lip curled in a snarl—the first expression of emotion she’d seen on him. “Of course I care. You and he are the only reason I still suffer through the torture of walking this Earth, despite what hatred for me still festers in your hearts.
“However, one does not simply charge into battle against the Queen of Demons, nor sling accusations of betrayal against our king’s heir. We need to plan, and you need to take care of the female—she’s dead on her feet, her sharp tongue notwithstanding.”
“As you wish. We will speak further in the morning.”
Kesh’s large hand found her shoulder again, and when he practically herded her out of the room, she got the distinct impression he was happy to put distance between them and his father.
“And Kesh?” Kirigan’s deep baritone called after them just before the door shut in their wake.
Kesh paused, and she could have sworn she heard a muted profanity slip past his lips. “Father?”
“Make sure the Breeder does not roam around unescorted. It would be a pity if she came to any harm.”
Selma’s heart jumped into her throat at the casual threat, and she gladly followed Kesh when he steered her down several long hallways and up a winding flight of stairs.
“What the hell did he mean by that? Did he just threaten me?” she finally asked when she was absolutely certain they were out of earshot.
The demon by her side sighed. “He is… not entirely stable, and he will occasionally lash out. It was not a threat—he likely doesn’t want to accidentally hurt you if he comes across you while he’s in one of his moods, and that was just a reminder for me not to let you out of my sight.”
She glanced up at Kain’s brother, frowning. “Is it because I might remind him of your mother? My scent, I mean.”
An odd expression crossed Kesh’s features and he gave her a long look out of the corner of his eye. “He told you?”
“About how she died? Yeah. I’m… I’m sorry. You were even younger than Kain—it must have been so hard for you, too.”
Despite the horrors of the night and the near-debilitating exhaustion starting to creep up along her limbs, she felt sadness for the tragedy that had ripped this family apart—and a stab of guilt for springing the subject on him.
Kesh’s dark eyes narrowed. “He knew you before that auction, didn’t he?”
Selma bit the inside of her cheek as she remembered the first time she’d seen Kain. “Yes. He saved me. It’s a long story. I didn’t think he was going to come to my auction, but he did—to save me again.”
“So that’s why he went. When I heard my brother was going to attend a Breeder’s auction, I didn’t believe it—until I saw him march down the stairs and challenge the Prince of Demons himself. Never thought he’d bid on a mate.”
