What the—?After a shocked second, she thrust him off her, breathing hard. She swiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Do you have a death wish?” she snarled. If only she could summon Týr’s obsidian dagger. Before the gut-wrenching pain hit again at the reality of losing him, she bit out, “Do that again, and you’re dead, demon!”
“Relax. I had to cover you with my scent so the demons here know you’re marked as my consort and will back off. But you sure are a feisty one.” Nicor shook his head, chuckling. “If only I was more female-inclined, I’d fight your sire, your brother, and even your Guardian boyfriend for you.”
“Nicor!” Riley growled. “Go find my sire.”
Great. Fake-claimed by a gay demon. But knowing that Nicor had no interest in her except for her safety eased her a little. Kira rubbed her mouth again and followed Riley up the many stairs.
On the top floor, Riley headed down the corridor, opened the door into a small hallway, and stepped into a spacious chamber. The walls lit up like stars from hundreds of recessed orbs. In this dark and dismal place, it looked like an oasis of tranquility.
Lights cast a soft glow over the charcoal-gray stone walls and vaulted ceiling. Pale-gray granite floors ran the length of the living room. Several tall, arched windows broke up the overwhelming flow of the stone walls. To her left on the far side, an open door revealed a bedroom.
This place, tranquil? It was all a damn lie.
She wheeled back to Riley. “I want the truth. No more subterfuge or half-truths. If you do, Iwillclimb out that window, and if I fall,youcan explain toyourfather why I got hurt.”
Riley’s lips twitched as he wandered around the room, passing the cream leather-like couches. “Don’t do that to make him pay, Kira. Beyond this citadel are just barren lands where the malcontents roam. They are vicious and dangerous.” A tic worked his jaw as if he remembered something bad. “I promise you, once you get the meeting with our sire over with and let him celebrate this birthday with you, I’ll take you back to the human world myself.”
“You don’t understand, my grandmother’s old. If she finds out what happened, she could have a heart attack—wait! Does she know any of this? Who my father is?”
“No…” Riley’s brow creased as he stopped at the window. “I don’t think so. Like I said, I only found out about you a year ago. I didn’t say anything the first time we met because I wanted you to have a normal life before everything changed forever.”
Kira sagged onto the arm of the couch and rubbed her burning eyes. “How did this happen? With me living in the human world?”
“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him.”
She looked to where he leaned against the low windowsill, eyeing him thoughtfully. “Did your mate calmly accept all this? Did she even come here to Stygia or know that it exists?”
“She does…” A hint of a smile. “Saia and I, our relationship was tenuous and totally impossible at first. My fault, I guess. I wanted her safe, so I kept her at arm’s-length. Then she was abducted by a demon and brought to this world—”
“Like me?”
“Not exactly. Our sirewantsyou here. That fucker used Saia to get revenge on me and took her to the barren lands. The malcontents who roam the place would have sold her to be kept as a trophy or worse as a sex slave had I not come after her. Humans are hunted here. It’s why leaving this fortress is a very bad idea.”
Okay, definitely not stepping out there. “Why did he want revenge?”
“Long story. Let’s just say he worked for someone who hated my guts and what I was.” His jaw hardened. “Don’t worry, he’s dead now.”
Riley’s tone was so cold, but it was good to know that. “And, Saia? Was she okay being here?” Kira asked, curious now.
“Not at first. But none would dare touch her now. My mate is good at handling the demons here.”
Meaning,shewasn’t so brave? Just because she didn’t like fighting and killing, didn’t mean she couldn’t.
“So, is this father of mine…I meanours”—she paused, grinding her teeth at the truth—“is he a big deal or something? I mean, he lives in a castle.”
“Actually, it’s a fortress…” Riley angled his head, his brow creasing as if he were listening to something. “I’ll be back.”
He walked out, stopping to talk to the two guards at the door who’d magically appeared.
Kira jumped up, undid her apron, pulled off her sweater, and tossed them on the couch. She rubbed her sticky arms, stomped across to the window, and rested her palms on the windowsill. A warm, slightly sulfuric breeze brushed her face. Wonderful.
As much as she didn’t want to think about the part that weighed like lead on her heart, her thoughts slipped back to Týr. The fury on his face as he flashed to her had pain constricting her chest like a lasso. Thank God, he hadn’t jumped through the portal. If he had, then he would have learned the truth, and would already be hating her.
Once she got back home, she’d have to see him, and hope—no, she prayed—he’d still want her, despite what she was. But the thought was a hollow one when she remembered his absolute hatred of demons.
Her chest heavy, Kira scowled at the reddish shrubs and their darker-colored flowers in the private courtyard, wanting so badly to see blue skies and the tranquil green bushes of Earth.
A pulse of power shot through her like an electric buzz. Kira stumbled back. What the heck? She stared at her prickling, red palms.
A knock on the door distracted her. She hastily hid her hands behind her back, fighting to tamp down the buzzing.
“Kira?” Riley called out, and she relaxed a little. He opened the door and stepped inside. “Come. Our sire awaits you.”
