* * *
It had been hours since Týr had left with Riley and Nicor, and his playful wink hadn’t reassured her at all. Kira prowled the room, slowing down at the window. She swiped the dampness from her brow, surveying the barren landscape. It wasn’t any different from her earlier curiosity when she’d just gaped at the desolate lands and the remote, inky river snaking like a thread between the dunes.
Yep, all remained the same, humid and hot, except the sky was a lighter shade of purple now. And the distant volcano appeared to have let go of its furious temper and now half-assedly disgorged its fiery spittle.
Ugh. She made her way back to the couch and sighed at the few books on the wooden table Riley had sent to her room. Much as she loved reading, right now, she wished she had a TV here to distract herself.
Someone rapped loudly on the door. Her heart nearly frog-leaped out the window.
Dammit. Inhaling a sharp breath, Kira marched across the room, opened the door, and found herself facing one of those daunting, expressionless demon guards in black and gray that followed Wrath like phantoms. And this one had deeply furrowed ridges on his brow and short black horns.
“Your sire requests that you join him in his study.”
Oh, great. Alone-time with the intimidating man who was her father.
A hand pressed to her heaving stomach as if it would stop her from wanting to hurl, Kira followed the guard. The two posted at her door shadowed her.
As wary as she was, it was too surreal being here in Stygia, living in this fortress with her father… A demon.
Straightening her spine, she continued along the slightly familiar hallway where burning torches cast pools of light to brighten the way. The stiff-faced guard opened the tall, black door, and she cautiously stepped into the vast study.
An enormous shadow moved alongside the huge, ebony desk set in the tower part of the chamber.
Oh, shit! She scrambled away, her back hitting something behind her, her hands grabbing a wooden shelf. A dragonish monster with blackish red scales appeared from the darkness, its enormous reptilian head almost touching the tall, domed ceiling. A snarl rumbled from its throat, and the small car it called a head lowered to her, its gigantic fangs an inch above her head. Slitted black eyes watched her as if it spied some tasty snack.
“Enough, Erogus.”
At Wrath’s low command, the monster instantly withdrew to lay down meekly again like an easygoing pussycat, its massive head resting on its front paws tipped with deadly talons.
“Wha-what is that?” she gasped as her father entered from an adjoining room.
“A wyvern.”
“You should seriously consider a cat as a pet.”
Wrath’s eyes flickered in amusement. “I’ll take that under advisement. Did you have your morning meal?”
“Yes, thank you.” She looked around the room and cautiously moved to the window on the opposite side, needing more space between herself and the man and his pet.
Kira leaned against the sill. Her shaky legs made her desperately want to sit, but that would put her too close to them.
Wrath stroked the beast’s scaly head and studied her. Struggling not to squirm under his intense scrutiny, the words gushed out, “What happened to my mother?”
Desolation flashed in those usually cold eyes, startling Kira. And then she knew, her fear vaporizing at the truth. “You loved her.”
Several seconds ticked by before he nodded. “But our lives didn’t make it possible for us to be together permanently.”
“I don’t understand. Demons live in my world. Some, I’m told, even take humans as mates.”
“Yes, I am aware,” he murmured, his stare taking on a contemplative edge. “You don’t really know what I am, do you?”
Where was he going with this? Her attention shifted to the wyvern and back to him. “You’re a demon, obviously a rich one, considering you live in a black castle—”
“Iam Wrath.”
“I know, you just said so.”
Amusement lit his eyes. “It’s not just a name, Kira.”
