It simply…exists, as though the fire is part of him.Asthough heisthe fire.
But the fire isn’t the only strange thing about him.Hisface is beautiful in a way that makes me uneasy.It’stoo perfect…too symmetrical.Highcheekbones…a sharp jaw… sensuous lips that are curved in the faintest suggestion of a smile that never quite reaches his eyes.
And speaking of his eyes,Goddess, they’re not like anyI’veever seen before.Theyglow from within, like banked coals stirred suddenly to life.Deeporange at the center, fading to molten gold at the edges, with no visible whites at all.Whenthey settle on me,Ifeel as thoughIam being seen through—every thought, every fear, every secret laid bare.
Alarm bells go off in my mind asIfeel his magical pull.Fireisn’t this being’s only power—Ineed to be careful here.
“Er…hello,”Isay weakly and then wishIcould take the simple, banal greeting back.Couldn’tIcome up with something better to say to this powerful being?Apparentlynot.
He doesn’t answer at once but only tilts his head slightly, studying me with a kind of idle curiosity, as thoughIam something mildly interesting that has wandered into his domain.
Then his gaze flicks past me toTheronand the faint smile on his lips sharpens.
“Ah,” he says, his voice smooth and cultured, carrying a faint crackle beneath it like the sound of burning wood.“Thiswill be…interesting.”
My heart tightens in my chest becauseIhave the sudden, terrible feeling…
He already knows exactly why we’re here.
49
ELOWEN
“Well, well—what have we here?”theFireDemonsays, looking me andTheronover.“Apriestess and aDrake, is it?Whatan odd pair.Whateverdo you want of me?”
I open my mouth to answer, but he holds up a hand, his hand and fingers glowing with the living flames crawling all over them in little tongues of fire.
“No, no my dear—such revelations cannot be rushed.Docome inside so that we can all get to know each other.”
I start to step inside butTheronis suddenly standing between me and the demon.He’sso closeIworry about him catching on fire, but he doesn’t flinch from the burning being on the threshold.MaybehisDrake’sfire makes him immune to the supernatural heat.
“I don’t think so,” he growls, looking at me.“It’snot safe to go into a demon’s residence.Youhave to pay a toll to get out again.”
Oh…Ididn’t know that.Myheart stutters in my chest at the idea of being trapped in the demon’s mansion.
But theFireDemonwaves one burning hand in a gesture of casual negation.
“Oh please, my dearDrake, that’s just superstition.Andanyway, how can you get what you want from me if you just stand there in the doorway?Wemust get to know each other first ifI’mto decide ifIwant to help you or not.”
“How did you know we came to ask for something?”Isay, frowning.
The demon spreads his hands.
“Why else would you travel all the way to theSouthernWastelands—which are notoriously inhospitable to humans—and seek me out in my home?Idare say you didn’t just come to say ‘hello,’ so it must be that you want or need something from me.”Hesmiles at me genially.“That’slogic, my dear.”
I feel stupid.Ofcourse he’s right.Nosane person would show up on the doorstep of a demon’s house without a good reason.
“Do relax and come inside,” the demon says to us.“Iswear on my dear mother’s grace thatIwon’t charge you any kind of price or toll to leave again.Ivalue my privacy, you know.Ilike having company, butIdon’t want them staying forever,” he adds.
Theron andIexchange looks.Ican tell he’s still reluctant for us to enter the demon’s home, but how else are we going to get what we need from him?Hedoesn’t seem willing to do anything out here and besides, the sun overhead is getting extremely hot.I’msweating in a wayIwasn’t whenIwas riding on hisDrake’sback—up in the sky with the wind rushing through my curls,Inever get overheated.Butdown here on the cracked dessert ground it’s pretty miserable.
As if the mansion has heard my thoughts, a cool breeze blows from inside and curls around me.Itflirts briefly with my hair and cools my heated cheeks almost like a chilly hand, inviting me in.
That’s it—Idon’t want to stay out in the heat and there’s no way we’re completing this quest without going in.
“I’ll come in,”Isay, lifting my chin.“Aslong as you promise we can leave freely again when we’re ready to go.”
“Why,IthoughtIjust made that promise,” the demon says.“Butyes,Ipromise yet again—neitherInor anyone or anything in my house shall impede your departure when you are ready to leave.”
