Demon Untamed (18 page)

With that, she gave him her back and began washing a set of glasses that he had already cleaned earlier in the night. He suppressed a smile, realizing that was what she did when she was unnerved. She obsessed over her tavern.

Ethan called his gift, and moments later, his wounds stitched together.

Chapter 16

Healing such a significant wound drained much of Ethan’s energy, and he could feel the strain in his muscles all the way back to his quarters.

He eyed the soft, inviting mattress of his bed for a moment. Then he ripped off his ruined shirt, stepped out of his stained pants, and entered the washroom. He could rest later.

In the shower stall, the warm spray massaged the tightness in his neck and back as he scrubbed the excess blood from his body. He ran his fingertips over the newly healed flesh at his side. There wasn’t even a twinge of discomfort, not in that region, anyway. His lower half was a whole other matter.

With his magic fully evoked at the time Sonya had attacked Nadua, he’d read her intention clear as day. Her fierce protectiveness not only piqued his mind’s curiosity, his shaft stood at full attention as well.

He hoped his gesture with the arrows was acceptable restitution for his careless taking. It was the best he could offer…for the moment.

Perhaps now they could start anew. He would show her a little more courtesy, and she? Well, her disdain should be diminished, if only a little. After all, she had chosen him alone as her backup. Counted for something, right?

After drying, he dressed in fresh clothing and headed back to the pub where the others were gathered to discuss the plan to retrieve Cale and Kyra from Earth. Gods willing, Cale had been successful in finding her and both were safely awaiting
Marada
.

Just after Ethan took a seat at the table, he discovered there was another problem at hand. Somehow, Marik had inadvertently claimed Nadua while stranded on Undewla, and neither appeared to be happy about it. They had decided to seek help from the Serakians, whose magic was a mystery even to the Faieara. But if anything could reverse an unwanted matebond, they would know of it.

Ethan should have been furious that yet another of the king’s daughters was out of his reach. He waited for a bout of irritation over the fact, but it never came. Curiously, neither did relief when he learned of the plan to break the bond between the two.

Perhaps because he could tell that Marik did not wish to be parted from Nadua. And though his ability to read Nadua was slightly better than his ability to read Anya, he couldn’t glean a clear indication of her feelings.

Typically, the longer he associated with an individual, the easier it became to read them to some varying degree. Naturally, some proved easier than others.

Reading Sonya was becoming second nature.

Right now, he picked up her lingering aggression toward Nadua. Whether because of what had happened in the docking bay or because of the unwanted matebond with Marik, he wasn’t sure. But at least she wasn’t acting on her desire to throw Nadua across the tavern.

The other demons were fairly easy to read as well. They were all deeply worried for Marik. Knowing that, and what he did of demons, he could surmise they feared what might happen to Marik if the bond was truly severed. Losing a mate, for whatever reason, has been known to send a demon to the Edge, permanently. Aside from that, the bond was considered sacred.

When Nadua asked if the Serakians had been contacted yet, tension surged among the demons. Sonya let out a soft hiss before pushing away from the table.

As she stomped toward the bar, Ethan’s gaze was drawn to her backside. The sway of her hips coupled with that saucy tail of hers was possibly the most enticing thing he had ever seen.

Her skirt looked particularly soft, and he couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel against his fingertips. After a moment, Ethan realized he wasn’t the only one interested in the blend of that fabric, and what lay underneath. Rex’s eyes were transfixed as well.

A storm of irritation settled over Ethan, but he tamped it down as best he could. Sonya wasn’t his. Didn’t even want to be. So even if a thousand males appraised her with lust in their eyes, it should be none of his business.

And yet…

As Sebastian took his leave from the group, Ethan caught the sight of Jade passing by the pub. “Jade!” He waved her over.

Her gaze traveled the room till it landed on him, and she sauntered over to greet them. “Good evening, Ethan.” She surveyed the table, her eyes coming to rest on Rex like an animal sniffing out fresh meat. “Please introduce me to your new friends.”

“This is Princess Nadua and Rex,” he offered, gesturing to the demon who was now eyeing Jade with open interest. “Rex hasn’t seen the whole ship. Why don’t you show him around a little?”

“I would love to.” Jade moved closer to slide her hand down Rex’s arm before taking his hand and leading him from the room.

Ethan leaned back in his chair and grinned at his own genius. His lips fell when he noticed Nadua’s scrutiny. She raised a knowing brow at him. The young princess had always been astute.

“So, Ethan,” Nadua said, when only he and Anya remained at the table. “Anya tells me you were involved with a band of pirates.” Her tone indicated she didn’t find that fact as deplorable as Sonya did.

Anya beamed at him. Ethan smiled back, perceiving a strange sensation coming from her direction. He could only describe it as genuine, heartfelt affection—a bit of her magic seeping into him.

“I was,” he replied. “It was your father who put me on that path.”

“Is that so?” Nadua tilted her head.

“Yes. Just before I left our planet, he gave me instructions to contact the Serakians. Unfortunately, they are a secretive people and it took me years just to discover a way to pass a message on. To earn a living, I joined what I assumed was a small mining crew ship, but I found myself on a mercenary craft instead.”

Sonya returned to the table, bringing with her a fresh round of drinks for everyone. “You couldn’t tell the difference?” She gave him a dubious look.

“I was tricked, actually. When I realized what was happening, I tried to back out, but it was too late. It was how that particular group recruited new members. You either agree to work for them, or you die.”

Anya placed a hand over her heart. “Did they make you do terrible things?”

Ethan shrugged. “I did what I had to survive. There were about ten of us who’d been abducted. We were considered expendable and were assigned some of the more dangerous missions. I was only with them for a few years when a pirate ship attacked and overtook us. The leader killed most of the others, but I saw an opportunity and convinced him to allow me into his crew.”

“And how did you do that?” Sonya asked, surprising Ethan with her untainted curiosity.

“I showed off my gift.”

“So you cut yourself and then healed it?” Anya guessed.

“No, I healed one of the men they thought was already dead.”
One that still owes me a debt
.

The table went quiet for a moment. Then Nadua broke the silence. “And our father sent you alone?”

Ethan averted his gaze. “There had been four others, each with their own transport off of Evlon. Mine was the only one to escape the atmosphere intact.”

Ethan often wondered if the king had known which ship would survive the Kayadon attack. Had the others merely been a diversion so that he could get through? If it were true, Ethan wouldn’t judge the king poorly because of it. Not after the things Ethan had been forced to do over the years just to survive.

Oblivious to his musings, Nadua continued. “Father told me once that his visions are never set in stone. That the future is always changing, and even the smallest alteration can carve out a new course.”

“That’s true. You must have experienced that with your own gift.” Ethan recalled Nadua’s magic had shown the potential of following in her father’s footsteps.

Nadua cringed. “A little. Mine works differently, though. I can see someone’s future, and now apparently their past, but I must have some kind of physical contact with the subject first. I haven’t had a lot of practice because the people I was living with had skin so cold it would burn me on contact. Needless to say, I didn’t touch a lot of people.”

“I see.” Ethan leaned back in his chair. That meant she probably wasn’t as in command of her power as she should be.

“So you’re like an oracle?” Sonya asked, a hint of enmity in her voice.

Nadua pretended not to notice. “Sort of, but I can’t choose what I see. It just kind of comes, whether it’s helpful or not.”

“We can work on it,” Anya encouraged. “I’ve been able to evolve my gift quite a bit with practice.”

Nadua smiled. “That sounds good.” Then she yawned, stating, “I suppose I should get some sleep.”

Both she and Anya called it a night, leaving Ethan and Sonya alone.

Sonya stood to clear the table. Ethan rushed to help her, and their hands brushed together as they reached for the same glass. As if he’d burned her, she snatched her hand back, averting her gaze.

For a moment, it seemed as though she might tell him to go, but she didn’t. In fact, she remained uncharacteristically quiet for the rest of the evening. 

It made him uneasy.

A loud, vulgar Sonya he could deal with, but this silent version was agonizing. He glanced around the tavern and found it mostly empty. Only a few crew members scattered about.

Thinking this might be a good time to clear the air between them, he started, “Sonya, shall we discuss—”

“I think I’m all set here,” she interrupted without looking up from her task. “You can take off for the evening.”

Ethan contemplated her stiff visage. “Right. Wouldn’t want to risk any meaningful conversations or anything.”

She glared up at him for a moment before disregarding him all together.

Ethan stifled his disappointment. “Very well. Another time, perhaps.”

Sonya grabbed another dirty glass, relieved that Ethan had left without argument. During his story, she had found herself softening toward him. She thought of Anya, and how early on in her life she had been enslaved and exploited for her talent, used against her will. It was too easy to imagine Ethan in the same predicament. A naive traveler caught up in the darkest society of space.

What alarmed Sonya more was her urge to bash in the brains of a group of males who were already dead, according to Ethan.

She had grown enraged when Ethan had referred to himself as expendable. But what she couldn’t understand was why it had bothered her so much, even more than Nadua’s refusal to speak her feelings for Marik. Clearly the redheaded Faieara cared for Marik, if even just a little. How could she condemn him to a life deprived of his destined mate? Sure, their joining had been botched, but that didn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t meant to be.

Then again, maybe Sonya was only seeing what she wished to see. Hoping against hope that Marik, of all people, could find love in this unforgiving universe—every demon, whether they admitted it or not, longed to find their mate.

Well…almost every.

Sonya was starting to wonder if she’d be better off without.

The image of Ethan flashed through her mind and a dark thought tickled the back of her brain. It was a ridiculous notion, and she tried with everything she had to squash it, but before she knew it, a full-on panic set it. Denial waged a war inside her, battling for supremacy. Her heart revved out of control, causing her to gasp for air.

The sound of shattering glass snapped her to attention. She glanced down to see a few shards embedded in her palm, the rest scattered along the floor at her feet.

With shaky fingers, she plucked the tiny daggers free, taking measured breaths and trying to calm her mind.

Then she grabbed a broom to sweep up the rest. She halted as Nadua and Anya rushed past the pub whispering with their heads together.

Sonya raised an eyebrow, putting aside the broom, and followed after them. They turned the corner into the docking bay, oblivious of her.

She entered the room and stilled. The shuttle door was open, and Anya was just about to step aboard.

“What in the name of the gods do you think you’re doing?”

Anya and Nadua startled, then shared a desperate look.

Nadua cleared her throat. “I just had a terrible vision. People I love are going to die unless I get back to Undewla and warn them.” She paused. “Please, I have to go back. Ava is riding to her death as we speak.”

“I can get the ship there and back in no time,” Anya added. “You know I can.”

Sonya narrowed her gaze at the redhead. “Is this
Ava
someone you love more than Marik? Do you even care about him at all?”

Nadua flinched. “It’s not like that.”

“Sure it isn’t. And Anya, you know Sebastian will kill me if I let you do this.”

Anya bit her lip, looking conflicted.

“Please,” Nadua begged. “I made a promise to protect Ava. I must go back. None of them know the danger they are in.”