Demon Within (23 page)

‘Your turn.’

The comfortable feel of Eloise’s body against his was torture. Unable to caress her as he wanted, he made do with what was offered. Pressing his palms against her back and pushing lower beneath the water line he smoothed them down her cheeks. Kneading gently with large hands, he caught the warm breath from her mouth as she gasped. Sliding his hands down the back of each thigh and dipping his body, he raised her onto his lap and encouraged her to move her legs either side of him. She glanced over to where Teila sat and blushed.

‘I think we’re supposed to be asking questions and bathing each other.’

Kai grinned. ‘We are, I just need you closer so I can wash your hair.’

Surprised by his quick reply, giggling, Eloise circled her arms around Kai’s neck and let her head fall back.

It brought her body into an arch, extending her breasts, and Kai groaned when greeted with peaked nipples begging to be sucked. The growing ache between his thighs nudged and twitched against Eloise’s sex. Maybe unaware of her actions, and not knowing how sensual it was to a man, her hips rocked against him. Taking a deep breath and trying to stop himself from reciprocating the motion, Kai distracted himself and raised his hands up her back, brushing wet hair he pulled it through his hands and began washing. Cupping his hands, he drenched her shoulders and watched her face fall back when he tugged at her hair. He wanted to lick her, bite and suckle on her flesh and drown in her scent.

Kai’s feelings towards Eloise were strong, despite knowing her for a short time, he needed her.

Large hands moved to her back and pulled her forward. He stared into her gentle eyes and hoped her truthful answer was what he wanted to hear.

‘Do you want to marry me?’

Eloise frowned then smiled. ‘I am marrying you.’

‘That’s not what I asked.’

Almost holding her breath at his words, Eloise swallowed. Her heart raced as she thought about the question and if he’d asked her two days ago, her answer would have been different.

She unlocked her hands from around his neck, and spreading her fingers up into his hair she tugged at the roots and teased the soft golden locks. Gently pulling, his head leaned back and he groaned quietly, enjoying the sensation of fingers tangled in his hair. Raising her gaze and looking into waiting inquisitive eyes, she hovered her mouth over his.

‘Yes, I do.’

It wasn’t planned and Kai was trying to obey the rules of the temple, but it was asking too much when greeted with tempting lips. Slanting his mouth over hers, unable to deprive his senses, he claimed her. The ceiling lit up with a streak of light as it darted from one side to the other and crackled like lightening. Teila watched the lovers confirm their bond to one another, and content they’d answered each other’s questions as required, drew in a slow breath. It was time for them to leave the pool, but even she couldn’t be so cruel to tear them apart. Giving them a few moments she hoped they’d stop before any indiscretions were performed in the temple.

Slender fingers pulled soft hair and rocking against his hips, Eloise ground against his body. Kai‘s hands traveled over her wet skin and cupped the soft flesh of her breasts briefly before sliding lower to her cheeks. Breaking the kiss and catching his breath, his eyes opened to see Eloise’s plump lips waiting for more. He wanted to kiss her, and show her what she did to him, but that couldn’t happen here.

Interrupted by Kai’s absent lips, Eloise opened her eyes and gazed at the man cradling her. Tender and gentle she had no fear that he’d take care of her needs once married. Fearless and brave, his qualities were admirable. She wondered if his bravery ever wavered, left him for even a brief moment or was he always courageous under every circumstance.

‘What do you fear?’

His forehead crumpled at the one question.

‘Ask me something else, please.’ He urged huskily.

Eloise slanted her head to the side.

From her seat in the shadows Teila leaned forward. It was against the rules to retract a question; Kai’s deflection highlighted an issue.

‘Kai, you must reply to her question.’

The stern voice echoed across the water and Kai nervously licked his lips before hissing in a deep breath. It was going well until this moment. Kai couldn’t lie, nor would he wish to, but confronting an issue that lurked deep inside his psych wasn’t something he wanted to admit.

‘I’m afraid of dying alone.’

Eloise frowned. ‘Alone? You mean, with no one fighting with you?’

He shook his head. ‘No, I mean… alone, without love.’

He puffed out an agitated breath, and glanced up to the ceiling to wait for the light; even the temple didn’t understand his reply.

‘I don’t want to die knowing no one will miss, or weep for me.’

Tears welled in Eloise’s eyes and a lump formed in her throat; unable to speak at seeing Kai’s pain. His adopted mother had torn his heart in two, and filled him with sadness that would haunt him forever; rejected and alone, bereft of love.

Eloise’s heart couldn’t bear for his fear to come true. His true mother loved him; when she realized Kai was her son, Eloise noticed how emotional she was. If he opened the shattered remains of his heart to his real mother, he’d know that her love would make it whole once more.

Illuminated by intense light, the roof flickered and even the robed women were no longer hidden in the shadows it was so bright.

Looking up, Eloise gasped.

‘Oh Kai...’

Leaning forward and brushing her cheek against his, her voice faltered; unable to tell in words, her arms were around him tightly. She kissed her way across his brows and closed eyes, tears fell down her cheeks; regretting the question, her broken words fell against his face.

‘Forgive me… I’m sorry I asked that.’

Kai squeezed Eloise firmly and nestled his face against her neck.

‘Don’t be, it’s part of why we’re here.

Kai’s admittance to Eloise proved to himself, they were meant for one another. Never feeling comfortable with anyone, as he was with her, he groaned softly against her neck and playfully nipped her.

Burying her face to the side of his, she wiped away her tears before sitting back to look at him.

‘You’re not alone Kai, and you are loved.’

Eloise wanted to suggest they meet with Ellanor and Caster later, but afraid she’d upset him further, decided to leave it there. Maybe another day or after the wedding she could arrange a meeting.

Her soft brown eyes lingered over Kai’s mouth with a need to smother them. Easing forward with a smile breaching she touched her lips to his. The welcomed distraction caused Kai’s hands to lower beneath the water. Pulling her against him, he forced her mouth open wider and snaked his tongue into her mouth.

Startled by Teila’s clapping hands, they broke the kiss. Kai cleared his throat and waited for Teila to unleash her wrath.

Pressing his lips against Eloise’s ear. ‘We’re in trouble.’ He whispered with a cheeky grin.

Eloise giggled and let out a gentle sigh. ‘It was worth the risk.’

Teila’s curt words echoed. ‘It is time to leave.’

Rising from the observation chair, Teila walked calmly towards the doorway, closely followed by the other two priestesses after they appeared from the shadows. More robed women waited with dry towels and she pointed towards Kai and Eloise then left the temple.

Surprised there was no chastising, Kai tightened his arms around Eloise in a final hug.

‘I think she wants us out.’ Laughing, he groaned softly against her and rose while holding Eloise. Wading towards the edge, setting her down he reached for the towel from one of the women, a smirk formed across his face while covering her shoulders.

Husky words fell against her ear.

‘I promised I wouldn’t look.’

Eloise giggled with a blush and clutched the towel around her body before turning to step out. Kai’s eyes followed her, he sighed before covering himself with the other towel. He needed a few moments, then once able to walk without obvious arousal, made his way to the dressing chamber.

Having found suitable lodgings in the town center, with Kiera’s help, Jace left his parents to talk in the privacy of their room. He took the opportunity to spend some time with Kiera who was happy to show him the sights of Blackhill.

Jace enjoyed her company; she was unlike anyone he’d ever met. Stonegarth didn’t have warriors like her, unfortunately, and he thought about settling down after his family returned home. He wasn’t ready to move away, but finding a connection with Kiera and the lifestyle at Blackhill, traveling didn’t appeal to him either.

Kiera browsed over the market stall and selected an apple. Rubbing it on her tunic before taking a bite, she leaned against the pillar and looked towards the market square. It was getting late, Sabe and Kai should be back by now and Kiera wanted to see her brother, but reluctant to leave Jace, she stayed a little longer.

Studying his face as he watched the people milling around the market, her feelings were mixed; Similar in looks to Kai, she worried this was the attraction for her. Yesterday she’d accepted Kai was unavailable, and now looking at his possible half-brother she wondered if he was just a distraction.

Catching her staring, he locked his eyes with hers and smiled a gentle comforting smile that brought a clenching spasm ripple down her lower belly and between her legs. It was then she decided he was no distraction.

‘How long are you staying in Blackhill?’

Biting into the apple she waited for his reply, and hoped it was a few more days. Certainly until after the wedding, she promised Kai she’d oversee the arrangements and wouldn’t have much spare time until it was over.

‘I’m not sure.’ Sensual green eyes brightened. ‘It depends if I have something to keep me here.’

Kiera swallowed the mouthful of apple in a gulp.

‘You haven’t seen my collection of swords and bows; I can show you after the wedding, if you’re still here.’ Kiera said hopefully.

A bashful grin that widened into the most beautiful smile she’d ever seen caused another spasm in her lower belly.

‘I’d like that. But I don’t think I’ll be welcome.’ Lowering his head, he frowned. ‘My mother’s claims may cause trouble.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll talk to Sabe and he’ll speak with Kai. Everything will be sorted.’

‘My mother isn’t mad.’ He stared at Kiera. ‘I knew she’d had a baby before meeting my father, and she thought he’d died.’

Nodding with a look of understanding, Kiera let him know she was on his side. ‘I think it’s staring Kai in the face, but he can’t see it.’

Kiera’s words surprised him, and he wondered if she’d seen his birthmarks.

‘If he has the birthmarks that mother says, that would surely make him question her claims.’

‘I’ve never seen him naked so I can’t say yes or no.’ Kiera grinned and seeing Jace grin wider, realized he was pleased with her reply for different reasons.

Jace breathed out a quiet sigh. Distracted by a rowdy group of men approach the shade of the terrace, he moved closer to Kiera as one of them stared in her direction. Kiera looked towards the diversion. When her gaze met with familiar eyes, she straightened and dropped the apple to the ground. Swiftly moving her hand to cover the hilt of her sword, she sneered as the man approached.

‘Kiera! You look as lovely as ever.’

The tall, bald man approached with outstretched arms. Jace noticed a portion of his ear missing and thought he must be an old friend of Kai’s until he saw Kiera’s scowl.

‘Surprising isn’t it? Considering I’m supposed to be dead, after you double crossed me and my brother.’

Angry words spilled out of Kiera’s mouth, her hand tightened around her sword.

‘Aw, you’re not still upset about that are you?’ he grinned, showing a gold tooth.

Kiera’s eyes narrowed in disgust ‘What brings you to Blackhill? A little out of your way isn’t it?’

‘Oh, I’m meeting a patron, making a living, you know how it is.’ He quickly scanned the market square before turning back to rake his eyes up Kiera’s body.

Jace didn’t like the way he looked at her. He watched him closely, ready to intervene.

Tigan’s threatening gait made Kiera tense as he drew closer. Jace moved his hand towards his sword.

‘Did you miss me sweet Kiera?’ Grabbing his crotch, Tigan grinned. ‘Has anyone broken that maidenhead yet?’

‘You need to leave right now.’ Jace pushed at Tigan’s shoulder and barged between him and Kiera, shielding her.

A hand brushed his arm away quickly. ‘Be careful boy, you don’t want me to scar that pretty face of yours, do you?’ He spat.

‘You can try!’

Pushing Jace to the side and facing up to Tigan, Kiera grinned and raised a brow. ‘I think it’s time you were moving along Tigan, you don’t want to miss your payment.’

Lowering his eyes between their bodies, and seeing Kiera’s dagger pointed at his crotch, Tigan took a step back and laughed. ‘You never change girl!’

Tigan continued to step backwards before spinning to leave. Shouting over his shoulder he waved his finger. ‘Give my regards to your brother!’

‘Who was that?’ Jace stepped out of the terrace. ‘He’s a pig.’

‘Yes he is, but I want to know who he’s meeting.’ Slapping Jace’s arm she marched along the market stalls under the shade, keeping her eyes on Tigan as he sprinted towards the edge of the market. ‘Come on, I don’t want to lose him.’

Snapping his head back towards Tigan, where he caught up with his comrades, then back to Kiera, he chased after her as she ducked between the stalls. Jace kept up with Kiera dodging between buildings and carts.

‘What does it matter who he’s meeting?’ Jace grabbed her arm to hold her still before she darted around another corner. Her dark eyes bore into him as she scowled after turning.

‘He’s expensive, and if someone in Blackhill is paying him, I want to know who it is and why they’re hiring him!’

She pulled her arm away from Jace’s hand and marched towards the next building keeping to the shadows. They hid out of sight and studied Tigan and his friends while they waited in a quiet street at the rear entrance to the bakery. Not having to wait long, Kiera frowned when four men entered the street on horseback, their saddles laden with bags.

Jace watched her amazed expression. ‘They’re Garlan’s soldiers.’

‘What are they doing…Oh no!’ Kiera growled. ‘That BASTARD!’ her voice a mixture of a whisper and a shout surprised Jace.

‘That’s not good, is it?’

‘NO! We need to get back home now!’ Kiera pulled Jace’s sleeve and dragged him back the way they came. Still remaining quiet until they were clear of the street were Tigan and his men met the guards, once out of range she ran at full pelt, calling to Jace as she lead the way.

‘COME ON!’

Jace and Kiera ran at speed, holding onto their swords as they sprinted into the courtyard.

Saul and Maika dodged Kiera as she charged between them shouting at the top of her lungs.

‘MOVE!!’

Kiera ground to a halt as she reached the terrace closely followed by Jace, both out of breath they took a moment to recover. Bending forward and resting his hands against his knees, Jace breathing labored.

‘You can run!’

‘The best thieves are the fastest.’ She grinned.

Jace’s brows rose and he was about to speak then changed his mind; this was a conversation for another time. Maika came running to find out why Kiera was in such a hurry, closely followed by Saul.

‘What’s going on?’

‘Tigan’s here, in Blackhill, and he’s collecting payment.’ Kiera brushed her tousled hair from her face and peered through the main door into the hall.

‘Have Sabe and Kai returned?’

Maika nodded. ‘Just a short while ago.’

‘Come on, Kai will want you in on this.’ Seeing Jace hesitate and take a step to leave she lunged towards him and grabbed his shirt. ‘Where are you going?’

‘I don’t think Kai will need, or want me here. I’ll go back to the Inn and check on my parents.’ Jace looked towards the door, as much as he’s like to stay, he felt awkward.

‘I think you’re wrong, come on, come inside.’

Dragged by Kiera into the hall and followed by Maika and Saul, she released the hold on Jace’s shirt on nearing the dining room as she shouted for Sabe.

‘Why are you out of breath or shouldn’t I ask?’ Grinning at his sister’s sweaty, red face, he quickly removed the grin when she scowled. Sabe looked over everyone gathered in the hall and glared at Jace. He’d not forgotten he’d attempted to draw his sword on him earlier, but seeing he was with his sister, felt it wasn’t a good time to bring that up.

‘We’ve got problems.’ Kiera hurried past Sabe as she saw Kai sitting calmly at the table. ‘I’ve seen Tigan, he’s here!’

Quickly dropping his feet to the floor, Kai leaned towards Kiera, his interest peaked. ‘What’s he doing?’

Shaking her head and sneering, Kiera couldn’t hold her distain. ‘He’s just taken a payment for his services, from Garlan’s men. Bags of-’

‘GOLD!’ Maika shouted out and clutched his hands to his head in disbelief. ‘Oh I can’t believe it! That’s why they were in Darkmide!’ Sighing heavily he spun around.

Jumping off his chair Kai’s face reddened with rage. ‘Who saw them in Darkmide?’ His loud voice boomed across the room.

‘Darion! The man from Braxton! He’d mentioned it earlier and I never thought anything of it.’

Breathing hard, Kai’s chest rose and fell quickly. Glaring at Kiera and closing the space between them in a few strides, he grabbed her shoulders.

‘You’re sure?’

‘Yes, ask Jace, he was with me, he saw them too.’

Spinning around to see Jace appear at the doorway, Kai’s eyes narrowed.

‘You saw them?’ he barked.

‘Yes, they wore Garlan’s emblem on their backs.’

There was a moment of calmness, not a sound could be heard until Kai swung round and swept everything off the table and roared at the top of his lungs. Jace had never heard or seen anything like it. Kai pick up a chair by the arm and throw it against the wall. It shattered and spread across the room causing everyone to cover their faces to avoid the splinters and flying wood.

It wasn’t until Kai turned, Jace saw his wild eyes. The old woman said if he were Adram’s son, he wouldn’t be half angel any longer; he’d be possessed by a demon. Seeing his snarling face, sharp teeth and an untamable fury as he charged at the table, Jace realized he was his mother’s lost son.

‘Get out!’ Sabe started to shove Jace and Maika out of the room, ‘NOW! GO!’ He called after Maika as he turned to leave the room, ‘Bring the guards to the courtyard… and find Roulan!’

They hurried as instructed, Jace looked down the hall and had no idea who the two men where, but suspected one of them was Garlan. Turning to call for Sabe it was too late; Kai already heard Garlan’s voice enquiring about the noise and flew out of the room into the hall.

‘What the…’

Garlan’s surprise at seeing Kai, spitting and snarling like a rabid dog, bearing down at him, made him stare in horror and disbelief. Leon was fast and drew his sword but Kiera intercepted his strike and punched him across the face as she pushed between him and Kai. Leon flew across the hall and fell to the ground unconscious. Jace was about to draw his sword but Sabe shouted at him.

‘NO! Get out!’

Jace frowned, ‘I can help!’ He didn’t want to leave Kiera or anyone else, Kai was crazy and worried he’d kill someone he wanted to stay.

‘Trust me, we can deal with this, leave now Jace. Do it!’

Reluctant, but respecting Sabe and Kiera must have seen this many times, Jace left the hallway and waited outside under the terrace. Glancing across the courtyard he watched Maika and Saul greet the King’s guards from their meeting. The scene was not good. Pulling them off their horses, they’d called for other warriors to assist and dragged them over towards the main entrance and waited for Sabe.

Eloise was a short distance behind her father, on her way to the dining room as was everyone else, and seeing Kai in his demonic state, she cried out.

‘KAI! STOP!’

Grabbing Garlan by his collar, deaf to Eloise’s call, Kai raised him into the air, suspending him with one hand and shouting against his face.

‘I warned you! I told you, the mines were out of bounds!’ Releasing Garlan and letting his body drop to the floor, he crouched low as Garlan attempted to get up. ‘I want you off my land!’

Kai’s temper rose higher with every word he spoke. ‘LEAVE! I’M DONE WITH ALL OF YOU! GO!’ His voice rumbled through the room like thunder.

‘IT’S ME! ELOISE! Hurling herself at Kai, she reached out to touch him, but quickly pulled her hand away when he glared.

Kai narrowed his burning red eyes at Eloise; gone was the bright green she’d stared into only a short while earlier. Tears fell down her cheeks as she tried to speak, but he turned away and headed out the door.

‘Where’s Roulan?’ Kai barked as he entered the courtyard and confronted the guards, kneeling on the cobbles, shaking.

None of them answered, they cowered and avoided his gaze, but Maika had seen Roulan return from riding earlier and knew he was around somewhere.