Love's Predator (Love's Predator Trilogy Book 1) (27 page)

She smiled and quietly admitted that she was indeed feeling weary. Lord Shade stopped dancing and as soon as he had stopped, the music fell silent. And like night being washed away by day, the shadow dancers faded away. The ball was over.

“Come,” Lord Shade said soothingly.
“It is time for you to rest.”

Quite content to retire for the night, Lindsey followed Lord Shade’s lead and took his arm as they headed up the marble stairs. As Lindsey
walked with him her dress began to lighten around her body and by the time Lindsey realised what was going on, she was in a simple white nightgown. It was soft and light on her skin. Lindsey couldn’t help but appreciate how luxurious it was.

“Although you love the dress, I wouldn’t advise sleeping in it,”
Lord Shade joked.

“I’m so tired I could sleep in almost anything!” Lindsey laughed.

They reached Lindsey’s bedroom and all that was on Lindsey’s mind was how comfortable her bed was going to be. Although she hadn’t really exerted herself during the day, Lindsey was keen to sleep. It was as if she was under some sort of compulsion.

She stopped just short of her bedroom and turned to Lord Shade, ready to bid him goodnight, but that was when something caught Lindsey’s eye.
It was that same blur again, but this time it was closer.

Lindsey fought through her tiredness and snapped herself awake, but at the same time Lord Shade had sharpened his senses. Lindsey had to say something and as Lord Shade opened his mouth to order Lindsey to go to bed, Lindsey knew she had to be strong and say it then and there.

“What is that?” She asked, her voice was strong and demanding.

Yet Lord Shade was not put off by Lindsey’s tone.

“Come,” he commanded.

He tugged at Lindsey’s hand, trying to get her into the bedroom.
But Lindsey had gained full resolve, and this time she swore she would not be coaxed by the demon, no matter how soothing or reassuring he could be.

“No,” Lindsey objected firmly.

She pulled away from Lord Shade, surprised to find that he let her go willingly. Once more, he did not try to grab her or force her into the room.

“Lindsey, I will not fight you,” Lord Shade smirked.

Lindsey frowned; disappointed he was amused by her protest. But this did not put Lindsey off her struggle entirely. She wasn’t going to submit to him.

“I want to know what that blur is, Shade,” Lindsey said coolly. “You can’t keep me in the dark forever.”

Lord Shade calmly ran a hand through his dark hair and sighed lightly. Lindsey could tell he was not best pleased that she wasn’t going to give in. However, Lord Shade kept a stiff upper lip and together they faced the blur.

Anxious to uncover the mystery, Lindsey watched
with anticipation as the blur began to grow darker and slowly take on a human shape, a female shape. Lindsey glanced at Lord Shade, he didn’t seem to be at all shaken by the appearance of the woman, and nor was Lindsey afraid, not until she saw the hollow spaces which represented the woman’s eyes.

Lindsey’s stomach churned in distress.

The woman smiled crookedly, exposing sharp, pointed teeth, which were all as green as limes.

“Lord Shade,” the womanly creature said in a crackly voice, one that sounded barely human at all.

Lindsey felt her heart race and a shiver violently rage down her spine. But she stood tall by Lord Shade’s side. This was no time to be weak.

“
Oh my, now what is this?” The creature sniggered. Her hollow eyes gaped at Lindsey, looking her up and down. “So this is the mortal you have chosen to hoard away in secrecy?”

Lindsey could almost hear Lord Shade’s teeth gritting together as he stepped in front of her, trying to hide Lindsey from the creature’s glare.

“My personal business is nothing of your concern,” Lord Shade snarled in reply. “You should not be here at all in fact. This is my realm.”

The creature laughed, but its mouth never moved.

“And very pretty it is too. I like what you have done with the place,” the woman like creature jested with a sneer. “I assume this is all for your little mortal you hide behind you. Let me see her.”

“What is it you want?” Lord Shade barked angrily. “Why have you come to my realm?”

“To discuss business,” it said simply.

There was a dangerous glint in the creature’s grin.

Lord Shade gave a scowl but he did not say no to the woman like creature.

Lindsey came out from behind Lord Shade and stood by his side again. They exchanged a look, a look that told Lindsey that they were in this together now.

“Do you have a name?” The creature asked Lindsey curiously.

Taking a deep breath, Lindsey faced the demon creature and gave a faint smile as she considered
whether to reply or not.

“
My name is Lindsey,” she said honestly.

“Lindsey…” The demon woman breathed heavily. “Ah yes…Lindsey.
I remember it now. But then again mortal names are not too important. However, perhaps yours will be in the near future…Considering your situation.”

Lindsey felt their eyes upon her as she considered if she should speak again to the other demon.
She wanted to question the creature; there was so much she wanted to know and yet their gazes were intense; Lindsey could almost feel them burn into her.

“You are a demon,” Lindsey assumed aloud.

The woman demon nodded.

“Are there many demons?” Lindsey pressed on inquisitively.

There was a pause and Lindsey thought that perhaps the demon would not answer her question. But then Lord Shade stepped in.

He looked down to Lindsey and smiled softly. His eyes glistened and Lindsey wondered if they were really going to
give this information to her. She hoped they would.

“There are many demons out there, my sweet soul. But none of them are your concern; you are safe here,” Lord Shade replied very carefully.

Lindsey’s eyes narrowed; she knew there was so much more to learn about the demons and their world. And now that this demon had shown up in Lord Shade’s “realm”, Lindsey had the opportunity to gather new information. However, she still couldn’t help but feel intimidated by the demon glares.

“You won’t remain so safe if you continue to use up all your power, Shade,” the woman demon quipped with a smug smirk. “If I can get through, perhaps others will soon follow.”

“They won’t,” Lord Shade snarled defensively. “Now if you will go down those stairs we will discuss the business we have, once I have tended to my Lindsey.”

The woman demon nodded in satisfaction and to Lindsey’s surprise she followed Lord Shade’s command without protest.

Perhaps it was better for her to do the same?

“Now,” Lord Shade said. His tone was far lighter now, but still firm.

Lindsey knew he wanted her to sleep.

“Come Lindsey, I will talk with you tomorrow about this, but for now I would very much like for you to rest so we can enjoy tomorrow, together.”

Biting her lip, Lindsey nodded once and turned to the bedroom. She was about to enter when Lord Shade called her name once more.

“Yes?” Lindsey mused.

She looked Lord Shade up and down, casting him a sweet innocent smile, which he did not buy at all. Lindsey knew it had failed when he started to chuckle and shake his head lightly. “Sleep well, my dearest soul,” he cooed tenderly.

Lindsey gave him one last smile before she finally retired for bed. Yet, as she climbed into the grand bed, she doubted she would sleep at all after seeing the horrific demon. However Lindsey found that she was completely wrong; within moments she was fast asleep.

The discussion continued without Lindsey downstairs.

Chapter Thirty Five

Lindsey’s long, dark eyelashes fluttered like wings as she opened her eyes. Frowning, she gazed ahead of her and she saw nothing but the endless sea of green grass before her.

She had been trying, for what seemed to be hours, to make something appear. However, no matter how hard she tried nothing dared to emerge, and if it did it just did not feel quite right. Lindsey was trying to make the place she could almost see. It was a place she knew was surrounded by beautiful fields and meadows and yet she could not remember what the place looked like, only that she wanted it to appear.

The first time Lindsey found this problem she was trying to make a home. But she was now uncertain if the home she had been thinking of was her home or just a figment of her imagination, something that had just once passed through her thoughts. It had to be the latter, Lindsey told herself silently. For how could someone forget their own home?

“I’ll try what I did yesterday,” Lindsey said quietly.

Although she knew that deep down that what she was about to make wasn’t what she was looking for. It wasn’t right.

Lindsey stared ahead and watched as a house began to form before her, but even whilst it was forming Lindsey did not recognise the house before her. It still wasn’t right.

Sighing, Lindsey looked away. It had only been seven days since
she had sold her soul to Lord Shade and yet it felt like she had been there a lifetime. Each day she could feel herself forgetting what it was like to live a normal life, her life.

Finally, she admitted to herself she had forgotten what home looked like, if she
ever had a home to begin with.

Feeling a little nauseous, Lindsey left the world she had made and returned to Lord Shade’s labyrinth. As she followed the path she knew to the exit, Lindsey could almost feel that Lord Shade had returned to the palace; suddenly everything seemed to glow, like a surge of electricity had run through the world.
This was their routine.

Lord Shade would disappear in the morning each day and appear in the evening for dinner and magic. Lindsey assumed he was visiting other demons; attending to his business. But this was fine with Lindsey. She had the freedom to do whatever she pleased in Lord Shade’s world and the only time she was ever hungry was when it was time for dinner.
It seemed all her human desires and needs were under control; as if all her needs were met by some invisible force.

Lindsey’s suspicions were then confirmed when she approached the fountain
and found Lord Shade sat at the little table on the wooden stage nearby. He waved to Lindsey, wearing a gentle smile as she approached him.

“Good evening
, my sweet soul,” Lord Shade cooed charmingly. “Come and see what I have for you.”

Lindsey couldn’t help but smile as she quickly made her way up the little wooden stairs. Curious, she looked down to the table and saw Lord Shade had brought her some small cupcakes, with smooth vanilla icing and juicy, red strawberries peeking out of the tops. Lindsey could already feel her mouth watering.