Demon's Revenge (High Demon Series #5) (5 page)

"Reah." Kifirin was suddenly there before me, standing in the space between rows of gishi trees, their deep green, oval leaves sighing in the late afternoon breeze and fruit hanging heavy on their branches.

"Hifil, I'll handle this," I sent my supervisor on his way. No need to involve him in anything Kifirin wanted. "What do you want, Kifirin?" My arms were crossed tightly over my chest. "You said the last time that I wouldn't be pregnant again by Tory without my consent. I haven't consented."

"And you're not pregnant by Tory. This has nothing to do with pregnancy."

"Good. State your business and leave." I tossed out a hand. Who knew where Kifirin went when he disappeared? I didn't.

"Glinda wanted to give you the title you should have been born with. Gardevik disagreed."

"No surprise. Garde hates me. Don't try to deny it. Something in him dislikes me. I'm sure it has to do with Tory."

"It does." Kifirin stepped closer.

"What does he want from me? Garde, that is? I gave him six grandchildren. All girls, so your precious race can be pulled back from the brn h from tink of extinction. And then I do this." I jerked my head toward the trees. "I hear Kifirin's debts may be paid off in a few turns. I don't see Garde out here harvesting or doing anything that might get the fruit to market. Yet he takes his due when the credits are transferred."

"I understand all those things," Kifirin moved closer, speaking softly.

"Of course you do. You just made me pregnant twice, without my knowledge or consent. Hauled Gavril into the past so he'd grow up and create the Campiaan Alliance. Sure, he says he loves me. When he wants sex." Kifirin was close enough to touch, now. I wanted to poke a finger in his chest as I made my point. I didn't. Kifirin poked a finger to my forehead instead, making the air around me dark. I'm sure I dropped to the ground, too. Kifirin wouldn't likely lift a hand to stop it.

* * *

"Torevik isn't the only one who may be slighter." Reah's slender body rested in Kifirin's arms.

"I don't hate her." Garde denied Reah's statement. "I don't."

"She thinks you do. Often, perception is everything. You live in a palace. She lives in a hovel that doesn't leak because she repaired the roof herself."

"And suddenly you're kindness itself toward her?" Garde didn't appreciate Kifirin's jab.

"Come, this argument gains us nothing. Show me where you intend to bring Torevik, and I will leave Reah there."

* * *

"Honey, be careful, all right?" Lissa gave Tory a hug while his father waited to take him to Kifirin.

"I'll be fine," Tory sighed. "I wish you'd all stop fussing over me."

"And we will. Soon." Lissa smiled up at her tallest son.

"Tory, let's go." Garde gripped his son's arm. Garde could fold; something that most High Demons were incapable of doing. They skipped, and except for a very few, could only skip themselves. Garde folded his son to the high fields on Kifirin.

"Go ahead and change, son. I'll be nearby." Garde used his skipping ability to get away. High Demons didn't encroach on one another's changing grounds, unless there was a score to settle. It was too dangerous. Garde, however, didn't go far. Kifirin plucked him from the air and surrounded him with a shield.

"We will watch," Kifirin said, as Torevik Rath, who hadn't changed in two and a half decades, went to full Thifilathi with a roar and stomped through the fields.

"Where did you leave Reah?" Garde hissed. He felt exposed, although Kifirin had him well shielded. Garde would have to turn, too—sometime before the moon was down.

"Not far. We must watch carefully, Gardevik. If your child harms Reah or mistreats her in any way, then I will remove the claiming marks. That is why I came tonight. To see if his Thifilathi still recognizes her. If not," Kifirin shrugged.

Garde stared at the god in shock. "This is an experiment?"

"A test. Yes. If his Thifilathi does not know her, or chooses to harm, then the claiming marks will be removed. Perhaps a more suitable High Demon male may come to her." Kifirin glanced up at the moon, directly over their heads. It wouldn't be long, now.

"What?",&qWhat?& Garde sputtered. Now that it came to it, he didn't want Reah to leave the family. Didn't want her away from his grasp. Out of his control.

"Now do you begin to see it?" Kifirin asked. "You control the fate of the High Demon race if you control Reah. How long have you been angry, Gardevik Rath? At your child? At Reah? Because some foolishness separated them. You keep her hidden away because you fear just what I said. That some High Demon male may come along and turn her head, taking control away from you. You chose to leave her in the groves instead of housing her at the palace, where she should have been. None have thought to question why Reah has no High Demons working with her on the plantation, either. But it's true, is it not? She depends upon humanoids for help. There are more than enough High Demon males lazing about who might assist her, but you, as Jayd's Prime Minister, will not send them. If I allow Reah to produce more daughters with another house, then that could endanger the ruling house. Isn't that right?"

"Fuck," Garde cursed and made to walk away.

"No, you will stay," Kifirin hauled Garde back with a hand covered in blackened scales. "You and I will watch." Garde stared up at Kifirin's smaller Thifilathi, the god blowing clouds of smoke. "We will see together if your son deserves a second chance."

Chapter 3
 

Torevik Rath, in full Thifilathi, sniffed the air and roared. And then roared again. Leapt into the air and came down with a thump, shaking the ground around him. Beat his chest and shouted out his pleasure at being one with the planet he walked upon. Could feel the hum of life through his bare feet. This is what he'd missed and longed for. But for how long? He couldn't remember. He remembered a beautiful face that hid wickedness. Betrayal. Pain. How might he think he'd ever loved it? If he had her now, he would squeeze the life from her.

Tory ran over the open fields, a giant among tall grasses. Every animal in his path ran and hid from the largest predator they'd ever seen. But then he stopped. What was that? Something lying in the grass. Tossed carelessly in his path. He'd see about that. Nothing would stand against him or obstruct his course. Cautiously Tory sniffed the air. He wasn't close enough yet. Two large strides brought him in range. Suddenly, he knew that scent. How had it come here? Was it done purposely, so he'd find it? He cared not. It lay there, unmoving, waiting for him to do as he pleased with it.

* * *

Garde made to move forward; Kifirin held him back. Tory stood over Reah's body, examining it. As if he were deciding what to do. Now, all Garde could do was hold his breath. The fate of the High Demon race could rest on the next few moments. Tory blew smoke; Garde could see it clearly in the light of the full moon. Reah's body looked as if Kifirin had tossed it carelessly on the ground, uncaring as to how it landed. "Please," Garde whispered, begging his son to do what was right. What any normal High Demon male should do with his mate. Tory hesitated.

* * *

I ached for some reason, and my limbs were tangled. As if someone had—as if someone—
Kifirin
. He'd done this to me. Tossed me naked upon the cold ground, somewhere. Sturdy stems of tall grasses poked into bare skin, making me extremely uncomfortable. And I had a headache. How was that possible? The last thing I remembered was Kifirin's hand, shooting out quick as a snake, poking me in the foreheng,sad and laying a healing sleep. Only nobody woke from a healing sleep like this. I moaned as I untangled arms and legs, struggling to sit up. The full moon hung overhead, bathing the field surrounding me in light.

Somehow, a full moon didn't affect me or Glinda as it did the males. They had to turn, and the full moon called out stronger to them than any other time. Kifirin had done this. I almost wondered why when I remembered. Tory. He'd be somewhere nearby. That meant I needed to skip away before he found me. Before it was too late. I moaned and gathered my wits to skip. Nothing happened. Tried again. Still nothing.

That's when I heard the noise. A snort. I recognized it. Jumping to my feet I made to run, barefoot as I was, when the huge, black-scaled and clawed hand reached for me. Scooped me up, even as I screeched and flailed. Thick smoke poured from Tory's Thifilathi. Was I frightened? Nearly to death. Kifirin was behind this and keeping me from skipping away or turning Thifilatha. Would I never be free of him and his meddling? He was about to get me killed. My heart pounding in my chest, I beat on Tory's hands as he held me away from him, kicking with my feet, but I was too far away to hit anything and my attempts to do him harm were pitifully useless.

"Let. Me. Go," I hissed between clenched teeth. "Let me go," I shouted louder. As of that moment, I was done with High Demons. If I could get out of Tory's grip, I was going so far away none of them would find me. I was finished with Kifirin and the ones he'd created in his image. They had my daughters. Had High Demon males lined up to take them. I'd served my purpose and now, in a last attempt to torture me, Kifirin had tossed me on the ground for a half-crazed High Demon in full Thifilathi to find.

"Reah, your little fists are bloody. Stop beating them against my scales." I stared at Tory in shock. He'd spoken. High Demons seldom were able while Thifilathi, small or large.

"Put me down, Torevik Rath. Now."

"No, Reah. You belong to me."

"Tory, don't be delusional. Put me down." I stared at his face, black with a finer layer of scales than the rest of him. Curved, black horns grew away from his temples, the tips pointed upward. His eyes were black as well, with no white showing. A curl of smoke lifted from wide nostrils.

"Mine." I disagreed with Tory's declaration of ownership, attempting to pry his fingers from around my waist. His grip was tight and it hurt.

"Tory, you're squeezing me," I wheezed.

"You'll get away. Not my fault I have to hold you this hard."

"Tory, let me go. Put me down." I wanted to hyperventilate, but my lungs couldn't draw in the air. My fists were bloody, just as he'd said. A High Demon's scales while full Thifilathi could cut if you rubbed against them. Now, my entire body was at the mercy of those scales. "Tory, I can't breathe," I whimpered.

"Reah, I can't let you go. I know I'm hurting you, but I can't let you go."

"Tory." That was the last thing I remembered before things went black for the second time that day.

* * *

Garde watched as his son threw back his head and keened mournfully. "Now we go, so stay behind me," Kifirin ordered, folding Garde and himself to a spot right in front of Tory.

"Here." Kifirin held out a blanket. To">& blankery, even in his current state, recognized the god of the Dark Realm. Carefully he laid Reah's body on the blanket. All of them saw the blood and bruises around Reah's ribs, waist and hips, where her skin had come in contact with Tory's scaled and clawed hands.

"I want her back," Tory demanded, once Reah was folded in the blanket. His wings rustled impatiently while Kifirin wrapped Reah firmly so her arms and legs were secure.

"I'll allow it, but she'll need attention later," Kifirin handed Reah over.

"I can't let her get away," Tory sat on the grass, the small bundle cradled in his arms.

"Son, you'll have to convince her while you're in your other shape," Garde ventured to say.

"I'll say I'm sorry."

"We'll work on that. Later."

* * *

"We'll make it right. We'll make it right," someone was crooning to me when I regained consciousness. I ached. Over most of my body. My ribs felt as if they'd been crushed.

"Who are you?" I opened my eyes and found a black-skinned male running his hands over my body. I'd never seen him before. Who'd let him in my house? I was in my house; I was staring at the same crack in the plaster ceiling that I'd been looking at for twenty years.

"I'm new to this side of things. I and one other have been assigned to assist Kifirin."

"You're Kifirin's assistant?" It hurt to talk.

"Yes."

"Get out."

"I understand how you might feel that way about him."

"Then get out." This one had a nice face. He might look even better if he smiled, but I didn't want him to stay until I saw it. If he were Kifirin's assistant, then he needed to get away from me. As soon as he could. A tiny curl of smoke came from my nostrils. Kifirin had knocked me out and dumped me in a field for Tory to find as full Thifilathi. That was unforgivable. Just another unforgivable thing in a long line of unforgivable things at the hands of the Dark god. He wasn't the Dark god for nothing.

"My name is Neeki," my attendant said, continuing his examination of my naked body as if he hadn't heard a word I'd said.

"That's nice," I said. "Get out."

"My associate is called Teeki, but he could not be here right now. He is busy elsewhere." Dark fingers ran down ribs so tender I almost cried out. "Ah, cracks. I will repair them." Light formed around his hands.

"Probably straightening out some of Kifirin's other mistakes," I drew in a painful breath. He'd hit a really sore spot. "Now, get out. I mean it."