My Demon Saint (7 page)

She was shaking so hard she was afraid she would break apart. She could feel Manx’s soothing touch on her hair, the press of his lips against her temple, but even that was too much for her sensitive skin.

“Tell him to come, sugar. Tell him you want him to come. Beg him if you have to.”

The whispered words were urgent, breaking through the haze that was surrounding her. “Sinner, I want you to come. I want to feel you come inside me. Please. I need to feel it.”

Her words set him free. His cry of release echoed against the bare walls of the room, his climax so powerful it made her come again. Her body, still vibrating from the last few orgasms, shuddered with intense pleasure.

A few minutes, or hours later, when two pairs of gentle masculine hands untied her bonds, Ume had a sinking feeling she would never be the same again. And neither would her fantasies.

Chapter Six

It was near dawn, but the two moons were still lighting the way for the five silent travelers climbing the steps that would take them to the Demon King’s lair.

Ume wasn’t sure what she was feeling. Surprised that her body had rebounded so quickly for one thing. But then, in the game, she never seemed to run out of energy. She was also confused and a bit taken aback by her bold behavior, and in that regard Sinner wasn’t helping. Since their experience at the Inn of the Drunken Lotus, he’d been different. Cautious. He’d barely spoken a word to her in hours. She was walking beside Julie, while the three men lagged behind, keeping their distance.

At least he’d brought her another outfit to wear, seeing as he’d destroyed the last one.

“Men.”

“You said it.”

Ume glanced over at Julie, who seemed to be just as shaken up as she was. “What’s wrong with
you
?”

Julie crossed her arms defensively, her blush still visible in the dim light. “I don’t know. I’m not myself here. I’m behaving out of character.”

“Nothing you did could compare with what I did,” Ume muttered.

Her cousin leaned closer and lowered her voice. “I attacked Liam.”

“Yeah? Well, I think
I
participated in a porno.”

“
What
?” Julie covered her mouth, looking over her shoulder at the men’s questioning gazes, and slipped her arm through Ume’s. “What?”

Ume sighed. “Don’t ask. I’d rather hear about you attacking Liam.”

“I couldn’t help myself. I feel like a different person here. Like I’ve actually fallen into one of my stories. Does that make sense?” At Ume’s nod she continued. “And Liam is just so sweet and sexy. We went for a walk, and I, I guess I jumped him.”

“Did he go all wolfy?”

Julie lifted a hand to cup her neck thoughtfully. “Sort of.” Her sigh was heartfelt. “It was—”

“Amazing.” The two cousins spoke in unison, catching each other’s gaze and giggling like teenagers.

“There’s something else, Ume. Before we, um, before Liam and I were together, I was hungry, and mentioned really wishing we had some of my mother’s special dumplings. The next thing I knew a man walked by selling dumplings.” Julie stopped and gripped Ume’s arm. “They were
her
dumplings, Ume. Her recipe.”

Ume furrowed her forehead. “You think Saint is just randomly granting your wishes?”

“I don’t know what to think.”

“
I
think
she’s
making it happen.”

The two women turned to stare at Manx, who ducked his head apologetically. “Sorry ladies, I thought it might be more interesting to hang out with you than those two brooders.”

Ume lifted her chin, deciding to ignore the fact that this man had done things to her she’d never even read about. “What do they have to be broody about?” They’d both gotten exactly what they wanted. Ume
harrumphed
.

But Julie had another question. “What do you mean I’m making it happen?”

Manx hesitated. “You’re a writer, right. A bard? You’re in a fictional world that is always changing. You must have a pretty powerful imagination.”

Ume shrugged. “Makes as much sense as anything else that’s happened here.”

Julie looked fascinated. “I wish I’d known this sooner. The possibilities are endless.” She sent a suspicious glance toward Manx. “Who
are
you? How did you know I was a writer?”

Manx shook his head. “Just a friend.” He turned his indigo gaze toward Ume. “Trying to make sure no one gets hurt.”

Ume knew he was trying to tell her something, but before she could decipher his expression, she saw a glimmering in the distance. The sun was coming up, and its rays revealed an archway that could only lead to—the Demon King.

“This is where we get off.” Liam took two large strides and slipped his hand into Julie’s with an apologetic smile.

Julie looked up at him, frowning. “What do you mean?”

Liam’s smile wavered. “This is Ume’s quest. She and Sinner are the only two who will be allowed to go through that archway.”

Ume turned to look at her warrior, who was looking everywhere but at her. “Is this true?”

“Yes.”

She was getting angry. He wasn’t so monosyllabic when he had her tied up a few hours ago. “It would have been nice to know this beforehand.”

His black gaze clashed with hers at last. His looked…tormented. “I’m sorry.”

Manx stepped forward. “I’ll make sure these two get where they need to go.”

“Am I the only one totally lost here?” Julie tugged her hand away from Liam and placed her fists on her hips. “I want to find out why Saint decided to play with us like this. And if he doesn’t tell me, I’m going to sic Margo on him.”

Ume saw Sinner flinch. But it was Liam who spoke. “Baby, please trust me. Everything’s going to be all right.”

Julie’s expression softened. “Fine. You three go ahead and let me say goodbye to my cousin in private.”

Liam and Sinner looked suspicious, but obeyed. Manx put his finger to his nose and mouthed, “Clever girl,” before following the other two.

Julie grabbed her taller cousin and pulled her into a tight embrace. “If Manx is right, then I can help. I’m going to imagine an invisible doorway behind that arch. I think Saint is harmless, but if I’m wrong, just call my name, and the door should appear to take you home.” She pulled back with a bemused expression. “That sounded even stranger than I thought it would.”

Ume smiled fondly at her cousin. “If this works, you have to promise me you’ll write about it. It’s a perfect sequel to your bestseller.”

Julie blushed. “Believe me, the thought had crossed my mind. Be safe, cousin. I’ll be waiting.”

“What do you think they’re talking about?”

“Our imminent demise, no doubt.”

Saint glared when Manx began to chuckle. “Don’t laugh, traitor. We saw you cozying up to the enemy.”

Manx held up his hands. “Just trying to help you two out, brother. For a couple of guys who just well and truly claimed their women, you’re both looking pretty bad.”

Liam’s smile was slow, but satisfied. “I’m just trying to recover. My shy, little mate is actually a hellion.”

A shimmer of humor crossed Saint’s expression. “I’d say I told you so, but demons never brag.”

The shifter tilted his head. “What about you? Have you decided how you’re going to break it to her?”

He knew what had to happen. He just wasn’t sure he wanted to do it anymore. He knew what she was. He had his answers. She didn’t know it, but magical blood ran through her veins, faint, but it was there. She was closer to her
kitsune
character than she realized. Only she wasn’t just a character. And this was no longer a game.

Ume had changed something in him. Shredded his defenses and made him face a part of himself he’d buried long ago. The part of him that was like his father. A slave to his needs. Controlled instead of in control.

He’d lost it. Couldn’t rein in that half of him that he knew would scare her. He’d felt the demon rise and made Manx blindfold her, so she wouldn’t be able to see his eyes, wouldn’t be able to see them turn fiery red. In the end none of his precautions mattered. In the end she had to beg him to stop. He’d become a monster.

Demons didn’t fall in love. But what he felt when he looked at her…he wasn’t sure how to handle it.

He should just send her home. Before she found out. Before she knew the man she’d shared herself with, the man who’d gained her trust, was born from darkness. Didn’t deserve her.

But some masochistic part of him knew he had to finish it. Knew he had to see this through to the end.

Saint ignored Liam’s question and shared a look with Manx. “When we go through the arch, take these two home. And Liam, make sure you get to Ume’s house as fast as you can.”

He turned toward the embracing women and raised his voice. “Ume, its time.”

Time to finish the quest.

She walked beside him the last hundred feet in silence. A silence that was driving him crazy. “Ume, I—”

“Don’t. Don’t apologize again. If you do I might have to cut off something important.”

Noticing the grip she had on her
kitana
, he smiled. She was so strong, his Ume. So fearless. But she wouldn’t need her sword for this first battle. He had to warn her. “They say there is one hall we have to get through to get to the Demon King’s most treasured possession. You have to face things about your past, about yourself, that aren’t always pleasant.”

He wished she didn’t have to go through it, but he couldn’t change it. If she was going to see him, she needed to see everything.

Ume squared her shoulders and kept walking. “I liked this better when I thought I was crazy. When I didn’t believe any of it was real.”

Saint took a slow, deep breath. “I know.”

He glanced at the plain, unassuming building that housed his lair and had to smile. How many gamers had imagined a palace made of gold, with jewel-encrusted doors and fire-breathing dragons guarding the gate? It used to amuse him, how people let their imaginations run away with them. Now he just wanted this to be over.

And he wondered about the one thing he had no control over. What she would see in the hall.

The doors opened on their own, and Ume inhaled sharply. “I guess he’s been expecting us.”

“I’m sorry if I hurt you. I couldn’t seem to stop. I lost my head.” The words came tumbling out. He wanted her to forgive him as Sinner, the man she’d known. It would be something he could hold on to.

Ume didn’t disappoint him, though the relief in her expression broke his heart. “Is that why you’ve been acting like this? Sinner, you didn’t hurt me. You may have ruined me for sex with anyone else again.” She chuckled wryly. “But you didn’t hurt me. Well, not in a bad way.”

He wanted to beat his chest with pride. Wanted to take her again. Wanted to do anything but what they were about to do. “Ume, we don’t have to go in there. We can find another way.”

Her expression softened. “I’ll miss this too. But I can’t stay here forever. It’s amazing, but it’s not real. It’s not my life.”

A muscle ticked at his temple as he forced himself to let it go. He’d broken, given in, given her an option. In the end she’d made her decision.

They walked through the doors and found themselves in a long narrow corridor covered with artwork. Japanese wood block prints.

“Beautiful,” Ume whispered, making Saint flinch.

“Look closely. You should recognize something.” Hadn’t he created it so she would? Once again, not his best plan ever.

“My mother? Sinner, that’s my mother holding me as a baby. That’s when she gave me the necklace.” Ume absently stroked the pearl drop at her throat. Saint noticed for the first time it had taken on a new luminescence.

He walked with her in silence, listening to her translating the symbols that ran alongside the paintings. It told the story of a woman who had been protected by the spirit of a
kitsune
ancestor. An ancestor who had been enemies with an
Oni
and worried that its human family was being threatened. The only way it knew to protect them was to sacrifice its body and give its spirit, in the form of a pearl, to hide its progeny from the demon’s view.

Ume’s mother had been the last of her line until she’d had her little girl. She so loved her baby that she wasn’t willing to take any chances. She gave the child her talisman, thinking enough time had passed that it would be safe.

But the
Oni
had been patient, and it had known. It chased the woman in her dreams, making her fear for her child, making her insane. Every night for years it played with her, taking revenge for all the time it had waited to attain the
kitsune
star ball. The soul of its enemy.

The next few prints sank Saint’s heart, since he easily understood the translation. Ume’s mother had suffered, but she’d also learned how to control her dreams. Learned that she had power in them.

It had taken time, but she had patiently developed those powers, until one night, when the
Oni
had promised that he would find a way to kill her daughter on her sixteenth birthday, that the talisman could not protect her from everything—she struck out. She battled with the
Oni
bravely, as a
kitsune
warrior, until both of them were near death.

The mother knew she would have to sacrifice herself to stop the
Oni
once and for all, but she didn’t hesitate. As her ancestor had before her, the mother willingly gave up her body for her daughter’s life.

“I never believed her.” Ume was crying. “I called her crazy. But she wasn’t was she? She sacrificed herself for me. Why would she do that?” The hand on her face curled into a fist. “And why would Saint show me this?”

“A mother’s love. And he didn’t do this. You see the truth inside you. Some see cheating on their wives, or bullying their children. Your biggest shame, your sin, is this. I’m so sorry, Ume.”

And he was. Sorrier than she would ever know. A fucking demon. A demon who, if he hadn’t been sent to the abyss by Ume’s mother already, Saint would have found and destroyed himself. Now that she knew, she would never be able to forgive him for what he was.

And he would never recover.

“Come on. It’s time to finish this.”