Immortals After Dark 07 - Kiss of a Demon King

queen? What the hell is she now?"
    Deceived.
    A storm was coming, outside the house and within it as
    well.
    Rydstrom was going to confess to Sabine about his sham vow. With a heavy heart, he made his way upstairs to their room, leaving Cadeon to finish his drink.
    Though he'd been working to earn her trust, Ryd-strom was about to destroy it with one blow.
    But he had no choice. Every time she called him her husband was like a knife to the chest.
    He sat beside her in the bed. "Sabine, there's something I must confess to you."
    She didn't answer, didn't turn to him, but her slim shoulders tensed, letting him know she'd awakened.
    "All I ask is that you try to understand the circumstances. Can you do that?"
    No response. He laid his hand on her shoulder and tugged her over to face him. She opened her eyes.
    They were filled with blood.
    "What is this? Sabine, what's happening?"
    "It's . . . here" Her words were slurred, her skin waxen.
    He gathered her up in his arms. Her heartbeat was racing.
    When a line of blood tracked from her nose and another from her ear, the sharpest fear he'd ever felt came over him. "Ah, gods, what is happening to you? Tell me, cwenal"
    "Poison," she gasped.
    "What are you saying? How? Who did this to you?"
    Her back arched sharply, her hands fisting in Rydstrom's shirt. When she coughed, blood misted from her mouth.
    Have to get her help . . .
    "Cadeon!" Rydstrom bellowed.
    His brother came bounding up the stairs, barreling into the room with his sword drawn. "What the hell?"
    "Sabine's sick-where is Nix?"
    "I can go get her."
    "Do it, and then meet us at the witch's coven-"
    "Nooo!" Sabine screamed, thrashing in his arms. "No .. . coven."
    "Easy, baby, we'll stay. Easy . . ." To Cadeon, he snapped, "Bring Nix here. If you can't find her, then hunt for Mariketa the Awaited. Or even Tera the Fey. She knows poisons."
    Without a word, Cadeon bolted from the room. Rydstrom heard the side door slam shut, then Cadeon's truck peeling away.
    Rydstrom laid his palm on her cheek, wincing in confusion as pain suddenly shot through him, as if he'd laid his hand on a flame. But then her nightgown and the bedclothes were cold.
    "Hold on for me, Sabine. Help's coming."
    Pain razored through her body, making her muscles knot. The coppery tang of blood flooded her mouth. Feels like blades are slicing through my veins, and pumping into my heart.
    Rydstrom kept demanding to know what was wrong, staring down at the blood in horror, rocking her in his arms.
    She panted in anguish, her eyes squeezed shut. She'd been wrong. There was no way she could withstand this. So stupid, so arrogant to think she could live through this.
    And now she'd pay for it. Unless Rydstrom can bring himself to do what needs to be done.
    Her body twisted as the excruciating waves built, her mind overrun with visions of drinking her poison. Yes, downing glass after glass of it. .. just dripping the searing black granules straight onto her tongue, then swal-lowing them dry.
    Ah, gods, she could accidentally poison Rydstrom with her skin, her blood. Must warn him.
    "Can't . . . touch me."
    "Sabine, I have to get you to someone who can help!"
    She shook her head violently. "No one here . . . can."
    Another wave hit. Unthinkable ... unearthly agony. Her eyes flashed open when the manic pounding of her heart stopped.
    Their gazes met. "Cwena?" he rasped, "your . . . heart?"
    Over. Her mind went blank. Her lids eased shut. His unholy roar shook the room.
    44
    Her fucking heart had stopped . . .she'd almost died. He'd never forget how he'd felt when he'd heard that first dogged beat as her heart struggled on.
    He sat with his back against the headboard, squeezing her in his arms, rocking her as they both sweated from pain. When she moaned, he murmured, "I'm with you, baby. I'm with you."
    Whenever he touched her skin, he felt eviscerating pain, so he continually smoothed his palm over her forehead and face, hoping to draw it from her.
    Her bloody coughing had subsided, but he sensed this was in no way over. He was grappling to keep the rage reined in so he could take care of her.
    A storm had descended on them, with lightning streaking all around the house, thunder rattling the glass doors. With each lightning bolt, Sabine's face looked even more deathly pale.
    When Cadeon squired Nix into the bedroom half an hour later, the Valkyrie's gaze flickered over Rydstrom's
    face, as if gauging his sanity. His horns were straight, and he knew his eyes