Immortals After Dark 07 - Kiss of a Demon King

melee, looking torn, clearly wanting to be with her but needing to help his brother. "I need to get Cadeon's back."
    "Oh no, you don't, demon!" With an angry flick of her hand, Sabine made the mercenaries invisible to the fire demons. "We have things to discuss."
    Cadeon roared, "Hell, yeah!"
    After a few moments observing Cadeon's joyful slaying and Lanthe's therapy, Rydstrom said,
    "I think they've got it." He shoved his sword under his belt again, then traced Sabine from the court to her room in the castle, to the balcony overlooking the sea.
    Once Rydstrom had steadied her from the teleporta-tion, she said, "You didn't believe Omort about the well and the sacrifice? That I was a part of that plan?"
    "Of course not. Just as I don't believe this was all some plot you concocted ahead of time. The last week between us was real."

    "Like our marriage?"
    Sabine's expression was inscrutable, eyes glowing blue with emotion. He couldn't predict what she would do about his deception, had no idea . . .
    To be this close to all he'd ever wanted.
    "Did Omort lie?"
    He, ran his hand over his mouth. "I- cwena .. ." . "You can't call me that, can you? I'm not your queen. What had you promised that night? What did you say to me so solemnly?"
    "That I would exact my revenge on you."
    Her brows drew together, and her bottom lip trembled.
    Rydstrom's heart fell. "Ah, gods, Sabine." She was crushed. She should be. To act as if he'd wed her....
    "Demon. I. Am"-she shook her head and swallowed hard-"so proud of you." Her eyes were misty. "You got one over on me."
    He parted his lips with astonishment. "You're not... you-" He swept her up in his arms.
    "Well, it did anger me at first. But luckily for you, I'm not a tool. When someone decides to sacrifice his life for mine, I can be forgiving."
    "I'd do it gladly, Sabine. Always." "Yes, well, I also realized that I can hold this over your head-for eternity. Think of the leverage, demon!" In a feigned innocent tone, she said, "But whatever do you mean we're not instituting a kingdom mini-skirt day? Don't you remember when you deceived me about our marriage vows?"
    He cupped her nape. "Do it, hold it over my head. Wear me out on it. Just as long as you stay with me."
    "I don't have a choice, since I seem to have accidentally fallen in love with you."
    That line between his brows deepened. "I love you, too, sorceress. I want to remedy this lack of a marriage right now."
    She laid her palms on the sides of his face. "Good, because I need the authority to make some serious changes around here. Oh, and this time, make it in English."
    Epilogue
    Two months later New Tornin, The Kingdom of Rothkalina
    Lke taking candy from a baby!" Rydstrom's wife cried as she swung her bag of stolen loot over her shoulder.
    Lanthe answered, "Shooting fish in a barrel!"
    Sabine and her sister still hadn't seen Rydstrom sitting quietly on his throne in the empty court. Lanthe had created her portal in here-the one place no one was supposed to be today. But Rydstrom had finished up with a construction project early, and had come here merely to relax and enjoy the renovated court until his wife returned from "shopping."
    "Your shopping went well?" he said, his voice booming.
    Sabine and Lanthe froze midstride, then slowly craned their heads to him.
    "I hope you paid for all that."

    "Busted," Lanthe muttered. "I'll be in my tower." She scurried out.
    Sabine recovered from her surprise and sauntered up to him. "We didn't pay for these with money per se. But we paid back some karma."
    "Who did you steal from?"
    "This half demon Nix told us about. A drug lord down in Colombia."
    Rydstrom steepled his fingers. "And why would you do this?"
    "She said we should 'have at him.' Since I owe her for helping me in a tight spot, I thought I should be accommodating to her. This one time. And we didn't think you'd be mad if we stole from a bad guy."
    "I'm not. But I'm furious that you put yourself in danger."
    "No one ever saw us! And Lanthe even managed a tiny bit of persuasion, just to make sure we were extra safe."
    Rydstrom sighed. "Then let me see what you got." He could never stay cross with her, not when she was so happy here with him and with their new life together.
    When she settled on his lap, he wrapped his arms around her, and she proudly showed him a bag of gold coins of an ancient cast.
    Of course, this wasn't his little queen's first heist since they'd wed. He knew it wouldn't be her last.
    But then, she could