Immortals After Dark 07 - Kiss of a Demon King

enter her tent, bringing her a "gift" each time. One day she received the husk of a dragonfly, the next day, a rock.
    Rydstrom still took Sabine to the hot springs each morning. When they passed Durinda and her clique- draped in the same stupid long skirts that they'd forced on her-the demoness acted very familiar with Rydstrom, which made Sabine bristle.
    And each night, he still held her tightly in bed. Because she was sleeping five or six hours a night, she had multiple nightmares. Whenever she woke, he was there, tenderly stroking her hair.
    Last night, he'd rasped, "Shh, baby. I've got you." That made her toes curl every time she recalled it.
    But he'd made no move to get sexual with her again, even though she'd felt him erect, pressing against her back. His self-denial disconcerted the hell out of her, and she wished she could talk to her sister about his behavior. Lanthe was a love guru. She would understand what Rydstrom's game was.
    Gods, she missed her sister so much. They'd never been separated for this long. But just as Rydstrom had promised, he'd arranged for her to write Lanthe.
    That second night, the demon had brought Sabine a piece of parchment and a quill. Though if she'd thought she would have an opportunity to get free, she'd have been mistaken. He'd released one hand and pinned the other behind her, glancing over her shoulder as she wrote.
    "Just tell her I'm taking you off-plane," he'd said. "This won't get to Tornin until after we've gone."
    "She'll know you're going to New Orleans. Omort will send assassins there." "Yes," he'd said simply.

    When she'd finished and Rydstrom had retied her, she'd said, "1 was almost moved to hug you for this, Rydstrom, but alas, armless hugs lose a little something. So instead, I'll do you a favor. I'll help you with your brother."
    "Cadeon and I are beyond a sorceress's help. Besides, I did this for you because you were cooperative about the teens' punishment. Then for you to grant me a boon back? I don't want us to get into that habit."
    "Why not?"
    "Becauseyou and 1 are ... we're together" She recalled thinking, Are we together, and what exactly does that mean? She had zero experience with relationships. "Oh, no matter, then,"
    she'd said airily. "1 was just going to tell you something that might lessen your resentment over the past." He'd gruffly said, "Tell me, then." "The fall of Tornin would've happened regardless of
    Cadeon's actions."
    "All my brother had to do was answer my dispatch, journey to the castle, and remain within its walls until 1 returned from the front line against the vampires. Instead, he turned his back on me, choosing to remain with his foster family. I know you won't understand the impor' tance, but there needed to be a royal presence there."
    "Oh, I do understand the importance-whoever controls Tornin controls the kingdom.
    Omort did as well. That's why he had five hundred troops, lying in wait to assassinate Cadeon."
    Rydstrom had grown still. "What did you say?" "It didn't matter how many guards you'd assigned to Cadeon. If your brother hadn't ignored your dispatch, he never would've made it to the castle alive." "How do 1 know you're telling the truth?" "Why would I lie about that?" When he'd left her, he'd looked like he'd just been clocked with a gauntleted fist.. ..
    Now he was readying to leave her yet again. The demon was wearing a dark green tunic that brought out the color of those remarkable eyes of his. The woven material hugged his broad shoulders and defined chest. His jet-black hair was as tousled as ever.
    Had Sabine been one of those women who sighed, she would have right now.
    "Where are you going this time?" she asked.
    "Hunting."
    "Uh-huh. With whom? Durinda?" She sounded like a scorned housewife. All she was missing was a cigarette stuck to her bottom lip and a squalling kid on her hip.
    He strapped his sword belt around his waist. "That's
    right."
    "You mean females are allowed to ride horses here?" She blinked in feigned amazement.
    "Can they touch weapons, too? Or will they be banished from the Clan of the Cavebear like Ayla?" When he wouldn't rise to the bait, she asked, "What is so interesting about that demoness anyway?"
    "1 like that she cares about others above herself," he said. "I admire that she's noble minded and virtuous."
    Sabine gave a scoff. "I could be virtuous, if I wanted to be."
    In an incredulous tone, he said, "You don't know the meaning of virtue!"
    "Of course I do-it means your thong must