Immortals After Dark 07 - Kiss of a Demon King

peaked. You should rest."
    "Yes, I'll show you to our room." Rydstrom put his hand on Sabine's lower back, "Nix, I'll be back," he said over his shoulder as he whisked Sabine inside.
    Now that the odor was gone and the mess cleaned, Sabine noted other details of the mansion, like the rich wood paneling and high ceilings throughout. Fans lazily circled overhead. The demon had taste.
    When they reached a spacious room upstairs, he said, "This is ours." It was so large, it had a sitting area. A balcony overlooked the pool.
    The bed was immense, and she eyed the rich beddings hungrily. When she sat at the edge of it and removed her boots, he strode to a chest of drawers, pulling out an undershirt.
    "Here's something for you to wear for-"
    By the time he'd turned back, she'd already stripped and crawled under the covers, half asleep.
    When Rydstrom returned, he told Nix, "She didn't need this commotion, Valkyrie. I didn't need it." He ran a hand over his horn.
    The crossing had been grueling. And he didn't think Sabine would admit it, but he suspected she'd been upset by Puck's teary good-bye. She'd frowned and said, "This is . . . uncomfortable.
    The demon boy makes me. uncomfortable."
    "Dirty Rydstrom, you wore your sorceress out!" Nix appeared as mad as ever. "She's not like your typical demure demonesses, you know."
    "I know this." Gods, he was glad of it. "Damn it, Nix, some of your guests are still in the pool."
    "I've got this." To the others, she called, "Hey, witches, did you see that redhead who was just here in the wicked cool clothes?"
    One called back, "The one dressed up like a sorceress?" while another declared, "I'd do her."
    "Well, she's a real sorceress. She's Sabine the Queen of Illusions-"
    That got them surging for the sides of the pool, some of them crying out: "The bitch will gack our powers!"-"She'll make us insane!"-"Where is my intoxibong?"
    With a contented sigh, Nix said, "I think Sabine's introduction into New Orleans Lorekind will be fraught with moments like these."
    "Is Sabine safe here? When will Omort strike?"
    "Well, there actually was a benefit to our invasion of your home-the witches put a protection spell on the perimeter. Something about a probation officer coming after Carrow." She shrugged.
    "Anyway. No one but those who live here can enter your property without invitation."
    He'd been planning on setting traps. This was better. "How long will the spell last?"
    "As long as you don't cancel the credit card I found in your drawer."
    He inhaled for patience.
    "I also had them put a spell on your weapons armory so that it can't be broken into. You know, getting ready for the arrival of The Sword."
    Rydstrom had a sizable stone armory in his study. It had been lockable. Evidently, it was now invulnerable. "Then my brother is on his way here. Is he safe?"
    "Yes, yes, enough with your abject thanks, Rydstrom. I already know my help is priceless, and that you should name your firstborn daughter Nix. To answer your question, Cadeon is fine.
    He claimed that sword at great risk to himself." She tapped her chin. "He also wrecked your million dollar Veyron-"

    "He did what?" That car had been Rydstrom's pride and joy. There were only three hundred of them in the world, and he'd expressly forbidden Cadeon and Rok from even touching it.
    "Actually it was Holly, my niece, who crashed it. Which, naturally, has made her a hero among Valkyrie everywhere. Totaling the demon king's seven-figure ride? She'll never pay cover again-"
    "Why did you let Holly go with Cadeon in the first place?"
    "Because I'm impish?"
    "Did Cadeon . .. give Holly up to Groot?"
    "Yep. Cadeon chose bro's before ho's. But Holly, the little trooper, managed to get free all by herself. Don't look so astounded. She is my niece." Nix fluffed her hair. "And then Cadeon rubbed out Groot."
    "So Cadeon and Holly are together, then?"
    "Cadeon gave her up to a psychotic murderer. She's not exactly chipper with him. But don't worry. She'll
    come around when she finds out he always planned to come back to save her."
    Rydstrom was relieved to hear that, but he was still tense about his own situation. Six days to win Sabine. He'd taken his woman to his home, where she lay naked in his bed. He believed she would receive him tonight.
    And he was nervous. I want to make love to her ... to get it right for her.
    "You're going to do fine tonight, tiger. Relax."
    He hated that Nix could read him so easily. "Are you saying that as a