Immortals After Dark 10 - Demon From the Dark

to her world. I do not always lose, Ronath. Finally, finally, Malkom would win.
    He was smiling for the first time.
    "It opens," Malkom said, his tone excited. "We go together."
    Just before them, a threshold was growing, a swirling black vortex.
    "Oh, Malkom, you did it." This steadfast demon, who she'd just trusted with her life, had somehow gotten them here on time. Eyes watering, she raised her hand to lay it against his cheek. "And you're smiling."
    Though he still sported bruises, he'd never looked more beautiful to her. The winds streamed his golden plaits around his masculine face. His lips curled as his blue eyes flickered over her.
    Even as her heart was breaking, she sensed joy filling his. But she could draw no power from him. Already her magic had been doused, her torque reactivated as promised.
    If they double-crossed her, Carrow would retaliate with the wrath of a thousand Furies.
    She eased from his arms to stand on her own. He didn't seem to want to let her go. Ah, Hekate, how can I hand him over? She could imagine an army of soldiers mere feet away, ready to tranquilize him. Though they wouldn't kill Malkom, this betrayal would hurt him so much, maybe irreparably.
    No matter if Carrow could find a way to return and free him.
    She tried to steel herself, to recall what she was here for. But all she could think about was his sacrifice for her. He'd let them take him to that city, even knowing he'd be tortured and burned alive.
    Her beautiful, stalwart demon. On impulse, she stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his. When she drew back, his smile had faded and a purely male expression surfaced. He looked at her as if she'd hung the moon for him, and he wanted to reward her with hours of hot, abandoned sex.
    He believed he would claim her soon. Because I promised him he could once we returned to my home. Yet instead of fulfilling the instincts clawing inside him, he'd soon know deception.
    With his eyes fixed on her face, he grated, "Bound forever."
    Yes, Carrow had long possessed that unique and curious talent--the ability to determine when another had just become a part of her life forever.
    From just one meeting, Carrow had known that Elianna would be like a mother to her, and Mari a sister. A week ago, Carrow had looked down at Ruby and seen a daughter.
    Earlier, when Malkom had gazed at her, his wife, with such joy, Carrow had recognized in Malkom a partner, a lover.
    A husband.
    Fighting her tears, she somehow said, "Yes, Malkom." Think of Ruby, a seven-year-old girl who needs to be free. "Bound forever."
    Malkom had had a long life. Such as it was, her mind whispered. She trudged forward and crossed into the brink. Once there, she faced him, meeting his gaze.
    I will return for you, Malkom, she inwardly vowed as she beckoned him near....
    When Malkom followed the witch, taking her small hand in his, he again thought, I will win. This would be a new life for him.
    Shuck off the past, the memories, the nightmares.
    The portal was churning and black, steeped in power. His heart raced. He'd never crossed one before, but he'd follow his female--his wife --wherever she led him.
    As he stepped across the threshold, the sun shone brightly, even more strongly than in Ash. Though the light blinded his sensitive eyes and burned his skin, he'd take the pain to be with her.
    He blinked at the landscape, seeing a blurring explosion of green all around them, like a wall. Green? Scents bombarded him--
    The smell of aggression, enemies . He jerked his head around, shoving Carrow behind his back. Can't see ...
    "Welcome to hell, Slaine," some strange man intoned.
    Movement all around them. With his eyes burning, Malkom struggled to analyze the scene. A large, pale-faced man stood at the back. In front of him was a short club-carrying mortal.
    More than a dozen mortal soldiers besieged them, weapons at the ready. They were dressed like the ones he'd killed for trespassing on his mountain.
    Now they must be bent on revenge.
    I've endangered Carrow. Get her away. His gaze darting, he turned back to the portal. Beside the doorway stood a wide-eyed sorceress, but she'd already closed that escape.
    The short male calmly ordered, "Seize him."
    Malkom drew Carrow closer. "Stay behind me."
    But she edged past him to stand next to the sorceress.
    "What are you doing, Carrow?"
    Her voice a whisper, she said, "Malkom, I'm so sorry." Her eyes brimmed with tears that spilled down her heartbreaking face. Her expression