A Warrior's Quest Read online

  The warrior girl nodded. There was understanding in her expression now, as she ran a loving hand over his daughter’s dark curls. A pain that said she understood his reluctance.

  She wore her own sword, the beautiful blade he’d admired before. In her hands was another training sword. Could he think of a woman who would be a better teacher for his Cerridwen? The warrior girl was an exceptional swordswoman, despite her small size. He’d admired her form with the weapon many a time before. She may not be a true Warrior, but she knew what it was like to be a female who had to fight.

  He raised the wooden toy in his hand, though it was far too small for his use. He bowed to the girl fighter. “Shall we?”

  She bowed in return, eyes on him. “We shall. Cerri, watch how your daddy holds the sword, compared to how I do? It’s because he has bigger, stronger arms. You’ll always have to watch that. Because rarely will you be bigger than your opponent.”

  They battled for several moments, neither of them tiring. He barely noticed when Kindara and Danae slipped away. Once the sparring was over he bowed to her again. She was the only female he had ever sparred with, and she’d once again impressed him with her skill. But she had also concerned him. “You favor your injury now. Whereas before you had no weakness, save for your small size.”

  They’d fought a true battle once before, ending with him running his sword through her flesh. He had regretted his haste many a nights since. When all was quiet, and he was thinking before he slept. He would see her face, her fear as she fell to the ground before him. The look of shock and—to him, surprising betrayal. He had been angry, and she and her party had been strangers in his land. He had acted too rashly, and had nearly killed her.

  This beautiful warrior girl could have been lost because of him. He’d never forget how he had felt seeing her so weak, so close to death. Would never forget holding her as Kindara had sewn her flesh back together. Nor would he forget the feel of her lips on his neck as she pulled the blood from his body, taking from him what she had needed to survive. He had never fed one of her Kind before, and it was a sensation he would never forget. His blood flowed in her now, if just a small bit.

  “I am not exactly small. I am taller than average for my Kind, you know.”

  “But small for the demon world, pet.” He wanted to touch her again, so he did. He wrapped his hand around the pale flesh of her arm—so soft and light compared to him. When not purple or other colors, he was far darker than this little creature by several shades. In skin, and in soul. Cerridwen squealed to be picked up—not by him, but by the warrior girl she adored. She scooped his spawn up and carried Cerridwen on her hip as if it was the most natural placement for the child in the world. Like his little Cerri belonged there. Her own mother had shown her less affection than this bloodsucker did. He pulled them both closer as they walked into his brother’s castle for the evening meal.

  She smelled good, this little foreigner to his world. Why had he not noticed earlier?

  He half thought about renewing his offer of consort, but he’d offered once—more than once—and been turned away. He would take no more rejection from her, no matter how he admired her fighting form.

  Cerridwen was chattering at the poor woman, but she did not seem to mind. Seemed so natural with the child. Why had she chosen a warrior’s path instead of working with children? She was made to be a mother. She should have found a mate decades ago and made her own spawn. She would be perfect in that role.

  Chapter Ten

  Aureliana didn’t mind the little child in her arms, the chatter sweet and innocent. Perfect, in a world of realms so far from perfect it terrified her. Teaching a child not yet old enough to read to defend herself with a sword was something she hated having to face. But what options were there? The child would face threats her entire life, shouldn’t she learn to protect herself? But she’d also understood her Rajni’s grief that it was necessary. He hadn’t hid how he felt from her. Not by a long shot. Or maybe it was just that she was that perceptive where her Rajni was concerned?

  Her hand stroked the silky black curls and she held the child just a bit tighter, reminded of how she would carry Jierra—and even Bronwen—close when they were just this girl’s size.

  Now look at them. Jierra was a mother now, and fast becoming the right hand of the goddess. She was happy with her Rajni and her children. But Bronwen…Bronie worried her. She was but a shell of the girl she had been just eight months ago. She barely left her suite, barely seemed to eat, barely spoke. Something had to be done about her, and soon. Or they would lose her.

  “Maybe it’s just that the demon world is too big for you?”

  Maybe that’s what it was? Maybe they both—she and Bronwen—just missed home too damned much?

  She said little else as she carried Cerridwen in to the main living hall. It was where Rathan and Kindara often sat when not in the privacy of their suite. The rest of Rathan’s close family would be in there occasionally. Aureliana tended to avoid that room—most often Ren was in there discussing business with his brother.

  But Cerridwen had toys in there, and so that was where she headed now. Dinner wasn’t quite ready, and the child would need to be entertained.

  And she was a good buffer between Aureliana and her father.

  They never made it to the main hall. Bronwen stumbled by, worry on her face. Aureliana passed Cerridwen to Ren, and grabbed Bronwen’s arm. “Bronie?”

  “Danae’s having her babe. I must go to her!”

  Aureliana let her go.

  Ren cursed softly and Aureliana turned toward him. “What is it?”

  “The Twin Kings are both in the castle still. They will get word of this. Sinrik is determined to remove Danae and the spawn to his own lands. Rathan is still objecting.”

  “Surely they will not make Danae go?” It was barbaric to even expect that Ren’s sister would be given to a male just because he’d fathered a babe with her. No one even knew if the act had been consensual… “Rathan won’t allow it, will he?”

  Ren tightened his hold around his daughter. “Never. And neither will I. My sister has a choice. Sinrik may not believe it so, but she will be protected. Come. We’ll take Cerridwen to the dining room. We shall eat our dinner, and wait for the news of the spawn’s arrival. Cerridwen, my little kitten, tonight you get a cousin.”

  Aureliana didn’t want to be with him; not just the two of them and his child. It was too intimate as they sat at the dining table. Too familial. They entertained Cerridwen and Aureliana tried not to think of what could have been between them. What she wished would have been between them. Grief for what she would never have threatened to overtake her, but she pushed it away. Ruthlessly.

  She’d made her decision months ago, and that was the decision she would live by.

  Kindara was seeing to Danae, Rathan was pacing the hall outside Danae’s suite. Aureliana thought it sweet how worried he was for the sister he’d had a hand in raising.

  Ren was worried, too, though he tried not to show it. Softer emotions were not her Rajni’s way, by any means. He might not like showing it, but he cared about his sister a great deal. A part of her softened toward him again.

  As the hours crawled by he grew more worried, and Aureliana found herself staying by his side. How could she not? He was her Rajni. And he needed her. She rocked Cerridwen when the little one fell asleep in her arms. By that point Ren was pacing over the parlor rug. “How long do such things take?”

  “As long as they take.” She’d had many friends birth babes, and the waiting was by far the hardest part for the loved ones. “You do no one any favors wearing a hole in the carpet.”

  “Danae is so young to have spawned. Damn that Warrior bastard for daring to do this to her.”

  “Has she said anything yet of what had happened?” Danae was remarkably close mouthed about her time captive in the Warrior Twin Kings’ home. Bronwen had said far less. “Bronwen speaks of it not at all. And we do not dare push the issue
on her.”

  Bronwen had been taken by one of the warrior Twin Kings when he was a political prisoner in Rathan’s castle. Rathan had had nothing to do with it; from what Aureliana knew of the situation Ren had even objected, but Rathan’s board of advisors—who’d technically ruled in Rathan’s absence—had gone ahead and kept the Twin King captive.

  Koios had broken out of the castle the night Aureliana had been brought to the castle for the first time. After Ren had attacked her that day.

  It had taken several hours before anyone had realized Bronwen had been taken. Aureliana would never forgive herself for that. She had vowed to keep Bronwen safe, and the first real challenge to that oath, and she’s failed.

  When Bronwen and Danae had been found, Danae was half-starved and Bronwen had lost what had remained of her sight. Aureliana suspected she’d used too much of herself keeping Danae alive during those three weeks they’d been held captive.

  Yet the Warrior Twin Kings still went unpunished for what had happened to Bronwen and Danae. Aureliana knew that weighed on her Rajni—and his brother. And the Twin Kings were frequently political guests of Rathan. No one was happy about that.

  But until Bronwen and Danae opened up about what had happened to them in that other kingdom, no formal sanctions could be levied against the Twin Kings.

  ***

  Two hours later and the girl warrior was stretched out on his brother’s couch, Cerridwen curled up in her arms—both sound asleep. They looked so natural together. The girl warrior’s hair was far lighter than Cerridwen’s black curls, her skin paler, but she held the spawn like she cared for her. Perhaps she did; no, he knew she did. Was that one of the things that drew him to her side time and again? Her softness where his daughter was concerned?

  He stood next to the couch staring down at them for the longest time, wondering just what destiny could be in store for such a female. She was so fragile to hold such responsibility. Did she have any inkling about what was to befall her?

  He could not ask her without revealing what the Wolf god had told him. And that would endanger her. He would have to live with his curiosity, and make damned sure he kept his vow to keep her safe.

  A commotion sounded just outside the door, running feet and shouts. Ren grabbed the handle of his sword and blocked the parlor door with his body.

  Rathan stood in the hall, yelling at the Twin Kings. The girl healer was unconscious in his brother’s arms.

  Ren shoved his way in front of the closet twin, hand on his sword. “You disturb my spawn with your yelling. Explain yourselves.”

  Koios pulled his blade and put it at Rathan’s throat, just sliding it past the unconscious girl healer’s ear. “Give her to me. I’ve claimed her as servila, and kept her the two weeks required; she is by law mine.”

  Ren laughed at that. “You think we would allow a valued and honored member of our family, our court, to be slave to a lesser king?”

  “My foster daughter is no male’s slave.” The voice was cold, chilling. Beautifully female. She stood at the Warrior Twin King’s back. None had seen her enter. She was that good? Or had they been that complacent? How had she managed to get out the back exit of the parlor and around to the hall without anyone knowing it?

  Her dagger—something she carried with her always—was at the male’s throat, despite him being so much larger than she. Her eyes were cool when they met Ren’s. When she glanced at Rathan.

  Her eyes were cool, but her hands were steady. Her words burning. “Rath, would you tell me, how is Bronie?”

  “Exhausted. Kindara says she gave too much of herself to Danae, again. The spawn was a large one, and it was apparently closer than we could have expected. My sister is more Witch than Succubus. And Witches are frailer. Kindara could not do much to help, I’m afraid.”

  Sinrik relaxed his own grip on his sword. He was in an awkward position—he alone could pose a threat to the warrior girl, but his brother was blocking his limited range of attack.

  It was an awkward moment for everyone.

  Aureliana was the next to speak. “Bronwen needs rest, then. Not a barbarian yelling over her and threatening to take her from those who love her. How is Danae?”

  “Our sister sleeps now. Her daughter rests beside her. A beautiful spawn, who very much favors her mother.” Rathan’s pride was evident. “She is called Zephra. Kindara tends them both now, with help from Isolde, Cerridwen’s nurse. I have been tasked with seeing to young Bronwen.”

  Aureliana drew her dagger across Koios’s throat lightly. It was a tease, a warning. A definite threat. Ren knew it would just infuriate the warrior male. It would him, if he were in the other male’s place. To be threatened by a weak female such as she—that was the height of insult to a Warrior of Koios’s caliber. “Rathan, if you will carry her to her suite, I will sit with her until she wakes. I had a hand in raising her; she will be comforted in my presence.”

  Ren had his sword at the ready and he took over from her when she stepped away from the Warrior Twin Kings.

  She’d put herself in a deliberately vulnerable position and he would not have that repeated. They would be having words once she was back in a safe position.

  Koios growled when she stepped out from around him, his skin the color of red demon rage. Aureliana barely looked at the large threat. Ren prepared to jump between them, if necessary. No, he would definitely be chastising her for her carelessness as soon as they were alone. She had to be made to understand that she was just not safe in his world any longer…

  Not that she ever had been.

  “Girl. Remember this, a demon Warrior King does not take kindly to threats.”

  She snorted in a most delicately feminine way. She never looked at Koios. An action designed to pick at the other male’s ego. Ren knew she was doing it with purpose. “Please, if Ren and all his blustering doesn’t frighten me, why should you?”

  ***

  Ren waited until she and his brother were safely out of the hall before turning to the Twin Kings. He pulled his sword and had the first of the brothers on the ground in seconds. He turned to the second, while holding the brother captive.

  They were kings, yes. Warriors, doubly so. But he was the one Warrior who superseded all in this realm. And that was more by strength and might than by birth.

  He’d had Koios by the tunic and off his feet in seconds. “You will never threaten that female again. One foul word in her direction and you will face death at my hands.”

  “You would break our laws then? For an outside female? They are fit for no better than servila at our hands. You know this. It has always been the way. Yet you, prince of all Demonkin would set one up so high? Foolish. And foolhardy. You always did think with the Incubus part of your head, Renakletos. Much like your brother.” Koios reached up and grabbed Ren’s sword. It was only Ren’s years of experience at holding himself in check that kept him from simply removing this threat to the healer girl with a quick twist of his blade.

  But his brother had drilled into him time and time again that killing every annoyance wasn’t appropriate for a prince such as him. More’s the pity. It would be so satisfying to rid Relaklonos of the warrior twins by sword.

  It would make things much simpler for his sister, as well.

  “Forget you not, Koios, that the queen you owe your allegiance to is now of that same Kind, the Kind you see fit as only servila. Think you my brother will forgive such a slight as quickly as I? These females are cherished members of my family, in my keeping. Insult them again, and it will be the last you do.”

  “Take me to my spawn. I deserve to be at the spawn’s bedside the night of her birth. This is my right as her sire.” The quieter of the Twin King’s wrapped his hand around Ren’s arm and pulled Ren’s attention away from the older twin. “Please.”

  It was the please that reminded him of his own spawn still sleeping on the parlor couch. Of how he had felt being barred from her birth, only to be given the child two hours later, with barel
y a blanket wrapped around her. He’d never been so helpless in his nearly two thousand years on the earth as he had been when that tiny creature was placed in his arms by the nurse Isolde.

  Isolde had defied Cerridwen’s mother—who’d ordered the spawn turned over to the foundlings group—to give Cerridwen to Ren. He’d never forgotten Isolde’s courage. And he’d offered her a position as Cerridwen’s nursemaid on the spot.

  She’d taken care of his daughter every day since. But if she hadn’t been so brave, would he have ever found his spawn? Would he be still separated from Cerridwen to this day?

  “I will stay with you, and you are not to pressure or frighten my sister more than you already have.”

  “Agreed. I just need to see…her.” But which her did the Twin King refer?

  “Your brother controls himself. Any attempt to find the healer girl or to interfere with Danae and her spawn will result in your immediate expulsion from this castle. If you cannot agree to that—both of you—then you will never see the spawn. Agreed?” He was overstepping his bounds, but neither Rathan nor Danae was there to stop him. And he knew in his soul it was the right decision to make.

  “You have my—our—word.” Sinrik’s words were tight but Ren knew he meant them. “An oath that we will both abide by.”

  “Then I will take you to the spawn.”

  Danae would be angry with him, but he understood more about these two males then he thought they realized. For what he knew of them they were honorable males, trying only to preserve the dying out Kind of Warrior Demons. They weren’t the same race as Ren’s mother, but they shared a common ancestor. Ren’s race was far rarer and was just a bit stronger and larger than what the two Warrior Demon Kings were. They were the more common Beskre Warrior Demons. Ren was a Phrymos Warrior Demon. The differences between the two races were there, but one had to know where to look to see them. Phrymos were more deadly.