Page 44 of Demon Bound

“By the Five, I’d pay to see that,” the innkeeper said. “Tell you what. I’ll rent you the room for free if you give us a peek at you with the giant-spawn tonight.”

Raiya glared at him, her face hot. The men laughed harder.

Azreth reached over her shoulder and took hold of the innkeeper’s apron. He jerked the man up against the bar. Raiya held her breath. If he started a fight here, it would end badly.

“Be quiet,” Azreth said. It was clear that he expected the command to be followed without further prompting. The innkeeper went a little pale. When Azreth released him, Raiya let out her breath.

“It was a joke,” the innkeeper said. “Get a sense of humor, friend.” He flopped a few coins into Raiya’s hand, then gave her a key.

Raiya looked sidelong at Azreth as they went down the hall to their room. He stared ahead.

“Thank you,” she said.

His gaze slid toward her. He held out his hand, showing her the runes still faintly glowing on his skin. “Tomorrow, you will fix this,” he reminded her.

She nodded. “I will.” She opened the door for him, peering inside to make sure everything was as expected. There was indeed a single bed. Raiya’s mind was briefly filled with images of Azreth and herself on it together, doing exactly what theinnkeeper had described. She cleared her throat. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“Just to order some hot food and a bath. It won’t take long.”

“I will go with you.”

“I think it’s best if you stay here. You attract more attention than I’d like.”

He considered that, frowning. Then he nodded. “Return quickly.”

She made her way back down the hall to the crowded common room. She spoke to the innkeeper again, ignoring the cold way he addressed her, then stepped back to wait for the food she’d ordered, rather than having it delivered to her room. She wasn’t keen on the possibility of some maid popping her head into the room at an inopportune time and witnessing Azreth in all his demonic glory.

She leaned against the bar, surveying the crowd as she waited, and thought about that bed. Gods, she was looking forward to it, wasn’t she? But how could she not? Those hands were surprisingly generous.

As she looked out at the crowd of mortals happily clinking glasses and laughing with each other, her stomach turned in circles. None of them would understand, if they knew. They’d happily kill Azreth and hang her for aiding him.

“What has you looking so unhappy, my dear?” came a smooth voice that made her freeze in place. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” An arm curled around her waist, holding her against a slim body.

Nirlan smiled bleakly at her, the expression not reaching his eyes. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

She should have run. She should have called for help. She should have donesomething.But she couldn’t move.

“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself? Didn’t you think you’d get caught? Don’t you ever think ahead?” His lips curled with contempt, but his voice remained soft.

Raiya’s heart pounded in her ears. She couldn’t move. He was right—she was stupid. She was too cowardly and foolish to even speak.

Nirlan looked like he wanted to say more about what he thought of her, but he seemed to realize that this wasn’t the place for it. He was good at controlling himself sometimes—when he was in public, and people might be watching. Raiya watched his expression smooth over.

“Where is he?” he demanded.

So he didn’t realize Azreth was in the other room. He must not have seen him earlier. Perhaps he’d only just arrived at the inn. Perhaps Nirlan hadn’t even guessed she’d made a glamour for him. As far as Nirlan was concerned, she was probably too stupid or lazy to think of something like that.

“I don’t know,” she said.

He reached toward her face, and she winced, but he only flicked a lock of hair out of her face.

“Who else aided you?” he asked quietly. “Did the Roamers shelter you?”

“No.”

“The Paladins?”

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