Page 26 of Drawn to the Demon Duke
And I keep up that silly hope for nearly another hour before I finally call it and ask Dagon if he can help me find my way back to Sammael.
He does, and though Sammael seems visibly stunned that I returned with another demon instead of the flower, he says nothing as he prepares a portal back to the capital.
CHAPTER 9
DAGON
HAURES
When Sammael’s portal opens in my throne room, I hold my breath.
The bond still exists. I knew it would. It had to. Between my power and that of the essence of the ashbalm, I could snap it easily. I would need the flower brought back from the shadows on the edge of Sombra to do so, and it’s the flickering flame hovering the edge of the flower made of ash that I’m searching for as figures begin to materialize in the throne room.
I have to let her choose. To tether a human female to me for eternity… I am ruthless. I am fierce. I am Lord Haures.
But I am not cruel, and to keep such a treasure as my Susanna without giving her the chance to be free of me… I couldn’t do it. It wouldn’t be fair. I need her to accept me fully, and that includes choosing to keep our bond even if I offer her the opportunity to sever it.
I did. I sent her off to the shadows, knowing that it was a calculated risk I had to take. She was given enough of a clue tofind the ashbalm flower. Staying close to the edges, she shouldn’t be in any danger.
There was a moment while she was gone when I experienced a nervous quiver coming from Susanna’s side of our bond to mine. Almost as if she was frightened, but it was there and gone a moment later. She closed me off, but that fleeting instant changed me.
Sheismy mate. Whether she returns with the ashbalm flower or not, it doesn’t matter. I will do anything I can to convince Savannah that the gods gave her to me for a reason, and if she truly wants to leave me behind, she can wait another cycle until the next ashbalm flower blooms in the shadows.
So I hold my breath, and I wait, and, gods damn it, Ihope.
Susanna stumbles through the portal first. I shift in my throne, every instinct in me warring against the need to project strength. Indifference. If a single one of my people knew just how easily this wee slip of a mortal could bring me to ruin, not even charmed chains and solid bars would keep her safe from my enemies.
There haven’t been any wars in Sombra since I took the crystal crown. My subjects both fear meandrevere me,but I have no illusions. There are plenty who, given the chance, would cackle gleefully to see me toppled from my seat of power in Mavro.
Susanna could do it. And for the promise of her essence, I’d let her…
Following right behind Susanna, I see a demon in his solid form. When Sammael left with Susanna, he’d changed to his shadows. I assumed he changed back—and then the demon jerks upright, eyes searching the room, a predator’s gaze…
A predator’s gaze withredeyes.
A hunter.
Sammael steps into the throne room last, taking the portal with him. As before, he’s in shadows, purple eyes blazing out of the dark depths, but he changes back quickly.
There are times I can’t deny a hint of jealousy that my subjects can switch between forms so easily while I’m stuck as I am. I hide it, of course, but at the moment? It doesn’t bother me.
Not when there’s another male in the throne room, taking his place near my mate.
I find Susannah’s hesitant expression. Her shadowy hair is falling to the side, curling around her slender shoulder. Ash is dashed across her cheek, another streak along her little white hands.
Her empty hands.
My heart jolts to see that she’s returned without the ashbalm flower while the rest of me burns to know what this hunter thinks he can stake any sort of claim to my Susanna.
“You brought another male to our home?” I ask her quietly, though my voice echoes around the throne room like the unsaid threat that’s tucked in the unnecessary question.
Because the answer is standing uncowed just beyond Susanna.
She lifts her shoulders, lets them fall. I grit my teeth, unwilling to let her sway me by swaying her obvious breasts. “He helped me?—”
The red-eyed hunter is quick. Before anyone can stop him, he shifts so that he’s standing in front of Susanna.
In front ofmy mate.
