Page 5 of My Demon Desire
When we get back to the hideout, I lay her down on my makeshift bed and check her pockets for any clues but find none. There's nothing to give me any indication of who she is or why she is here.
Next, I check her limbs for any signs of injury, but other than the bruises forming on her neck from Thorne, there are no broken bones and her clothing is intact except for a gash down the side of her shirt. Her skin is scratched, but not bleeding. I take her shoes off, then her socks.
There's no markings on her ankles like the legends say the princess will bear the royal mark and I shake my head. Thinking this human could be a fae is ridiculous. The true queen has been missing for over twenty years and if she was alive, she'd have returned by now and overthrown the usurper.
I should burn the scrolls talking about the missing monarch because it's clear to me now that the stories reap nothing but falseness.
"Want me to wake her up?" Kaden leans against the doorframe, his brows drawn together making his broken horn stand out more.
"No." I shake my head, not willing to see the horror in her eyes when she looked at us. If she were fae, our monster forms wouldn't bother her. "She seemed panicked when she saw us. Let her wake up on her own."
"Well, guess you're all right with her taking up your bed then? We could each have a turn and then kill her. Drain her blood. I bet it tastes divine—" His wicked grin has me standing up from the woman and yanking him forward by his horn.
"Anyone touches her but me and I'll skin them alive." I slam a fist into his middle and throw him back. He bounces against the stone wall. Before he hits the floor, he rebounds straight at me.
His fist lands a solid punch on my jaw and the crack vibrates through my skull.
I stagger back and jerk my foot, tripping him. He tumbles to the floor.
My vision goes white and I grab him by his horns. I'm so tempted to rip them off, but force myself to release him instead.
"Next time," I say, my voice low and menacing. "You won't be so lucky."
"Tch." Kaden stands, shaking his fist and winces. "She better be worth it."
I wave him off, but Kaden scowls at me before turning away and leaving.
Grabbing a blanket off the bed, I cover her with it, then step back and look at her.
She's so small, so fragile compared to us in our Unseelie forms. There's a softness about her, a peacefulness that settles in my chest when I look at her that I can't explain. I tell myself it's because I want answers. If the queen has sent her as a spy or recruited human witches to attack us, I want to know.
The desire for answers fills me and it's more than curiosity. An urge to keep her safe pounds through me like a sacred oath. It doesn't make any sense.
Unless she is a sorceress and has already bewitched me.
Her dark, brown hair cascades across my pillow, and her lips are ruby red. She looks too damn tempting to be an innocent human who stumbled into our world.
I clench my fists and walk out of my bedroom, closing the door behind me.
There's a longing burning in my gut to stay and watch her sleep, but a small voice in the back of my head tells me to get away and clear my head. My fists tighten and I clench my jaw.
I glance at the door. Almost willing her to wake and come out and confront me. To take off this charade of being frightened. Though the scent of her fear wrapped around me in the woods and I wanted more. The beast part of me nearly took over like I imagine it did Thorne when he held her by her throat.
But a witch wouldn't have allowed that. She'd have fought back with magic and not puny kicks or punches that did nothing.
Thorne jogs down the hallway to me and stops in front of me.
"Did you get Kaden to heal her and wake her up?" Thorne asks as he glances past me to the door. "Then we can find out more about her and why she's here."
"Lay a hand on her and you'll answer to me, take ten-fold back in payment.”
Thorne grits his teeth, but a hint of fear flashes in his eyes. He knows I'm not one to make idle threats. He offers a shallow nod, showing me respect while still challenging me.
I snarl in response and he lowers his eyes a fraction.
"No," I say. "I haven't had Kaden heal her yet. She's sleeping and I don't wish to wake her at the moment. Guard the door. She doesn't leave unless I say so."
His brows furrow, but he takes up a post outside my door.
