Kiss of a Demon King

adore you-'

But Rydstrom steered her away before she could fin­ish, heading toward the back to the only empty table. Raucous females sat nearby, playing dice. All looked intoxicated on drink or intoxispells.

When Rydstrom muttered, 'More witches,' Sabine put out a light probe for powers. Again, finding noth­ing she'd get out of bed for. But one of the females with them had pointed ears and glowing skin.

'And Regin the Radiant,' he said, shaking his head. 'She's often Nix's partner in crime.'

Once they reached the table, and he'd pulled out her chair for her, he was clearly reluctant to leave her to go get drinks. 'Go, Rydstrom, I'll be fine.'

He leaned down to say at her ear, 'Just don't tell any­one your full name or your sorceress title, and we ought to be fine.'

When Rydstrom hesitantly left her, Sabine glared at all the females sighing over him as he passed, though he seemed oblivious to their notice.

At the bar, he turned back to her, checking on her, those green eyes watchful.

Taking one on the chin for Team Evil? Try scoring one for Team Sabine.

He was so incredibly masculine. A dynamo in bed, on the couch, and in the shallow end of the pool. And he was good to her.

She'd been good to him for the most part, striving to be so for him. But old habits died hard. Whenever Rydstrom had unlocked his armory to view that sword, Sabine had made herself invisible.

And now she had the combination.. ..

This could get dicey. He'd brought Sabine here because she was going to have to get used to being in this soci­ety sooner or later. And the Lorekind were going to have to get used to seeing her.

But he also had another reason for coming here. Erol's was an excellent place to get information. And Rydstrom wanted Lothaire's whereabouts.

When Rydstrom had admitted to Sabine the terms of the deal struck with the vampire, she'd been under­ standably worried. Lothaire could ask him for any one thing. At any time. 'What if he wants your firstborn? We've got to kill him!'

'Our firstborn. And I'll take care of it'

At the bar, Rydstrom asked a nearby storm demon and then the barkeep for information, but the mere mention of the Enemy of Old had them shaking their heads.

As he waited for drinks, Rydstrom gazed back at Sabine. She was sitting with an innate grace, casually surveying the room with those amber eyes.

So bloody beautiful. And of course he wasn't the only one who thought so. Males were craning their heads to get a glimpse of her. Just as he'd predicted, Rydstrom's horns were flaring. He cast killing looks at some of the bastards, letting them know that the female was his.

But was she? According to Sabine, he had only two more days with her-then they would reconvene. He hadn't pressed her about it, because he'd simply assumed keeping her here was a function of making her want to stay with him. He was doing everything he could think of, and still he felt her slipping away. .. .

Just as he accepted her wine and his brew from the barkeep, Regin yelled across the tavern, 'Yo, demon, who's the tartling?'

Rydstrom exhaled, turning to stride back to the table. He saw that some of the witches in the back were from the pool party. They must have recognized Sabine, because they were urgently trying to shut Regin up.

Though they whispered to her, Regin responded loudly, 'Sabine? Who the hell is she? Still looks like a tartling to me.'

When Sabine slowly turned toward Regin, Rydstrom hastened back to her, dropping the drinks at a random table-

'I am not a tartling. I am the Queen of Illusions,' Sabine answered with silky menace, her palms at the ready.

Ah, fuck.

'Sister to Omort?' Regin shot to her feet, knocking over her chair. As lightning streaked the sky outside, the Valkyrie snatched two short swords from holsters across her back. 'How'd you like those no-handed fire demons that Nixie and I sent back to you? Did you get her note?'

At the mention of Omort, beings in the crowd began comprehending exactly who Rydstrom had brought to

this bar. He heard mutters and whispers about the sor­ceress, and people began filing toward the door.

As the Lykae twins reached the exit, one of them called to Rydstrom, 'Damn, demon, that filly's no' yet been broken.'

The other added, 'Talk about goin' out and gettin' some strange.'

Rydstrom stepped between Sabine and Regin. 'Valky-rie, she's with me. Nïx wouldn't want you to fight with Sabine.' Because Sabine would destroy Regin.

Regin frowned in confusion. 'She must be the sorceress Nïx specifically told me not to off tonight.' The Valkyrie shrugged, expertly holstering her swords behind her back. Her ire had left her as readily as it had arrived, and her attention drifted from Sabine and Ryd­strom. 'Hey! Where's everybody going? Rocky Horror Picture Show's playing downtown!' Regin brushed past them toward the exit, her friends following.

In minutes every being in the entire tavern-includ­ing the barkeep-had cleared out.

Sabine regarded the empty area with an unreadable expression.

He wrapped his arms around her, curling his fingers under her chin. 'Baby, I'm sorry. It'll take time.'

'Are you kidding? I was very flattered.' When he gave her a doubting expression, she said, 'Rydstrom, don't for­get that I was raised to equate fear with respect. All those people just showed me an enormous amount of respect.'

He still must have looked unconvinced because she added, 'Demon, I didn't come here expecting to make friends. Now, is this still a date?'

'Of course.'

'And we're still in a Lore bar?'

'That we are.'

She crossed to the bar and hopped over. 'So what will you have?' she asked with a grin. 'Drinks are on the house.'

They sat in companionable silence on the way home, both lost in their own thoughts.

Rydstrom had told her that demons loved nice cars, were fascinated by them, and now she could see the appeal. The scent of new leather surrounded her, the seats were toasty warm, and the lights on the dash illu­ minated his handsome face.

And there was a marked confidence about the way he drove. He was good at this, and he knew it. Gods, there was something about a male who drove well that was so sexually attractive, though she'd only really seen it with horses and carriages before.

At every red light, he took his hand off the stick shift and rested his palm on her knee, as though he couldn't stand not touching her for even a few moments.

The anticipation of knowing that they were going back to their house to make love all night took her mind from any worries she might have harbored. And she felt his strength, palpable and reassuring. He'd vowed to protect her, had wanted to.

After they made love, she was going to tell him about the poison....

'You looked beautiful tonight,' he said, his voice rumbling.

'You didn't look too bad yourself.'

'I made the podium?'

'Demon, you'd get my gold. I was proud to be on your arm. For as long as it lasted.' With the place all to themselves, Rydstrom had taught her to play pool. 'And I had fun.'

He grinned over at her. 'Even though we didn't leave

any bodies behind?'