Kiss of a Demon King

This much resentment?. 'I did every chance I could. At least once a week in the beginning.' At Cadeon's dis­believing look, he said, 'I was there watching over you, making sure you had everything you needed. I stayed out of the way because Zoe and Mia said I would inter­rupt your bonding with your new family.'

'How about not sending me away at all?'

'After Nylson and our father had just been slain? Because they broke the custom? When you were little, I was still adjusting to being king. I'd just lost my older brother, who was my best friend. And my father, as well. Then you were to be in jeopardy, too? I couldn't stand the thought of it. I was tempted to take you and our sis­ters and start anew, turn our backs on wars and killing.'

Cadeon gaped. 'You considered giving up the

crown?'

'If there'd been a worthy replacement for me. Yes. Then, just a few years later, I lost the kingdom to a vicious murderer. I'd wondered if I'd fought hard enough, or if I'd let go too easily. The guilt was unre­lenting, is unrelenting.'

'But the crown was everything. That's why you've hated me all these years.'

'I never hated you. And the crown had nothing to do with why I've been hard on you.' At Cadeon's raised I brows, Rydstrom said, 'All right, that was part of it.

But I was also angry because of the way you were liv­ing your life. You were selfish and uncaring.' Rydstrom knew Cadeon wouldn't argue that. 'Sabine's since told me that you would've been assassinated if you'd gone to Tornin. Omort had five hundred troops waiting for you.'

'Sabine told you that?'

'She wanted to ease some of the strife between us.'

'Kind of nice, for an evil bitch.'

'Guard your words carefully, brother, that woman is going to be your queen.' Just when Rydstrom thought they'd have another row, Cadeon raised his palms.

'Yeah, you're right. Sorry. But don't forget that she's part of the reason I gave up Holly. I thought if I got the sword, I could free you. It ate at me, thinking of you in a dungeon. Nïx told me the sorceress would ... use you.'

The sorceress did.

With a nod at the now empty bottle, Cadeon said, 'You've finished it-something I never thought I'd see-so are you ready to divvy what happened?'

Rydstrom exhaled. Then he told Cadeon almost everything, leaving out his false vow, ending with, '. . . I'm not making progress with her as I'd hoped. And I've only got another two days.'

'Look, I know I'm the last person you want to take advice from, but you can't force this. You can't make her love you.'

'Then what would you do?'

'You know, do nice shite for her. Buy her things. Really think about what she likes and what makes her happy and make it happen. She'll come around. And if

she doesn't, you can cut off your horns for her. Chicks

dig that.'

Rydstrom's gaze shot up. Sure enough, Cadeon's had been shorn. 'What the hell did you do that for?'

'Holly wanted a normal life, so I was trying to give her normal. She's since berated me, and forbidden me from ever touching my 'rock-hard, sexy horns' again. Then she outlined what she was going to do to me when they grew back. Gods, brother, that woman quicks my wick.' Then he frowned. 'Wait a minute. Did you say Sabine was going to be my queen? What the hell is she now?'

Deceived.

A storm was coming, outside the house and within it as

well.

Rydstrom was going to confess to Sabine about his sham vow. With a heavy heart, he made his way upstairs to their room, leaving Cadeon to finish his drink.

Though he'd been working to earn her trust, Ryd-strom was about to destroy it with one blow. But he had no choice. Every time she called him her husband was like a knife to the chest.

He sat beside her in the bed. 'Sabine, there's some­thing I must confess to you.'

She didn't answer, didn't turn to him, but her slim shoulders tensed, letting him know she'd awakened.

'All I ask is that you try to understand the circum­stances. Can you do that?'

No response. He laid his hand on her shoulder and tugged her over to face him. She opened her eyes.

They were filled with blood.

'What is this? Sabine, what's happening?'

'It's . . . here' Her words were slurred, her skin waxen.

He gathered her up in his arms. Her heartbeat was racing.

When a line of blood tracked from her nose and another from her ear, the sharpest fear he'd ever felt came over him. 'Ah, gods, what is happening to you? Tell me, cwenal'

'Poison,' she gasped.

'What are you saying? How? Who did this to you?'

Her back arched sharply, her hands fisting in Ryd­strom's shirt. When she coughed, blood misted from her mouth.

Have to get her help . . .

'Cadeon!' Rydstrom bellowed.

His brother came bounding up the stairs, barreling into the room with his sword drawn. 'What the hell?'

'Sabine's sick-where is Nïx?'

'I can go get her.'

'Do it, and then meet us at the witch's coven-'

'Nooo!' Sabine screamed, thrashing in his arms. 'No .. . coven.'

'Easy, baby, we'll stay. Easy . . .' To Cadeon, he snapped, 'Bring Nïx here. If you can't find her, then hunt for Mariketa the Awaited. Or even Tera the Fey. She knows poisons.'

Without a word, Cadeon bolted from the room. Rydstrom heard the side door slam shut, then Cadeon's truck peeling away.

Rydstrom laid his palm on her cheek, wincing in confusion as pain suddenly shot through him, as if he'd laid his hand on a flame. But then her nightgown and the bedclothes were cold.

'Hold on for me, Sabine. Help's coming.'

Pain razored through her body, making her muscles knot. The coppery tang of blood flooded her mouth. Feels like blades are slicing through my veins, and pumping into my heart.

Rydstrom kept demanding to know what was wrong, staring down at the blood in horror, rocking her in his arms.

She panted in anguish, her eyes squeezed shut. She'd been wrong. There was no way she could withstand this. So stupid, so arrogant to think she could live through this.

And now she'd pay for it. Unless Rydstrom can bring himself to do what needs to be done.

Her body twisted as the excruciating waves built, her mind overrun with visions of drinking her poison. Yes, downing glass after glass of it. .. just dripping the sear­ing black granules straight onto her tongue, then swal- lowing them dry.

Ah, gods, she could accidentally poison Rydstrom with her skin, her blood. Must warn him. 'Can't . . . touch me.'

'Sabine, I have to get you to someone who can help!'

She shook her head violently. 'No one here . . . can.'

Another wave hit. Unthinkable ... unearthly agony. Her eyes flashed open when the manic pounding of her heart stopped.

Their gazes met. 'Cwena?' he rasped, 'your . . . heart?'

Over. Her mind went blank. Her lids eased shut. His unholy roar shook the