Page 12 of Demon's Cruel Desire

"How adorable," Tagar sneers. "You've let this pathetic human get under your skin, baby brother."

Dagon releases a low warning rumble. I step boldly between the two towering demons, unwilling to back down.

"Better be careful, Tagar," I taunt, making sure to use his name in a way he can't miss my lack of deference. "Your 'pathetic human' has a mean left hook."

"Callista!" Dagon barks, but I catch the slight twitch at the corner of his lips. He's still in there, my Dagon. I just have to poke and prod him free from this prickly shell.

Undeterred, Tagar rakes his gaze over me with a nauseating appraisal. "I could break you over my knee before you landed a single blow, girl."

I open my mouth to fire back another scathing retort, but Dagon suddenly grabs my arm in a vise. "That's enough," he rumbles, his tone brokering no argument as he hauls me away from his leering brother.

"What did you think you were doing, mouthing off to Tagar like that?" Dagon's voice is a low, dangerous rumble as he rounds on me. "He could snap you in half without blinking, you foolish girl." With a disgusted snort, he whirls and stalks away, leaving me bristling in his wake.

The courtyard's cracked flagstones dig into my back, the shadows lengthening as the merciless sun sinks behind the towering ramparts. Dagon's footsteps have barely faded before Tagar's large frame looms over me, blocking out the courtyard light. A shiver of unease ripples through me, but I refuse to show weakness before this bully.

"You've got quite a mouth on you for a lowly human," he rumbles, lips twisting. "Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, living with my wayward brother."

I lift my chin, meeting his dark glower head-on. "At least I can speak my mind freely. More than can be said for you cowards who only open your traps to kick a demon when he's down."

The words are barely past my lips before Tagar's hand lashes out, thick fingers clamping around my throat. In a blink I'm slammed against the rough stone wall, feet leaving the ground as he effortlessly suspends me by the neck.

Tagar's obsidian glare bores into me with sadistic promise, his twisted features exuding menace like a coiled viper.

"You've no idea what you're dealing with, girl," he snarls, eyes glittering with malice as I claw futilely at his grip. "With a flick of my wrist, I could crush your puny windpipe to dust."

Panic claws up my chest as his hold tightens, merciless as a constrictor's coils. Black spots bloom across my vision, distant roaring filling my ears. This is it, I'm going to die at the hands of Dagon's twisted brother.

Then, as swiftly as it began, Tagar releases me. I crumple gracelessly to the ground, wheezing and coughing as sweet air floods my lungs once more. Tagar sneers down at my crumpled form with contempt.

"That's just a small taste of the pain I could inflict if I wished. Don't think I've forgotten what you bloodless creatures did during the wars, massacring my kin without mercy."

He crouches before me, his next words a soft, deadly hiss. "But you may yet prove useful, human. I have a mind to break you down completely, piece by brutal piece. Once you're a sniveling wretch, perhaps my brother will rediscover his true nature as well."

Tagar's cruel smile makes my stomach lurch. "Just something to ponder in the sleepless nights ahead, pet."

With a final contemptuous glance, he turns and strides away, leaving me trembling and cold on the unforgiving stones. Dagon's going to have one tough decision ahead of him if his brother makes good on his threats.

12

DAGON

“Are you sure about this?” I grumble, looking up at the alehouse signage. My brother has no mercy for my foul mood as he shoves me through the wooden doors.

“Trust me on this,” he smirks, meeting the smoky room with an easy smile.

Call it brotherly love, but I normally wouldn’t be caught dead in a dive like this.

The smoky tavern assaults my senses with a barrage of harsh laughter, clinking tankards, and the reek of stale bodies. I squeeze my eyes shut, drawing a fortifying breath through my nostrils. Why in the nine hells did I agree to this?

Tagar claps a heavy hand on my shoulder, jostling me forward. "This is just what you need, little brother. A night of debauchery to clear that pretty human fog from your brain."

I grit my teeth, restraining the urge to shrug off his vice-like grip.

“I'm fine,” I insist, hoping to convince myself as much as my brother.

Tagar looks less than convinced as he pushes me towards a seat at a table. Every breath of stale tavern air has me longing for the crisp, green scent of the courtyard gardens back home. Of Callista's unique floral notes dancing on the breeze as she moves amongst the blooms.

Curse that brave, foolish woman and her soul-deep stare for burrowing under my defenses so thoroughly. I should have guarded myself better against her disarming warmth and spirit.