Page 22 of Dancing With Demons

11

Eth’tak

The shared scent of them rolls over me when a zonak opens the door to Tolmond’s tower.

I don’t like being here already, and knowing that they have become so close- it hits something deep and instinctual inside of me. Tolmond will do what he wants without ever consulting me, but this gets under my skin.

Maybe it’s because I want her too.

He is lithe enough to be gentle, but I am too big and powerful to do the same. And she’s so frail. I’d break her, if given the chance, and then I would never be able to live with myself.

So, I grumble and gripe as I make my way to Tolmond’s chambers, avoiding the inflow of students and other soz’garoth littering the halls. Up, up, up, I climb, near endless steps until I’m finally near the top of this forsaken tower.

Tolmond always seems to anticipate these things, and today is no different.

The door swings open before I have the opportunity to knock, my knuckles meeting thin air. “There you are. I thought the zonak I sent got lost. Come in.”

I’m ushered in as the door closes behind me.

There’s no sign of Piper here, but her scent is still fading. Did they have sex here, too? “The way your messenger spoke, it sounded urgent,” I grumble, sinking into a chair across from Tolmond, who is already seated, facing the fireplace. “Where is Piper?”

My reasoning is twofold. One, I do not want to be anywhere near her. Just the scent of her is enough to drive me mad with desire. It is better to keep such temptations at arm’s length. The second is to ensure King Asmodeus has not already gobbled her up in his pursuit of power. Gods only know what he’ll do with her once he’s gotten what he wants out of her.

The latter makes my pulse rise.

“She is resting in her quarters at the moment,” he says evenly. “She has had an exhausting day of practice between the two of us.”

Yes, ‘practice’,I think.Of course.

I say nothing to that, garnering a little look from Tolmond. His expression never breaks from one of concern. “She is holding back, and I have finally figured out why.”

Have you shown her your cock? Maybe that will solve it.I am tempted to snap, then berate myself internally. Of course, he has. Her scent is all over him. But more, I wonder where this seething jealousy is coming from? I have never been the covetous type, and we both know she is not ours, but the King’s. I snap back to the current conversation before I’m drowned by my own misery. “I am no soz’garoth. How could I solve this problem of yours?”

“You are the exact demon to do so.”

“Enlighten me.”

“She has lost something,” he begins, glancing back to the sickly green glow of the fireplace. “You will take her down to Protheka and find it.”

The notion sparks something in me, and I lean forward. “What are we looking for?”

“A doll.”

I scoff.

Tolmond shoots me a glare, which softens to his usual, neutral expression too soon. “It may seem trivial to you, but it is her connection to the world of man. It is a memento from her childhood that will help to unlock her magic.”

I hesitate to say anything more on the nature of the trinket, for magic is not my strong suit. I rub my long jaw and glance out a narrow window to the ever-present storm that hangs outside. “Fine. I will take her back down to Protheka.”

“I thought you might.” Tolmond pauses. “Go find her and be done with the task as soon as you are able. I don’t want her down there long. You know how the humans are.”

“I do,” I say.

“Oh, and take this,” he continues, reaching into a breast pocket and pulling out a small ring before flicking it in my direction.

I catch it midair and study the set red gem inside. “What’s this for?”

“To conceal you, so you can remain close to Piper.”