Page 8 of The Demon God's Desire

And you’ve been taking too much from her. She’s going to demand something in return soon.

The errant thought is not mine. Instead, it pops into my head wearing my mother’s face and speaking with her voice.

My breath catches in my throat.

Too much wine before bed, my girl,I think to myself. I shake myself and then go around to each table.

I need to ensure that the camp is always well stocked up with the resources we need. In case of emergency.

“Hello Sarah,” I greet one of the older women who practically runs the camp. She is the one person I can trust to make a proper poultice. “Do you need anything?”

“No,” she speaks in her croaking voice. “But speak to that old bitch Judy over there. She’s been complaining all morning.”

She spits in Judy’s direction and takes a drag on the pipe she is smoking.

I have to stifle laughter as I walk over to Judy. Judy and Sarah are the same age, and were apparently born within months of one another.

“Judy, do you need anything?” Judy does complain quite a bit. And Sarah sits next to her all morning while the market runs.

“No, but that whore’s been running her mouth again. She sends you over here to police me!” Judy waves a middle finger at Sarah who rolls her eyes.

Then Judy looks up at me with her dark weathered face.

And hands me a list of items she needs.

When I turn around, Allan is standing there, practically breathing down my neck.

I slip out of the curve of his body before he can bend to hug me.

“Hey.” I smile the word, not missing the flicker of disappointment that crosses his eyes.

“What are you up to today?” He asks me. There’s hope in his voice. I have to suppress a shudder.

“Going to make a desert run.” I start walking steadily, swiftly, back to my home. He keeps following me, not realizing that I do not want to speak to him.

Or maybe he does realize, and is just ignoring it.A small voice in my head speaks.

“You shouldn’t go today,” he calls behind me. “It isn’t safe.”

I stop and turn to him, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Allan, you don’t have to protect me. I’ll be fine. I know the desert better than anyone.”

“I know,” his voice is flat. “I know how strong and clever you are. But we’ve heard rumors of dark elves landing in Jurtil. They’re coming to Tlouz to take back control.”

I take an involuntary step towards him.

My blood has gone cold in my body.

“Are you serious?” My voice is embarrassingly high-pitched.

“Yes,” his voice is low and gruff. He looks me up and down. “I am. And if you are as smart as I know you are, you’ll skip a desert run for once.”

“I’ll think about it.” I tell him instantly. I hate it when people tell me what to do, especially Allan, although I do not know why.

“Besides,” I smile a bright, unconvincing smile at him. “The dark elves have never found us before. And they have no reason to come South.”

“You say that now.” Allan says darkly.