Free Awakening the Demon's Queen by Calle J. Brookes Page B

wasn’t ever going to feed
from a living host again!”
    The pain in her words had his attention
sharpening. “Why?”
    “ Because I made a
vow!”
    “ Tell me.” He pulled her
against his chest, then pulled the blankets up to cover them both.
“Tell me why you fight what is natural to your people.”
    “ Because I got him
killed!”
    “ How? I thought Taniss
killed him.” Rathan kept his tone as gentle as possible. “Tell me,
Kindara.”
    “ I was hungry and we went
out hunting. Iavius, his brother and sister, and me. I was so
hungry, from the babe. We were feeding and didn’t realize it was a
trap. It was my fault, if I hadn’t wanted to go out that night,
Iavius and his sister would still be alive. My baby would still be
alive. I made a promise I’d never take blood from any living being
ever again. And I haven’t. Until now.”
    “ You aren’t responsible for
what Taniss did, pet. He is. Had it not been you and your family he
caught, it would have been others.” Rathan silently reaffirmed his
vow to kill the old man, only now he decided to make it as painful
as he possibly could. He’d extract revenge for his female. “Feeding
or not feeding from a living host will not atone for a crime you
aren’t guilty of. And I freely offer whatever you need.”
    She shook her head. “No. I don’t want
it.”
    But she would take it, of that Rathan was
sure. Even if he had to force her compliance, she would feed for
herself and the spawn. “Kindara, you have to be reasonable. You’ve
centuries left to live--are you going to only half-feed that entire
time?”
    “ I’ve studied my people,
demon. Bagged blood is more than adequate.”
    “ But not ideal.”
    “ It suffices. And it’s
really none of your business what I eat, anyway.”
    Yes, it was. “Let’s not argue. While you are
with me, you’ll feed from me whenever you need it. I am not
providing bagged blood.”
    “ Fortunately for you then
that my brother will be here at noon.”
    “ You may visit with him, but
I’m keeping you.”
    “ No, you’re not.” She pushed
away from him and slid from his bed. He tossed the blankets back
and followed her, stalking her around the room as she pulled her
pajamas back over her body. “Despite what you think I’m not a pet!
I’m taking my daughter and going home.”
    “ But you’re not taking my
spawn away from me!”
     

Chapter Ten
     
    Kindara stared at the demon in silence as he
paled and stepped toward her.
    “ Pet, I...”
    “ What did you say?” She’d
been mistaken, surely. “Say that again.”
    “ I said I won’t let you go
and take our spawn with you.”
    “ Spawn? What the hell do you
mean by spawn? Is that like...”
    “ Yes. I didn’t mean for it
to happen...” His voice trailed off but then he straightened. His
face tightened with what could only be determination. “I didn’t use
the protection spell. That means you’re most likely carrying my
spawn. I can’t let you leave. I have to know you and the spawn are
cared for. By me.”
    “ No. No. No, you’re crazy.
There’s no way, no way. It took two hundred years for me and Iavius
to make a baby! You’re crazy!” Kindara stepped back from his
reaching hands.
    “ Pet...”
    “ I’m not your damned pet!”
Fury filled her and she hissed, took giant steps back. “How am I
supposed to deal with this? I don’t want this!”
    “ I’m not going to apologize.
I didn’t do it deliberately.” Even as angry as she was, it was hard
to miss the hurt on his face. He flashed to her side, and she
didn’t have time to escape his hands. He held her to face him, not
letting her budge an inch. “Kindara—”
    “ What? Do you think anything
you say can make this better? If this is true, it changes
everything! All of my plans, everything. What am I supposed to do
now?” Tremors shook her, her stomach clenched and unclenched with
every ragged breath she took. “I can’t...”
    There couldn’t be a babe. There just
couldn’t.