Free Demonkin by T. Eric Bakutis Page B

him. He was a monster now.
    “You're very kind.” Aryn looked down at the bed.
    “Yes.” She pulled back her hand. “I am.”
    Aryn somehow knew she was smiling, and that felt better than it should. He missed a woman's touch and knew he would never enjoy that again. Not now.
    Tania sat on the bed beside him, closer than he found comfortable. Her proximity made his body tingle and he couldn't trust that. What did she want from him?
    “I do have one question before we leave,” Tania said. “The sensitive kind.”
    Aryn shifted on a bed that now seemed much smaller than before. “Ask.”
    “The woman you gave your soul to the demons to save. Sera. What happened between the two of you?”
    “Nothing.” Aryn didn't dare look at Tania's dream form. “She's safe in Tarna, and I pray Melyssa finds a way to cure her. But if not ... she's going to kill herself.”
    “That's terrible,” Tania said, “but that's not what I asked.” She pressed two fingers to his blistered chin and turned him to face her. “Why isn't she with you?”
    Aryn clenched his teeth. “She loves Byn.” He slapped Tania's hand away and stood, blood rushing to his face. “She always will.” He wanted to walk out of Tania's home but didn't know where to go. He needed a horse.
    Tania was mocking him, pretending to be interested when she saw nothing but a charred and broken man. Of course Sera hadn't stayed with him. Why would she?
    “I understand perfectly.” Tania stood but didn't approach. “Yet doesn't this make you all the more impressive? You gave yourself to torture for a woman who did not love you back. You loved her that much.”
    Tania turned him around, slid her working arm around his waist, and kissed him on his blistered forehead. Her lips were warm and moist. Aryn froze.
    “I doubt there are a hundred men in this world who would do that for the woman they loved. I doubt there are ten.” She smelled like grass and earth, a comforting scent. “What you look like now doesn't matter. You are a good man, brave and true, and there's no reason for you to give up on finding love again.”
    Tania kissed him on his blistered mouth, fingers resting on the back of his scarred head as she held his lips to hers. It felt very, very good. Finally, she stepped back and adjusted her splint.
    Aryn couldn’t say anything.
    “See?” She sounded amused. “Everything still works.”
    Aryn tried to remember words. He had never thought anyone would kiss him like that again. He was not sure anyone had ever kissed him like that.
    “Now get your robes on.” Tania pulled on a travel cloak and took up her quarterstaff. “You've incited enough mobs.” She walked out the door of this small room.
    Traveling. Yes, it was far past time for that. Tania's gentle kiss reminded Aryn of his first romance at Solyr — a comely young woman named Gery Taen — and that turned his skin cold. Gery had taught him that most women at Solyr only sought him out because they hoped to inherit his fortune or his father. They wanted a noble's life.
    Did Tania think she had some chance to inherit his father's fortune, even though Aryn was a third son? Did she hope to gain favor with the nobility, or did she hope to use his connection with Kara to get her closer to King Haven? What was her scheme?
    “Aryn!” Tania called. “Let's be off.”
    Aryn pulled on the cloak Tania had left for him. He wouldn't be tricked, not again. Whatever Tania wanted from him, she wasn't going to get it.
    Aryn walked into her front room to find her waiting at an open door. “What if Davazet comes after us?”
    “Then you'll destroy him!” Tania strolled out the open door. “Or he'll devour our souls.”
    Aryn frowned and followed her.

Chapter 7
     
    “JYLL!” HER MOTHER shouted. “Wake up!”
    Little Jyll opened her eyes. Their house burned around them and a Mynt soldier died on the floor. Marel stood over him with a bloody axe in hand. She was alive. Her oldest sister and mother were