Page 1 of A Demon’s Resolve (Demonic Tales and Adventures #3)

CHAPTER 1

There was nothing as sweet as Kian’s lips. They were soft and sweet, entrancing him in their velvety depths. At first, Alec barely registered the sting coming from his hand. It was the searing pain that radiated from Kian that slammed into him, alerting him to what his mate had just done.

“No,” he screamed, even as he looked down to find Kian’s hand on the hilt of a small knife that pinned Alec’s hand into the side of his mate’s body as proof of his sacrifice. He ripped his hand away, pulling the knife along with it to stop his blood from mixing with Kian’s, but he knew it was already too late.

He flung the offending weapon across the room, needing it as far from Kian as possible. But he knew it wouldn’t do any good. Their blood had mixed. He could feel it flowing through his mate’s veins.

Gently, he lifted Kian into his arms, willing him not to die. The pain radiating off his mate in crashing waves as Alec’s blood fused with his human blood was scaring the hell out of him.

Grief tore through his chest as his roar could be heard through all Tuklati. Kian’s eyelids fluttered open as he felt his mate’s hand caress his cheek. Looking down into those tortured blue eyes, Alec’s lips tilted up a fraction. “Trust me.”

Suddenly, the pain that tore through Kian’s body was consuming even Alec’s roar of anguish.

“We need to get him into isolation as soon as possible.” Gaius said.

Alec was barely understanding what was being said around him as the others talked about where they could put Kian that would be safe but close by. Alec just stood there waiting, praying for Kian to reappear. It felt like days, although it was probably only minutes before his body slumped against Alec for a moment before dissolving into water at his feet.

Jumping back so he wouldn’t get in Kian’s way, Alec kept waiting. A hand touched his arm tentatively, but he barely recognized the action, as all his focus was on Kian. Hearing someone call his name, he ignored it, refusing to take his eyes off that puddle of water.

“Alec!” Tarak’s hard voice finally snapped Alec out of his stupor. “Listen, son,” his father demanded. “As soon as Kian gets back into his skin, we need you to grab him.”

Confused, Alec was having trouble understanding the words. “What?”

“Eventually Kian will change to fire. With all the books in here he could inadvertently start a fire, then he’d be trapped when he changes form again.” Tarak’s grasp tightened as he shook Alec, trying to make him understand.

“We need to get Kian out of the archives.” The words Tarak said were understandable, but Alec was having a difficult time comprehending what he was actually saying. “We’re hoping if you grab him, it will shock his system enough to hold off the change until we can get him into the walkway.”

Nodding his understanding—mostly—Alec stared hard at the water on the floor while praying that his mate would survive this. He watched the water form into a shape as it solidified again.

He didn’t hesitate. The instant Kian was human again, Alec picked him up and dashed out of the building and into the main walkway. He’d barely gotten there before Kian changed into an inferno of flames.

Not taking his gaze off Kian for an instant, Alec asked to those around him, “How long?” He didn’t care what form Kian was in, but he needed to know how long his mate would endure it.

It was his grandfather who answered. “We do not know. The journals never really said for sure.” Gaius’s voice was filled with sorrow.

Alec wanted to scream at fate, at Danara, at Kian, for allowing this to happen. It wasn’t fair. Alec would have done anything to spare him the agony of each of the changes.

None of it made sense. Why would fate force someone as fragile as a human to be put through hell? The only mistake Kian had ever made was loving him. Alec didn’t deserve him.

If Kian died, Alec would burn the world down.

Slowly, Kian became aware of things. More importantly, he no longer felt as if his body were breaking apart one particle at a time. If Danara were there, he would punch the first queen for not warning him how much that would hurt.

It felt as if all Kian had done was pray for death just to stop the agony that tore him apart time and time again. Nor had he understood the need for any of it. From what he’d been told, demons didn’t have to endure the process, so why was he, a human, forced to endure the constant transformations?

Not that it mattered. All he could hope was that it was over, for Kian was certain he wouldn’t be able to withstand any more torture.

It was a good sign that he didn’t feel the pull of his molecules, as if they were trying to separate once more. In fact, all he felt now was the softness of the mattress beneath him and the warmth of a hand holding his. That was what he concentrated on, that touch, soaking in the comfort as he struggled to open his eyes.

When they finally opened a crack, happiness enveloped him at the sight of Alec lying next to him with his arms wrapped around him. The love that shone in those emerald eyes made it all worth it.

“Are you alright?” he asked as the worry and fear came through in his voice.

As much as he wanted to reassure him, exhaustion pulled Kian back into sleep’s embrace.

Voices woke Kian. Annoyed to be pulled from a sound sleep, Kian opened his eyes to find Alec and Tarak in a heated discussion. Kian’s gaze went to where Alec held his hand and smiled. He let the comfort that simple touch created wash over him as he listened to them.

“I told you we have looked everywhere.” Tarak looked haggard, as if he hadn’t slept in days. “He has vanished.”

Alec’s expression was furious, his grip getting tighter the angrier he got. “There’s no way he can hide that well. As soon as Kian wakes up, I’ll go find him myself, since you obviously can’t do it.”

Hurt flashed across Tarak’s face. “Son, we are doing the best we can.”

Before Alec said something else he’d regret, Kian intervened. “I don’t mean to interrupt.”

Both heads whipped to where he was lying. Alec’s expression changed. His icy eyes melted when they met his. “How are you feeling?”

Smiling at him, Kian squeezed his hand. “I’m good. I take it you still haven’t found Brant?”

A flash of anger swiftly crossed Alec’s features. But it was Tarak who answered. “I’m sorry, Kian, but he has evaded us.”

Even though he was disappointed the man responsible for his mother’s death was still out there, he knew he couldn’t blame Tarak. “You’ll find him,” he reassured.

But he didn’t want to talk about his mother’s killer. He had more important things on his mind. “It worked, right?” Kian didn’t know why he’d asked. He already knew the answer. He could feel it in every cell of his body.

Alec sat on the bed as if he needed to be as close as possible to Kian. “You definitely went through the change described by Drakarn. What do you remember?”

That wasn’t something he really wanted to tell Alec. At the same time, he didn’t want to start out his life as a demon by lying to him. “Pain. Lots and lots of pain. It was as if every atom in my body was yanked apart, rearranged, and put back together again every few minutes.”

Fear flashed in Alec’s gaze. Kian sat up and hugged him, loving the feel of his strength, yet at the same time, sensing he also could feel power he’d never known inside of him. “It’s over, Alec.”

His mate held Kian tightly for several more moments but then put his hands on his upper arms and held Kian away from him. “You had no right to make that decision without me.”

Even though he knew Alec would never have agreed to Kian’s plan, Alec wasn’t wrong. Nor could Kian blame him for being angry. But he wouldn’t apologize for doing what he’d done.

“I think I am going to go,” Tarak said. He gave Kian a grateful smile. “I am glad you are okay.”

Kian read between the lines and knew Tarak was letting him know he appreciated the sacrifice. “Thanks, Tarak.”

Once he was gone, Kian glanced back to find Alec’s green eyes as icy as a glacier. He got off the bed as if needing to put distance between them. “What you did was underhanded and selfish.”

“Selfish?” The word had been so unexpected that when he heard it, Kian practically yelled it back. Maybe he’d been underhanded and possibly stupid, but selfish? “How is what I did selfish?”

“Did you even once think about what would have happened if you’d died?,” Alec yelled. “What it would have done to me?” Not stopping for Kian to answer, he just kept up his tirade.

“Of course not, you just went ahead and did whatever you wanted.” He started to furiously pace back and forth across the room. “Selfish! Maybe there was more to it than simply mixing my blood with yours but you couldn’t wait for us to find that out, you just went ahead. When I think about what could have happened...”

Alec stopped in his tracks and dropped to his knees. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he looked at Kian. “Don’t you know I can’t live without you?”

Tears of his own fell from Kian’s eyes as he got off the bed and knelt down in front of him. “I had to, Alec. You heard Danara.”

That only seemed to infuriate Alec. He grabbed Kian and shook him slightly. “You expect me to accept the ramblings of a dead woman as fact?”

Then he surged to his feet as if he couldn’t be near Kian any longer and headed for the door.

Before he knew what happened, Kian was no longer kneeling on the floor, but stood before Alec with his back to the door, barring him from leaving. How had he moved that quickly?

Not that it mattered. He’d gone through hell. The least Alec could do was stick around long enough to discuss it. “You will not walk away from me,” he told him in no uncertain terms.

Alec blinked at him when Kian suddenly appeared in front of him, stopping him from taking off. He was a demon now. Speed was apparently one of his new abilities.

He’d expected Alec to yell some more so Kian was shocked when strong arms went around his waist like steel bands. Alec’s mouth savagely took complete possession of his lips giving Kian no choice but to participate. Not that he would have refused.

Kian wanted him too much to deny Alec anything he needed. Alec gave a rumbling groan as Kian’s arms and legs wrapped around his body, drawing them even closer together.

There was a hard noise that Kian couldn’t place but also knew wasn’t coming from either of them. He tried to ignore it, as Alec did, but when they heard Aira’s smug voice, they both groaned in dismay.

“As much as I don’t want to interrupt, the Council wants to see you now.” Aira’s words struck them both like a blow.

It felt like a part of his body had been ripped off when Alec put Kian back on his feet and took a step back. Shaking his head to try and clear the desire that still was coursing through him, Kian blinked up at the man he loved more than he’d ever imagined. Alec wasn’t doing much better as his fingers dug into the wall as if bracing himself from grabbing Kian again.

Aira giggled a little. “I’ve heard of a love trance before but this is ridiculous.”

Not amused, Kian gave Aira an annoyed look.

Aira rolled her eyes. “Aw, come on, I was just joking. Anyway the Council heard you were awake.” Her expression turned grim. “They want to see both of you right away.”

Kian’s gut tightened instinctively. The Council. What could they want? Maybe they were mad at Kian for what he’d done. Were they going to order his death? Turning several shades paler, Kian felt himself starting to faint.

Strong arms picked him up effortlessly before placing him back in bed. “Tell the Council he isn’t well enough to leave.”

“That won’t work, brother. They said either you come to them or they come to you.” Shrugging, Aira sat on the bed next to Kian. “Personally, I wouldn’t want the Council in my house but it’s up to you.”

It was as if he was in some sort of dream - dream? - more like a nightmare. Alec said something more to Aira but Kian didn’t pay attention to the words. Was this it? Was he going to die?

The thoughts swirled around in his head until his brain started revolting from the suggestions. How dare they interfere in Kian’s life after all they’d put him through? Haven’t they done enough? First they forced him to move away from everything he knew to live in an alien world. Sure it was still Earth, but nothing down here had made any sense to Kian, especially in the beginning. They had no one to blame but themselves for causing all of this.

Fury burned through him as Kian pushed Alec away in order to head out the door. He was tired of being pushed around and nothing was going to stop him from letting them know it.

Arms suddenly wrapped around him, stopping him in his tracks. He turned it was to find Alec holding him close. “Let me go.”

Throwing his hands up in the air, Alec did just that. Satisfied that even Alec knew better than to take Kian on at that moment, he turned on his heel.

“I was just thinking you might want to get dressed first.” Cursing under his breath at the amusement he heard in Alec’s tone, Kian headed to the closet. Facing the Council in nothing but one of Alec’s shirts might comfort Kian but it most likely wouldn’t help his cause.