FREE NOVELLA CHAPTER Demon Heart Chapter Twelve
Demon Heart by Kiss Carson
Copyright 2021
CHAPTER TWELVE
Dominique sank into the warm water with a thankful sigh. A ring of closely clustered boulders turned the hot spring into the perfect hideaway. No one could see her, and she could escape the unreal world for a while. Closing her eyes, she stretched her legs and relaxed each muscle in turn. The tightness in her lower back faded. The ache in her right arm from wielding the dagger reduced to a bearable pain, as did the burning sensation in her thighs. She groaned with satisfaction and her body went limp in the water. At that moment, a foot massage would have made her life complete.
Campfire smoke drifted on the breeze, and for a moment she imagined the delicious aroma of barbequed sausages. Beyond the wall of rock, Zachary hummed a low tune. Dominique opened her eyes and focused on the tree foliage high above. An animal, about the size of a cat, darted from branch to branch but disappeared with a quick shimmer of aqua. Her eyelids grew heavy, and closed. She relaxed completely, even allowed the outer layers of sleep soothe her. She wasn’t at all surprised when images of Zachary filled her thoughts. Her mind when back to Oasis and the night they’d allegedly become Lord and Lady Demon, and then to the morning when she’d woken to find Zachary beside her, unclothed and too sexy for words.
A scent folded over her like a wave of pleasure; the smell of a summer storm, fresh and strong. Dominique opened her eyes. Zachary stood above her, nude to the waist, shoulders bronzed by the first golden hues of sunset. From her position in the hot pool, his shoulders looked extra wide, his physique, extra strong. Several jagged scars, some barely visible, marred his skin. Her gaze followed the line of his body to the waistband of his black trousers sitting low on his hips.
“How is the water?” His husky voice reverberated along her spine and tightened her nipples.
“Very relaxing,” she managed to answer.
Zachary sat on a rock and slipped his feet into the spring. Water wet the hems of his black pants. He dipped his fingers in, barely an inch from her naked breast. Dominique's mouth went unnaturally dry. Her attention froze on his lips. She had kissed him before. Could she kiss him again? Could she handle the passion she knew hid deep inside him? Butterflies fluttered in her belly as she sank into the water all the way to her chin. She fantasized his hands on her body, the divine ecstasy of his skin sliding along hers.
The pictures in her head sent her muscles to jelly. She tried to draw in a breath but only succeeded in sucking in a bucketful of spring water. Coughing, she floundered in the shallow water. Zachary's hands closed around her waist and before she could utter a word of protest, she sat across his thighs, completely naked. Water cascaded over his knees and soaked his trousers through. Warm fingers gently caressed the sensitive skin of her thigh and sent a rush of gooseflesh over her. His arms tightened, squashed her to him until she detected his thudding heartbeat, held her so close that she could brush her lips across his. But she didn’t. Instead, she relished his gentle breath on her mouth, focused on her own rising desire.
Zachary's head lowered, his kiss unexpectedly gentle. His velvet tongue coaxed her mouth open. Dominique complied, then shifted on his thighs until she straddled him, ready and more than willing for whatever the Demon Lord demanded. Her arms slid around his neck and she leaned in, blending with him. The kiss remained passive, his hands suddenly unsure about their exploration of her needy body. She wanted a lust-arousing experience: fire, passion, pure ecstasy.
Jaye had loved her gently, and what she wanted was something her dead husband could never give her.
A sob escaped. Dominique pushed Zachary away and scrambled from his lap. She snatched her robe from the ground and pulled it over her head to cover her nakedness. Tears burned and she lowered her head until her chin touched her chest. Had she really forgotten her husband so easily? A tear trickled down her cheek.
Zachary stood before her, his expression one of concern. “Only a broken heart could bring such despair.”
Dominique bit her lip.
His hand rested on her shoulder. “Who has caused your tears? Permit me to execute the most horrid of tortures upon them.”
Dominique pressed the balls of her hands to her eyes. “My husband.”
“Me? Domini, what have I done to offend you?”
Another tear trickled down her cheek as she looked at him. “Not you,” she whispered. “My other husband.”
Zachary's lips parted in surprise. All too quickly surprise melted into confusion. A flash of anger crossed his brow. “You are already married?” he asked roughly.
“Yes, but—.”
Before she could explain, Zachary strode from the rock enclosure, his movements jagged, and his posture rigid. Dominique knew she should explain her situation but she couldn’t see why it would make any difference. She didn’t want to learn to love again, and Zachary didn’t want to love at all. Legs weak, she sat on the nearest rock, aware she’d destroyed the only man who’d made her feel whole again. She picked up the box that housed half of Zachary's heart. She certainly didn’t deserve the honor of being his wife.
Sudden quiet blanketed the campsite, unnatural and eerie. Zachary's heavy footfalls no longer paced the camp. Even the water in the hot spring had stopped its gurgled rise to the surface. Dominique stared at a bubble suspended near the surface of the water. Quickly, she fastened the black belt around her hips and then listened. Danger hung heavy on the air. Her nerves tensed until every tiny sound made her jump. She waited for Zachary to appear and tell her to fight hard, to be brave, and that he would protect her – no matter what. However, he didn’t stride into the hideaway. She couldn’t feel his aura, or sense his presence.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
Dorian. Dominique clutched the jeweled dagger from her belt so tightly that her nails dug into her palm. She looked around the rock enclosure. Escape wasn’t an option. Even if she managed to leave the spring, where would she run?
“I know you are there, Lady Demon. Do not make me come and get you.”
Dominique straightened her shoulders and willed her muscles to work. The dagger shook in her grip as she stepped from the safety of the spring. The campfire still blazed brightly, however the flames no longer moved, stilled by the force of demon magic. Black flakes of ash hung on the air. Dorian stood on the other side of the campfire, the tip of his sword stuck into the ground, and he leaned on the hilt as he would a cane. Dominique slowed her steps until she stopped completely.
Dorian's lips lifted into a smooth smile. “Ah, Lady Demon, we meet again.”
Then, Dominique saw Zachary. He stood behind Dorian, his lips open mid word, his hand glued to the hilt of his sword still in its scabbard. Zachary's stance was aggressive, his brows drawn into an angry frown. Why couldn’t he move? Even Gagan remained stone still at the edge of the trees.
Dorian yanked his sword from the ground and slowly circled Zachary. “Amazing, how close I can get.” He peered into Zachary's face. “He resembles Aemon, with a temperament to match, I hear.”
Holding the dagger forward, Dominique stepped closer. “Don’t touch him.”
“That knife may work on cherub demons but I succumb to more than a tiny blade.” He raised his sword. “Your blade versus mine.” He beckoned her with his free hand. Dominique doubted he would show her the same humanity as Zachary had when they first met.
“I won’t fight you.”
“Pity.”
Dominique glanced at Zachary and wished he would come alive and help her. “What did you do to him?”
“I used a very simple potion to suspend time.” Dorian's beautiful grin widened. “Ingenious, really. You see, Domini, I had to distract the Demon Lord long enough so I could seize my true prize—you.”
* * * *
“Dorian.”
The name escaped Zachary's lips as a low growl. He yanked his sword from its scabbard, took a few purposeful steps, and then stopped. He glanced around the camp. The makeshift bed he’d made for Domini to sleep on laid on the grass near the fire, and the food satchel sat under the iceberry bush where he’d left it. Gagan still stood at the edge of the trees. However, Dorian had disappeared.
The bear mewled, the sound tinged with unease.
“I know, friend. Treachery is rife.”
Zachary looked around again. Even more mysterious than Dorian's disappearance was the rapid pass of time. One moment the sun had started to set, and the next, long shadows of eventide descended. He sheathed the sword and strode towards the hot spring, only to stop at the entrance. Domini's confession had amazed him, and he lamented his affection for her. He’d told Isha he was content with Gagan’s company. The high priestess hadn’t listened, and he found he depended on Domini. Too much. Now, he’d discovered she wasn’t his for the taking. Still, she was his to protect and he must complete his quest. He must silence Dorian and his vast swarm of followers.
“Domini,” he called loudly through the opening in the rocks.
No reply.
Tentatively, he peered around the rocks at the empty spring. Domini's black suit lay in a heap on the ground. A lone dragonette sat on a high branch, singing softly. Where was Domini? Zachary rubbed his brow where his head ached. His memories of the last hour were vague to say the least. He pulled a pouch of Echo Sand from his pocket, spilled a little onto his palm and blew the black grains from his hand. Immediately, Domini's shadowy image appeared. As the sand fell to the ground, she faded away.
Zachary walked to the campfire and threw a fistful of sand into the air. The breeze carried it towards the spring. In stilted playback, the scene continued. Dorian manifested, created by the tiny particles of Echo Sand. Domini threatened him with the dagger. Dorian blew something from his hand into her face and she collapsed. Then, Dorian tossed her over his shoulder and carried her in the direction of the Forest of Despair, and the second door.
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