FREE NOVELLA CHAPTER - Demon Heart Chapter Five
Demonheart by Kiss Carson
© Kiss Carson 2020
CHAPTER FIVE
Zachary laughed heartily and slapped the male beside him on the back. The ale he held sloshed over the cup when he lurched forward.
“More ale, my lord?”
Zachary nodded and drained the last of the
liquor. He knew what Isha planned. Feed him enough ale so he would slip into a
drunken stupor, and then wed him to the nearest female. He accepted another
beaker from his new best friend and sipped its contents. More men congregated
around the bonfire, all dressed in their finest tunics. The sun would lower
soon and the feast would begin. Already, the aroma of coal grilled fish hung in
the village.
Around him, the villagers laughed and
talked, relatively ignoring him. Carefully, he poured the ale onto a patch of
grass at his feet. He needed his wits at the best of times. This evening, he
would need them more than ever. Five women stood on the other side of the
bonfire. Silk scarves of blue, pink, and orange covered their lower faces. When
he looked at them, they giggled and huddled closer. His unease increased. Isha could
not make him marry. He stepped onto a small boulder and held his cup high.
“More ale!” he declared.
Even though he wanted to drink the alcohol
and remain oblivious to the antics the evening promised, he couldn’t risk
falling for any of Isha’s tricks. Whoever married him would be doomed to a life
of bullying and scorn, just like his mother, his grandmother, and every
Sterling bride before. Another cup of ale made it into his hand.
“My lord, the ale barrels are overflowing.
Drink to your content.”
Zachary suppressed a grin. Deceit wasn’t
easy for him. Chana, his mother, taught him integrity and respect made a good
man…and a wise demon. However, desperate times called for desperate measures.
To dupe Isha he must play well. He feigned a stumble, swayed, then clapped a
hand on the nearest shoulder to steady himself.
“Our esteemed guest, Domini of The
Unknown.”
Zachary turned, staggered, and laughed
when three sets of hands stabilized him. Domini stood at the entrance of Isha’s
hut. Soft white cloth threaded with gold twine wrapped around her and left one
shoulder bare. The toga fell in layers to her ankles. As she stepped forward,
he caught a tantalizing glimpse of a long leg all the way to her hip. On her
head rested a tiara of snowdrops and desert roses.
Snowdrops for happiness. Desert roses for
strength.
Domini smiled as she approached. Bare leg.
Bare shoulder. Feminine sway of her hips. Zachary swallowed hard and clutched
the mug of ale as though its mere presence would save him. Domini raised her
hands to show him the henna tattoos that spiraled up her arms. She stood close
and looked up at him, a sparkle in her green eyes. She glanced at Isha, who
nodded.
Domini lowered her eyes demurely and sank into a curtsey. “My lord.”
Zachary's mouth opened but words wouldn’t
emerge. However, he did manage to bow. As he straightened, he caught a glint of
interest in Domini's eyes. Her hand rested lightly on his forearm. He cleared
his throat. “You look lovely this evening.”
“Thank you.” She bent her head closer as
he led her to the ceremonial throne. She smelled like a spray of evening mist.
“I’ve consumed a few ales,” she told him. “I also have to warn you about the
love potion Isha gave me.”
Zachary handed her into the chair and
leaned in as though to kiss her cheek. “Do you love me?” he asked, his voice
quiet enough so only she could hear.
Domini turned her head slightly. Zachary's
stomach turned over when her lips brushed the corner of his mouth. “No,” she
replied.
“Then you were not fed a love potion.”
Domini's gaze fastened to his. “Then why
do I want to throw you to the ground and ride you until you scream for mercy?”
Startled by her blunt words, Zachary
straightened and quickly glanced around to see if anyone else heard. “Your
feelings are false, remember that.”
“I still want to strip you naked and feel
you—.”
“Enough,” he whispered harshly.
Domini pulled him down by the front of his
t-shirt. She rubbed her cheek on his and released a heavy breath. Caught in her
web of arousal, Zachary closed his eyes and allowed his body to react to her
tantalizing touch.
“Scream for mercy, Demon Lord.”
Zachary's knees weakened. How potent was
this potion? “You will never make me scream for mercy.”
Domini raised her eyebrows in a challenge.
“Everyone in Demon Realm will hear you.”
Zachary grinned. He couldn’t help but feel
elated. Her propositions bordered on lurid, and he realized he liked lurid!
“Domini, your audacious words betray your demure appearance.”
“Is that your way of saying I turn you
on?”
Eager to find a distraction, Zachary
glanced over his shoulder. Thank the prophets for the crowd that milled around
the bonfire, otherwise he wouldn’t have thought twice about Domini's
proposition. He wasn’t a desperate man by any measure of moonlight but he
struggled to sever the thread of attraction he felt for her.
“Say the word, Demon Lord. Isha has set up
a hut where no one will interrupt us.” Domini's fingers massaged his hand. Her
gentle touch sent a shudder through him. “Or hear us,” she added on her next
breath.
Zachary pulled his hand from her grasp.
“No,” he said firmly, and without another glance strode to the bonfire. He
gratefully accepted a mug of ale and sculled it to the very last drop.
Covertly, he watched Domini through the flames. She listened intently to a
village elder, her smile genuine, and her interest true. He found Domini's gaze across the distance
and didn’t miss the challenge in her expression, or the seductive lift of one
dark eyebrow. The ale suddenly became his lifeline. He lost count of how many
mugs made their way into his hand. Four? Five? He glanced at the amber fluid.
Six? Mercy Stone.
Around him, the festivities carried on but
he failed to hear the laughter or join the lewd male bonding sessions. Only
Domini existed. Her words still burned the sensitive skin of his hear. Scream
for mercy, Demon Lord. Zachary's resolution strengthened. He wouldn’t succumb
to Isha’s plan. He would not marry. He’d witnessed the truth of marriage and
the cruel, downward spiral of love, and he’d vowed neither would enter his
life. He stroked the key around his neck and turned away from Domini. He
wouldn’t reduce her to the lonely, frightened woman his mother had been.
* * * *
Dominique bolted upright on the straw
mattress and pressed the ball of her hand to her temple. What happened last
night? How much alcohol had she treated herself to? A marching band pounded in
her head. She squeezed her eyes closed. A regretful groan escaped and she lay
back down, her hand resting on her chest. Her hand met bare skin. She stopped
breathing. Her eyes flew open and she sat again. Dear God, I’m naked!
A sighed moan came from beside her. Her
heart threatened to pump a hole in her chest. Zachary lay on his stomach, his
head resting on the crook of his arms. Broad shoulders tapered to a back of
pure muscle. Her gaze followed the dip of his spine to his buttocks. Her mouth
fell open as her eyes continued to Zachary's thick thighs. She searched her
memory banks. Ale. Food. Smoldering grey eyes. More ale. Laughter. Isha popped
into her head. No memories of sex. Dominique sighed with relief. Maybe she
hadn’t reneged on her deathbed promise.
Zachary stretched. His heaved sigh brought
on a surge of panic. Her toga sat crumpled on the ground as though quickly
removed and discarded. As she wrapped the fabric around her, she searched her
mind for the images that refused to come forth.
Calm storm cloud eyes rested on her face.
She forced a grimaced smile to her lips. “Good morning,” she whispered.
Zachary pulled the blanket to his waist as
he sat. “What happened?”
Incapable of answering, Dominique shook
her head.
“Did you wake naked?”
That, she could answer. Oh, yeah. She
nodded.
Confusion swept across his handsome
features. “Did we…?”
“I hope not.”
He pursed his lips and dragged a hand
across his jaw. “I would remember.”
“Maybe there wasn’t much to remember.”
“You would remember,” Zachary said
matter-of-factly.
“Maybe I’m so disappointed that I’ve shut
it all out.”
He threw her a bemused glance. “That I
doubt.”
The hut door opened and Isha entered. Her
face fairly glowed with pride as she gazed at the two of them. “Ah, the
newlyweds are awake.”
Dominique's head throbbed even more.
Newlyweds? What had happened last night? Why couldn’t she remember? Bewildered,
she turned to Zachary. His hand rested on his throat and he stared at Isha as
though she’d stabbed him in the heart. The key and leather lanyard were
missing.
Isha’s blue eyes sparkled. “The henna is
disturbed. I see the Demon Lord has demonstrated his authority.”
Dominique lifted her arms. The beautiful
henna tattoos she’d been so proud of were now streaks of ink from her wrists to
her shoulders. Zachary held out his hands, palms up. Henna covered his broad
hands and long fingers.
“Mercy Stone help me.”
He stood. Dominique quickly turned away
when the blanket that covered his manhood fell to the floor. She snuck a
sideways glance at him as he dressed. A light spattering of dark hair spread
across his chest, and oh, what a chest! Powerful. Wide. And forgotten.
“Your trick has not impressed me, Isha,”
he said quietly. “I thought I had made my feelings about marriage very clear.”
“And me!” Dominique added.
Isha’s wide grin didn’t sway. “Your hearts
spoke to me and told me of your desire for each other.”
“My heart said no such thing.” Zachary
gritted the words through clenched teeth.
“Or mine,” Dominique said. “I want the
marriage annulled.”
Isha shook her head. “Impossible.”
Dominique paused. The finality of the
single word made her frown. “Nothing is impossible,” she replied archly. “You
married us, now…un-marry us.”
Zachary snatched his sword from the ground
and shoved the ornamental blade into the scabbard on his back. “We cannot be
un-married.” He turned to Isha. “You have betrayed me,” he said, his words
barely audible.
Isha watched with a crestfallen
expression. “One day you will understand,” she replied and exited the hut. “I
present Zachary and Domini, our exultant leaders.” She sniffled and dabbed at
her eyes. “Their happiness swells my heart.”
Celebrative cheers erupted from the crowd
outside. Dominique quickly patted her hair and swiped her finger under her eyes
to remove any dark smudges. Adjusting her toga, she glanced at Zachary. His
head was bowed. He didn’t look impressed with Isha’s attempt at emotional
blackmail. In fact, he looked scared. He indicated for her to go through the
door first.
“Smile. Look as though you might love me.”
“I can’t love you,” she replied and
stepped from the hut.
The gathered crowd cheered. Embarrassed by
the attention, Dominique stepped aside and gladly let Zachary take the
limelight. He smiled and waved to his subjects. However, the smile didn’t quite
reach his eyes. She watched him closely. He’d lost his spark. He didn’t stand
straight, nor were his shoulders so square. It was as though marriage had
sapped the life out of him.
With one last wave to the villagers,
Zachary turned to the hut. “Come, Lady Demon, we have our home to save.”
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SIX
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