Mate to the Demon Kings by Lacey Carter Andersen
6
Sharen leftthe house early and started her morning jog. It was the only thing she could do to try to calm down. The events from the day before were driving her crazy. And what was worse, she had been prepared to unleash her frustrations on Kade when she woke up, but he was already gone.
Normally, they’d yell. Maybe she’d throw things. And then they’d calm down, both of them refusing to admit that they felt a little better.
But I should know better than to think I know what Kade will do.
When he disappeared, it usually meant that he couldn’t handle whatever feelings he was having and needed time to sort through them. She hated when he left, but she also knew he needed the space.
Kade might be a demon, but he had inner demons he couldn’t conquer. His fear of losing her drove him crazy, but she couldn’t stop what she was doing because of his past. She had to be true to herself.
And I have to let him deal with that fact in whatever way he needs.
So, she went jogging, pushing herself harder and harder until the little sounds around her were silenced by the wind rushing around her. Until the shadows that chased her lessened. Until she stopped picturing the dead demons lying beside her. And until she stopped feeling him possess her body.
At last, out of breath, she collapsed onto a park bench and stared out at her favorite park.
Will I ever stop obsessing over my mistakes?
“Anyone sitting here?”
She jumped at the sound of the man’s voice. She looked up to see a man not much older than herself, with long blond hair and pale green eyes. Something about him made her feel uneasy.
“No.”
He sat down beside her.
She started to rise, but his voice stopped her.
“Don’t leave on account of me.”
She froze. “I’m not.”
“Come now, Sharen, let’s at least be honest with each other.”
Ice ran through her veins, and her gaze swung to him. “Who are you? What do you want?”
He smiled, flashing bright rows of teeth. “I’m a hunter. Like you once were.”
Her gaze moved over the people in the park. A woman jogged. A couple walked a dog. Am I already surrounded?
“Calm down, it’s just me. I'm here for a little chat.”
A need to run or fight washed over her. Every muscle in her body tensed.
“Running would be a very big mistake, Sharen, because then I’d have to tell the others where you are. If that happens, you and your demons will have to pick up and run again. Do you want that?”
She didn’t answer him. Instead, she countered, “Why are you here?”
He patted the seat next to him.
Reluctantly, she eased back down, poised at the edge of the bench.
“My name is Alderon. Perhaps you’ve heard of me.”
Her breath quickened. Alderon was the name of a half-fae warrior who was in charge of the Guardians within the demon realms. His job was to ensure as few demons as possible were able to reach the higher realms and cross over to Earth. And from what she knew of him, he was a very dangerous man.
“I thought you stayed in the demon realms.”
He smirked. “Even the Great Alderon needs a vacation every now and then.”
Her lips curled. “And this is how you spend your vacations?”
Leaning further back on the bench, he looked out at the park as if he truly was just relaxing for the day. “Do you know what makes me such a good hunter?”
She gritted her teeth together. “You're annoyingly relentless?”
He laughed. “I heard you were funny. I’m glad the rumors were true. But no, Sharen, it isn’t that I’m annoyingly relentless. Obsessive might be a better adjective to describe me. Yet, it’s not just that. You see, I have the unique ability to track others. And when the Department of Universal Protection asked me to find you, I easily agreed.”
Sweat trailed down her back, and she wiped her palms on her pants. “And yet, you’ve implied that you’re here alone.”
He glanced at her, his pale eyes eerie. “Yes. I did come alone. And I haven’t told anyone I found you yet.”
“Why?”
“Because,” he stretched out the word. “I’m also a man with a strong moral compass, and something about this feels wrong. One of our best hunters simply ran off with three demons? There must be more to the story than that.”
She stared, unwilling to tell him anything of her life story.
He nodded, as if he expected her silence. “Something also feels rotten about all this. I checked your file. It was wiped clean. But when I did some digging, they had a strangely long, detailed history of your life.”
Her heart raced. Because they’ve been controlling my life for God knows how long.
“And,” he continued, “I can’t say I’ve ever heard a story of someone with as miserable a life as you’ve had.”
“So, what are you saying?”
All amusement fled from his expression. “I’m saying that I need to know what’s going on here before I decide what to do with you.”
What the hell am I supposed to say to that?
“I don’t know everything myself.”
He sat up straighter. “Then tell me this. Why has nearly every person in your life been on the Department’s payroll?”
Her stomach turned. She’d suspected it. Vanessa, her ex-friend within the organization, had practically told her. But to realize how much of her life the Department controlled was terrifying.
“You want to know?” she asked, her anger rising. “You really want to know?”
“That’s what I came here for.”
She stood, her hands curling into fists. “They controlled every aspect of my life. They orchestrated every terrible moment. And I have no idea why the hell they did it.”
He studied her. “Your parents’ deaths. Your adoption to that god awful family. Your rape. Your—“
“Yes!” A string of curses exploded from her lips. “Is that what you wanted to hear?”
He rose, his demeanor strangely quiet. “And you have no idea why?”
Her jaw tensed. “No.”
Except that I’m not human.
“Then I’m going to find out why.”
She stared at him. “Are you joking?”
“Not even a little.”
“Why?” She frowned at him. This had to be a trap of some kind.
He shrugged. “Like I said. It’s important to me that I’m working for the good guys, and I can’t logically wrap my brain around what I’ve been seeing since I looked into your case.”
Shoving his hands into his jean pockets, he turned to go.
“Wait!” Her brain scrambled to make sense of this man. “So you aren’t telling them where I am?”
He looked back at her and smiled. “Not yet. But if that changes, and I decide to, I will give you a 24-hour head start. Deal?”
She wasn’t sure she could trust him, but she didn't have a choice. "Deal."
Turning away from him, she took a long and confusing way back home, constantly checking over her shoulder. She was certain no one followed her, but when she took the elevator up to their penthouse suit, she didn’t feel relieved. She felt…afraid.
If they catch us, we’re dead.
And yet, I can’t just abandon everything I’ve done here.
Even though her stomach twisted, an idea formed in her mind. If I tell my demons, they’ll make us go.
So I won’t tell them.
She thought of Alderon. Did she really trust him with all their lives?
Closing her eyes, she ran over the scene in the park. I—I do trust him. Even though it’s probably foolish.
The elevator doors opened and she headed toward her home. She tried to walk with confidence, but she couldn’t ignore the little voice in the back of her head whispering, But what if you’re wrong?
