Mate to the Demon Kings by Lacey Carter Andersen
10
Alec couldn’t bearto listen to Sharen explain what happened to the demon family for another second. In moments like these, she didn’t want his comfort or help, and it drove him crazy. What was he supposed to do to fix this for her?
He left the building and stormed outside, walking without thinking. How is it that Ryder can always make her feel better, and I can’t?
He kicked at a rock, his frustration building. Sharen had been on the edge of tears. He’d thought bringing her out here would give her a break from the constant portal jumping and disappointment. Now, it seemed, he’d made things worse.
I’m horrible at relationships if I can’t even comfort the woman I love when she’s sad.
“How’s business?”
He whirled to spot an old demon sitting on a bench near the house. The man had long grey hair and shrewd eyes.
What the hell is wrong with me? I shouldn’t be so concerned with Sharen that I forget to watch my surroundings.
A demon can never be too careful.
“Fine,” Alec responded, watching him cautiously.
The old man raised a brow. “I’m Dave.”
“Alec.”
He laughed. “I know who you are.”
Alec stared for a long minute, not sure what to say. Alec was a businessman, dominating every meeting and running things with an iron fist. He’d gone to college, unlike Kade, who’d gone straight into the army, and Ryder, who had drifted about, following whatever interested him. Alec's success in the business world had taught him to never stop until he was the best.
But outside of work, he felt a bit lost. He’d never been one for small talk.
“Why don’t you come sit with me?” Dave said, indicating the other side of the bench.
I don’t have a good excuse to say no.Alec withheld a sigh, but moved slowly over and sat down.
“So Brian and his family died?”
Alec looked to the man in surprise. “How did you know?”
The old man shrugged. “I saw the look on your woman’s face. I didn’t need to go inside to hear all the awful details of it.”
“Yeah, they died.”
The man reached into his sweater and pulled out a bag of bread crumbs and began throwing them onto the lawn. Not even a second passed before birds flew down and started eating. It was a strangely quiet moment, even though they were discussing the murder of a mother and her children.
I guess I’m numb to death now. Is this man as well?
“So what are you guys going to do about the angels?”
Alec stiffened. “What do you mean?”
The old man snorted. “Well, clearly you can’t just keep sending us out into the world to be slaughtered.”
“That’s why we try to keep you here long enough so you stop using magic without thinking. So you stop doing things that would draw attention to yourselves.”
He laughed. “That’s not possible for most of us. At least those of us who were in the demon realm long enough to lose most of our humanity…gave into the demon side that grew more powerful with each day we remained in the demon realm.”
“It wasn’t hard for us,” Alec said without thinking.
Dave threw more bread. “Let me ask you something. Do you ever thirst for blood? For death? For carnage?”
“No.”
“Even when you were in the demon realm?” the old man pressed.
“No.” Alec froze. “Well, maybe. It’s hard to remember those times.”
Dave nodded. “You aren’t struggling the way many of us are for two reasons. For whatever reason, you and your brothers were able to hold onto most of your humanity. No matter how much the demon realm called for you to let the human within you die and accept being a demon, you didn’t.”
“We’re Level 10 demons,” Alec interrupted. “That’s not how it works. Level 10 demons are mostly good people. Most of them should never have been in the demon realm to begin with.”
The old man chuckled. “I’m surprised how little you know for such a powerful demon. Yes, most Level 10 demons were good people. The key word there being most. Some of them were awful people who never had a chance to follow through with their dark desires. But then there are the Level 10 demons who were good people when they died, but the demon realm twisted them. Darkened their souls. There are few people who can withstand the call forever.”
Alec shook his head. “That can’t be true. I don’t remember a call.”
Dave threw more bread. “Some of the purer souls aren’t as susceptible to it, but believe me, there’s a call, and it’s hard to resist. And it isn’t as easy to let go as you might think. Most of us here are struggling. We thirst for destruction and chaos, for death and violence. We crave all the things that make us more powerful. Frankly, I’m not sure we’ll be able to stop ourselves when we’re released onto humanity.”
“No.” Alec stared, unable to believe his words.
The old man turned to him, raising a brow. “How do you think Brian and his family were discovered by the angels? Purely by chance? I doubt it. They used their magic. They called the angels to them. And if I were to guess, they were probably doing something bad.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Be logical,” he said. “What brought the angels?”
Alec felt his pulse racing. “My brothers and I have never felt the need for death, chaos, or destruction. We came here to have a chance at life again, like we thought all of you did.”
He shrugged. “Some of us will be able to do that. Some of us won’t. But not only are your souls purer than most of ours, free of demon’s desires within us, but you have Sharen.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s a reason demons prefer possession of a human when they cross over. You three are linked to Sharen. To a human. And that link will help keep your humanity alive too.”
Alec felt sick. He rose, unsure what to say or do.
The old man shook his head. “We can all use our strength, quickness, and ability to convince…along with our natural gifts, to avoid the radar of the angels, but sooner or later, most of us will give into our darker side. And so, you’ll need to figure out a solution to the angels. A way to stop them from coming after us.”
None of this can be true.Alec thought of himself in the demon realm. Foggy memories began to come back to him. Of his throne. Of the masses of lower level demons who obeyed him without question…or died for their insolence. He’d never thought about how different he’d felt since coming to Earth. He just imagined that it was escaping the demon realm that quieted the demon within him. It’d never occurred to him that it wasn’t this easy for all the demons. He’d just found their lack of restraint annoying.
Alec shook his head. “We can’t take on the angels. All of you will have to simply work harder. We’ll keep you in the sanctuary longer, but—“
“Eventually, we’ll all give into our other half. It’s what we are now.”
His stomach turned. “Sharen believes—“
“That we can all be saved.” The demon smiled, and for the first time, Alec saw that his teeth were sharpened to points. “We can’t be. We weren’t meant to be demons, but that’s what we are now. She can pretend we can be human all she wants, but we can’t be. This isn’t a permanent solution.”
Alec stared. “We can’t take on the angels. We won’t win.”
The demon was quiet for a long moment. “Perhaps with so few of us. But what if we build an army?”
Something about his suggestion made Alec’s pulse race. “We can’t unleash an army of demons onto this world.”
“As my father always said, ‘Shit or get off the pot.’”
Alec frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”
Dave grinned. “If this Rebellion is about saving demons, then save them, but know there are consequences. Know that you’re changing this world in a way that can never go back. If demons are allowed free range, some will blend in and live normal lives like you and your brothers. And some will unleash death and destruction.”
“No,” Alec said. “We’re only letting the good Level 10 demons out.”
The man raised a brow. “And how do you know if we’re all good? Do you have any idea what I was thrown into the demon realm for?”
His stomach turned. “No.”
The man grinned again. “And you don’t want to know. Trust me. Or you wouldn’t want to leave me here with all these innocent lives.”
Alec’s fingers twitched, his need to call his soul blade to him like a fire burning through his blood. “And what’s to stop me from killing you right here?”
He shrugged. “Nothing. But you should know, I’ve turned over a new leaf. Not everyone here has. If you notice the dead animals throughout the sanctuary, you’ll know I’m speaking the truth.”
Alec grabbed his blade from the sheath at his back and pulled it free. “Who?”
The man leaned back on the bench. “I’m not certain. But one thing is sure: you guys need a better plan. A way to tell the good ones from the bad ones. A way to keep us safe out in the world and to be sure our demon side won’t endanger humanity.” His gaze moved to Alec’s sword. “Put your blade down. It might make you feel better to kill me, but it certainly won’t help your situation.”
Alec turned and hurried across the lawn. The old man was playing with his head. He had to be lying. There was no way they’d unknowingly released danger into the world.
But only a few minutes into his walk, he picked up the scent of blood. Following it, he came out into a field. On one edge of it a deer had been slaughtered, ripped apart in a way no animal would ever do.
He stared in shock. This can’t be happening.
His sensitive ears picked up another sound further in the woods. Clutching his sword, he moved deeper into the trees, where the sunlight didn’t quite filter through the thick leaves.
It only took a moment to find what he was looking for. Beth, the sweet little girl they’d rescued not long ago, was clutching a squirrel. As he watched, she tore one of the legs from the creature, who screamed helplessly.
“Stop it!” he shouted, the words pouring from his lips.
She turned, her eyes blood red. She growled low in her throat and dropped the suffering animal.
“Try to harm me and die,” he whispered.
A moment later, she froze, and her eyes slowly returned to big brown ones. Her lips pulled into a frown. “Sorry, sometimes I just can’t help myself.”
Then she turned and ran back to the manor.
He knelt down where he stood, pressing his knuckles to his mouth.
What have we done?
