Kresley Cole - Kiss of a Demon King

Lanthe said, "We have to find the Hag! She's the only one who can cure her."

Rydstrom whisked Sabine up, storming from the court. Over his shoulder, he yelled, "Cadeon! Taking her for help!"

"I've got this!" his brother called back as he slashed at opponents with abandon. "I have some experience against these fucks! And I'm out for fire demon blood."

Lanthe was right behind Rydstrom as they rushed for the exit. "Demon, head for the base-"

She was abruptly cut off. When Rydstrom swung around, he saw her skidding across the floor.

A wild-eyed Hettiah had tackled her, blocking her way to the door. "You and your sister will pay!"

Lanthe snatched up a sword from a fallen revenant. "Take Sabine! Go!"

Rydstrom turned, barreling down the corridor stairs, before remembering he could now teleport as well. He traced Sabine into the bowels of the castle. But there were chambers everywhere, connected by a twisting labyrinth of passages. He turned in a circle, bellowing, "Hag, where the hell are you?"

"In here," she called. He followed the sound of her voice to a chamber that was exactly like he imagined a poisoner's laboratory. Atop long tables were dissected creatures, fermenting potions, bubbling brews. Bats' wings and frogs' legs hung from the ceiling.

The Hag, however, was not what he was expecting. Instead of the crone, a pretty elven brunette stood before him, the woman he'd glimpsed before.

And she was packing.

"Save her . . ." Rydstrom rasped. "You have to save

her."

Without glancing up, she said, "And why should I?" "Because I defeated Omort. I think his death has

freed you."

"Well, there is that." She met his gaze. "For five hundred years, I've waited for the sorcerer's curse to end. Lay Sabine on the table." Rooting through a safe, she withdrew two wooden cases, opening the first one. Within it lay a vial of black liquid.

When the Hag offered the antidote, Rydstrom accepted it, then propped Sabine up, holding the vial to her pale lips. He glanced at the Hag. "Do you vow this will cure her?"

"Cure her of the morsus? Yes, I vow it. But I can't help her with the bitchiness."

He scowled at her, then dripped the contents between Sabine's lips.

Waiting . . . nothing . . . "Why's it not doing any­thing?" he snapped.

She shook her head, baffled. "It should have worked by now. It must be too late."

Are her cheeks pinkening? Is she healing?"

Sabine heard Rydstrom's harried voice as she

woke by degrees.

"They are." Was that the Hag? "It figures the sorcer­ess would milk the tension for all it was worth."

When Sabine murmured Rydstrom's name, he exhaled. "Ah, gods, cwena. I'm here with you." When she opened her eyes, she found his were fierce but tender as he gazed down at her. He brushed the backs of his fingers against her cheek.

The Hag muttered, "I'll leave you two alone."

"Wait," Sabine said. Who was this female that sounded like the Hag? Was this the Hag? "Where's Lanthe's cure?"

"I left her vial on the table beside the rhinoceros testicles."

"Oh." Free. They were finally free of Omort. Of the poison that had befouled their blood. And the Hag was apparently free as well. "How is it that you are . . . different?"

"Omort stole my foresight, cursing me to live as a crone in this hellhole. All for a foretelling I gave about a sorceress Omort would fall in love with. At least, as much as he was capable of it. Sabine, your brother didn't seek you out for the demon-he sought you for himself. But as soon as I saw you, the prophecy came to me that you and the demon king would wed and have a son who would unlock the well's power."

"But not in the way Omort said?" Sabine asked.

"Not in the least. Omort used the prophecy, embel-lished on it, until even he believed his own lies. Now, if you don't mind, I've got a portal to catch. And I'm five hundred years late for a date."

"But wait-"

"The battle's still going on upstairs, sorceress." She swept out of the room.

Sabine turned to Rydstrom. "Trace me to my sister!"

In an instant, he traced her to the court. But Lanthe had already felled Hettiah and was kicking her lifeless body, telling it, "For centuries, I put up with your shit! Day after day!"

That's my sister. . . .

Sabine saw Rydstrom gazing at his own sibling in the melee, looking torn, clearly wanting to be with her but needing to help his brother. "I need to get Cadeon's back."

"Oh no, you don't, demon!" With an angry flick of her hand, Sabine made the mercenaries invisible to the fire demons. "We have things to discuss."

Cadeon roared, "Hell, yeah!"

After a few moments observing Cadeon's joyful slaying and Lanthe's therapy, Rydstrom said, "I think they've got it." He shoved his sword under his belt again, then traced Sabine from the court to her room in the castle, to the balcony overlooking the sea.

Once Rydstrom had steadied her from the teleporta-tion, she said, "You didn't believe Omort about the well and the sacrifice? That I was a part of that plan?"

"Of course not. Just as I don't believe this was all some plot you concocted ahead of time. The last week between us was real."

"Like our marriage?"

Sabine's expression was inscrutable, eyes glowing blue with emotion. He couldn't predict what she would do about his deception, had no idea . . .

To be this close to all he'd ever wanted.

"Did Omort lie?"

He, ran his hand over his mouth. "I- cwena .. ." . "You can't call me that, can you? I'm not your queen. What had you promised that night? What did you say to me so solemnly?"

"That I would exact my revenge on you."

Her brows drew together, and her bottom lip trem­bled.

Rydstrom's heart fell. "Ah, gods, Sabine." She was crushed. She should be. To act as if he'd wed her....

"Demon. I. Am"-she shook her head and swallowed hard-"so proud of you." Her eyes were misty. "You got one over on me."

He parted his lips with astonishment. "You're not... you-" He swept her up in his arms.

"Well, it did anger me at first. But luckily for you, I'm not a tool. When someone decides to sacrifice his life for mine, I can be forgiving."

"I'd do it gladly, Sabine. Always." "Yes, well, I also realized that I can hold this over your head- for eternity. Think of the leverage, demon!" In a feigned innocent tone, she said, "But whatever do you mean we're not instituting a kingdom mini-skirt day? Don't you remember when you deceived me about our marriage vows?"

He cupped her nape. "Do it, hold it over my head. Wear me out on it. Just as long as you stay with me."

"I don't have a choice, since I seem to have acciden­tally fallen in love with you."

That line between his brows deepened. "I love you, too, sorceress. I want to remedy this lack of a marriage right now."

She laid her palms on the sides of his face. "Good, because I need the authority to make some serious changes around here. Oh, and this time, make it in English."

Two months later New Tornin, The Kingdom of Rothkalina

Lke taking candy from a baby!" Rydstrom's wife cried as she swung her bag of stolen loot over her shoulder.

Lanthe answered, "Shooting fish in a barrel!"

Sabine and her sister still hadn't seen Rydstrom sit­ting quietly on his throne in the empty court. Lanthe had created her portal in here-the one place no one was supposed to be today. But Rydstrom had finished up with a construction project early, and had come here merely to relax and enjoy the renovated court until his wife returned from "shopping."

"Your shopping went well?" he said, his voice boom­ing.