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Jade pulled in a jagged breath, then let it out slowly. Her knees nearly knocked together, making her unstable on her feet. She widened her stance to steady herself.
Not only was the king the largest, strongest-looking man she’d ever laid eyes on, he was also the most mesmerizing. And visions of him doing wicked things to her would absolutely not leave her mind. It was damn near impossible for her to think straight, particularly with her body reacting so innately to him. His close proximity had all the fiery sensations from last night returning to her in a flash, causing her cunt to clench as it pulsed vibrantly with need and desire.
But she had business to attend to and she found the strength—from Lord only knew where—to do just that.
Squaring her shoulders, she said, “At least one, perhaps more, of your wraiths have tracked me for a month or two. Stalking me. Which is, by your own words, illegal. Correct?”
“Yes.”
His simple answer infuriated Jade, as though he didn’t believe her. Lifting her chin a notch, she added, “I’ve been followed in the woods on numerous occasions. Last night, someone on horseback watched me as I left the tavern where I work. Now Jinx is dead by a demon attack and I think you may as well lay your cards on the table and tell us whether or not we’re on the verge of another war.”
The villagers gasped and groaned as they wriggled in their seats.
The king’s tolerance wilted on the vine.
In a commanding tone, he said, “There will be no more wars. I’ve given my word and I will stick by it. As for what happened with your friend Jinx,” his eyes narrowed on Jade, “I did not interrogate lightly, I assure you. And after hours of recounting the incident in the south woods, I believe the event truly was an accident. Tragic, certainly. But an accident nonetheless. The experiments were clearly a risk your human friend was willing to take.”
“And what of the demon who killed him?” Jade asked, her tone softer as she thought of Jinx and tears threatened her eyes once more at the notion she’d never see his bright smile again.
“He’s remorseful.” A humble expression crossed the king’s face as he took a few steps closer and said in a low voice, “As am I.”
His dark, masculine scent wafted under her nose. An earthy aroma so enticing, it tightened her nipples further, making her extremely uncomfortable. Yet she wouldn’t show her weakness for him or his hunky body.
She boldly asked, “That’s supposed to mollify us? Comfort us?”
Where her verve came from, she wasn’t sure. No, she’d never backed down when an injustice was done, but this wasn’t some minor scuffle she’d dealt with on occasion at the tavern over whose turn it was to buy the next round or who’d supposedly won a game of darts. Or who’d shortchanged another at the farmer’s market.
This was serious and she was standing toe-to-toe with a man who could have her in chains and locked in a cell with nothing more than a nod of his head. But anger over Jinx’s death and the violation of laws this haughty issuer of regulations wasn’t upholding had her irrational and willing to take a stand.
King Darien’s jaw clenched for a brief moment before he said, “Of course you’re not comforted by my words.” His intense gaze remained locked with hers, as though he tried to see deep into her soul. It unnerved her, particularly after that dream she’d had. “And I will punish him. I came here this morning to tell you as much. Everyone,” he corrected as he shook his head, as though to clear his mind from a trancelike state as he stared so intently at her. “To tell everyone.”
Jade found his faux pas disarming. For a man who had more power than God, he did not currently wield it in the tyrannical way she would expect. He was, quite surprisingly, an enigma. But she couldn’t get lost in his intimate voice, soul-searching gaze and six-foot-something-inches of pure virility and raw masculinity.
They all stood on dangerous ground. She couldn’t forget that.
“And what about me?” she asked. “What are you going to do about the fact someone from your kingdom stalks me on almost a nightly basis?”
He took her in from head to toe as he seemed to make up his mind. When his eyes met hers again, he said, “That is a matter about which I will speak with you in private.”
Michael jumped to his feet and reached for Jade, pulling her from the aisle and into the row toward her chair. “That’s hardly a reasonable request.”
“Michael,” she shot back, under her breath. It was one thing for her to be impudent. What did she have to lose, really? But for Michael to suffer any repercussions for trying to protect her… That was something Jade couldn’t live with. “Let me handle this.”
She wiggled her way out of his territorial clutches and returned to her spot in the aisle, standing before the Demon King. She didn’t miss the flash of agitation in hi
s eyes—at the way Michael had so quickly and fiercely stood up for her.
To divert his attention from her friend, she said, “I’m sure the people of this community would like to hear what you have to say on the matter.”
Another shake of his head. “No one else has been followed. This isn’t about the people of the community. It’s only about you.”
Her pussy clenched at his words and a dull ache of longing took up residency deep within her. She couldn’t help but recall her dream. It had been Darien she’d fantasized making love with.
But how could that be? She’d never even seen him before today. She’d had no idea what he looked like, because he didn’t come into the village. If he had something to say to the humans, he sent a messenger. Only the slayers interacted personally with him, and even that was a rare occasion, as they primarily dealt with his general.
A disturbing mixture of alarm and arousal swirled in her belly. She was fascinated by the king, no doubt about it. But he was a demon. A dominant and potentially deadly one. As was her attraction to him.
But his insistence of speaking with her in private was too intriguing to pass up.
