ValiasVillain Read online

  “Who are you and what business do you have here?” A gray-skinned demon demanded from Kean.

  “I’m here to do some business with your master or whatever you call him,” Kean replied. His composure impressed Valia.

  The demon snorted in disgust. “I have no master. What is your business? You aren’t one of Debol’s.”

  “Not yet, but I’d like to be.”

  The demon snorted again. “The human is thick in you. He’ll want nothing to do with you.”

  “Ah, but you see, I brought him a present. Two presents actually.” The guard eyeballed Araya and Kean pulled her close. “This one belongs to me.” He motioned with a toss of his head in Valia and Fin’s direction. “Those are the presents.”

  The seemingly mute guard kept his dagger threateningly close to Kean’s neck while the talker got up close and personal with Valia. “Sempire. He’ll like that.” Then he moved on to Fin and after looking him up and down and sniffing the air he said, “What is this one? The Sempire’s vibe is all I can detect.”

  Kean turned slowly so as to not startle the dagger wielder and shot Valia a quick glance. She gave a barely perceptible nod.

  “He’s a Sempire too. They’re brother and sister. I didn’t know Debol’s sexual preference so brought both.”

  The guard’s head snapped around and a look of disbelief coated his gray face. “A male Sempire?”

  “Yes, so you see why I think he’ll want to see me even with my thick humanness,” he mocked.

  The guard snarled at Fin and nodded to the dagger wielder and led them to the front entrance where two more guards stood. He said, “Wait here,” before disappearing inside.

  Kean made a couple of failed attempts at small talk with the guards as they all stood waiting. Valia’s skin prickled, the tension thick in the air. Five minutes later, gray demon dude returned with two more hulking guards who each carried chains and shackles.

  They had Kean uncuff Fin and Valia and then they cuffed them separately. So much for going in with easily breakable prop cuffs. Shit. The guard turned to Kean with another pair of cuffs and Kean stepped back. “That’s no way to treat a man bearing such fine gifts,” Kean said.

  “You will enter wearing these or you will not enter at all,” said gray demon. “And the dog stays outside.”

  “He’s a loyal pet. He goes where I go,” Kean explained. “It’s not safe for him out here. He goes or we leave. I’m sure I can find someone else who’s interested in my offer.”

  Gray demon dude looked at Kiberry. Kiberry flopped down on his back and showed his belly, his eyes wide, looking as though he was nothing but an innocent pup. Good job, Kiberry. The gray demon looked at the other guards and they shrugged. He finally said, “He can go but you will wear these.”

  Kean reluctantly held out his arms and the guard snapped the cuffs closed around his wrists.

  * * * * *

  The scent of Incubus slammed into Valia’s nose as soon as the guard opened the door to Debol’s chamber. It appealed to her but oddly it didn’t threaten to overwhelm her as she’d assumed it would. Judging by her sister’s aura, Araya wasn’t struggling with his scent either.

  “Ah yes, come, come,” she heard the Incubus’s voice call out as they were led into the room by the guards, single file. “So one of you seeks employment with me?”

  Valia had to bite her tongue when her gaze landed on the Sempire on her knees, head bent down facing the floor, beside Debol’s desk.

  Kean spoke up, “Yep, I do.”

  Debol rounded the desk to face Kean. He looked him up and down. “Now what makes you think you are worthy of my employ? Yes, yes, I sense the Incubus in you but it’s miniscule. You may as well be entirely human.”

  “I brought you gifts to prove my worth.”

  “So I see.” He turned his attention to Araya and Kean practically growled.

  “That one is mine.”

  “Ah. Yes, I believe all Incubi should have their very own Sempire pets.”

  He moved in front of Valia and his eyes widened. Well, what do we have here?” He practically squealed in delight as he clapped his hands together. “It is you, isn’t it?” He leaned in close to Valia and breathed deep. “Oh yes, it is you. His stink lingers on your flesh.”

  He clapped his hands again and turned in a circle. That was one weird Incubus. Rydin had said he was deranged. “Oh this is going to be fun, fun, fun.” He turned his attention back to Kean. “Wherever did you find her?”

  Oh shit, they hadn’t gotten into details so she hoped Kean pulled something believable out of his ass and quick.

  Kean answered, “My dog found them for me just hours ago.”

  “Ah yes. I recently acquired a Tengur for just that purpose but it refuses to cooperate so far. Perhaps, I’ll kill it and get a dog instead. You’ll have to teach me how to train it to do such wonderful things!”

  Debol moved on to appraise Fin, his delighted smile turning to a scowl. “How is it that you live?”

  Fin shrugged.

  His frown deepened. “Do not shrug at me, abomination! Unless you’ve no tongue, speak.”

  Valia saw the Sempire on the floor raise her bowed head just enough to take a sideways peek at their group. Valia noticed how her eyes lingered on Fin for a second longer than the rest of them and shock crossed her face before she looked back to the floor. Something akin to disgust passed through her aura. She’d always been able to read Sempires better than anyone else but in this moment, she wished she couldn’t. Valia wanted to save her, sympathized with her plight, but she’d kick the bitch’s ass if she kept up the disgust thing where her brother was concerned.

  Fin answered simply, “My mother spared me.”

  Debol strode to the Sempire on the floor and grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her to standing and walked her to stand before Fin. The hatred for the Incubus washed through her aura so clearly it practically blinded Valia.

  “What do you think of this, Navine?” he asked her. “Look at him standing here making a mockery of your species. Do you want to kill him?”

  The Sempire looked from Fin to Debol but didn’t answer. He grabbed her by the hair again and pulled her head backward. “You never learn, do you?” He looked at Kean. “Is yours this hard to train?” He shook his head and didn’t wait for an answer as he addressed the Sempire again. “Your punishments will only get more severe.” His eyes sparked with an eerie light. “I’ll keep this one just for you,” he told her. “Every time you disobey me, you’ll fuck him.”

  He let go of the Sempire’s hair and she dropped to her knees, head bent. “Please, no. I-I-didn’t mean—”

  She was obviously repulsed by the thought of fucking Fin and in that moment Valia wanted to leave her there to rot, but she tried to remind herself the female was addicted to an Incubus and that had a lot to do with it. And she hadn’t missed the way Fin gazed at the Sempire, the way his aura flared as she’d approached him. No doubt, he wanted her. Big-time.

  Debol laughed, sent her back to her corner and addressed Kean again. “Very nice gifts indeed. They’ll be so much fun. How did you manage to capture them? Surely not by yourself.”

  “Araya helped.”

  “She is loyal to you, yes?” At Kean’s nod, he continued. “Then I would not be hiring you, I’d be hiring a team. A human-Incubus, a Sempire, and a dog. Interesting. Interesting indeed.” He took a seat behind the desk and propped his feet on it and nodded at the guard closest to Kean. The guard released Kean from the shackles. “Please sit,” Debol motioned to the chair on the opposite side of the desk. “But move the chair to the side and turn around. We’re about to watch a show.” Debol told the guard who’d released Kean to “bring him in”. Kiberry followed Kean and sat by his feet.

  A few moments later, Valia gasped despite herself as the guard returned with Rydin. His face sported black-and-blue marks, one of his beautiful horns was chipped and his hands were chained behind his back. Rydin looked directly at Valia the s
econd he’d walked in the door as if he’d known she was there. Guilt racked her, knowing his condition was her fault.

  Rydin felt Valia’s presence before the guard had come for him. He’d known the second she’d materialized in the demon realm, had been absurdly excited, but concerned for her well-being too. Silly female. What the hell had she hoped to accomplish by coming here? Seeing her busted lip infuriated him. If Debol had done that, he’d kill him. He didn’t know how or when, but one day he’d make that motherfucker suffer.

  The guard, holding the chains attached to his wrists, kicked behind Rydin’s knees and he fell to the ground. He righted himself with some effort and sat back on his heels. “What the fuck is going on Debol?”

  “Tsk, tsk. A little more respect in your tone, please. You are on my shitlist, you know.”

  Rydin humphed. “No, I hadn’t noticed.”

  Debol nodded at Rydin’s guard and he punched Rydin in the side of the head. His head whipped to the side but he didn’t make a sound. Valia, however, did. She yelled, “Stop,” and rushed forward, sinking to the ground beside Rydin.

  Rydin hissed, “Get away from me,” in a hushed tone, hoping only she would hear. The hurt that crossed her face cut him, but it was better this way. If Debol thought he was a weakness for her, he would exploit it. Why had she been so upset at his condition anyway? And why the hell did she come back here? She could be home, wrapped in her soft sheets and eating her fancy fruits.

  “What’s wrong?” Debol asked him. “Not happy to see your girlfriend?”

  “I have no girlfriend.” But damned if saying that didn’t stick in his craw. If he ever did have one, she’d be like Valia. Sexy, stubborn, defiant, insatiable.

  “Bring her to me,” Debol told another guard who brought Valia around to him. Rydin ground his teeth as Debol’s gaze brazenly appraised her. “Yes, I think she’ll make a nice addition to my collection. Don’t you think, Rydin? A Sempire to kneel on each side of my desk.”

  Rydin knew Debol was taunting him, trying to bait him. He got off on shit like this but if he showed concern over Valia, it would only be worse for both of them. If only he didn’t have the damn contract bond restricting him from kicking Debol’s ass, he’d kill the fucker, broken and bruised as he might be. “Sure, why not,” he answered Debol casually.

  Debol pulled Valia into his lap. Rydin decided he liked the dog when it growled in Debol’s direction and the mixed breed had to put a hand on the dog’s neck to keep him in place. Rydin barely held back a growl of his own.

  “Oh fuck no, Incubus,” she said and struggled against his hold. Would she succumb to him? The thought of Valia being touched by Debol almost made him lose it but he had to stay calm. He wanted nothing more than to defend her, to keep her safe, but he couldn’t. Feeling helpless was not something Rydin was used to and he didn’t like it one bit.

  “What’s wrong, Sempire? Don’t want your boyfriend to see you swoon over my Incubus scent? You know you can’t resist me for long. Maybe we’ll give Rydin a break from the beatings. He let you go. Knowing what would happen to him, he let you go. I think having him watch you suck my cock will be far worse punishment, don’t you think?”

  Valia slammed her head back and Rydin heard a crunch. She’d broken his nose. So many times he’d wanted to break Debol’s nose and much worse. He loved that Valia had done it, was proud of her, but feared for her. Debol shoved Valia off his lap and covered his nose, muffled expletives flying.

  “You will pay for that, bitch.”

  Kean jumped up to get in front of Valia when Debol made a move for her. Kean held up his hands. “Hey, let’s just calm down.”

  “You gave her to me, mixed-breed Incubus, get out of my way or I’ll dispose of you.”

  Kean stood his ground. “We have no agreement yet so technically she’s still mine.”

  Debol’s bloody face was a mask of fury as he spit out, “You’re hired, name your price and get the fuck out of my way.” He shoved Kean aside, and a guard held him in place as Debol grabbed Valia.

  The dog bit the guard holding the mixed breed and the guard kicked it, sending it flying across the room.

  Valia thrashed and struggled to get out of Debol’s hold but the shackles thwarted her efforts. Rydin roared and jumped to his feet when Debol struck her across the face and ripped open her shirt. It took all of the guards in the room to hold him back.

  Rydin took in her appearance again. Her busted lip was healing but her ripped shirt and unzipped pants refueled his rage. Thinking of her being defiled by that fucking Incubus boiled his blood. Being calm, acting indifferent was no longer an option as Rydin’s skin prickled and burned, fury engulfing him, driving his actions. This kind of rage hadn’t overtaken him in many years. An animalistic roar emerged from deep within. His muscles corded and bunched as he burst upward from the floor.

  He smashed his head into the closest guard’s face. The guard’s head swung so violently to the side his neck snapped and he crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap. Rydin turned and saw the former dog had turned into a Tengur and charged the guard holding its master. The Tengur shredded the guard in seconds.

  Kean jumped to action, fists flying at the guard closest to Araya. Araya lifted her shackled arms high and jumped up to get the chain around the guard’s neck while Kean continued pummeling him.

  Another guard stuck a dagger into Rydin’s back. He whipped around and drove his head into the guard’s stomach, his horns piercing the guard’s flesh. They weren’t long enough to reach any vital organs but he kept ramming them in until the guard dropped.

  Valia yelled to the Sempire on the floor, “Get up and help us! We’ll take you out of here.”

  The Sempire watched, with wide eyes, the carnage going on around her but didn’t budge. Valia ran to her but the remaining guard grabbed her.

  Debol had no means of escape, the exit blocked by Kean and Araya who had their guard on the ground now and the Tengur backing them up, snarling and snapping his teeth.

  Rydin rammed his horns directly into the spine of the guard who dared put his hands on Valia. “Thanks,” she said, breathless and winked at him. Then she reached into her boot and pulled out a green-handled dagger of her own. Damn thing came complete with what looked like diamonds and emeralds set in the hilt. She headed toward Debol.

  “No,” he said as she started toward Debol. “He’s mine.”

  “But, I thought you couldn’t hurt him.”

  Rydin rushed Debol but the kneeling Sempire screamed, “No,” and jumped in front of him, protecting him.

  “What the fuck, are you kidding me?” Valia exclaimed.

  Rydin advanced and the Sempire spit and jumped on him, clawing at him.

  “I don’t wish to hurt you, female,” he grunted as she pummeled him.

  Valia grabbed the female’s arm and jerked her off Rydin. “Thanks,” he mimicked her earlier response. The female was wild in her attempts to break away from Valia but his female was a spitfire. She was handling herself just fine even shackled at the wrists and Fin rushed over to help her.

  “Rydin,” Debol said, sounding unconcerned, “you can’t hurt me. All you’re doing is making it worse for yourself.”

  “You touched her, put your filthy hands on her. You must die.”

  Shock shown on Debol’s face as Rydin slammed him against the stone wall. Holy shit, he was actually able to do it. To hurt the bastard. He kicked at Debol’s knees and the Incubus dropped to the stone floor.

  “I’ll reduce your contract. Keep the Sempire. Just go,” he said frantically.

  “Reduce my contract? Killing you will eliminate my contract.”

  Four new guards burst through the door, completely ignoring everyone but Rydin. Kiberry bit the foot off the guard Araya and Kean had been struggling with, then sniffed the air wildly, his eyes bulging, an odd howling noise erupted from him as he shot out of the room. She knew Kiberry could take care of himself but she worried anyway, wondering what the hell he was
doing and what danger he might face.

  Valia recognized one of guards from the front entrance. He and the other three charged Rydin and before he had time to defend himself, they stabbed and beat him. He swung and kicked at them, but in his weakened state, he was no match for them. His huge form crumpled to the floor, his blood pouring from gaping wounds.

  Valia’s heart seized in her chest. She needed to help him, save him but her feet seemed frozen in place. Anger and pain, his pain, radiated through her as a raging sickness swamped her. Sparks of color suddenly surrounded the guards as their auras became brighter and brighter, until she could see every intricate detail, clearer to her than the blood running from Rydin’s wounds. It was beautiful, blinding, somehow empowering.

  Time slowed as the colors moved, shifted, weaved an intricate pattern. Was she doing that? An electric chill skittered over her skin, her nerve endings hypersensitive. The breath was ripped from her lungs in a whoosh and then she felt it. Felt a connection to the guards, a power over them. She focused her thoughts on stopping the brutality, stopping them from hurting Rydin any more.

  Suddenly, two of the guards stopped mid-swing and turned their attention away from Rydin and to the other two guards. Valia pushed her will on them, straining until she felt her head might explode. The guards began pummeling the others—punching, beating, breaking—making quick work of incapacitating them.

  Rydin struggled to get to his feet and failed, his gorgeous bloody body sagging against the wall, but at least he wasn’t being beaten any longer. He would be okay. He had to be.

  Debol tried to make a run for it but Kiberry chose that moment to bound back into the room, blood coating his fur and dripping from his pointy teeth, another Tengur, with purple tinged fur, right on his heels. At first she thought the Tengur was going to attack Kiberry but it was backing him up.

  Debol wisely stopped and took a step backward.

  Valia ran to Rydin’s side and almost puked at all the blood, his beautiful body marred by stab wounds. He was Ferox but could he survive that much blood loss?

  She palmed her dagger and jammed it into Debol’s gut. Once, twice, three times. Debol crumpled to the floor. She wanted to kill him but she wouldn’t. She’d save that pleasure for Rydin. After all the years he’d had to suffer this bastard’s bullshit, he deserved to be the one to end him. But if he couldn’t because of the contract bond? She’d do it happily, slowly, as Rydin watched. Maybe make him some popcorn to munch on as he enjoyed the show.