Chapter Thirty-four
Heat warmed his face, and he took in a deep breath of fresh air. He wasn’t sure, but he felt he was lying on his back, his sword digging into his spine. Hamel opened his eyes to see Wilson hovering inches from his face, bug eyes wide and creepy, startling the shit out of him.
“Clint, are you well? You made it out of their grasp. You are safe here in the courtyard.”
Hamel sat up, Wilson moving back. Fuck. He had the worst hangover he’d ever had. “Are they succubi?” He noted he was fully dressed with his pants and shoes. Was he ever really undressed?
“Yes, they trap males and sex them to death. You are lucky to escape.”
“Maybe,” Hamel said. “I know plenty of men who’d voluntarily die that way.”
Wilson made a shocked face. “You humans are strange.”
Hamel got to his feet. “You ever experience sex?”
“No, I am not sure if that is possible.”
“Well, let me tell you, little friend, it’s worth dying for if you’re with the one you love.”
Wilson remained quiet. Hamel glanced at the sun. It was on its way down.
“Shit. Wilson, come on, we’re running out of time. Take me to the demon king or Melinda.”
Wilson floated next to him. “I will take you to the king. I do not know where she is in the castle.” Wilson zoomed away, leaving Hamel to run to catch up. They came to a set of twenty-foot-high doors with a guard on each side. “We wish to see the king,” Wilson said.
One of the sentries replied, “He is not available. Come back later.” Wilson turned away.
“Wait,” Hamel said. “How do we know they are telling the truth?”
Wilson paused. “We do not know. Do you want to challenge them?”
Hamel wiped a hand over his face. “No, I just want to talk to the king and get out of this godforsaken realm.” He faced the guard who had answered. “Is the king truly gone or are you saying that to make us go away? I am someone your king would want to speak to. I am a transformer.” Both guards stiffened. The other sentinel grabbed the long gold handle and pulled the door open.
With no further words, Hamel and Wilson entered a grand room. The room was gaudy and over-the-top with precious items. Statues, paintings, busts, trinkets, artwork, and stuff packed the room. How could anyone live like this?
A voice boomed through the air. “Who dares to enter my presence without presentation?”
Hamel was not impressed. He hollered back as he and Wilson continued up a red carpet path, “I do. Come out and face me, demon.” From a side entryway, a tall, skinny man dressed in a black-and-white-striped suit stomped in. Hamel whispered to Wilson, “Why is he in human form and you’re not? I expected a bunch of big-ass raisins running around.”
“I am a lowly demon. I am not allowed to change.”
Well, didn’t that just tickle him pink. He didn’t think he’d like this king too much. The man sat on the throne and waved a hand, beckoning them closer. Hamel walked up to the steps in front of the golden chair.
Behind him, Wilson grabbed on to the thin leather straps draped over his shoulders that held his sword’s sheath. Then he snuggled to Hamel’s back and began trembling. A lot. Hamel spoke over his shoulder. “W-Wilson, I—I c-ca-an’t ta-alk wi-ith you sha-ak-ing so mu-uch.”
A “Sorry” floated to his ear. The quaking on his shoulders stopped. He turned back to the king, then his lower back and hips started to vibrate. Wilson had moved down to his waist and held on. He could talk, but it felt weird with his commando-style freedom allowing his junk to shake in his buckskins.
“Lamozierus, where have you been? Consorting with outsiders, I see. Get back to work.”
Wilson mumbled, “Yes, Your Highness,” then zipped away almost too quickly for Hamel to see.
Hamel’s jaguar wanted out. The animal didn’t like this realm, and the demon king even less.
“I am here to return the woman taken this morning back to her realm.” He tried to sound as intimidating as he could. Didn’t seem to faze the demon king.
The king raised a bored brow. “I cannot let you do that. I need her.”
“Need her for what?” Maybe he could finally get information to make sense of this fiasco.
“That is no business of yours, warrior. Is that all?”
Fuck. This wasn’t going well. He had to think fast. “I’ve been paid to take her home. You don’t think an honest warrior like myself would simply walk away, do you?”
The king’s face scrunched up. “No. That would be no fun.” A narrow grin sent chills down Hamel’s back. But he refused to show any reaction to the douchebag. The king’s eyes zeroed in on his, drilling deeply, diving into his soul. Hamel felt him, rooting around, as if searching for something.
Since Hamel cared little for the pompous ass sitting on the throne, he thought maybe a little scare would do the big shot some good. Hopefully make the demon more wary, make him think twice about jumping into his head again. Hamel spoke to his jaguar through their animal bond, which allowed mental communication. Let’s have a little fun. Time for you to chase some prey. The jag liked that idea. Hamel created a scene in his mind for the king’s brain to mentally interact with. Like a movie in his head, he watched it play out.
The king was surrounded by white clouds. His hands pushed at the cottony air, getting it out of his way as if he were on a path, looking for something. The cat came up behind the king. Low to the ground, the jag took one stealthy step after another, never making a sound.
Agitation rolled from the demon. What did the guy want? Was he trying to possess him? Not gonna happen. The cat slithered to less than a foot from the demon. Its muscles tightened, prepared to jump and take down the intruder.