Chapter Twelve

Davian was in his study a week later when Morgan reported to him.

“The renegades that had set up camp on the Canadian border have disbanded,” the general told him. “No trace of the fire wraith. They’ve either retreated and have given up on assassinating you, or they’re out searching for reinforcements.”

“Likely the latter,” he said. “But there aren’t enough rebellious demons in the region to take on my army. Not even if he were to import them. The fire wraith needed me in the village to get to me. He knows he’ll never breach the woods on our side of the river without being detected and captured. He can’t penetrate our patrols around the castle or scale our walls.”

“We should do a large-radius sweep,” Morgan suggested. “Ascertain if they’ve regrouped elsewhere.”

“Yes. And I want reports from the regional stewards on any activity outside their own boundaries, in human villages as well as in uninhabited, remote areas.”

“Of course.”

Davian paused, his brain churning with a disconcerting, yet highly tempting thought. “If I’m to go into Ryleigh, now would be the time to do it.”

He wasn’t worried about his own safety. He’d taken on the fire wraith and proved he had more skill with a sword. Yet if he was going to protect Jade, he needed to disassociate himself from her so the renegade demon wouldn’t have a reason to return to the village. But before he completely severed the ties, he needed to see her one more time.

“Davian.”

His gaze fell on his friend. “Yes?”

Morgan shifted from one booted foot to the other. “Forgive me for saying so, but I don’t think it would be wise for you to visit Jade.”

Davian massaged the nape of his neck where a ball of tension seemed to have settled in permanently. “I don’t disagree with you. However, something has come up, which I’d like to investigate further.”

Morgan crooked a brow.

Davian said, “I saw a marking on her skin that is familiar to me. I couldn’t pinpoint where I’d seen it before, until last night, when I was thinking about her father.”

“Liam?”

With a nod, Davian said, “He homesteaded and designated the community for the humans he considered to be in his charge at the end of the war. We both selected a similar location around the same time. I staked my claim atop the cliff; he chose his at the base, with the river dividing us. I was fascinated by his nerve when he didn’t move on once he’d learned where I intended to establish my kingdom.”

“I recall he had quite a stubborn streak.”

“One he passed onto Jade. Along with a few other traits.”

Davian reached for a book on his desk and flipped it open where he’d flagged a section. In the center of the right-hand page was a sketch of three dots in an inverted triangle, though set slightly at an angle.

“The first time I met Liam and assured him my law of peace between the demons and the humans would be upheld by my alliance, he had short, military-style hair. I noticed the marking on his neck, below his right ear. Every time I saw him thereafter, he had long hair that covered what I’d assumed were freckles or moles. I never thought of the pattern again—until I saw an identical one. On his daughter. So I researched it this morning.”

Morgan slid into a chair on the opposite side of the enormous desk. “Are you going to tell me Jade has the same configuration in the exact same spot?”

“Yes.”

“What does it mean?”

“It’s a sacred symbol. A very simple one, so as to not draw too much attention to it or spark speculation as to whether it’s more than freckles naturally aligned. But it’s the mark of a demi-demon.”

Morgan’s head jerked back. “A what?”

“I knew there was something different about Liam, but I never delved too deep. He was clearly human, clearly mortal. Despite his willfulness and skill, he always took great care and precaution with his life. He didn’t operate in a reckless manner.”

“But it did take an effort to murder him, when the shifters attacked him.”

“That’s true, because he had the ability to self-heal, as Jade does. The wolves mauled him, then ripped his arms and legs from the sockets to keep him from repairing the damage. For good measure, they decapitated him. They’d done the equivalent to Jade’s mother, though it hadn’t been necessary. She didn’t possess similar talents as her husband and daughter.”

It had been a grisly scene to come upon, when word had reached Davian. But it had been infinitely more horrifying for Jade.

He’d later learned, the first time he’d invaded her thoughts, that she had witnessed the entire ordeal from the woods. In addition to her agony, fury and terror, guilt had besieged her. She’d never forgiven herself for not doing something—anything—to thwart the attack or call for help.

Reasonably, she’d known she couldn’t fight off the shifters herself and had been too traumatized to even try. Hiding in the forest, she’d been immobilized by grief, shocked into stunned disbelief, and had not made a peep.

That was as far as Davian had been able to make it in her dark, clouded mind as it related to her parents’ deaths. He’d felt all of her emotions almost as acutely as she had; they’d been insidious for him to experience through her thoughts.

The attraction he’d felt toward her and the understanding of the depth of her emotions when she was eighteen and weeping on the riverbed over her breakup with Michael Hadley had somehow connected Davian to her. From that moment on, her pain had become his. Making it imperative to stay out of her head. He’d go mad if he knew the full extent of her suffering.

Which brought him to his next point. “Demi-demons are similar to ancient demi-gods in some respects. They’re human, but they possess extraordinary abilities. They’re descendants of demons, but their blood has been so diluted over the centuries, their human nature reigns. And they can be killed, by human or demon hands. Even if they have the capability to self-heal.”

“I always wondered why Liam would say not all demons are evil,” Morgan mused. “Do you think Jade knows her true heritage?”

“No.” He was certain of it. “She believes she’s one-hundred percent human. I’m not sure she’d want to know the truth.”

Morgan speared him with an intent look. “And you’d prefer that as well, correct? Otherwise, she might decide she has some higher purpose and take her father’s place in the village, thereby putting herself at risk.”

“I do have my reasons for not telling her, yes. But beyond that, I don’t think she’d handle the reality well. Her parents had a greater understanding of the immortal world, but she was raised to fear and loathe demons—for her own protection. Not to mention…we’ve given all humans ample cause to be alarmed by our existence; our presence so close to their borders.”

His general regarded him thoughtfully, then said, “Jade neither fears nor loathes you.” He inclined his head to the side and amended, “Well, there might be some fear there. She’s smart enough to know her mortality is threatened by our kind. But she certainly doesn’t loathe you.”

“She should.” Davian stood. “The fact that she doesn’t creates another problem.”

He crossed to the wall lined with built-in shelves and cabinets, a counter running the length at waist height. He opened one of the intricate glass-and-wood-framed doors and retrieved a box from the back of the shelf. Returning to his chair, he set the well-crafted case on the desk and lifted the lid.

Morgan was out of his seat in a heartbeat, leaning toward the stunning necklace that lay against silver satin folds. “The Star of Nathea? It exists.”

“Yes.” Strung on a wide, black satin ribbon was a large white and black diamond-encrusted star-shaped pendant. The faceted center was slightly raised and created a stunning spectrum of colors under the candlelight.

Lifting the necklace, Davian said, “It was forged by the Demon Princess Nathea of Athens, who lost her mortal lover in battle. She was heartbroken and wanted to ease the harrowing torture of others who might share her same fate if they fell in love with a human.”

Not a common occurrence, he’d learned. But not an unfathomable one, either.

He added, “This jewel has been in my family since the early 700s, following my ancestors’ gift of immortality. It passes through a specific branch of my family tree from generation to generation. It’s very secretive—no one was alerted as to whom it was last given.”

Morgan eyed him curiously. “And you intend to bestow it upon Jade.”

“Though not for the purpose of making her immortal.”

“Why on earth not?”

Davian sat back in his chair. “It’s complicated. But there are certain undisputable facts I can’t ignore. First, while my kingdom would have no choice but to accept her if I granted her immortality, the castle isn’t really where she belongs.”

Morgan nodded. “She is fiercely devoted to the village and its people. She would willingly defy you in order to keep her friends and neighbors from harm.”

“Yes, she’s already proven that. Nor does she want to leave her family’s cottage. Another glaring point made when she refused to move after her parents died.”

Davian returned the necklace to its nesting place and then drummed his fingers on the desktop. “Next is the fact that she’s been carrying around tormenting memories for fifteen years. I highly doubt she’d want to spend an eternity with them. Her memory would sharpen with her more heightened senses, not fade. Her internal turmoil might even increase because of it.”

His friend was silent for a moment, processing. Then Morgan asked, “So why give her the necklace? If you have no intention of invoking the gift, what would be the purpose, other than to establish that she belon—Oh.” Shooting to his feet, Morgan began to pace. “Your desire to mark your territory could come with severe consequences, my Lord.”

“I understand that.”

A grave expression crossed the general’s face. “It’s not worth it, Davian. It might even be hazardous for her.”

“Or helpful. No demon would lay a hand on her.”

“From your alliance. But those who haven’t pledged their allegiance to you and your laws…?”

He sighed. Of course he’d considered this.

“What if it emasculates your authority?” Morgan further challenged. “Claiming a human lover could very easily give the illusion your sympathies have shifted away from your own species.”

“That’s never been the case in the past, with Nathea or my ancestors.”

“These are much different times than in the past, Davian.”

With a scowl, he said, “I’m well aware of that.”

“And she typically has a say when something goes awry in the village. That could become a reflection upon you.”

“She doesn’t serve Ryleigh in an official capacity. She has influence within the community, yes. But essentially, she’s just a villager. It’s not as though we’re going to clash on military matters. That’s what you and the slayers do.”

“You should think twice about this.” Morgan raised his hands as though to indicate that was all he’d say on the matter.

Davian nodded. “I’ll take your words—and your concerns—under advisement.”

Morgan hesitated, but then said, “I have messages to send to the stewards and patrols to set up. I’ll check in with you as soon as I’ve assembled everything.”

“Very good.”

The general turned to go, but gave a glance over his shoulder.

“Yes, Morgan?”

He shook his head and a hint of consternation flashed in his eyes. “Nothing.” He left the room.

Davian placed the Star of Nathea back in the cabinet. He had guards who ensured no one but Morgan, Sheena and Jocelyn entered his wing of the palace, so he wasn’t particularly worried about anyone stealing the necklace. Nor had anyone known he possessed it, until now. But, of course, Morgan would never tell a soul.

He considered his friend’s warning about entering the village and presenting Jade with the piece of jewelry and decided it best to rethink both ideas.