Chapter Twenty

“You what?”

Davian watched as Jade’s blue irises lit with shock, then darkened with doubt. She tossed off the covers and got out of bed. Scooping up his discarded shirt, she dragged it on, though it dwarfed her, looking more like a long nightshirt that nearly reached her knees.

He rolled onto his back and stacked his hands behind his head on a pile of pillows. She paced in front of the fireplace and he didn’t say a word. He’d stunned her, of course. But he knew what he wanted and had no desire to hold back from telling her. Despite the fact that they’d once agreed he could never place a ring on her finger.

When she finally came to a halt, she turned to face him. “You want to marry me?”

“It is the natural progression of courtship.”

She smirked—and it was absurdly sexy. “Don’t play upon my words. Death and marriage are two very different concepts.”

“Apparently, not for everyone.”

“Davian,” she said with exasperation in her tone. “Now is not the time to tease.”

“I’m merely stating a fact, as you so often feel compelled to do. But our marriage won’t be like that. You’ll be very happy and well taken care of.”

Folding her arms over her chest, she said, “You can’t be serious about this. There is no way on God’s green earth that you and I could ever be married.”

He glowered. “I rule this portion of your God’s green earth, so we most certainly can be married.”

“We couldn’t even finish a conversation regarding common ground.” She threw her hands up. “So the adage still applies here—a fish can love a bird, but where would they live?”

“I’m the fish in this scenario?”

“Davian,” she said as she glared at him.

“Jade,” he countered as he sat up, the sheet slipping to his waist. “Unless someone new comes to the village, I don’t see you falling in love with anyone else. And I’ve waited over eight years to be with you.”

Her expression softened. “I’m not discounting what we feel for each other. I’m pointing out the blatant issues. I’m a human and you’re a demon. I’m mortal and you’re immortal. And I definitely would not be comfortable within your kingdom. Especially when you’re not there.”

The skin creased between his brows. “No one would dare touch you.”

“Accidents happen,” she said, not needing to say Jinx’s name out loud—Davian got the message.

“I’ll assign you bodyguards, if that makes you feel safer.”

“Oh, that’ll be so much fun,” she deadpanned. “Will they follow me to the bathroom?”

He scowled. Everyone who lived in his vast mansion enjoyed the spaciousness and the opulence. It wouldn’t exactly be a hardship for her to reside there.

“Well, I can’t live here,” he insisted. “Away from the castle and on the human side of the border.”

“You’re missing my argument entirely,” she said with vexation in her tone. “This isn’t just about living arrangements. We can’t get married.”

“We can do whatever the hell we want,” he asserted. “I’m the one who makes the laws around here.”

“Ugh!” She pressed her hands to her face and shook her head. Then she dropped them and said, “Don’t get all high and mighty on me. I know you have the authority to do as you please, but this isn’t the least bit sane or rational.”

“I’ll admit it’s unorthodox. But despite us both saying we couldn’t be together, we’ve ended up together anyway, haven’t we?”

“On rare occasions. Not all the time.”

“I want all the time.”

She let out a tormented sigh, as though her heart wrenched. “I want that too. But it’s not at all plausible. You know this.”

He was quiet, debating his options. Eventually, he said, “There’s something I need to tell you. It actually lends significance to this situation and merit to the idea of us marrying.”

He got out of bed again and reached for his boxer briefs. Revealing she was a cross-breed would likely disturb her greatly. Only initially, though. Or so he hoped. But perhaps it was time she knew the truth about herself. And her father.

Striding over to where she stood, tension and uncertainty stamped across her face, he took her hands in his. “I discovered something a couple of months ago. After you left the castle. I—”

“Davian,” Morgan called out a moment before knocking on the front door of the cottage.

“Damn it.” Releasing Jade, Davian yanked on his pants. “Just…hold tight,” he told her. Then he stalked into the short hallway, unlatched the door and jerked it open. “Yes?”

“Sorry for the intrusion, my Lord.”

“It’s the middle of the night.”

“The sun will be up in an hour or so. This couldn’t wait.”

Davian stepped back and said, “Fine.”

He led Morgan to the dining table. His general unrolled a map and spread it across the wooden surface, getting right down to business.

“As you know, we brought the six demons we captured in Canada to the castle for interrogation. But while you returned with them, my men continued to search for the remainder of their party. We located them all,” he said as he pointed to Ontario. “With the exception of the fire wraith. However, I believe I know where he is. Or at least, where he’s recently been.”

“Not in Canada?” Davian ventured.

“That small colony was a decoy. While we were tracking them, the fire wraith, I suspect, has led another army of rogue demons. A larger one of a hundred to a hundred and fifty, all of varying species.”

“Fuck,” he all but growled.

“Yes. They’ve been active. According to the steward of the central region, located in South Dakota, they dispatched patrols at your request. When they reached the southern states, they learned the band of renegades had mowed down several villages along the Mississippi and Arkansas border, moving north into the Ozark Mountains.”

“Casualties?”

“Many. Two slayers and about fifty humans. There were a few survivors, who reported what they knew to the patrols.”

He heard Jade gasp as she stood in the archway to the hall. She’d changed from his shirt to a nightgown and robe, cinched at her waist. She’d removed his ring, apparently not wanting to bring its presence to Morgan’s attention.

“Come over here,” Davian said to her.

She joined them at the table. “Morgan.”

“Hello, Jade. My apologies for the early hour.”

“It’s fine. Can I listen to what you’ve learned?”

The general deferred to Davian, who said, “Of course.” He clasped her hand and pulled her into his lap, so she had a good view of the map they still studied.

Morgan continued. “The marauding demons took all the supplies from the villages they attacked. They had horses and wagons, and yet…they’ve disappeared.”

“Into the mountains?” Davian asked.

“That was the first assumption. But navigating that range with wagons… It’d be slow-going if it was even possible at all. The patrols would have caught up to them. Instead, they’ve lost the tracks and it seems as though the demons simply vanished.”

“That’s not feasible if they’re not all wraiths. The ghosts have the ability to become invisible, along with their clothes and swords. Their steeds, even. But none of the other demons in the army would be capable of this.”

“If they shared horses, it would be conceivable. But they can’t stay in that state for long with the other demons in tow.”

“You said they were in Arkansas?” Jade asked in a unobtrusive voice.

Davian felt the anxiety snake through her, likely over the prospect of more villages being destroyed and more lives lost.

Morgan nodded.

She said, “The Ozarks have underground caverns. Some of them are enormous, with rivers running through them or lakes. Centuries ago, Indian tribes and even refugees from the Civil War would temporarily reside in the caves, making it difficult for anyone to find them.”

Davian and Morgan exchanged a look.

“That would certainly explain why the tracks abruptly end,” Morgan suggested.

“There were large outlets so wagons could make their way inside,” Jade explained. “I’ve read about them in Lisette’s geography books.”

“But the openings must be problematic to spot,” Morgan mused.

“They could be covered with brush and foliage,” Davian surmised.

“You’d have to closely inspect the right location to know it’s camouflage,” the general said.

“Send a patrol from our region to join the others. Three hundred, Morgan. I want them found before they strike again.”

“That might not be possible, considering the current distance between us and them.”

“Then ride hard.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Davian’s mind whirled as Morgan stood and collected his map. As his general strode toward the door, Davian said, “Wait.”

He gently patted Jade on the behind and she stood.

He told Morgan, “I’m going with you.”

Jade opened her mouth as though to protest.

“Of course,” the other man said. “I’ll make the necessary preparations. Goodbye, Jade.”

“Morgan.” Her voice was a wispy breath.

When Davian glanced down at her, he found the color had drained from her face.

“You’re not really going, are you?”

He nodded. “They must be stopped. And I’m the one advocating peace, so I’m the one who needs to lead the charge against them.”

Concern flashed in her eyes. “You’ll be gone for a very long time. I won’t have any way to know if you’re okay.”

“I’ll send word.”

She stared up at him. “Are you sure you’re not going because I told you we couldn’t get married?”

His grin was a cocky one. “Yet another conversation we’re not done with.”

“Davian—”

“Shh,” he said before he kissed her. “No more on the subject until I return.”

Following him into the bedroom as he retrieved his shirt and boots, she told him, “You’ll have to find some way to alert me of your status frequently, otherwise I’ll go crazy obsessing over what’s going on down south with you and the villages.”

Once dressed, he said, “No, you won’t. You’ll stay calm and you’ll do what you always do. Keep your friends and neighbors informed of what you know, but let the slayers do their jobs. That means continuing to allow them to escort you. I don’t want you roaming the woods by yourself, even if it’s during the day.” His expression turned pointed. “Don’t make me worry about you.”

“I’ll try to behave.”

“That’s probably the best I can hope for when it comes to you.”

Pulling her into his arms, he gave her a long kiss that left him agonizing over leaving her. But he had business to tend to.

“Be safe,” he said.

“You too.”

He lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips over the backs of her fingers. “I love you.”

“And I love you.”

He lingered a moment longer, staring into her eyes.

Then he turned and walked out.