Awakening the Demon's Queen by Calle J. Brookes Page B

passing her
to Barlaam, who waited inside. Jierra was lifted next. Then the
rest of the remaining men, Dardaptoan and Lupoiux.
    They’d arrive in Dardano in just over an
hour, then she could put this strange ordeal behind her and get
back to the goals that consumed her.
    And have Barlaam do a thorough examination to
determine if what the demon had said was real. Her hand dropped to
cover her stomach as she worried that it was. Weren’t demons
potently fertile? What was she to do with a half-demon babe? If it
were male, he would be mostly demon just like it’s father. His
father. And if it was a girl, she would be Dardaptoan like her.
Like Jierra. A rush of warmth hit her as she looked at the daughter
she’d raised from only four weeks old. She’d been a beautiful babe
and a beautiful child. So sweet and kind, a joy to all around her.
If there was a demon spawn, it would be ok if it was a girl. And
even if it was a boy, she would find a way to manage somehow.
    But she doubted she’d ever be able to forgive
the demon for the way he continued to take choices away from
her.
    ****
    Rathan would have preferred to flash to the
Dardaptoan stronghold of Dardano. But that would mean leaving his
female and her daughter in the belly of that dangerous vehicle. He
would not do that. He settled into the seat to the left of Kindara,
eyes on the males riding with them.
    He would have none threaten his plans, and
that included her brother and king. The king held tiny Emily close
and Rathan remembered she too had an intense fear of flying.
Probably due to the loss of her mother in a small engine crash when
the girl was in her early teens. Mallory’s mate held the traitor
Jambu with one foot on the boy’s neck. Jambu lay quietly in the
center aisle of the helicopter, seemingly resigned to his fate.
Mallory sat next to her giant and beside young Jade--who kept
darting furtive glances to the Dardaptoan called Barlaam. What was
all that about?
    Jade’s father sat with Rand near the back of
the helicopter, heads close in deep discussion. Rand’s little mate
sat beside her mother, quiet and subdued. Poor little creature--her
life had changed so dramatically in the last three days only to be
capped off with an apparent friend paying people to kill her--or
her mother. Rathan leaned toward her mother. “Pet, how is your
daughter managing? Is she well?”
    Kindara sighed, turned her head to look at
her daughter. Her hand dropped away from her stomach and she placed
it on her daughter’s knee for reassurance. “She’s had her spirit
shaken. Jambu was her friend, a close one. Plus everything that’s
happened...I’ve sheltered her, demon. Wanted to keep as much of the
world’s ugliness away from her. And now this...”
    “ Once again, I am sorry for
my part in your—and her—suffering. I hope you can forgive
me.”
    “ Somehow I doubt I ever
will.”

Chapter
Thirteen
     
    The helicopters were met by a host of
Dardaptoans, including young Josey and Mickey. Even Josey’s dog—a
little Border collie named Freedom—sat waiting for the helicopters
to empty their contents.
    Rathan lifted his female down from the bowels
of the vehicle, then watched as she approached Josey, giving her a
quick inspection. Josey smiled her sweet, shy smile and said
something with her hands that Mickey quickly translated. Kindara
stepped back after giving a nod. Then Kindara motioned to the group
debarking behind her. “And Josey, there are some people who’ve been
anxious to see you for themselves.”
    Jason looked up at that moment and saw his
oldest daughter. His youngest let out a squeal and bounded the
fifty feet separating her from her sister. Even the dog barked a
happy greeting. Jason rushed to his daughter and scooped her close
then pulled Jade into a three way hug; the obvious love he felt for
his children clear for all to see. Rathan could only hope he felt
the same for his own spawn. Rand hugged his own younger sister
before setting her