Binding Ties by Shannon K. Butcher

had no idea what the noise was, but he doubted it was any kind of good.
    â€œShe’s coming,” said Kayla. “They always make that noise and bow down when she passes, like she’s some kind of queen.”
    Now that he thought about it, the sound did hold a bit of reverence to it. And if the queen bee was headed this way, Eric was going to be ready for her with a little honey.
    â€œPretend like you’re asleep,” he told Kayla as he rose to his feet. “Don’t let anything I say rattle you. Understand? I may need to lie.”
    Kayla let out a growl of defiance but did as she was told, like a good little soldier.
    Eric couldn’t quite stand upright where he was, but he found a place nearer the opening where the floor dipped lower, giving him room to reach his full height—and to fight if it came to that.
    He rolled his shoulders to work out some of the kinks. All he’d been wearing during practice was a pair of faded jeans, which were now covered in dirt and dried blood—most of it his.
    The humming outside grew louder and louder until he could no longer hear the Synestryn soldiers moving to make way for their queen bee to pass. He could see through the opening enough to watch the crowd part, but the reason they were parting was obscured until a woman stepped through the hole in the cave wall.
    Treszka ducked through the doorway and straightened once she was inside. She was easily six feet tall, falling only a few inches shorter than Eric. She was dressed in a flowing gown of black and garnet velvet, in a style like some medieval queen would have worn. She had hip-length midnight black hair and eyes to match. Her pupils were stark white, giving her gaze a kind of weight Eric had never experienced before.
    She was beautiful. Stunning. And not just for a Synestryn—which she definitely was. There was no mistaking the smell of death and pain seeping from her pale skin.
    She smiled at him, displaying a perfect row of sharp white teeth. “You’re awake. I’m so glad you survived.”
    Most of the Synestryn demons were beyond language. Eric had heard there were ones that could talk, but he’d never expected to actually have a conversation with one of them.
    â€œWhy are we here?” he asked.
    â€œYou mean why are you still alive?” she corrected.
    â€œWhatever gets me the answers I need, lady.”
    â€œTreszka,” she supplied. She lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped closer. “I really don’t want to hurt you.” Her black-and-white gaze bore into him. “But I will if you don’t behave.”
    Eric could feel an acute chill coming off her skin. The stink of her flesh was almost more than he could stand. It didn’t matter how pretty she was. The girl was rancid. “Where are the other two kids who were with me?”
    â€œSafe. I thought it best if some of them were elsewhere, so you wouldn’t get any ideas about escape. You don’t seem the type to leave your offspring down here to fend for themselves.”
    She was right, but he didn’t want to let her know it.
    Eric shrugged. “Not my offspring.”
    She ran a black-tipped fingernail down his chest. It was all he could do to stand there without flinching. “No paternal instincts?”
    â€œNone.”
    She made a tsking sound. “That’s a shame. I was hoping for more from you.”
    â€œI’d say I’m sorry to disappoint, but I’d be lying. So, step aside so we can be on our way.”
    Treszka laughed, and the sound was about as appealing as the squall of tortured kittens. “You know that’s not how it’s going to work. I brought you here for a reason.”
    Of course she had. “Which is?”
    A slow smile stretched her lips. Her fingers slid down the center of his chest toward the button of his jeans. “I have needs.”
    Eric became acutely aware of the children standingbehind him. That,