Demon Slave by Kiersten Fay Page B

choosing a deep blue gown
that Nadua always said went nicely with her white hair and drove
the boys nuts. Ava held it up against her body for Wren’s
inspection.
    “ That would be lovely,” he
said, and then, as always when women things were about to happen,
he retreated from sight. But she knew he’d stay close by in the
hall.
    With Terina’s help, she dressed and had her
hair up in an elegant style in no time. Then she was out the door,
startling Wren once again with her speed. Keeping up with her eager
pace, he followed close behind.
    “ My queen, slow down. Watch
your step on the stairs,” he warned.
    Wren was always trying to get her to be more
responsible, but she would be queen soon—the ultimate
responsibility. And Nadua had told her this was her time to be
reckless, and irresponsible. So she would be.
    A stuffy voice halted her step as Ava
entered the great hall. Wren had to stop abruptly to keep from
running into her.
    “ Avaline, why are you
running, child?”
    Ava huffed in a breath. “Aunt Idesse, the
troops are back.”
    “ That is no reason for you
to act like a commoner. The House of Dion is an ancient and
respected family line. Take care to do us honor. You are lucky my
sister, Odette, is not here to see.” Idesse was dressed, elegant as
always, in purple flowing gown. The royal tailors probably spent
months preparing every little detail to her specifications. Her
long white hair shone like silver spun with ice. “Come.” She
wrapped her arm with Ava’s. “Let us greet them
together.”
    Inwardly, Ava groaned, knowing she would
have to walk at Idesse’s regal pace. She could practically hear
Wren grinning behind her.
    “ How is your education
progressing, darling?”
    “ Very well, Aunt
Idesse.”
    “ And your gown for Sir
Baret’s ball?”
    “ Uh...I don’t know. You
would have to ask Terina.”
    “ You must keep on top of
these things. How dreadful would it be if the wrong thread were
used, or a button out of place. How embarrassing. I pity Nalphia,
for one, poor girl has no taste at all. She is forever walking
around in the most hideous garments. I asked her once who her
tailor was, just so I would know who never to
commission.”
    As if doing her a great service, Idesse
divulged the name of the offending tailor, and warned her to keep
clear. Ava nodded, as she always did with Idesse, and tried to tamp
down her eagerness to see Nadua.
    Finally, they reached the palace entrance.
The troops were coming up the long walkway. Ava smiled and waved at
the men in greeting, but dropped her arm once they came closer, and
their solemn faces came into view.
    Her smile faded completely when Tamir came
forward and dismounted his edisdon to kneel before her. “Princess,
I regret to inform you...”
    Ava couldn’t recall his next words. Her
world had split in two and the sound of it was deafening. She
backed away, not wanting to hear any more. A warm hand clasped her
shoulder—Wren—but her eyes were too blurred to see him clearly.
    A moment later, she found herself racing
through the halls of the castle, not quite sure where she planned
to go. Anywhere to get away. Anywhere where she could see Nadua
again.
     
    * * *
     
    Marik trudged through the darkening forest
with growing frustration.
    He’d been so close to taking her. Her soft
lips had been so welcoming, and surprisingly eager, making him
imagine what else her lips might be eager for.
    Marik groaned, his shaft hardening once
again, even though he had just brought himself to come, twice—the
whole while watching her from a distance, as she explored the
shallow cave.
    And still he couldn’t keep his thoughts from
Nadua. Even now, his instincts were clamoring for him to race back
to her and bury himself inside her. A hint of her arousal still
swirled in his head.
    And she had been aroused, almost desperately.
At least at first. Her eyes had gone stark when Marik was ready to
strip her of that damn cloak, and she’d nearly begged him to