“You’re doing it again.”
“I assure you I am using no magic.”
Oh, hell. His normal voice was like smooth whiskey and I really wanted a drink. I pinched the top of my nose. Concentrate, Gillian.
I opened my eyes to see Arath with a curious glint in his eyes. “Does your head pain you?”
“No. Look, I don’t like asking for your help, but I have to get the portals closed immediately. Is there any way you can help me? I know your magic is strong, and hell, I friggin’ hate this but could you please tell me if there is something we can do together?”
The demon king cocked his head as if he were contemplating an entirely different scenario.
The scary part was I liked the look in his eyes even though I should have been totally repulsed. Jeez, get it together. You’re tired. Just get this done and go home. I turned away from the look that made my lower belly heat with fire and faced the ocean. “Please.” I squeaked out the word.
“I did not explain to the clans because they would panic. The portal you opened to come here has already collapsed, tainted by the evil magic that pervades our universe. It is fortunate that it happened after you exited, or you would have been crushed.”
He didn’t sound happy about the idea, which was comforting in a way. “I believe we can combine our powers to solve several problems at once.”
Something in his tone made me think he knew more than he said. “Did you do something? Is that why your people keep stealing things from Earth? I need to know.”
His eyes flashed a fiery orange. “I am an honorable being. I only want peace. I do not use my power to harm. I have many riches and have no need to steal.”
“My apologies, King Arath.” I bowed my head. “I know that you are powerful. I can feel it rolling off of you.”
“You have no idea what I can do.” His hand thrust into the air. “I can close the portals here, but I can also help you to keep all the portals going to Earth, from every world, locked.”
I coughed. “What?”
“Guardian, you waste my time and yours. We must do this quickly. I would do most anything to keep war from happening between worlds right now, as I am trying to establish peace on my planet. You came for help. I am giving you more than you ask. We must do this now. There is no more time.” There was a sense of urgency in his voice.
Something in his tone made me stop. If he was worried, much like my mother, then things were bad.
You must shut everything down. He demanded this without speaking. I realized I could hear him in my mind. He took my hands in his and his touch sent a zinging sensation through my nerves. Jeez.
“Arath, I don’t have enough power to shut them all at once and bind them. I have to do it one at a time.” I tried to pull my hands away, but he held tight.
“You will use my power. Guide it as you need, but this must be done.” I couldn’t keep from staring at his face. His eyes glowed a deep fiery orange.
He wasn’t telling me the truth—not all of it, anyway.
His frown deepened as if he knew why I hesitated. “Just do as I ask, and I will tell you what you need to know.”
My lawyer instincts kicked in with the phrase “need to know.” This time I yanked my hands from his. “I want the truth now!” I bit out the words and backed to the door, prepared to draw my weapons if necessary.
“I am King Arath, and you will make no demands, Guardian Key.” He roared, using his lion’s voice.
“You can growl all you want, Arath. You aren’t using me unless I know why it’s so important to you.”
He paced back and forth. “I’m sworn to protect my people, and I cannot tell you.”
“Then I can’t help you.” I tried to open the door but it was locked. “Open the door, Arath.”
“I will not. You must see reason.” He sighed. “This is best for both our worlds. Is that not enough? Why must you protest?”
Because I’m stubborn and I don’t like being lied to. And something weird
“I assure you I am using no magic.”
Oh, hell. His normal voice was like smooth whiskey and I really wanted a drink. I pinched the top of my nose. Concentrate, Gillian.
I opened my eyes to see Arath with a curious glint in his eyes. “Does your head pain you?”
“No. Look, I don’t like asking for your help, but I have to get the portals closed immediately. Is there any way you can help me? I know your magic is strong, and hell, I friggin’ hate this but could you please tell me if there is something we can do together?”
The demon king cocked his head as if he were contemplating an entirely different scenario.
The scary part was I liked the look in his eyes even though I should have been totally repulsed. Jeez, get it together. You’re tired. Just get this done and go home. I turned away from the look that made my lower belly heat with fire and faced the ocean. “Please.” I squeaked out the word.
“I did not explain to the clans because they would panic. The portal you opened to come here has already collapsed, tainted by the evil magic that pervades our universe. It is fortunate that it happened after you exited, or you would have been crushed.”
He didn’t sound happy about the idea, which was comforting in a way. “I believe we can combine our powers to solve several problems at once.”
Something in his tone made me think he knew more than he said. “Did you do something? Is that why your people keep stealing things from Earth? I need to know.”
His eyes flashed a fiery orange. “I am an honorable being. I only want peace. I do not use my power to harm. I have many riches and have no need to steal.”
“My apologies, King Arath.” I bowed my head. “I know that you are powerful. I can feel it rolling off of you.”
“You have no idea what I can do.” His hand thrust into the air. “I can close the portals here, but I can also help you to keep all the portals going to Earth, from every world, locked.”
I coughed. “What?”
“Guardian, you waste my time and yours. We must do this quickly. I would do most anything to keep war from happening between worlds right now, as I am trying to establish peace on my planet. You came for help. I am giving you more than you ask. We must do this now. There is no more time.” There was a sense of urgency in his voice.
Something in his tone made me stop. If he was worried, much like my mother, then things were bad.
You must shut everything down. He demanded this without speaking. I realized I could hear him in my mind. He took my hands in his and his touch sent a zinging sensation through my nerves. Jeez.
“Arath, I don’t have enough power to shut them all at once and bind them. I have to do it one at a time.” I tried to pull my hands away, but he held tight.
“You will use my power. Guide it as you need, but this must be done.” I couldn’t keep from staring at his face. His eyes glowed a deep fiery orange.
He wasn’t telling me the truth—not all of it, anyway.
His frown deepened as if he knew why I hesitated. “Just do as I ask, and I will tell you what you need to know.”
My lawyer instincts kicked in with the phrase “need to know.” This time I yanked my hands from his. “I want the truth now!” I bit out the words and backed to the door, prepared to draw my weapons if necessary.
“I am King Arath, and you will make no demands, Guardian Key.” He roared, using his lion’s voice.
“You can growl all you want, Arath. You aren’t using me unless I know why it’s so important to you.”
He paced back and forth. “I’m sworn to protect my people, and I cannot tell you.”
“Then I can’t help you.” I tried to open the door but it was locked. “Open the door, Arath.”
“I will not. You must see reason.” He sighed. “This is best for both our worlds. Is that not enough? Why must you protest?”
Because I’m stubborn and I don’t like being lied to. And something weird
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