Page 53 of The Darkest Knight

Chapter Eighteen

“Where is he?” Devina approached Padriag, her onyx black eyes boring into him. She kept moving forward ignoring his sword which was pointed directly at her heart. “Where is Niall?”

Padriag wasn’t sure how the demon knew Niall’s name, but he wasn’t about to volunteer information. “Why do you ask about Niall?” he asked instead.

Her dark eyes narrowed and she locked gazes with him for a long moment before her gaze swept over him at a leisurely pace. It made him want to throw up.

“I ask because he belongs to me,” she finally replied, continuing to take his measure.

“We don’t know where he is,” Liam replied, causing her to finally turn her attention away from Padriag.

Devina sneered. “Of course you know where he is. I know the three of you have a bond of sorts. Tell me or die.”

Her attention on Liam gave Padriag an opportunity to mull over what she’d said. That Niall belonged to her. What did that mean?

Devina crossed her arms, her expression softening. It raised the hairs on Padriag’s nape. “Either tell me where he is or one of you will take his place and come to me nightly in your sleep.”

On the surface, her threat didn’t seem that bad, but something about her strange behavior, surrounding them with wolves, not to mention she was Meliot’s relative, made him sure these nightly visits wouldn’t be pleasurable.

“How long has Niall been going to you?” Liam asked with his usual even tone and bored expression.

Devina pursed her lips. That she answered was surprising. “Almost as long as you’ve been here in the alter-world.”

Good god that explained so much. No wonder Niall was always in a bad mood, sullen and withdrawn. That was why the man rarely slept, and had tried to stay awake most nights until he was too tired to fight it.

“If one of us volunteers, will you free him?” Padriag asked. He may as well do it since he was pretty convinced he was stuck here. Niall didn’t deserve this, even if the man didn’t leave the alter-world. He’d take his place for the time they had left.

Devina’s gaze swept over him again. “I suppose you’d do. You’re young and well endowed.” Her eyes lingered exactly at the spot she referred to.

Padriag elbowed Liam. “Told you.”

“This is not a time to joke,” Liam replied. “What the hell are you doing? Don’t volunteer for anything.”

“Why? Do you want to do it?” Padriag asked.

A growl interrupted their banter, and Padriag realized Devina and the wolves had closed in.

He looked to the beautiful evil being and smiled. “Since we’re going to be friends, shouldn’t you call off your dogs?”

Straight, even white teeth were revealed when she smiled back. “No, I don’t think so. Part of the visits always include a bit of pain. I think I would like to see the both of you mauled. After which I will heal one of you, outwardly only. Perhaps then we will have sex.”

“And you expect the man to be aroused. Hmm,” Padriag said frowning at Devina. “I can tell you’re related to Meliot.”

“Attack!” Devina screamed.

Niall could barely dematerialize. Despite the pull, it was as if he was stuck halfway between the realms.

He wasn’t even sure where exactly he should go. He pictured Padriag and Liam and hoped for the best. Finally, the familiar vortex of darkness pulled him in.

The ice crunched under his boots when he appeared. Disoriented, he scanned his surroundings not sure which direction to go. In the sky, two suns were setting, which told him the direction of Atlandia. He began the trek, hoping not to be far from the castle walls so he could avoid Meliot’s sentinels or dying of exposure.

Growls echoed, followed by yelling, the voices male. He rushed to a tree and peered around to see what the commotion was about. His eyes widened.

Liam and Padriag fought back-to-back against about a dozen black wolves while Devina watched transfixed. The men seemed to be at a disadvantage. The wolves had some sort of ward of protection around them. Probably Devina’s doing.

Both Liam and Padriag were bleeding from bites, but neither seemed to be ready to give up. He drew his sword and rushed out towards them.

At first, his sword seemed to bounce off the first animal he tried to hit, but his second attempt was successful.