Page 60 of Aria's Desire

Kix excelled at soothing. Not only that, but he used to like it, which she, admittedly, found odd. One time, months ago shortly after they’d taken over the complex, he’d walked into their rooms smiling. When she’d asked why, he told her all about the argument he’d helped solve. The whole situation had sounded like a nightmare to her. When she said as much, he’d just smiled and said he liked helping people, that they were like puzzles, and he enjoyed helping them match their pieces.

It was a side of him she hadn’t seen in a long time, one she longed to see again, so she waited, hoping.

Tirox cleared his throat and Aria almost sighed, but Kix laid a hand on her demon’s arm and kept going. “We found something, my song. I warn you, you won’t like it.”

Aria nodded, too relieved to see her Kix coming back to them to tense up over the warning. That didn’t last long as he told her about the males they’d found in an underground sex ring. Aria sat up and opened her mouth to chew them both out for not telling her immediately, but Kix was quick to explain why they hadn’t said anything and reassured her they’d taken care of them. They’d been healed of any injuries, and been given food and water.

“From what I gathered from them, some were taken by force, some were tricked. A few, however, joined willingly to escape homelessness and starvation.”

“Having to choose between starving or being tortured and used for sex? That’s not a fucking choice at all!”

“I know, my treasure.” He smoothed his hand up and down her thigh, calming her. “You’re upset we didn’t tell you.”

Aria blew out a hard breath. “Yes. But I get it. You’re right. I’d have been too pissed off to handle it diplomatically. Who’s watching over them now?”

Tirox answered, “Sin is watching them. Rellik is with the boys I found sleeping.” There was a question in his voice that she answered with a nod, wordlessly telling him she’d explain more on that later.

“Okay. I get wanting to keep this discovery under wraps until we can find out what else the sadistic cunts are up to, but if someone shows up there, he fucking well better not—”

Kix cut her off with a shake of his head. “If anyone shows up to use the males, he will detain them. Quietly. He will comm us with updates.”

“Good. Is Ishtal aware of any of this?”

“No. Nor is she aware some of the villages struggle to feed themselves.”

Aria remembered the gaunt look of the villagers and thought, again, about the feast in Rellik’s old village, comparing it to the one they attended here in the castle. She’d known two animals roughly the size of large pigs and some stew was insufficient to feed so many people. She’d also noticed not one person had gone back for seconds.

“Did you find any of the people responsible or any clues as to what else they might be up to?”

They both nodded and took turns relaying everything they’d discovered.

Unsurprisingly, the female who tried to poison her, repeatedly apparently, was one of the culprits. From what they’d been able to suss out, both from the captive males and spying, there were five women responsible. They had names and descriptions, which was all she needed.

Kix caught her gaze, bringing her attention back to him. “I located one of the females.”

“And?”

“She was friends, of a sort, with Salesh. Her mind was… occupied with other things, but I caught enough to worry Rellik may not have been the only male sold into slavery.”

Aria felt anger burn through her veins and let loose a long, heartfelt stream of cussing before she forced herself to calm. “You weren’t able to pick up specifics?”

He shook his head. “I’ll need more time with her.”

“And you’re sure Ishtal doesn’t know about this shit?” At Kix’s nod, she blew out a slow breath. “Okay. I’ll arrange a private meeting with her in the morning. She’ll know I had you two spying, and we’ll have to divulge your ability, but after she learns what you found, I doubt she’ll be too upset about it. We’ll need a plan to get them all in the same area so we can grab them simultaneously. I’m not taking the chance of them catching wind they’ve been found out and making a run for it.”

Chapter 32

Afew minutes later, Aria was drawn from her thoughts by the pointed stares of her mates. Looking up with a frown, she eyed them, suspicious at the tension suddenly radiating from them.

“What?” Instead of answering, Aria felt Kix’s interest and a telltale tickle in the back of her head. Giving him a look, she flicked a finger against his raised knee. “Use your words, Kix.”

Tirox chuckled while Kix smirked, not even bothering to try and look guilty, but he did as she demanded and asked, in a deceptively offhand tone, “How did the ceremony go?”

Aria went still, her pulse spiking. That wasn’t what she’d expected him to say. Clearing her throat, she fought the urge to shift restlessly and tried really damn hard to suppress the memories of said ceremony when they tried to rise.

If Kix’s expression was anything to go by—and it was—she did a shit job of it.

“Ah, it went well, I see,” he remarked.

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