Page 115 of The Demon's Discovery
Ris pulled me away, turning my body and taking over the grip on the blade handle. The guard’s sputtering stopped, and he drew my dagger from his limp form. Nothing was said as he pulled the tatters that remained of his shirt off his body and wiped down the blade before returning it to me. I stood there, staring at the blank eyes of the guard, wondering how we had gotten here so quickly.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said, hands on my shoulders as he stared down at me. “He made his choice. Do you understand?”
Numbly, I nodded. “Yes.”
“I need his clothes,” he said. “I’ll meet you outside?”
Feeling as though I might vomit, I left Ris. Inhaling great gasps of air once I reached the expanse of the cool night, I let go of my stone skin, slumping back into human form as I retched into the grass.
A hand on my shoulder startled me, and I looked up to find Ris peering down at me with concern. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think he was that desperate. You’ve never done anything like that before?” I shook my head. “Then I’m doubly sorry that it happened on my behalf.” He glanced around, turning his face up into the moonlight. “It’s been so long. Everything out here isso… open. I’d nearly forgotten.” A rueful smile spread across his face.
I pulled myself together and got to my feet, the handle of my blade much heavier than it had been even minutes before.
“We cannot just leave,” he said sadly.
“I know.”
The heavy beat of wings echoed in that strange, muffled way, coming towards us from the front of the house. My emotions swung wildly as I looked up to find a familiar black bird, headed straight toward us, a knocking sound in his throat.
“Belmont?” I asked, rushing over to where he’d landed on the wooden fence surrounding the main floor of the manse. He paced, peering at the both of us, the flapping and noisy sounds communicated urgency.
Ris swung his head my way. “You know Belmont?”
“Yes,” I smiled, happy both to have the bird’s familiar presence and something in common with him. “He’s been my friend since I started visiting d’Arcan. My mate—” Ris’s eyebrow raised. “Husband, well, he’s both, it’s complicated, brought me there when he learned I had an affinity for the sciences.” I was nervous all of a sudden; Ris was far scarier and more imposing now that he’d been restored to his normal self.
“I see.” The lines between his eyebrows argued that he didn’t, but I went with it. “That’s where you’ve been then. What news, friend?”
Belmont paced and knocked, waving his beak toward the front of the house. I stepped forward, peering around the corner of the house. In the drive, there was a carriage, the door hanging open but no driver or passengers that I could tell.
Suddenly he squawked and took flight.
The last thing I saw as I turned to see what he was upset by were furious green eyes. Then there was darkness.
Chapter 45
Vassago
The Belettes had been as forthcoming as they were likely to ever be during the time we spent with them in the cellar. Magnus had been the one to call it off, disgust in his tone as we left them huddled together on the floor, simpering and afraid but hardly abused. Rylan had barely even used his powers on either of them, and all Magnus or I had to do was growl and they’d turned into puddles, telling us everything they knew about whatever we’d asked. Pathetic, the pair of them.
And no longer useful.
“What will you do with them?” Grace asked me as we assembled in the dining room for a drink. I appreciated that she wasn’t the type to sit around and wring her hands. Instead, she was doling out whiskey with a face that communicated she was far more interested in the logistics, not any kind of sentimentality.
“I’m not sure yet. They’re fine where they are for new. Bea may wish to speak with them, besides.”
She nodded. “She said she might. Apologized on their behalf. Nothing much useful was ever said in her presence though, they were at least clever enough for that.”
“We should do a thorough search of their country manor when there’s time. It may be where they kept other important items and documents.”
Rylan nodded, kissing his wife’s cheek as she sat down next to him. My chest burned, their affection reminding me that my mate was not nearby. The bond was aching, but every so often the ring reminded me that she was still trying to show me exactly where to find her. The blood bond was unusually hazy, showing me only that she was alive; a vague, distant dot in the expanse of the universe. It was better than nothing, but I needed more help than either were offering.
My ears suddenly clogged, and as I moved my jaw to clear the sensation, Calla got to her feet and rushed toward the door.
“Calla?” Rylan called, following her.
Magnus, Grace, and I glanced at one another, joining them.
“Do you smell that?” Calla asked.
