Demon Slave by Kiersten Fay

think about, Nadua brushed a thick
strand of hair behind one pointed ear.
    Why had the demon hesitated to kill her? By
the speed with which he took down those rebels, he’d had plenty of
time to do it.
    The fire popped and tiny sparks floated up
before quickly burning out.
    She’d inspected the cage lock after the
fight. It had been cracked, almost clean through. She supposed it
could have been faulty. Age combined with constant chill could
cause almost any material to break down.
    Or was it the demon’s strength that had
broken the lock? He was obviously much more powerful than she
initially thought.
    Nadua had questioned Tamir about this, but
he assured her that the demon was secure. Besides, if he could have
escaped so easily, why would he not have done so sooner?
    His actions today had been ruthless,
fortifying all the horrible stories she’d been told by those who
had witnessed the brutality of his kind long ago. Never would she
forget the savagery in his face as he dispatched those rebels
without mercy. But when he turned toward her afterward, she
recalled that his expression had changed. Became softer. As if he
truly had been fighting for her.
    Maybe he wasn’t as horrible as the old
stories suggested. But then she remembered his fierce anger from
the night before and shivered.
    It was too confusing. Nadua decided the
demon needed further study before she let Renzo have him.
    The tent rustled and someone pushed their
way inside. Odd, usually they called for permission before
entering.
    Nadua rose to greet whoever it was and
gasped at the sight of the demon dragging...a body? Spikes of fear
shot through her.
    When the demon caught sight of her, he
froze, looking almost as shocked as she was.

    * * *
     
    Marik couldn’t believe the sight before him.
A description of Nadua hadn’t been provided in the book, but he
knew instantly that it was her. Her oddly shaped ears were
prominent, the most obvious trait. Her eyes...how could he have not
seen it before? They were nearly identical in color to Anya’s.
    Marik couldn’t keep his gaze from followed
the line of her body. Glossy red hair fell softly over sleek bare
shoulders, leading his eyes to her breasts, rising and falling with
every breath.
    Her body—Marik had to stifle a hungry
groan—was full of luscious curves that made his lower regions take
immediate notice.
    A creature from his deepest fantasies stood
before him.
    She recovered from the shock faster than he
did and bent down, reaching for something. Whatever she was going
for wouldn’t be good for him—her eyes said as much. He was to her
in a second, yanking her away from the dagger she’d pulled on him
the other night.
    Tricky
female .
    As soon as he had his arms around her, she
began to thrash. Marik covered her mouth as she prepared for a
scream that he was sure would have alerted the entire camp. Still,
she hollered through his palm while continuing to struggle. The
sweet scent of her filled his nose and a wave of desire swept
through him, so strong he nearly doubled over. And the way she was
moving her body against his wasn’t helping.
    Simultaneously kicking her legs and
screeching like a wild woman, she smashed her elbow into his
stomach, which helped to dampen his baser instincts. It also helped
him to focus on the seriousness of the situation.
    Nadua was the queen to be murdered! How the
hell was that possible?
    He no longer needed her help. She needed
his. Only she didn’t know it, and the way she was trying to scratch
his eyes out told him she was in no mood to listen to anything he
had to say at the moment. If he didn’t get them both away from
here, the Cyrellians were going to kill him. And then her.
    Marik pulled her out of the tent and tore
for woods. The mountain in the distance might provide a place to
hide until he could get her calm enough to explain everything. If
only she wasn’t fighting so ferociously.
    A voice shouted from behind. They must have
found the guard knocked