Marked by Rebecca Zanetti

lengthened as memories rushed through him. Once, during training, Suri had beaten Zane so badly he couldn’t see for several days. Felicity, although petite, had taken Suri down in a bundle of parental fury. Female demons were rare, notoriously tiny, and fucking deadly. “You’re afraid of her, aren’t you?” he asked.
    Suri growled. “No.”
    “Liar.” Zane leaned in even closer, pleased to see Suri’s pupils dilate. “Female demons are dangerous as hell and stronger than their counterparts. Why else would you have her sequestered by soldiers away from here. Coward.”
    Suri slammed both hands against Zane’s chest and shoved him across the room. Zane’s shoulders hit the wall, knocking in old wooden beams. Pain flared along his spine. Sometimes he forgot how much power his uncle leashed daily.
    “Watch yourself, boy.” Suri yanked down his uniform top. “We both know I could end you in a second. In addition, the fact remains that I have your mother contained and surrounded. The moment I give the order, she dies. So, nephew, you have one week to figure out how to end Janet Kayrs in that dream world you share.”
     
    Zane loped into a run through the old mining town, jogging past a ramshackle saloon fronted by one sagging door. If he concentrated, he could still hear the clatter of horses and bustle of women’s skirts. Even as he tried to calm his thoughts, fear punched him in the gut. He’d lost contact with both of his brothers as well as his mother and could only hope Suri hadn’t ordered their deaths yet.
    That time was coming.
    Suri allowed Zane’s family to live only to use them against him, and the second the mess with Janie was straightened out, Zane and his family would be of no further use to Suri. In fact, their royal blood made them a threat to the demon leader and his rule, which meant they needed to be eliminated.
    So Suri could rule his fiefdom alone.
    Crazy bastard.
    Zane exited the town and increased his pace to wind through a barely there dirt road through the forest. How many dreams had been lost in the old town? How many loves had been sacrificed for silver and gold?
    For years he’d sacrificed, doing Suri’s deadly bidding. Not even his brothers knew all the terrible things he’d done. Now Suri demanded the ultimate sacrifice on Zane’s part, and he couldn’t do it. He kept running through the chilly night to prevent himself from jumping back into a dream world where Janie would be warm and willing. There had to be a scenario where both his mother and Janie Belle lived through the week, but as hard as he tried, he couldn’t find a plan.
    Footsteps echoed in his wake, and he kept pace until Nikolaj Veis reached his side.
    “Running from or to something?” Nick asked evenly, falling into step.
    Zane glanced at the scarred soldier dressed in sweats and a ripped T-shirt. The Veis whom Zane had known a decade ago wouldn’t have been caught dead in damaged clothing. “Nice shirt.”
    Nick shrugged. “What else would one wear to a midnight run?”
    Zane grinned. “Good point.”
    “We could just spar, if you wish. I’ve missed sparring with you.”
    Zane nodded. For years, they’d trained, and the older demon had often tried to find some sort of protection for Zane from Suri. But it had been ten years, and now Zane and Nick stood as equals. “Neither one of us needs more violence.” Zane ducked a branch. “Was the witch worth it?” he asked.
    Nick jumped over a boulder. “Absolutely. What’s ten years of hard labor and exile compared to the fire of a witch?”
    Zane’s feet pounded rhythmically on the path. “What exactly were you doing conspiring with Simone Brightston of the Coven Nine?”
    “Have you seen the woman?” Nick said dryly.
    Zane stretched to hurdle a mass of huckleberry bushes. “Yes, and I agree that she’s a stunning witch. But you helped her with land use matters in Russia against Suri’s interests, and I’ve never figured out why.” He’d