who goes. But Ashina, our healer, is in charge here, so I’ll let her talk to you.”
Alina stared, awestruck. This was the legendary Lash demons’ leader? Holy shit. He was rumored to be eight hundred years old, and one of the fiercest warriors in all the realms.
“You really don’t know why you’re here?” Arawn cocked his head to the side. “Is there anything you want to tell us?”
“No.” The word slipped effortlessly past her lips as if her subconscious wouldn’t allow the leader’s question to go unanswered. She was still staring, so she almost missed the slight shake of head that Caine gave to Arawn. Had Caine told them she stole money? Sharp disappointment welled in her gut and she swung a wary glance to him.
“You were hurt and unconscious. I wasn’t going to leave you passed out in a crumbling club. You’re safe here.” Caine ran a hand through his dark hair and his eyes pierced her with an intensity that was almost tangible. It was raw and sincere and she felt a stab of guilt for thinking he had ratted her out. “I have to go to a meeting, and explain what happened with those dark elves. But I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
On its own accord, her hand tightened on his. “Oh. Um, right now?”
“Uh, yeah. Boss’s orders.” He winked at her and jerked his head toward Arawn.
Her focus slid to the huge demon leader. He stood several inches taller than Caine, and his shoulders were wide as a door. She could understand not wanting to anger him. “Okay.”
“I’ll be back.” Caine gave her hand one last squeeze before releasing it and walking out with Arawn.
The healer, Ashina, cleared her throat. “I’d like to introduce you to my mate, Raniero, before he has to leave.”
The other male Lash demon in the room smiled at her, a strange mix of emotion flickering in his brown eyes. A thin silver scar glinted on one side of his face, which was framed by dark wavy hair. “I’m honored to meet you.”
Honored? Um, okay. “Thanks, same to you,” Alina said in a small voice. “You’re part of this big important meeting?”
“Yes. I’ll see you later.” He bent down to kiss Ashina with such tenderness it made Alina’s heart pinch. Many creatures found their true mate and bonded for life, but Alina had never stopped to consider the possibility for herself. It was kind of hard to plan for the future when your present was an ever-changing string of addresses and stolen possessions.
A pretty blond Lash demon took the place Caine had vacated. “Whew, three less males in the room equals one hundred percent less testosterone, doesn’t it? I’m Sonja, Ashina’s assistant.”
“Hi,” Alina said in a small voice. True, she felt like she could take a breath now that the three tall males were gone, but without Caine she felt totally alone. She shook her head. “I’m really at Watcher headquarters?”
“You really are.” Sonja smiled. “When you’re ready, I can give you a tour.”
“A tour?” Alina couldn’t hide her surprise. Lash Watchers weren’t in the hospitality business.
“Well, it’d be a pretty short one, since you wouldn’t be allowed in most rooms…but you could see the hallways, you know, and get an idea of the place. If you want.” Sonja shrugged. She handed Ashina latex gloves, a plastic bag of medical supplies, and a pair of scissors. “I figured you’d like to do the honors, doc?”
“Yes.” The healer nodded. “But I want you to watch and learn. We hardly ever get to suture around here.”
“I need stitches?” Alina asked, then she remembered the dwarf who’d pushed her. That little shit.
“Yes, looks like five or six.” Ashina threaded a sterile needle. “Would you like a local anesthetic?”
“Yes, please.” She eyed the needle. Pain wasn’t her thing.
“Sonja, you can use the numbing balm,” Ashina said.
“Sure thing.” Turning, the blonde walked to a cabinet on the wall and reached in, then returned to Alina’s side. She
Alina stared, awestruck. This was the legendary Lash demons’ leader? Holy shit. He was rumored to be eight hundred years old, and one of the fiercest warriors in all the realms.
“You really don’t know why you’re here?” Arawn cocked his head to the side. “Is there anything you want to tell us?”
“No.” The word slipped effortlessly past her lips as if her subconscious wouldn’t allow the leader’s question to go unanswered. She was still staring, so she almost missed the slight shake of head that Caine gave to Arawn. Had Caine told them she stole money? Sharp disappointment welled in her gut and she swung a wary glance to him.
“You were hurt and unconscious. I wasn’t going to leave you passed out in a crumbling club. You’re safe here.” Caine ran a hand through his dark hair and his eyes pierced her with an intensity that was almost tangible. It was raw and sincere and she felt a stab of guilt for thinking he had ratted her out. “I have to go to a meeting, and explain what happened with those dark elves. But I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
On its own accord, her hand tightened on his. “Oh. Um, right now?”
“Uh, yeah. Boss’s orders.” He winked at her and jerked his head toward Arawn.
Her focus slid to the huge demon leader. He stood several inches taller than Caine, and his shoulders were wide as a door. She could understand not wanting to anger him. “Okay.”
“I’ll be back.” Caine gave her hand one last squeeze before releasing it and walking out with Arawn.
The healer, Ashina, cleared her throat. “I’d like to introduce you to my mate, Raniero, before he has to leave.”
The other male Lash demon in the room smiled at her, a strange mix of emotion flickering in his brown eyes. A thin silver scar glinted on one side of his face, which was framed by dark wavy hair. “I’m honored to meet you.”
Honored? Um, okay. “Thanks, same to you,” Alina said in a small voice. “You’re part of this big important meeting?”
“Yes. I’ll see you later.” He bent down to kiss Ashina with such tenderness it made Alina’s heart pinch. Many creatures found their true mate and bonded for life, but Alina had never stopped to consider the possibility for herself. It was kind of hard to plan for the future when your present was an ever-changing string of addresses and stolen possessions.
A pretty blond Lash demon took the place Caine had vacated. “Whew, three less males in the room equals one hundred percent less testosterone, doesn’t it? I’m Sonja, Ashina’s assistant.”
“Hi,” Alina said in a small voice. True, she felt like she could take a breath now that the three tall males were gone, but without Caine she felt totally alone. She shook her head. “I’m really at Watcher headquarters?”
“You really are.” Sonja smiled. “When you’re ready, I can give you a tour.”
“A tour?” Alina couldn’t hide her surprise. Lash Watchers weren’t in the hospitality business.
“Well, it’d be a pretty short one, since you wouldn’t be allowed in most rooms…but you could see the hallways, you know, and get an idea of the place. If you want.” Sonja shrugged. She handed Ashina latex gloves, a plastic bag of medical supplies, and a pair of scissors. “I figured you’d like to do the honors, doc?”
“Yes.” The healer nodded. “But I want you to watch and learn. We hardly ever get to suture around here.”
“I need stitches?” Alina asked, then she remembered the dwarf who’d pushed her. That little shit.
“Yes, looks like five or six.” Ashina threaded a sterile needle. “Would you like a local anesthetic?”
“Yes, please.” She eyed the needle. Pain wasn’t her thing.
“Sonja, you can use the numbing balm,” Ashina said.
“Sure thing.” Turning, the blonde walked to a cabinet on the wall and reached in, then returned to Alina’s side. She
Similar Books
