"Good. State your business and leave." I tossed out a hand. Who knew where Kifirin went when he disappeared? I didn't.
"Glinda wanted to give you the title you should have been born with. Gardevik disagreed."
"No surprise. Garde hates me. Don't try to deny it. Something in him dislikes me. I'm sure it has to do with Tory."
"It does." Kifirin stepped closer.
"What does he want from me? Garde, that is? I gave him six grandchildren. All girls, so your precious race can be pulled back from the brn h from tink of extinction. And then I do this." I jerked my head toward the trees. "I hear Kifirin's debts may be paid off in a few turns. I don't see Garde out here harvesting or doing anything that might get the fruit to market. Yet he takes his due when the credits are transferred."
"I understand all those things," Kifirin moved closer, speaking softly.
"Of course you do. You just made me pregnant twice, without my knowledge or consent. Hauled Gavril into the past so he'd grow up and create the Campiaan Alliance. Sure, he says he loves me. When he wants sex." Kifirin was close enough to touch, now. I wanted to poke a finger in his chest as I made my point. I didn't. Kifirin poked a finger to my forehead instead, making the air around me dark. I'm sure I dropped to the ground, too. Kifirin wouldn't likely lift a hand to stop it.
"Torevik isn't the only one who may be slighter." Reah's slender body rested in Kifirin's arms.
"I don't hate her." Garde denied Reah's statement. "I don't."
"She thinks you do. Often, perception is everything. You live in a palace. She lives in a hovel that doesn't leak because she repaired the roof herself."
"And suddenly you're kindness itself toward her?" Garde didn't appreciate Kifirin's jab.
"Come, this argument gains us nothing. Show me where you intend to bring Torevik, and I will leave Reah there."
"Honey, be careful, all right?" Lissa gave Tory a hug while his father waited to take him to Kifirin.
"I'll be fine," Tory sighed. "I wish you'd all stop fussing over me."
"And we will. Soon." Lissa smiled up at her tallest son.
"Tory, let's go." Garde gripped his son's arm. Garde could fold; something that most High Demons were incapable of doing. They skipped, and except for a very few, could only skip themselves. Garde folded his son to the high fields on Kifirin.
"Go ahead and change, son. I'll be nearby." Garde used his skipping ability to get away. High Demons didn't encroach on one another's changing grounds, unless there was a score to settle. It was too dangerous. Garde, however, didn't go far. Kifirin plucked him from the air and surrounded him with a shield.
"We will watch," Kifirin said, as Torevik Rath, who hadn't changed in two and a half decades, went to full Thifilathi with a roar and stomped through the fields.
"Where did you leave Reah?" Garde hissed. He felt exposed, although Kifirin had him well shielded. Garde would have to turn, too—sometime before the moon was down.
"Not far. We must watch carefully, Gardevik. If your child harms Reah or mistreats her in any way, then I will remove the claiming marks. That is why I came tonight. To see if his Thifilathi still recognizes her. If not," Kifirin shrugged.
Garde stared at the god in shock. "This is an experiment?"
"A test. Yes. If his Thifilathi does not know her, or chooses to harm, then the claiming marks will be removed. Perhaps a more suitable High Demon male may come to her." Kifirin glanced up at the moon, directly over their heads. It wouldn't be long, now.
"What?",&qWhat?& Garde sputtered. Now that it came to it, he didn't want Reah to leave the family. Didn't want her away from his grasp. Out of his control.
"Now do you begin to see it?" Kifirin asked. "You control the fate of the High Demon race if you control Reah. How long have you been angry, Gardevik Rath? At your child? At Reah? Because some foolishness separated them. You keep her hidden away because you fear just what I said. That some High Demon male may come along and turn her head, taking control away from you. You chose to leave her in the groves instead of housing her at the palace, where she should have been. None have thought to question why Reah has no High Demons working with her on the plantation, either. But it's true, is it not? She depends upon humanoids for help. There are more than enough High Demon males lazing about who might assist her, but you, as Jayd's Prime Minister, will not send them. If I allow Reah to produce more daughters with another house, then that could endanger the ruling house. Isn't that right?"
"Fuck," Garde cursed and made to walk away.
"No, you will stay," Kifirin hauled Garde back with a hand covered in blackened scales. "You and I will watch." Garde stared up at Kifirin's smaller Thifilathi, the god blowing clouds of smoke. "We will see together if your son deserves a second chance."
Chapter 3
Torevik Rath, in full Thifilathi, sniffed the air and roared. And then roared again. Leapt into the air and came down with a thump, shaking the ground around him. Beat his chest and shouted out his pleasure at being one with the planet he walked upon. Could feel the hum of life through his bare feet. This is what he'd missed and longed for. But for how long? He couldn't remember. He remembered a beautiful face that hid wickedness. Betrayal. Pain. How might he think he'd ever loved it? If he had her now, he would squeeze the life from her.
Tory ran over the open fields, a giant among tall grasses. Every animal in his path ran and hid from the largest predator they'd ever seen. But then he stopped. What was that? Something lying in the grass. Tossed carelessly in his path. He'd see about that. Nothing would stand against him or obstruct his course. Cautiously Tory sniffed the air. He wasn't close enough yet. Two large strides brought him in range. Suddenly, he knew that scent. How had it come here? Was it done purposely, so he'd find it? He cared not. It lay there, unmoving, waiting for him to do as he pleased with it.
Garde made to move forward; Kifirin held him back. Tory stood over Reah's body, examining it. As if he were deciding what to do. Now, all Garde could do was hold his breath. The fate of the High Demon race could rest on the next few moments. Tory blew smoke; Garde could see it clearly in the light of the full moon. Reah's body looked as if Kifirin had tossed it carelessly on the ground, uncaring as to how it landed. "Please," Garde whispered, begging his son to do what was right. What any normal High Demon male should do with his mate. Tory hesitated.
I ached for some reason, and my limbs were tangled. As if someone had—as if someone—Kifirin. He'd done this to me. Tossed me naked upon the cold ground, somewhere. Sturdy stems of tall grasses poked into bare skin, making me extremely uncomfortable. And I had a headache. How was that possible? The last thing I remembered was Kifirin's hand, shooting out quick as a snake, poking me in the foreheng,sad and laying a healing sleep. Only nobody woke from a healing sleep like this. I moaned as I untangled arms and legs, struggling to sit up. The full moon hung overhead, bathing the field surrounding me in light.