Demon’s King (High Demon #3)(12)
Author: Connie Suttle

"Reah, where bags?" Nenzi walked in, carrying Teeg’s bag and mine.

"Nenzi, you don’t have to carry my stuff around, I can do that." I went to take my bag from his hand. I gave him a hug when he smiled and dropped Teeg’s bag on the floor. Farzi came in carrying Teeg’s other bag. Teeg had two cases—I’d fit my things into one. That was the reverse of how things usually were, but the ASD had taught me to economize.

"We’ll take it from here," Teeg smiled at the reptanoids. Farzi pulled Nenzi out of the bedroom.

"They’ve loved you since they met you, I think," Teeg sighed. "Arvil never knew that they’d have killed him if he’d tried to hurt you in any way."

"They’re like my family," I said, walking toward the wall of windows to stare at the cityscape surrounding us. I realized as I said it that I’d handed Teeg another weapon against me.

"I know that," Teeg said, dropping his hands on my shoulders. "I’ll never hurt them, Reah. They’ve been hurt enough in the past. When you offered them love, it was the first time that had been given to them. They soaked it up like a sponge. Nenzi talks about you often. He missed you the most, I think. Now that you’re back and he can touch you anytime he wants, he’s the happiest lion snake shapeshifter in existence, I think."

"Farzi is more reserved, but I think its shyness," I said. I’d watched him—he always closed his eyes in pleasure when I hugged him or stroked his scales while he was lion snake.

"They love being touched while they’re lion snake," Teeg agreed. "It’s confirmation that they’re not repulsive in that form. That someone loves them, despite what they look like."

"I’m sure they didn’t get that growing up," I said. "And that’s a shame."

"Well, are you dressed to go hunting with me?" Teeg moved away.

"Hunting where?"

"Up in those mountains." Teeg pointed toward a mountain range I could barely see in the distance. I saw snowcapped peaks, but that was all I could see through the windows of Teeg’s top floor apartment. I imagined the apartment took up the entire floor, but I wasn’t going to ask.

"I’m not dressed for that." I turned to pull my bag off the floor.

"I’ll do that. Jes says no heavy lifting for another eight-day, at least." Teeg lifted my bag easily and dumped it on the bed. I found my black leathers with the jacket quickly and walked into the bathroom to change.

The bathroom was almost as large as the bedroom and held a spa tub that could accommodate at least ten people. A separate bathing tub only half as large, plus a spacious shower took up one wall. A lengthy vanity with three sinks took up the opposite wall, and the closet took up the rest of the space. "Were you thinking of me when you put in three sinks?" I asked, coming out later with my leathers on.

"No, I was thinking of me. My baths all have two sinks and I use both of them. The third one here is for you."

"That’s nice," I muttered.

* * *

"Generally, a power-seeker’s talent extends about two clicks." Astralan was explaining things to me as we stood inside a tiny cave of sorts on the side of a mountain. We were staring down the mountain for more than two clicks. A compound had been constructed there, but it was mostly covered in snow. Useful if you were a wizard or warlock who could fold in and out. Reaching the buildings below would be next to impossible unless you flew, and then you’d have to be able to spot it from above. That would be an impossible task, since it was probably blocked by spells.

"I can’t get you any closer than this—they’ll either sense me or I’ll set off the power-spotting spell," Astralan added.

"You don’t know if they’re home?" I stared at Teeg incredulously.

"Reah, it isn’t as if we can give them a call on their communicator," Teeg said grimly, staring down at the compound. The clear air around us shimmered as a wind blew across the face of the mountain, stirring up the freshly fallen powder snow on the surface. The snow was blinding in the morning light, so I was thankful we stood inside the darkness of the tiny cave. I shivered, but not from the cold. What was Teeg going to ask me to do?

"Astralan, we’ll take it from here." Teeg nodded to the warlock, who nodded back and disappeared.

"You’ve got them eating out of your hand, now," I muttered. Teeg hmmphed at my statement.

"Reah, they’re people. Powerful people, but still people. Did you think only the lion snakes needed somebody to care about them? Money isn’t everything, you know."

"Fine. Those warlock brothers are now brother-priests."

"Reah, they’ll never be brother-priests." I knew that—brother-priests gave away all their possessions to the poor and then lived among them. They funneled donations to those most in need, helped them keep their housing repaired, scoured cities in search of funds, clothing, food—anything else they could find. Their brown robes let everyone know who they were, in addition to the tattoos on their foreheads. "But they have become decent people. They only needed a nudge here and there to push them in the right direction."

"I suppose they don’t fry anyone anymore either," I grumped.

"They only do that when necessary. When is the last time you killed someone who deserved it?"

"About six moon-turns ago. A murderer who was taking children." He’d tried to attack me when I found him. He died swiftly. "Did you find my knife when you found me?" I asked. Thinking about my last kill had brought it back to mind.

"Yes, and I have it locked safely away. Nice work—Grey House unless I miss my guess."

"Difik," I muttered. Teeg laughed.

"Now, we’re going down the side of this mountain," Teeg informed me after his mirthful episode had passed. "You’re going to turn and carry me."

Staring at Teeg in horror, I huddled against the cave wall at my back. He must have learned of my Thifilatha from my records. If I turned Thifilatha, my clothing would be burned away. If I undressed first, I’d be naked and freezing.

"I know you’re still recovering, baby, but this is important. You’ll only be cold for a few ticks, I promise. I think the heat from your Thifilatha will melt snow as we go down. I’ll carry your clothing—you know your heat won’t harm anything that you will it not to harm. That means me, in case you haven’t figured that out. Remember, I hold Gavril. If I don’t come back, Gavril doesn’t live either." Teeg knew I could turn and he was threatening Gavril again. I stalled a little.

"Teeg, the sun is too bright—my eyes are watering just from looking at it from here."