Demon’s King (High Demon #3)(47)
Author: Connie Suttle

* * *

Nidris knew his family had been arrested. He ignored the pang of guilt over his brother Derdris—Derdris might face the penalties for Nidris’ crimes. Instead, Nidris settled himself on the ground twenty-six clicks from where he’d originally tapped the core of Tulgalan, preparing to tap the planet for the last time in preparation for his next task—that of taking the little High Demon for himself. His fingers itched in anticipation of his future, where anything he desired might be had with the use of unlimited power—all obtained by tapping cores and then forcing his captive to repair them afterward. He might have gloated more than he had if the tiny bit of guilt over his family weren’t nagging at him. Resolving to put it out of his mind, he turned to his current task.

* * *

This was my first repair during daylight; Norian had ordered me to pull the energy from Tulgalan’s sun. It was the only star I could see during the day. I’d hugged myself, shivering as he’d snapped out the order. Director Keef was used to being obeyed without question. He would likely be as glad to see the back of me as I would the last of him. And my child, when she became an adult, would not be brought anywhere near ASD Director Norian Keef. Turning my head upward to the noon sun riding high overhead, I prepared to pull energy from it.

* * *

Nidris lowered his head, closing his eyes and preparing to tap into the core. Zellar had taught them to reach through the planet itself, carefully moving their power along until it met with that at the planet’s very center. Then all it took was a small jolt of his warlock strength to breach the core and pull energy away, adding it to his strength and talent until he felt as if he could control the universe with what he’d stolen. Then he would disengage, but the tapped core could not be resealed. Not by him. He had no idea how the High Demon female could accomplish what even the strongest warlock could not. He resolved not to think on it; her talent could be exploited without delving into the why of it. Carefully, Nidris felt his way through the crust and mantle, seeking the outer and then the inner core of Tulgalan.

* * *

Jes fretted. He should have heard from Nidris by now. He’d contacted the warlock as soon as everyone left the plantation, taking Reah with them. Teeg had promised to return for him when Reah needed help. They’d been gone for nearly a click and Jes knew it would take less than two for Reah to make her repairs and fall unconscious. His medkit ready, Jes waited.

The moment Reah was moved to a bedroom somewhere—after bringing her back to humanoid form, of course—Nidris and Yebri would fold in with Ardalin, snatch Reah and Teeg and then disappear again, taking Jes with them. The prearranged site was prepared and waiting—Jes had everything he needed to tend to Reah there. He would treat her while plying her with soft words and promises. Her child he would accept as his, and they would spend their days together, after Reah healed one more core for Nidris.

Jes considered contacting Nidris again but thought better of it. The warlock wasn’t someone to offend lightly. Jes experienced a slight tug of guilt for making a deal with an enemy—Nidris hadn’t drained Jes’ home planet but Zellar, who’d taught Nidris, certainly had. No matter—Jes could claim Reah from this bargain and he had to be satisfied with that.

* * *

Tulgalan’s sun was much easier to connect with—faster, too. The gathering of power was almost immediate when I reached out for it. It came willingly, too, as if it knew its child suffered and needed help. I pulled even more of its energy toward me, shunting it into the ground beneath my body, sending it on its way toward the wounded core.

* * *

"The path of the energy Reah sends to the core is simple to track, we just can’t touch any part of it," Astralan explained to Lendill. He and Norian were witnessing this for the first time. Reah was glowing golden in the bright sunlight, surprising the Director and Vice-Director. "You should see this at night," Astralan went on. "If you aren’t spiritual in any way, you might become so afterward. Her wings shine and unfold when she seals up the breach," he breathed, recalling the wonder of it.

"Then she falls over in a dead faint," Stellan added. "And we spend clicks sometimes, trying to convince her to wake and turn back."

"Are you still monitoring this? I’d like a full report on the process," Norian said, keeping an eye on Reah. Gavril and Tory stood close to Reah, watching her as she glowed with power.

"Of course we’re monitoring it," Astralan almost snapped at the Director of the ASD. And if the fool would stop asking questions, he might be able to monitor more closely. Astralan was keeping track of the energy flow through Reah; Stellan was monitoring the core itself. "Everything should be fine and finished within a quarter," Astralan didn’t finish his sentence—Stellan shouted in dismay as Reah screamed in agony and convulsed, falling over and beating her wings against the ground, forcing Gavril and Tory to scramble out of her way.

"She’s having a seizure!" Lendill shouted, attempting to get to her, but Reah was too large for almost anyone to help her through this.

"She’s suffering!" Stellan shouted. "Someone tapped into the core and now they’re pulling energy from her!"

"What?" Norian shouted. "Stop it! Somebody stop it!" Reah shrieked again, her body convulsing on the ground as if she’d been shocked with high doses of electricity. Gavril and Tory were still attempting to reach her but it was impossible—neither of them could get close. Tory finally did what he should have done in the beginning, going full Thifilathi and lifting Reah off the ground, breaking the link with whoever had connected with her. Reah was still now and lifeless in Tory’s arms as his Thifilathi blew clouds of smoke from his nostrils. Then, when the bloody discharge showed between her thighs, his Thifilathi threw back its head and keened to the skies.

* * *

"I’ll kill you!" Lendill shouted at Derdris, who cowered in his cell. "I’ll kill you for not telling us!" Lendill was nearly in tears as he shouted at the warlock. They hadn’t thought to perform a power scan on him, depending upon sight alone to identify him as Nidris. Now, Nidris was still out there and had tapped the core at the same moment Reah had attempted to repair it, shocking her and breaking the connection she had with Tulgalan’s sun. Instead, Nidris had followed the energy, tapping into Reah’s power and draining her and the tiny child nestled in her womb. The child was dead and Reah nearly so.

* * *

"What the f**k did you think you were doing?" Karzac shouted at Norian, Gavril and Tory. Karzac had called for Larentii right away—Lenigar and Renegar had come—they were the two strongest healers who worked with the Saa Thalarr. As Aurelius’ mate, Reah was entitled to their care.