Demon’s Revenge (High Demon #5)(62)
Author: Connie Suttle

"They’d have shot you with one of those things too, you stupid f**k," I hissed at him. "Go ahead. Ask Dantel. Lissa, will you tell Dantel to answer Faldin’s questions honestly?" We both listened while Lissa laid compulsion for Dantel and Darletta to only speak the truth.

Faldin’s voice quavered as he asked the question. "Would you have done that to me?" He stared at Darletta.

"You stupid little shit, you don’t think I’d have kept you for anything other than the technology, do you?" Darletta’s voice was sickly sweet. "Face it. You don’t have anything in the looks department, and honestly, you’re just—tiny."

"And now we learn the technology wasn’t even yours," Dantel shouted. "Wait till my lawyers get their hands on you. This is all your fault." Faldin was weeping as soon as Darletta dropped her little bomb, so Dantel’s words went unheeded. Dantel was unhinged, in my opinion. He wasn’t expecting to ever see the inside of a jail cell. My thought was he wasn’t going to see it for much longer. Teeg stepped back from Faldin’s cage before turning a look of shock and sadness in my direction. Did he expect sympathy from me? I’d gotten none from him.

"I allowed this," Kifirin sighed, breaking the silence. "Reah, do not penalize Gavril overmuch for this. I allowed it. Made it happen. Should never have interfered in the way I did."

"That name is dead to me," I said. "Gavril was taken when he was seventeen. I haven’t seen him since."

"Reah, what do you think should happen to these?" Lissa walked over, Thurlow at her side.

"I don’t care."

"I will allow you to execute all of them, if that is your desire." Ildevar Wyyld appeared with four others that I recognized as members of the Grand Alliance Council.

"I don’t want anything to do with that." I had to raise my voice; Dantel Schuul and his daughter were shouting their displeasure, now. Mostly that they had lawyers and would bring charges, but that meant nothing to me.

"These five, then, will die tonight," Ildevar said. "Lissa and Willem both say that you can be trusted, little High Demon. If you do not wish to watch because of your pregnancy, I will understand."

"I’ll stay." I crossed arms over my chest. I had no idea what Ildevar planned, but I was going to watch. After all, I’d seen at least seventy of Zendeval Rjjn’s race die; they’d burned after coming in contact with my Thifilatha’s skin. They’d screamed while they burned, too. After I’d seen them commit mass rape, it was the least they deserved. But then hundreds more—mindless, unsuspecting slaves—had been cremated instantly by my Thifilatha’s scales. If for nothing else, Dantel Schuul needed to pay for that.

"Bring out that one first, so the others will see what awaits them," Ildevar pointed at Matiss Meldrim. He was hauled out by Gavin and Tony. He tried to run when they released their hold on him, but he didn’t get far. One of the Grand Alliance members turned to Ra’Ak, and in one quick gulp,ne by Matiss Meldrim was history.

Darletta was shrieking by that time and Dantel Schuul was about to swoon. Gescht Prekisule tried to put up a fight, but no mortal is a match for vampire strength. Faldin came after that, his body stiff and uncooperative as he was swallowed swiftly. Then it was Darletta’s turn.

"It’s too bad we can’t give you the misery you’ve given others before you die," I said as she was led out of her cell. She tried to spit at me, but Kifirin sent an energy blast in her direction, knocking her to the floor. She was eaten quickly.

"Now, you are mine, Dantel Schuul," Ildevar Wyyld said pleasantly. Tory had come for the executions and stood by silently while the others died, including Darletta. He never blinked when Ildevar turned to Ra’Ak as his four companions did and devoured Dantel Schuul. Perdil, from his cell at the end, never said a word, either.

"Now, what shall we do with these two?" Ildevar walked down to Zendeval and Perdil’s cages.

"Kifirin, what world did the Greater Demons inhabit?" I asked.

"Nrath," he said. "Only it is deserted, now."

"Good. Send them there. And shield the planet so nobody gets on or off for a thousand years. You owe me that much, I think."

"It will be done as you say, daughter."

"Daughter?" Perdil was interested, now.

"The daughter of my heart, only I abused her, much as her mortal father abused her when she was small," Kifirin sighed. "Did you know she is the mate of Kings? Surely you recognize the founder of the Campiaan Alliance? And the mate who came with her to Stellar Winds? He is the newly-crowned King of Karathia."

"And she is mated to me." Nefrigar appeared at my side. "My little one is feeling queasy. Make your statements quickly so I may attend to this matter."

"We harmed a Larentii’s mate," Perdil sighed. "We would never have gotten away with that, would we?" He turned to Zendeval, who was staring at me.

"If I had my say, you’d be dead with the others," Teeg growled at Zendeval. Perdil only then realized he was talking to a vampire.

"Oh, I’d kill you, too, and not in any nice way," Lendill agreed. "I had cameras on Reah’s skin, you bastard," he pointed at Zendeval. "I saw what you did to her. You were lucky, you know. Reah could have torn both of you apart. I begged her not to, so we could get the others and find their base of operation. That was before I learned she was pregnant. If I’d known that then, I’d have come to kill you myself."

"You were pregnant during moonrush." Zendeval heaved a weary sigh.

"I may still kill you, if Kifirin doesn’t get you away from here soon." Ry appeared in a flash of light. He looked the part of a King. He was dressed so finely, I couldn’t help but be proud of him.

"Reah, I am sorry," Zendeval sighed. "I know it is far too late to say it, but it is truth. If I had known—so many things. Yet I did not. I realize I was controlled, but I had a bit of will. I should have acted differently. Should have worked harder to do so. Never forget what I told you there at the last on Stellar Winds. It is the truth. Will always be the truth. You have no fond memories of me, but I have them of you." Zendeval turned away from me.

"I was willing to spend everything I had for you," Perdil muttered. "To save you from Dantel Schuul."

"Perdil, that does not absolve you," I said.

"I know."

"Reah, come," Nefrigar lifted me and folded away.

"This is Nrath. As you see, you will have to make your own way, Demon." Kifirin swept an arm out. They’d landed in a clearing, with trees surrounding them and mountains in the distance. It was nearing twilight, Zendeval saw.