Squaring her shoulders, she said, “At least one, perhaps more, of your wraiths have tracked me for over a month. Stalking me. Which is, by your own proclamation, illegal. Correct?”
“Yes.”
His simple answer infuriated Jade, as though he gave no credence to her accusation. And accurate verdict.
Because she was a mere mortal?
Resisting the urge to grind her teeth, she added, “I’ve been followed through the forest on numerous occasions. Last night, someone on horseback watched me as I left the tavern where I work. Now Jinx is dead by a demon attack and I think you may as well lay your cards on the table and tell us whether or not we’re on the verge of another war.”
The villagers gasped and fretted. Rightfully so.
The king’s tolerance with Jade wilted on the vine.
“There will be no more war,” he said in a steely tone. “I’ve given my oath and I will stick by it. As for what happened with your friend Jinx…” His gaze narrowed on Jade. “I did not interrogate lightly, I assure you. And after hours of recounting the incident in the south woods, I’ve concluded the event truly was an accident. Tragic, certainly. But an accident nonetheless. The experiments were a risk your human friend was willing to take.”
“And what of the vampire who killed him?” Jade’s voice softened as she thought of Jinx. Tears pricked the backs of her eyes once more at the notion she’d never see his bright smile again. Conversely, her fists balled at her sides from the anger coursing through her.
“He’s remorseful.” The king’s expression turned humble as he took a few steps closer and murmured, “As am I.”
His dark, masculine scent wafted under her nose. An earthy aroma so alluring, it pebbled her nipples tighter, making her extremely uncomfortable. Yet she wouldn’t show her weakness for him…or his magnificent physique and soul-stirring eyes.
“That’s supposed to mollify us?” she asked. “Comfort us?”
Where her bravado at this moment came from, she didn’t know. Except she’d never kowtowed to anyone when an injustice was done.
Granted, this wasn’t some minor scuffle she’d dealt with on occasion at the tavern over whose turn it was to buy the next round or who’d allegedly won a game of darts. Or who’d shortchanged another at the farmer’s market.
This was deathly serious and she was standing toe-to-toe with a man who could have her in chains and locked in a cell with nothing more than a nod of his head. But her heartbreak over Jinx’s murder and the blatant violation of protocols and codes of conduct had her irrational and willing to press further.
King Davian’s brow furrowed as he said, “Of course you’re not comforted by my sentiments.” His intent gaze on her did not falter, as though he tried to see deep within her. It unnerved Jade, particularly after that dream she’d had. “And I will punish him. I came here this morning to tell you as much. Everyone,” he corrected, giving a slight shake of his head to clear his mind from a trancelike state while he still stared so raptly at her. “To tell everyone.”
Jade found his faux pas disarming. For a man who had more power than God, he did not currently wield it in the tyrannical way she would expect. He was, in all honesty, an enigma. But she couldn’t get lost in his scintillating voice, piercing gaze and six-foot-something-inches of pure virility.
The proverbial ice beneath her feet was much too fragile. She couldn’t forget that.
Yet it did not keep her from inquiring, “What about me? What are you going to do about the fact that someone from your kingdom shadows me on almost a nightly basis?”
He took her in from the top of her head to the tip of her boots as he seemed to mentally debate his options. When his shimmering eyes met hers once more, he said, “That is a matter about which we will speak in private.”
Chapter Four
Michael reached for Jade, pulling her toward her chair—and him. “That’s hardly a reasonable request, your Majesty.”
“Michael,” she blasted under her breath. “Let me handle this.”
Were Michael to suffer any repercussions for trying to protect her... That was something Jade couldn’t live with. She wiggled out of his clutches and returned to her spot before the Demon King. She didn’t miss the flicker of irritation in his eyes—at the way Michael had so quickly and fiercely stood up for her?
She had no idea…
To divert the king’s attention from her friend, she said, “I’m sure the people of this community would like to hear what you have to say on the subject.”
Another shake of his head. “No one else has been followed. This isn’t about the people of the community. It’s only about you.”
Her pulse jumped at his words. An ache of longing flared deep in her core. She couldn’t help but recall her dream. It had been King Davian she’d fantasized making love with—but how could that be? She’d never even seen him before today.
She’d had no knowledge of what he looked like, because he didn’t come into the village as far as she knew. If he had something to say to the humans, he sent a messenger. Only the slayers interacted personally with him, and even that was a rare occasion, as they primarily dealt with his general.
A disturbing mixture of cagey anxiety and erotic stimulation swirled in her belly and ribboned through her. She was fascinated by the hulking king, but he was a demon. A dominant and potentially deadly one. As was her attraction to him.