Jaral bit back the order to stay away from Darcy. Liam would only find it amusing and ignore the command. Instead, he strode after him only to find Liam standing in the doorway staring at the unconscious hunter.
“Spirits?” Liam asked.
“Do you have any antidote?”
Liam shook his head. “Not on hand. She’ll have to fight through it on her own.” He tunneled his fingers into his hair. “She can’t stay here. Her people will look for her.”
“They have no idea where she is.”
“Yet. I told you that hunter friend of hers has psychic powers. She’s been keeping tabs on your girl all day.”
Jaral glanced at him sharply. “And you know this how?”
“I know everything that happens in this city,” Liam said. “Especially when it pertains to one of the few demons in this world I call friend. I wasn’t about to let your mate run around without keeping an eye on her.”
“She’s not my mate,” Jaral growled.
“Then why is she in my hotel? Were she any other hunter you would have cut your losses and moved on. Not only did you save her, you brought her somewhere you knew you could protect her.”
“There is no record of a demon claiming a non-demon mate in centuries,” Jaral said.
“Just because there’s no record doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Mere months ago you wouldn’t have believed your uncle could wed a human. Things change.”
“Not this. We lost the mating magic hundreds of years ago.” There hadn’t been a registered mated pair in well over two centuries. His father called it evolution, said they were stronger without bonding with another. Jaral wondered if it wasn’t an indication of their crumbling kingdom.
Liam laughed harshly. “Looks like it’s coming back. Congratulations.”
“How would you know?” Jaral asked. “You’ve spent centuries hiding out here in the human world. The fate of our people is not something you’ve ever shown an interest in.”
Something dark passed behind Liam’s eyes. An emotion Jaral couldn’t name. “I know people,” Liam said. “I can see how the puzzle pieces fit together. Tell me, Jaral, why you didn’t destroy this woman when you first met. You are on a mission from the king, one which can’t afford the meddling of a hunter. Besides that, you are a demon who never gave mortals a second glance, never mind lusting after them. What is it about Darcy Snow that makes you break hundreds of years’ worth of self-control?”
Times like this Jaral wished he didn’t like Liam quite as much as he did. “I won’t take a human as my mate. I don’t give a damn what my uncle did or what kind of magic is returning to our people. Taking her as my mate would be a death sentence for her.”
A slight smile curved Liam’s lips. “The protest you offer has nothing to do with your position or your father. Instead you speak of her safety. Think on that, my friend, when you try to deny your bond.” He turned away from the sleeping woman. “I’ll try and keep that nosy hunter off your trail but I doubt I can give you more than a few hours. Half a day at most. You need a plan before then.”
“That will be enough. My thanks.”
Liam snorted. “Thank me if I’m successful. If my hotel gets overrun with hunters I’ll be sending you my reimbursement bill.” He turned to go. “Do yourself a favor, Jaral, and try not to alienate your mate when she wakes. You already have enough stacked against you.”
Jaral heard the door close behind Liam but didn’t take his eyes off Darcy. Liam had to be wrong. He couldn’t fall for a hunter. Not like his uncle.
“Not possible,” he said, spinning away from his sleeping woman. She would never be someone he needed. Not permanently. When demons mated it wasn’t for a smattering of years as many of the human union s he’d seen. Demons mated for life and they lived a hell of a long time. Magic guided mates together and bound them with ties far deeper than allegiances to kingdoms or promises to kin.
If Darcy was his then he had one hell of a problem.
Jaral collapsed on the sofa and tipped his head back. King or mate. If the fates were kind it would be a choice he’d never have to make.
Chapter Six
Muscles burned as she pushed herself from the bed. Her mouth tasted like sawdust and pain radiated from the various scrapes and wounds on her body.
Darcy gripped the edge of the bed to steady herself. At least she could move, though her limbs were sluggish. Taking a deep breath for strength, she pushed herself to her feet. Her legs protested the move and pain shot through her again. It took far too many wobbling, burning steps to reach the en suite bathroom.