Demon from the Dark (Immortals After Dark #10)(85)

Though he was angry with her, she knew he still cared. She recalled his reaction on the beach, faintly hearing him pleading for her to wake up. Just thinking about that made her toes curl.

But she didn’t have time to let things sort themselves out naturally. She’d realized two things today. First, this being powerless and dependent on a male sucked worse than being in the “great outdoors.” And second, she needed the demon to be firmly on their side—now—so they could escape this place as soon as possible.

Among all the other threats, La Dorada could still be out there, with her trained Wendigos.

When Carrow was little, she used to have nightmares about those creatures. They were ravenous, eating any living thing they came across, mortal or immortal, falling upon it in a frenzy. And worse than being eaten alive was joining their number. Sustain a single bite or scratch, and within days . . .

Carrow trusted Malkom to keep her and Ruby safe in the short term, but how long would it be until the contagious members of the Lore overran the entire island?

She scooped water up over her head, beginning to rinse her hair, imagining what would happen once the three of them returned to New Orleans. What would Malkom’s life be like? She knew he’d have a job at least. With his strength, speed, and healing ability, he’d be so in demand as a mercenary it wouldn’t even be funny.

Would the other demons who lived there accept him as one of their own? The witches would, eventually. Mari and Elianna would adore him once they heard he’d saved Carrow’s and Ruby’s lives repeatedly—

Ruby’s shriek rang out.

Carrow bolted out of the tub, suds dripping down her face as she blindly sprinted out of the cabin and down the stairs. Outside in the sprinkling rain, she heard another shriek.

“Ruby!” She followed the sound through the woods to the calm side of the cape, screaming, “Where are you?” Brush scraped her bare legs. “Ruby! Answer me . . . .” Carrow trailed off when she spotted them, her tension fading as she took in the scene.

On the beach, Ruby squealed and laughed as she dodged fish flapping all around her feet.

Malkom was shirtless, knee-deep in the water, easily hand-catching them to toss up on the shore. And Carrow could have sworn he’d been sporting a grin until she ran out.

Carrow ran her forearm over her eyes, stepping back behind a waist-high bush. She wrapped her other arm over her chest. “You scared me.”

“We’re fishing, Crow!”

And I nearly had a heart attack, Ruby. “That’s good, honey.” Her irritation vanished when she realized this had to be Ruby’s first real laugh since her mother had died.

Carrow gazed at Malkom, wanting to thank him again, but his heated look robbed her of breath. Ruby hadn’t seemed to notice—or care—that Carrow was naked.

But Malkom . . .

As he hastily backed into deeper water, his eyes flickered black, his lips parting. And gods, she responded. His tanned skin was damp, the sculpted muscles in his torso flexing with his movements, that tattoo twining up his body. I used to follow it with my mouth.

Once she could pry her eyes upward, even his face made her want to sigh. His blond stubble, those chiseled features, that wicked mouth. But when she bit her bottom lip, he jerked his gaze away, scowling.

Oh, well, Rome wasn’t built in a day, she thought breezily, delighted to see his interest was as marked as ever. He definitely still wanted her. “Fish on,” she called. As she sauntered back to the cabin, she felt his eyes return to her, burning like a brand.





38




The witch, naked to all the world. Her face pinkened from her bath. Tendrils of black hair clinging to supple skin. And the brush she’d hidden behind had revealed as much as it’d covered . . . .

If Malkom could get that image out of his head, he thought he might find this night enjoyable, relaxing even.

After he and the witches had eaten fish, he’d sat in front of the fire, watching Carrow and Ruby playing cards on the rug, a game called blackjack. They were wagering seashells. Either Carrow was letting the child win or she was a poor player indeed.

They’d asked him to join them, but even if he’d been inclined, he couldn’t read the symbols.

So he’d reflected on his day, realizing it hadn’t been miserable. The girl was bright and had proved to be agreeable company. This island was a paradise, filled with all the things they needed to survive and even to thrive. The air was clean, the water from the cloudy sky sweet.

Which meant he couldn’t hate the witch for where he’d ended up. However, for her deceit . . . that was another matter.

And still he wanted her just as much as before. Hell, more so.

Now he regarded her expressions, watched the firelight on her shining hair. He missed touching her, missed taking her neck. Or breast. He missed merely sleeping with her against him—

“So, you two were busy today,” she said.

Ruby answered, “We put traps out, and now nobody can get here. And tomorrow, we’re going to string pots that will make a lot of noise if anybody gets too close to our ter’tory.”

At that, Carrow grinned in his direction, as if she wanted to share her amusement with him.

“The peninsula is closed off,” he said stonily. Preparing for an attack was normal for him. Relaxing with others like this, hearing their laughter, was foreign. “You should be safe.” And if anything approached by air, he would hear its wings from a mile away.