Sebastian (Bowen Boys, #5)(51)

“Let her pass. She is the queen I was telling you about.” She moved toward who she thought was Bill and found him holding something in his arms. “He protected me. And the others. He never told Darkness where we were, but we came out too soon, and she…she is an evil being.”

Ama heard the cats snarl and turned to see the men trying to keep them from her. She looked at Bill. “They’ll hurt them if they can’t see me. Could you ask them to let them pass? They won’t hurt them, I swear it.”

Bill nodded and told them to let the panthers in. “He is hurt very badly, my lady. I do not believe that he will live. He protected us with his life, and now he will die because of it.”

She nodded and looked down at the man. She knew what his injuries would be because of the ones that Sebastian had received from him, but her mate hadn’t received everything. Wanera had been hurt probably ten times more than her Sebastian had been.

His body was burned all over, his hair was gone, and his face was ravaged with it. She wanted to touch him but wasn’t sure where to touch him that wouldn’t cause him more pain. She finally put her hand over his throat, the only part of him that seemed to be unharmed. Magic hummed along her skin, and she had a moment to wonder what he was doing when the cats roared. Several of the little men came running toward them and hid in a large hole in the wall.

The being that appeared with her had her cats snarling and growling. When it looked as if one of them was going to leap at the large creature, she stood and told him to stop. Reed turned to look at her. The others, their hair high on their backs, never moved. Reed came to stand in front of her as the being spoke.

“You run with a beautiful bunch, male. Where did you find such a prize?” The being looked at Khan. “You understand me and I will you. Speak and tell me why you come to my world unwelcomed.”

Ama stepped in front of Bill and Wanera to shield them if necessary. No one was going to hurt either of them again. She raised her chin when he looked at her.

“The faerie queen, are you not?” She nodded once at him. “And what have you behind you that you would die for? Another cat? Someone who will pay for what has happened here today?”

“You’ll not harm him again or I’ll kill you myself.” He raised a brow at her but said nothing. “They’ve been hurt enough by that bitch, and I won’t have you harming them as well. Let me take Wanera and Bill back with me to—”

“Wanera has been hurt?” He moved so quickly she couldn’t stop him. When she turned, he was kneeling on the floor beside the fallen demon. He touched Wanera’s hand softly and looked at Bill.

“Who did this? You know...I demand that you tell me.” She stepped in front of Bill. “I’ll not harm him. I know now that you and your cats didn’t do this, but I demand to know who.”

“Darkness.” He looked up at her, then down at Bill, who nodded. “She hurt my mate, too, when she hurt him. Her f*cking ass is mine.”

“He gave his blood to you.” She nodded, even though he was no longer looking at her. “He is my creation. My first child, I guess you would call him. I had to…he couldn’t be shown any favoritism from me, but he held his own.”

“Well, of course he did. He’s a good man, you moron.” He looked up at her again and she flushed. “I’m sorry. My mouth gets ahead of my brain when I’m afraid and nervous. What I wouldn’t give for a big glass of sweet iced tea right now.”

It appeared in her hand and without thinking, she drank it down. When it refilled itself twice more, she nodded to the large man. He winked at her.

“I knew a faerie once long ago. He would suck the nectar out of flowers to get his sweetness. You should try standing in the earth. It will replenish you faster.” She nodded and told him she’d heard that before. “Yet you’ve not done it. Why are women so stubborn?”

Before she could answer him with what she was sure would get her killed, he stood up. She looked at him and frowned. “You never gave me your name. I’m—”

“Do not, my lady. Giving a being like me your name is very dangerous. And I will keep mine to me as well. You may call me master if you wish.” She looked at him and he laughed. “Okay, you may call me ‘Sir.’ I believe that is better for us both.”

He looked down at Bill and Wanera. She knew now that he wouldn’t harm either of them, and wondered what he’d do if she asked if she could take them back with her. She turned when the cats started snarling again, and a beautiful woman, probably another demon, snarled at them to shut up. She turned to Sir to see who it was when she realized he was gone.

“Take them back with you to the human world. I will take care of the bitch for you.” She nodded to Khan when he turned to her.

“I’ll take all of them then. Even the ones that are hurt please, to see if I can help them in memory of Wanera. He loved them very much.” She felt his laughter and shivered from it. “You’ll let me?”

“Take them and all that belongs to Wanera. I will help you transport them with your cats.” She started forward to gather Wanera in her arms when she felt Sir touch her mind again. “You’ll no longer be welcome here, my lady, but I may visit you to see to Bill and the others. Will that be acceptable?”

“Will you behave?” He laughed again and told her he would. “Then you are welcome in our home. Thank you for helping me. I’ll make sure that Wanera is buried among friends.”