Chapter 13 Dagon
Dagon
Icarefully watch Annika as she absently twirls the water in her glass at the dining room table, her plate of food only half-eaten before her.
She’s somewhere else, not even realizing she’s fiddling with her power.
It’s an accomplishment, the ease in which she’s using it now, but I can’t stop the pang of worry gnawing at my gut.
It’s been a week since Olivia had her and Ransom’s baby, a little girl they named Selene. And while Annika has come to appreciate her aunt’s life and presence more than ever, there’s still so much she’s grappling with.
Me.
Mainly me.
And all the things we’re not saying to each other.
My mark on her back. The way neither of us has expressed a desire to accept the bond fate placed on us.
Why would she choose a life of constantly being a target as a hunter’s mate?
Why would she ever choose something as dangerous, especially when she saw how truly precious our lives are when she almost lost Olivia?
Pain eats at me every night we don’t discuss it. Every minute we ignore it.
I hate the visions blazing in my mind—our life stretching ahead of us in a beautiful display of passion and love and never-ending adventures. But that’s a fairy tale. Despite what my hunter brothers may think, I’ve seen firsthand how our enemies go after what means the most to us, and a mate?
Nothing is more valuable than a mate.
And Annika is mine.
She is. I know it. Feel it. In the depths of my soul, she’s there, making me better than I ever knew possible. But, for her sake, I can’t express that.
“Dagon,” Saint says my name in a severe tone as he bursts through the dining room doors.
I’m on my feet in seconds. “Where?”
I don’t need to ask what he wants. I can see it in his eyes. He’s had a vision. A rarity for him, but enough that I know exactly what he looks like when he’s had one.
“He’s in demon territory.”
Alek is on his feet too, his dinner before him forgotten. “Shit.”
“What?” Saint practically growls.
“Xavier is known for taking his time when I request a meeting.” Alek rakes his fingers through his hair.
“We don’t have time,” Saint says. “I’m going.” He turns toward the door. I stop him.
“The demon king will have grounds to slaughter you all if you cross into his territory without permission,” Alek warns. “Give me time to negotiate your passage—”
“We don’t have time,” Saint snaps again.
Power lashes from him, I can feel the signature of it and brace myself for whatever illusion he’s about to spin for the king.
An act of treason, and a fool’s notion, but one he can’t seem to stop.
He’ll do anything to stop Samuel, even at the expense of his own life.
“Saint.” I grip his shoulder. “Don’t—”
“I know what to do.” Annika is by my side suddenly, her phone pressed against her ear. Her assurance gives Saint pause, clarity crossing his eyes. “Daphne,” Annika says into the phone. “I need a favor.”
“This is a bad idea,” I say as we approach the Seven Deadly Sins club in demon territory. I’ve expressed the sentiment a dozen times since Annika called Daphne, but it hasn’t stopped any of us from coming here.
Saint, Annika, Daphne, and myself stop just outside the demon king’s favorite establishment. Three vampires and one college-aged human, approaching a bouncer at a demon exhibitionist club. Fuck, this is going to go south. I just know it.
“You didn’t have any better ideas,” Annika argues, and it’s hard for me to take my eyes off her.
She, like Daphne, coordinated on outfits for the evening, opting for attire that would help them look like they belonged in a demon sex club.
Fish nets, silk shorts, mesh tops. She looks edible. Absolutely edible.
Daphne, on the other hand, looks like trouble.
Saint and I both offered her our coats to cover her up, assholes that we are, but really no human should be waltzing into a demon club looking like she does. Especially a human that the demon king is obviously obsessed with.
Trouble.
All of this was trouble.
My nerves scrape along a sharp edge as the bouncer asks our names.
“We’re here to see Xavier,” Saint says.
The bouncer gives him a once-over, the thick, muscled creature looking half-beast with emerald-green horns jutting from his forehead. “Not a chance,” he says, eying the group behind us.
“Daphne Moorehouse,” Daphne offers, her voice too sweet for her own good. “Can you check your list for me?”
“They’re all with you, Ms. Moorehouse?” the bouncer asks, bowing slightly as if he’d been instructed to treat the human like royalty.
Fuck, what did the demon king instruct to his staff on his behalf in regards to her?
I know he’s been hyper-fixated on her since before we’d even awoken, according to how Annika tells it, but it has to be fleeting, right? A novel interest? Nothing more?
I can’t convince myself of it being anything good for Daphne, that’s for certain. But we desperately need access to these lands, so we’re taking her support.
“Yes,” she says. “These are my friends.”
“Right this way,” he says, motioning toward the large black double doors, which open as we approach them. “The king will find you.”
“That sounds ominous as fuck,” I grumble, but follow the girls inside.
Saint and I stick to their backs, ensuring we’re covering them and have the best angle on anyone that approaches.
Not that anyone is approaching, the thick crowds are too busy engaging in any number of lewd—albeit fun-looking—activities.
Some are dancing to hedonistic music, grinding each other into oblivion.
Others are drowning themselves in liquor or other colorful libations.
Some are dancing atop small stages scattered throughout the tiered space.
Some are dragging multiple partners into various rooms lining the walls, disappearing to partake in who knows what sins and indulgences this place offers.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Xavier’s voice booms in front of us, the demon king manifesting in a millisecond. A snap of his fingers, and shadows bleed all around us, encircling us so nothing can be seen through them. Shit, even the loud music quiets in his presence.
Daphne snorts at the shadows. “You think I haven’t seen things like this before?”
It’s cute how she’s trying to play tough, but even I can tell she’s bluffing.
Xavier arches a brow, his eyes only on her. “You shouldn’t be here.”
Ouch. I expect Daphne to flinch at the dismissal or at least glare up at the demon king for his blunt response, but the human smirks.
“If you didn’t want me here, then why did your guy at the door let me in the second he heard my name?”
Xavier’s lips part, shock flitting over his face for all of a millisecond before he composes himself. He takes a deep inhale, letting it out slowly like he’s searching for some ancient patience only he can possess.
Daphne raises her eyebrows at him.
I hold my fucking breath as they stare each other down.
Xavier’s lips twitch to a half smile as he draws his hands behind his back. “I only gave them your name should you…have need of anything. Trouble with the tuition and the like.”
She nods, like that makes perfect sense.
It really doesn’t. Not from where I’m standing.
“I do need something,” she says. “I need a favor.”
“No.” Xavier shakes his head. Daphne’s shoulders drop. “They need a favor.” He turns to glare at Saint.
A low growl rumbles from my chest. We don’t have time for this territorial bullshit.
Another breath and the demon king’s features shift from annoyed to cool, calm, and collected. Bored even.
“They need information,” Daphne says. “So I need information.”
Xavier plants her with a sly grin. “Fine,” he says. “A question for a question.”
“What could you possibly want to know from us?” I ask.
“Not you,” he says without even looking my way. “Her.”
I glance to Daphne. We need the information, but I’m not about to force her to play the demon king’s game in order to get it.
“You don’t need to agree to this,” Annika expresses my sentiment aloud. “We’re grateful you got us here at all.”
Daphne smiles at her friend, shrugging. “I’m not afraid of him or his questions. Ask away.”
Xavier narrows his gaze, like she’s given him the ultimate challenge.
“Go ahead, Saint,” Daphne urges him. Xavier’s eye definitely twitches when she says his name.
“I had a vision,” he leads.
“Good for you,” Xavier says. “You managed to do something I can in my sleep.”
A muscle in Saint’s jaw ticks, and I shift my weight. If any of the hunters would be bold enough to start a fight with the demon king, it’s him. “Of my brother in your territory. Have you sensed him here?”
Xavier spares Saint a glance before focusing on Daphne. “How were finals?”
“Good,” she answers. “All A’s.”
The demon king smiles at that. “And did you celebrate that academic achievement? A party, perhaps?” He dips his head a little lower, eyes on her. “Did you get a little naughty?”
Daphne’s cheek burn crimson. “That’s more than one question!”
He rolls his eyes, returning focus to Saint. “I felt a disturbance in the force.”
“Fucking Star Wars fans,” I snap.
Xavier chuckles, turning to Daphne.
“Did you?” he asks again. “Get a little wild?”
To her credit, she doesn’t shy away. Instead, she tips her chin in defiance. The move makes Annika shift closer to her, as if she’s ready to jump between the demon king and her friend. That action makes me move closer to her, until we’re all a tense group of nerves.
“Don’t you already know?” Daphne asks.
“I keep my eyes out of your bedroom,” Xavier answers. “You know that.”
Shit, does she? How familiar is Daphne with the demon king? Because it sure as hell seems like it’s a lot more than what Valor or even Alek explained to us.
“Where did you feel this disturbance?” Saint presses through clenched teeth.
“In my territory,” Xavier answers without looking away from Daphne. “What’s your favorite sin?”
“Um…” Daphne’s brow furrows as she parts her lips—