Ruby Shadows Read online

  “Is it that she feeds your power? Is her lust stronger than most?” Belial demanded relentlessly. “Is it magnified by her witchcraft? Or is it her innocence you seek? Surely with such power as you gained from reaping that you could regain your wyrm form or perhaps even cultivate an even more powerful one.”

  I held my breath, hoping Laish would say no. That he would tell the other demon that I had a hold on him because he cared for me—not just because he wanted to use me like a battery to recharge. Or take my virginity to feed his own power. Or worst of all, suck up my soul. But I heard no such thing.

  “I do not wish to speak further of this matter,” Laish replied shortly.

  “But, my Lord—”

  “I said I will not speak of it further.” Laish’s voice dropped to a menacing growl.

  “Yes, my Lord.” I imagined Belial doing his awkward bow again.

  I couldn’t help thinking that he had seemed like such a nice, kindly old demon—before I heard him telling Laish he should have given me to the Skitterlings or use me in some unspeakable way. I guessed appearances could be deceiving.

  “In that case, I will leave you for the evening,” I heard him tell Laish. “Perhaps we can take council tomorrow before you and the young lady set out again.”

  “Perhaps. But I do not intend to set out again immediately. I have taken precautions that should allow us to rest here for at least two nights. Gwendolyn has had a very difficult time during our journey so far—she needs to regain her strength.”

  Well, it was nice to know he was thinking of me even if he didn’t know why he liked me. For some reason the thought put a lump in my throat—which was stupid. Like I wanted a demon to care for me. Like he would even be able to care. He doesn’t have a soul, remember? I told myself. What did you expect?

  Well, something more than this, anyway. Especially after he’d been so sweet and kind and caring and protective. After he acted like I actually mattered to him. After he made me care… Suddenly I was ready to get out of the tub.

  I pulled the plug and stepped out, grabbing a thick, white towel I’d placed at the tub’s edge before sinking down into the bubbles. I’d been in for so long my fingers had begun to get all pruney—I hate that. I told myself that was why I felt so miserable as I dried myself off briskly and wrapped the towel around me.

  Laish knocked at the door just as I finished securing the towel.

  “Gwendolyn? May I come in?”

  “Don’t bother—I’m coming out,” I said. I opened the bathroom door and stepped past him into the living area between the bathroom and the bedroom. It had several comfortable looking black leather couches and, of course, the ubiquitous fireplace. That made sense, since Laish was a fire demon. Not that fire was his only source of power, I reminded myself unhappily.

  “You are finished with your bath already?” He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

  “Oh yes—I’ve been in there for ages. I think I must have fallen asleep,” I said, which wasn’t a total lie. “Why—how long have you been back in the room?” I asked, as casually as I could. “I thought you had business to attend to?” No point in letting him know I’d overheard his conversation.

  “I attended to it.” He came forward and put his hands on my shoulders. “Now I would very much like to attend to you. You look beautiful wearing only a towel.”

  The night before his touch and the desire in his ruby red eyes had made me quiver. Now they left me cold.

  “Thanks but I don’t think I need attending to,” I said lightly, stepping away from his hands. “Especially if you’re talking about paying the Sin Tax.”

  He frowned. “As a matter of fact, we do not have to pay the tax tonight. I have made arrangements so that we can spend at least two nights here, relaxing and regaining our strength.”

  “That sounds great,” I said, trying to smile. But I didn’t think an extra night would matter to me. Two nights or two hundred or two thousand—I didn’t care how long we were here, I didn’t want him touching me when he didn’t even know himself how he felt about me. When I had no idea what his motives were.

  “Well, as you are not interested in paying the tax, perhaps I can tempt some of your other appetites,” Laish murmured, withdrawing the little black-handled knife from his pocket. “There are night clothes laid out for you in the bedroom but before you go to change, please tell me what you’d like for dinner.”

  I suddenly remembered what Belial had said about the Sacrifice of Blood being painful—agony, he had called it, hadn’t he? My stomach turned over at the thought.

  “Thanks but I’m really not hungry,” I said, shaking my head. “Please don’t hurt yourself on my behalf.”

  Laish frowned. “Gwendolyn, what is this about? You haven’t eaten since breakfast this morning.”

  “But it was a big breakfast,” I protested. “Really, I’m fine. Just not hungry.”

  “Gwendolyn—”

  “All I really want to do is curl up with a good book and get an early night,” I said, interrupting him. “In fact, I found several that interested me but I left them in your library. Do you mind if I go get them?”

  He looked like he wanted to say more—to get to the bottom of what was going on between us—but to my relief, he simply nodded.

  “Go. Anything you find in the library is yours to keep if you like it.”

  “That’s very generous of you,” I said grudgingly. “I may take you up on it—I noticed you have some rare spell books Grams would love.”

  “They are yours, mon ange.” He spread his hands. “Everything I have is yours.”

  Except your heart, I thought, but didn’t say. After all, it wasn’t fair to want him to fall in love with me, even if he could. It wasn’t like I could return the emotion.

  “Thank you,” I said, nodding, and went into the bedroom to get dressed.

  Laish must not have anticipated my reluctance to pay the tax with him that night. Or maybe he just wanted to dress me in something sexy for his own enjoyment. Whichever the reason, the nighty he’d conjured me was just short of obscene. It was all in white—of course—with low cut French lace panties and a babydoll cut top that tied right between my breasts and fell just to my upper thighs. The only saving grace was that it had a long-sleeved white silk gown to go with it. I belted it tightly before slipping out the bedroom door and going softly down the long corridor to the library.

  Someone had set a fire in the fireplace and it was crackling merrily as I stepped into the big, empty room. The light it shed didn’t reach the ceiling, however, which was a black mass of shadows. I couldn’t help feeling eerie about being in the huge, dim space all by myself.

  I told myself to stop being a coward and walked firmly over to the red leather couch. There were the books, just where I had left them. Instead of picking them up and taking them back to the room, I settled in the corner of the couch and opened one of the spell books. The red leather was warm from the heat of the fire and soon I had lost myself in an incantation for returning hidden things to their proper form.

  I don’t know how long I read but something half seen from the corner of my eye caught my attention. I looked up quickly and a flash of kaleidoscope colors met my gaze.

  “The mirror—it’s the Mirror of the Eye,” whispered a warning little voice in my ear. “Look away quick, Gwendolyn!”

  But when I tried, I found I couldn’t look away—I was trapped.

  The first thing I saw was Laish, staring back at me with his ruby red eyes. There was a look on his face I couldn’t read. Then, almost as suddenly as his image had appeared, the kaleidoscope colors swirled and he was gone.

  Still trapped in the mirror’s spell, I saw a girl with pale blonde hair—so light it was almost white—and eyes the color of lilacs. She had on a long white robe and some kind of feathery stole that wrapped around her shoulders.

  “Gwendolyn,” she whispered. “Help me! Help me get out of here. If you cannot send me back to my home, then send me to the