Ruby Shadows Read online

  “It is—compared with the rest of Hell. Though wandering, eternally lost and miserable through the mists is not pleasant,” he said. “The whole region is ruled by Azmodan the Absent, so named because he is almost never here. He is one of the seven.”

  “One of the seven what?” I asked, intrigued despite myself.

  “The seven Satanic Archdukes or Great Demons. The Princes of Night and Shadows who rule over the seven circles of Hell respectively. They are in constant conflict with each other—each seeking to better his position and raise his status by infiltrating the territory of the others.”

  “Sounds…fun,” I muttered.

  “It is anything but,” Laish said seriously. “The endless disputes and battles for domination—the Blood Wars as they are called—have been raging since before your world began.” He sighed. “And they will probably still be raging long after it ends.”

  “The Blood Wars? And you commanded a legion in them? Why did you stop?” I asked.

  He sighed again. “You have no idea how tired of warfare and combat you can become. After several millennia, I simply decided it wasn’t worth it anymore. I retired to my little estate in Hades—which looks much like the Plane of Irresolution, by the way, although not nearly as foggy—and kept to myself. I like it better that way. That is where I was when I heard your call and came to help you the very first time.”

  “So, what—you came to help me out of boredom?” I asked. “Because you were tired of sitting around the house?”

  “Initially,” he admitted. “But then something kept me coming back. You kept me coming back, Gwendolyn.”

  “What—me?” I half turned to face him again. “Don’t say things you don’t mean, Laish. I’m just an ordinary human girl.”

  “Mon ange, you are anything but ordinary,” he murmured, brushing a strand of hair out of my face and tucking it behind my ear. “As to the reason I keep coming back to you and cannot leave you alone…” He shook his head. “I wish I knew the answer to that myself.”

  The burning ruby eyes looking into mine were suddenly too much. I turned around again and sat up a little more, making sure to keep distance between us despite the uncomfortably pleasurable rubbing between my legs.

  “Tell me more,” I said. “We’re going to cross over the river Styx—is that right? And then where to?”

  “The City of Baator ruled by Tiamat the Exacting, another of the seven. But we must pay the price to pass from the first circle to the second circle before we can cross the river.”

  “Pay the price?” I didn’t like the sound of that at all. I turned my head to look at him again. “What price? Like some kind of a toll?”

  “You will see,” he said neutrally. “In the meantime, simply enjoy the ride. You can lean back against me if you like—I won’t bite, you know.”

  “I know.” I could feel my cheeks getting hot and I turned around again hurriedly. “But I’m fine. Just fine.”

  “If you’re worried that I will take liberties I will not—not yet, anyway. It isn’t time for that,” he murmured.

  When will it be time? I wanted to ask but I kept my mouth firmly shut. I felt like I had been waiting for the other shoe to drop ever since he’d taken my hand and transported us both to the Shadow Lands. When exactly would he think was the right time to exact his ‘payment’ and what would he want to do?

  Better not to think about it.

  Instead, I concentrated on the swirling mists around us and the dull thunk-thunk-thunk of the huge horse’s hooves as they struck the ground. But behind me I could feel Laish waiting, biding his time. Getting ready to do whatever he wanted to me.

  The thing that worried me most wasn’t that I didn’t want him to touch me, however. No, what worried me was that I might not want him to stop.

  Chapter Ten

  Laish

  We got to the river much more quickly than I had originally calculated, when I thought we would be journeying by foot. The Demon-steed was placid enough under my touch—it dared not be anything else—and I was almost tempted to keep it for the rest of our quest. I did not want it simply for the convenience but also because it forced my little witch into a closer proximity to me than I guessed she would normally come on her own.

  Though she tried to sit stiff and straight, keeping her distance from me, she couldn’t manage it entirely. The horse’s swaying gait ensured that every so often she would be jostled back against me, her smooth, bare shoulders pressing against my chest.

  Each time this happened, Gwendolyn rested against me a little bit longer before resuming her rigid posture. The feel of her soft, curving body against mine and her warm, feminine scent in my nose was intoxicating. I was sorely tempted to sweep her hair to one side and kiss the side of her neck. Or perhaps, to let one of my hands drift from the reins and slide up to caress her thigh.

  I kept my impulses strictly in check, however. Gwendolyn still feared my touch and I didn’t want to feed that fear—though she would have to get over it soon enough.

  In fact, the time was coming even sooner than I had calculated. The distance that would have taken at least a day on foot, was covered in a matter of hours on Yerx’s steed. Before I knew it, we were coming to the banks of the river Styx, its pitch black waters flowing sluggishly as tar.

  “Whoa,” I said softly, pulling the horse up short as we came to the banks. Though I still entertained thoughts of keeping him, I was aware that it would be difficult to bring him through the terrain of several of the seven levels. Also, a beast his size was not exactly inconspicuous. Reluctantly, I decided that I should send him back.

  I dismounted first and then held up my arms for Gwendolyn. I saw the little war that went on in her face as she looked at my outstretched arms. Part of her wanted to refuse my help as well as my touch but she was still frightened of being on the unfamiliar animal. I wondered what had happened to her to make her so afraid of horses. Just another mystery to add to my little witch’s past. I swore to myself I would solve all these riddles in time—then maybe I would be free of her spell over me, whatever it was.

  “Come, Gwendolyn,” I said in a low, commanding voice. “Unless you’d rather dismount yourself.”

  A stubborn look came into those bewitching green eyes.

  “I think I can manage.” Lifting her chin, she began to clamber off the steed’s broad back.

  I frowned. I admired her stubbornness and independence, but those two qualities might get her killed when we entered enemy territories. Perhaps a small lesson in obedience was in order.

  I was still standing by the Demon-steed’s head and a quick tug of the reins caused it to stamp and snort, shifting its considerable weight to one side.

  Gwendolyn gave a little shriek and tumbled off—right into my waiting arms.

  “Careful, mon ange,” I murmured, pulling her close to my chest. I savored the feel of her lush body pressed against mine as I held her. Gods, she was the most tempting little creature! I wanted her badly—much more than I should. I knew many of my kind would have simply taken what they wanted by force but I did not relish such encounters. I preferred to bring her to me slowly, step-by-step—although if the way she was struggling against me was any indication, she had other plans.

  “Let me go!” she demanded. “You did that on purpose.”

  “Perhaps.” I set her on her feet at last and she straightened the red silk dress I had chosen for her. It clung to her beautifully, outlining her full breasts and the taut little points of her nipples as well as the rounded curves of her ass and hips. Truly, she was lovely. Especially when her eyes bright with irritation and her cheeks were flushed with anger as they were now.

  “You need to stop. I’m not putting up with your foolishness the whole way through Hell.” Gwendolyn straightened her dress with quick, angry motions. Then she crossed her arms over her breasts, hiding the tantalizing sight of her tight nipples pressing against the thin red silk. I wondered idly if she didn’t like the feel of my eyes on her—