Thad only nodded, then grimaced as he smelled himself. “What about a pit stop to the baths again, but this time for a proper bath?”

I put my hands on my head, feeling utterly exhausted despite the full night of sleep. I glanced at him warily through my threaded fingers. “Are you going to throw me into the water again?”

His lips quirked in a smirk, and he offered me his hand. “Yes.”

I exhaled and nodded to myself. I stood and placed my hand in his.

Chapter Thirteen

Wren

A few days later, I immediately realized something was wrong with Thad. He strode through the door with tension in his shoulders and a fierce scowl on his face. I opened my mouth to ask him what was wrong, but two shadow demons pushed into the room after him. I scrambled backwards in the bed, my back hitting the wall.

“Chained in your bed?” The smaller demon snorted in amusement, satisfaction swirling around him like a well-worn jacket. He was cloaked in shadows, black mist undulating around him and making his features hard to memorize. This demon had to be one of the half-breeds, a shadow demon. The other demon was larger, a hulking beast similar to the ones I had fought fleeing Lyoness. I had thought the demons would be breeding the larger demons as weapons, but glancing between the two, I could immediately tell which one was more dangerous, and it wasn’t the demon with all the muscles.

“You share, don’t you, Thad?” he asked.

I cringed, leaning away as the large demon reached a meaty hand out towards me. I bared my fangs, prepared to fight. A shadow slipped between the both of us, creating a barrier between me and the demon. The demon snarled against it, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Shouldn’t have taught me that trick,” Thad taunted, though his face appeared nonchalant. I was the only one who noticed the tight lines of tension around his eyes.

“I do not share, Yex. Keep that in mind.”

My hands loosened around the clump of covers I’d clenched between my hands.

“Have you seen enough to satisfy Severn, or will you terrorize me with your presence further?” Thad asked.

“Severn is impatient to breed her. We’re here to take her.”

My head whipped around, and even Thad went still. “What do you mean, take her, Jareth?”

The one named Yex guffawed. “You’ve had her all this time, and she isn’t yet with child. Time for someone else to try.”

Panic flooded my veins and I struggled as they moved to take me. I lashed out with my claws and fangs though I sucked in my wings so they couldn’t use them against me. Thad hadn’t bothered to restrain me, so the collar did nothing. I smirked and lunged for their throats.

“Calm your bitch,” Yex snarled, wincing as I scored a hit against his face, digging my claws in and tearing. Thad leaned against the side of the door, a bored expression on his face. “Why? Is she kicking your ass? You wouldn’t want to end up like Veld, would you?”