“Well, I… You’re demons. I don’t know what your drive for parental care is like,” she protested, a mix of shame and defensiveness replacing the look of horror on her pretty face.
He leaned in close, staring hard into her eyes. “It’s strong, Breeder. As is our drive to protect our mates. Bargaining your body to demons was foolish, but one thing you do not have to fear for is the safety of you or your babies. Ever.”
“Oh…”
She looked like she was about to say more, but the sound of his apartment’s front door slamming open pulled Kesh’s attention with a hard yank.
16
Kesh
He got to his feet, adrenaline rushing through his body in an instant as every cell kicked into protective mode, but before he could take a step a familiar voice called out, "Your Highness! You're needed urgently!"
Growling at the interruption, Kesh pulled the bedroom door open, lingering adrenaline making him slam it into the wall hard enough to make the Breeder jump on the bed. Immediately outside, his second in command stopped abruptly, a harried look on his face. Marks of battle covered his leather armor.
"Mallorn? Why aren't you in Maine?" Kesh growled.
The other demon drew in a deep breath, familiar with his prince's temper. "Prince Kesh, you're needed in Maine. Our troops are getting overrun. The Europeans brought two lords. They're too strong for Lord Aran to fight back on his own."
"Son of a bitch!" Kesh snarled. "How the fuck did they manage that without anyone noticing?"
"We're not sure yet, but we need you there. Now."
Kesh glared at his second, every battle-hardened instinct in his body throbbing to fly at the threat to the borders. But... He hesitated, glancing over his shoulder at Georgia, who stared at him wide-eyed from the bed.
"Kesh, come on," Mallorn said, voice impatient as he dropped the formalities. "Find yourself some pussy in Maine to celebrate with, once we've beaten back the Eurotrash. We don't have time for you to get off first!"
"She's not here to get me off—the girl's an unmarked Breeder, Mallorn," Kesh growled. "I can't very well leave her here unguarded."
"Shit. Really?" Mallorn's eyes widened, some of the urgency on his features swiftly replaced by excitement. "I could?—"
Kesh leveled him with a flat stare. "No."
"Well then, you'll just have to bring her with you."
Kesh narrowed his eyes. "You're kidding."
"Look, she's a Breeder, and you're the lord responsible for her. We both know she can't be unguarded, so unless you'll assign a guard to her you trust more than me, you'll have to take her with you. But whatever you choose, make it swift—our men are dying up in Maine."
"You know very well there's no one I trust more than you," Kesh growled. "And I don't trust you as far as I can throw you around an unmated Breeder. Shit." He turned back to Georgia, eyes narrowing in frustration. Why? Why did she have to show up in his territory? Why not the next state over, where she could have been some other lord's problem. "Alright." He snapped his fingers at the girl. "Get up. You're coming with me."
The helicopter ride to Maine had his nervous system on edge; the whir of the blades and the knowledge that he was heading into battle with a Breeder in tow only added to his stress. He glared at the wide-eyed Georgia, wishing her into unexistence with every fiber of his being. Her scent in his nostrils spoke with all clarity of her fright at being hauled into a helicopter with two demons, and his entire being throbbed with the need to coo and soothe her. An urge he thankfully managed to keep at bay behind gritted teeth—he really didn't need to add Mallorn's mocking to his current state of agitation.
"Once we get there, you'll stay in the helicopter. I'll shield it with my magic, and you'll be safe. Do. Not. Leave. Understood? If you do, you'll be without the protection of my magic. And trust me, Georgia—you don't want that." He leaned forward, imposing the threat with his darkest glare. "Do you understand?"
She nodded, eyes impossibly wider, and he settled back in his seat, ignoring the side-eye from his second.
They landed in a clearing in the woods, just outside the coastal village where the Europeans had made their landing and launched their assault, the sounds and stench of battle thick in the air. Plumes of black magic rose from the battlefield, and Kesh felt the familiar sensation of battle lust threatening to descend. He turned to Georgia, who was thankfully still sitting in the helicopter, eyes still wide and head turned in the direction of the fight. At least she was obedient, unlike his sister-in-law. Thank the stars for small favors.
"Stay. No matter what—stay," he ordered, giving her a glare for good measure. Then he let his magic spill out, encapsulating the helicopter in a safe cocoon of protection before he turned to Mallorn. "Let's go."
The battle was a mess. Despite Maine's Lord Aran and his men joining the battle, it seemed the Europeans had already managed to establish a stronghold on their shores. And their lords... Kesh sensed them before he saw them, their combined power lighting up like a beacon. How they'd managed to keep themselves hidden and gain the advantage with a surprise attack he hadn't a clue. Whoever they were, they were strong, and they had his men on their asses.
"Fuck," he growled, taking in the scene. “Alright. Let's get these bastards off our shores."
"My pleasure, Your Highness,” Mallorn growled, a vicious look on his face.
Kesh charged onto the battlefield, dark magic swirling high into the sky before crashing down in the middle of enemy lines, throwing ten enemy warriors violently into the air and scattering body parts in every direction.
