Read Online The Demon King and I by Candace Havens - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Candace Havens
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wrong. Let me heal your hand. We will discuss Comdar later.” He turned and walked behind one of the tapestries.
I stood for a moment. He hadn’t even asked if I’d follow him, but if he could heal some of the damage to my hand it was worth swallowing any pride I had left. My head was going numb from the poisoned demon claws, and I couldn’t actually feel my arm, which, when I saw it, was probably a good thing.
Behind the tapestry was a large room with several more doors. The one in the center was open so I assumed that was where he’d gone.
On the other side of the archway was a big surprise. A large kitchen with herbs on shelves, a sink, and several gas burners. It could have been a kitchen back home.
Arath had a large mortar and pestle and was throwing herbs from the various containers into it and smashing them to bits.
“Put down the weapon. I will not harm you.” He concentrated on his mixture.
I tried to open my hand to drop the weapon but it wouldn’t work. “I can’t.”
He poured some liquid into a blue glass bottle and added the herbs. After shaking the concoction, he set it on the counter.
“Come here.” He met me at the sink. It was carved out of the same stone as the countertop and had the look of granite. Using the spray from the water he washed some of the blood off my arm. His hand rested on my shoulder and a heat spread down to my wrist.
“Yikes.” I growled as the feeling returned to my extremity. “I mean thanks.” I said the words through clenched teeth.
“The pain will pass. You’ve sustained a great deal of damage from the poison.”
When my hand finally relaxed, the ax clattered against the stone. It stung like crazy, as if tiny fire ants were chewing their way out of my skin. I bit the inside of my lip to keep from screaming.
“It would not shame you to cry.” He moved his glowing touch down to my hand. It still burned, but it wasn’t as bad.
“I don’t cry.” I closed my eyes and tried to will the pain away. Guardians never showed weakness. We didn’t cry, especially when we were in pain. It was a state of mind. If I made myself believe it didn’t hurt, the pain would stop.
His tender hands moved over the skin of my wrist and thankfully the burning became a light tingle. I opened one eye to see what had happened, surprised to see the skin healing.
“Jeez, you’re powerful.”
“We are not done. Your skin lacks color. You must sit.”
I did feel woozy. He lifted me with one hand around my waist and put me on the counter. “The poison is attacking your nervous system. Guardians are made stronger than humans; otherwise, you would be dead.” He handed me the bottle. “Drink this.”
Dead? I didn’t feel so great, but dead? I lifted the bottle to my mouth. It didn’t smell much better than the rotting demons in the trash can.
“You must drink it now.” He pushed it to my lips again.
I drank it in two gulps. “Ack. Sorry, but that’s nasty.”
“It will work, but it takes time. You must rest.”
I nodded. “How did you learn this? I mean, I saw your power to heal at the amusement park, but you’re as good as my mom with the herbs.”
“My father made certain that I was trained in all matters of magic and healing so that I could face the most formidable of foes. I demand that you rest, Guardian. Your body cannot heal if you continue to push.”
“Before I do that, can you do something about these scratches on the back of my head?” I parted my hair so he could see.
“Mesht.” I didn’t know the word, but I understood its meaning. “You are the one who is powerful. This close to the human brain, you are lucky you are not paralyzed.”
His hands moved over my head gently. He pushed tiny strands of hair back from my forehead.
I inhaled his scent, a mixture of musk and cloves. His eyes held concern, and something happened in that moment. I didn’t see him just as the demon king, I saw him as a man.
He’s not a man. Get it together,
I stood for a moment. He hadn’t even asked if I’d follow him, but if he could heal some of the damage to my hand it was worth swallowing any pride I had left. My head was going numb from the poisoned demon claws, and I couldn’t actually feel my arm, which, when I saw it, was probably a good thing.
Behind the tapestry was a large room with several more doors. The one in the center was open so I assumed that was where he’d gone.
On the other side of the archway was a big surprise. A large kitchen with herbs on shelves, a sink, and several gas burners. It could have been a kitchen back home.
Arath had a large mortar and pestle and was throwing herbs from the various containers into it and smashing them to bits.
“Put down the weapon. I will not harm you.” He concentrated on his mixture.
I tried to open my hand to drop the weapon but it wouldn’t work. “I can’t.”
He poured some liquid into a blue glass bottle and added the herbs. After shaking the concoction, he set it on the counter.
“Come here.” He met me at the sink. It was carved out of the same stone as the countertop and had the look of granite. Using the spray from the water he washed some of the blood off my arm. His hand rested on my shoulder and a heat spread down to my wrist.
“Yikes.” I growled as the feeling returned to my extremity. “I mean thanks.” I said the words through clenched teeth.
“The pain will pass. You’ve sustained a great deal of damage from the poison.”
When my hand finally relaxed, the ax clattered against the stone. It stung like crazy, as if tiny fire ants were chewing their way out of my skin. I bit the inside of my lip to keep from screaming.
“It would not shame you to cry.” He moved his glowing touch down to my hand. It still burned, but it wasn’t as bad.
“I don’t cry.” I closed my eyes and tried to will the pain away. Guardians never showed weakness. We didn’t cry, especially when we were in pain. It was a state of mind. If I made myself believe it didn’t hurt, the pain would stop.
His tender hands moved over the skin of my wrist and thankfully the burning became a light tingle. I opened one eye to see what had happened, surprised to see the skin healing.
“Jeez, you’re powerful.”
“We are not done. Your skin lacks color. You must sit.”
I did feel woozy. He lifted me with one hand around my waist and put me on the counter. “The poison is attacking your nervous system. Guardians are made stronger than humans; otherwise, you would be dead.” He handed me the bottle. “Drink this.”
Dead? I didn’t feel so great, but dead? I lifted the bottle to my mouth. It didn’t smell much better than the rotting demons in the trash can.
“You must drink it now.” He pushed it to my lips again.
I drank it in two gulps. “Ack. Sorry, but that’s nasty.”
“It will work, but it takes time. You must rest.”
I nodded. “How did you learn this? I mean, I saw your power to heal at the amusement park, but you’re as good as my mom with the herbs.”
“My father made certain that I was trained in all matters of magic and healing so that I could face the most formidable of foes. I demand that you rest, Guardian. Your body cannot heal if you continue to push.”
“Before I do that, can you do something about these scratches on the back of my head?” I parted my hair so he could see.
“Mesht.” I didn’t know the word, but I understood its meaning. “You are the one who is powerful. This close to the human brain, you are lucky you are not paralyzed.”
His hands moved over my head gently. He pushed tiny strands of hair back from my forehead.
I inhaled his scent, a mixture of musk and cloves. His eyes held concern, and something happened in that moment. I didn’t see him just as the demon king, I saw him as a man.
He’s not a man. Get it together,
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