Devil Inside Read online

  “Princess,” Khalid said, holding out his hand to her. “Ready when you are.”

  “Oh, please, I’m getting that dick as soon as you get back.” She scoffed and then winked at Abaxley. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

  Laughing, he nodded. “Have fun.”

  “Come on, Cappy, let’s go see the queen.”

  “I’ve got a hundred dollars that says he won’t last through you taking off your shoes when we get back,” he said. “And I plan on collecting from him.”

  2.

  Slumberland was bathed in midmorning sunlight as they emerged from the portal in the side yard. Becoming High Court had changed the estate some, as now the portal was in a courtyard surrounded by hedges, with the portals to all the rest of the Sithens around it. It would make getting back to theirs easy and quick.

  They walked through the yard, Alyx noticing all the new flora and nodded to the daytime wisps that were bobbing along in the light breeze. It was calm and relaxed, something she knew High Court hadn’t been in a long time.

  She grabbed Khalid’s hand as they entered the house through the open French doors on the patio.

  “Princess Alyx,” Grodin said as they walked in. “It is good to see you.”

  “Hello, Grodin, is the queen in?”

  He nodded. “She is. She’s back by the pool with the Queen.”

  So they were going to see the Basilisk queen as well. “Thank you. And my brother?”

  “I’m guessing not five feet away from the Queen Basilisk,” Khalid said and Grodin nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. “I think he’s still using you and your guard as an excuse to get as much time with Queen Verity as possible. Your brother is a smart man.”

  “My brother is an idiot,” she said as Grodin motioned toward the doors out to the pool.

  “I believe you know the way, Princess.”

  “Thank you, Grodin.” She grabbed Khalid’s hand and walked out to the pool deck to see the Queen Basilisk slithering into the water, Verity on a large round float lying on her stomach, and Quinn in the water, guiding the platform float she was on, while talking to her. Alyx grinned. “Well isn’t this...surreal.”

  “It was until you showed up and ruined the moment,” Quinn said, looking over at her with a grin on his face. “What do we owe the pleasure, pipsqueak?”

  “I could go...” she offered, stepping back.

  “Hush!” Verity said to her brother and slipped off the float and into the water, making her way out of the pool. She grabbed a towel, wrapped it around herself and then went to Alyx, hugging her. “Ooh, you look... What have you been up to?”

  Alyx grinned. “Adventuring.”

  “Being with Alyx is always an adventure,” Khalid said, bowing his head. “Queen Verity, I hope everything has been well for you.”

  Quinn pushed himself out of the pool, heading toward her. When he reached her, he pulled her into a bear hug, before wrapping his arm around her head and giving her a noogie, not caring he was getting her completely soaked. “I’m just glad she’s still in one piece after her adventuring. And possibly hoping Scur isn’t since he isn’t here.”

  “Scur is with Abaxley at the stronghold. He didn’t want to see your ugly mug,” she said. “Now let go of me or I’m going to stab you in the thigh.”

  “And I won’t stop her. You deserve it. Getting her wet. Let’s let Alyx dry off,” Verity said and motioned for them to sit. “So, Captain, what exactly happened on your travels?”

  “Hey, you got her wet first,” Quinn said to Verity with a grin as he let her go. “Just following my queen’s lead. Arien told me I needed to behave more.”

  Khalid snorted. “Yeah, ‘cause I’m sure pissing off your sister was exactly what she meant.”

  “Honestly, she scares me enough that you better not tell her about this.” Quinn grabbed a towel off one of the lounge chairs and tossed it to Alyx then scooped Verity up before she could sit and settled her on his lap.

  “As far as our travels,” Khalid said to Verity, “a lot happened. As Alyx already alluded to, she has three guards now.”

  “Abaxley finally take the plunge? Quinn, don’t you say a word.”

  Alyx nodded. “Solid bond, he’s lovely.” She smiled. “And we, after talking,” she looked to her captain, “will be bringing the faeblins to my Sithen. A fresh start. Though...” She continued to look at Khalid. “We have some news from the great white north.”

  “Solid idea,” Quinn said. “It will be good for them. I know getting a fresh start and a new home helped me out a lot. If you need any help...”

  “I’ll let you know,” her captain said. “Guess we should talk about the nomarts.”

  “The no...whats?” Quinn asked and looked down at Verity. “Sounds like something out of a Seuss book.”

  “They aren’t Sneetches.” Alyx grinned. “Nomarts are an offshoot of goblins, ones that weren’t assholes,” she said. “They are, well, peaceful, and happy in their skin.” She smiled. “Beautiful metallics, like that bronzed skin humans go for.”

  “Interesting,” Verity said. “And we are just learning about them?”

  Alyx nodded. “After we went on our most recent heist...” She glanced at Khalid before turning her attention to Verity again. Without having to say anything, her captain took up the story.

  “Cetus and Nihar sent us to Cambodia for the next stop in looking for the horde,” Khalid said and pulled her down next to him when she dried off as much as she could. “We didn’t find one of the missing hordes, but we did find a room full of scrolls. One of which had the coordinates to the nomarts. I don’t recommend taking the scenic route if you ever visit there. Cold enough to freeze your balls off.”

  “Pass,” Verity said, “and I don’t even have balls. Did you tell Nihar? Is he having a raging brainer over it?”

  “Clearly,” Alyx said. “Well, the scroll led us to the nomarts as Khalid said and when we got there...well, they told us something very cool. Faerie is in a time of transition, and we are getting the opportunity to go home to our ancestral lands, Hybrasil and Dewan.”

  Quinn’s brows drew together and it looked like her brother’s head might explode from thinking too hard. “I know I was out of it for most of my life, but I don’t remember ever hearing either of those names.”

  “Don’t worry, it’s nothing you would have heard of,” Khalid assured him. “I never heard of them either until we found the scrolls and then spoke with the nomarts. But if what they say is true, we’ve been tasked to find them. Alyx said they’re like some lost colony that the humans say exist.”

  Verity nodded. “Thank the History Channel. Ancient Aliens talked about Hybrasil, something about being tied to Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and it’s been on a few human maps, too. Though Dewan...I haven’t heard of it.”

  Alyx nodded. “Humans are good for something. I mean their straight up need to understand the mysteries of the world makes some old information new again. So, the nomarts said we need to gather three stones, over three tasks, and then we will get the way to Hybrasil. And V...it’s...” She smiled. “Apparently, it’s where we came from, our kingdom started there. An island hidden. Hendrix is of course helping, and Nihar, well, he was lying on a chair with his dick out after we found the scroll.”

  “I plan on speaking with Cetus about it as well. If that is where we started, he had to have been there. I mean, he was around when Faerie started,” Khalid said.

  “Yeah, but the old fuck probably doesn’t remember little things like names of places,” Quinn added. “I mean, wasn’t he at war with two different factions at the time?”

  “True. Nihar might have some of the information stored.” Khalid stretched his arm behind her and pulled her closer. “Though with him still missing half of fae history, I’m not sure if he can piece the puzzle together. Hopefully when we find Hybrasil it will finally allow us to understand what happened to cause so much discourse. I just can’t believe Poseidon was able to plant
a seed that expanded for millennium. He might be a god, but he was only one man.”

  “The rot was there before, self-interest ruined things and it’s hinted that both sides of the coin started there so if we find it, maybe we get more answers.” Alyx leaned into Khalid. She loved that her captain was smart, sexy, and had the correct calculating mind. Being with him was a totally different feel than being with Scur. With her berserker, she felt like Micky and Mallory Knox without the murder, everything burned bright, hot, and dangerous. He was the devil on her shoulder. Khalid? He was her sexy, dirty angel.

  “Okay, so this quest... It’s a quest, right?” Khalid nodded at Verity. “Okay, so this quest, when does it start?”

  “Nomarts said on the next moon, so nine days?” Alyx offered.

  Verity nodded. “What are you planning to do ‘til then?”

  “Well, I want to get the faeblins handled and settled. Make them feel welcome.”

  “That’s about all we can do,” her captain said. “Since we don’t know where we’ll be going, there isn’t much we can do to plan. Other than talking to Gobeth and her men.”

  “I think a little downtime before all hell breaks loose is probably a good thing,” her brother said, looking at her. “I mean you really haven’t stopped since you started searching for the hordes. Nine days will give you time to recoup. I say take advantage of it.”

  “A party?” she said and Verity’s eyes lit up.

  “Oh yes, a party. That would be lovely. We can welcome them properly, and any reason to get dressed up.” She looked down at Quinn. “Your brother in a suit is life changing.”

  “Gross,” Alyx said. “So gross.”

  “She ain’t lying, though. I do look damn good in a suit.” Quinn tipped Verity’s head closer to him and kissed her. “She likes what I do with my tie after the party best, though. Isn’t that right, V?”

  Alyx shuddered. “Oh, we are talking about sex games now? Should I mention that Abaxley does this crazy thing with sex where the orgasm doubles over?” She cocked her head.

  Verity choked. “What?”

  “Well, the prick did hold out for long enough,” Quinn said, not taking the bait.

  “No plans on killing Bax then?” Khalid asked him.

  “I figure a prince is almost good enough for her. Scur, though...Scur I still plan on killing.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Quinn...”

  Verity giggled and shook her head. “You kill her guard and I will let her maim you, my love,” she teased. “So, a party. When?”

  “A few days, I suppose. I mean we need to get everything together, right? And let the houses know.”

  “Well yes, but it’s not like back in the day, none of that formal bullshit, invitations and crap. Hell, send out an Evite and it will be good enough,” Verity said.

  Alyx laughed. “You are a mess, V.”

  “No way in all of the hells would you let anyone maim me. You like me too much,” Quinn said and started to tickle her sides. “And even you have to admit, Scur is less housebroken than Nassar.”

  Khalid sucked in a breath through his teeth and looked at her. “Hate to say it, but he has a point there. I mean, I’ll maim him if he kills Scur, but pretty sure the coyote that followed us home is more housebroken than him.”

  “I didn’t say he was housebroken,” Alyx said. “But he’s mine, and he’s lovely in bed. The things he can do with his tongue...”

  “Coyote?” Verity said as Quinn stopped tickling her, attempting to change the subject.

  “Oh yeah, apparently he was up north, near the portal. Ripped the throat outta a hob that was about to threaten me.”

  “Hold up...you didn’t mention hobs,” Verity said, sitting up straighter.

  “Oh yeah. Hobs set up explosions. Scur got beaned in the brainpan, won’t let me give him stitches,” Alyx said and grinned. “What, you thought this was going to be easy?”

  “Do the dobs know what we know?” the queen asked.

  Alyx shrugged. “Some I imagine, I mean they have to know enough to find the portal, but past that I don’t know.” She looked to Khalid. “What are the odds they got in to the nomarts?”

  “Just like my sister to leave out the two best parts, hobs and Scur getting clobbered.” Quinn tsked her and shook his head. “Anyone keeping an eye out on the hob territory?”

  “Hunt is taking care of it. Mak and some other men are up there. In fact,” Khalid said with a grin, “probably be a hob that needs some talking to by the time we get back.”

  Verity nodded. “And the nomarts, can we count them as allies?”

  Alyx nodded. “In so much that they want to heal Faerie. They think much like you, and all of us really. That Faerie should be left to thrive its own way, not stifled. I think once this all plays out, we will have to have a meeting with them. They don’t have royalty, they have a chancellor and a high priestess.”

  “I didn’t get any vibes off them that would cause me concern. Neither did Bax. I believe we will have an ally with them,” Khalid said.

  “We can use all the allies we can get,” her brother agreed. “I’m interested to see where this hunt of yours takes you, as far as what you’ll find at the end of it. I expect postcards at the very least. Or if Verity can bear to live without me for a few days, I wouldn’t mind tagging along. I mean, power boosts never hurt anyone.”

  “That’s it!” Khalid said, his sudden excitement making her jump. “That’s why you don’t like Scur. It has nothing to do with him being with your sister. You just don’t like that you can’t fuck with his powers.”

  Quinn’s face became blank of any emotion. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Alyx grinned. Ooh, Khalid was getting something special for this one. Seeing Quinn pale out even further than usual was worth her getting on her knees and a shot in the mouth. “Ooh, well then...” She ran her hand up his thigh.

  Verity chuckled behind her hand. “The only way you are going to go play is if you behave, or Alyx will stab you.”

  “You don’t like it when I behave, V. Don’t you be acting all queenlike since we have company.” He nipped the side of her throat. “I remember the days when my sister didn’t want me to die and was so happy to see me. Ah, memories.”

  “I’m always happy to see you, Quinn, and I don’t want you to die, but not playing nice with my guard will get a fork stuck in your thigh,” she said and smiled sweetly.

  “Oh, I love when you misbehave,” Verity said, “but I mean if you are honored with going out on this quest with them.” She licked the tip of his nose.

  “Yeah yeah yeah,” he said and rolled his eyes at her. “You keep threatening me with violence, but I don’t see you actually doing it. And you,” he looked at Verity and started tickling her again. “When it comes down to it, you’ll be by my side at the end of it all, not my sister’s. I’ll get you for this later.”

  Khalid cleared his throat to cover a laugh. “So, this party? Exactly where are we having it? I’m sure Octavia and Pris will be more than happy to help plan it. Not that you actually need a lot of help considering you do it for a living when you’re not tomb raiding.”

  “I think at home. It will be nice to have something lighthearted and fun, love and good feelings in the old homestead.”

  “Have you decided on a name for the Sithen yet?” Verity asked as she nuzzled Quinn.

  Alyx shook her head. “It’s coming. I just want it to fit.”

  “It will come. So, party...a few days, yeah?” Verity ran her hand around Quinn’s side and Alyx looked to Khalid.

  “Yeah. Okay, so we are going to go. Seeing you get all down and dirty with my brother is my version of hell so...” She stood. “We are outie. V, see you in a few days. Quinn, just for that comment I’m going to stab you and you won’t know it’s coming.” She smiled. “Love you.”

  “I’ll still love you even when you stab me,” Quinn said with a grin. “Khalid, I’d say take care of my sister, bu
t with her talent with cutlery, I figure she can take care of herself.”

  “That she can,” her captain agreed. “Queen Verity, always a pleasure. Guess we’ll be seeing you in a few days.”

  Verity nodded. “Tell Abaxley and Scur we said hi,” she said and turned her head to whisper to Quinn.

  Alyx gripped Khalid’s hand as they walked back through the house. “Baby, you get serious points for figuring out Quinn’s issue with Scur. Serious on my knees just for you points,” she whispered as they made it through to the doors toward the portals.

  “As long as I’m behind you while you’re on your knees, I’ll be collecting sooner rather than later,” he told her, looking down at her with a heated look. “Might need to have a captain/princess only meeting very soon.”

  “Oh, I agree.” She licked her lips. “Let’s make this trip to Gogo quick then, unless we can just make it a phone call.” She turned as they walked and palmed him.

  “Sometimes a phone call is safer than being around Nihar,” he said, his voice serious. But his eyes, he couldn’t hide what he was thinking. Without warning, he scooped her up and carried her through the portal.

  3

  The Sithen was alive with commotion as they walked through the portal. Puziel, Pristina, Azrael, and Octavia were helping direct people to and fro, ensuring there weren’t snarls as their new house members walked in.

  She spied Abaxley and Scur off to the side and walked up, Khalid right with her, his arm around her waist as they moved.

  “There she is,” Abaxley said. “Everything go well with the queen?”

  Alyx nodded and leaned in, kissing him softly. “Yes. We have much to do, and a party to plan.” She looked to Scur. “And Khalid figured something awesome out, too.”

  Unlike when he usually saw her when he’d pull her into his arms, Scur crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a questioning look. “Did he finally figure out where the pointy end goes? And what’s this about a party? Who’s having a party?”

  “We are,” she said, amusement in her eyes. Apparently, he was going to hold to his pout. “In a few days to welcome to faeblins. As to Khalid, he figured out why my brother dislikes you.”