Demon Day by Penelope Fletcher (best novels in english .TXT) 📕

the crouched figure amblingbehind the shifter twins – who still looked fierce, even naked, andin human form – that caught my attention first. He had a black eye,a split lip, and a few bruises across his ribs, but was otherwiseunharmed. He started over to me in that odd lurching amble, butstopped abruptly when he focused on Breandan standing beside meholding my hand.

My fairy sighed. “Rae, must youbefriend every stray demon you find?”

I blinked up at himinnocently.

Giving me an exasperated look,Breandan extended his arm. Runt shied away, scooting around him toreach me. He touched his head to my shoulder, and I patted hisdusty baldhead fondly. I was so proud of him – he had fought like ademon.

Breandan swiveled on his heel nimblyand offered his arm again, managing to send me a disparaging lookeven as he softly said, “I won’t hurt you, but if you’re afraid ofme this will not work. I’ll have you sent away.”

I scowled. “He’s just–”

He held up his palm to silence me.“This is up to you, goblin. Only the strong can stand withus.”

Runt took Breandan in slowly then hisback straightened and his chin lifted. My eyes got wide when Runthad reached his full height – my height – and jerked his head in anodd bow at Breandan. He blinked his huge orb-like eyes at me,spread his thick lips in an ugly smile before his body curved backin on itself, and he ambled off to go stand besideAmelia.

Byron had come to stand behind hisdaughters and a placed a hand on their shoulders. Lines of strainthat had been around his mouth had eased somewhat. The scar thatslashed through his eye crinkled as he cracked a brief, butdelighted smile to have his children safe.

Alec and Maeve wandered back next. Hehad her safe in his arms, and jumped down off a high pile ofbricks, landing heavily. She giggled, squeezed her eyes closed, andwrapped her arms round his neck to steady herself, legs kickinggently.

They both looked okay from what Icould tell. Alec had a dark red sticky spot on the corner of histemple, and some of his hair, left shoulder was drenched in blood.Otherwise, he looked okay. Maeve looked better than fine to me,only flushed and missing some amour plates.

At least Alec had managed to find sometrousers. Byron and the shifter twins were completely bare, and Ihad to focus hard on their faces to keep myself from blushing. Nobody else seemed bothered. Clearly, the demons did not have thesame issue with nakedness as I did, but I supposed that was down tomy human nurturing.

The Omega’s eyes were wide as theytook in Maeve’s green skin and fiery hair. Her lids slowlyfluttered open and her red irises locked with his amber ones thatshone admiringly.

“Hell,” I muttered. “Howare we going to explain this to Lochlann?”

Breandan eyed me then his sister. Heshrugged. “I do not understand.”

I waved my hand to where Maeve andAlec stared at each other – completely absorbed in nothing and noone, but each other.

Alec smiled and Maeve blushedprettily.

“Maeve?” I called and couldnot keep the smile from my face. “What are you doinghere?”

She beamed at me and waved back, hersmall hand blurring she shook it so fast. “When Breandan and Conallknew you had been taken they sent Alec to appeal Lochlann forfollowers to help rescue you. So here I am.”

I was stunned. “Lochlann sentyou?”

She shrugged and lookedaway. “You are important, Rae.” She looked back at me, grinningevilly. “And you really needed rescuing.”

Alec snorted and she elbowed him.“She’s tricking you all.” Maeve gave a breathy gasp. She scrambledin his arms and tried to put her hands over his mouth. “I didn’tmake it further than the outskirts before she cornered me and mademe tell why I was on Wyld land.” Alec shifted her about in his armsthen tickled her sides. She squealed and kicked her legs, laughing.“I was coerced into telling all I knew. When she had what sheneeded from me she was off, and I struggled to keep up.” He pulledher into his chest, smiling, and she hugged him to her inreturn.

Nimah narrowed her eyes at them andmoved forward. Amelia caught her shoulder, and the younger twinfroze, pouted.

“I guessed as much,”Breandan said. “Lochlann would not have sent oursister.”

“I am old enough to make myown choices,” Maeve said in her high chime abruptly serious. “Itwas better this way, Breandan. Lochlann is still upset with youboth.” Her gaze flicked between us, rested on Breandan’s wings.“And now the bond is sealed he will feel betrayed.” Her small handwaved at the damage around us. “This is not discreet.”

Alec coughed into her hair, but I sawthe grin he tried to hide.

I frowned. “We did try. Imean, Lochalnn has to accept this now, right? I can understand he hoped I wouldchoose to stand by his side as his mate, that I would break thebond. But the simple fact is I didn’t want to.” I looked atBreandan. “My heart was lost the moment I saw Breandan. Nothing andno one can change that. It is done.”

And I was happy, content. I had nodoubts this was how it was meant to be.

“Nothing I do will make himthink well of me.” Breandan sounded so sad I took his hand, and ourbond soothed him.

The fairy-girl was not the slightestbit swayed by how forlorn he looked. “Gods be damned, brother, youmust swallow your pride and apologize. Always are you stubborn. Youare in the wrong this time, not him.”

Alec gasped, and tickled her againmaking Maeve break out into high-pitched giggles midlecture.

Breandan’s eyes slitted as he focusedon what flowed between the two young demons. “No,” he said as ifthe word was an order to stop the affection growing between themthat would be instantly followed.

He took a step forward and I dug myheels in to jerk him to a halt. “Uh, too late,” I replied dryly andcaught his hand with both of mine before he could pull away. “We’renot the only ones stuck on each other.”

I was delighted for them both. Nodoubt, Maeve was the mysterious forbidden love Alec had beenreferring to. It was easy to see that the Claiming was