Page 17 of Taken By Fury
“For what? You helped both Bethany and me when we were captured. I don’t see the evil doctor some think you are.”
She let out a half-hearted laugh. “I’ve done some terrible things.”
Aimee suddenly stopped and touched her arm. “To stay alive just like anyone else would.” Her eyes filled with kindness. “Is there anyone I can locate for you while you are gone? You mentioned a special someone.”
Her breaths quickened. Did she want to know about Jeff? Of course, she did. “Yes, but I don’t want him to know I am alive. At least not until I know it’s safe.”
“I understand.” Aimee nodded. “You give me what you remember, and I will ask Fang to find him and see how he’s doing. Fang can locate most anyone. He’s like a damn dog, that demon.” She laughed.
Sheila relaxed a little. She really liked the queen; the woman didn’t seem fazed by much. “Can I ask you something?”
They continued their walk. “Of course.”
“What was it like? I mean, you went from a life as a human to the queen of a lost city and a species none of us knew existed. Are you a demon now?”
They stopped again. “My head still spins some days and no, I am not a demon. In all sense, I am still human but immortal, as long as Greydon feeds me his blood once in a while. It keeps me from aging, and we will die together. Hopefully, in the very distant future.”
“I see. There is so much I do not know. I wasn’t given much information about the Valarians when I was in the lab.” Odd how the thought of drinking Zander’s blood ran through her head, and she found it erotic.
“Can I ask you a question?
“Of course.” She was feeling much more comfortable around the queen.
“How do you feel knowing you are a full-blooded Valarian?”
Sheila looked away for a moment and thought about it. How did she feel? “I don’t even know for certain. Confused. I mean, I knew I was adopted, but who were my parents and why did I end up in a human home? I have to think they are both dead.”
She nodded. “It seems strange unless they did it to protect you. I will dig up as much information as I can. There is still so much neither I nor Greydon know about this world, but I do know one thing for certain, they kept excellent records.” They had finally reached the gardens where Sheila was supposed to meet Zander on the other side.
“The Valarians have hordes of books and scrolls. It’s only a matter of knowing where to look for the information you want.” They reached the outer edge of the gardens, and she spotted Zander talking with his brother. Her heart raced.
“Sheila, I will warn you that the blood bond Zander created may be more powerful than he can handle.”
Her gaze snapped back to the queen. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, he thinks he has a handle on it, but I see how he looks at you. Both Greydon and I see it. Zander likes to think you are simply his pawn, but I believe there is more. Once an unmated demon forms a blood bond, it can lead to mating. I’m not saying it will. I just wanted you to have that information.”
“Mating?” Panic must have been written all over her face because Aimee touched her arm again and shook her head.
“Only if you wanted it. Zander would never force you into anything you didn’t want. My understanding, from what I have read, is that the blood bond is usually only done between mated couples, except in dire circumstances. Zander chose to bond to you and if he really hated you as much as he likes to pretend, he would never have performed that ritual.”
She swallowed and looked back at the demon in question. He must have felt her gaze because he turned his head and stared straight at her. There was no denying the fire that flooded her core under his intense gaze. “Please ask this Fang to do all he can to locate Jeff. I want to know what he has been up to since I’ve been away.”
It was a lifeline she was going to hang on to, no matter what. Sheila could not allow herself to drown in this new world or in the man with the intense gaze. She had lived as a human before and could do so again. She only needed Zolar out of the way.
CHAPTER8
Zander wasted no time in opening a portal from Atlantis back into the world above. He landed them in a thick part of the jungle where he was positive no man would be. It was far enough away from the ruins in case humans had somehow gotten to it, even though he had checked yesterday and there had been no activity anywhere near the site. The humans had only recently discovered what they thought was a possible city using one of their satellites, but it would take them time to actually get here.
“Just as I remember it as a child.” Sheila looked around as she wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Hot, humid, full of creepy crawlies, and flying bloodsuckers.” She swished her hand through the air.
“I have a spot already staked out for us to make our camp. This way.” He started to move into even thicker brush.
“Why didn’t you simply pop us into camp?”
“It’s evident you know nothing about staying under the radar.”
She snorted. “If I did, I wouldn’t have been kidnapped from a parking lot. Do you expect company way out here?”
