Page 83 of Caught in the Devil’s Hand

Vallen had been unable to find the survivors he had sent to the medicine field, nor could he find anyone else who had survived the night. He couldn’t even find any bodies except for a small fraction still lying about in the village. No merchants or neighbors had come calling, what with all the problems lately, so the bodies had remained where they fell, which made for a gory scene in the light of day.

Burying them would have required more time than he’d had to spare, so Vallen had reluctantly left the bodies where they lay and had searched the empty homes for supplies they could use, such as foodstuffs. He had also harvested some plants from Shumei’s field, which was growing well despite her absence.

They used some scavenged flour that night with dinner, and Shumei ate bread for the first time in many months. They spent the rest of their daylight preparing a room for Mai, who ended up choosing the one next to Oka’s. Her choice relieved Shumei no small amount. However remote the possibility, she secretly feared something would sneak in to hurt Oka in the middle of the night, but with another ally sleeping so close, he had even more protection now.

As night fell, Rosuke retired first, saying something about a chill in the room, and Shumei couldn’t help but make eye contact with Vallen. The heat in his eyes was more than enough to make her tremble right on the heels of Rosuke’s comment, which led Mai to inquire after her health. Clearly, Mai hadn’t caught the undercurrent in Rosuke’s remark.

“I’m fine, Mai, really,” she said without breaking eye contact with Vallen. She preferred to bathe in the warmth of his hungry gaze. Only when her brother yawned was she was able to break free from her trance. Blinking, she glanced at Oka’s sleepy face, stood, and straightened her clothing.

“What is it? Are you retiring for the night?” Mai asked, standing.

“I believe it’s Oka’s bedtime. He’s had far too much excitement for one day,” she said, walking to her brother and helping him to his feet.

“But the sun’s only been down an hour,” he complained, trying to stifle a second yawn.

“No buts. Time for bed,” she said, steering him toward his room.

Vallen watched Shumei with appreciative eyes. She would make a good mother. She was gentle with Oka and commanded his obedience without much fuss. He couldn’t wait to start working on their first child.

That he even could father children now filled him with immense joy. He was the last of his line, the only son to a high-ranking officer of the Dark Court. If he had never regained his humanity, his line would have died out along with the dozens of other noble families who had perished in the uprising.

“Your room is that way, so you may wish to follow her,” he suggested to Mai, not glancing at her as he walked toward the door through which Shumei had already disappeared. He could feel the woman’s icy glare on his back and smiled.

Mai watched as the other male left the room. The empress had clearly chosen him as her consort, and they were likely on intimate terms. She couldn’t suppress a shudder.

The other one, though, appeared unattached, and his lewd jokes troubled her. It wasn’t so much their content as it was their intended audience. She wanted nothing to do with him. Men like Rosuke, with looks like his, were dangerous. As she moved to follow the empress into the hall, she vowed to bar her door that night.

Shumei sat by her brother’s bed, hand on his chest as he quickly succumbed to sleep. She checked one last time that he was tucked in and kissed his forehead, silently thanking the Divine One for sparing her brother from all the dangers that had been constantly hovering over him.

“You love him greatly, Empress?” Mai called softly.

“Yes, greatly. He’s a precocious boy and the only family I have left.” After one last stroke to his cheek, she stood and padded quietly to the door.

“I…was speaking of another,” Mai admitted.

“Vallen,” she supplied, stepping into the hallway. She slid Oka’s door. “I love him greatly as well.” With her hand on the wooden frame of the paper door, she cast a spell of protection with one whispered word.

“The other male—Rosuke, I believe… Is he to be trusted?”

Shumei smiled, recalling the Divine One’s command to her.

“Truthfully, Mai, the most untrustworthy person here is you. Rosuke is certainly crude at times, but he’s fiercely loyal.”

“Me? I…” she stuttered, looking ill at ease.

“You did challenge me today, and you’ve refused to acknowledge Vallen and Rosuke, who are your comrades-in-arms,” she pointed out. Mai seemed to appreciate bluntness. “Have no fear for your safety, or mine. At least not when it comes to any ‘male’ in this building. Try to sleep, and do not think of enemies.”

“Y-Yes, Empress. I understand,” Mai whispered. She bowed stiffly, belongings in hand, and shut herself in the room next door.

Shumei stared down the hallway, pulse audible in her head as she walked toward the open door at the far end. It seemed so far away. The candle in the sitting room, halfway down the long length of hall, had been blown out, and it appeared Vallen had not lit a candle in their room, so all was dark and quiet in the slight chill of night. Midsummer would be upon them soon enough to make the nights hot and sticky, but not tonight.

Tonight, she would be hot and sticky for an entirely different reason. Tonight, she and Vallen would make love as humans. There would be no magic between them except what they made together.

She stopped at the door and took a bracing breath. Stepping inside, she looked at the bed, but it was empty. She scanned the back of the room but saw no movement.

Then a spicy scent wafted to her from behind and the paper door slowly slid shut, scraping softly along the frame. She didn’t turn, only glanced behind her, and saw the faint outline of his shoulder. He stepped close. She faced forward, heart racing as she waited anxiously for his touch.

He slipped his arms around her and pressed his wide chest against her back. His heat seeped into her, melting the tension in her spine. She lifted her hand to the back of his neck and gripped his forearm in her other. The lean muscles under her fingers flexed as he hugged her tight.