“So what kept us from getting sucked in?”
“Shields and the fact that you’re not a demon.”
I chuckled and shook my head, slowly this time. “Some would say that’s open for debate.”
“Earlier models couldn’t tell the difference between demon and mortal.” She paused and looked a little embarrassed. “Design flaw.”
“That’s some flaw.”
“Especially to the poor demonologist who got sucked in there with them; I had a hell of a time getting him out. Your uncle’s crews hauled the traps in and then stayed to pose as lunch to lure the demons into range. Your Uncle Ryn and his officers took on a pack of Volghuls that arrived before we were ready to start the party.” Sora smiled fondly. “The demons were actually afraid of your uncle. He and his crew are a fine bunch of men.”
Now that was something Uncle Ryn and his crew had never been called. But I had to agree with Sora, any man who’d act like demon food, even for a few seconds, was worthy of any and all kinds of admiration.
“Your family’s good people, Raine.”
“They’re pirates.”
“Doesn’t mean they’re not good people.”
I smiled. Sora was good people, too. “All of your students are okay?” I asked.
Sora’s smile spread into a grin of fierce pride. “Every last one of them. And after what some of my grad students did in the Assembly, they’ll be graduating with honors. Two of them didn’t have the best grades in their class, but exam scores don’t mean shit when you’ve got a ten-foot-tall demon trying to have you for a snack. It’s what those two kids did to that demon that mattered. I’m proud of my students.” She looked me squarely in the eyes. “And having demons trying to eat you reminds you real quick what’s important and which things just don’t matter. It seems that our fine paladin’s acknowledging that he has some strong feelings for you. And I gather that you’ve known for some time how Nathrach felt. And you telling them that you can’t be with either one of them won’t do a damned thing to change their minds once they’ve made them up.” Her dark eyes sparkled appreciatively. “In case you haven’t noticed-and I’m sure you have-our paladin is a grown man.”
I raised my tankard in salute. “Noticed that many times.”
“And before Talon enrolled in the college, Tamnais Nathrach dropped by my office for a talk. Likewise, a grown man-a very well-grown man. And since they’re both big boys, they don’t need anyone to protect them from their choices-especially the woman it seems they’ve set their sights on.”
“No one’s set their sights on me.”
“I study demons, Raine. But deep down, I’m a hunter. I recognize my own kind. Mychael and Tamnais are hunters to their core.” She smiled slowly. “From what you tell me, and from what I’ve heard on my own, they’ve deemed you worthy of pursuit.” Her dark eyes twinkled. “Girl, you’d better watch your back. Though you might have more fun if you didn’t.”
“Sora, I’m trouble to my core. I don’t want them to die because of me.”
“Because you love them, or at least that’s the direction you’re heading. If you won’t say it, I will.”
“I don’t know what I-”
“Yes, you do. You’re just too stubborn-or afraid-to admit it yet.”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t have to; we both knew what that answer would be.
“Your not wanting them to die because of you won’t change how they feel,” she said. “The only thing you have to decide is what you’re going to do about it. Personally, when a class twelve demon finally catches me with no spells, no trap, and no hope in hell, I don’t want to have any regrets. How about you?”
I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees, letting my tankard dangle loosely from my hand, and stared down at the deck. As paladin, Mychael faced death every day. As a former member of the Mal’Salin family, Tam knew that death was hot on his heels right now. Both of them lived their lives like that, and they enjoyed living. I knew for a fact that Tam didn’t let anything get in the way of his having a good time. Yes, knowing me could get them both killed; it could get us all killed. But if they could live like that, so could I.
I raised my head-slowly this time-and grinned up at Sora. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right.”
Sora shrugged. “It happens from time to time. Though I can’t blame you for tying one on; you’ve literally been to Hell and back.”
I sat up straight and looked out over the harbor. The sun was lower in the sky. It’d be setting in about an hour; it looked as if it was going to be a beauty, and I was going to be sitting right here to enjoy it.
“I can’t let what might or might not happen keep me from living my life,” I said. “And I have no right whatsoever to tell anyone else how to live theirs-or how to feel. I won’t let Carnades and men like him ruin however long any of us have left.” I looked down in my mug; it was about half full. I set down beside me. “I’m done. I need what wits I’ve got left intact.” I sighed and grimaced. “I’ve got some thinking to do, but first I’ve got a rock to destroy.”
“Beautiful women getting drunk,” Phaelan said from behind me. “Mind if I join you?”
“Pull up another keg, Captain,” Sora told him. “This one’s about empty.”
“Is my cousin regaling you with stories about her exploits with the demon queen?”
Sora stretched her legs out, crossing them at the ankles. “I haven’t heard that one.”
I shot Phaelan an exasperated look. “Because there’s nothing to tell.”
“Nothing to tell? It was the best part of the whole day. Well, next to what I got to do.” He lowered his voice and grinned slowly. “But that’s highly classified information.” He winked at Sora. “Mine was more satisfying, but what Raine did trumped it for sheer entertainment value.”
I snorted. “For you.”
“Let’s let the professor decide. Raine started a catfight with the demon queen,” Phaelan said gleefully.
Soras’s brown eyes went wide. “A what?” Then she started to laugh. “Please tell me he’s kidding.”
“Afraid not.”
Phaelan chortled. “Two beautiful women, one of them naked, both rolling around on the ground. What’s not to enjoy?”
“That was insane,” Sora told me, incredulous.
I shrugged. “I know; but sometimes insanity works.”
“You won?”
“Not really.”
“You’re here; she’s not.”
“Uh, that was Tam’s doing.” I made a slashing motion across my throat. “With one of the Guardians’ green demon blades.”
“That’d certainly do it. But you attacked her?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“With her bare hands,” Phaelan chimed in.
“Hey, I had a reason. I had to get the Scythe.”
Sora’s brow furrowed. “I don’t think I’ve read or heard of anyone attacking the queen of demons before.”
“She did seem kind of surprised,” I admitted.
Phaelan draped an arm around my shoulders. “When word of this gets around, do you have any idea how this is going to enhance the family reputation? The one who isn’t even in the family business kicked the demon queen’s shapely ass.”
I raised a brow. “Shapely?”
It was Phaelan’s turn to shrug. “Call ’em as I see ’em. And thanks to you, I got to see everything.” His grin turned seven times wicked. “And with all that rolling around, I got to see everything at least twice. I’ve never been more proud to call you my cousin.”
I felt a presence brush my skin like fingertips. I stood, Phaelan’s voice fading into the background. I knew he was there before I could see him. I walked over to the railing and looked down at the dock.