Demon's Mark Part III: Deamon's Mark, #3

By Nora Ash

Kain never wanted a mate—only pain awaits a demon foolish enough to give his heart to a human.
When tantalizing Selma lands in his lap, he knows his duty is to put her to auction and return his focus to the war threatening to bring his entire race to its knees.
Yet every instinct in his body roars to make her his, and he'll have to choose. His heart—or her soul?

 

Part 3 of 3.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Little Huldra Media
• Release date: Aug 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201449438

Book preview

ONE

KAIN

When she stepped through the barrier, every cell in Kain’s body felt the loss of his claimed mate like a sickening emptiness spreading from where the ache in his chest pulsed.

He would never, ever be whole again without her, just like his father had never truly recovered after the loss of his mate, but it didn’t matter. This burden he would gladly carry if it meant the light within the woman who’d unwittingly claimed his soul would never be dimmed by the darkness inside him.

But the sight of her walking farther and farther away would haunt him for eternity.

As if she felt his pain, her steps faltered maybe ten yards in, and then she turned around to look at him, her brows drawn.

Something was wrong.

Selma?

The urge to protect her was stronger than the repellent nature of the barrier, and he stepped closer to the invisible wall in a futile attempt at reaching her.

She turned her back on him again, taking a few more steps, and everything in him clenched with terror. Something was wrong!

Before he could call to her, her entire body seized as if stricken. Then she keeled over, both hands pressing against her abdomen.

Selma!

Without his bidding, Kain’s dark magic welled up from his core. He slung it at the wall with as much force as he could muster, wild with fear. She needed his help, and she needed it now!

Selma! Kain roared again, but she didn’t respond. She twitched on the ground, writhing in pain and clutching at her abdomen.

She was trying to push herself toward him, and their eyes connected for a second. Then hers rolled back into her skull and she collapsed, lying so still he could no longer tell if she was breathing.

Dark, thick panic clenched his sternum, stealing his breath. His powers poured through his body and out of his hands, hammering against the barrier again and again. It was made from old, strong magic, but even if he had to drain every drop of his essence to bring it down, he would do so to get to her, because if she died…

If she died, he would cease to exist.

Nothing could have prepared him for that overwhelming certainty. Not his father’s miserable existence, not the keen sense of loss when Selma had been taken into custody, nor when she’d walked through that blasted barrier.

Yet as he stared at her crumpled form, he knew he wouldn’t be able to break through in time.

Still, he would never stop trying.

Selma!

Kain threw yet another violent wave of energy at the wall separating him from his mate. He knew she couldn’t hear his call, but the sound of her name helped him focus his efforts.

He should never have let her go—should have kept her by his side where she would have been safe forevermore. But he had felt guilty for tying her to a life she didn’t want, and because of that, she was going to die.

Selma!

With the next surge of power, he felt as well as heard the faintest hint of a crack in the barrier. It wasn’t enough to break through, but it was something. He would get to her, even if he had to drain his own life essence to do so.

Just as he was about to let another discharge free, movement farther down the road behind the wall caught his attention. There were people coming down it—three women on foot.

Kain snarled. Though he knew they couldn’t hear him, they could most definitely see his rage, judging by their terrified faces.

Slowly, deliberately, he gathered his dark power in a mist around his body before pointing to Selma’s unmoving figure.

The gesture was clear—either they help her, or he would pull the fucking barrier down around their ears—and it seemed to register with the women. Two of them noticed Selma and rushed to her side while the third kept a wary eye on him.

They were talking to each other, but he couldn’t read their lips. Couldn’t see what they said about his little mate’s condition.

The anxious wait made him pace as the women took her pulse and pressed at her body. After a moment, the female not at Selma’s side disappeared back down the road.

It felt like an eternity until finally the two remaining women lifted her up between them. But instead of carrying her straight to him, they paused on the other side of the wall, sending him nervous glances.

As if he gave two shits about them!

Angrily he gestured at them to bring her out, but they still hesitated. Then one of them pointed down the road behind him.

They wanted him to back away.

It was physically painful to put more distance between himself and his mate, but he understood that it was the only way they would dare leave the safety of the barrier. So he did.

Only when he was about fifty yards away did they finally move forward, breaching the wall as if it was nothing but air. They carried her limp body out with them, and despite his near-painful concern over her unconscious state, something dark and hollow deep within eased.

What’s wrong with her? he called the second they were through, worry making his voice hitch.

They looked up, startled, but didn’t reply. As soon as they’d lowered Selma to the ground, they retreated back to the safety of their Sanctuary.

Cowards. But it didn’t matter—they had brought her out to him, and that was all he cared about.

Kain was by her side in seconds. He knelt on the ground so he could examine her himself.

She was still breathing, and when he checked her pulse, it seemed to be getting steadier. They’d gotten to her in time.

What happened, little one? he whispered, gently stroking her hair away from her face. Now that he could touch her and see she wasn’t in overt danger anymore, the terror bubbling in his stomach was settling. Still, until she opened her eyes and spoke to him, he would not let his relief distract him from his need to keep her safe.

As gently as he could, he lifted his human mate so she was resting against him. Underneath the worry, there was relief at having her with him again. Every part of his being had felt the loss of her when she crossed through the barrier, and now every part of him felt her return. It was intoxicating.

The low hum he made just for her rumbled from his chest before he even realized what he was doing, but he made no attempt at quelling it. It was the sound a male made to soothe his mate, and at this moment, it didn’t matter that she’d told him goodbye. She was still his to protect.

Selma, wake up for me, my precious.

The soft cooing he couldn’t hold back, however, and the sound of it made him cringe. He’d overheard Thomren do that for Meredith on the few occasions he’d been allowed into their home after Thomren claimed her, and the ridiculousness of speaking to a grown woman like that had made him roll his eyes at his second-in-command.

As it turned out, it wasn’t all that easy to control.

I take it she’s your mate?

The clear, feminine voice rang across the silent road and made Kain’s head snap up. His muscles tensed and his lip curled in a snarl. Without taking his eyes off the faintly shimmering blonde woman who’d just stepped through the barrier, he got to his feet in front of Selma, hunched over and ready to repel an attack.

She wasn’t the first goddess he’d seen, but she was the first one who’d snuck up on him when he had been too preoccupied to notice.

Why are you here? she demanded. Though she didn’t take a defensive stance, she was watching him closely. Did you follow the girl?

I brought her here for protection, but your barrier harmed her. I swear by the stars themselves, if you have injured my mate, I will rip your heart out through your throat!

The goddess’ eyebrows crept up a millimeter. "You brought her here? Why?"

Kain’s nostrils flared at her disbelieving tone. "That is none of your concern. What did you do to her? Why? She’s an innocent!"

Golden eyes leveled a haughty stare at him, but then they shifted behind him, fixating on Selma.

Yes, she is. Move aside, demon. I will tend to her.

I am going nowhere, he told her flatly. Answer my question or I will tear you limb from limb, you gilded cunt.

The goddess huffed. "You don’t have the strength, not after how much power you poured into my barrier. And you can’t heal her, either. The fact that you’ve yet to try proves you know she needs me—what my barrier did to her can’t be healed by your twisted magic. Now step aside, or risk your mate dying in your arms."

Kain dared a glance back at Selma’s quiet form. She seemed stable, but the goddess wasn’t wrong. His magic could heal many human conditions, even if he’d never particularly bothered to, but this? It wasn’t simple biology that ailed his mate. It was divine magic.

If you harm her, I will not only kill you—I will butcher every woman hiding in your sanctuary, desecrate their remains, and trap their souls in eternal damnation. Do you understand?

His voice was low, but the threat came across loud and clear. Despite the goddess’ attempt to remain stoic, a touch of green marred her flawless skin.

When she bowed her head in a single nod, Kain slowly took two steps away, allowing her