Deidre's Death (#2, Rhyn Eternal) Read Online Free Page A

half of the dinner-plate sized confections before she
grimaced. Her stomach was too full to finish. Her gaze lingered on
the remaining half a funnel cake. It was the most incredible food
in the world, much better than omelets. Why did human-Deidre not
eat these every day?
    Deidre delicately wiped her face and stood,
stuffed but beyond pleased with her first day as a human. Cora said
nothing, her features emotionless and eyes roving for threats.
    They continued, and Deidre’s attention went
to a small shop behind the tents, from which incense drifted. She
entered the darkened store while Cora remained outside. There were
a few people in the store. She went to the back, where the jars of
essence were kept. Intrigued by the new scents, she began opening
bottles to smell them. Light flared suddenly behind her, and she
turned curiously. The clerk darted around the counter towards the
corner, where someone had accidently tipped over a lit candelabra
that was now burning the curtains. The other customers crowded the
back with Deidre. The clerk was holding an extinguisher, shaking
and cursing it.
    “Go out the back!” he shouted to them as the
fire grew.
    Deidre let the group jostle her down a small
hallway that emptied out into an alley behind the row of buildings.
The group lingered, peering into the store to watch the fire and
the clerk.
    Deidre stayed for a moment then decided to
leave, more interested in exploring the world than waiting long
enough to see what happened. She walked down the alley, nose
wrinkling at the scents of trash and stagnant water. She paused at
the intersection with another narrow alley, not liking the smelly
alleys at all.
    With a look around, she started down a new
direction, hoping it emptied out somewhere that didn’t creep her
out so much. At the far end, she saw what looked like a busy
street.
    “You here for me?” The voice was
mocking.
    Startled, Deidre turned. She hadn’t heard
the demon drop from the top of the building to land a few feet
behind her. Without her power, she wasn’t able to sense him or the
danger he posed. His pointed teeth, soulless eyes and rumbling
growl gave away the otherwise human-looking creature as a
demon.
    “Definitely not,” she snapped.
    “How about me?”
    She whipped around at the voice of the
second demon.
    “You have no business with me,” she told
them coolly. “Leave, before I take matters into my own hands.”
    One laughed.
    “Word on the street is that Darkyn took your
power,” the other said with a toothy grin. “Making you … mortal. A
sweet treat for a demon.”
    Uneasiness drifted through her. “Did he send
you to harass me?” she demanded, mind on the demon lord’s parting
words about ensuring his mate won their deal.
    “No. We’re just hungry.”
    “Immortal Law states that the mate of an
immortal or deity is beyond –“
    “Immortal Law!” the first
one laughed again. “Demon Law offers you no protection, Death’s mate or
not.”
    Deidre shifted. She found herself reaching
for her power again, only to find it gone. The reminder made her
feel something colder than worry.
    “Gabriel will kill you if you touch me,” she
said quietly.
    “If he can find us. He can’t find souls, let
alone demons.”
    She frowned. She’d left him the soul compass
and his soul in her jewelry box, along with the ring he gave her,
so he knew they were intended for him. Before she could warn them
off again, one grabbed her. The grip around her arm was tight
enough to cause a new sensation: pain.
    Deidre tried to pull away but was unable to
move. She was too weak.
    Like a human.
    His fangs lengthened, and she stared at
them, the reality of her situation beginning to sink in. The other
demon snatched the back of her neck, and she gasped.
    “Don’t worry. We won’t kill you,” the demon
in front of her said. “I don’t need Death tracking me down. But I
want to be the first demon to taste a deity.” With the second demon
holding her, he closed