Demon Lord VII - Dark Domain Read Free Page B

you like
that?” Bane asked Sherinias.
    She nodded,
looking uncertain.
    Bane unbuttoned
his tunic and pulled it open, then his shirt, baring his chest. He
indicated the spot over his heart. “This is the place.”
    A frown creased
her brow. “Yes, it is.”
    “So, you know
that. I did not lie.”
    “You could
still stop me.”
    “But I will
not.”
    Her eyes met
his. “You are a dark god -”
    “A liar, yes, I
know.” He sighed. “And I could stop you even with my hands tied
behind my back. Very easily. But I will not.”
    Sherinias
hesitated, then reached out and ran her fingers down his chest to
the spot over his heart. Slowly she lifted the dagger and placed
the point against his skin in exactly the right place.
    Kayos made a
choking sound, and Bane raised a hand to stop him striding up to
them. “Stay there.”
    Sherinias met
Bane’s eyes again, the puzzlement in hers now tinged with hope and
wonder. Her hand tightened on the dagger hilt, and she pressed on
it. He winced as blood oozed from the shallow wound, and a scarlet
line ran down his chest.
    Her face
twisted with despair as she stared at the crimson streak. “You will
rise again as a spirit god.”
    “Yes.”
    “But you would
let me kill you.”
    The dark fire
seethed with fury within him. He knew he could save himself, and
she probably did too. That was not the point. He had allowed her to
hurt him without censure or retaliation, something a true dark god
would not do. “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I want
you to trust me, and this is the only way, is it not?”
    “Yes.”
    Kayos said, “If
he does not stop you, child, I will. He is my son, and I love him.
He has saved me from the darkness, and defeated many dark gods
fighting for the light.”
    She shot him a
quick, bewildered frown. The mind-numbing terror had evidently left
her, and rational thought now prevailed. “Why would he do that,
Father?”
    “He is
tar’merin.”
    She lifted the
dagger and cast it away, meeting Bane’s eyes. “You are a thousand
times more powerful than I, and you could kill me with a single
thought, yet you let me harm you.” She pressed her hand to the
wound, and golden light ignited under her palm, but his power
blocked her healing.
    Bane shook his
head. “You cannot heal me.”
    Sherinias gazed
at the blood on her hand, and then stroked his cheek. He smiled,
and she returned it, her expression still a little uncertain. “Now
I understand why Father told me to respect and obey you. He is
right, of course.”
    Kayos
approached. “Bane, stand up.”
    Bane cast him
an exasperated look. “Will you leave us alone?”
    “There is
something Sherinias must be told, and now is the time.”
    Bane rose to
his feet with a sigh, and Kayos touched the young light goddess’
shoulder, drawing her attention. “Your brother’s title is the Demon
Lord. He is Torvaran’s destroyer.”
    Sherinias’
expression became awe-stricken, and her eyes glimmered. She bowed
her head and sank to her knees to press her brow to Bane’s
boots.
    He shot Kayos a
murderous look, unable to move and keenly embarrassed. “Did you
have to tell her that?”
    “It is her
right. She wanted to thank whoever destroyed Pretarin’s
murderer.”
    “You gods are a
strange lot, with your rigmaroles and rules.”
    Sherinias sat
back. Tears ran down her face to fall in sparkling drops onto
Bane’s boots.
    He gripped her
arm and hauled her to her feet. “Do that again, and I will put you
over my knee.”
    “For avenging
the death of my first father, I thank you, Demon Lord.”
    “Stay the hell
away from my damn boots.” He swung away, but Kayos caught his arm
and halted him, placing his hand on the cut on Bane’s chest. Golden
light flared under his palm, and when he lifted it, the injury was
healed. Bane glowered at him. “You are getting far too fond of
pushing me around.”
    “What will you
do, burn off my arm?”
    “Do not tempt
me.” Bane brushed past him and marched towards the