Reign of Blood

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Annaliese was hyperaware of the werewolf following behind her, a pissed off scowl on his face. But, since the demon didn't seem intent to hurt her, there was nothing he could do to send him away without tempting Annaliese's rage.

He'd already dealt with enough of that to last him an entire lifetime.

He'd do well to trust her with this. She'd get them to where they needed to be.

With her arm tucked through the crook of the aqua demon's, Annaliese hummed thoughtfully.

Gods be damned Chronos hated the sound of that hum.

"Demon, I don't believe I caught your name."

"That's because I didn't throw it." He chortled as if he'd told some hilarious joke. To the werewolf's disgust, Annaliese laughed with him. "It's Duncan," He told her, blushing slightly when she looked him up and down. "Duncan of the old order pact." He puffed his chest out in pride.

"Duncan of the old order pact," She repeated, having absolutely no idea what it meant. "You sound like an honourable man, Duncan, and quite the charmer. I'm trusting you to find me and my brother here a nice place to have a drink. We've been walking for such a long time now. I'm incredibly tired. I don't suppose you also know of some lodgings we can stay at for tonight?"

"Brother," Chronos muttered darkly under his breath.

She was going to regret that one.

"I know a place where you can get both," Duncan said, already besotted with her. Chronos rolled his eyes. He'd gotten rid of the Squire. Did somebody have to fill his place so quickly? Was that really necessary?

Unfortunately, he understood where these fuckers were coming from.

Annaliese had him wrapped around her little finger.

"You'll love it," Duncan said. "You and your brother can drink whatever you want and then I'll take you to the rooms."

"Thank you so much Duncan." Chronos rolled his eyes again when she gave a fluttery laugh. He'd seen this act before. When he'd met her in the Territories, he'd had his first taste of her acting skills. Duncan was falling for the same charm.

"I didn't catch your name either," The demon said, almost sounding nervous.

Chronos tensed. Anyone with a brain would know who Annaliese was as soon as she said her name. These demons could easily become a threat.

"Anna," She answered. "I'm afraid I'm not from a cool order pact like you. It's just Anna. Anna of nowhere, I'm afraid." She turned, slanting Chronos a glance over her shoulder. "And this is my brother... wolf."

He raised his brows. Her eyes flashed with malice.

She'd already called him Chronos in front of this demon, and Chronos had already said they were mates. Just as he'd expected, Duncan had been paying more attention to her exposed legs than the words that left her mouth.

"You don't look much alike," Duncan noted.

Of course they didn't. They weren't siblings. If the demon believed they were, then he had a loose screw.

And if he thought the looks of lust Chronos was sending her way were anything platonic, then he was blind.

But he was right. Chronos and Annaliese looked nothing alike.

Their eyes were different. Hers were brown, his were blue. Her hair was long and dark with inexplicable strands of gold. His was short, muddy blonde and curly. Even their builds were completely different. There wasn't a single mark of similarity between them.