Demon Slave (Shadow Quest Book 2) Read Online Free

leader’s position was revealed. Did they intend for him to see where she slept? Though the one had fiddled with Marik’s ropes, the bindings didn’t feel any tighter or more secure. He could still break them with a twist of his wrist.
    If these people had known demons in battle, they must know how strong his kind could be. They couldn’t be so ignorant as to think this meager rope could hold him.
    Unless they wanted him to break free.
    Now that he thought of it, those guards had been standing farther away from the woman than Marik had been. If he’d wanted her throat, he could have had it before they would have had a chance to react. Any guard worth his weight wouldn’t have allowed a situation like that, even if the incredibly dangerous demon was properly secured.
    Marik didn’t really care if her guards wanted her dead or not. She was of no use to him anyway, if all she wanted to do was lock him up. But he wasn’t going to be the one to end her life. Pockets of his past flashed in his mind, images of the arena. He fought the memories back.
    No, he wouldn’t kill her. Not unless she gave him a pretty damn good reason. And because she was unwittingly doing him a favor by bringing him to civilization, where he could begin the search for Nadua, he needed her alive for the time being.
    He also suspected that he was still alive because of her. She only wanted answers, but he figured he owed her, at least a little.
     
    * * *
     
    A kick to his still-tender leg had Marik growling into consciousness. He bared his fangs at the offender, who scurried back. Behind the man, seven fully loaded guards stood ready. One of them came forward to cut Marik free from the stake.
    Marik stretched his arms and their bodies went tense as they strained their weapons toward him.
    “ Look, I don’t need any more holes in me. It’ll just piss me off.”
    The men exchanged sideways glances, clearly not understanding.
    Marik rested one arm on his knee and leaned back against the wooden stake. “Is something happening here? Or are we posing for a picture?” His shirt was tossed to him, and he caught it in mid-flight. “What? No seamstress?” He fingered one of the many tears. “I have a mind to lodge a complaint.”
    One of the men yelled something, urging him with a flick of his bow to put it on. When he did, the same man continued barking out orders. Though he didn’t know what was being said, it didn’t take a genius to figure out they wanted him up and out of the tent.
    As he exited, five more guards were ready for him outside. “I’m flattered boys, but you’re still a little understaffed.” Marik glanced around. Everyone was packing up. Most of the tents were already disassembled.
    Across camp, the walking rug caught his attention. She was kneeling next to an obscenely large brown animal with an angular leather face, filling a sack with supplies. The animal was twice her size in height, thick legs held up its massive body. On further study, he noted the beast sported fur like the woman’s cloak.
    For some reason, Marik grew alarmed when the giant’s long neck twisted and its head came toward her, but it only pushed at her with its snout, as if being playful. She laughed as she went tumbling, and gently swatted its nose.
    Marik wanted to watch her more, but a sharp point pressed into his back, while the guards in front of him parted. Ahead sat a small caged wagon, attached to another one of those large fuzzy beasts, this one with coarse gray fur.
    “ Great, I get the nearly dead oversized varmint.”
    A flare of unease rippled through Marik. Being caged was one of the many horrors from his past. He’d sworn never to let it happen again. But with more than a dozen armed warriors ready to pounce if he showed any resistance, Marik forced his feet forward.
    He flicked the metal with his nail and noted the sound of low-quality workmanship. Gods, these people were making it too easy.
    Lifting himself with the help of one of the