Defying Instinct (Demon Instinct Series) by Jaye A. Jones Read Free Book Online Page B

normal person would feel?  My mother was the leader of the
Underrealm.  Three demons and two humans had said it.  It would be naïve of me
to stubbornly assume they were all lying.  Division, Faction, and who knew who
else were out to get me, to do who knew what to me.  Kill me, or worse.  They’d
likely go after my family. 
    “Do
they all want me for a reason?”
    When
he said nothing, I finally looked over.  Rowan clutched the steering wheel so
tightly, his tanned knuckles had turned completely white.  I hoped this was a demon
reinforced limousine, because this Hammer could easily tear the wheel off a
normal car. 
    Did
you expect me to sit in the back?
    He
nodded sharply once, and I wanted to roll my eyes.
    “I’m
not…comfortable being chauffeured.”
    Feeling
no social confines, I watched Rowan, who grew more uncomfortable as he noticed
me staring.  I didn’t care, and after a minute of him sitting like a statue but
for the precise movements he made driving the limo, he finally spoke through
gritted teeth.
    “Ask
your question again.”
    I
cocked an eyebrow at him.  “Are the people you think I’m in danger from out to
get me for a reason?  Are they planning to kill me?  Use me as bait?  Force me
to…I don’t know…do things for them?”  Pausing to consider every possibility, I
added, “Hold me for ransom?”
    Seconds
ticked by without an answer.  I pictured Benn drumming his fingers, because
that was another human gesture that took effort for me to fake.  Besides, I was
afraid any movement or misspoken word would make the switch flip inside Rowan. 
As it was, he already looked like he’d rather jump out of the car while it was
moving and leave me for dead.
    “We
don’t know…exactly.”
    Guess
then.
    Without
any pause like before, Rowan said, “any of your suggestions are possible.  But
Faction wouldn’t risk open war by killing an unblooded Scion before the end of
the first year.  Kidnapping is likely, to keep a Scion they don’t accept from
the Blooding ceremony which takes place at the end of the first year.”
    “Is
the first year significant?”
    It
took him so long to respond I was picturing impatient fingers drumming once
more.  As we turned onto Clayton Road, I gave it another shot.
    Why
is the first year significant?
    Almost
immediately, Rowan said, “A Royal has the first year to get his or her affairs
in order before the Royalship is finalized.  Iliana has avoided mutiny among
demonkind by saying her first year is not up, and she was planning to present
you before that time was through.”
    Was
it a lie?  
    His
head tilted slightly.  “Likely, but I can only speculate.  Someone told the
Underrealm about you and Iliana never mentioned the existence of a possible Scion. 
A female Royal with offspring before being Royal…simply doesn’t happen.  She
won the ‘realm over, destroyed Nikolai and unseated Noah before any news of you
came out.  Would she have jeopardized her good standing?  Was she interested in
sharing her reign?”
    His
eyes flickered over to me for the first time since I got into the limo, and it
was so quick, I nearly missed it. 
    “There’s
little way for us to know her true intentions.  But for now, she is playing the
protective mother card, which the ‘realm appears to be…tolerating.  That you’re
a half-caste seems to be Faction’s issue.”
    “But
she moved HQ here when she took up office, right?  Why do that if she…” the
muscles of Rowans jaw flexed, and I could tell he was grinding his teeth
together.
    Why
do you prefer me telepathing with you rather than talking?
    “It
proves...I,” he cleared his throat softly, “didn’t fully believe you were…a half-caste
even could…”
    A
slight hint of smoke wisped inside my mind for reasons I couldn’t know, and
Rowan tensed up even more, clutched the steering wheel until it creaked, and
grew jittery.
    When
the hint of smoke evaporated, I asked, “Is it the half-caste