Taming His Demon Lover

The…victim…comes…first.

The victim comes first.

Andras' heart was so heavy that to calm his rage down he reminded himself that the boy he held cradled in his arms mattered.

More than his desire to teach Squire James a deadly brutal lesson with the power of his fists. 

A soft groan. 

The brown coat shifted as the boy squirmed uncomfortably like a worm in his arms.

"Whoa…who are you?" asked Robin in a low voice.

Andras glanced down at Robin. 

Anxious green eyes stared up at him as if trying to recall where they had met and why Robin was currently in a stranger's arms. 

"You don't have to worry, you're safe with me. We are almost at your home," replied Andras gently. 

"Home," followed by hysterical laughter. "That was never my home."

It was said so fiercely the brown coat shook with anger as if the boy was racked with pain at the thought of returning to a place he felt no attachment. 

With pure desolation, sunken eyes struggled to stay open as exhaustion slowly forced those luminous green orbs to shut down. 

"Don't go —" 

Then Robin drifted off into another faint once more, heavy breathing followed. 

Why shouldn't he go?

Andras was a person who liked answers and the mystery was killing him. 

Did Robin want to leave the village so badly that any man would do?

It gnawed on his mind that the boy was at such a stage of desperation that even leaving with a stranger was acceptable in his eyes than staying with the James family. 

Why did it feel like returning to the James home felt longer, he pulled on the reins of the horse.

Before he kicked the sides again and spurred the horse into a full gallop. 

If he hadn't left Malachi to deal with Mrs. James, Andras would have turned the horse around and headed for the nearest port instead. 

Andras felt a wave of possessiveness, his hold around Robin's body tightened.

As Robin unconsciously snuggled closer to his body looking for warmth in the cold night air. 

Using his feet he kicked at the door letting the occupants know that Andras had finally returned. 

Malachi moved in as if he wanted to relieve him of his burden but Andras declined the help.

"Where is Robin's bedroom?" Andras asked while glancing at the stairs that led to the bedrooms upstairs. 

'Behind the kitchens," came Mrs. James curt response. "Why isn't my husband with you?"

"I left him at the bar handling his business, he should be home later. Where is the bedroom?"

Upset, she turned to point at a door leading away from the kitchens. "Just follow the corridor that leads down to the basement."

That gesture made it even more obvious that they didn't treat Robin as family or even as a guest, even the servant quarters would have been better than a moldy basement.

"Malachi, see that Mrs. James heats some water. Then bring the water to me, while I look for some change of clothes for him."

Andras ordered as he walked through the kitchen to reach the corridor that led to the basement. 

Malachi exclaimed, "wait.. Don't tell me..the boy is…ummm Robin McDougal."

Another muffled groan escaped Robin's lips, shocking Malachi so much that he came over to peer over at him. 

Out of curiosity Malachi blurted out, "what happened…how did he get hurt?"

Dryly Andras said, "Squire James assured me that Robin isn't hurt but the sooner you stop delaying me then I can see how badly the damage was done to his body."

"What is wrong with these folks?" Malachi was getting more upset. "This just tells me that the village chief is just as disgusting as his wife, those two are a match made in heaven."

Hell certainly wasn't good enough for the both of them, thought Andras but he didn't confirm or deny what Malachi said as he made his way out of the kitchen.

Realizing that he wasn't going to get an answer Malachi called out, "Does that mean we're staying the night?"

"Robin can barely stay conscious, I'll tend to his wounds tonight and then tomorrow morning we can head to the port where our ship should be docked."

"Perhaps we should get the advice of a doctor, the poor thing doesn't look too good. I can ask around if Mrs. James won't provide the use of her physician."

"If he worsens during the night then perhaps but right now Robin doesn't appear to have any broken bones, after I examine his body I will let you know if I change my mind."

Malachi had followed him down the corridor and then they stopped at the door in front of the steps that led to the basement.

It was pitch black inside the room so they had to light a lamp before heading down the flight of stairs. 

Since Andras had his hands full with Robin, Maclachi held the oil lamp as they walked down the stairs. 

"Does he really look like Queen Titania?"

"I've never met Queen Titania so how the hell would I know besides that's not the important issue at hand, go and get the hot water ready."

Andras ordered as he placed the boy on the narrow bed in the basement. 

"Yes, I'll check on it shortly." Then Malachi paused before heading up the stairs and said, "I'm sorry that your loyalty to your people on Hell's Island meant that you got saddled with a marriage not of your choosing. Look at the bright side at least Robin is pleasant to look at. I would have hated for you to get shackled with a disease infested, ugly wife."

Andras rolled his eyes and gave him a quelling glance that made Malachi lose the cheeky smile from his face.

"Now go upstairs and do as you were bid or face the consequences."

He pouted, "why do I have to be the one to go up stairs and deal with that old shrew and you say her husband will be coming home shortly," Malachi sighed as he headed up the stairs.

"Keep that shrew's husband from coming downstairs too."

"I'm doubtful he'll have the nerve to try and harm the boy with your presence in the basement," said Malachi as he closed the basement door behind him. 

Squire James was the farthest from his concerns. 

It should be the other way around, Andras wasn't so sure that he would be able to keep himself from retaliation and murdering the man on the spot if they met again so soon.

A tiny, shy voice broke the silence of the room and intruded on Andras thoughts, "who are you?"