“It was Xharbek. He used the nexus to set the dream link.”
I goggled at that revelation. “Why would a demahnk—a hidden one at that—make a dream link from me to that asshole?”
Seretis pressed his mouth tight. “None can guess the ways of a demahnk.”
Translation: I’m avoiding headache punishment. My ire flared at the whole situation, but I tamped it down in the face of more urgent considerations.
“Seretis, you said Rhyzkahl can’t hurt me in the dream space because I’m the initiator,” I said. “Does that mean it’s safe for me to initiate a visit?”
“He cannot entrap you or harm you physically. However, he can hear and remember your words. Say nothing you do not wish him to know.”
“Right. Got it.” I engaged in furious thinking. “How many humans are in the demon realm against their will?”
His eyes shadowed. “I only know of six who abide with qaztahl. All brought in by Rhyzkahl this past year.”
“Which qaztahl?” The eleven lords spanned a vast range of temperaments, from gentle Elofir at one end to vicious Amkir at the other.
“One woman is with Vrizaar, another with Jesral. Two are with Rhyzkahl. Amkir holds one man and one woman.” He paused. “Kadir had two men. But they are dead.”
A shiver went through me. Kadir relished hunting human quarry.
“It is the mandate of the Council that only humans deserving of punishment by the standards of Earth may be hunted,” Seretis said in response to my thoughts.
“You’re telling me the demahnk are okay with Kadir’s brand of torment?”
“They do not interfere if he abides by the parameters set.”
I rubbed my arms, chilled. They’d damn well better not judge Paul to be deserving of punishment. “The rest of the humans are alive?”
“The six captives live, as do the others.” His eyes met mine for a heartbeat before he looked down and away. “Michelle Cleland is with Elofir and any others with whom she chooses to spend time. Michael Moran dwells with Rayst and me, and is not unwilling.”
Michelle had been a Symbol Man “sacrifice” to Rhyzkahl, and Michael was a brain damaged young man with the ability to shape earth into golems. “I have no problem with the willing ones,” I said. “What aren’t you telling me?”
His expression grew haunted. “I have failed at negotiations to acquire any humans since coming to agreement with Amkir for Michael.” Bryce cursed under his breath and rested a hand on Seretis’s shoulder.
“That you tried at all means worlds to me,” I said gently. An ugly story lurked behind the confession, I was certain—especially since the brutal Amkir was involved.
Sammy started barking and bolted toward the woods. Seretis leaped to his feet. “An entity has passed through the valve.”
“Another demon?” My hand went to my gun as I scrambled up.
“I know not. The Earth flows are too weak for me to read.”
Whether it was a demon or an other-worldly mosquito, we needed to be the welcoming committee. I took off toward the path with Seretis and Bryce on my heels. Sammy barked in the woods ahead. “Sammy! Get your stupid ass back here!” I called out. To my surprise the dog bounded back in our direction, which I suspected had far more to do with a silent call from Seretis than my yelling. Bryce and I drew our weapons as we reached the woods and proceeded with caution.
Seretis cursed in demon behind me. “Kadir.”
Oh, shit, I thought the instant before his aura slithered through me. Even without my arcane senses I felt as if I’d been dipped in cold slime filled with unnamed horrors. Mouth dry, I stumbled to a walk, hand tight on my gun as I moved forward. Didn’t matter that the gun would be next to useless against a lord. It made me feel better.
Kadir stalked along the trail, anger flowing from him like a noxious cloud. His face and clothing were scored with deep and angry burns, as if he’d been lashed by a whip made of napalm.
Swallowing hard, I lowered my gun and stood my ground. “Why are you here?” I asked.
“I am the one he seeks,” Seretis said. He stepped around me with the dog right beside him and took in Kadir’s condition. “Fire rain. In your realm?”
The pale lord bared his teeth. “With only Elofir and the demahnk to aid while you dally.”
I expected a snappy comeback from Seretis, but instead he hunched his shoulders like a chastised schoolboy. “Yaghir tahn,” he muttered.