The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance (Trisha Telep) (Kitty Norville 0.50)

Kyle led her to the stone monument of the Guardian of Hopes and Dreams that watched eternally over Catrine’s resting place.

“Nice,” Katrina said quietly, gesturing to the huge gargoyle that served as a gravestone for Kyle’s lost love. “Subtle.”

“Sarcasm doesn’t become you,” Kyle said, also speaking in a low tone. “Besides, if you knew the purpose of a gargoyle, you wouldn’t be surprised why I chose this one for her.”

“They’re said to scare off evil spirits,” Katrina replied. “But I’ve never seen one like this. Why is it chained?”

“The Guardian of Hopes and Dreams is forever chained to the pedestal of destiny,” Kyle replied softly. “Or so his description said when I found him. There’s a lot of symbolism in this piece that speaks of what dreams we must hold on to, and which—” Kyle gestured to the ground below the monument “—we must let go.”

Katrina put a comforting hand on Kyle’s arm, but jerked it back when she heard laughter.

“For years,” came a dark voice from beside the grave, “both mortal and in Hell, I have watched and waited for you to find another one, Kailkiril’ron.”

A form appeared from behind the fountain.

“Still spying then, Kihirin,” Kyle said in a bored tone. “I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, thinking for yourself is such a hardship.”

“Actually, this is ‘for myself,” Kihirin answered darkly. “No one cares about you any more. You are a joke. No one here wants you either, I see, except . . . Who is that little thing you have there? Another one willing to die for you? You waste no time, Kailkiril’ron.”

“And you’re still inattentive,” Kyle said with a menacing grin. “For all your spying, you haven’t learned a thing.”

“You have the Destrati sovereign’s wife right there in your hands,” Kihirin said. “Do you know what her soul is worth? You offer that and Father will give you back your own—”

Katrina watched in horror as Kyle grabbed Kihirin’s mortal form by the throat. She stepped hurriedly backwards and fell hard against the base of the gargoyle monument. She yelped as the corner grazed her arm from wrist to elbow. She might be immortal, but that didn’t mean things still didn’t hurt like hell.

“You have no idea how badly Hell can hurt, little girl,” Kihirin snarled at her, both his hands trying to free himself from Kyle’s grip. “You have an idea, do you not, Betrayer? Forsake her, and you can have everything back. Remember who you were? Remember your legions? Remember your command? Andronicus leads now, and being under his command is nothing compared to what it was to serve under you. You were so much more everything than he is. Twenty thousand legions at your command, Lord General. Perfect obedience. And your masterful touch at soul-rending. No one could torture a soul, mortal or immortal, like you. Remember the sound of home? How often do you kill an innocent young one slowly just to hear that sound again? Remember your hound—”

“I remember,” Kyle said darkly, “my service and blind obedience.”

Kyle released Kihirin, tossing him dismissively towards the fountain without effort. The demon fell backwards, almost into the water.

“You can have it all back,” Kihirin said again. “All you have to do—”

“Is give you what I don’t have, and never will again,” Kyle snapped. “You saw to that when you released her soul.” He sniffed disdainfully. “I am . . . was . . . the Lord General. Firstborn. I do not just blindly follow orders like the rest of you.

“Father should have had more faith in me,” Kyle added.

Kihirin laughed. “You imply that you would have given up her soul, if only you had been asked and not ordered to?”

Kihirin reached slowly into the pocket of the

jacket he was wearing and brought something out of it. He opened his fingers and there, sitting in his palm, was a glittering ball of faint white light, marred by tendrils of black cracks manifested over its crystalline surface.

“No,” Kyle protested, though it was little more than a whisper. He glared at Kihirin. “She was an innocent. Her soul ascended. Do not think I do not know the extent to which you will go for your amusement, Kihirin.”

Katrina could only watch in horror. Was that really a soul she was seeing? It didn’t look like she expected it to. It was quite small, and almost ordinary looking. It looked so sad and vulnerable all on its own.

“Well, it is not as pure as it once was after having been tortured for all this time. I can see why you wanted it for yourself,” Kihirin said, laughing again. “Why you kept it from Father. You always did find it difficult to obey without proper motivation. When you came back unsuccessful . . . you, Lord General ...” Kihirin tsked and shook his head, then held the ball of light out to Kyle. “I have kept her all this time for you, Lord General, so that when you regained your senses and remembered your loyalties you would have it to present to Father, so you could reclaim your place. I assure you, it is hers.”

A mournful cry, like the screech of an improperly rosined bow over taut violin strings, reached Katrina’s ears. The sound of it dropped Kyle to his knees.

“Catrine . . .” Kyle said, choking on the name.

Kihirin crouched down before him. “Return with me,” Kihirin urged. “Present this to Father as you should have done before. Humble yourself before him, and he might even allow you to atone using her—”

Kyle flung Kihirin against the fountain monument with such force that the soul in Kihirin’s hand fell to the ground at the base of Catrine’s grave.

Kihirin’s mortal eyes widened. Kyle stood over him, looking down mercilessly. Even as a lost soul, he was still more of a demon than Kihirin could ever hope to be.