Dark Promise by Patti Larsen

Author:Patti Larsen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young adult fiction, young adult romance, ya fiction, ya romance, ya paranormal romance, young adult paranormal romance, young adult magic, ya magic, ya witches, ya demons, young adult paranormal fiction, young adult witches, ya paranormal fiction, young adult demons
Publisher: Patti Larsen

Chapter Twenty

Nunaresh approached at a rapid pace, the large transport's increased power traveling much faster than our smaller ride had been able to accomplish. I sat back and watched the tiny lights grow to towering buildings reminding me more of a human city than any of the others I'd visited here on Demonicon.

“Why isn't Nunaresh on the official tour?” I caught Ram's scowl before he answered.

“It's the only independent city on Demonicon,” he said, voice level, but hands tightening on the sides of the control panel. That, paired with his frown, told me this was a major bone of contention for him. “The aristocracy can't be bothered with the lower plane cities, let alone one run by its own council. Your grandmother tried many times to coerce the rulers of Nunaresh to accept royal control, but she never convinced them and wasn't willing to start a war over it.”

“I'm amazed she let it grow at all.” The city fell away to my right as Ram banked around the outskirts. “Ahbi was such a control freak.”

“By the time she discovered it had grown so big, it was too late to stop us without a fight,” he said, bringing us in for a landing nowhere near the towering city center. “I don't know if you've noticed, but fighting is frowned on.”

So much sarcasm. “You could have fooled me,” I said.

“Really?” He released the control panel as we settled to the ground, turning to meet my eyes. “The formulaic challenge process isn't fighting, Syd. It's a theatrical joke meant to keep us in line and under control.”

“Don't you think that's a good thing?” I shuddered a little, skin popping up gooseflesh as I remembered how I felt when I'd drained Cypherion. “Your race seems to get just a wee tad out of control when you're allowed to cut loose.”

The bubble of shielding collapsed as Ram stood and offered me his hand. “Our race,” he said softly as I rose to face him. “And yes, of course. You're right. But the days of barbarity are behind us. Our people stagnate, unable to grow, to evolve, because our true nature is suppressed.”

“If I didn't think you'd all go up in flames,” I said, moving past him to the edge of the hull, “I'd agree with you, Ram. But even if you're right, if demons have developed past the need to fight for fighting's sake, all it would take is one to go a little too far and you'd have a monster on your hands.” I turned back to him. “Trust me. I've been that monster.”

Ram's shoulders twitched as he struggled internally. “We're not perfect,” he said. “But we deserve the chance to find out for ourselves and not be regulated in every single thing we do by some Ruler who has only the advancement of her family in mind.”

Wow. That was a slap in the face. Maybe I felt it more because I was carrying Ahbi around with me, but I doubted it.

“My family,” I said with as much chill as I could manage, “has kept your people safe for generations.

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