The Princess Who Tamed Demons Read Online Free PDF

Sometimes life laid you bare, made you feel
totally leeched of all strength. It happened to everyone sooner or
later, no matter how strong they were. For the first time in my
life, truly and absolutely, it had happened to me, to the level of
a raw-rubbed and depleted soul.
    "Sleep, sweet Najika. Sleep," Drake whispered.
His hand followed a soothing rhythm along my hair.
    "Don't stop," I mumbled. That felt good. More
than good. I let myself get lost in that touch, a lifeline yanking
me from unpleasant thoughts.
    You're still alive, Najika. That's
something, right? The little optimist in me was suddenly,
inconceivably there, perched on my shoulder and boldly grinning
down at me.
    A stray thought made the pieces scatter
again.
    I opened my mouth, but these were the only
words I could manage: "The ones who did this to me…?"
    "Have been caught, Najika, and all will face
justice. Put it out of your mind for now. Sleep here, and know that
I'm not going anywhere. I love you, Najika, and I'll be right here
when you wake up."
    I shuddered again, but it was much less
violent this time. The warmth of Drake's body had started to
provide a second, invisible layering to this comforting cocoon.
Suddenly and intimately, I felt safe. Knowing that whoever had
turned me into an animal was going to get what they deserved, that
was helping—I had to admit. My eyes fluttered and closed one more
time, and I let the fear, pain and grief temporarily ooze out of
me, forgotten as sleep claimed me.
    ~*****~

Chapter 4
    Day Four
    "Uuhhh!" I'd been having a nightmare, but the
moment I woke up it faded away like a cloud before gale winds
pulled it into oblivion.
    "Najika, wake up. You're okay. You're okay."
Drake was still there, just like he'd promised, his hand on my brow
stroking my hairline as he looked down at me. The concern filling
his eyes told me that I might as well have been a brittle glass
sculpture to him, the most fragile piece in the world.
    My head cleared, and the memory of what had
happened came rushing back. I cringed, half sat up to bury my head
in his chest one more time, and took a long, fortifying breath. Okay, Najika. It's time to get some answers. The thought of
finding who exactly was behind my attempted assassination gave me
strength, though if I was being honest with myself fear was peaking
at a close second.
    "Who did this to me?" I saw guilt flit across
Drake's face. He was probably remembering shooting me with the
crossbow bolt, nearly murdering his own wife without knowing it. I
wanted to comfort him for a tender moment, but I was still pushing
through my own grief and right now I needed this. I needed answers.
    "Najika…." I saw that look on his face, the
one he always gave me before he hemmed and hawed. And there it was,
again, that concern sheening his eyes which said Is she
breakable? What if I tell her too much?
    I pushed myself to a full sitting position,
wincing as a pinching ache flared through my insides.
    "Najika, you're in no position to be up and
about. Perhaps you should rest longer before we talk about this."
Have you ever had someone suggest something which was really a
command? Well, that was how Drake's words came to me just then, and
it made me furious.
    "Perhaps you should tell me what I need to
know before my anxiety soars any higher than it needs to be," I
said, striving to keep my voice level.
    My guess was that Lady Caerra and the Vizier
had been co-conspirators. She had been the one to invite me
for an evening drink in her sitting room, after all. It saddened me
to think that underneath Caerra's seemingly genuine and friendly
exterior she'd been so vicious and cruel. "Tell me, Drake." I was
leaning forward, straining, my hands gripping his shoulders as he
sat on the bed next to me.
    "Najika, please lay back down. I'll tell you
what you want to know if you'll do that much." My eyes blazed, but
I did as he asked. I would have huffed, except I didn't have the
energy. Drake's distracting hand resumed