“Erin seems nice,” Liora said and the tense air hanging over them didn’t improve. “Amelia seems a bit, um, protective?”
Serenity smiled at her. “You will get used to them. Amelia loves her sister very much. She only wants to keep her safe… like we want to with you.”
The fair-haired petite witch held her hand out to Liora. Liora slipped hers into it.
“I know,” she said and looked back at him, a smile curving her rosy lips. “We’ll be alright here, Asmodeus. You’ll see. It just takes time to make friends with new people.”
He still wasn’t sure how to make friends. Serenity and Apollyon led Liora towards the camp and Asmodeus watched them, and then Marcus and Amelia. The couple headed towards rocks that jutted out at the far end of the beach, two long sticks in their hands.
Dinner. If they could catch it.
He looked at the water to his right. Fish?
He had made friends with Liora by protecting her.
Was it possible to make friends with these people by supporting them in other ways? Could he convince them to trust him, and therefore Liora, by providing for them?
Asmodeus focused to send his wings away and then his armour, replacing the pieces with loose black linen trousers and leaving his feet bare.
He waded into the clear blue water until it reached his chest. Romulus and Remus swam over and both tried to get on him, pushing him under the surface. He shoved them off and broke it again, breathing hard. Water got in his eyes and stung. Salty.
He looked at his two hellhounds as they swam around him, clumsily kicking. Swimming didn’t look very difficult and he had read about marine life in his books.
Romulus and Remus came back to him.
“I wish to provide sustenance for these people,” he said in the demon tongue and both of the hellhounds looked confused. “We are to catch fish.”
No luck. Remus bumped him and almost knocked him over again.
“Fish.” Asmodeus flattened his palm, holding it vertical in line with his forearm, and moved his hand in a wriggling motion. With his other hand, he pointed to the water. “Marine life that is edible.”
He didn’t hold his breath.
Remus clambered on him, shoving him back underwater again, and he grasped hold of him, waded into shallower water and held him. The hellhound choked. Asmodeus held him closer, concern growing in his heart. Had he swallowed water?
Remus convulsed, every muscle in spasm, and then retched on Asmodeus’s arm.
He pulled a face at the half-eaten something on his forearm and then grinned.
A fish, and by the looks of it, it had been large before Remus had chewed it up.
He looked at his two hellhounds.
If they could fish, then so could he. He had often hunted small demons that were quick. Fishing couldn’t be harder than capturing them and it might turn out to be fun, and gain him the trust he desired.
He would provide for his female and these people. He would show them all that he was powerful and clever, and a good ally.
“Show me where and how to snare these creatures.”
Remus kicked off him, scratching the wound on his chest and spilling his blood.
Asmodeus watched it trickle into the water and form a bloom.
Blood.
He lifted his gaze to the distance and a fin broke the surface a hundred yards out.
A big fish would provide enough sustenance for everyone.
He would impress his female and show her just how powerful her male was, and that he could protect her and provide for her.
A big fish needed bait to lure it to the hook. He rubbed his wound, spilling more blood.
The fin turned straight on to him and disappeared beneath the gentle waves.
His claws and fangs extended.
He could be both bait and hook.
Asmodeus grinned.
He would catch the biggest fish Liora had ever seen.
CHAPTER 18
Liora’s heart almost stopped when she heard the struggle in the water. She turned in time to see Asmodeus go under together with Romulus and Remus, and shot to her feet. Her magic ran in violent spirals around her hands and she sprinted towards the sea.
She made it halfway there with Apollyon and Serenity hot on her heels before Asmodeus broke the surface and waded towards the shore.
With the biggest sea monster she had ever seen slung over his shoulder.
Romulus and Remus followed him out, fighting over a smaller fish.
Liora stared in stunned silence at her angel.
He sauntered along the beach towards her, one hand pinning his prize to his shoulder, the other flicking his black hair back from his face. Water ran down his bare chest and soaked his black linens, causing them to stick rather wickedly to his hips and legs, distracting her from the fact that he had apparently decided to take to fishing in his spare time.
“Is that a shark?” Liora didn’t think she really needed an answer to that question to know that it was but she was having trouble believing what she was seeing.
Asmodeus grinned, bursting with pride, and held the seven-foot-long shark up by the base of its tail before her. She leaped back, bumping into Serenity, eyeing it with caution. It didn’t move.
Remus sniffed it and went to take a bite but Asmodeus shoved him with his bare foot and growled. Remus snorted and then shook, spraying water all over Asmodeus, her and the others.
“You caught a shark… what the hell were you using as bai—” Her hazel gaze shot to his chest, she flew at him and slapped his shoulder as hard as she could. “You jerk! How could you risk yourself like that?”
He looked confused. Evidently, anger wasn’t the reaction he had expected to get from her on presenting her with a dead shark.
“Wow, is that a shark? Did you kill it? Cool.” Erin appeared beside her and Asmodeus’s smile returned.
Clearly, that was the reaction he had expected.
He offered it to her again. Liora wasn’t sure what to do with it. She stepped aside and waved towards Erin.
“I think it’s for you,” she said and Asmodeus growled at her, his eyes turning close to black but blazing red at the same time. Erin stepped forwards and he moved the shark away from her and bared his fangs.
“You are so like Veiron… all that smexy rolled into another hot package.” Erin beamed at Asmodeus and Liora’s gaze turned dark this time, jealousy making her want to growl. Erin slid her a knowing look. “I don’t want him. I have my hands full with Veiron. He’s a keeper though.”
“Is that a shark?” Veiron appeared behind Erin and frowned at it, mild disgust in his eyes that Liora could see through. He was annoyed that Erin was impressed by Asmodeus’s catch.
“What do you expect us to do with a shark?” Apollyon said and Asmodeus turned red eyes on him.
“It is a fish. Fish is a source of sustenance. I expect you to eat it.” Asmodeus held the shark out to Liora again.
She really didn’t want to be the one to raise this question because she knew it would hurt him when he only wanted to give her something to eat, and he hated it when anyone made him feel unsure of something in front of others, but someone had to ask it. Maybe she could word it in a way that didn’t upset him or dent his pride.
“Does anyone know what shark tastes like?” she said, offering a bright smile at everyone. Amelia and Marcus had gathered too, lingering at the back, fishing rods in hand but no catch to show for their efforts.
That tense silence returned and she didn’t like it.
Romulus and Remus bounded back into the water, snapping at each other. They both went under and then Romulus reappeared with a fish in his mouth, one that looked distinctly more edible than the one his master had caught.
“It tastes like fish.” Veiron’s deep voice broke the quiet and he jerked his chin towards the camp. “Come on, I’ll show you how to gut the bloody thing and prep it. Erin loves shark. She says it tastes like chicken… don’t believe her.”
>
Veiron winked at his wife and led Asmodeus away, and Liora breathed a sigh of relief.
“It does taste like chicken,” Erin said and smiled at her. “Everything tastes like chicken when Veiron cooks it. I don’t know what he does. It’s like a weird power he has. Wait and see. I think we still have some spice rub left over and some veggies. Should make a good meal… and can I just say that your slice of smexy is as crazy as mine. Who the hell uses themselves as bait for a shark?”
Liora smiled. A man who very much wanted to impress new people and make friends.
She had to admit, he had found a fantastic way of getting on the good side of Erin and her family. Nothing brought people together like food and full stomachs. He could have found a less life-threatening way of making friends though. She was going to have to have words with him later about what he had done. She was grateful for the meal but would rather he had chosen a more conventional way of fishing.
Apollyon muttered to Serenity, “He does not get this insane behaviour from my blood.”
Liora frowned at his back as he led Serenity across the sand, towards the camp. Amelia and Marcus followed the couple, easily catching up and then falling into step with them, and they began to talk.
Erin moved up beside Liora and Liora glanced across at her and then her gaze caught movement. She looked back at the camp and smiled as Veiron kneeled by the dead shark laid out on a piece of blue tarp on the sand and Asmodeus mimicked him, resting his hands on his thighs.
Veiron grinned as he talked and Liora wished she could hear what they were discussing as the scarlet-haired Hell’s angel took great pleasure in showing Asmodeus how to butcher a shark. Asmodeus frowned, his golden eyes intent on following every move Veiron made with the short blade, opening the shark’s white belly. He pulled a face as the organs spilled out.
“Fish guts smell disgusting… and that’s my cue!” Erin turned away from her, bent over and retched. Liora instinctively moved to her and rubbed her back as she dry heaved, clutching her belly. Erin bit out something harsh and then straightened. “Sorry. Junior is picky about some things. Loves the end result. Hates the method of getting there. I’ll scoff the food when it’s on my plate but throw up if I think about how it got there.”
“Sounds like fun.” Liora gave her a consolatory smile. “I thought angels couldn’t get people pregnant.”
“They can’t, normally. It’s because I share my father’s blood… like Asmodeus does.”
“He what?” Liora almost choked. “I thought he was created by the Devil from Apollyon’s blood?”
“He was… but surely you’ve noticed he has certain attributes that Apollyon doesn’t have?” Erin looked over at Asmodeus and she followed her gaze. Asmodeus looked up at her and Liora smiled when his expression turned concerned, showing him that she was alright. “Notice any similarities?”
Liora looked at Erin when she held her hands up, flashing a nasty set of claws that Liora didn’t recall seeing before and then smiling to reveal short fangs.
Her claws shrank back into normal black painted nails.
Amber eyes. Black claws. Fangs.
“I’ve thought hard about it ever since I met him in Hell and it makes sense that the Devil would mix in a little of his own blood to ensure that Asmodeus was loyal to him and he could control him if he had to.” Erin rubbed Liora’s arm. “You look as though I just popped your favourite balloon.”
Liora shook her head. “It’s just… Apollyon and Asmodeus mentioned that the Devil has his men bringing all these women to Hell for him to seduce… and you’re pregnant by an angel, which shouldn’t be possible… and I guess… I…”
“You’re thinking that Asmodeus’s little swimmers might be firing on all cylinders?” Erin looped her arm around Liora’s and squeezed. “My father has the power to plant life into a barren womb. I’m an… almost… perfect replica of his DNA. I have his powers, can contract with his angels, like Veiron, and can do everything he can. I’m like the female version of my father. That’s the only reason I can take Veiron’s, well, you know, and make a baby with it.”
“Is that meant to be reassuring?” Liora looked across at her and Erin smiled brightly.
“I’m saying that I’m a complete replica of my father… and there’s a vast difference between that and having a little of his blood in me. Asmodeus doesn’t have the Devil’s powers.” Erin caught her under the jaw and turned her face away from him, towards Apollyon. “He shares his doppelganger’s powers. Which would totally be a comfort if it weren’t for the fact that Apollyon is some almighty angel of destruction. The Great Destroyer.”
Erin’s tone turned dramatic and histrionic for those final three words.
“Why did the Devil create Asmodeus?” Liora looked back at him and found herself smiling as he tackled chopping half of the shark into thick chunks, a look of fierce concentration on his face. He looked at ease around Veiron now, despite their earlier fight, and didn’t seem to notice the wary looks that the male gave him from time to time. Did he feel more comfortable around someone from his own realm?
He probably felt as if he had an ally in Veiron.
“I don’t know.” Erin released her.
“I asked Apollyon when Asmodeus was sleeping and he said the same thing. He thinks that the Devil created him to be his right hand man, and I think that’s what Asmodeus believes too.”
“You don’t believe that?” Erin said.
Liora shook her head. “I did before. I just thought the Devil had created him because he could and because he wanted someone strong on his side, a powerful being who could help him rule Hell. The longer we spend together, the more I fear the Devil had a reason for making him, and hearing you call Apollyon the Great Destroyer… what if the Devil created Asmodeus from his blood because of that? What if he had wanted his own Great Destroyer?”
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Apollyon and Asmodeus have been around for thousands of years without being called upon for that purpose. My father likes insurance policies. He likes being in control. I would think that he made Asmodeus because he could and because his existence served as a sort of insurance policy—a way of protecting himself against Apollyon should the world go to hell.” Erin patted her arm again. “Come on. It’s getting dark and you really have to watch Veiron perform his miracle of turning fish into chicken.”
Erin waddled up the beach and Veiron rose to his feet as she approached and opened his arms to her. She stepped into them and he wrapped them around her, lowered his head and kissed her. Asmodeus looked uncomfortable and his gaze roamed to Liora.
She smiled at him and then looked out to sea. The sun was setting, casting gold and pink in the sky that echoed on the crisp turquoise water. It was beautiful. She sighed and listened to the water lapping against the shore, letting it soothe away her worries. Romulus and Remus continued to frolic in the small waves, chasing each other. Asmodeus’s gaze burned into her back, the intensity of it warming her right down to her bones, chasing away the last of her fears.
He wanted her to come to the group. She could almost feel it in her blood. He wanted her to return to him where she was safe and protected.
Liora’s smile widened and she obeyed his silent command.
“Romulus. Remus,” she called and the two hellhounds perked up, looked over at her and then came running full pelt towards her. She laughed as they rushed around her, springing at times, spraying her with water.
Liora turned towards Asmodeus. He was standing now, watching her, his broad bare chest bathed in golden light from the sunset and his long black linen trousers still damp and clinging to his thighs. Gorgeous. She would rather stare at him than the sunset behind her.
She walked towards him and Romulus and Remus rushed off in his direction.
Liora paused at a large piece of driftwood half-buried in the white sand. A mischievous smile tugged at her lips and she picked it up. It was too heavy for her to throw without assistance but that wasn’t going
to stop her.
She waggled it and whistled to get the attention of the two hellhounds, feeling Asmodeus watching her. She waited until Romulus and Remus were closing in on her again before focusing her magic on her arms and throwing the driftwood.
It flew through the air and Remus barked, the thunderous sound drawing a gasp from someone near the camp, and chased it with Romulus bounding behind him. They jostled for position, almost bouncing on top of each other. The huge stick came down over fifty yards along the beach and Romulus was first to reach it but Remus was right behind him.
She laughed again as they both grabbed an end and began tugging, fighting each other, and then tried to run back to her, both of them keeping hold of the stick.
“I like to watch you with my hellhounds,” Asmodeus said from right beside her, making her jump and her heart leap into her throat. She hadn’t felt him approach. She had been too lost in watching Romulus and Remus, playing with them.
“I never had a pet.” Liora looked across her shoulder at him and smiled when she caught the warmth in his golden eyes as he looked down at her. “I’m thinking of adopting yours. What would you say to that?”
Asmodeus turned his profile to her and watched the two hellhounds, a faint smile on his firm sensual lips. “I would like that very much.”
Liora looped her arms around his left one and squeezed. “Thank you for the shark.”
Asmodeus slid his gaze to meet hers and smiled. “But if I ever use myself as bait again, you will kill me?”
Her own smile widened and she nodded. “Exactly. What happened to taking more care?”
“The shark was hardly a threat to me as the dragon was.”
Her smile cracked into a grin. “So you admit that dragon was a threat to you?”
He huffed, slipped free of her and held his hand out. Romulus and Remus set the stick down in it and wagged their tails, eagerly waiting. Asmodeus brought the stick back behind him, spun on his heel and launched it down the full length of the beach in the other direction. Romulus and Remus shot off after it, kicking up sand as they raced past the camp. Erin laughed and watched them.
Her Wicked Angel Page 24