by Olivia Ash
Sadie squeezed his hand and offered a sympathetic smile. He returned the gesture, and they continued walking.
As they turned the corner to a dark hallway, Kaiser gently pinned her against the wall. His hands propped against the wall on either side of her. Her heart quickened.
“You need an ally, Sadie,” he said. “Someone you can trust.”
“And that’s you?” she asked, more breathless than accusatory.
“I know about Blair.”
Sadie’s eyes widened. “How could you possibly know?”
The back of his right hand brushed her neck. Sadie sighed. “That’s what I was doing on the surface,” he said, voice husky. “Tracking Blair Blackwood, one of the greatest demon hunters of all time.”
“Demon hunter?”
His wings wrapped around the two of them, but she could still see his face. “Yes. My spies warned me she had finally gone in over her head. That she finally stole something she shouldn’t have. I wanted—needed—to find it.”
Kaiser knew more about Blair’s secret life than Sadie. She tried to not let it affect her. But it didn’t seem fair. Blair was her sister. She should have known more. Done more. The bite of jealousy hit her in the stomach and tears stung her eyes.
Blair had kept so much from her. Sadie worried she hadn’t really known her sister at all. At least she could learn a little more from Kaiser and understand what Blair had gone through. Maybe he knew something that would help Sadie find her sister.
“What else do you know about her?”
“Demon hunters actively seek out the deadly creatures of the underworld. I don’t know how she got hold of the pendant.” He cupped her cheek and brushed her hair behind her ear. “Truth be told, I would have kidnapped you had I known your connection to Blair.” His fingertips grazed the nape of her neck. Her nerve endings tingled. “I’m glad I didn’t.”
Sadie leveled her stare at him, standing as confident as possible. She kept her voice even when she said, “That didn’t answer my question. And you don’t scare me.”
He could have killed her when he had the chance, and he had plenty of chances. But he didn’t. And though that still puzzled her, she would forever be grateful to him.
A shadow of thought flickered through Kaiser’s eyes. Sadie wondered what that thought was, but he pulled away, allowing her to stand away from the wall. The sudden cool air chilled her skin, and she wished for him to press closer to her again.
As they began to walk again, she said, “Tell me more about magic.”
Kaiser nodded. “Some demons can get enhancements, advanced magic that sets them apart. Most who try, die, and most of the warlocks who perform the spells die in the process. So, it’s rare that any two demons share the same powers.”
“What’s yours?” she asked.
In response, he held out his hand and ignited a small flame. She smiled, feeling more connected to him. They both had an affinity for fire. Destructive, cleansing fire. He could help her hone her ability, proving himself even more of an asset to her.
He hovered his other palm above the flame. It crackled like a campfire, even imitating the sounds. The sparks flew around the tiny flame, glowing like fireflies. Sadie stared in wonder.
He clapped his hands, extinguishing the fire, and dark smoke swallowed them. Her back slammed against the wall, and cold strips wrapped around her wrists, ankles, and waist.
As the smoke dissipated, Kaiser stared at her. Predatory. Fierce. Dark.
He stepped closer, closing the gap between them. He brought his face to hers. “Satisfied?”
His breath washed over her, warming her skin, setting her nerves on fire.
Energy brimmed from the wispy lines that shackled her to the wall.
Two could play this game… She focused her magic on them, trying to manipulate the smoke, but failed. He was definitely a strong caster. His magic rivaled hers most likely because she was still learning to control hers. She wouldn’t let him know it, but she knew he would be an incredible ally if she chose him.
Smiling, she narrowed her eyes on his in what she hoped was a sexy and challenging look. “Is this the best you can do?”
Chapter Sixteen
Sadie
That evening, Sadie relaxed on a lounge on her balcony, drinking wine in her new favorite red robe. She reflected on her time with Kaiser, how he made her feel, the discussion they had, and that demonstration of his. Her nerves tingled with the memory.
She sensed someone entering her room, bursting her peaceful moment.
“My room is a private space,” she said with a groan.
She removed herself from her lounge to further berate the intruder, but her eyebrows rose as she took in Steele, standing in the middle of her room, scratching the back of his head. She crossed an arm over her chest, watching him expectantly from over the rim of her wine glass.
She didn’t know him very well. And so far, he wasn’t off to a good start.
She set her wine glass on the balustrade and asked, “What are you doing here? Better yet, what part of my room is off limits is hard for you to understand?”
“I’ve wanted to get you alone since the moment I set eyes on you.” He grinned. “I knew you were secretly waiting for me to visit you.”
Hardly.
He held his arms out to the side. “Now, here I am. Sorry I took so long.”
Steele was charming. Sadie had to give him that. But she set rules for a reason, and dammit, they were going to be followed. “Tell me why I shouldn’t kick you out right now.”
“Kick me out? How can you resist this?” He bobbed his eyebrows.
Sadie shook her head and smiled. And Steele smiled, too. He seemed hell-bent on disregarding the rule, but there was something carefree and weightless with his presence. Her shoulders felt less tense, and she seemed more relaxed.
“Fine,” she said. “Since you’re already breaking the rules, show me what you got.”
“Finally,” he said and removed his shirt. “I’ve wanted in your pants since I first saw you.”
Her mouth fell open. “No that’s not—”
He tossed the green shirt on her bed. His chiseled abdomen and well-muscled arms were expertly displayed. Though she appreciated the sight, that wasn’t what she meant at all.
“Okay, that’s—” Well, that’s an amazing sight.
Steele started with his pants, undoing the waist and pulling it past his hips enough to reveal the intricate, precise manscaping.
She burst out laughing.
Between breaths, she tried to form a full apology, but the words kept getting broken and coming out, “I… em… sar…,” She panted for breath and tried starting over again. She excused herself to the balcony and forced herself to gain some composure before she returned, unable to keep the smile from her face.
She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. I meant show me your magic.”
He frowned. “Oh.” He picked up his shirt from her bed and slipped an arm into the sleeve. He pulled the fabric down, covering up his delicious pecs and abs.
“Don’t.” She held up a hand. “Now, you have to do it with your shirt off.”
He smirked and slipped back out of the shirt, throwing it to the side. She almost licked her lips.
“All right. Come closer, then,” he said.
She didn’t move. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest and lifted an eyebrow. Oh, no. She wasn’t going to follow his instructions. She was in control here. Not the other way around.
He chuckled. “Oh, now you’re scared.”
“Why do I have to come closer?” she asked.
“Because,” he said, walking closer to her, eyes taking on a devilish glint. He closed the space between them and leaned in to whisper in her ear, “I want you to feel.”
He leaned closer and kissed her neck. His hand drifted lower, parting the neckline of her robe and revealing her breast. She sighed, too consumed in pleasure to stop him. He had that effect on her. She wanted
him.
Steele fondled her breast, and his thumb flicked her nipple. He kissed her ear, and she moaned. The apex of her thighs throbbed. Don’t stop. Don’t stop. Don’t stop.
He growled as he removed her robe. The fabric collected at her feet.
His kisses drifted lower and she ran her fingers through his hair, urging him to continue. Needing him to. The pleasure was too much to halt. Too addicting.
He kissed her nipple and traced his tongue around the outside of it. She arched her back, pressing her breast farther into his mouth. Wetness spread between her thighs, and Steele groaned, digging his fingers into her back.
In an instant, he was gone. The immense pleasure that shook her to the core slowly ebbed. Sadie stood on her balcony, covered by her robe, and Steele sat on her bed, smirking. She gasped for air as her heart slowly returned to its normal pace.
“That was all in my head?” she asked.
He nodded and said, “I can make people see and feel things that aren’t real. I wouldn’t have done that if you had not wanted me to.”
She didn’t respond. Her cheeks flushed with heat as she thought about what it might have looked like to Steele to see her writhing with pleasure, gasping and moaning. She turned her back to him and looked over the railing to the courtyard below, steadying her breathing. His footsteps quietly approached. He brushed her forearms with his fingers and her heart skipped a beat. She wondered what he would do next.
“There is a much darker side to my gift as well. Do you want to see that?”
She wasn’t so sure. To replace what he had done with something much darker, she didn’t know if she could handle it. But it could prove useful to know the entire package of what he could do.
She faced him, leaning against the wall of the balcony. As she looked into his eyes, there was a light in them she hadn’t noticed before. She wanted to give him a chance to see what his power could do, but that could leave her open and vulnerable. She didn’t trust him yet.
He seemed to notice her hesitation and cupped her upper arm, filling her body with warmth. “I’ll teach you how to block it.”
“How?”
“You can form a mental barrier, so I wouldn’t be able to get into your head. Try to imagine a wall barricading your mind. Form that wall with unnecessary thoughts. Maybe you can use a song, or a poem, or just the same word over and over again. That way, when I try to breach your mind, all I’d hear is insignificant noise.”
She slowly nodded. That could prove useful. Maybe she could allow him to show her that darker side of his skill. But first, she needed a song. Something she could repeat over and over to prevent him from getting in. She wanted something easy. Maybe a little ridiculous.
Finally, she settled on one. An old children’s nursery rhyme.
“Let me try.”
She bit her lower lip, focusing on following his advice. She imagined a wall and built it with the lyrics of Ring Around the Rosie. She nodded to signal that she was ready.
“I’ll try to get through the wall, all right?” Steele said.
“Okay.”
A claw scratched at her mental barrier.
“Good,” Steele said. “You’ve got the hang of it. Let’s see how strong it is now.”
The claw scratched harder, and she concentrated more on the lyrics, strengthening the wall.
Now a fist seemed to bang on her barrier. Then two fists, and a huge blow.
All bounced off her mental block.
Steele stepped back a pace and cocked his head to the side, his lips pulled into a proud grin. “You’re a fast learner, aren’t you?” He raised a hand and his thumb brushed the edge of the amulet. “You have incredible access to magic, Sadie. New abilities may come to you faster than most people.”
She nodded. “Yeah, but you realize I can teach this to whoever I pick, right?”
He shrugged, unfazed. “I’m sure you’ll pick me anyway.” He brushed her hair behind her shoulders and his fingers rested on her neck. “After the way I made you feel. You’ll pick me.”
Her eyes fluttered closed. If she ever chose Steele, that skill of his, for sure, would be the reason.
“Now, for that darker side. Care to give it a shot? If it becomes too much, you can always block it.”
“Does it work that way?” she asked.
“Yes and no. It works better to practice having that barrier up at all times. It will get easier as you go.”
She thought about it for a moment. Now that she knew how to block his mind invasion, she didn’t mind seeing what he had to show her. She didn’t trust him fully just yet, but boy did that thing he did help a lot. Not to mention, he showed her how to block it. She nodded.
Steele’s expression turned serious, and his eyes darkened. He touched the back of her hand. At first, pleasure tingled through her skin. As the tingles moved, the pleasure shifted to sharp stings of tiny needles.
She looked at her hand as tiny black holes appeared on the surface, growing bigger as the pain increased. Sadie bit on the inside of her cheek to force back the urge to scream. Tiny, spike-covered worms squirmed out of those holes, biting and scratching as they moved. The pain became stronger, burning through her nerves.
Closing her eyes, she focused on the song again. Slowly the pain ebbed, coming back with greater force. A pinched formed in the center of her brow as she concentrated harder, shouting the song in the back of her mind as the image Steele put her through fought against her.
The barrier became solid as the mental attack faded away.
“That’s enough for today,” she said, shaking out the remaining effects of the imaginary pain and worms from her hands.
“Very well. We could always end on a more positive note, like sending you into levels of pleasure you have yet to experience.”
Sadie let out a nervous chuckle. “Maybe another time.”
“I’ll get you eventually,” he said with a wink.
“You’re always so sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
He grinned and shrugged. “Then I bid you goodnight.”
Leaving her on the balcony, he went back into her room and picked up his shirt. She hated watching him put it back on, but she also knew it was for the best.
As he opened the door to her room, he looked over his shoulder and said, “Oh. Interesting song choice, by the way.”
Chapter Seventeen
Sadie
Sadie and Hobson stepped through the castle halls as he showed her more of the massive fortress. First, and to her appreciation, she was led to the private training area. Not far from there were some gardens, the dining room, sitting room, guestrooms, and courtyards.
She would probably need a lifetime just to see everything. But the general framework of the fortress seemed easy enough to remember. The north wing was hers. The east wing was for guests. And the west wing was the barracks for soldiers.
Sadie thought about her ifrit subjects. Her army. She wondered if that was something she really needed to build for herself. She rubbed the pendant, almost certain it would be a good idea, but she had enough on her plate for the time being. She needed to focus on the tasks at hand: align herself with one of the demon princes, rescue her sister if she wasn’t already dead, and kill Mara.
In the south wing, the walls and archways were gloomy compared to the other parts of the fortress. The stone walls held an eerie shade of blue with dark runes painted in swirls throughout. The archways and pillars looked like gravestones, and on top of each sat a carved head of a snarling lion with glaring eyes that seemed to follow their every move.
An eternal mist permeated the air, guarding the metallic doorway that stood on the far end of the hallway. Sadie wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.
“This place had always been used for terror and torture,” Hobson said beside her, his voice quiet. “I was never permitted to enter. It’s reserved for the demon queen only.”
Sadie wondered what the demon queen would need with such a place. For enem
ies, maybe? She wrinkled her nose. Though unnerved, she felt her pendant warm, calling her into the darkness.
“I’ll take a look,” she said. “You can go, Hobson. I can find my way to my chambers.”
Hobson seemed to hesitate, but he eventually nodded and turned around. As soon as he was out of sight, Sadie spun in a slow circle, taking in every detail she could. It would help to have some sort of landmark for her to follow in case she ever did get lost in this gigantic place.
She opened the door and walked the cobweb-covered hallway, following the tug she felt on her pendant. Eventually, she arrived into a cobblestone courtyard surrounded by four majestic stone walls with ivy climbing up the posts and turrets. Shadows shrouded the place, and dim beams of light shined through cracks from the high ceiling. Hallways branched off in every direction. A fountain took up the center of the floor with a stature of a cloaked figure rising from its middle.
Anyone else would feel uncomfortable, if not scared, within this dark, lonely place, but she only felt curious. This was her domain. She knew it in her bones. The magic here obeyed her.
She sat on the edge of the fountain, breathing in the energy, letting it fill her body, taking in the ominous view. Movement pulled her attention to a white, wispy figure moving in one of the hallways adjacent to her. It floated toward her, taking the shape of a demoness, easily eight feet tall and towering over Sadie.
The ghost’s white curls billowed around her face, and her eyes glowed white. Her sharp chin jutted out, her back ramrod straight. A circle of azure crystals sat atop her head. She lifted a hand toward Sadie, pointing a thin, ghastly finger at her. Whispers of a woman’s voice echoed in the courtyard, all of it too soft and fast to hear clearly.