Darkblood Prison: Demon At Large : Supernatural Prison Squad Series Book 3

by G. K. DeRosa

  “She’s not going,” I growled, my voice more animal than man. I’d just gotten Azara back, and there was no way I was losing her again. Not to the devil and certainly not to the Underworld.

  Azara reached over and squeezed my knee, and my focus swerved from the intimidating male to the feel of her skin against mine. Her mere touch quelled the fierce beast lurking just under my flesh. I inhaled deeply and shoved him back, prying my fingers from the mahogany and placing them over her hand.

  After a quick glance at the intimate gesture, Lucifer fixed his piercing irises to mine once more. “You really don’t have a say in the matter, dragon.”

  “No, but I do.” Azara released me and placed her palms on the desk, leaning forward to meet her grandfather’s satisfied grin. “I have zero desire to claim the throne of the sixth realm of the Underworld—or any realm to be perfectly honest.”

  Lucifer’s jaw clenched, and he straightened in the high-backed chair. “Sometimes what we desire plays no part in what destiny has chosen for us.”

  “That’s crap, Luci, and you know it. Maybe Thax’s oracle was right and I would be his downfall, but that’s where I draw the line. I’ve got my own demons to worry about without having to rein in an entire realm of them.”

  He lifted a dark brow and steepled his fingers, inclining forward. “Last I’d heard, you were joining the SIA. As an agent, wouldn’t part of your duties involve keeping the humans safe? If you believe Delacroix’s coup won’t cause an uproar in the Underworld then you haven’t been paying close enough attention. I’m merely here to deliver a warning… and a solution.”

  “We’ll take our chances, Lucifer.” I stood, hoping the man would get the hint this discussion was over before my dragon tossed his ass out in a blazing inferno.

  Lucifer rose slowly, exhaling a dramatic breath. “Dear Azara, I hope that you’ll reconsider what we’ve spoken of today. As my favorite granddaughter, I hoped, no dreamed, we could rule side by side.”

  “Thanks, but no thanks, Luci. I want to do my time and get the hell out of here. World domination isn’t exactly on my to-do list.”

  I couldn’t help my lips tipping into a grin. Gods, she was gorgeous when she stood up to the devil. Slowly but surely the old Azara was coming back. Despite everything she’d done, I’d never truly given up on her. I couldn’t, no matter how hard I’d tried. Maybe it was remnants of the blood bond we’d shared or maybe it was something else, but Azara had an iron grip on my heart and nothing would break its hold.

  Lucifer held his arms open, and a beaming smile curled his lips. “How about a hug for your old gramps, my stubborn girl?”

  Azara tensed beside me, but her body soon relaxed as Lucifer inched closer and drew her into his arms. The hard set of her jaw melted into a smile as she buried her face in his designer suit. Lucifer was a sneaky bastard, but from what I’d heard he’d always been there for his “favorite” granddaughter. I wondered if Azara’s memories of him were beginning to return. I wanted her to get her life back more than anything, but I also feared for the dark times of her imprisonment with Thax to resurface.

  My fingers curled into a tight fist, and my talons ripped into my palm. Dammit. I spun away from Azara and Lucifer and drew in a deep breath, calming the rage. Thax may have lost his throne, but he still needed to pay for what he did to her. When I did find him, I’d let my dragon have his way with the traitorous dark lord. The beast rumbled under the surface. I’d flay his skin with one talon, bearing him open for all to see then I’d roast his hide and scatter his ashes over the Underworld. No one hurt what was mine.

  “Ta-ta, dragon.” Lucifer’s voice jerked me from my dark inner musings, and I glanced up in time to see the king of the Underworld disappear in a murky mist.

  Azara curled into my side, wrapping her arm around my waist. I swiveled her around so her body was flush against my chest and pressed her closer. Before Lucifer’s untimely arrival, we had been close to rekindling an old flame. Now being with her, physically, was all I could think about despite my “just friends” declaration. My dragon—I wanted her so badly it consumed my every waking thought.

  A pang of fear raced across my insides, jabbing me in the chest. What if I lost her again? The ever-present voice taunted me, the lingering doubt was the only reason I’d insisted on waiting to get close again.

  “Talon?” Azara’s voice snapped me back to the present, to the soft body pressed against mine.

  “Hmm?” I dipped my head and brushed my lips over her forehead. It was so easy to fall into old habits. Being with Azara felt more natural than shifting.

  “Are you okay?” Her eyes met mine, golden flecks sparkling through the darkness.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.”

  “What are you thinking about then?” Her mouth puckered into a cute pout, and I ground my teeth to keep myself from capturing her lips. Losing my focus, losing myself in Azara could make her vulnerable and I wouldn’t risk that. Not until I knew she was safe.

  I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck and tilted it up to meet her inquisitive gaze. “I was thinking about how sexy you’d look in a dark lord get up.”

  A laugh burst from her lips, her eyes twinkling with amusement. After everything she’d been through the past few months, I didn’t need to burden her with my dark musings. Surely, there’d be plenty more of that to come.

  The laughter eventually died down, and her face grew somber. She tightened her hold around my waist and glanced up at me. “Seriously though, do you think what Luci said was true? Are humans going to be in danger with Delacroix in Thax’s throne?”

  I shrugged, hoping to keep my expression neutral. “I don’t know, but it’s not your responsibility, Azara. The SIA can step in if things in the Underworld get out of hand. All that matters now is that Thax is gone, and you’re safe.”

  A grin melted across her lips, and my heart stirred. “So does that mean we don’t have to stick to the ‘just friends’ rule anymore? If I’m not in danger, my safety shouldn’t have to be your primary focus anymore, right?”

  I cupped her cheeks and leaned in, my mouth inexplicably drawn to hers despite my best efforts. “Your safety will always be my number one priority, Azara.”

  She inched closer, and her tantalizing scent of gardenias swept across my senses. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t get closer right?”

  She pressed her body harder against mine, and my lower half ached. I was sure she could feel my desire as she rubbed against me, challenging me, taunting me. It wasn’t a fair fight. I wanted her so badly, missed her for so long… I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold out.

  “Azara…” I growled, my voice low and raspy.

  She stepped back and popped her hand on her hip, shooting me a narrowed glare. “What? Before Lucifer interrupted, you said waiting was overrated. What’s changed?”

  “What’s changed is that Delacroix double-crossed us and Thax. He’s a part of your twisted bloodline too, and he knows this prison like the back of his hairy paw. We have no idea what he’s up to and I don’t like it.”

  “He’s not up to anything. He got exactly what he wanted—Thax out of the way and now he’s got the throne. What else could he desire?”

  I loosed an exasperated breath and raked my hands over my face. “I don’t know.”

  She closed the space between us once again and captured my chin between her delicate fingers. “Relax, Talon. The worst part is over. Can’t we just enjoy this little moment of triumph?”

  Before I could answer, Azara’s mouth closed over mine. It only took a second for my lips to yield to hers. She tasted exactly like I remembered, honey and fire rolled into one. My core lit up at her touch, at her hands exploring my back, her fingertips traveling down my spine.

  Mine. Mine. Mine. My possessive dragon’s voice echoed in my head. He was ready to mark her, to brand her as ours. But I couldn’t—not yet. Not until I was sure. I loved her, there was no doubt about that. I desired her more than any othe
r female I’d ever encountered. But after feeling the effects of the blood bond and losing it, I was terrified. Terrified I’d lose her again and be broken beyond repair.

  Azara’s teeth snagged my lower lip, and she drew it into her warm mouth. A low growl rumbled in my chest. With her body pressed so close to mine, she must have felt it. It only spurred her on as her hands entwined behind my neck and she deepened the kiss.

  She jumped up, and my hands instinctively found her thighs and wrapped them around my middle. Just this once. I lied to myself as I scrambled for the couch. Tomorrow, I’d be fully focused. If I could only have her once, now that she was really back, I could thoroughly concentrate on her safety. I just had to appease my dragon.

  Stretching her out on the couch, I hovered over her, those impossibly profound irises drilling into me. “I love you, Azara,” I muttered against her swollen lips. “Despite everything, I never stopped.”

  Her lips spread into a smile. “I know.”

  I chuckled. “Not exactly the answer I was hoping for…”

  Her fingers flew up to the zipper of my jumpsuit, and she slowly drew it down. My arousal pressed against the thin polyester barrier. She stopped just under my bellybutton, and I sucked in a breath. Her eyes met mine, and my heart slammed against my ribcage. “Of course, I love you, you surly dragon. Even without my memories, my heart, my body, my mind, they all knew yours. I freaking broke into Darkblood Prison for you!”

  Now I was the one smiling down at her like an idiot. Gods, what had this girl done to me?

  She reached for the zipper once more, and my insides coiled in anticipation.

  The door whipped open, and Logan and Vander stalked in.

  A slew of curses poured from my clenched jaw as I leapt off Azara and zipped up my jumpsuit. She adjusted her tank top, which luckily had remained on and sat up, crimson coloring her cheeks.

  “Sorry,” Logan muttered, diverting his gaze to the floor. “No, actually I’m not sorry. This is my office.” He waited for a few seconds before lifting his eyes to meet mine. Vander hadn’t dared look in my direction.

  Azara was still on the couch, running her hand through her tangled hair and avoiding the warden’s stare.

  “Actaeon just told me you two were in here with Lucifer. How did that turn into this?” He pointed at the two of us, and I could feel the mortification still tinting Azara’s cheeks.

  “I’m just going to go,” said Vander, hitching his thumb over his shoulder. Anger contorted his features as his eyes bounced from Azara to me.

  “Good,” I muttered. My brother was dead to me. He’d taken advantage of Azara while she was vulnerable, and I’d never forgive him. Never. His betrayal stung more deeply than the death of my own parents. Every time I looked at him I was reminded of what he’d done—of his hands on her—on what was mine.

  Vander stormed out, the door slamming behind him.

  Once he was gone, Azara inched closer, her arms wrapped across her middle and embarrassment still coating her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Logan.”

  The warden shook his head, waving a nonchalant hand and folded into his chair. “I’m not blind, Azara, and I know you’re not a little girl anymore. But if you’d kindly refrain from doing that in my office, I’d greatly appreciate it.”

  She nodded quickly.

  “Now tell me what happened with Lucifer.”

  The final book in the series, Darkblood Prison: Demon Dark Lord will be out March 23 and you can preorder it now!

  Also by G.K. DeRosa

  Royally Hitched Series

  Royally Hitched: The Fae Prince

  Royally Hitched: The Fae Twins

  Royally Hitched: The Fae Princess

  Darkblood Academy

  Darkblood Academy: Half-Blood

  Darkblood Academy: Supernatural Slayer Squad

  Darkblood Academy: Demons

  Darkblood Academy: Prophecies

  The Hitched Series

  Hitched: The Bachelorette

  Hitched: The Top Ten

  Hitched: The Final Five

  Hitched: The One

  The Vampire and Angel Wars

  Wings & Destruction

  Blood & Rebellion

  Souls & Salvation

  The Vampire Prophecy

  Dark Fates

  Dark Divide

  Dark Oblivion

  The Hybrid Trilogy

  Magic Bound

  Immortal Magic

  Beyond Magic

  Magic Bound: The Hybrid Trilogy The Complete Collection

  The Guardian Series

  Wilder: The Guardian Series

  Wilder Destiny

  Wilder Revelation

  Wilder Legacy

  Wilder: The Guardian Series The Complete Collection

  Acknowledgments

  A huge and wholehearted thank you to my dedicated readers! I could not do this without you. I love hearing from you and your enthusiasm for the characters and story. You are the best!

  A special thank you to my loving and supportive husband who always understood my need for escaping into a good book (or TV show!). He inspires me to try harder and push further every day. And of course my mother who is the guiding force behind everything I do and made me everything I am today. Without her, I literally could not write—because she’s also my part-time babysitter! To my father who will always live on in my dreams. And finally, my babies, Alexander and Stella, who bring an unimaginable amount of joy and adventure to my life everyday.

  A big thank you to my new talented graphic designer, Sanja Gombar, for creating a beautiful book cover. A special thank you to my dedicated beta readers/fellow authors Jena, Tiea, Bethany and Mary Ellen who have been my sounding board on everything from cover ideas, blurbs, and story details. And all of my beta readers who gave me great ideas, caught spelling errors, and were all around amazing.

  Thank you to all my family and friends (especially you, Robin Wiley!) and new indie author and blogger friends (you’re the best Mary Ellen!) who let me bounce ideas off of them and listened to my struggles as an author and self-publisher. I appreciate it more than you all will ever know.

  ~ G.K.

  About the Author

  USA Today Bestselling Author, G.K. De Rosa has always had a passion for all things fantasy and romance. Growing up, she loved to read, devouring books in a single sitting. She attended Catholic school where reading and writing were an intense part of the curriculum, and she credits her amazing teachers for instilling in her a love of storytelling. As an adult, her favorite books were always young adult novels, and she remains a self-proclaimed fifteen year-old at heart. When she’s not reading, writing or watching way too many TV shows, she’s traveling and eating around the world with her family. G.K. DeRosa currently lives in South Florida with her real life Prince Charming, their son, daughter and fur baby, Nico, the German shepherd.

  www.gkderosa.com

  gkderosa@wilderbook.com