Dark magic.
Even the air I breathed crawled with it now.
From the center of the pentagram, something moved.
I sucked in a breath as swirls of something “other” began to appear. Rourke only spoke louder, faster. Whatever this was, he’d done it before. And that meant—
This wasn’t his first illegal portal. Shit. He was the one behind it all. The greater demons, the pentagrams. It had been my desperate-for-a-date warlock neighbor this whole freaking time.
I was an idiot.
Setting my crossbow aside, I moved silently closer to get a better look. This was the proof I needed. The evidence. I couldn’t afford to miss a thing.
From my new vantage point, the portal glowed a murky gray.
A storm cloud standing upright, it churned and writhed, widening until it reached the borders of the spell work—and the rat’s blood. Gross. From inside it, screams and moans floated through. The surface was too thick to see anything that lay on the other side, but the sounds alone, not to mention the sulfuric smell, were enough to convince me I was better off not seeing the source of the screams.
From the depths of the shadows at the alley’s end, something moved closer.
Dread settled in my gut as my senses picked up on the power of the creature approaching.
Rourke’s accomplice.
A slender figure, taller than any man or supe, stepped into the dim moonlight, and it took everything in me to swallow my gasp.
Not Raguel.
Even from here, I could see that.
Time stopped as I watched the figure nod at Rourke.
“Ortum, daemonium,” Rourke called out. “In profundum inferi deuoluti, et parere oriri tuus.”
As he spoke, the portal churned brighter.
From the other side, something began to emerge.
Every bone in my body screamed at me to run.
Instead, I held my breath and remained utterly still, mesmerized by the shock of what I was witnessing.
Two demons stepped through the dark portal. Neither was something I’d ever seen before, not even in the demon indexes we studied at the Tiff. Sulfur clung to them, so thick I could smell it from here. Whatever these monsters were, they’d come from the darkest corners of Hell itself. One blew smoke from its nostrils every time it breathed. Its skin was charred black, and while it stood on two legs, its face resembled a bull. The second was a woman, and at first glance, I might have pegged her for a banshee of some kind. Or maybe a wraith demon. But there was something more to her. Something calculating and much more aware than the wraiths I’d seen.
Her eyes were the color of coal, and her claws dripped with what smelled like blood. She faced off with the figure, unflinching in the presence of Nephilim power.
“Master,” the woman rasped. “What need do you have of us?”
But it was Rourke who spoke. “There is a Nephilim who stands in the way of our plans. His name is Adrik. You will kill him.” His voice was surprisingly steady for a warlock who stood among angels and demons.
“We cannot stand against the Nephilim,” the woman said.
“You will when we’re finished with you,” Rourke told her.
The female demon smiled, revealing rows of sharpened teeth that looked more deadly than any predator I’d encountered. The bull huffed, more smoke billowing from its nostrils.
“Patience,” Rourke snapped at them.
His confidence would have been impressive if it wasn’t so evil.
“We will finish our preparations and summon you when it’s time,” he told them. “For now, the city is yours. Feed yourselves. Gather your strength.”
The bull and the hag disappeared into the alleyway.
I didn’t move, watching as Rourke uttered the words that closed the portal. Even after he gathered his supplies and said his goodbyes to his Nephilim partner, I remained.
Finally, Selaphiel turned away from Rourke. I watched as she spread her wings and beat them against the air until she was lifted off her feet. In a move so smooth it looked easy, she sailed into the night sky and flew away.
When I was alone, I finally let out a breath, my hand clutching my stomach as I stumbled back and sat heavily.
Replaying it all over, I tried to figure out how I’d missed it. I’d been so sure it was Raguel. So sure—
A burst of air disturbed the silence. A second later, feet landed with a thud behind me.
I jumped up, whirling and nearly shrieking as I realized I’d been found.
“Relax. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
My shoulders sagged at the sight of Adrik. But I immediately tensed again as I remembered all I’d just seen.
“Adrik, I saw—”
“I know.” His eyes flashed—thunder and lightning in a single look.
I blew out a breath. “She intends to kill you,” I said quietly.
“I know,” he said again.
Fear sliced into me, stronger than I expected. The idea of someone trying to hurt Adrik . . . But he couldn’t be harmed. Right?
“She won’t get a chance,” I said, horrified at the wobble in my voice.
Adrik’s expression softened. “Come here.”
He still looked like the force of God Himself, but there was a tenderness in him I’d never seen before. Maybe that tenderness is why my feet moved at his request.
Before I knew it, I was standing before him.
When he reached for me, surprise had me leaning in. His arm snaked around my waist, and he pulled me to his chest. Everywhere our bodies touched, my skin hummed.
Angel power, I told myself. Probably just angel power.
His eyes on mine were like bottled moonlight.
He leaned closer, and my breath caught.
My hands wrapped around his neck, my fingertips brushing his midnight hair.
“Forgive me,” he whispered, his mouth hovering just above mine.
My lips ached, and my body strained.
“Forgive me,” he said again.
My muddled thoughts clicked slowly into place. Right. We were still in a fight about the whole partners-with-my-dad thing. But it was hard to feel angry in the wake of my fear for his life. Or when he held me like this.
“No more lies,” I whispered. “No more secrets.”
“I have only one,” he said, and my chest tightened. I looked up at him, trying to brace myself for whatever else there might be.
“What is it?” I asked.
“This.” His lips crashed against mine in a final admission that needed no words to convey. And try as I might, I couldn’t fight the truth in them.
The End
Book 3 Coming October 2020
Pre-Order now!
Shift happens.
Gem’s life has gone from bad to worse faster than her secret demon baby can say “Dada.” What started as a crappy job and a possible killer to bring to justice has become a full-blown conspiracy from hell. Literally.
Demons are being summoned into New Orleans and Gem is sure there’s a Nephilim behind it. Now, all she has to do is prove it. Oh yeah, and not get herself killed in the process.
Too bad for Gem, everyone has secrets, including her. And when the powers-that-be find out what she’s capable of, they’ll stop at nothing to silence her once and for all.
Death’s Door releases October 2020!
About the Author
Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. (She's only slightly socially awkward as a result.) She writes paranormal and contemporary romance with plenty of abs and angst. Her most frequent hobbies are riding motorcycles and avoiding killer slugs.
You can find out more about Heather and her books at heatherhildenbrand.com.
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Other titles by Heather H
ildenbrand:
The Girl Who Cried Werewolf: Bookstagrammer Romy Cartelli discovers book boyfriends are real. But not every supernatural creature come to life is one of the good guys. Get it for Kindle!
Goddess Ascending: In order to save her family and the one she loves, she’ll have to ascend—if the darkness doesn’t get to her first. Get it now!
The Monster Ball Anthology: 13 bestselling paranormal romance authors bring you a night you won’t forget! One night a year, the supernatural elite all gather for a party like no other. And remember, what happens at the ball stays at the ball… Get it now for Kindle!
The Girl Who Called The Stars: A fierce heroine far from home and the army she left behind must reunite to save the galaxy from utter darkness. Get it now for Kindle.
Remembrance: She’s the cure that could save him… if only she could remember how. “Witches, Werewolves, and WTF?!” Get it for Kindle now.
Bitter Rivalry: Two long lost sisters are reunited and forced to compete for the alpha role in their pack. The winner has been promised to the vampire prince. One sister wants to kiss him; the other wants to kill him. Can siblings survive rivalry and forbidden love? Get it here.
A Risk Worth Taking: A New Adult Contemporary Romance with southern charm and a hippie farmer capable of swoon and heartbreak in the same breath. To get it for kindle, click here.
Dirty Blood: A Young Adult Paranormal Romance about a girl who falls in love with a werewolf, only to find out she’s a Hunter, born and bred to kill the very thing she means to save. To get it for Kindle, click here.
Imitation: A Young Adult SciFi Romance with life or death choices and a conspiracy so deep, even a motorcycle-riding bodyguard can’t pull you out. To get it for Kindle, click here.
O Face: Is Summerville’s most eligible bachelor hot enough to melt the ice princess herself? Find out!
For a complete list of titles, visit Heather’s website.
Knock Em Dead (Supernatural Security Force Book 2) Page 23