by Brenda Trim
“Let’s head to Pedro and Francisco’s place,” Dante suggested. He never hooked up with Paige the other day. He wasn’t going to pass that up again. “They still have their finger on the pulse in this city.”
“I’ve always wanted to go to Old Absinthe,” Tristan added. “That place is as legendary as Confetti Too.”
“We don’t have time for you to drink and find a female to fuck,” Dante warned the wizard. Even though he was planning on doing just that. Or at least he was going to make plans to meet up later.
“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the place is closed. It’s our way of trying to flatten the curve,” Lia interjected.
Dante forgot she wasn’t aware of their world. Hell, she wasn’t even one of them. She was a human with knowledge of the realm because her mind couldn’t be wiped. Dante wondered if Araton had given her his blood on purpose.
That’s an awfully big oversight on the angel’s part. Dante had never known Araton to focus on anything but the fight against demons. He has a quick temper which clearly translated into a hot desire. The tension between him and Natalia was explosive.
“Och, there is a realm bar underneath the human bar. Some friends own the place,” Zander explained.
When they turned down Bienville Dante was surprised to see several supernaturals not bothering to hide their obvious otherness. There was a Valkyrie with her gossamer wings on full display and a fire demon glowing in the gas lamps. Shooting a look at Zander they increased their pace to the group.
Araton appeared next to Lia as she headed across the street to a group of humans snapping photos with their phones. They were really fucking lucky the streets weren’t as crowded as usual. It would be a colossal nightmare to deal with.
“Slate. Head over with Natalia and Araton and deal with those humans. Tristan, cast a spell to interrupt cell service. Can you erase the evidence?” Zander ordered the Dark Warriors.
Tristan shook his head. I can’t erase what’s already there. We are going to have to make them erase all traces of their images and video,” Tristan explained.
“Shite. Get it done,” Zander told them. Both warriors nodded and headed to the humans while they continued to the supernaturals. Dante remained on high alert. The last thing they needed was for Izzy to be abducted while they were distracted.
“What the fuck are you thinking?” Zander demanded the second they were standing next to the group.
Initially, none of them tracked what they were saying. Dante noticed the female he was looking for among them. “You okay, Paige? What’s going on?”
Zander looked at Dante, reflecting his concern back at him. Dante laid a hand on her shoulder and her head turned his direction. It was the first time she showed any sign of seeing them.
“Dante? What…” Paige murmured and allowed her voice to trail off as she stood there.
“You are all exposing yourselves to the humans. Is there a celebration we aren’t aware of that makes this acceptable?” Dante asked.
Shaking her head, Paige swallowed and paled when she noticed Zander standing there. “No. We were heading to Absinthe House when we sensed…something off.”
The Valkyrie next to her concealed her wings and wrapped her arms around her waist. “It reminded me of archdemons. I took off running, but don’t remember anything after hitting the corner.” Dante noticed the female had scars all along the sides of her neck.
His heart skipped several beats when he realized she had to be one of the survivors Zander and his Dark Warriors rescued years ago from Kadir’s lair. He couldn’t be certain, but he doubted many supernaturals had been attacked by demons enough to leave that amount of scarring behind.
Dante wrapped his arms around their waists and lead them to the gate for Old Absinthe. “Go in and get a drink. I can escort you home in a bit if you don’t want to stay.”
“Thank you,” Paige told him with a small smile.
Dante leaned in and kissed her cheek at the same time he called his pheromones to the surface. He pushed them through his pores in a trickle and was relieved when the females relaxed against his side. “I was coming to see you, anyway,” he admitted to Paige. “I got busy the other night. But I’m not going to let that happen again.”
The fear receded from her face and the familiar scent of feminine arousal replaced it. Dante kissed the side of her mouth and returned to Zander’s side. Shit was uneasy in the Big Easy, and he wasn’t sure how they were going to keep their existence hidden if this crap continued to happen.
Hayden’s insistence that they come out to humans rang through Dante’s head as he watched the Vampire King manipulate human memories. Was it wise to keep their existence a secret? Perhaps Hayden was right, and it was time for humans to join in the hunt.
Look at Natalia. She was a human cop and hadn’t backed down from demons. Nor had she shown any fear of them. In fact, she had consistently insisted on being part of their investigations.
That didn’t mean everyone would welcome their existence. Something he knew all too well. His own mother couldn’t love him after discovering he was different. And, it had little to do with the fact that he had an insatiable need for sex.
She’d been horrified that he wasn’t human. When she gathered the other villagers and came after him in their family home he was forced to flee to safety. It was luck that he was sent to his father. He often wondered what would have become of him if he hadn’t been with his father in the Underworld.
Dead, he thought. No way could he have lived with himself if he’d ever forced another to have intercourse with him. And, there is no doubt he would have denied himself to the point he became a danger. No. It’s best to remain a secret. Computers, cars and indoor plumbing didn’t mean humans weren’t the same reactive creatures as hundreds of years ago.
Chapter 9
Araton watched Lia talk to the humans and had to admire her authority. It shouldn’t be a surprise given her position as a police officer. In his experience few carried the air of confidence needed to truly lead others and make them listen without threat of violence.
There was something undeniable about someone that was able to tell another what they were doing wrong and have them listen without argument or justification. He was so used to those around him using power at times like this, but Lia did nothing of the sort.
She walked back to his side and he looked for signs that anything was off. All he saw were sexy curves and a beautiful woman. But there were no signs that she’d been infected by evil.
“So, what did your boss say?” A gasp left her, and she swiveled on her heels to stare at him with wide eyes. “Did you ask God about me and those shadows?”
The strangest things happened. The ever-present weight in his chest eased and an emotion he only felt when his sister was near filled his heart. Was he really happy? When one corner of his mouth lifted, he realized that he was indeed delighted by this female.
“No. I didn’t talk to God. I spoke with the archangel Gabriel,” he informed her. “He is in charge of the Warrior Angels.”
“I cannot believe you spoke with an honest to God archangel about me. Wait. Why isn’t Michael in charge of you guys? Wasn’t he the one that lead the fight against Lucifer? Or does the Bible have it all wrong?”
A chuckle left Araton. The archangels were not a subject most humans had any real knowledge of. “Michael wanted a break from the fighting, so Gabriel took over. They’ll change in a century or two. Raphael always seems to be the one in charge of everything.”
“Got it. So, what did Gabriel say?”
Araton scanned the area. After Tristan and Slate finished with the human phones and Lia sent them home the street went pretty silent. Zander and the others ushered the supernaturals to the bar below the building they were next to.
“Gabriel said we need to keep an eye on you to make sure the darkness doesn’t take hold in you and turn you.”
Natalia started walking down the street while glancing all around them.
It wasn’t the same as the other night when they were at Jackson Square. Then she was vigilant. Now she seemed to be looking, but not really seeing anything.
“What did he say I would turn into? I’d rock horns, but I don’t think grey is my color,” she said. Her sarcasm punched him in the groin as if she were talking dirty to him.
Ignoring his arousal, Araton reminded himself that he was in New Orleans on a mission. At the moment, his mind added. “You will not turn into an actual demon. More that you will become evil and not care who and what you hurt as your emotions are destroyed piece by piece.”
“Don’t sugar coat it, Wings. I’m too stubborn to turn evil. Let’s scout the area and make sure there aren’t any lingering demons nearby.”
Araton fell into step beside her and was surprised how the mundane activity soothed his restlessness. “I’m not so sure stubbornness will stop demonic energy from taking over, but I believe if anyone can keep it at bay it’s you, Dove.”
They walked in silence for several minutes before Natalia pulled her phone from her back pocket and checked the screen. “I need to report for my shift. I will meet up with you later if you’re around.”
Araton ran his finger over her cheek and gazed into her stunning green eyes. “I will find you.”
“Or you could give me your number so I can reach out if I see anything. I have Dante’s cell programmed in, but I’d rather call you. You can teleport anywhere and be there faster than he can.”
Araton stepped so close to Lia he could smell her sweet scent. “Is that the only reason you’d rather call me?”
Natalia swallowed then licked her lips while keeping her gaze on his mouth. “You’re better looking. And saved my life with your blood. Doesn’t matter that it was an accident. Having you inside me saved me in more ways than one.”
“Not really,” he murmured against her ear as he leaned toward her. “There’s so much more I can give you.”
Lia took a step away from him and fanned her face with her hand. “Damn, Wings. You’ve got game. It’s a good thing I have to be on duty soon or I might do something I’ll regret. Give me your number.” He told her his cell number and she input the information.
“There will be no regrets when we come together,” Araton told her before he went invisible. He lifted off into the air and hovered close by to watch as Lia looked all around searching for him. She gave up far too quickly for his liking.
There was no time to linger and watch the human. There were demons actively trying to summon Lucifer in the area. It was much harder to shroud himself in the hyper focus he’d always had.
He resolved to only do the job, but by the time he’d reached the rooftop he was already thinking of the sexy cop. Calling his weapon to his hand, Araton flew off in search of demons to slice and dice.
Araton watched from a rooftop as Lia left the station. He’d managed to kill a hellhound and three skirm before he returned to Zander and his Dark Warriors to check in and see how their patrol was going.
The fact that Izzy was walking the streets and had not yet been attacked was proof that she had acquired some type of protection or shield during her absence from the realm. As he had told Izzy twenty minutes ago. The shift might be because she matured.
No one really knew how her signature would change as she grew. Araton for one didn’t believe the Goddess would leave Izzy vulnerable forever. It wouldn’t make sense. The Goddess needed the Vampire Princess as much as the realm needed the Goddess.
A familiar smile caught his eye and he snapped to attention like a dog heeding a call. With her black hair in a tail on the back of her head, Natalia waved to a fellow officer and headed to her patrol car.
She was alone, making him wonder how she was doing after losing her partner. Not that they were the same type of partners as Orlando and Santiago. They didn’t go to every scene together and didn’t drive around in the same vehicle.
As Lia had explained they worked the same area and never went into a dangerous situation without each other as back-up. They also spoke several times a night and crossed paths frequently.
It was when Araton recalled that she had no backup that he’d headed back to the station. And, no. That wasn’t an excuse for him to return and see the female again. She was aware of the supernatural now and wouldn’t hesitate to run headlong into a situation she wasn’t equipped to deal with.
He’d seen her courage enough to know that she wouldn’t hesitate. Her code of honor demanded that she eliminate any danger to her people. They had that in common. There was no way he would be able to ignore a demon if he encountered one.
He flew above the car and scanned the area while keeping an eye on her movements. The city was quiet, and the energy wasn’t as Dark as it had been a few nights ago when he arrived.
What Araton found interesting was that there wasn’t as much demonic activity in this city as there usually was. What action there was seemed to be highly concentrated in specific areas.
A car came speeding around a corner in front of Lia at a speed that caused the rear wheels to squeal. Immediately, the lights and sirens on the top of Natalia’s car were on and she was taking off after the driver.
Araton’s heart skipped a beat and he found himself taking off at top speed in the next second. Before he knew it, he was on top of the car. He managed to maintain his invisibility and he was in the air again when the car tried to turn right down an alley but didn’t make it.
The loud sound of metal crashing into brick was loud in the night. Lia had her car parked and her gun drawn in the blink of an eye. Tapping on the glass with the end of the gun, Natalia called out, “Get out of the car with your hands up.”
Several seconds passed and Araton nearly ripped the guy from his crumpled vehicle. Lia called for backup on her shoulder mic. The guy got out of the car and tried to take off down the alley.
Araton had landed and used a shield to hide his presence. The male slammed into it and fell on his ass. Natalia was on the offender’s back and handcuffing him. Another cop car arrived and called something else into base before he got out of the car.
“I’ve got the perp under control,” Natalia called out. “Can you get an ambulance, Wexler? And tow car for the vehicle?”
“Already done,” Wexler told her as he shinned his light inside the passenger side window. “We’ve got paraphernalia.” The other officer shone his light in the back.
Natalia hauled the guy up and pushed him toward the accident. Araton followed in their wake. An ambulance arrived and checked the offender over and gave him the all clear.
Lia shoved the offender in the back of her car and drove him back to the station while the other officer waited for the other car to be removed. Araton felt like a creepy stalker as he waited in the shadows for Natalia to return.
What the hell was he doing? He should be out searching for signs of demons, not hiding and waiting for a human female. It went against everything he stood for. He crouched down prepared to take off when Natalia’s voice caught his attention.
It was a sign he was exactly where he needed to be. God rarely intervened, but every once in a while, He sent a sign telling them what to do. It was then that Araton recalled the shadows that flew right into Lia’s chest. He had to keep an eye on her. If she went Dark on them, she could cause a significant amount of damage with her training and weapons.
Araton took to the skies and followed Lia once again. She seemed to be driving aimlessly throughout the Quarter for several minutes before she took off at a high speed. He followed and landed next to her vehicle when she stopped in front of store that looked closed.
“Jesus, Wings. You need to announce yourself. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
Araton couldn’t help but smile at her admonition. “Always expect me to appear out of nowhere. It’s how Warrior Angels operate. Even if we choose to show ourselves to humans. Besides, I’m trained for stealth. Calling out an alert would alert demons to my presence.”
“Wh
y are you here for a simple human theft?” She asked as she approached the building and glanced inside the plate glass window at the front. The interior was dark and appeared empty.
“I saw you and thought I would check in and see how the night is going,” he admitted moving closer to her body.
“Pretty boring. No signs of demons or rogue supernaturals,” she replied as she tested the door handle.
Araton made her pause when he touched her forearm. They stared at one another for several long minutes. Unable to resist any longer, Araton bent his head and shocked them both by lowering his face to hers. When his arousal blazed to life and started burning bright in his veins, he tamped it down and gentled his hold. Her pupils dilated as she stared back at him.
His lips brushed against hers, making the inferno threaten to run out of control. Need licked at his insides, making him ache for her body. Gently he moved his mouth over hers. Her reaction provoked him to let go for the brief seconds they had.
With a groan, he let go of her hands and tugged her uniform top from her pants. After pushing his way under the tight vest, he was finally able to place one big palm under her shirt on her lower back. His mind settled and rioted for more at the same time.
His tongue delved into her mouth when she gasped and held her close. Their tongues tangled wetly, sliding against each other for several heated seconds. When he finally broke the kiss, she was panting. He imagined her without the bullet proof vest on and wondered if her nipples were hard. He could practically feel them brush against his chest. Despite the layers that separated them, the contact tempted him like nothing else had in his long life.
She looked up and he became lost in her green eyes. It was stunning to realize he was affecting her. Of course, it was nowhere near as much as she was affecting him.
“I want more, but now is not the time for any of this,” she told him honestly. “I let myself get carried away just now and I can’t. I have a thief in this shop and we’re standing here kissing.”