“And do you know that all of the demons older than two hundred years have no memories of the days before that time?”
“I did not,” Kade whispered, feeling the hairs on his body stand on end.
“Myself included,” the demon king continued. “All I know is that the first time a Level 10 demon appeared in my realm, I was confused. Within those demons, I sensed goodness. I knew my job was to ensure that the evil paid. That the cruel suffered in my realm. But what was I to do with beings that felt as if they should be angels rather than demons?”
Kade shook his head, not sure if he was expected to answer him.
The king held his hands behind his back and began to pace. “I couldn’t help them, or I’d risk bringing the wrath of Caine upon me. So, I did the only thing I could. I did nothing. As they climbed the realms to escape this prison, I didn’t stop them. I did nothing outwardly to support them, but in ignoring their actions, I helped them the only way I could.”
He stopped pacing and met Kade’s gaze. “But there’s change in the air. My demons, with the ability to prophesize, have warned me. A war is coming, and there are whispers that Caine will be overthrown.”
Kade closed his mouth, realizing that it had been hanging open. This is deeper than I ever imagined.
“So now a demon comes to me with a desire to help free the good demons, and I must ask myself: do I do nothing once more? Or do I do something?”
Kade held his breath, waiting.
The demon-king moved closer to him, so close they stood only inches from one another. A second later, a strange black pen appeared in his hand. “Roll up your sleeve and give me your arm.”
Kade obeyed.
The king pressed the pen against his skin.
Kade hissed, shocked as it burnt his flesh. Gritting his teeth, he held perfectly still as the king scribbled something onto his arm.
At last, the king pulled the pen away, and it disappeared from his hand. “This is the location of a realm that no one knows exists but me. In three days, I will ensure that every innocent demon is there. Your human can return them to Earth. But after the three days, the location will fade from your arm, and from existence.”
Kade stared at his arm, then back at the king. “Thank you.”
The man nodded. “But you know, this is just the beginning. You will not be able to hide that many demons. Caine will feel their presence. This act will be the beginning of war. Can you handle that?”
I would do anything for Sharen.
“Yes.”
“Then go. But if you should return to me again in death, do not expect to leave.”
Kade bowed low and then hurried out the door. The smell of burnt flesh followed him as he headed out into the demon city, but his heart also felt lighter.
War with the angels would be difficult, but it was better than what they were doing now. He and his brothers could help protect Sharen this way. And one way or another, all of this would end soon.
Hold on, Sharen, I’m coming!
Chapter Thirteen
Sharen lay curled up in the bottom of the shower. She didn’t have a clue what to do. When she’d joined the Rebellion, she’d been so sure of herself. The other humans that were helping the cause had found ways to track where some of the demons crossed over. They went to any location that appeared on their radar and tried to help the demons. She’d been the first one to suggest actually going over and getting them, and she’d been one of the few that could do it.
Everyone had been ecstatic. They’d thought this would change everything. Now, what do I tell them? What do I do?
Turning off the shower, she lay in the two feet of warm water that had pooled in the tub. She felt like she was being ripped apart.
On the sink, her phone rang. She frowned at the unknown number, but went with her gut and answered.
“What’s cookin' good lookin'?” Her best friend Elaina’s voice swept over her, instantly bringing her comfort.
“I haven’t heard from you in over a month.”
Her friend’s tone changed to a more serious one. “That’s one of the problems with being on the run... not enough time to call the people I love.”
Sharen laughed, although the sound was tinged with sadness. “I miss you. I’m completely lost, and I don’t know what to do.”
“Tell me what’s happening. I only have a minute, but I’ll help, if I can.”
Sharen rushed through an abbreviated version of what had happened and held her breath.
“Wow! Well, shit, that is a problem. Humm... First things first. You need to calm down."
“Calm down?” She looked at the phone. Had she heard Elaina correctly? “Calm down about unleashing evil onto our world?”
Elaina laughed. “You forget that you can’t control what these demons do. You can do your best to only save the good ones, and you can try to teach them how to be human again, but then it’s up to them.”
She shook her head. “But—"
“Hon, just do the best you can. That’s all you can do.”
Sharen sat in silence, not knowing what else to say.
“How are your demons doing?” Elaina said, abruptly changing topics.
She swallowed hard, trying to switch tracks while her heart was on the floor. “Kade got mad at me and took off. Alec is acting like I’m made of glass. And Ryder? Well, like usual, he's pretending everything is fine.”
“So nothing has changed.”
Sharen smiled, a small smile. “Not much. I just wish they could... they could... I don’t know.”
“They can’t do anything other than what they’re doing, because they’re as lost as you are. They want to be tough demons, but not every situation can be fixed with super strength or speed. Trust me, my demons struggle with it too, but give them a break, I’m sure they’re trying.”
Sharen leaned against the back of the tub. “Why does everyone keep telling me that?”
Elaina laughed. “Well, I need to go, but take a deep breath, Sharen. The amazing thing about you is that you can find hope in even the darkest of situations. I know you can fix this, or at least find some peace... with the refugees and your demons.”
She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Thanks.”
“Talk to you soon,” Elaina whispered and the line went dead.
Sharen stared at her phone and took a deep breath. She would try again. She dialed Kade’s number, her heart hammering, but just like before, it went to voicemail. She ended the call, worried more than ever. What if this is more than Kade ignoring me?
The water suddenly felt ice cold. Rising from the tub, she set her phone on the sink and grabbed a towel. Hurrying into her room, she dried and dressed as quickly as she could. She might not be able to solve all of the concerns from her demons, but she could find Kade and make sure he was safe.
Out in the living room, she heard a key turning in the lock.
A second later, Kade came in. He looked... filthy. Ash streaked his brown hair and his skin. His blue shirt was blackened in several spots, and his jeans were a mess. Her gaze moved up to his face. The lines around his dark eyes looked deeper, but there was also something unexpected in his gaze... hope.
She felt something rush through her. Something beautiful.
“Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick.” She gravitated to him, then reached up and stroked his cheek.
He leaned into her touch, his eyes closing. “I’ve been to hell and back.”
Her heart hammered. Was he being literal? “Why?”
Those piercing eyes of his opened once more. “For you. Always for you.”
She didn’t understand, but she took his hand. She led him to the bathroom and filled the tub once more with steaming water. He made quick work of removing her clothes and then moved to his own. He undid the buttons on his shirt and tugged it off, then slid off his pants. To her surprise, his clear arousal strained through his boxers.
She looked up at him. “Clearly you aren’t
too tired from your little trip.”
His normally stoic expression changed, a slight smile touching his lips. “Never too tired for you.”
Removing his boxers, she stood, and they moved into the bath together. The water blackened around them. She took her time, washing his hair and his body. Then she drained the water and filled it up with clear, fresh water.
She leaned against him in the bath, closing her eyes, feeling his arousal behind her. When his arm came around her, she glanced down, and gasped. On the underside of it were strange symbols.
“What the hell is this?”
He kissed the back of her neck. “The solution to our problems.”
The skin around the burn was red and painful looking. And the symbols... they looked like a strange tattoo that shimmered slightly in the light.
“What does that mean, Kade? What happened to you?” She sucked in a deep breath, fighting her urge to flip out. “While we were here trying to figure out how the hell to stop bad demons from crossing over and destroying humanity, you disappeared to what? Get a tattoo.”
He laughed, his other hand moving around to cup her breast.
She wanted to slap him away, but she was too damn focused on the symbols. “This isn’t funny.”
He rolled her nipple between his thumb and finger, drawing another gasp from her lips, but this time one of pleasure. “That’s because you don’t know what it is.”
“Kade!” she shouted, shifting only to feel his erection growing harder behind her.
“Fine.” He pressed kisses along her shoulder as he spoke. “This was given to me by the demon king himself. He has agreed to send all innocent demons to this realm location in three days’ time, so that we can save them all at once. So that we’ll know for sure the good ones from the bad.”
She whirled towards him. “Are you serious?”
He nodded.
This is... this is incredible!
“You idiot!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. “How dare you go see the demon king! How dare you put yourself in danger like that! And how dare you not tell me!”
He held her closely, tenderly. “Sorry.”
She clutched him tighter. If anything had happened to him, I’d never forgive myself. “And... and... thank you.”
Not just for this. For everything. For caring about me. For caring about this cause. For being the man I never thought I deserved.
Pulling back from him, their eyes locked. She leaned forward, and they kissed.
Like always, magic surged between them. An explosion rocked through her, awakening every nerve in her body. She parted her lips, and his tongue dove inside, exploring every inch of her mouth.
She shuddered, feeling her nipples bead into tight nubs.
As if sensing her arousal, his large hands closed over her breasts, and he grabbed them possessively. The feeling sent heat pooling at her core.
He parted her legs and slid her closer until she straddled him. After that, his hands returned to her breasts, touching them as if he knew how hot each stroke of his fingers made her.
She rocked against his erection and rolled her head back as his tip brushed her hot core.
He used the opportunity to lean down and suck one of her nipples.
She sucked in air, grabbed the back of his head and drew him closer. His mouth felt like heaven as he took her nipple deep into his mouth, licking it, and even gently biting it.
Desire built within her like something dangerous. She needed him inside her, and she couldn’t wait another second.
She let her hand run over the hard lines of his chest and stomach before she reached down and gripped his length.
A groan tore from his lips. “Sharen...” the way he murmured her name was a warning, but she didn’t care.
Positioning him at her entrance, she slowly took him inside her. All of him.
Even after all these months, it was difficult to fit his massive length inside her. He was so hard, filling her so completely that her mind became empty. Only pure sensation remained... the most amazing feeling in the world.
When he bottomed out inside her, she released him and braced her hands on his shoulders.
He reached between them and stroked her clit, looking up at her as if she were the most extraordinary thing in the world.
Her body spasmed around him as he stroked her and she began to slide up and down his hard length. A string of curses exploded from his lips, only encouraging her more.
She took him faster, harder. And each time she came down on him she saw stars.
Her nerves sung, her body screaming for release.
Throwing back her head, she barreled over the edge. Her orgasm, like something untamed, overtook her. She shouted Kade’s name, riding him until his hot seed filled her. But, she continued to move against him until they both slowly stopped.
He held her close and stroked her hair. “I love you.”
She kissed his shoulder. “I love you too.”
After a long minute, he whispered. “If this is what you do every time I put myself in danger, I’ll have to do it more.”
Pulling back from him, she punched him in the stomach. “Don’t you dare!”
They both grinned at each other, lost in the perfect moment. The door to the bathroom opened and Ryder and Alec stared at them, not looking the least bit surprised.
“We need to talk,” Alec said.
She frowned. “Now?”
He nodded. “Now.”
What the hell has gone wrong now?
Chapter Fourteen
Sharen dried off and slipped into new clothes. When she finished brushing her hair, she took a deep breath, wondering what the heck her boys were so upset about now.
Probably nothing.
They did have a tendency to overreact. When she opened her bedroom door, her three demons stood in a circle in the center of the living area. In the middle of them, a man was bound, his mouth duct-taped.
She froze. What the hell?
The man sat up slightly and looked toward her.
She recognized him in a heartbeat. “Alderon?”
All three of her demon’s looked at her like she’d suddenly grown another head, but Alec spoke first. “You know who this is?”
Her mouth clamped shut. I guess I'm passed a lie at this point. “Yes.”
Alec got that look. The one that said he was pissed. He stalked toward her, a threat in his eyes. “How do you know this fae? This man who followed me home?”
She was shocked by the venom in his voice. “What’s your issue with fae?”
“Answer the question, Sharen!”
She sighed. They aren’t going to like this one bit. “He’s a Hunter.”
“Fuck,” Kade muttered. “We’ll have to kill him.”
Sharen stiffened and hurried toward the man on the floor. “You can’t just kill him. He hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“He knows where we are.” Kade crossed his arms in front of his broad chest, and she could see that in his mind his decision was already made. “And he’ll bring the others. Leaving him alive isn’t an option.”
Sharen ignored Kade, kneeling down and ripping the duct tape off the Hunter's lips.
Alderon winced. “Thanks.”
She tossed the duct tape on the floor. “Did you really think following him was a good idea?”
The man tried to shrug, even with his hands bound behind his back. “Honestly, I didn’t think the demon would notice.”
“Pompous ass!” Alec snarled.
Alderon had the nerve to shoot her demon an arrogant look. “And I wasn’t trying to conceal myself too carefully. I assumed if you spotted me, you’d know exactly why I was following you.”
All eyes were on her.
Crap.
She cleared her throat. “I ran into Alderon yesterday. He agreed to look into my past and to keep our location a secret.”
“Sharen!” Alec ran angry fingers through his hair. “What the hell wer
e you thinking?”
Her gaze swung to Ryder.
He shook his head. “Sorry, babe, but I’m with Alec on this. Hunters can never be trusted.”
“You guys trusted me.” Her words dropped like stones into the silence.
After a long minute, Kade spoke. “Why did you trust him?”
She tried not to look at the man duct-taped in front of her. “I don’t know. But I did. And sometimes I need to trust my instincts more than my head.”
“I hate to interrupt this... whatever it is,” the fae said, “but maybe now that we’re all on the same page you could untie me?”
“Not a chance!” Alec muttered.
Sharen bit back her irritation. She wouldn't waste her time arguing with them. Damned demons! Pulling a dagger out of her boot, she cut him free, ignoring Alec’s stream of curses.
“Did you come here to give me a 24-hour heads-up or did you discover something?”
Alderon sat up and started pulling the duct-tape from his wrists with a hiss. “The latter.”
Her pulse picked up. “Go on.”
He pulled the shreds of duct tape off his ankles, looking strangely graceful as he did so. “There were several names connected with you. Lindsay Grace. Tally Summers. Sosha Arthur. Jenee Collens. Kathleen Thomas.”
She frowned. “How are those names connected to me?”
He finally shook the last piece of tape onto the carpet, and then turned his strange pale eyes to her. “None of the women lived at the same time. None of them came from the same family line, or even the same country. The only similarity between them was that when one woman died, another one was born.”
“I don’t understand.”
“When Lindsay Grace died, Tally Summers was born. When Sosha Arthur died, Jenee Collens was born. And so on.”
Sharen's head spun with his revelations. “So what does that mean?”
Alderon gave her a gentle smile. “I’m not sure yet. I plan to research the names, but I wanted to check with you first to see if any of them sounded familiar to you.”
She shook her head. “Not even a little bit.”
“I thought that might be the case.” He shrugged. “That’s all right. The mystery deepens.”
Suddenly, Alec grabbed Alderon by the arm and hauled him to his feet. “Now that your friendly chat is over, I think it’s time we handle this situation.”
Mates of the Realms: The Complete Collection: A Paranormal Reverse Harem Box Set Page 18