by Ashlee Sinn
Copyright © 2018 Ashlee Sinn
http://www.ashleesinn.com
This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. This is a work of fiction intended for mature audiences only. All sexual activities depicted occur between consenting characters 18 years or older who are not blood related.
All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be copied, used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author. If you’ve illegally downloaded this book for free, shame on you. Authors work too hard for you to be stealing their books.
Cover Design by Ashlee Sinn
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
The Vampire Huntress
The Callaghan Clan
The Alaska Shifters
The Shifters of Eagle Creek
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Other Books by Ashlee Sinn
THE DEMON MISTRESS
A demon in control, Arabella was content. She didn’t need to get married like her twin sister. She didn’t want a life in suburbia with some human to take care of and no ties to the demon world. Arabella had no problem hunting souls and seeking the comfort of another when it suited her. She enjoyed her solitary life, even if that meant giving up her sister and starting over on her own.
But when Arabella is sent to collect a delinquent soul, she doesn’t expect to run into a guardian angel. Especially not one that makes her second guess every decision she’s made. Tall, handsome, witty, and undeniably sexy, Jericho is a formidable opponent to her demon. Unable to complete her job, Arabella soon learns there’s more to that lost soul—and the angel protecting it—than she understands. With her own eternity on the line, she’s forced to confront the striking angel and finish what she started…despite the fact she’s starting to enjoy his broody ways.
Yet fate has a different plan. One that involves corrupt angels, headstrong archdemons, delicate humans, and an attraction neither can deny. Arabella and Jericho must work together to fight for the lives of those they’ve chosen to protect. But that may mean losing their identities—and each other—for all eternity if they fail.
Weddings sucked. Whichever human thought to torment the rest of us with these useless ceremonies that made women go crazy and men doubt their commitment, should burn in Hell. No, they should be stripped of their skin, forced to eat their entrails, and then burn. Slowly. It would be a fitting punishment for making me wear this stupid pink dress full of ruffles and bows and forcing me to stand next to my sister as though I agreed with what she was doing.
Ashby was getting married today.
To a human.
I still didn’t understand what my twin sister was thinking. She could have enjoyed her long life with Silas without going through with the paperwork. She’d once brought him back from the brink of death, and now they shared more than any other couple did. Silas still bore the mark of the demon in one of his eyes…something that made him stand out from the rest of his vampire hunting friends. It was also that something that would bond them together forever. Without getting married like the humans did.
“Arabella!” My sister snapped at me as though it wasn’t the first time she’d spoken.
I yanked on the hem of my dress and adjusted my bra. “What?”
She glared at me. “How’s my hair?”
“What?”
Ashby turned her back toward me so I could see the twists and knots behind her blonde head. “Is the clip still there?”
“The pink flower one?” I huffed. “Where did you get something that awful?”
She sighed and cracked her neck—a sign that she was about to start a fight with me. “It’s my something borrowed and it belonged to Silas’ grandmother.”
“It’s hideous.”
“It means a lot to him.”
“Since when did you ever care about someone else’s feelings?” I hated that I was losing my sister to…humanity.
“Since now, Arabella. And I expect you to care too.”
“No way.”
“Stop acting like a child!” She whispered that last part because the doors to the church had just opened.
“Fine, but did you really have to get married in a church. I mean, come on.”
She gave me a smirk and a wink. “Silas thought we’d all burn up if we stepped inside. I had to prove him wrong.”
“Is Mammon coming?” Our sire, and one of the most powerful demons down below, had not been thrilled about this arrangement. But since our maker wouldn’t allow Silas to live in Hell, Ashby said she’d make a life for them in the sun.
Ashby shrugged. “Probably not. She’s not happy with me right now.”
“Neither am I,” I grumbled as we scanned the crowd sitting in the pews. Most of them were Silas’ friends since demons didn’t typically like sitting in a place dedicated to God.
“Just pretend, okay? I need you today.”
Taken aback by her words, I realized that was the first time in our numerous centuries together that my older sister (by two minutes) admitted that she needed me.
“Come on, you’re up.” Ashby pushed me forward, hard enough that I stumbled in my heels and almost fell on my face. I was the only person in the wedding party other than Silas’ friend Broch. A vampire hunter as well, Broch had not made eye contact with me at all in the past two days we had to do the wedding stuff together.
But that was all right…I would never let a human’s opinion of me get me down. They didn’t matter. They were just a job. So when I blew Broch a kiss and his face paled ten shades of white, I laughed to myself before turning around and facing the crowd. I also didn’t miss Ashby’s narrowed eyes from the end of the aisle.
A cello began to play the wedding march and everyone stood. Ashby decided to wear white—another argument between us—and as I watched her smile at Silas, taking one step at a time like a stupid movie, I had to give it to her. She’d stuck with her gut and she committed to a human. Regardless of the consequences at home, she’d chosen love.
My stomach twisted with that thought. Love. Seriously? Demons didn’t feel love. Especially not demons like my sister and me who’d been created only to serve others and not form any kind of bond. The fact that Ashby loved Silas so much turned that whole idea on its head and covered it with tar and feathers. We weren’t emotional. We didn’t care about others.
We didn’t fall in love.
As the boring ceremony dragged on, I let my eyes scan the audience. I recognized Sophia Glen and Viktor Kaskov along with some other vampires and vampire hunters. Silas’ human family sat in the front row—his two sisters, his parents, and his grandmother who had the worst taste in jewelry ever. The humans all sat there with cheesy smiles on their faces despite being surrounded by creatures that only existed in their nightmares.
Amazing how a wedding can bring us all together.
Smirking to myself, I caught the gaze of Stefan over on Ashby’s side of the church. Tall, dark, and handsome, the high-ranking incubus shot
me a wicked smile. We’d spent…time together over the years. But it wasn’t a relationship like Ashby had formed. No, we simply fulfilled each other’s needs as they arose. He mouthed a few words to me—something about the reception, and I nodded.
Perhaps I could survive this day after all if Stefan gave me a way to release all my tension.
“Arabella!” Ashby whisper-shouted at me. She held out her arm, thrusting the bouquet of flowers toward me. “Pay attention!”
Taking the hideous display of human traditions in my hand, I shrugged. Silas and Ashby exchanged rings, and then vows, and then the wedding was finally over. As the church erupted in cheers and my sister and new brother-in-law jogged down the aisle, I thought about blinking back home and skipping the reception all together. But when Broch held out his elbow asking me to walk with him, I knew I needed to suck it up a little longer.
What I didn’t expect was the two-hour photo session with no alcohol and no chance to get away from the love fest. I swear my sister did it on purpose, just to haunt me. First it was at the church. Then we drove to Central Park. Then the subway tunnels. Yes, tunnels. Ashby thought it would be symbolic. They kind of looked and smelled like parts of Hell, so it was as close as they could get to being there at the same time.
When we finally arrived at the reception, I immediately took my long hair out of my bun, ripped off the shoulder length sleeves of my dress, and marched over to the bar. Once taken care of, I downed two shots of whiskey and ordered my favorite sipping drink. As a demon, I could never really get drunk, but at least I could pretend that the alcohol was helping to lighten the torture some.
Ashby and Silas had chosen one of Mammon’s bars to have the reception. Our sire had her hand on the pulse of the city in the form of business operations. From night clubs to office buildings, she’d successfully weaseled her way into all parts of the human world. I’d started to do the same, buying a few plazas and investing in some restaurants. While money wasn’t the currency of Hell, I still needed to blend in with the humans while I stayed above and the only way to do that was through currency.
“Are you hating this as much as I am?”
Stefan’s voice tickled down my spine, caressing me with seduction. “You have no idea,” I said, clinking his glass with mine. “I think my sister is trying to kill me.”
He chuckled. “Well, as far as forms of torture go, a wedding is pretty high up there on the list.”
“Right?” I gushed, happy to hear someone else shared my opinion. “They’re torturous.”
Stefan ran his fingers along my thigh and leaned in closer. “What are you doing later?”
I watched his eyes turn a glowing blue, his incubus tendencies working full force. Stefan couldn’t help but seduce and please. It was all he knew. It was what he needed to do to live. Stefan fed off the life force of humans each time he gave them pleasure. But with us, it was different. He could steal some of my energy, but it wouldn’t satiate him. Instead we were allowed to enjoy carnal pleasures without the pressure of pursuing human souls or life forces.
I leaned into him and whispered in his ear. “I’m free.”
Stefan turned his head and brushed his lips against mine. “Good.” His hand slipped underneath my dress and his thumb brushed against my sex. “Because I think you need to be punished for your sins.”
“Mmm,” I breathed.
Running his fingers along my warm center, I gasped when he pulled away. “I need to recharge if you’re coming over tonight.” His eyes drifted toward Silas’ sisters.
I smiled. “Both?”
Stefan shrugged. “For you? Yes.” Kissing the top of my head, Stefan grabbed his drink and sauntered off toward the unsuspecting women. The man certainly knew how to seduce. Dark hair, tanned skin, a perfect set of defined muscles—he was built for this.
Turning back toward the other side of the bar, I cringed while Ashby and Silas had their first dance and did the garter thing. Another human tradition I didn’t understand. A marriage was a trap. Why would anyone fight over the chance to be the one to catch the bait?
“Arabella.” A small man, round and smooth, sat down in the stool next to me. A lesser demon who didn’t seem to understand his place, he waved for a drink and then turned to face me. “Arabella the Soul Snatcher.”
I raised my brows at the old nickname. “Do I know you?”
He swiveled in his seat, feet bouncing out of control. “No, net yet. But I hope you will.”
“Get lost,” I groaned.
“No, no, no,” he said, touching my arm to get my attention again. When I glared down at him, he let go. “That’s not what I meant. It’s not a sexual thing.”
Throwing my head back to take the last sip of absinthe, I laughed. “Definitely not.” Stefan caught my eyes again and he winked as he kissed the neck of one of the sisters.
The man licked his lips and took a couple of breaths. “What I mean is that I’d like you to teach me. I want to shadow you so I can learn the tricks of the trade.”
“How old are you?”
“I’ve been a demon for one year.”
Rubbing the pain in the back of my neck, I sighed. “One year doesn’t give you very much experience.” I faced him, opening my legs so that his knees fell between mine. His mouth dropped open. “Do you know how long I’ve been doing this?”
“I…I—”
“Centuries, little man. Centuries.”
“Okay…” he started to lower his hands so they would rest on my knees.
“Don’t even think about touching me,” I growled. “You were human first?” I sniffed the air, confirming my question before he could nod. “You smell like fear. We are all way out of your league, buddy.”
“My name is Rayzon.”
“Raisin?”
He chuckled. “No. Ray-zon. But everyone calls me Ray.”
“I don’t care what they call you. Survive another two hundred years and then maybe we can talk.” I stood, pushing my glass to the back of the bar and smiling at the bartender.
“Please, don’t go. I really want to learn from you. They say you’re the best.”
Turning my back to him, I said. “I am.”
“But I want to be as good as you,” Raisin continued to beg.
“Impossible.” Waving my fingers at Stefan, I strutted to the other side of the building to say goodbye to my sister. I was halfway across the room before Raisin stopped following me. Every year I’d get a few of them—the new demons anxious to climb the ladder. The used-to-be humans were especially bad. Those that sold their souls were always the ones that wanted to be in charge without paying their dues first. Those types of Unders usually didn’t survive in our world very long.
Ashby stepped in front of me, appearing out of nowhere. “Where are you going, sister?”
“Did you just blink?” Part of our bloodline meant we had the ability to teleport almost anywhere. It was a convenient mode of travel…except when there were humans present.
“No, you just weren’t paying attention. You’d think you could be present just this once for me.” She crossed her arms and huffed. “Why are you being so rude?”
“Ashby, stop.” I didn’t feel like having this conversation. “I’m just tired.”
“We don’t sleep.”
“My feet hurt.”
“You wear heels higher than that every single day.”
“Fine. I just want to go home, is that okay?” At the word “home”, Ashby flinched. “What?” I asked, worried that she was about to drop another bomb.
“It’s your home now.”
“Right,” I said, shaking my head. “Mine and yours. We’ve shared that apartment for fifty years.”
“No, not mine anymore. I’m moving in with Silas.”
This wasn’t such a huge surprise, considering they’d pretty much been living together since he’d moved to New York City. But I sensed there was more.
Ashby continued. “I had the Unders move my stuff out this morni
ng. So when you go home, it will just be you.”
Her words stung. My twin. My sister. We’d been bonded since birth and now I was losing her to a human. And speaking of that human, Silas sidled up next to her and wrapped his hand around her back. His blond hair hung down far enough to cover the vertical demon iris in his left eye. I glared at him.
“Did you tell her?” he asked.
“Do you see that look on her face?” Ashby said with a giggle. She and Silas shared a laugh at my expense.
“I hate both of you,” I snarled. But then Ashby jumped forward and pulled me into a hug.
“You love me.”
“Nope.”
She smiled. “Thanks for being here today.”
“Whatever,” I moaned. When I stepped away from her, I hated the way my heart seemed to squeeze shut. “I’m leaving. Enjoy your honeymoon.”
And before my sister could make me feel sad, I turned and marched out of that reception with thoughts of a half empty apartment on my mind. For the first time in three hundred years, I was truly by myself. No more hunting together. No more traveling together.
Silas had stolen my sister.
And damn him for making me sentimental.
I stood in the open space and wondered what I was going to do. The building Ashby and I owned had a top floor loft apartment that had been our home for decades. The tall ceiling, exposed piping, and old wooden beams now felt sterile and distant since she’d moved all her furniture and decorations out of the apartment.
Staring at the oversized fireplace, I was trying to decide between two paintings. One of them was a simple abstract black and gray ocean scene. The other boasted a giant demon dropping coins into the hands of naked females. It was supposed to be Mammon, the demon of greed. But my sire looked nothing like the masculine figure in the painting. We’d always laugh about how humans thought demons could only be male and enjoyed proving them wrong any chance we got. Ashby and I had torn up city after city, seducing and collecting souls of men without even breaking a sweat.