by Julie Kenner
A rabbit scampered across the courtyard. It might have been one that Reaver had brought to repopulate what had once been a dead realm. “So anyway,” Reaver said after it disappeared under a bush, “you’re forgiven. Come home, Cat. You’ll even get your name back.”
Once again, joy engulfed her, as if she’d been swallowed by the sun. The fact that Heaven wanted her back was all she’d wanted when she’d first arrived here, scared and lonely and full of regret. But now...now she was happy. Happier than she’d ever been in Heaven.
“Thank you, Reaver,” she said. “But I’m afraid I’ll have to turn down your offer.”
One blond eyebrow shot up, but given that she’d just refused to get her wings and halo back, she thought he’d have been more surprised. “It’s Hades, isn’t it?”
Now she was the one who was surprised. “Ah...how did you know?”
“It makes sense.” He cocked his head and looked at her with an intensity that made her feel positively naked. “Are you sure you want to stay here as an Unfallen? Your powers are muted, you’re nearly as fragile as a human––”
“I’m sure. I don’t need powers down here, and with people like Hades, Azagoth, Zhubaal, and Lilliana around me, I don’t need to worry about my safety.”
He nodded. “Cool. But know that if you change your mind, the offer will remain open as long as you don’t do anything to betray Heaven or Earth. And you do understand that you could accept my offer and still be able to travel in the human and heavenly realms while living and working here in Sheoul-gra, yes?”
“I understand. But Hades resides in the Inner Sanctum, and as a fully haloed angel it would be far too dangerous for me to live there with him.” She laid her hand on his forearm reassuringly but pulled it back before his Heavenly goodness burned her skin to ash. “Being Unfallen puts me at a serious disadvantage everywhere but here. Here, it’s actually more protection than if I were an angel. I’m okay with it, Reaver. Really. Not everyone has to have badass superpowers to be something special.”
“Can I at least give you the ability to choose your own name? Or give Nova back to you? It’s a beautiful name.”
A lump formed in her throat. That was the first time anyone had spoken her Heavenly name in months. It brought back memories, so many of them, both good and bad. But it was her past, not her future.
“Nah,” she said. “I’m happy with who I am now. Raphael tried to shame me when he gave me my fallen angel name, but I won’t let him do that anymore. I’ll keep it to remind me to make wise choices.”
“Then so be it.” He pulled her into a brief embrace. “Be happy, Cataclysm.”
Then he was gone, and she was holding empty air.
Chapter Twenty
One month after moving in with Hades, their new “crypt” was finally finished.
Azagoth had completely removed all restrictions on Hades, and they now had a decent house that matched the ancient Greek style of the rest of Sheoul-gra. Unfortunately, Hades had been so busy meting out punishment to the demons who had participated in the uprising that he hadn’t had much time to enjoy it.
She’d taken today off from her new job working with the Unfallen, and she was going to make Hades do the same. They needed some quality time together, and she had the most amazing picnic planned.
He was at the Rot, as usual, which, besides their home, was the only place she was allowed to go in the Inner Sanctum. He’d taken her once to Cloud Cuckoo Land so she could thank the demons who had loaned her and Hades their home, but he’d made it clear that it was far too dangerous to do it again.
She finished dressing in a cute violet and black plaid skirt and a black tank top and gave the little wooden dog on Hades’s desk a stroke along its back and tail, laughing when it snapped at her. It was a silly little ritual she’d developed every time she left the house. Hades had promised to make her a tiny cat to match, but he’d see if he could enchant it to purr instead of bite.
Rubbing her belly in a futile attempt to quell the anxious flutters, she stepped into the portal and arrived at the Rot a heartbeat later. She hated this place, couldn’t help but think of the spider room every time she was there.
Malonius was at the entrance, and he gave her directions to some sort of classroom in the prison’s upper tower where Hades was supposed to be dealing with a group of unruly incubi. She could only imagine what kind of punishments would be doled out to sex demons.
She climbed the narrow, winding stone staircase and found Hades sitting on a stage before a horrified audience. As she entered through the door behind the stage, Hades spoke, reading from a book in his hands.
“Fill me with your filthy pee stick.” He paused for dramatic effect. “And lick my lush, melon-like boobies.”
She tripped over her own feet. Pee stick? Boobies? What the hell?
“Come on, boy,” Hades drawled, his voice pitched high as he read from what was clearly a woman’s point-of-view. “My old pussy needs some young meat.”
Cat cleared her voice to announce her presence, although, really, it was more like choking. Hades looked over his shoulder, his face split in a wide grin.
“Baby! Hey, it’s good to see you.” He waggled his brows as he gave her outfit a once-over. “It’s especially good to see you in that.”
She looked out at the roomful of demons, all human in appearance, as they sat in their too-small chairs, their eyes wild, their faces pale. Clearly, they were miserable.
“What are you doing?”
Hades held up the book. “I’m reading bad porn to a captive audience.”
“Bad porn? Bad? That’s a compliment. Whatever it is you’re reading is horrifying. Whoever wrote it should be roasted slowly over a bed of coals.”
Hades’s grin widened. “I like the way you think.” He waggled his brows. “Wanna play with my pee stick?”
She did, but not until he stopped calling it a pee stick. “Is that an actual offer or are you just having fun saying ‘pee stick’?”
“Tell you what,” he said, bounding to his feet. “What do you say we head back to my place, and I’ll whip us up a nice pot of mac and cheese––the good kind in the blue box––and you can tell me what you like to call dicks.”
“Does this mean we’re done?” someone called out from the audience. “Please?”
Hades snorted. “Stay put. I’ll get a sub in here.” He glanced at his watch. “You only have twenty days and three hours left of listening to atrocious porn, and then you can go back to being the perverts you are.” He waved, and they groaned. “See ya.”
“That was kind of cruel,” Cat said as they headed toward the portal that would take them to the house.
“But funny.” He threw his arm around her and planted a kiss on the top of her head. “So? What’s up? Are you breaking me out of prison for something good?”
“Yup.” They entered the portal, but instead of passing her hand over the symbol that would take them to his place, she took them to Azagoth’s realm. As they stepped out into the receiving room off the kitchen, she explained. “We’re having a picnic.”
He scowled. “Here?”
“Hardly.” Taking his hand, she led him through the mansion and outside to the portal that could whisk them to the human realm. Azagoth had released his restrictions on Hades’s travel, but so far, Hades hadn’t taken advantage of his newfound freedom. It was past time he did.
He kept silent until they arrived at a sunlit meadow surrounded by mountains and looking out over a vast, azure lake. A bald eagle cast a shadow on the water as it flew overhead in search of a meal, and somewhere in the forest, a coyote yipped.
“Crater Lake.” He inhaled the fragrant air, a bouquet of pine and summer wildflowers. “It looks just like the picture.”
She’d done a lot of scouting to find the exact location where the photo had been taken, and Reaver had escorted her to keep her out of danger. Heck, Reaver had even arranged for her parents to meet her here a couple of days ago. They’d b
een sorry for the way they’d treated her, although her father had still been a little cool. But then, he’d always been a bit stuffy.
They’d been horrified by the thought of their daughter hooking up with the Jailor of Souls, had tried to make her reconsider going back to Heaven, and when she refused, they’d promised an open line of communication. Even her brothers and sisters had agreed to contact her. It was far more than she ever would have hoped for.
“Come on.” Squeezing Hades’s hand, she led him to the bottle of wine and basket of fried chicken, potato salad, and fruit she’d laid out on a red and white checkered blanket. Thanks to Reaver and a little invisibility spell, animals had left everything alone.
Hades sank down on the blanket, extending one leg and propping up the other to rest one arm casually across his knee. He looked absolutely edible like that, more at ease than she’d ever seen him.
“I’ve never been on a picnic before,” he said as he peeked into the basket.
“I know. You told me once.” Kneeling next to him, she poured two glasses of red wine and handed one to him. “My coworkers and I used to do it all the time in Heaven. Everything is so beautiful that it makes you want to be out in nature, enjoying every minute of it.”
His gaze dropped, and even his blue hair managed to look sad. “Do you miss it?” he asked quietly, as if worried about her answer. “You gave up so much to be with me.”
“No,” she said fiercely, reaching over to tip his chin up so she could look him directly in the eyes. “I would have given up far more if I’d gone.”
“I love you, Cat,” he whispered. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I hope you know that I’d do it all over again to be with you. Thousands of years of loneliness was worth every second you’ve been in my life.”
Something caught in her chest. Tears stung her eyes. That was the first time he’d told her he loved her.
“I love you, too,” she rasped. “I can’t believe I ever thought that Sheoul-gra couldn’t be my home. You were right. Home is where the people who want you are.”
“Mmm.” He looked at her from over the rim of his glass, his gaze heating, focusing. Holding her in place.
Very slowly, he set down the glass and shifted so he was on his hands and knees, prowling toward her like a tiger with prey in its sights. Excitement shot through her. Electric, shivery excitement.
“Do you want me?” He pushed her backward, lowering his body over hers.
“Yes,” she hissed as he scraped his fangs over her jugular. “Oh, yes.”
One hand slid beneath her skirt and found her wet and ready. “Then take me home.”
With so much love she thought she might burst, she very happily welcomed him home.
Also from 1001 Dark Nights and Larissa Ione, discover Azagoth and Hades.
About Larissa Ione
Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and fictional worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. After a dozen moves all over the country with her now-retired U.S. Coast Guard spouse, she is now settled in Wisconsin with her husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.
For more information about Larissa, visit
http://www.larissaione.com.
Also from Larissa Ione
~ DEMONICA/LORDS OF DELIVERANCE SERIES ~
Pleasure Unbound (Book 1)
Desire Unchained (Book 2)
Passion Unleashed (Book 3)
Ecstasy Unveiled (Book 4)
Eternity Embraced ebook (Book 4.5) (NOVELLA)
Sin Undone August (Book 5)
Eternal Rider (Book 6)
Supernatural Anthology (Book 6.5) (NOVELLA)
Immortal Rider (Book 7)
Lethal Rider (Book 8)
Rogue Rider (Book 9)
REAVER (Book 10)
AZAGOTH (Book 10.5)
REVENANT (Book 11)
HADES (Book 11.5)
Base Instincts (Book 11.6)
~ MOONBOUND CLAN VAMPIRES SERIES ~
Bound By Night (book 1)
Chained By Night (book 2)
Blood Red Kiss Anthology (book 2.5)
Base Instincts
A Demonica Story (M/M)
By Larissa Ione
Click here to purchase.
According to the news, the weather system bearing down on Damon Slake was a proven killer.
But then, Slake was also a killer, and he could guaran-damn-tee that he was far more lethal than a thunderstorm.
Rain and hail pelted him as he stood outside one of several secret entrances to Thirst, a vampire nightclub that operated in the shadows of a human goth hangout called The Velvet Chain. Like most upscale vamp clubs, this one catered to all otherworldly beings, as well as humans who were willing to give themselves up as a snack for those who fed on blood. And, like most upscale vamp clubs, this place even had a medical clinic. Reputation was everything, and no club owner wanted to deal with a bunch of human deaths from overfeeding, or demon deaths from a drunken bar fight.
Which was smart, especially now, when the recent near-apocalypse had revealed the demon world to humans, causing tension, fear, and chaos. Humans were now in extermination mode, while demons were dealing with some sort of political shakeup in Sheoul, the realm humans called Hell. Slake had no idea what was going on in Sheoul, and frankly, he didn’t care. He had a job to do, and he always completed his tasks.
After a lot of time and effort, he’d tracked his prey here, and it hadn’t been easy. The wily succubus had covered her tracks well over the last couple of decades, but Slake had a knack for ferreting out secrets, and as good as the female named Fayle was at hiding, Slake was better at finding.
He entered the dimly-lit club, his status as a demon providing him with the ability to enter through a doorway only supernatural creatures could see. Instantly, the blare of rock music, the stench of sweating, dancing people, and the electric, sensual energy of sin assailed him. If he hadn’t been on the job, he’d revel in the club scene, would be scoping out potential partners to take home for the night.
Partners like that sexy-as-hell medic propped against the wall near the medical station, his gaze sweeping the crowd with the intensity of a battle-wise soldier in enemy territory. Even from across the room, Slake could see the alertness in the guy’s green eyes and the readiness for anything in the subtle tautness of his body.
And what a body it was. His black uniform stretched tight across his shoulders and abs, the rolled sleeves revealing thickly-muscled arms made to pin his partner to a mattress.
Slake had no idea if the dude was into males, females, or both, but the guy practically oozed confidence and sex. The medic crossed his arms across his broad chest, giving Slake a prime view of a sleeve of tattoos winding from his fingers to where they disappeared beneath his uniform at his biceps and reappeared at the top of his collar. The pattern ended just below his jaw, although Slake couldn’t make out the individual designs. Damn, Slake loved tats.
He wondered what species of demon the guy was. He wasn’t human; Slake’s ability to distinguish a blue human aura from an orangey-red demon one made that clear. Not that Slake was picky when it came to bed mates, but he drew the line at fucking any species of demon that rated a five on the Ufelskala scale of evil. Fours were bad enough, but with a five, you never knew whether or not your partner was going to kill you after you came.
Or before you came, for that matter.
Reluctantly tearing his attention away from the medic, Slake strode through the club, his eyes peeled for his target. There were approximately a million and a half females milling about, but none rese
mbled the petite, black-haired Asian in the picture he’d been given two months ago by his boss at Dire & Dyre, the law firm that employed him as an Acquirer. Yup, if someone wanted something or someone, Slake was the one sent to acquire it.
Except this job was different. This job was the one that would determine the course of the rest of his life.
And the rest of his afterlife.
But hey, as his boss pointed out, it was only his soul on the line.
The jackass.
He spied an empty booth near a little-used exit to the sewers and made a beeline to it, growling at a burly green-skinned demon who tried to slip into the seat ahead of Slake. The demon cursed, but one look at Slake’s arsenal of weapons peeking out from beneath his leather jacket gave the guy second thoughts. Probably third thoughts, too.
A waiter brought Slake a double whiskey, neat, and he settled in, hoping his prey would show her pretty face. In the meantime, though, he didn’t see any harm in checking out the medic at the rear of the club a little more.
That male was something special. Even his coloring was perfect. Not too tan, but not pale, and given the guy’s reddish hair, shorter in the back than in the front, Slake would bet that close up, there would be some freckles waiting for the caress of a tongue.
Slake’s mouth watered at the thought, and he had to shift to make a little more room in his leathers, but he didn’t let his lust distract him from his mission. No, not when success meant freedom…and failure meant kissing his his soul goodbye.
He downed half his drink and reached for his cell phone just as the thing vibrated in his coat pocket. The name that flashed on the text screen was exactly who he’d been wanting to hear from for days. Hoping for good news from his favorite underworld spy, he tapped out a message.
Hey, Atrox, it’s about time. Tell me you have an update on our prize.
He waited an unbearably long time for the reply. Atrox’s fat fingers and long claws weren’t exactly compatible with touchscreen keyboards. The reptilian demon had to use his knuckles to type, which Slake had found to be funny…until lizard boy used those knuckles to knock Slake on his ass.