by J. M. Adele
“Want me to get the bazooka?”
Tempting. This was why he kept her around. No questions asked. Ready to fuck shit up at any time.
“No. I wanna hear the excuse before their heads roll. Get Shiloh to safety.”
Margo clapped her hands and trotted towards the bedrooms, pulling to a stop when her path was blocked.
“What’s going on?” Shiloh shuffled into the room, bleary-eyed.
“We got company,” Devlin answered.
She stepped up to his side. “Who?”
“Hollywood is in town, but they ain’t got no business here.”
“Hollywood?” Her brows pulled together.
“The doc, the kid, and the cop.”
Outside, the car pulled to a stop and four car doors slammed.
Four.
“Aw, fuck. Well played, asshole,” Ren spat.
Devlin leaned over, peering through the blinds. “Fuck!” he roared, pulling Shiloh into his chest and shielding her eyes. “Get her to the panic room, now!”
No. Not her parents. Motherfucking bastard.
Margo reached for Shiloh’s shoulders, her palms rebounding off thin air as Devlin’s hold was wrenched away and he slid back two feet. Shiloh tipped up her face, black gaze honing in on him. “Let me go.”
The door shook on its hinges, a trio of thumps pounding its surface. “Shiloh, I brought you a present.” Jax’s voice seeped under the barrier.
She stepped towards the door.
“Don’t—” Devlin reached for her, his hand hitting resistance that stung. Shit. He ignored the excruciating pain burning through his skin, desperate to break through the surface. She knocked him back. Rory came at her, recoiling with a hiss as his hands slipped off the biting air. Nobody could touch her. He hoped to fuck Jax wouldn’t be able to either.
She opened the door, eyelids peeling back, mouth levering wide. Her scream pierced the air until it rippled, windows shattering and the car alarm blaring in symphony. Fuck. She should never have had to witness the sight of her parents’ bloodied, lifeless bodies stuffed into the fucking boot of a car. Necks gaping, their eyes stared blankly at nothing. His hands gripped fistfuls of his hair. The sight of her agony carved into his bones with a hatchet.
Releasing a feral snarl, anger lit a furnace in his soul. Why couldn’t he reverse time to the point before his father was born? The gods responsible for dishing out this fate needed to be gutted.
Devlin walked around Shiloh’s frozen form and down the steps. Bloodied, bruised, bound, and gagged, Zain and Myles kneeled beside the open boot. Sienna and Jax stood behind them, the barrels of their guns pressed to their prisoners’ heads.
“Zain,” Shiloh cried.
Devlin’s team formed a perimeter around the scene, weapons cocked. Rory stood to his left, sword gripped in hand. Margo flanked his right, staring down the barrel of her shotgun, Jax in her sight. Lock emptied his magazine into the hood of the car, silencing the alarm before reloading. Ren twirled her daggers in her hands, black-rimmed eyes fixed on the back of Margo’s head.
Devlin stared Sienna down. She returned his gaze with malevolence. Fucking bitch. His fangs punched out, his muscles damn near ripping from his bones with the need to tear her in half. He twisted his neck, cracking the vertebrae into alignment. As he raised a clawed hand, it pulsed with his hatred. The picture of her spine snapping, clear as crystal in his head, translated to reality. The snap sounded before her body collapsed on the gravel.
Beside him, Margo snorted. Ren lifted one corner of her lips, switching her gaze to Jax as she continued her party trick.
Devlin had hoped to feel satisfaction.
He didn’t feel a fucking thing.
Jax gave him an ovation. “Impressive. She’d served her purpose.” Turning to Shiloh, he added, “You didn’t think you found the exit by chance, did you? Your boyfriend has done me a favor.”
Devlin eyeballed his father through blazing lenses, his heart a block of stone in his chest.
“Give me Shiloh and I’ll give her parents a proper burial and rebirth. I’ll even throw in a couple of freebies.” He booted Zain in the head, crushing his skull.
The crack made Devlin’s neck prickle. The kid’s body slumped, his chest deflating with his last exhale. Shiloh screamed again.
“Oh, dear. Make that one freebie.”
Devlin’s boot crunched the gravel as he twisted his heel, a lion preparing to pounce. Behind him, Shiloh wailed, “Stop. Please, stop.”
“Is it true that I’m going to be a papa?” Jax’s arms spread wide before Shiloh’s body slammed into his like an elastic snapping back in place.
Devlin lurched for her but ricocheted off her protective bubble.
Jax is immune to her defenses? The bond. Goddamn it.
Spinning her in his arms, Jax’s filthy hands caressed the tiny bump of her belly. “Ah, there you are.”
She tried turning away, sucking in breaths through gritted teeth. “Don’t touch me.”
One hand slid between her legs. She writhed, a mask of terror slipping into place. “You used to beg for my touch. You loved my cock pumping into your pussy, dirty little whore.” He licked his lips, sniffing her neck. “All Lilith’s children love to fuck. Lanie was no exception. At least she made things more of a challenge—something you never did.” He pulled her hair off her neck. “Always such a good girl. Always doing what you’re told. It was so easy to lure you in, I barely had to do anything. Were you so starved of affection?” Jax’s head warped between looking like a ram and a bull before returning to normal. “Or did you need to be a bad girl for a change, huh?”
Ren’s blade flew through the air, missing Jax’s head by an inch and lodging in the wall of the cottage behind Devlin.
“Ren!” he barked.
“Sorry. I slipped.” She shrugged.
Jax snapped his teeth near Shiloh’s ear, eyes narrowing on Devlin. “Keep your pets in check.” His gaze slid to Shiloh’s pulsing neck. “I don’t want the mother of my child injured.”
He dragged in a breath through his nose. “Mm. Maybe I should’ve kept Lanie as a plaything like I did with Magaidh.” He tutted. “Such a pity. Her blood served its purpose. The blood of his ancestors.” He nodded towards Devlin. “I learned that little spell from Magaidh the night I killed her sister. You know, the stake where she burned is still there. Would you like to see it?” he asked Shiloh.
Her face smoothed in a serene mask of surrender. Her eyes lifted to Devlin as she mouthed, I love you. Pulling one arm out from Jax’s embrace, she aimed a finger at Rory. The sword whipped from his palm and speared straight through Jax’s hands, plunging into Shiloh’s womb. Her body folded forward, Jax’s gargled cry following her down. He yanked his hands away, pulling out the sword, and bolted.
Devlin was by her side in one leap, yelling at his team, “Don’t kill him. He still has a part of her soul.”
Lock and Ren kicked up dust as they took off.
Rory scooped his sword off the ground, his wings busting out and tearing off his shirt. “I’ll keep him breathing. That’s all I’m promising.” He bent powerful legs before thrusting into the air.
Devlin’s hands pressed into Shiloh’s stomach, blood pumping out from beneath his fingers. Her face drained of color as he watched a crimson pond forming. Her eyes rolled. Body quaking, she fought for breath. He clenched his teeth; his brow scrunched. He purged his grief in anguished groans.
Margo ran from the cottage, a wad of fabric in her hands. She pushed it onto his hands, grabbing his wrists and guiding his palms into place on top of Shiloh’s stomach.
“It’s too late,” Devlin croaked.
“No, it’s not!” she barked. “Press harder.”
His hands went limp. Margo jumped into place, taking over. “Give her your blood.”
And speed things up? “I can’t.”
“Why? How much more damage do you think you can do? Give her your blood; it’s her only chance!”
He jumped to his feet. Spinning around, he raced up the steps and ripped the knife from the wall. Leaping back to Shiloh’s side, he slashed his wrists lengthwise and held them over her gasping mouth.
She gargled and choked. Margo propped Shiloh’s shoulders up on one knee while leaning over to keep the pressure on the wound.
Within seconds, her gargles turned to gulps. Her hands grasped at his wrists, holding them in place.
It’s working. Thank fuck.
The pressure in his chest eased.
Spots of white bleached his vision as his pulse slowed.
Take it, babe. Take it all.
His body numbed, his bulk slumping to the side.
“Devlin?” Margo’s voice traveled down a long tunnel.
“Dev—”
The Seal
Shiloh’s brain came back online, tuning in to her surroundings. What’s that smell? Burning flesh? Eyes focusing, she watched embers and flames rise from a bonfire. Lock and Ren collected dead bodies from the field, adding more fuel. What the hell happened?
More senses came online. Her hands were locked around someone’s wrists, her chin sticky, and the taste of heaven on her tongue. Her torso shunted sideways as something shoved her. Looking left she saw Margo, tears streaming down her face. Her palms dropped from Shiloh’s shoulders, gaze sliding down.
Sucking in a breath, horror stole Shiloh’s voice.
Devlin. Dropping his wrists, she scrambled to her knees, bending over his cold body.
“You drank him dry,” Margo cried.
No. Shiloh rejected the explanation, her hair whipping about as she shook her head.
The blue-haired warrior sniffed, scrubbing at her face. “He’s been dead for an hour. I couldn’t get near you to wake you up.”
Dragging him into her lap, Shiloh curled herself around him.
No. No. No.
She buried her face in his hair.
The sound of laughter registered, her gaze swiveling behind her to the source. Jax. What kind of sick fucking joke was this?
Devlin’s brother stood over him, boot planted in his back and sword poised at the nape of Jax’s neck. “Say the word,” Rory gritted out.
Hovering over the brother, the ghosts of Magaidh and her sister shimmered in the air. Slowly shaking their heads in tandem, they warned Shiloh against taking Rory’s offer.
Holding Devlin’s head in her lap, she pleaded with them. “Help. Please?”
Magaidh’s misty form collapsed into a ball of light, shooting up into the sky to join the stars. Please, please, please. Help. Shiloh was supposed to die, not him. Devlin. God. She’d been the one to kill him. How could I have done this?
She sucked in shallow breaths. Anything to fill the empty void behind her ribs. She wondered if her soul had gone with his, leaving nothing but a buzz of pain and guilt to torture her. How was it possible that her body hadn’t imploded into the vacuum?
Devlin’s mother came down to kneel beside her fallen son.
“I’m so s-sorry,” Shiloh sobbed.
Forming a semicircle around them, Devlin’s team stood, heads bowed, faces slack. Rory hadn’t budged in his stance, still aiming his sharp tip of steel at the vampire from hell. He should be aiming his blade at her.
It wasn’t meant to end like this.
Dev’s mam smiled, stroking a palm down Shiloh’s face before pointing into the distance. A ball of light flashed on the crest of the hill, rolling down the slope and growing larger as it gained ground. Closing the distance, it took shape.
Airmid.
Magaidh had brought the witch.
“No. You fucking bi—” Jax’s growl cut off as the tip of Rory’s sword nicked his neck.
Rory’s scowl turned into a cocky smile as he stared down at his prisoner. “You can do nothing now. Fate is unavoidable. The light will always win. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the witch.”
Margo clapped her hands. “Ooh, you’re screwed now, buddy. This is gonna be so good! Fuck, where’s the popcorn?”
“The witch is here?” Lock whistled, his stance straightening. “Got any marshmallows?”
“We can roast them on the bonfire.” Ren’s eyes flashed at her mate.
Airmid stopped a few yards away, nodding at Shiloh. Holding an arm out to one side, she skipped in a circle, her arm forming the radius, her hand in the center. She stood back and sang a Gaelic chant. The power she emanated skittered over Shiloh’s skin. Within the circle, the earth danced to her rhythm, a deep hole carving itself into the ground.
Airmid came to Shiloh. “Give him to me, child.”
Shiloh unwrapped her arms and legs. Her body swayed forward as Devlin’s weight was lifted from her. She didn’t want to let go.
“It’s okay.” The witch smiled and turned her attention to Magaidh. “If you would be so kind?”
His aunt’s misty form nodded, enveloping their bodies. She lifted them up and plunged them into the hole.
“What is she doing?” Shiloh struggled to her feet.
“Bathing him in the Well of Sláine. Airmid has the power to revive the dead,” Rory answered.
Power pulsed under her sternum before spreading out to her extremities. The vacuum inside her was filled with a pressure so great, she wondered if she might explode. Devlin. He’s going to come back to me.
Shiloh peered into the well. It presented a dark abyss. The kind of place you’d expect to welcome death, not restore life. She waited, chewing on her lips. All she could do was trust, hope, and pray.
Airmid’s voice echoed from the void. “She is free of him. Your blood has burned away all traces of him in her veins. You must seal your bond and return her soul.”
A howling wind chased her words, as if a storm barreled from the bowels of the Earth. Shiloh backed away, her mouth going dry while her pulse thundered.
“Welcome to the retribution, motherfucker.” Rory put more weight behind his boot. Jax’s grunt drew a smirk on D’s brother’s face.
On a gush of wind, Devlin rocketed from the well. His wings spread wide in an impressive display. Cheers rose from the crowd. Shiloh took in his brilliance, her heart squeezing in her chest. Happy tears wet her cheeks, her smile splitting her face. His eyes glowed, shooting beams of light as they locked on to Shiloh.
I would have you in a second. Come at me with all you’ve got; I can take it.
Swooping down, he gathered her in his arms and whisked her away. His fangs struck at her throat, shooting a bolt of pleasure to her core. Yes. Pressing her chest into his, her hands hooked under his arms. Walking her fingers up, she touched the soft feathers of his wings, feeling him twitch in response. He groaned and pressed his hips into hers. Every nerve ending was lit up. Her pulse sped along, giving him the nourishment he craved. She wanted to feel him inside her for their bodies to reach new heights of pleasure.
She set her wings free, pulling the two of them higher and higher, the cottage shrinking to a speck way below. Fumbling with the zipper of his jeans, she eased it down and reached inside to find him ready to go. The wind whipped around them, its freezing caress no match for their twin flames.
He retracted his fangs, setting free a satisfied sigh. Licking her neck before kissing a trail to her mouth, he groaned, “Fuck. I gotta have you.”
Her heart stuttered, core clenching. Yes, please.
He tore off her jeans, letting them fall. Diving his hand into her panties, he ran his fingers along her slick heat. Her body jerked, her wings shuddering as pleasure flooded her senses.
Pulling the cotton aside, she lined up his cock and urged him to plunge in deep. She sucked in a breath, her fingers digging into his waist. Oh, yes, holy mother of God. The way he stretched her was delicious. Their union unlocked the last piece she’d been missing. This was completion.
Sparks of electricity trailed the drag of skin on skin, their bites heightening every sensation. The lovers’ hips pumped in sync. She didn’t know if they were still flying, or plummeting to the ground. She c
ouldn’t have cared less. In tasting his kiss, pressing into his flesh, being surrounded by his arms, there was only heaven.
The pair’s combined power snowballed and twirled. She moaned. A touch of fear that it was too much merged with her pleasure. A force rushed up and down their bodies, penetrating deep from one to the other before arcing out in a field around them. It was their bond. It had to be. Nothing else could be that powerful. They were a supernova, ready to blow. Their skin began to glimmer, blinding light flashing as their ecstasy hit a pinnacle. Devlin released a long groan, Shiloh delivering a cry in harmony. A moment of weightlessness suspended them before they shuddered in unison. The two, bonded as one.
Still gripping each other, gravity tipped them over, dragging them headfirst to the ground. Devlin spread his wings, gliding through the sky. “Fucking, finally.” He pressed his lips hard onto hers. “I don’t wanna pull out. Can I stay inside forever?”
She laughed, placing her forehead on his chest. She didn’t want him to go either. But way below them, they’d left things undone. “No. I’ve got shit to do.” She squeezed him on the butt before pushing him away. Tumbling through the air, she straightened her panties. Flapping her wings, she steadied her path. Devlin glided in beside her, a grin on his face.
She twisted her lips to the side to stop herself mirroring his expression. “I don’t mean to kill the vibe, but we’ve got to deal with your father.”
His grin merged into a perverse smile. “I’m looking forward to it.”
I’ll Take That, Thanks.
Boom. Devlin landed, forming a small crater in the field beside the cottage. The bond between them hummed. The burden he’d carried his entire life had extinguished the moment he and Shiloh had lit up the sky. He was ready to end this for real.
He stalked over to his brother. The guy hadn’t dropped his guard, sword still ready to plunge. Devlin was damn lucky to have Rory on his side.
Jax had one eye fixed on Devlin with the other pressed into the gravel. “Have fun?”
Devlin’s hand snapped out and sent a crushing force down onto his father’s head. The asshole screamed like a bitch. Just one more pulse . . .