He resisted kissing her again the last two nights they were on the balcony, although it was against everything he was feeling. He had to keep his head clear and his emotions in check. Even as he tried, it was a fruitless effort. She meant too much to him.
“Rayven, we have completed all the tasks for the ball,” Henry said. “It would have been impossible if you had not helped me.” He blew out a breath. “I don’t know how my wife does this all the time. She is a true force of nature.”
Rayven did not respond. His thoughts were on the red-haired beauty who had completely captivated him.
"Rayven?"
“I agree,” he murmured, his heart heavy, not hearing most of what Henry said.
Henry frowned with concern. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, a little tired is all. If you don’t need me for anything else, I’m going upstairs to change for dinner.”
“By all means. I need to speak with Harry, and then I’m going to check on my wife,” Henry replied. “See you at dinner.”
AS THEY DID EVERY EVENING at dinner, Rayven and Desiree sat across from each other. Desiree wasn’t very hungry and stirred her food around on her plate. She tried not to look at Rayven for fear he would see her desire for him in her eyes. It was foolhardy to think anything would ever come of their association. They were on opposite sides of the eternal fight. There was no place in the middle for them. Better she accepted it now. When she returned to their realm, she would never see him again. The thought of life without Rayven made her heart ache. How had he come to mean so much to her?
Rayven spent most of the dinner trying to get Desiree’s attention. She avoided eye contact with him, and it was disturbing. He was anxious for dinner to be over so that he could speak with her. He’d seen little of her all day, and every part of him ached to be with her. He was in uncharted territory. His resolve not to kiss her and hold her in his arms was quickly melting away. He knew they just met. But for a reason he couldn’t explain, he had fallen hard for her. Why did she have to be a demon and stand against everything he was? Shit! What was he going to do?
“When I came to Northanger Abbey, I thought it was haunted," Catherine said during dessert.
“That’s because of those gothic novels you are so fond of,” her husband replied with amusement.
“That’s not true,” Catherine feigned indignation, smiling demurely at him. “I’ve heard strange sounds and seen shadows.”
“A product of your active imagination, my love. I grew up here, and I don’t ever recall hearing or seeing any ghosts.” Henry turned to his sister. “Eleanor, what about you?”
“No, I haven’t. Northanger Abbey has been the subject of paranormal rumors for centuries,” Eleanor replied. “But I agree with Henry. It’s those books you read.”
Catherine rolled her eyes at them and turned to Rayven and Desiree. “You two have been on the tower balcony more than once since you’ve been here. Did either of you see anything odd up there?”
Desiree laid down her fork and stared at Rayven, who regarded her with amusement, a smile tugging at his lips.
“The balcony does feel peculiar at times,” Desiree answered. “It could be the shadows cast by the full moon and the sound the wind as it howls through the tower eaves."
“Yes,” Rayven agreed. “It’s quite unnerving and completely unforgettable.” His eyes caressed the woman across from him. He saw a blush stain her pale cheeks.
Desiree's breath caught in her throat, remembering Rayven’s shocking revelation and their intimate moments afterward. Unnerving and unforgettable pretty much summed it up.
“It’s just Mother Nature, Catherine,” she said out loud.
Catherine looked deflated. "I was convinced it was a ghost."
“We will do a little more exploring after dinner, just to be sure,” Rayven suggested. “Maybe we can put the ghost rumors to rest once and for all. What do you think, Desiree? Are you game?”
Desiree was silent. Ghost hunting was the last thing on her mind.
“Come on, Desiree,” Catherine encouraged. “Prove me wrong.” She glanced at Henry and Eleanor, a challenge in her eyes.
“Please do,” Henry responded, smiling at Catherine. “Otherwise, my wife will never let her silly notions go.”
She smacked his arm playfully. “They are not silly. This mansion is haunted.”
Desiree stared back at Rayven before reluctantly responding. “Very well. We’ll explore after dinner.”
"Excellent!" Catherine clapped her hands together and winked at her husband.
Seeing the exchange, Rayven couldn't help but grin. Catherine and Henry contrived the whole thing. They were trying to matchmake. The idea delighted him.
Their stealthy manipulations were not lost on Desiree either. But instead of appreciation, she felt dread - the same dread she felt a few hours ago before dinner. It was the torturous continuation of the afternoons when she returned to her room and cried until she was exhausted as the guilt ate away at her.
Chapter 11
DESIREE WATCHED THE others ascend the grand staircase. When they were out of view, she turned to Rayven, who regarded her intently. She swallowed hard at the raw desire in his eyes.
“We don’t have to investigate. I think we already know who is haunting the mansion,” she said quietly.
Rayven nodded. “That’s true, but I need to talk to you. The balcony is as good a place as any. We can tell Catherine we didn’t detect any ghosts.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“Us.”
“Us?”
“Yes, Desiree.” He took her hand. “Come," he urged.
Desiree wanted to protest but pursed her lips instead, her mind and her body in conflict. She knew it was a mistake to be alone with him, but despite her misgivings, she wanted to hear what he had to say. Sighing, she allowed him to guide her.
They walked quietly up the long winding staircase. The sound of their footsteps on the stone stairs echoed in the silence. The waning full moon cast a muted glow on the balcony much as it did the night before.
Rayven walked to the balcony railing and surveyed the snow-covered landscape. “This view reminds me of Heaven. The only thing that is missing is the crystal blue lake.”
“It snows in Heaven?” Desiree asked.
He shook his head. “Yes. It’s not much different than here. We have all the seasons. Earth mirrors Heaven. But there is no crime, no hunger, and no suffering.”
“There is a prison for demons,” she pointed out. “You call it Sanctuary.”
“We do. Evil deeds must be punished. It’s essential to keep the natural order of the universe; good versus evil. The eternal battle between Heaven and Hell.”
“Why does it have to be that way?” Desiree asked with sadness.
“It’s the way things are. We can’t change it.”
“I know,” she answered, her voice flat and devoid of emotion.
“Desiree, what will it take for you to abandon your plan to steal a soul?” Rayven asked quietly, facing her.
She shrugged. “You said it. It’s the way things are. There’s nothing that will stop me. I must do it. I have no choice."
“I know we just met, but regardless of who or what you are, I know there is so much good in you. I feel it.”
Desiree moved away, putting distance between them. “No. You don’t know me, Rayven. I’ve taken thousands of souls. I never once thought of the lives they led or the loved ones they left behind. I did it for the master. I didn’t think twice.” She knew that was a lie, but she didn’t want to admit it. Not to him. Every time she took a soul – every time, she felt deep remorse, but what else could she do? Her feelings were never a consideration.
“I don’t believe that.” He strode to where she stood, her back to him. He turned her around to face him. “There is so much more to you than that.” He pulled her into his arms and captured her lips with his own.
The touch of Rayven’s firm, demanding lips
sent a lightning bolt of need through her. It was as close as she ever thought she’d come to heaven. Being in his arms felt so right, she wanted to stay locked in them forever. She didn’t want this moment to end. She whimpered softly and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself closer. She returned his kiss with a fervor she didn’t know was possible. Until Rayven, she’d never been kissed. She wondered how she spent a millennium not knowing the contentment a single kiss could give.
Rayven thought the first time he kissed Desiree was powerful, but this time it hit him hard. Even with all the women he’d had sex with during his infinite life, he never felt this. It took an alluring demon with fiery red hair to invade his heart. The empty places inside him were quickly filling up with all things Desiree. She was the one. His one true love and he was desperate to save her.
He slowly, reluctantly lifted his lips. Desiree seemed as disappointed as he was, given her whimper of protest as she clung to him.
“Desiree,” he whispered, his voice deep and husky. He searched her face, in the muted moonlight, everything so very clear to him. “I’ve never felt what I’m feeling with you. You’ve bewitched me, my beautiful little demon. How is that possible?”
“I don’t know, but I feel it too,” she replied breathlessly. “I came here to find a pure soul, and instead, I found you.”
“I came here to capture you, yet all I can think about is saving you.”
She leaned her forehead on his chest. “You can’t save me, Rayven. It’s too late for me. I’m damned.”
“No,” he shot out as he held on to her. “Everyone deserves to be saved.” He tipped her head up to look at him. “You deserve to be saved. I will find a way, I promise.”
“Rayven...,”
He never let her finish her words. He captured her lips once more, swiftly, possessively, most ardently. He held onto her, marveling at how perfectly she fit in his arms. He wanted to strip away the unnecessary layers of clothing to feel her naked body against his. But the time was not right. They had the matter of her soul-stealing mission to handle. There had to be another way for her, and he was determined to find it. He would not lose her.
It was Rayven who finally ended their kiss.
“We’d better go back in, Desiree, as much as I don’t want to.” He released her, regretting it the moment he did.
“I wish we could stay up here and forget the world around us existed,” she murmured.
“Together, we’ll find a way out of this cursed situation so we can explore the feelings we have for each other. We deserve a chance at happiness.”
“But...,” she began.
He stopped her words with a quick, sound kiss. “Tomorrow night is the Christmas ball. We should try to enjoy it. Once it’s over, we’ll make a plan. Ok?”
“Ok.”
DESIREE WAS BURSTING with happiness when she entered her bedchamber a few minutes later. The night turned out so differently than she thought it would. Rayven gave her hope. Would she finally be able to live the life she longed to have?
“Desiree, my little demon, you traveled a long way to find a pure soul. I must applaud your ingenuity. I didn’t know you had it in you.”
Startled, she jumped at the sound of the one voice she dreaded most. Amadeus. What the hell was he doing here?
“How did you find me, Amadeus?” She exclaimed, completely unnerved, and panicked by his presence. In the past, he would show up when she was in the middle of soul hunting, but she never thought he would follow her here.
He scowled. “I found out from a reliable source one of Michael’s angels was pursuing you. I came to see how you were faring. Have you seen him?”
“No,” she stammered, trying to maintain her composure. She clamped down her feelings. Amadeus could always sense a lie, and she didn’t try to hide her feelings from him, but she had to this time. She had to protect Rayven. If it came down to a battle between the two of them, she didn’t know who would win. She wasn’t prepared to take the chance her angel would fall. Hers. Rayven was hers. It surprised her that she was able to admit it, but it warmed her in a way she didn’t know was possible.
Amadeus laughed. “That’s good. All my demons must be successful in collecting pure souls. Especially now, with the dark master’s desire to strike a deal with God as soon as possible. He’s becoming rather impatient. I don’t relish being the focus of his frustration.”
He snapped his fingers and the lantern on the table by the bed ignited, brightening the darkened room with soft light. He looked around and wrinkled his nose in distaste.
“A little too droll for me. You must be glad it’s only temporary. I don’t think I could survive in this place for more than a few hours,” Amadeus sniffed.
“I’ve gotten used to it.”
“What of the people here? I haven’t spent much time on the surface in many eons. I’ve never had any interest. Humans are so ordinary.”
“The ones I’ve encountered here are kind and inviting. But it is another century and another realm, far, far away from where I live. I’ll be glad to get back home,” Desiree said as convincingly as she could.
“Have you identified a soul yet?” Amadeus asked.
“No,” she lied. “I’m still looking.”
He frowned. “Christmas is in three days, Desiree. I expect you to fulfill your promise to me. You must bring the pure soul back by then.”
“I know that.”
“You’d better. I don’t have to remind you what is at stake if you fail me. You will be doomed, Desiree.”
She stared into his glowing, crimson eyes. The happy thoughts she felt before she entered her bedchamber, immediately dissolved. He had so little faith in her that he found it necessary to come here and check up on her. He wouldn’t do that unless he was feeling extreme pressure from Lucifer. It was clear. If she didn’t do what he asked, she’d be on a one-way ticket to Oblivion - unless Rayven could save her. But that silly notion went out of her head as Amadeus regarded her, his threat plain and final. Completing her mission was her only chance at redemption.
“No, Amadeus, I understand.”
“Oh, I almost forgot.” The demon snapped his fingers. A small mahogany box appeared in his hand. Intricately carved symbols decorated all four sides. He handed it to her. “You’ll need this.”
Desiree turned the box over in her hand. “What is it for?”
“To contain the soul, you collect.”
“I’ve never needed anything to contain the other souls I’ve taken.”
“This situation is quite different. You are in another realm. No demon has ever attempted it before. I want the soul to be protected. The box was enchanted by a witch I know. Brilliant move by the way, Desiree. I wish I had more demons as industrious as you, but if you disappoint me, I will banish you to Oblivion.”
“I won’t let you down, Amadeus.”
“Good,” Amadeus replied, vanishing as quickly as he appeared.
The higher demon left dread and hopelessness in his wake. Desiree sank to the floor, cradling the strange wooden box in her trembling hands. She stared at it through her tears. This small box was the weapon she would use to end two innocent lives. She was nothing more than a murderer. If there was another way, she would take it. But there wasn’t. She realized she would not be able to wait until Christmas Eve. She would have to take the souls after the ball and leave this realm and Rayven behind.
Chapter 12
DESIREE ENTERED THE ballroom, feeling edgy. She found Rayven talking to Henry, standing beside his wife. He looked striking in his royal blue jacket, matching waistcoat and black trousers. Her heart turned over with love. Yes, love. No reason to deny it. She thought she didn't know what love was, but inexplicably she did. In the short time she'd known Rayven, and despite their issues, she’d fallen in love with him. She realized it as she dressed for the ball.
Along with that wondrous revelation, another stark reality punched her in the gut. It was her last night in the book realm. S
he would be going home with two pure souls.
She had been looking forward to dancing with Rayven at the ball after their talk on the balcony. She planned for him to fill up her dance card. The long, agonizing hours of last night changed that. Once Amadeus left her bedchamber, her excitement plummeted. She couldn’t think of her happiness with his deadly threat hanging over her.
She thought about making her way to the other side of the ballroom, to avoid Rayven, but his gaze zeroed in on her. Dammit. No way to escape him. She squared her shoulders and headed towards him, a tight ball of anxiety filling her.
“Desiree, you look lovely,” Catherine said, lifting an eyebrow, triumph on her face. “Don’t you think so, Rayven?”
“I do indeed,” he answered, his eyes sliding over Desiree, the heat in them intoxicating.
Desiree swallowed hard, her steely resolve slipping. How was she going to get through this night without telling him about Amadeus’ visit? She wanted to so desperately.
“I have to agree,” Henry joined in. “You’ll be the envy of every woman here.” He glanced at his wife and smiled. “With one exception. My beautiful wife.”
“Not true,” Catherine countered and laughed. “I envy her too. How can I not? Look at her. A person would have to be blind not to see how beautiful she is.”
Tears stung Desiree’s eyes, but she blinked them away. If things were different, Henry and Catherine would be her dearest friends. But weren't they already?
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