Genesis Queen (The Road to Hell Series)

by Miller, Gracen

  Blackness fringed her vision and Nix grew to a tiny circle in her sight.

  Breathe, Madison.

  Her Sherlock moved to grab her and she threw her arm up, stepping out of his reach. If he touched her she would lose all self-control. And cry. No, nothing that dignified. She would sob.

  She shook her head hard enough her hair flew and stuck to her bloody cheeks. “Im—Immortal?” She looked to her husband for answers. “As in never die?”

  Forever, if they were able to thwart whatever came to take her down anyway.

  “You are no longer human, kitten.” She’d expected smug satisfaction; instead, concern etched fine lines about his eyes.

  Madison burst into tears. So much for not crying.

  Arms whipped around her, snuggling her against a solid chest. The scents of sea salt, sulfur, and sunshine hit her nostrils. Micah.

  “I don’t want to outlive Amos.” The very thought made her want to put a bullet in her brain. And yet that wouldn’t suffice. That reality turned her cries to the sobs she’d predicted. With all the noise she made, she knew she wasn’t a pretty crier. Not that she cared.

  The King ran his palm down her back, holding her tight with the other arm about her shoulders. “You won’t. Amos will enjoy immortality when he hits maturity.”

  “I don’t want to stay young while Nix grows old.”

  Her husband stiffened, his hand halting a fraction before resuming its glide up and down her spine.

  “Mads, baby.” Nix’s hand tangled in her hair and titled her head back. She blinked at him, his face blurry. “All I asked for was a handful of tomorrows with you. I’m not so selfish as to expect eternity.”

  She left Micah’s embrace and collapsed into Nix’s. Gold saturated her. His messian. She appreciated his effort to soothe her, but nothing could heal the way her heart broke. “Y’all should’ve told me.”

  “I’d planned to, baby.”

  “I had, as well.” Her husband’s palm continued to caper along her back. He’d been a comfort to her a long time ago. His efforts to console her felt as natural today as they had in the past.

  Zen, what do you have to say about this? She sent the question telepathically and even though she couldn’t see him, she knew he’d have some sage wisdom.

  Congratulations.

  Not what she expected or needed to hear.

  Please, Zen. How could he joke when her world went topsy-turvy? Again. She couldn’t take much more. The last five years had been one constant revelation after another. Nix would grow old while she’d stay young. It wasn’t fair; nothing about her life had ever been fair. She wanted a break, just one—

  The immortal tugged her out of her Sherlock’s hold and enveloped her in a hug. The comfort of his friendship doused her better than Nix’s messian, because he soothed her with friendship, rather than magical aid.

  “Shit.” She could imagine the shock on Elias’s face as he cursed. Outward displays of affection weren’t Zen’s style. “I’m inclined to believe Zennyo Ryuo won’t betray her as quickly as I thought he might.”

  No, he wouldn’t. Of that, Madison had complete faith.

  We’ll get through this together, Madison. That promise consoled her in ways neither of her men could. Like we always do.

  He was right. They had been through much together over the last four years. Nix had been her friend, the person she thought of when she wanted to give in to her demon. Zen’s role in her life was very different. He assisted her in finding resolutions to her obstacles.

  Crying and hysterics solved nothing. Not that she could alter this immortal quandary. Some might relish the idea of never dying, but it’d never been on Madison’s bucket list.

  You’re like the most amazing brother a gal could ever hope for, she said to her friend and met his eyes as she pulled out of his embrace.

  Thank you. A small twitch to the corner of his mouth. I’m always here for you, Madison.

  She was grateful for and counted on his support, maybe to the point of taking him for granted.

  Zen thumbed the tears off her cheeks as she glanced at the men vying for her future. Deep grooves between Nix’s eyebrows articulated his concern. Micah viewed Zen with an unreadable expression.

  “One more notch against you, Micah.”

  Blaming him isn’t just unfair, but rude, too, Lynx scolded with a tsking sound. Even the tenseness in Zen’s body next to hers hinted he agreed with her demon.

  Her husband’s gaze smashed with hers. Smoldering brimstone drowned out his human eyes. “If it’s easier to blame me for all your struggles, go right ahead. My shoulders are broad enough.” He stepped closer, crowding her personal space. Finger and thumb placed to her chin, he jerked her head back enough to stare straight into her eyes. “I feel no remorse for prodding you to accept your DNA. You’re stronger with it.”

  She knocked his hand aside. “I’m guessing no apology for your monstrous deeds is forthcoming, either?”

  “Fuck no.” He made a face, suggesting she’d lost her mind if she anticipated one. “Kings don’t apologize. Ever.”

  Madison shook her head. So pompous. Nothing charming about the trait. Whatever had drawn her to his arrogance? “Stay away from me, Micah Dominus.”

  “Not a promise I’ll make…Mrs. Dominus.”

  Unable to maintain her dignity, she stomped toward the exit. Micah caught her near the door and snatched her around by the arm. “Go ahead, hit me with your magic.”

  Madison blinked. Her hand elevated at chest level, a blue-white mix of electricity sparked between her fingertips. She’d been unaware she intended to attack until he pointed it out.

  Her husband flicked a hostile glance in Nix’s direction and warned, “Not another step closer, Phoenix.”

  “I got him.” Elias offered backup like always.

  “I’m certain you can lay me flat on my ass with your mojo, kitten.” Fingers in her hair jerked her just enough to emphasize his next statement. “But nothing will alter the fact that you are my woman, my wife, with your life interlaced with mine. When I return to Hell, you’ll join me or I will burn this goddamn world to cinders to claim you.” He shoved her away. “Be sanctimonious about your genetics, about your hellish status, but you are more demon than many of the monsters I create.” He held her lofty stare. “You, my dear bride, are the only demon in this room. Get over it.”

  Being dragged naked across gravel couldn’t have hurt worse than his honesty. She wanted to cry all over again and that pissed her off.

  Hands balled into fists at her sides, Madison pivoted and walked away.

  Zen fingered the bangs off his forehead and ogled the fallen angel. He’d snagged snippets of Madison’s thoughts just before she departed the room in a huff.

  “What are you smirking over, immortal?” Fire drowned out Micah’s blue gaze.

  “That display of barbarism did not win you any—what’d you call it, Phoenix…brownie points?”

  Phoenix hid his smile behind his hand and nodded.

  Beliel’s confidence bothered Zen more than a little. Mostly because he knew Madison’s intimate thoughts on the fallen angel, and she was as divided in her opinion of him as she was her status as Lynx succubus.

  If Madison went with Micah, he’d have to kill her. There’d be no other choice.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Thank God Zen had offered himself as her punching bag. She’d been teetering on the brink of stupidity, with a whole lot of liquor in her immediate future. Not the best means of escape, but with the Locks confining her, options were limited. Madison’s best guess…a drunk Lynx could get out of hand too fast.

  Moments after she exited the den, the immortal located her and suggested combat. She’d jumped at the chance. Anything to blow off steam and regain her equilibrium. After a quick shower to wash off the blood and a change of clothes, they met to spar until she dropped. At least, that was her intention.

  Panting and sweating an hour later, she slashed her blades
at Zen. He deflected each of them with ease. Not a single kick went his way. She’d learned her lesson not to lift a leg against him. He’d knock her flat before she elevated the limb at the proper angle.

  Nix was off playing with Amos. That should’ve been Micah’s role as father, but instead, he’d entered the room minutes ago and surveyed her brawl with Zen. Concentrating on the fight grew difficult as the moments ticked off the clock. She could feel her husband’s focus and his arousal.

  Damn her succubus for the ability to read his libido!

  Madison slashed with her left hand and stabbed with her right. The immortal blocked both, wrenched the blades from her, and flung them across the room. They clattered on the floor and she sensed more than saw Micah retrieve them.

  “I disarmed you. I win. Again.” He typically always won. Her wins could be counted on one hand. She didn’t mind losing since he prepared her to face off against demons and other creatures she could actually hold her own against.

  “So you did.” She moved in closer to him. “Another round?”

  “If you’re not too tired. We can take a break if you need one?” Of course, his breathing hadn’t increased at all. She envied his stamina.

  “Demon’s never gonna ask that.” Madison rolled her eyes, took one step forward, and put the heel of her palm into his chin. Zen’s head snapped backward with a crack. She never attacked with her bare hands. It was the only reason she managed to clock him. As she went to twist away from his reach, his foot tangled with hers and tripped her.

  She landed on her back with an oomph, and air refused entry into her lungs. Damn, he recovered much too quickly.

  “Nice trickery, Madison.” Zen worked his jaw back and forth. He glanced at his arm and frowned, ran his finger over the spot she’d clawed on her way down. Eyes widening, his gaze rocketed to hers.

  She showed him her hand and waggled her fingers. His blood smudged her fingertips. If she licked just a smidge of the substance off, she’d enthrall him with her succubus, turn him into her slave that’d do her bidding with zombielike mindlessness. “I win this time, my friend.”

  She should’ve been bragging about her victory rather than simply preening like an idiot with a thousand-watt smile. Flat on her back no less. Pretty win or an ugly one, it was still a triumph. Against Zen, her undefeatable mentor.

  Normally his bland expression offered no real insight to his thoughts. At present, it was like looking at a different man. With his slack jaw and narrowed eyes, coupled with the deep gouges that raked across his forehead, the man was astonished to have been defeated. Quite possibly a bit freaked, as well.

  “Well played, kitten.” Micah clapped his hands. Her knives were tucked into the waistband of his tailored charcoal gray slacks. They looked so out of place.

  “Indeed,” the immortal agreed, snapping his jaw shut with an audible click. He offered his hand and she accepted.

  “Cheer up, Zen. I rarely beat you. You’ll be prepared next time for that move. Besides, I thought you’d be delighted I thought outside the box.” He always encouraged her to think beyond her normal range. Today she had, and he wasn’t pleased.

  He snagged the wrist that held all her bloody fingers and used his shirt to wipe the substance off each digit.

  “You know I wouldn’t actually enthrall you.”

  “Not taking the chance of being enthralled ever again.”

  Understanding his nervousness, she patted his cheek. A year after they’d met, a succubus enslaved him and he’d damn nearly killed Madison at the succubus’ command. Petra had thankfully been present to reverse the effects. A few months later, with Nix’s aid, Madison executed the same demon.

  I would never do that to you, Zen. He nodded, but she’d clearly rattled him. Thanks for working off my anxiety.

  Always here for you. He inclined his head toward Micah. I believe he wishes to speak with you.

  She’d guessed as much, too. Don’t leave.

  No plans of it. The immortal perched on a chair.

  Beliel prowled closer, his confident swagger interesting her demon. His flirty arrogance had reeled her in during her youth. Her Lynx was just as susceptible to his charm.

  Her husband shot her friend a suspicious examination. “I’m guessing you’re not leaving me alone with her?”

  “No.” That was her Zen, a man of few words.

  “They’re really not your style.” Madison nodded at her blades and held her hand out for them as he neared.

  Micah withdrew the knives from the waistband of his trousers and offered them, hilt first. “You’re sexy wielding them.”

  Her heart stuttered, and she bit the inside of her cheek as punishment for allowing him to affect her. Steeling herself against him was the only way she’d survive his presence.

  “My only advice. If you ever need to enthrall Zennyo Ryuo, don’t show him his blood before you ingest it. He’s fast enough to have stopped you.”

  Madison flashed a grin at Zen and took her time tucking her blades back into their holster on each thigh. “I’m aware of his speed.” Cowardice wasn’t her style, so even though her husband’s presence made her libido swoon a little too crazy for her comfort, she wouldn’t put off looking at him any longer. “You’re not here to give me advice about sparring. So what do you want?”

  He canted his head to the side and studied her a long while. She couldn’t glean his thoughts, which unnerved her.

  “Amos’s birthday draws near.”

  That comment startled her. Amos would celebrate his eleventh birthday in two days. “I’m surprised you remember.”

  Cheap shot, Lynx chided, shaking her head to express her displeasure.

  He flinched. “I’ve never forgotten either of your birthdays.” Cheap shot or not, she acknowledged neither her succubus nor Micah’s comment, just elevated her eyebrows and waited for him to continue. He didn’t make her wait long. “Have you something planned?”

  “I bought him the Alienware gaming system he’s been dying for.” Purchased before her descent into Hell to save Nix. “Since we’re on lockdown, I’m kind of limited on planning anything else.” And he wasn’t three, so an inflatable bouncing castle wouldn’t suffice.

  “With my magic I can arrange something a boy of his age would enjoy. We’ll have no need to leave the premises, but the scope of the Locks will require expanding. Will that be a problem for you, Zennyo Ryuo?”

  Even though the question was posed to her friend, her husband’s scrutiny remained honed on her. The way he watched her and the potency of his aura, vibrant and warm, undulating with waves of pheromones, unsettled her. Whatever his thoughts, he swayed her physically, with moisture pooling between her legs. She should’ve been humiliated that he influenced her so easily. Instead, she was intrigued.

  Dear God, what a nightmare situation she found herself in.

  She’d have rubbed her thighs together to alleviate the ache, if it wouldn’t be a dead giveaway to her body’s hunger.

  “No. I can have the Locks intertwined so everyone can move about freely.”

  Madison blinked, recalling Micah had asked Zen if expanding the Locks would be a problem. Focus. She bit the inside of her mouth again. Shit, she needed to freakin’ focus!

  “Madison, do you have a problem with me doing this?” Micah swiped a hank of hair behind his ear and lowered his arm, his thumb hooking in his belt loop.

  Madison’s heart rate slowed for the scope of a few seconds, then spiked into overdrive, pounding against her chest. Her husband wore his wedding band, announcing to the world he remained taken. She’d bet her soul it was the original one, the one she’d slid on his finger twelve years ago swearing her devotion to him and only him. The one inscribed on the inside with ‘I love you beyond lifetimes.’ If she’d only known then how accurate the ‘beyond lifetimes’ would become.

  “Madison?” That hand elevated again, the metal of the ring glinting in the light as he touched her chin. “Kitten, you okay?”

  Far
from okay. That show of commitment touched her in ways she wasn’t comfortable investigating too closely.

  He wore the ring in Hell. Even her succubus didn’t get the sudden softening of her heart.

  He’s always worn the ring. Every time I saw him, he wore his commitment to me. She’d pawned her engagement ring for a good bit less than its value and flushed the wedding band down the toilet. What’d that say about her pledge to him? But, God, she’d been devastated when he left, her hero abandoning her like a worn-out blanket. Discarding the emblems of their love had sufficed as cheap therapy.

  “Madison, kitten, have I caused the pain in your eyes?” His hand cupped her cheek. She blinked, realizing he’d moved into her personal space during her silence.

  “I’m fine.” She cringed at the sting to her tongue. Second time that’d happened when she lied. Was that her Lynx’s perverse way of keeping her honest?

  A twisted smile from Micah, insinuating he knew she fibbed. “Liar.”

  Yep, confirmation.

  “Amos is your son, also,” she said quickly, getting them back on topic as she stepped out of his reach. “So long as you’re not advocating his magic being mobilized against demons or humans as target practice, I’m cool with whatever.”

  But a tiny part of her worried this would give her son the wrong impression. Like his father planned to hang around later.

  We could keep him, and then there’d be no wrong impression.

  So freaking not happening! And her succubus’ idiotic statement didn’t require a reply. Her Lynx knew better than to suggest reckless behavior.

  “I could use magic to make fake demons and humans.”

  “No,” she and Zen said in unison.

  Micah’s full-blown smile turned her knees soft and she had to lean against a chair before they went out and she ended up kneeling in front of him. Not the impression she wanted to give him.

  The twinkle in his eyes, coupled with that sexy grin, gave her the sense he screwed with her. “That wasn’t my intention anyway, kitten.”