by Eva Brandt
It was folly, of course, because I did endure it. It was no hardship. If anything, I wanted more. I always had, and today, that urge was stronger than ever.
“Please,” I hissed at Lucifer. “Please, I have to come.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. He released my nipple from his mouth and crawled down my body. I eagerly spread my legs, exposing myself for his pleasure.
“My queen,” he murmured—and then, he delved in deep, thrusting his tongue into my pussy.
My world turned to fire and bright ecstasy. If I didn’t come on the spot, it was only because I needed closeness with my other lovers as well. They didn’t disappoint. One by one, they joined me and Lucifer.
There were no more words spoken after that. Their mouths and hands lavished me with attention and affection. Callum took over Lucifer’s previous role and sucked on my nipples. Mikael kissed me on the lips. Stefan chose to caress my horns. And Meph entwined his tail with my own, massaging the appendage in that twisted, demonic way that only he could pull off.
It was slow and lazy, seductive and languorous. It was a systematic assault on my senses, and I wouldn’t have had a chance to win the battle if I’d tried.
Lucifer thrust two fingers inside me, all the while flicking his tongue over my swollen clit. Just like that, I came, clinging to Mikael and Stefan, reaching for all of them with my powers in a way I’d never tried before.
They reached back, and not just through their magic. As I convulsed through wave after wave of pleasure, Meph stole me from the others and pulled me into his lap. His cock slid into me with ease, my body welcoming him like it always did.
He moved slowly, holding onto my hips to make sure I didn’t lose my balance, keeping a steady pace that avoided the violence we’d sometimes used on one another in the past. Maybe it was just because of the baby, because he didn’t want to hurt our daughter, but even so, it felt deeper. In each and every one of his thrusts, I sensed his heart, his desire to protect me, to give me not just The Infernal Realm, but the world itself.
Maybe I said that out loud, because my lovers rushed to reply.
“Yes,” Meph told me. “The world itself. We’ll set the world at your feet.”
“Anything you want, Lyssa,” Callum murmured as he kissed my neck.
“Just say the word and it will be yours, my darkling,” Mikael added, his clever fingers traveling over my ankles.
Stefan didn’t speak. Instead, he shifted into his werewolf form and nuzzled me with his snout.
Lucifer wrapped his wings around us, his presence larger than life, larger than the universe. “Every realm will belong to you, if you so desire.”
I believed him, but at that moment, I didn’t desire every realm. I was happy with one. I was happy here. I didn’t need anything else.
When I kissed them again, I made sure they understood that. I made sure they knew our family was my priority. But as we kept making love, a small, barely perceivable voice whispered something at the back of my mind, “Being the queen of three realms wouldn’t be so bad. You can have that and your family too.”
I paid it no heed, and the voice vanished in the rush of fire and passion. In its wake, it left behind only the song of the pleasure I shared with my lovers and the certainty that I’d made the right choice.
That day, Hell gained a new queen and I gained a new life. That day, The Infernal Realm rejoiced. It was the beginning of the end for everyone else.
Epilogue
“Push, Lyssa! Come on, push!”
I screamed and waves of magic erupted through the room. Every piece of furniture in The Infernal Realm was fire-proof, and yet, a vase still exploded. The carpet was scorched, and the walls were covered in soot. The ground seemed to have turned into molten lava.
My lovers blocked the lethal magic I’d unleashed upon them. On some level, that made me happy, since I didn’t actually want them to get hurt. But a part of me did want to hit them, to burn them, to tear them to pieces, to make them feel at least one small fraction of the agony I was experiencing.
“Fuck you!” I shouted at Lucifer. “I am pushing!”
My whole body was realigning itself to deliver a new life into the world. I’d never thought anything could hurt so much. Honestly, if I’d known how painful it would be, I might have considered not keeping the baby. It was a terribly selfish thought to have, but right then and there, I couldn’t be bothered to care.
I didn’t know how much time had passed since I’d gone into labor. It could have been a few minutes or it could’ve been a year. My lovers had never left my side. We didn’t have a lot of healers in The Infernal Realm and, since my kidnapping, Lucifer and the others had been reluctant to resort to anyone outside our immediate circle of friends. I had agreed with them. After being betrayed so many times, I didn’t want to repeat the experience.
Right now, I had to wonder if we’d made the right choice. I wished I could’ve had a little more help.
To be fair, Lucifer and Mikael were doing their very best. Even if it wasn’t easy for them, they’d blended their divine powers to give me some reprieve.
But there was only so much they could do. A wave of celestial magic flowed over me, soothing my pain. I’d barely gotten the chance to enjoy it when another contraction hit.
I screamed, flailing and mindlessly lashing out at the person closest to me, Mikael. I almost clawed Mikael’s eyes out, and if I failed, it was only because Meph’s shadow magic stopped it.
He was a little more reluctant to use these abilities as of late. The fact that he’d done so spoke volumes of the seriousness of our situation.
“This isn’t right,” Lucifer said, confirming my worst fears. “She shouldn’t be having so much trouble.”
“Maybe we should consider ending it here,” Mikael suggested. “We can still do it.”
“The pup is important, but her life matters more,” Stefan offered. “As long as it’s safe, it might be better.”
I was convinced that they could do it. Magic wasn’t as limited as human technology and they could get rid of the pregnancy even now, when I was on the brink on giving birth to the baby.
Maybe it would’ve been smarter. In my heart, I’d always feared that my body wasn’t prepared for this. My transition from human to demon had been abrupt. The possibility that it had affected the baby had always existed. But after all these months, after carrying my daughter inside me and waiting for her to join our family, I couldn’t bring myself to let go of her.
“No!” I grabbed Lucifer’s wrist with my tail. “No! I can do this. I can…”
My words didn’t sound convincing even to my own ears. Callum placed his hand on my knee, his aura sweeping over me like a calming embrace. “Lyssa, don’t force yourself. I know you want this baby, but there’ll be other chances.”
“I’ll be fine,” I insisted. “I’m the Queen of Hell, right?”
I’d yet to do anything with the position, but it still counted. Or so I hoped.
My new demonic nature was supposed to keep me safe, but at the same time, I could still die. The Grim Reaper didn’t always get involved in the dealings of The Infernal and Celestial Realms, but he could still claim demonic and divine souls. Taking chances was stupid.
But even so, I wanted to have this baby. I needed to have her in my arms, no matter what it cost me.
“All right, Lyssa,” Lucifer said. I could see he had his doubts, but he didn’t try to change my mind again.
He and Mikael intensified their efforts, doing their best to assist me through my ordeal. At one point, I could feel Shiro join in, our bond strengthening me. He might not have healing powers, but the familiar connection between us still helped.
With all of my loved ones there, gathered at my bedside, I desperately reached out to the other person who needed to be here.
Please, please, please. Come on, sweetheart. Come on. Come to Mommy.
Maybe my daughter heard me, because something inside me cracked and splin
tered. The world turned blurry. Wave after wave of agony swallowed me whole.
And then, it was over, and the cry of an infant filled the room. When I heard it, I couldn’t believe it. I was afraid to look, lest I realize it was all an illusion.
Stefan’s voice snapped me out of my trance. “It’s okay, Lyssa. You’re okay now. Come back to us. Come meet our pup.”
His words gave me strength and I finally cracked my eyes open. A small sob escaped me at the sight that met my eyes, and this time, it wasn’t caused by pain.
Our daughter was perfect. In Stefan’s arms, she looked impossibly tiny, and his dark fur contrasted sharply with the tufts of blond hair on her head. Her wings were like a miniature version of Mikael’s amputated ones, black and beautiful.
That must’ve been why she’d had so much trouble coming out. Fortunately, the wings seemed to be in one piece and hadn’t been damaged in the birthing process.
Mikael brushed his fingers over her cheek, marveling at her sheer existence. The others were just as enraptured. Mikael was obviously the biological father, but none of them cared about that.
“Have you thought of a name?” Callum asked, gently tugging on a blond curl.
I didn’t immediately respond. Instead, I extended my arms, more than ready to hold my daughter for the first time.
Stefan obediently passed her to me. Although I’d never had too much contact with infants, I naturally adjusted to the feeling of holding her. And then, our eyes met and she let out a small, cheerful gurgle. My heart swelled with love and joy. “I was thinking, maybe… Hope.”
I’d struggled a lot with my powers and with my role in life, but not anymore. I’d been afraid of my true identity, of the magic assigned to the Vessel of Hope. Not anymore.
Today was a new beginning for us. Today was the start of our future, one marked by the hope my lovers had thought they’d never have. I had a new home with my daughter and my family. I was a mother and a queen. I’d do everything in my power to protect the people I loved.
* * *
“She did it. She gave birth to her daughter.”
“You don’t sound very happy about it.”
Sariel shared a look with his fellow Watchers. Azazel met his gaze without flinching. Yeqon’s wings twitched, but he didn’t say anything else.
“You know it’s not so simple. Lucifer deserves to have a family. I’ve always felt that way. I’m just worried about what it will mean for us.”
“There’s no turning back, Sariel,” Azazel said. “Even if what you fear comes to pass, we have to believe Lucifer and the others will be strong enough to endure it.”
“Don’t be so upset,” Yeqon piped up. “Lucifer can handle this. You’ll see.”
He didn’t sound like he believed his own words. Sariel didn’t believe him either.
In front of him, The Gates of Heaven glowed as brightly as the sun. They had been fixed since Lucifer’s fall. The Brightest Star had used a shard that came from here to break the curse on Sariel and his fellow Watchers, but there was no sign anymore that the gates had ever been in shambles.
Then again, how could there be? The Celestial Realm was always perfect, just like The Supreme Being was.
As Sariel watched, the gates opened and an indistinct figure floated forward. “Welcome home, my children,” The Supreme Being said.
Somehow, Sariel didn’t feel like he was returning home. The Celestial Realm had long ago become a prison for people like him. But he and the others had no choice.
If what they had seen was true, if the Grim Reaper was right, something darker than any curse was waiting for them. He wanted to stop it, and there was only one person he could turn to.
“Thank you for welcoming us back,” he replied.
He didn’t say he was happy to be here. It would’ve been a lie, and not one The Supreme Being needed.
“I’ll always welcome you back, if it’s for the right reason,” their divine creator offered.
Without another word, Sariel and his companions floated into The Celestial Realm. Behind them, The Gates of Heaven closed with an ominous, deafening bang.
Elsewhere, the Grim Reaper and the Goddess of Death hovered over the limp body of a blond woman. “It looks like the worst has come to pass,” Morrigan mused.
“You’re exaggerating, Morrigan,” Grim replied. “I still believe in Alyssa and I still think she can be a wonderful guardian for The Infernal Realm.”
“And that she deserves to be happy,” Morrigan offered. “Is her happiness worth the chance we’re taking?”
“Probably not.” Grim shot Morrigan a sharp smile and petted the pale face of the dead woman. “But we’re going to do it anyway. We haven’t had any fun in quite some time.”
Morrigan sighed, but didn’t protest. She pressed her hand to the blonde’s chest and called out to the lost soul of Lucifer’s victim.
“Delilah St. John, awaken.”
THE END
Did you enjoy this story? Check out the bonus story from Shiro’s POV - Tales of a Demonic Familiar, available free for download.
Read on for the first chapter of the sequel series, Watcher Academy. Find out who Delilah St. John is and how she will fit into Alyssa’s story. It’s going to be so exciting.
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Now available, free for download - the interlude/prequel to my Soulmates of Seasons series Winter’s Dragons. Draconic Affairs.
Once upon a time, a firedrake, a ryu and a wyvern melted a snow queen’s heart and learned to love and be loved in the process. But before they were her soulmates, they were bitter rivals. What secrets does their past hold?
Watcher Academy First Look
Watcher Academy 1. A Merciless Year One
The devil might have found redemption but it came at a dire cost. Delilah is dead, her world shattered by the light of the Morning Star, extinguished by a demon’s happiness. When the avatar of death extends his hand and offers her a chance to save her loved ones, she takes it. But there’s a catch. To embrace this offer, she has to attend Watcher Academy, side by side with Lucifer’s closest confidants, fallen angels Sariel, Azazel, and Yeqon. Now trapped in a Celestial Realm that’s just as merciless as Hell, Delilah has quite a fight ahead. But that’s okay, because turning the other cheek has never been her style. Revenge is.
Pre-order here on Amazon.
Watcher Academy 2. A Faithless Year Two
Archangels aren’t supposed to look for love or family. But when Archangel Michael joins Watcher Academy as a teacher, Delilah is prepared to defy that rule. He might be a famous general of The Heavenly Host, but his past holds a secret burden and a deep sorrow. Delilah wants to help him—but how can she do that, when her Watchers, the men she both fears and desires, loathe him with a passion? With Sariel, Azazel, Yeqon, and Michael now competing for her affection, Delilah will have a faithless second year.
Pre-order here on Amazon.
Watcher Academy 3. A Soulless Year Three
Heaven and Hell were never meant to live in harmony, and Delilah never planned to get caught in the conflict. But that is her duty now and she has no choice. When Lucifer Morningstar and his new queen, Alyssa Michaelis, start a new rebellion against The Mortal Realm, it’s up to Delilah and her lovers to stop them. It’s a chance for her to get her revenge, and she might revel in it. There’s only one problem. To defeat Satan, she’ll have to rely on the worst person possible, Cain Adamson. And to save the world, she’ll have to sacrifice her own humanity and soul.
Pre-order here on Amazon.
Watcher Academy 1. A Merciless Year One
Chapter One
Deal with the Reaper
“Lila, I’ve told you a milli
on times. Use sunscreen, for God’s sake. It’s dangerous to be in the sun without it.”
Standing on the deck of our small yacht, my mother glared at me, bringing forth the full might of what I fondly liked to call Extreme Parental Disapproval (Karla St. John Edition). For the moment, she hadn’t used my full name, so I wasn’t in trouble, but I would be if I didn’t comply.
I didn’t feel I needed sunscreen, but I obeyed anyway. I shot her a sheepish smile and said, “I forgot. Sorry. But don’t worry so much. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re fine now, Lila,” she replied, “but God only knows what will happen in a few years. You can get skin cancer if you’re not careful.”
She passed me a small tube of sunscreen and I squirted some of the substance onto my tanned skin. Robbed of her chance to nag me, my mother fell awkwardly silent.
She still didn’t know how to handle me, how to approach the potential powder keg of my temper. Sometimes, I wanted to tell her that she should stop tiptoeing around me already, that I was perfectly capable of understanding and accepting our new situation. But on the other hand, my anger was part of the reason why my parents had decided to try again in their broken marriage.
“Are you still mad at us?” my mother finally asked. “Because of what happened?”
“I’m trying not to be,” I said. An excess of sunscreen slid onto my body as I squeezed the tube a little too tightly. “What you and Dad do with your lives is none of my business.”