The Devil’s Kiss

by Stacey Kennedy

  Zia nodded solemnly. “It is in his right to claim you. I wonder why he hasn’t.”

  “Dear God,” I gasped, realizing why he hadn’t forced me. He wanted me to love him. He desired that we be together, but wanted me to come willingly.

  Haven held on tighter, her small hands gripped onto me as if she was trying to save me herself. “We have to stop this. I cannot lose you to him. What about Kyden? You two are meant to be together. This isn’t right. Finn, help her. Do something…”

  Finn removed her hands from my arms, lifted her up, and hugged her tightly. “There is nothing I can do, my sweet.”

  Kyden finally let out a deep breath, lifted my face to his. “It will be alright, Álainn.”

  “How can it be?” I pleaded for him to make it okay. “How can anything be alright?”

  He smiled softly and cupped my face. “Because I love you.” Leaning down, he kissed me.

  I accepted it—the warmth, the love, everything that was good. Needing more to reassure me, I grabbed him as hard as I could, kissed him with every ounce of strength I had. I wasn’t going to let Magnus win or let this rule me. Just because I was destined to be with him, didn’t mean I had to be. Kyden was my heart, my all—that had to be enough. It just had to be.

  Without thought, I reached down, and unclipped his kilt.

  “Go to the Council’s Hall,” Talon added quickly. He knew what was about to happen. They all did, obviously, and understood the reaction.

  I needed Kyden with everything I had in me. Needed him to tell me this was all going to be okay, to reassure me that I was his.

  His kilt fell to the floor just as he rushed us into the Council’s Hall. The door closed behind us. Evidently, the others were taking care that we wouldn’t be disturbed.

  Kyden unclipped my kilt as he carried me in his arms, then dropped me in one of the Council’s chairs. He yanked off our shorts, spread my legs, pulled my hips up, and impaled me. I wasn’t completely ready for him, but it didn’t matter. The friction made this feel more real, more forceful.

  “You are mine,” he growled, his thrusts were rough and demanding. He pinned my shoulders hard against the chair, using his entire weight to level me with his body.

  “I’m yours,” I shouted, needing to scream it, demanded it to be true. My body responded to his intentions and wetness spread along his length to give him easier access while he took me.

  His thrusts grew harder as he pushed the meaning of our love into me. The rightness when skin met skin. He was in pure possession mode—it was in the grip of his hands, the determination on his face and the hardness of his body sliding in mine.

  “Mine,” he growled again, repeated it with each hard blow to my body.

  Over and over again it poured from his mouth.

  Within minutes, he had my body arching toward him sending all thoughts vanishing from my mind. After a few more hard thrusts, Kyden grunted deeply, and collapsed on top of me. My body was shaking from my release, but also in response to the horrible truth.

  He slowly raised himself off and glanced down. “You are mine.” His growl remained.

  I raised my hands to his face. “I am yours,” I whispered. “Always and forever.”

  “Nexi, we need you two back out here,” Zia’s thoughts reached me.

  I was little agape at myself for not putting up my shield, but it was the least of my concern moments ago. As much as I wanted to stay right here like this forever, the Council needed us. The situation with the Black Magic Witches was still happening, and they needed my magic to help stop this. If I didn’t, more lives would be lost. Besides, a little distraction is just what I needed right now. I leaned forward and kissed Kyden’s lips. “We have to go.”

  He nodded, apparently feeling the same sense of duty, and stepped away from me as he pulled up his shorts. Quickly, he handed me my gear, and once dressed, we headed for the door. The door opened just as we reached it, and Talon handed Kyden his kilt. No one seemed at all bothered knowing what we had done. The only expression on anyone’s face was complete and total dismay.

  “I really hate to interrupt,” Hadley said softly. “But did you get any information?” she asked me.

  “No. I…well…after…” I stumbled.

  Kyden interrupted. “You did the right thing by coming back,”

  A door suddenly slammed open, Brax ran through the door from outside, out of breath, and it was only then I realized he had left when Kyden and I were preoccupied elsewhere. He stopped in front of Zia. “Magnus is sending someone to us.”

  Just then, Misa stepped through the portal door then politely closed it behind her. She glanced at me, smiling brightly. “Nice to see you again, Lady Nexi.”

  Everyone looked to me—disgust very evident on their faces that I was on friendly terms with a demon. “What is it, Misa?” I snapped.

  “I am here to protect you.”

  “You’re what?”

  “Magnus has assigned me as your guard. He wants to ensure that since you are not living with us that you are well protected,”

  “I will protect her,” Kyden growled.

  She sniffed at him. “What are you going to do? You’re just a Guardian.”

  Kyden puffed up, but I grabbed him back. She might look like a pretty little dainty thing, but this was a demon. If Magnus entrusted her to protect me then she was a powerful one.

  After a few tense moments, Misa finally glanced at me. “Magnus has instructed me to give you the information you requested.”

  Magnus had kept his word.

  “Okay, well tell us.” I was hoping the change in subject would calm the situation. Misa’s eyes glowed at Kyden, and he looked about a second away from grabbing his sword.

  “Let’s go somewhere more comfortable,” Misa said. “This is going to take a while.”

  We made it back to our residence quickly. Kyden kept a good hold on me, and I was glad he did. The world was crumbling around me and there was no way to stop it. Just because fate was a bitch, and said I was destined to be with Magnus, didn’t mean I had to give into it. I wouldn’t. Not ever. Kyden had my heart and it would remain that way.

  “Go on then, Misa,” Talon told her after everyone had taken a seat.

  “This situation came to Magnus’ attention a few months back. After we did some investigating, it was discovered that Pye was arranging to dethrone Magnus.” Misa’s voice sounded almost bored. “There is a group of witches who have followed Pye for some time. They are the source behind the murders of the humans.”

  Now, this was a turn in a direction I hadn’t expected. Curiosity always did get the better of me. “Why?”

  “The witches have been using the wolves to kill humans for them.”

  “Yeah, we know that.” I waved her on.

  “They’re virgins,” she said causally.

  So I was right. “What do virgins have to do with it?”

  “It is the reason the witches are growing stronger. The virgins are dying as an outlet to drive their power. Since their virginity is pure, it is that energy fueling their magic. While their souls are consumed, the virginity is taken and drained with it. They are being killed for no other reason except that the witches need this energy from them to make Pye’s regime stronger.”

  “Why are they using the wolves and not just doing the killing themselves?” Brax asked.

  “It was to throw us off,” Misa answered. “If the wolves were killing, and not the witches themselves, we suspect they thought it wouldn’t raise any alarm to what they were plotting.”

  “We discovered a young girl who was attacked, raped, but not killed,” Zia said. “Do you know why that would be, Misa?”

  Her face fell with guilt, which was quite an odd sight coming from a demon “When it was discovered what Pye was planning, Magnus, well…intervened.”

  “Intervened?” I repeated.

  She couldn’t even meet my eyes. “He knew of your rela
tionship to Valor.” She finally looked up. “He took the opportunity to start a little plan for himself to see the end of Pye and…”

  Nothing else needed to be said. I raised my hand to stop her words. This had all been a plan to have me.

  “He planned all of this?” I asked in a whisper of disbelief.

  He was a sneaky bastard. All this—everything all maneuvered to suit him. To benefit him. Fucker!

  Misa continued, “Magnus destroyed the wolf and aided the young woman to ensure that she would be strong enough to stand the change. He wanted to make sure Lady Nexi was close to Valor when Dante was taken, to guarantee that she would be obligated to help him.”

  I hated him for this, but at the same time, my heart clenched a little knowing that if Magnus hadn’t killed the wolf, Rynn would be dead.

  “Since Lady Nexi wants this matter dealt with, Magnus has given me the locations to find all involved, and to destroy the rest of Pye’s regime.”

  Warm feelings spread through me at the words Lady Nexi. My soul liked hearing that I belonged to Magnus—liked knowing this.

  Haven gasped, her voice came out is a scared shout. “No, Nexi, you have to fight against feelings like that.”

  I sighed, gritted my teeth. “Trust me, Haven. I am going to fight against it,” A blast of rage filled me. Rage that this was happening and had no control over it.

  Kyden tensed beside me.

  Hadley stood. “Let’s go back to FBI headquarters, gather our witch units within the FBI and we can go from there.”

  Zia nodded. “Yes, come on, Haven, Nexi.”

  Kyden released my hand, but as I stepped away, he pulled me into his arms while everyone headed for the door. “We will get through this,” he said firmly, grasping my face in his hands. His gaze was intent. He believed what he was saying. It was also obvious that he was seriously restraining himself. Probably for my benefit. He was trying to remain calm so I would. “I told you once, I do not share.”

  “I’m yours and yours alone.”

  “That you are.” He pulled me toward him and laid a kiss against my lips that spoke of love but held a possession that only he was capable of commanding.

  I hoped that his strength would be strong enough to break a bond that ran soul deep.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Back at FBI headquarters, the meeting room was packed with witches. Hadley had called in reinforcements from many of the other police departments in the surrounding areas, while Zia gathered as many witches as possible to help as well.

  “All right team,” Hadley said. “From Misa’s information, this is the location of the five houses containing our suspects.”

  Hadley had a map pinned with the locations. Being a vampire, she wouldn’t come with us, but she was obviously used to being in control because she was taking this situation in stride.“Nexi,” Haven whispered beside me.

  I leaned toward her, angled my head down, but kept my eyes focused on Hadley. “Yeah.”

  She grabbed my hands with hers, and I glanced at her. “I’m scared.”

  And boy did she look it. Those feelings tore right through me, and nothing about that felt good. “It will be okay,” I reassured her. “There are lots of us.”

  She squeezed tighter, her hands trembling against mine. “No. I am scared for you. I can feel it in you. I can feel his hold growing. If you go to Magnus, we won’t have our bond anymore. It will be taken from us.”

  I gulped deeply, knew the truth of her words. “Let’s just get through this, okay? Then, we can deal with everything else.” I said because in all honesty, I didn’t want to talk about it. Ignorance was ideal right now. If I didn’t think about it, about Magnus, then the connection would just evaporate. Right?

  Hadley’s voice drew me back. “Zia, what location will you handle?”

  Misa stood, and walked over to the map, pointing to a location that was in West Virginia. “We need to go here,” she said. “This is where the leaders are. They’re the strongest and will be the hardest to destroy. I think Lady Nexi’s skills will be needed here.”

  Every gaze swung to me. The sight of everyone judging me sent a pang of irritation through my blood. “What?” I growled.

  Zia’s brows rose at my tone. “Nexi,” she chided.

  What the hell was that? That didn’t even sound like me. I gave my head a good shake and settled my emotions. “Sorry,” I said quickly. “I don’t know why it came out like that.”

  Zia came over, sat next to me and took my hand in hers. Concern weighed heavy on her face as she brushed her fingers across the back of my hand. “I think you are right, Misa. It is best we deal with this house ourselves.”

  Hadley began to assign the other four locations to the witches throughout the meeting room.

  I sat there quietly, dealing with what had just happened. Why was I filled with so much rage? Normally having everyone look at me would annoy me. But never in my life had I growled like that. Was it happening? Was it beginning? Could it be happening this fast?

  Suddenly, I craved Kyden, wished he were here. I needed his reassurance that everything was going to work out. Right now, I wasn’t so sure and was on the verge of vomiting. Sickness made the room feel three times smaller as sweat beaded my skin.

  Zia sighed deeply, apparently, reading into my horror. She leaned forward and kissed my cheek. Not saying a word or trying to comfort me. She knew better. Nothing could comfort me now.

  Haven was crying, her breathing hitched as she took the brunt of the wild emotions stealing my soul. “Zia. Make it better. Take it away,” she sobbed.

  My heart wanted to suck back things, feelings, in order to save her from suffering this. But I couldn’t find the strength to do it. Haven had to come second. Realizing that, though, only made the sickness worse.

  The other witches in the room, including Hadley just watched us with confusion. No one knew what was taking place here, and I wasn’t about to tell virtual strangers everything. This was as personal as it comes.

  Zia reached out to Haven with her free hand, cupped her cheek and wiped her tears. “I’m sorry, I can’t.” With Zia’s touch, Haven immediately stopped crying. Obviously, Zia provided her a little strength through her magic. “We have to deal with this first. We need to stay strong.”

  Haven nodded and wiped her remaining tears after a long, deep breath. “Okay.” Then, she glanced to me. “I love you, Nexi.”

  “I love you too.” I forced a smile.

  Haven’s eyes welled up again, but Zia quickly grabbed her hand in hers and held it tight. The strength she provided to her wasn’t enough, which showed just how broken Haven was.

  I could only look at her with uncertainty. What was she feeling that I wasn’t? I meant what I said to her, but by the look in her eye, I had to think otherwise. Fear swept through me.

  She was sensing something I wasn’t, and that told me one thing…

  I was losing control of myself.

  Zia quickly took control of the scene, sending the witches on their way to end this reign of terror the Black Magic Witches had begun.

  While Misa, Zia, Haven and I returned to Otherworld, then went back through the portal into West Virginia, not a word was said. Maybe they were preparing themselves for the battle ahead or maybe it was heartbreak that made them silent.

  Misa, of course, probably had nothing to say since her allegiance belonged to Magnus. I doubted she’d even understand what I was feeling now or that a demon could even comprehend such emotions.

  After the flash from the teleport, we stood before a beautiful Victorian home which was nestled along a quiet developed street.

  “We will need to get some vampires here when this is over,” Zia said to Haven. “Go on. Go tell Zade to prepare them. We will need them to provide a story to the humans once we are done here.”

  Meaning, glamour them into believing that something else took place. They were likely to take notice when magic suddenly
blasted through their quiet neighborhood.

  She nodded, then disappeared.

  Suddenly, five other witches appeared. Sabi and Zennah were among them, along with an older group, including Briar.

  Briar immediately lunged at me, hugged me tightly. “I have heard the news.” She squeezed me tight. “Why the daughter of Tyrianna has been mated to such a creature as Magnus is in every way wrong.”

  Something deep in my soul hated her for saying those things, but I adamantly ignored them and leaned into her. “You’ve got that right.” Why did it feel like I was lying? I felt guilty for the words I just spoke, which conflicted with everything in my heart.