The Keepers of Hell Box Set

by Danielle James

  “Lead the way,” she said, holding her hand out in front of them both and allowing her husband to take the lead.

  ***

  Balthazar liked this human form. He was going to have to use it more often. Not only did the pretty face allow him to persuade females to give him anything he wanted, but it allowed him to choose his meals from the pick of the litter without much effort. Humans were a stupid breed. It was just as well that they would be losing their earthly realm over to demons.

  At first, Balthazar was content to just open the portal between Hell and Earth, unleashing hordes of demons on to the unsuspecting humans. However, that son of a bitch who was running Hell nowadays had some serious power backing him up. That damn spawn of Satan, Ryver, had destroyed his portal good and proper. It was of no consequence, though, really. Balthazar knew of things that those goody two shoes angels did not. He watched with smug content as the crew of humans he had hired continued to dig into the sand of the Sahara. They didn’t realize that they would never be paid, though. The price of entering the cave was death. He had left that tiny tidbit out of the employment contract.

  The demon smiled to himself as the workers found the entrance to the hidden cave. Soon, so very soon, he would be unleashing a hell on earth that not even Lucifer dared to release. With that kind of power in his corner, he could easily bring Hell up to Earth. By the time the angels caught on, there would be no stopping it. Just the thought made his cock stir and his stomach growl. He turned his attention to the women that were tending to the makeshift camp. There was one that looked particularly tasty. She was barely seventeen, with dark hair that had been tied up into a bun at the back of her neck. Not even the bulky clothing she wore hid the shapely body she had underneath. She was a virgin, he was sure.

  Balthazar licked his lips as he made the decision to approach her. As if she knew he was near, the young woman turned her head to see him. With a push of his power she came to him, taking his hand. He led her away from the camp with the promise of pleasure that she had never known. He loved the taste of innocence best and this one would not disappoint. As they entered Balthazar’s tent, he placed a barrier around them so that no one would hear what went on. He loved it when they screamed. Screams of pleasure were a nice appetizer, but the screams of fear were the best. This one, he knew, would scream beautifully for him when he consumed her soul.

  Chapter Seven

  Kaia followed Jensen to his private quarters, still shaking with anger. How could Ash have lied to her? To them both? Yes, she had agreed to work for him, but that didn’t mean that she was going to be making his life easier by any means.

  "Don’t think about that now, "Jensen said, closing the door. “Right now, I just want to be with you. With my wife. I’ve missed you." He pulled Kaia into the circle of his arms.

  It had been so long that Kaia had forgotten how good it felt to have her body pressed against his. The heat of his skin seeped through their clothing and into hers as she lay her head on his chest. For that moment, she was content to hear the beat of his heart. She had always been shorter than he was, and her head fit perfectly beneath his chin. Just the sound of his heart beating helped to heal the wounds that she had never quite been able to heal.

  "I can’t believe you’re here,” Jensen told her, his arms tightening around her body. "I’ve missed you so damned much.”

  Kaia couldn’t speak, only hold on to him tighter. Her hands gripped the back of his shirt so tightly that it was a wonder the material didn’t rip. She was afraid that if she let go, she would wake up and realize this was all a dream. She couldn’t let him go again.

  “Shh, baby, it’s okay now,” he said softly, rubbing her back.

  Kaia lifted her head and realized that his shirt was wet. She had been crying. "Is this really real?" she asked.

  Jensen grinned. “Yes, it is. I’m here, you’re here. It is all real, even the danger. But for right now, it’s just us.”

  He moved his hands to hold her face between them. "It’s me, Kaia." Then, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. The warm familiarity of his touch wrapped around her like a warm blanket. Immediately, Kaia responded, opening for him. He wrapped one arm around her back and used the other to fist the back of her short hair as he deepened the kiss, plunging his tongue into her hot mouth.

  He kissed her as if it were the first time, the last time, and every time in between. There was no crevice he left unexplored, learning her all over again. When Jensen finally freed her mouth, Kaia sucked in a deep breath as he kissed along her neckline and then to her shoulders. “I missed you so much,” he murmured against her skin. “I missed your smile, I missed your taste, I missed your touch.”

  Kaia felt surrounded by him, locked in his arms as he kissed her skin. He pulled her shirt aside to kiss her shoulder and nip at her flesh, working his way toward her breast. Grasping her shirt with both hands, Jensen ripped the material down the middle, exposing her chest to him. “So fucking beautiful,” he growled before dipping his head and taking her nipple into his mouth. As he sucked and licked at her, he began to walk her to the bed. They fell onto it in a heap, but Jensen did not stop kissing her. He trailed his tongue over her stomach, dipping it into her belly button.

  Kaia laughed. “Stop that!”

  Jensen smiled and hooked his hands under the waist of her pants. “These have to go. Now.” He pulled them off her legs hastily, stopping only long enough to remove her boots. Then she was completely exposed to his hungry gaze. “I want that,” he growled.

  “You are wearing too many clothes,” she said. “Fix it. Now.”

  Jensen stood up long enough to yank his shirt over his head and drop his pants to his ankles. He kicked his shoes and pants off, and then jumped back on the bed. “Is that better?” he grinned.

  “Definitely,” she said approvingly. It had been too long since she saw his body on display for her. Kaia flipped them both over so that she was on top of him. “I missed you too,” she said, running her fingers lightly over the muscular expanse of his chest. She explored him, from his chest down his washboard abs and back up again. She leaned down and took his mouth, biting his lower lip.

  “Fuck,” he growled, taking the back of her head and holding her to him. He rocked his hips under her, rubbing his erection against her thigh. “Kaia,” he said breathlessly, “I want—“

  “Me too,” she said, “But later. Right now, I just want you inside me.” She rose up and angled her hips, took his cock in her hand, and guided him to her entrance. Slowly, she lowered herself on him.

  “Fuck you’re so tight,” he moaned.

  “It’s been a while,” she told him as she pushed further down.

  “Ahhh,” he groaned, needing to be all the way inside her but afraid of hurting her. “Kaia.”

  She moaned and forced herself all the way down, taking him inside of her to the hilt. “Oh my God,” she whispered, “so full.”

  Jensen’s eyes rolled back as he sat perfectly still, enjoying the feel of her wrapped tightly around him. It had been too long. He knew when he accepted his job that this was not a possibility, but still he wanted it. Now that she was here, in hell, with him, he didn’t plan to ever let her go.

  Kaia loved the way he filled her, not just with his body, but with his heart. She was whole again, and she planned to make sure that he knew it. He was the other half of her soul, and she would never be the same without him again. As she began to move, she kept her eyes open, watching everything about Jensen. She knew better than to take anything for granted ever again, so she committed every expression he made to her memory. The sound of his voice as he encouraged her to move, the look of pure love on his face as he took her hips in hand and held her as he pushed his hips off the bed, impaling her.

  As Kaia rode him, Jensen couldn’t touch her enough. When her wings spread behind her, he nearly lost control, she was so damned beautiful. He doubted that she even knew she had done it, but it didn’t matter. She was his light, his w
orld. When her body tightened around him and she climaxed, he held strong. He wasn’t done with her yet.

  Kaia collapsed on top of him, breathing heavily. “That was nice,” she said into his chest. “Give me a second and I’ll keep going.”

  “No need,” he said with a wolfish grin. He pushed her over and flipped her to her knees. “You’re going to come again,” he growled as he pushed into her from behind. He reached around her to flick his finger over her clit.

  “Jensen!” she cried out, bucking back against his every thrust. “Fuck!”

  She reached out and grabbed the pillows with her fists, taking all he was giving to her. “I’m coming again!” she wailed as her body shook under him.

  Jensen slowed for a moment, kissing the back of her neck and then pushed into her again. “Again,” he demanded. And he did make her come again. And again. Until she couldn’t move. Only then did he allow himself to climax.

  He lay on his back and pulled Kaia to him, letting her rest her head on his chest. He kissed her forehead and realized she was already asleep. A satisfied smile crossed his lips. That was how it was supposed to be.

  Chapter Eight

  The wind had become something rather fierce as the sand swirled in the air all around him. The cave had collapsed in on itself just as the script foretold. The sand settled back to the Earth and Balthazar grinned as the lone survivor raced through the sand. “I have it,” the survivor said breathlessly, holding the golden box out in front of him.

  “Yes, you did,” the demon replied. “Aren’t you going to open it?”

  The human’s face lit up. “Oh may I?”

  “Of course,” Balthazar answered. “You have earned it.”

  He watched as the human fiddled with the box until he found the seal. “How do I get it open?” the human male asked.

  “You have to break the seal,” Balthazar answered with a smile.

  The human man dug his thumbs into the wax seal and pried the box open. A gust of wind escaped the box, knocking it from the human’s hands. The wind became a fog that swirled and moved until it was over the sand. A roar split the quiet air as the fog took on the shape of a white horse and its rider. The image solidified, and the rider wielded his sword, taking the human’s head who had set him free. The box fell to the ground, forgotten and no longer useful.

  Balthazar grinned. “Hello, Pestilence.”

  ***

  Lucas didn’t know what he expected when he had been called to Ash’s office, but it wasn’t the round of grinning idiots that awaited him. At first, he wondered what or where he had screwed up, but now, he was completely lost. “You called for me, Sir?” he asked, facing his leader with his shoulders square and his head held high.

  “Yes,” Ash said, pacing in front of the werewolf. “It would seem that congratulations are in order.”

  “For what?” Lucas asked.

  “I have caught wind that you are to be awarded the Medal of Honor in just a few short days,” Ash answered. “We would all like to be there.”

  Lucas shook his head. “There is no reason to,” he answered. “I’m not going.”

  “But we are,” Ash said firmly.

  “We really do not have to go to this,” Lucas assured Ash. “I’m dead, remember?”

  “Yes, you are,” Ash agreed, “But this is important. You need to see what you have done, and you need to know that others see it too.”

  “I just think our time would be better spent searching out Balthazar,” Lucas reminded him.

  “Can I give my opinion?” Kaia asked with one raised brow.

  “Of course,” Ash told her.

  “Whenever we caught chatter about a possible attack on the President or any of his team, we set up a public event. Always with the appropriate amount of security, but we put the target out there in the open to draw out the perpetrator.” Kaia took a breath. “So if we all go to this thing for Lucas, maybe, just maybe this demon will show his face.”

  “She’s a smart one,” Antonio said with a wide smile.

  “It’s like I used to work for the Secret Service or something,” Kaia said sarcastically.

  “So wait,” Ash said, “If someone was planning an assassination of the President, you just dangled him out there like a worm on a hook?”

  “Pretty much,” Kaia said. “Usually worked too.”

  “Then it’s final. We go,” Ash announced. Lucas didn’t seem pleased, though.

  “What’s wrong, wolf boy?” Kaia asked, elbowing him in the ribs playfully.

  Lucas ran a hand over his military cut hair. “I just don’t like being the center of attention. Never did.”

  “Well life isn’t all about you, Jarhead,” Kaia reminded him. “This just might give us the advantage we’ve been looking for.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Lucas told her. “If we go, and Balthazar does drop by, we have to keep my family safe. They’ll be there. I want everyone’s vow that my family will remain unharmed.”

  “Ryver can do that,” Ash said. “She’s the only one strong enough to protect that many people at once.”

  “Happy to do it,” Ryver answered. Lucas couldn’t control the shiver that ran down his spine every time he heard her beautiful voice. His mate was his everything, and he was hers. He could think of no one he trusted more with his family’s safety.

  “Well, let’s get dressed then,” Ash commanded. “We should all look our best.”

  “You do know that no one will see us,” Lucas pointed out.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Ash said. “This is a celebration and we will all act accordingly. Afterward, we can all grab a bite to eat. Practice our human forms for a while.”

  “I think that is a wonderful idea,” Elizabeth said with a toothy grin. “It seems like forever since I was topside.”

  “I thought you were still working at the hospital,” Lacy said.

  “I was, but then all of this happened and Ash was too worried that I would be a target. So I quit. I miss it, though. There aren’t too many people to heal down here.”

  Elizabeth had been a doctor in her human life and tried to continue her calling, but things never seemed to work out the way they should. Nothing made her happier than being a trauma surgeon, but living in a world full of angels that healed themselves made for a boring life.

  “Well maybe you can find a gunshot victim or something while we’re there,” Kaia said with a teasing smile.

  “That would be cool,” Elizabeth agreed.

  “Ok that’s enough. Get ready. We leave in ten minutes,” Ash said with finality. “We don’t want to be late.”

  Ten minutes later, everyone stood in Ash’s office in their best outfits. It took Kaia several tries to get the idea of how to materialize clothing. She knew she was going to have to practice being seen and hiding her wings. Truth be told, she didn’t want to hide them. The magnificent color looked more like it belonged on a Valkyrie than an angel of Hell. But showing them off in the human world was probably a bad idea, she decided. Finally, after several tries, Kaia was able to hide them. She also willed a dress on to her body that fit like glove. The deep V showed off more than enough cleavage, while the matching V on the backside dipped nearly to ass. The deep green color set off her red hair and enhanced her pale complexion.

  “You are absolutely the most beautiful creature in the universe,” Jensen told her.

  “You ain’t so bad yourself,” she said, reaching over and straightening his tie. “You clean up really well.” She took a step back to admire her husband—the man she vowed to spend forever with and now they would truly get to. The suit he chose was black as night with a matching black tie. His hair barely brushed the collar, and Kaia couldn’t help but think he needed a haircut.

  Lacy had chosen an off-white dress with a sweetheart bodice, and Liam matched her in a white suit. Shelly chose a black dress and Jake matched her as well. Ryver’s dress was blood-red and nearly brushed the floor as she walked, while Lucas dressed in his Dress Blue
s. Kaia couldn’t help but notice the stripes on his uniform. “Not too bad, Jarhead,” she grinned. He saluted her and then returned her smile. Ash appeared wearing a navy-blue suit so dark it was nearly black, with Elizabeth on his arm. Her dress was sapphire blue, hanging off the shoulder, and shimmering when she moved.

  “Are we ready?” Ash asked them.

  A round of yeses answered him.

  “Then let’s get going,” he said.

  Chapter Nine

  Balthazar circled Pestilence before nodding in approval. “You need to remember to act like this man,” he reminded the horseman.

  “I have all of his thoughts and memories with me,” Pestilence replied. “He was a great businessman, but easily lured by his greed. It was easier than I thought to consume him.”

  “Well, now you must be him,” Balthazar said. “You are now Ronald Train.”

  “And how will I gather the following of the entire human population in this form?” the new Ronald asked.

  “His name is known all over the world,” Balthazar answered. “People know him and trust him, especially the rich and influential. I have an idea.”

  “What is that?” Ronald asked the demon.

  “You’re going to run for President of the most powerful country in the world. The United States of America.”

  ****

  “Sorry I’m late,” Antonio said, appearing next to Ash. They were all on the lawn of the White House, standing silently and invisibly behind the gathered chairs.

  “I knew you would be here,” Ash said without looking at the angel.

  “I’m here too,” a female voice said.

  Ash whipped his head around to see that Antonio had brought someone back with him. Someone who could see them. Someone who was holding the angel’s hand and smiling bright as the sun. She had long, dark, curly brown hair and deep blue eyes. She had to be his mate. “And you are?” Ash questioned.

  “Macy,” she said, holding out her free hand to Ash.

  He took it and shook gently. “Nice to finally meet you,” Ash told her. “How did you get this approved?”