“What are you doing here, boy?” she asked him, not at all hiding her disdain at his presence. I nearly choked on the laugh that threatened to come out. Moira didn’t know that Rysten was Pestilence. She didn’t know he was a demon at all.
“I’m here to take Ruby to work,” he said, not hiding his smirk.
“No, you’re not,” Moira answered for me.
“Hey,” I protested. “I can answer for myself.” Moira narrowed her eyes at me. What’s gotten into her lately?
“Do you want him to take you to work?” she asked pointedly.
“Of course she does,” Rysten responded before I could get a word in. I swung my glare in his direction. “Don’t you, love?”
“No, I can’t say that I do,” I said hotly, stuffing my tongue in my cheek. I had mixed feelings where he and the others were concerned. It was my nature to want to play with fire, and four sexy and unbelievably powerful demons were just that. But. They also wanted to cart me off to Hell where I would probably die a terrible death once they realized they’d made a mistake.
“Now, love, I know this isn’t easy on you, but—”
Rysten was still speaking when Moira slammed the door in his face.
“Why is he following you, Ruby?” she asked me, turning her back on the door. Rysten had gone quiet, but not for a second did I think he was actually gone. Not if they really believed what they told me, and given their behavior, I had no reason to think otherwise.
My eyes strayed to Moira and I gave her a non-committal shrug. “You know how men are.”
“I do,” she said narrowing her eyes. “But he’s not human, is he?”
Well, shit. Maybe she did know a thing or two.
“No,” I said grimly. “He’s not.”
She nodded like that’s what she expected. “Have you slept with him yet?”
“No. I haven’t slept with any of them,” I snapped, realizing a second too late that I just gave away more information than intended. Shit.
“Them?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. I rolled my eyes, letting out a sigh of exasperation. There was no way she was going to let it go now that I let that one slip. Great job, Ruby.
“You remember the guy who bailed me out of jail?” She nodded slowly. “Well, he and Rysten work together with two other guys. The four of them came here for me because they have some crazy, delusional idea that I’m someone important. So, they think they need to protect me.”
“Well, who do they think you are?” she asked, her voice filled with skepticism.
“Lucifer’s daughter.”
Silence ensued as we stared at each other until she burst out laughing. I waited for her to get her giggles out, and then she said, “That’s a good one, but why are they really here?”
I stared blankly until her smile fell as the truth behind my words set in.
“They really believe you’re the king’s child?” she asked, like it only then occurred to her I might be telling the truth.
“It gets better,” I said stiffly, and the whole story came pouring out of me. I collapsed on the sofa, all hope of making it into the shop early dissipated as I told her about the Horsemen and how they wanted to drag me back to Hell now that Lucifer died, all so I could somehow prevent the apocalypse from happening.
“Wow. I don’t know what to say.” Her voice was punctured by shock and disbelief.
“That makes two of us.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know, honestly. They wouldn’t believe me when I told them they have the wrong person, but I have no intention of going to Hell just to prove them wrong.” I picked at a piece of lint on my bath robe while Moira studied me.
“Are you sure…”
“Am I sure what?”
“Are you sure there’s no way they may be right?”
I gaped at her, not even willing to entertain that thought. “Do you hear yourself right now? How is this even a question for you? You’ve known me most of your life. Have I ever come across as anything other than part-succubus?” My heart warbled in my chest while I spluttered the words.
“No,” she exhaled. “But that doesn’t mean you’re not. There’s always that chance your other half just hasn’t manifested yet—”
“Do you really think that if Lucifer had a child, they wouldn’t manifest before twenty-two?” I deadpanned.
Even she couldn’t deny that. “Okay, so assuming you’re not. What are you going to do about the Horsemen?” she asked as Bandit jumped onto the back of the couch and stuck his head through the blinds. Between the gap, I could see Rysten standing in the yard talking to someone on the phone.
“The way I see it, there isn’t much I can do. They’re going to follow me either way, and at least any other demons who think I’m Lucifer’s daughter might leave me alone while they’re around. I mean, they’re bound to get the hint eventually, right?” I said throwing my arm over my face.
Moira shifted in her seat. “Hmm…possibly. They’re demons, though, and when they take a liking to you…”
“That’s an if, not a when,” I pointed out, more for my own peace of mind than anything. I was happy with my life here. I didn’t want anything to change, but they made it clear they weren’t leaving me alone, even if I wanted them to.
Bandit perched on my shoulder, munching on a carrot, as I walked out the front door. I’d been planning on leaving him at home today, but every time I reached for the doorknob, he tried to claw his way up my legs to come with me. Needy. I knew if I left him home, he’d tear everything to shreds just to get back at me. He was vindictive that way.
Rysten stood in my driveway, leaning against my car. His sand colored hair hung in his eyes and he had his arms crossed over his chest.
“I take it you four aren’t leaving me alone anytime soon?” I asked as I approached the car. Rysten shook his head, the dark twinkle in his eye making my stomach do little summer saults.
“No can-do, love. You’re stuck with us now that we’ve found you,” he said, opening my driver’s side door.
“You’re not going to try to take my keys again, are you?” I asked warily.
He snorted. “I’m not Julian. Unlike Death, I realize that you’re independent enough to chafe if we try to do everything for you,” he said, a knowing twinkle in his eye. I swallowed hard and pretended not to notice the subtle brush of heat against my skin.
“Damn straight, I am.” I stepped around him and climbed in. The passenger side door opened, Rysten taking Bandit’s seat. He growled under his breath at his usual space being occupied by this stranger, but he settled in the back of the car as I pulled out of the driveway.
“Your friend. She’s not very fond of me, is she?” he asked. It was an abrupt change of subject. But given Moira’s reaction to him on two occasions, I wasn’t surprised he was curious.
“No. She’s not very fond of most men who won’t leave me alone,” I said honestly.
“But I’m not a man,” he pointed out.
“You’re male and you’ve been stalking me. Close enough,” I said with a roll of my eyes.
He chuckled under his breath, a dark and delicious sound. “It’s good she’s so protective of you,” he said. “Even without being full-blooded succubus, I can feel the draw. A lesser demon would be hopeless to resist you.” I swallowed hard, a question I shouldn’t ask playing on the tip of my tongue. “You’ll really be something when you come into your powers.”
“If I come into my powers,” I corrected. That earned another chuckle out of him.
“Oh, you will, love. Of that, I am certain.” He sounded awfully confident for someone who was going to be hellaciously disappointed. I glanced sideways, but there wasn’t a hint of the power or darkness I heard creeping into his voice. His glamor rippled when our eyes locked, and I quickly averted mine to the road.
“Why do you wear a glamor when the others don’t?” I asked.
“Because the others are idiots in some regards,” he said s
mugly.
“What do you mean?”
“What was your first thought when you met Allistair?” he asked. I thought of the brooding incubus. I’d known what he was from yards away, as much from the look in his eye to the way he moved. There was a raw power that radiated from him.
“He was”— I struggled to find a description that wasn’t embarrassing, like sex-on-a-stick. That probably wouldn’t earn me any points here—“intense.”
Rysten nodded. “What about Julian?”
“Well, I shot him, so…”
“Exactly. And had you not met Laran when trying to get rid of your admirer”—his nose wrinkled in distaste–“you would have felt the same.”
“That’s one word for Josh.”
“He’s not worthy,” Rysten said. Something about that response bothered me. It was almost territorial in a way, somehow implying he was worthy. I pulled into the parking lot behind the parlor and cut the engine.
Rysten brushed his thumb across his bottom lip, and I bit the inside of my cheek. While he was the most approachable of the Horsemen, he was still a demon, and a very powerful one at that.
“You still haven’t answered my question,” I said.
The corners of his lips turned up as he leaned forward. “Haven’t I, love?”
My gaze went from his lips to his face, where his eyes gave away that very faint inkling of the darkness I sensed in him.
Realization dawned on me. “Because you think I’ll let you get close to me just because you can make yourself seem more human.”
His answering smile had me both pissed off and turned on. He leaned in, only inches from my face, and murmured, “That’s what you’re doing, isn’t it?” His breath caressed my skin, drawing at the seductress within. I clamped down hard on my urges, fighting the lust unfolding inside me.
“No,” I snapped, pulling back. “It’s not.”
I practically spun in my seat and wrenched the door open, jumping from the car to get as much space between us as possible. How could I have been stupid enough to ignore the obvious? I was more frustrated with myself than I was with him.
Bandit perched himself on the edge of the driver’s seat and jumped towards me, wrapping his paws around neck. I put one arm underneath to support his weight and used the other to grip the car door.
Rysten tilted his head to the side as his glamor settled now that I wasn’t so close. A boyish smile appeared on his lips as he said, “It’s going to happen whether you like it or not, Ruby. You’re ours to protect, and we take care of what’s ours.”
I slammed the car door and strode away from him as the reality of what it meant to have the Four Horsemen after me truly set in. This was going to be a long week. They would protect me from anything they saw as a threat because of who they thought I was.
But who would protect me from them?
Chapter 8
I was just closing shop for the weekend when the bell on the front door rang. I peeked my head around the corner and groaned when I saw who was standing there. It was none other than my lousy ex holding the sad makings of another apology in the form of a bouquet.
Why me?
“What are you doing here?” I asked. Bandit took one look at Josh and let out a growl. He held his head up higher at the sight of my raccoon. His posture couldn’t have been straighter if someone shoved a pine tree up his ass.
“I came here to apologize for Sunday night.” He motioned to the flowers in his hand. “I brought you daffodils. They’re supposed to stand for forgiveness and new beginnings.”
It took all my self-control not to gag. “I’m good. Thanks.”
“Please, Ruby.” Devil save me, not the whining again. I didn’t have the patience for it today. I knew that it wasn’t the loss of me that had him obsessing over our split. I knew it was the dormant succubus within. He had cheated on me claiming it was because I wouldn’t sleep with him, but he also came groveling back every few days. It was exhausting. But sleeping with someone that didn’t really give two shits about me, and had no choice, felt a little too much like rape. This is what I get for having morals.
“Please what?” I said, throwing my hands up in exasperation. “We broke up, Josh. I don’t know what to say.”
“That you’ll forgive me and give me another chance—”
I held my hand up to stop him. “No. We are never, ever getting back together.” I cringed as soon as the words were out, knowing I sounded like a bad Taylor Swift song.
“Is it because of those guys I saw with you? You have a”—he struggled with words for a moment, anger clouting his brain—“a harem now? Is that it?”
A harem? Now that’s a thought. I was equally intrigued by the idea as I was pissed off by his attitude, given that he had absolutely zero reason to feel any sense of entitlement towards me. After all, his actions were what brought an abrupt end to our relationship, but with all the whining he was doing, I couldn’t say I was sorry to see it end. At least I didn’t have to feel bad about being bitchy this time.
“They have nothing to do with what happened between us, Josh. You are the one who cheated on me.” I was beginning to sound like a broken record. This conversation was getting old, and fast.
“You wouldn’t have sex with me! I waited months for you! Now you’re sleeping with, what—three, four guys? But I’m willing to forgive you for your transgressions, if you can look past my small lapse in judgement.”
Wow. I didn’t even know how to respond. Unfortunately for him, he chose to be a total dick at the exact moment Laran was walking up. The door opened behind him, and he took one look over his shoulder and paled.
“I don’t need your forgiveness because I don’t want to be with you. Leave me alone,” I said, hoping that Laran’s presence would be enough to get him to go away.
Josh swallowed hard and uttered, “This isn’t over. I will win you back.” Delusional wasn’t a strong enough word.
“Actually, you won’t,” Laran said darkly. “Stay away from Ruby, boy. My patience has an expiration, much like your life span.” The menace in his voice wasn’t soft or cunning. It was bold, and edged with a danger that just seemed to radiate from Laran. I’d only spoken with him briefly, less than the other three, and he scared the crap out of me. Josh would probably piss his pants if they kept this up.
“Are you threatening me?” Josh demanded. His face turned pink as he spluttered out his indignation.
“Yes.” Laran stepped out of the way of the door, a not-so-subtle hint that it was time for him to leave.
Once again, Josh let out a string of curses, but did indeed storm off. The shop door slammed behind him, leaving me and Laran alone.
“Are all your exes this crazy?” he asked me. I guess at this point it was the closest we could get to small talk.
“Mostly,” I responded. The ghost of a smirk crossed his lips, gone before I could tell if it was real.
“I guess that means I have my work cut out for me.” He strode towards me like he owned the earth we walked on. Unapologetically and unequivocally male. My mouth dried as he neared me, but I didn’t back away. The last thing I needed these demons thinking was that they could bulldoze me around.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, fidgeting with the corner of my sleeve. Strangely enough, Bandit stayed quiet as he approached me. Unlike Josh, whom he had always disliked, he didn’t seem to care one way or the other if Laran was near me. I wasn’t sure if I should find that comforting, or worrisome.
“It’s my turn,” he said proudly.
“Your turn?”
“To spend time with you,” he clarified. I frowned. They were taking turns on who—
“Who says I want to spend time with you?” I didn’t particularly care for being told what to do or who I would spend time with.
“Would you rather Allistair or Julian?”
“Um…” My non-answer must have been answer enough.
He smirked and held out his hand. “Come. I promise not to bite
. This time.”
This time? I licked my bottom lip at the promise in those words. I wasn’t supposed to be attracted to them, or at the very least, not playing out my fantasies, but I couldn’t help but wonder what Laran might taste like. Just a bite. He was a full-grown male demon, well into his prime, and the things he could teach me…
My wishful thinking stopped as memories knocked me back to reality. It’d been a long, long while since I got laid, thanks to what happened last time. Seeing as I had no immediate plans to fix that, I just accepted that I was damned if I did, and damned if I didn’t.
Taking a deep breath, I said, “Fine, but I need to drop Bandit off at home first. He doesn’t like people, and humans are prejudice dicks.”
Laran gave me a savage grin. “Who said anything about humans?”
I wasn’t sure if I should be excited or concerned at the prospect of whatever the Horseman of War had planned. The demonic glint in his eye should have been all the warning I needed.
Half an hour after dropping Bandit at home, we pulled of the highway. A ‘Keep Out’ sign sat just before the bend in the road that turned and revealed this run-down lot in the middle of nowhere. The bits and pieces of trash scattered about would have made it look like any other abandoned lot you find, had conifers not towered over the make-shift building, keeping it hidden from unwanted eyes. It looked like a great location for a horror movie. In front of a rickety shed made of plywood was a moderate plot of compacted dirt, currently being used as a parking lot for the few cars parked outside. Spray-painted lines marked the spots where cars were supposed to park, not that it seemed the drivers paid that any mind. The slightly bent brambles and flattened grass were the only indication that an unmarked road existed just off the highway that led here. There was just something too convenient about that, and it didn’t sit right with me.
I suddenly felt like we were about to walk into the middle of some shady shit.
“Where are we?” I asked as we got out of the car. An upside-down pentagram hung from the top of the lopsided door, the only indication about what might await me inside.
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