“Is she back in control?” Branson asked.
The demons seized the reigns before I could respond. Staring at him, I licked my lower lip seductively. They used my magik against me, changing what I was wearing once again. Cool air brushed over my body and I realized just how little I had on. Glancing down, I found myself wearing only thin strips of black leather. Nothing more. The strips just barely covered my shaved mound and my nipples.
Branson drew in a sharp breath. “Guess not.”
Something heavy appeared around my neck. Reaching up, I found myself wearing a collar and a silver chain. The demons laughed again, holding the chain out towards Seger. “Come, wolf. Seek your prize. Smell her blood. Her sex. Her power. Take her and claim her as your own. Better yet,” I turned in a small circle, thumping thin air as I went, “just fuck her until she bleeds.”
Seger growled. It was plain to see that in his current state, he’d more than fuck me. He’d tear me to pieces. I sensed it then, the power I’d felt earlier. It moved around me. The demons drew back a bit, frightened at first before laughing wickedly through me. “Ah, she receives the help of a powerful warrior of good. A,” they forced my arms high into the air, “man who has a personal stake in what happens to her.”
I fought back, pushing against their control. Staring at the chest full of my father’s weapons, I concentrated on them, drawing on every bit of strength I had. The weapons shook and then lifted into the air.
Tripp’s gaze went to them. “No! Karri! Don’t do it! We can beat them. Set them free. Killing yourself isn’t the answer.”
I kept fighting, using my power to try to fully control the weapons. Tripp shook his head. “Karri, if they get control of those weapons, they’ll use them to hurt Amber.”
I stilled but didn’t release my hold.
Tripp stared at me. “They’ll use them to hurt Riston. Do you want that? Do you want them to kill Riston?”
Instantly, I sent the weapons and slamming back into the trunk and withdrew my power, holding what I could to me tight, terrified they’d hurt someone I cared about. The demons seized the opportunity to act out through me. “Green-eyed one, you may have found a way to appeal to her sensible side but we control her sexual side. And,” they forced my nails over my bare stomach, cutting deep into the taunt flesh there, causing blood to flow freely, “we say that she will fuck the wolf in front of you all. He cannot help but answer to us.”
Seger lunged towards me, howling out. Tripp, Hansen and Branson charged him, tackling him and taking him to the ground. I bent down and ran my hand through the blood on my stomach, sending Seger into an even bigger struggle to break free. As I brought my fingers to my lips and licked my blood from them I turned and focused on Riston.
It was then that I felt the demons within searching for answers. “Interesting,” they said through me. “We are unable to find information on you within her. Yet we sensed her fear of harming you. It is there but she has hidden it from us. How is that?”
Tripp was the one who answered. “She’s locked it away from herself too. Stop digging for it or you’ll kill her and yourselves.”
“We care not.”
Leveling his gaze, Tripp nodded. “Branson, take Amber and get her out of here. Hansen, see to it that Seger is controlled and as far from here as possible.”
“What are you planning on doing?”
“I’m planning on getting those things out of Karri,” Tripp said, his voice calm.
Instantly, the demons within collected their power with the need to destroy Tripp on their mind. I fought back hard and clung to them. There was no way I’d let them harm him. “Two can play at this game. I’m not about to play wrap in nothing more than fucking ribbons anymore, assholes.”
“Karri? That was her voice. I heard it!” Branson shouted. “What’s going on?”
I turned and found all of them staring at me with shocked looks on their faces. “Tell me how to kill them, Tripp. I know you know. I can’t remember. They’re....” I held my head tight as pain shot through it. “They’re blocking the answer from me.”
“Karri?” he asked. “How the hell are you talking to us?”
“It’s not easy. Could you hold the questions until after the demon-athon is complete please? I think I’ve raised enough demons now to meet our quota. What do you think?” They clawed at my sides. Everyone gasped as I cried out.
“Fucking tell her how to stop it, Tripp,” Branson said fast. “They’re tearing her body from the inside out. Look at the claw marks on her!”
“How do I kill them? I know that I can. I just can’t remember....” They fought back, sending evil power ramming through me. I felt my nose begin to bleed and I grabbed my head as the pressure increased.
Before Tripp could answer the demons within thrust me upwards, sending me right at the ceiling. Someone grabbed hold of me and I could almost hear the demons within shrieking. They shot out of me so fast that I fell backwards all the same, knocking whoever had a hold of me over, as well.
I turned and found myself laying on Riston who was still under the influence of magik, at least I hoped he was. My eyes widened. “Shit, I knocked over an innocent and,” I glanced down at myself and drew in a sharp breath, “I think I lost the Mortician Does Dallas--look on top of him too. He got a nanosecond of a naked me on him.”
Branson let out a nervous laugh.
I swayed a bit, doing my best not to pass out. “Who hit me with a two-by-four in the head?”
“No one,” Tripp said, softly. “Are you hurt?”
“Nah, another day in the life. Nothing to get worked up about. Same old same old. And whatever the hell else works as a response here.”
“Karri, your body can’t take much more of your ‘just another days.’ You don’t take care of yourself like you should.”
Rolling my eyes, I dropped my head down on Riston’s chest, enjoying the feel of him. “And he wonders why I don’t listen when he talks.”
“I heard that,” Tripp said.
I groaned. “I wasn’t trying to hide it from you. I was simply talking to my friend’s friend.” As I went to roll off Riston, he put his arms around me and held me close. That wasn’t supposed to be possible. Was it?
You probably did it yourself, needing comfort. You probably thrust your power out and forced him to respond. Pathetic.
Deciding my explanation worked, I couldn’t help but hug Riston as I sighed. “It would be my luck to have this crap happen the same day I finally meet a nice, normal guy I’m interested in. The day I meet you.”
“Hey, technically dead but still standing here,” Tripp called out with a laugh.
Tripp had a point. He was a great guy when he’d been alive. He’d also been a great lover and so much more than I even wanted to admit to myself. I didn’t want to let the pain of losing him back in so I did my best to block it out. Humor was my weapon of choice to help with that. “I said normal. Did you miss that part? I never thought I’d say this but I don’t want a supernatural that is prone to having things chasing him too. Gawd, I just got done telling Amber how I wanted someone dark and dangerous. Can I change my vote to shy and innocent?”
I lifted my arm to push up and pain shot through it. I hissed. “I did not sign up to be a punching bag for things that go bump in the night. Yet, here I am, sore as hell. Why is it that I have never been on a date that didn’t involve stakes, guns, death and evil things?”
“Just lucky I guess,” Hansen said, actually making me laugh.
“When I watch a movie with Amber she’s always amazed that I’m all swept away when the hero and heroine are doing something simple like going for dinner. It’s when things start exploding and people start dying that it gets boring. Is it too much to ask for a normal life?” I went to roll off Riston and stopped when his lips curved into a tiny smile. “Guys?”
Something crashed and I heard a loud thump. “Ouch. Yeah?” Tripp asked.
“I didn’t think angels could get hurt.”
“Then you didn’t read the manual very thoroughly,” Tripp said, laughing.
I didn’t move. I stayed on Riston, staring down at him, searching for a sign that he was understanding what was going on. I tipped my head and gave him a questioning look. “Branson, are you sure your holding spell worked?”
“Amber hasn’t budged. Are you questioning my skills?” He hissed. “Damn, they burn.”
“They?”
Seger chuckled and it was music to my ears. “Yeah, boss, the demons that came out of you are slowly kicking our asses. There’s nothing like trying to hit something that doesn’t seem to really be there. Though, they’re managing to get good licks in on us. Hardly seems fair if you ask me.”
Part of me wanted to peek and see exactly what Seger was referring to but since they were fighting shadow demons, I already had a pretty good idea. It was like fighting thin air.
“He’s right,” Hansen said, surprising me. “They’re winning.”
“Tell them to go home. Tell them we forfeit the game and they can play in the attic. We’ll all go play in the kitchen or somewhere else.” I sighed, not wanting to play the game that was anything but fulfilling anymore.” Oh, and I’m happy that you’re done trying to fuck me like an animal, Seger.”
He laughed. “Me too. Sorry about that.”
“No problem. Happens all the time. And to be honest, normally it’s evil shit trying to hump my leg. Even though I’m sure you’d have ripped me to pieces I can smile knowing that you aren’t a man-whore or evil.”
“Uhh, thanks. Wait, are you saying you’re happy I almost did that?” he asked.
I chuckled. “Think about my life. Who would you rather have kill you? Them or one of us?”
“Point taken.”
“Karri, if I let them leave this room they’ll report every detail of what happened here. If the council thinks they can’t convert you they’ll kill you,” Hansen said, sounding strained.
“You hate Karri. What the fuck do you care?” Branson asked, stealing the question I had.
He laughed. “None of you get it.”
“I do,” Tripp said. “Hate is the furthest thing Hansen feels for Karri. And before anyone argues please keep in mind that he is my twin. Our bond didn’t go when I did. It’s how I knew he was here.”
“Why can’t you help with these things, Tripp? Isn’t this the same thing you fight on a global level now?” Seger asked, falling down next to me. He turned and blushed. “Sorry again about the whole....”
“Attempt at mounting me?” I asked, winking. “Don’t worry about it. I should have warned you about the oversexed problem. Though, I didn’t find out exactly what happens when it’s let out until recently.”
“That would have been good to know. I’d have brought my own collar or something.”
“Seger.”
He arched a brow. “Yeah.”
“That’s fun too.”
His eyes widened and I giggled. “I was kidding. At least to a point. I think you’re safe from my evil clutches now. But for future reference, whatever happens to me when that starts, seems to affect lycans and other angels the most. I don’t know why.”
“So,” he said. “You’re warning me that if I ever find you trying to kick the shit out of someone when you’re in stiletto boots, I should get my ass to a cold shower fast?”
“Hmm, I think so. It’s trial and error. I learn something new about myself on a weekly basis. For instance, did you know that I can’t cook?”
He laughed hard. “Yeah, but I’m happy to hear you finally figured it out. I don’t think I could have stomached another one of your meals.”
“Ass.”
He winked. “And you, my dear Karri, are one of the bravest women I know. We’ve had hundreds of years to get used to all of this yet you’re the one who makes us laugh and joke during it all.” He sat up. “Speaking of which, do you think you could stop laying on your new boyfriend and help your old one?”
“I guess so.” I nodded and froze.
Seger chuckled. “I think they pulled the wool over our eyes, Branson. Care to share how long you and Tripp were a couple?”
“Karri,” Tripp said in a warning tone. “Know that I’m here only because someone more powerful than my superiors is allowing it.”
“So that means she can’t answer the question?” Seger got to his feet and put his hand out to me. I took it. “What? Was it longer than a month? Karri never dates a guy longer than a week, two at the most so that would be like a record for her.”
Tripp’s jaw tightened. “Seger, enough. There are things greater than you can image at work here.”
Rolling my eyes, I sighed. It seemed pointless to keep up the charade. “Four years, Seger. Tripp and I were a couple, a very serious item for just over four years.”
His breath caught. “Well, that explains the rampage you went on when you found him, uh, when he passed away. You should have told us. We’d have tried to help you through it better than we did.”
I smiled. “Killing things helped a lot. Knowing that in the fucked up world of angels, Tripp wasn’t really dead helped the most though.”
“Karri?” Seger touched my cheek softly. It was a kind gesture, one I appreciated more than he’d ever know.
“Yeah?”
“It’s okay to say that you miss him. We all do.”
A lone tear ran down my cheek as I locked gazes with Tripp. “I do miss him. So much that it hurts to talk about.”
Tripp averted his gaze. “Karri, don’t.”
Seger gave me a tight hug. “It’ll be okay, kiddo. We’ll get ya through it. See, he’s not really gone.”
I stood and watched as demons flew right through Tripp. “Ohmygods, you really can’t interfere.”
Hansen moved fast and stood before his brother, stopping the demons in their tracks as they tried to take another swipe at him. “I bet it still hurts though.”
Tripp ran his hand over his chest and nodded. “Thanks. Though, I’d like to point out that I would be able to help if you hadn’t have gotten me killed, jackass. Way to keep your thoughts to yourself. Did you have to race back there half-cocked because you found Karri and me in bed together?”
Hansen glanced over in my direction and then to Seger who had somehow managed to get Riston to his feet. “We wouldn’t be here now if you were still alive, Tripp. She would have never come--never moved on to the path she was born to follow. You know that. Hey, you knew it going into the thing that you couldn’t stay forever.”
A shadow demon moved past me fast, slashing out as it went. It caught my upper arm and tore it wide open. I cried out and slapped my hand over the wound. My other marks had healed. This one only seemed to grow worse. “Okay, that hurt. Tell me how to kill them.”
Before anyone could answer the room around us seemed to spin. I tipped to the side and landed in sand. Confused, I sat up fast and found that we were all standing on a beach. “What the ... ?”
“Who is the hot chick?” Branson asked.
I followed his gaze to find a young woman and a little girl spread out on sheets with an umbrella over them. The woman’s long white-blonde, matched the little girls, and hair hung to the ground as she sat with her back facing us. The little girl began to sing. The song she’d picked, Wishin’ and Hopin’ sounded so cute coming from her that I couldn’t help but smile. It made me think of Hilary and our dance earlier.
“I don’t know. I think the better question is, what the hell just happened?” I touched my arm lightly, wincing as the wound began to grow more. “Anyone want to tell me why this thing is getting bigger?”
“It’s feeding off your darkness,” Tripp said. “Seger can’t heal it either, Karri. You’ll need holy water and something to bite on. It’s going to hurt like hell. We need to get out of here fast or it will keep growing.”
“Okay, the arm is the least of my worries.” I did a head count and realized that both Amber and Riston were with us. Amber’s eyes wer
e wide. “Umm, Karri? What’s going on?”
Branson cursed under his breath and pushed his magik through her once more. “You could have told me that she has supernatural blood in her.”
“Sorry, forgot. Can you make them forget this?”
Branson cast a nervous glance at Riston before looking at me. “Yeah, Amber won’t remember a thing.”
I pointed at Riston. “What about Drop Dead Sexy? Will he remember?”
At that moment, I could have sworn that something passed between Branson and Riston. Branson shook his head.
“Good. Now, anyone want to take a guess where we are and why we’re here?”
“Karri-Lynn, what are you doing?” the woman asked, loud enough for all of us to hear.
I knew that voice. Turning slowly, my breath caught. Unable to make sense of what was before me, I just stood there with my mouth open. It couldn’t be her? No. There was no way my mother could be before me. This had to be a trick, something the bad guys had figured out they could use against me.
As I stared harder at the little girl, I knew who she was too--me when I was a child. My pulse sped. This wasn’t happening.
“Why did the hot chick just say your name?” Branson asked.
Seger cleared his throat. “And why does she look like she could be your sister?”
The little girl shook her tiny hips, sending the ruffles on the bottom of her pink swimsuit bobbing around. She stopped singing and giggled. “I’m singing, mommy. Try not to be so silly.”
“Mommy?” Branson asked. “Is that you, Karri?”
“Tripp, what’s going on?” I moved towards him fast and reached for his hand. When mine went through his, I shook my head. “Make it stop.”
“I can’t, sweetie.”
“Sweetie?” Seger asked, with a grin on his face. “Old habits die hard? Oh, pun intended on that one.”
Branson coughed. “For the record, Karri would have beat the living shit out of me for calling her that.”
“Shut-up, Branson.” Tripp brushed his hand through mine as I stared out at the scene unfolding before us.
“Mommy, why does the song talk about making yourself pretty for a boy to marry you? How come you have to do that?”
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