Hidden Runes

by G. Bailey

  "I never knew you were this romantic, wanting to die for me and all," I say, trying to avoid his serious comments and how guilty they make me feel. How much I know I would feel the same if it were the other way around. Love is the master at making you feel guilty but somehow rewards you all the same.

  "It's not romantic, it’s almost fucking tragic that I've fallen for a woman who regularly gets herself in life and death situations that test every part of my protective nature," he angrily growls, and he really does have a point. I'm not the type to happily sit inside knitting or whatever normal women do. I'm more the type to polish my sword but then accidentally get into trouble somehow even doing that.

  "Would you trade me for someone else though?" I ask, reaching up and pressing my lips to his, sucking his bottom lip into my mouth as I run my hands down his flat stomach, admiring the ripples of muscle until I find his belt.

  "No," he bites out as I undo his belt before pulling his jeans down and freeing his hard erection. I take his length into my hand before guiding it into my mouth. Trex lets out a sexy groan as he guides me into a rhythm he clearly likes, his hands holding my hair tightly. Trex suddenly pulls out of my mouth before pushing me back onto the bed and looking down at me.

  "Take off your clothes," Trex demands, his words deep and husky as he watches me. I smirk, liking this side to Trex and how demanding he is. I've always loved how demanding he can be when he wants, and I'm pretty sure it was one of the things that made me want to fuck or kill him when we first met. I don't answer his demand, but I very slowly pull my top up and off. I unclip my bra, loving how his eyes widen as he gazes at my breasts. I grin, slowly hooking my thumbs into my leather trousers and pushing them down. Only issue? Pushing skin-tight leather pants off is not sexy. No, I'm pretty sure I look like a deranged lunatic as I wiggle out of them before getting them stuck on my shoes. Trex laughs, clearly far more amused than I am as I sit up and finally manage to get them off before falling back on the bed, covering my face with my hands. Dammit, I seriously suck at being sexy.

  "I will take these off for you," Trex states, still laughing a little bit as he kneels on the bed before slowly pulling my lacy panties down.

  "You have to stop laughing. I can't take you seriously right now," I mutter as he pulls the panties off and moves to kneel at the end of the bed. I gasp as he pulls me right to the edge of the bed, parting my legs as he does.

  "Maybe this will make you take it a little more seriously," Trex suggests, uncharacteristically winking at me before placing his head between my legs, his tongue torturing my clit seconds later. I arch my back as a deep moan escapes my lips, intense pleasure shooting through my body. Trex tortures me right to the edge of an orgasm before stopping, letting me calm down and then teasing me all over again until I can't take anymore. I push his head up, pushing him to sit on the floor as I climb onto his lap. I sink down onto his length, gasping at the pleasure as I hold onto his shoulders and move my lips to his neck, feeling his pulse under them. An orgasm slams into me as Trex holds my hips, guiding them back and forth as I ride out the orgasm shaking through me. Trex flips us over onto the carpet, kissing me as he slams in and out of me, riding out my pleasure.

  "Mate with me, make me your mate and knight," Trex asks, his lips close to mine.

  "Now?" I ask, moaning from the pleasure, and he chuckles.

  "Not this moment exactly," he says, running his hands over my nipples. "But I want an answer for our future. Something to look forward to when this war is over."

  "Yes," I whisper back, completely focused on how close I am to another orgasm but knowing I would say yes to this at any point. "You have me completely. I don't tell anyone I love them unless they are everything to me."

  "Good, because you are everything to me, too," he says, before kissing me deeply and making the world fade away as he thrusts in and out of me. After a second orgasm rides through me, Trex finishes, his eyes lovingly locked on mine the whole time.

  "I love you," I say, just because I know there is nothing more I want to say than that. Sometimes the easiest words are simply enough.

  Ninety

  "Finally! We've all been waiting to go out for dinner for ages," Hali states, standing at the bottom of the stairs with her hands on her hips as I come down. I would feel embarrassed, but after my afternoon with Trex in bed…I can’t feel anything but happy and sated.

  "You could have gone without me," I suggest to her. “I never said you had to wait for me.”

  "It's a street barbeque, and they will have bacon...so no, I couldn't go without you thinking I'd betrayed you somehow," she replies in annoyance. Ah, she knows me so well. I wrap my arm around her shoulder, and she pushes me away, wrinkling her nose. "I'm old enough to know what you were doing upstairs for hours, so don't touch me please." I can't help but laugh as she storms to the door as Trex comes down the stairs. Connor grins at me as he walks across the room to our side, and Trex stops at the bottom of the stairs next to me.

  There are piles of clothes on the sofa and weapons near the front door, but nothing else has changed except Azi and Nix aren’t back yet. Connor has a big sword on his back, held by a chest holder like the one Trex found in Seth’s weapon box and is now wearing with his new axe.

  "We all heard," Connor informs us, “but let’s go as we are all hungry.” I'm sure my cheeks are burning red as he takes my hand, walking us outside after Hali, and Trex closes the door behind us.

  "Sorry, well, not sorry. Are Azi or Nix back yet?" I ask Connor. “I thought they would be.”

  "Azi came back for a bit and asked for Nix's help. They both will be back tonight apparently," Connor explains to me. “I wouldn’t worry, they said nothing is wrong.”

  "Maybe they found something about black magic," I suggest, very hopeful that they have. This afternoon with Trex has made me more desperate than ever to figure out a way to live. In some ways, I’m happy Azi is busy though, because I don’t know how I’m going to keep lying to his face when he asks more questions about Lamia.

  "It's what we are all hoping," Connor replies, leading me out of my new house and into the street where Hali is waiting with Star at her side. Star is big enough now that Hali can lean against her side, looking very comfy as Star almost seems like she is grinning at us. Trex catches up to Hali, talking quietly with her as they walk down the quiet street towards the main part of the underground.

  "What really happened with Lamia? Azi explained she is a powerful demon he once helped, and she used to owe him a debt. We are just worried, Blue," Connor gently asks me, catching my gaze before I can look away.

  "The necklace helps control the black magic, and she gave it to me. Lamia is powerful and unique," I say, knowing nothing I said is a lie. Avoiding the truth might be the best way to handle the situation for now.

  "Like someone else I know," Connor says, eyeing me carefully, almost like he can see my avoidance.

  "I know we need to raise an army to stop Cex and kill him. That is the end game, and other than that, can we not just enjoy each other for a little bit?" I ask him when he opens his mouth to say something else. “Please.” I don’t know what makes me vulnerable for only a moment to say that one word, but Connor sees and hears it. I clear my throat and look back to Trex as Hali laughs at something he says.

  "You have an army who would die in an instant to save you, if you only asked," Connor suggests. “You don’t need to fight this war alone. Well, not with just us at your side anyway.”

  "There isn't a Protector army left. Not one big enough to stop Cex," I remind him. “We are vulnerable, and I can’t lead the last of my people to a death trap.”

  "I wasn't talking about the Protectors. No, I mean the people you grew up with and spent years helping," he says. “The ones that call you the Salvatore and their queen.”

  "The demons do not have a leader. Some of them respect me and call me their queen, but they don't love me enough to die for me," I remind him. “I would be asking too much with nothing to
give them back. Demons live by the motto of an eye for an eye. There is nothing I could give or promise them to ask them to die for me.”

  "How do you know that if you don't ask?" Connor replies as we get into the busy street, and I pull the hood of my cloak up to hide my face on instinct. "Plus, fighting for you would save them in the end as well."

  "Demons and Protectors won't be enough. They would be killed. All of them, effortlessly," I reply. “The amount of yellow demons in the city was thousands…and that’s just what I saw. I know that there must have been a hell of a big army to be able to destroy the city.”

  "You are half angel...maybe there is another race to ask?" he suggests, but the idea of begging my father for help makes me want to throw up. I can't ask him to help save us. I don’t even want to ask him for information on black magic, but I will just in case it could save my life.

  "A problem for tomorrow. My big problem right now is my empty stomach and the smell of that good food," I reply, and he wraps his arm around my waist, keeping me close as we go through the demons and Protectors who talk between each other. We get into the queue for the barbeque, and Star comes back to my side, purring as I stroke her head. My cloak hood falls down in the wind, completely revealing my hair which makes several demons and Protectors look my way, instantly bowing.

  "Queen Evelina, it is good to see you well," a familiar redhead says, coming over to me and bowing her head as I remember who she is: Keira, one of the demon women we rescued in Hell. Though she looks a lot different now from the starving demon she once was. Now she looks like a leader, with her red hair up in a tight bun, a long red coat on that makes her stand out in the crowd. I wonder briefly how her daughter is, the one with bright red hair. I hold my hand out which she shakes as I take another step closer to the food. "I wondered if you would come and see me tomorrow regarding the welfare of our people? I need some of your time."

  “Is it important?” I ask, knowing I don’t have a lot of free time at the moment that I don’t want to spend finding a way to fix my powers.

  “Very. Please, I would not ask otherwise,” she replies, and I eye her for a second, deciding that it can’t do too much harm.

  "I sure can, where should I meet you?" I reply.

  "In the centre of the demon underground is a soup kitchen where we hand out free food for those who are new and have not earned any money yet. We should meet there at midday if that suits you," she suggests as I sidestep closer to the food again. I'm not losing my place for anyone. Keira just side steps with me, looking amused. She gets it. Bacon is bacon, after all. I can smell it from here.

  "Sounds perfect to me," I reply, and she bows her head once more at me, attracting more interest from the people around us who stop in shock when they see me. I pull my cloak up, hiding my hair once again as I want to be invisible until I have the bacon in my mouth. You never know, they might try to get in my way.

  "Tomorrow then, Queen Evelina," Keira says.

  "You can call me Evie, you know," I inform her as she goes to walk away. I don’t know what it is about Keira, but I feel like we could be good friends. I like demons, generally, and especially ones like Keira who have a good soul. I saw it the first time we met and she gave me that Latin nickname a lot of demons now know me by.

  "Perhaps, but I feel it would be disrespectful of your position," she replies, glancing to her left, and I follow her gaze to see her daughter holding a man’s hand, eating ice cream with a big smile. They have both come a long way since being the prisoners I rescued. They look happy, enjoying their lives. "I must go, but do enjoy your night."

  "You as well, and say hello to your daughter from me," I reply, and she nods in agreement with a small smile before walking to her family.

  "It's good to see them all well and healthy," Trex says from in front of me.

  "Demons love Earth, and it suits them well. Hell is not a home for them, and it never really was," I reply, just as we get to be the first in the queue. Trex pays for us each to have a bacon covered burger, covered in sauce, and a side plate of amazing chips. I don't even notice anyone until the food is gone and I'm throwing the wrapper into the bin. I look up to see Connor and Trex smirking at me, while Star is chewing on her third burger Hali is feeding her, judging by the number of wrappers she is holding.

  "Hungry, huh? Damn, you wore her out, Trex," Connor states, and Trex only grins at him.

  "Just eww," Hali interjects, and we all laugh. I glance to my right as I hear music, seeing a group of people dancing around a singing woman who is playing music on a guitar. I smile at how the demons are dancing with Protectors, and there really is no separation between the people. The children run between them, laughing with each other like they have been friends for years. It's peaceful to see this life we could have in the future, oddly enough, with me possibly leading them. Hopefully I won’t get them all killed. It seems to be a bad habit at the moment.

  "Dance with me?" Connor asks, and I just laugh.

  "I don't dance unless it’s a dark nightclub where no one can see me. There is way too much light out here, so nope. Nada. It isn't happening," I say, still laughing at the idea as Connor grins and takes my hands, pulling me towards the dancers. I roll my eyes, knowing Connor isn't going to give up on the idea from the determined look in his eyes, and let him pull me onto the dancefloor.

  "Dancing outside in public isn’t fun," I mutter as he pulls me against his body, leading me so we sway to the music, but I know my protest is pointless as I’m smiling. Connor has a way of pushing my boundaries to the limit and making me enjoy being there anyway. I wrap my arms around his neck, noticing Trex chuckling as he spins Hali around nearby us. The big scary Protector has a soft spot for Hali. God help any guy that breaks her heart in the future. Three strong Protectors, an overlord demon and me to deal with? Yeah, no way would any guy get out alive or with his balls intact.

  "Trex really cares for her. I love that. I always wanted Hali protected and to have a father figure," I whisper to Connor, not wanting anyone else to hear that inner thought other than him. “Hali has lost so much…and she needs this. She needs a family that always has her back.”

  "Now she has a big family, though she has had Azi and you for a long while," Connor replies. "Did Hali tell you she used to meet up with Azi all the time when you were mad at him? He was always protecting you two even when you didn’t know it."

  "Doesn't overly surprise me now," I reply, smiling as Connor spins me around and pulls me back. "You love dancing, don't you?"

  "Yep," he whispers into my ear. "I love any excuse to hold you close to me and pretend like there isn't a good chance you are lying about Lamia, and I might lose you. Don't tell me the truth, but know that I will always be at your side. I'm keeping you close, Blue, until I find out the truth." I don't reply to him. Instead, I rest my head on his chest and let him continue to dance us to the music. I don't even know what I would say anyway. My future is out of control, and for now, I just want to enjoy the moments with my family that I have. Memories I can use to fight the battles we have coming our way, one we have to win for everyone.

  Ninety-One

  Lying on a sand covered ground, I lift my hand up into the swirling red dust above me that is beginning to make a shape. My hand flies through it like it isn't there, but I can see it nonetheless. The dust suddenly shoots out in all directions, leaving a glowing red sphere of energy in its place. The sphere spins and spins until the power shoots out in all directions and leaves only glowing red eyes in its place. They aren't like Azi's eyes; no, these are pure evil and ever so familiar as I stare into them.

  "Come to your knight, Evelina. I am waiting. Come to me."

  I'm not sure who is snoring when I wake up gasping, feeling the warm light gently flittering across my face. I glance at Azi and Connor at my sides, soundly sleeping with their arms wrapped around my waist. I carefully sit up, placing their arms at my side as I look at Trex and Nix on the other side of them, all of us easily managing to sleep
in this massive bed. I was completely surprised when no one said an awkward word when we came home last night and went to the bedroom. They all just happily got into bed, and I snuggled into the middle of them.

  Star is snoring the loudest on the floor at the edge of the bed, and the noise is so loud that going back to sleep is impossible. Not that I exactly want to with all those dreams of red power and glowing eyes. It was Cex in my dreams, I could feel the bond through my mark and sense his voice as he called for me. I shiver, hating that we have any kind of bond and that I can't just kill the bastard.

  I climb off the bed, careful to step over a snoring Star and not wake her. I walk into the closet and randomly grab some clothes before pulling them on. I pull my hair up into a ponytail with a hairband I find and glance at my leggings and blue shirt that has the number twenty on it. I look like a preppy mum going to get her son from a football game, but it will do. I grab the dagger belt off the ground and clip it on, knowing it isn't smart to be without a weapon right now.

  I sneak out the room, closing the door as I want to make the guys and Hali breakfast before they wake up. I smile at the idea of cooking for them for a change. I walk down the stairs just in time to see Hali slowly pull the front door open.

  "Well, well, well, look who is sneaking out at the crack of dawn," I mutter, getting to the bottom step and raising an eyebrow at her.

  "I was just—" she starts to explain, and I walk over to her, placing my hand on her shoulder.

  "You don't have to sneak out, but at the moment, you need to let someone know where you are in case something goes wrong. It isn't safe right now," I say, knowing this is important that she understands. "You have no powers yet, and you mean the world to me. That makes you vulnerable and a prize for my enemies, so please be careful. I’m not just an assassin anymore that can leave with you at the first sign of trouble; I’m the queen of a race in hiding, one that did terrible things before my rule. We have enemies, our whole family does, and you are my family. Got it?"