“So, how am I supposed to help free you from this place?” she said between bites. “I mean even I know I can’t break your barrier.”
“You cannot release me, but you can summon one who can.”
Eva was compelled to get up from her seat and moved closer to where he stood on the other side of the barrier. When she was as close as she could get, she posed the question burning in her mind. “Who is that?”
Before she realized what was happening, Logan grabbed her by the arm and pulled her through his barrier, his mouth next to her ear. “Your mate.”
As soon as Seph stepped out the broken door of the tavern he had nearly destroyed, the most angelic sound ever reached his mind.
Seph.
Eva! My little dove, tell me you are safe.
For the moment I am unharmed, but you must come to my location at once. Someone else requires your presence.
He didn’t like the sound of distress in her voice. He locked on her location and looked down at Wraith. “I have a fix on Eva, so I need to go kill someone.”
“Awesome! I’ll take care of the leftovers.”
Seph opened a portal and the two of them stepped through. Moments later, they were greeted by a hellhound pup who bounded straight for Wraith.
“Nephew!” Like typical dogs, they sniffed each other’s ass, and Seph left them to search for his mate.
It wasn’t long before he found her, and what he witnessed made his reaper blood boil. The man who had Eva pulled tight against his chest, a blade touching the delicate skin on her neck, was going to die a slow death.
“If you do as I say, your mate will go unharmed,” the man stated.
“Who the fuck are you and you’d best let Eva go,” Seph snarled and tried to move closer but was stopped by an invisible shield.
“I am Logan.”
Son of a... Fuck! “The Logan?”
The man raised a brow. “If you are referring to the Prince of Darkness, then yes, I am he.”
Eva stiffened and Seph’s anger ratcheted up. “Apparently your father had good reason to lock you away. Let Eva go and we’ll talk.” What kind of power did this man have that scared Lucifer himself into locking away his own child?
“Your mate here already has a death mark on her. It’s why she has no power of her own any longer,” Logan said.
“What?” Eva’s eyes widened. “But my wings, I was able to summon them and... And––”
“I did that.” Logan shifted his stance and loosened his grip on Eva slightly. “I let you borrow some of my power.”
Seph crept closer, keeping a careful eye on Logan to determine if the man was going to take his advance as a threat. Seems he did not. “What do you mean she has a death mark?” Seph’s heart bled for his mate. She appeared to be holding it together, but it was only a front. He felt her turmoil and knew the news that her powers were still gone shook her to the core. It would any angel.
“Another of Lucifer’s bastard children took her power and marked her for death. Unless this person’s life is taken, and Evangeline’s power restored to her, she will become mortal again. I’m guessing at her current age, she will not live long after that happens.”
Eva struggled against Logan. Tears filled her eyes but didn’t fall. “Let me go, you bastard.”
Seph closed the distance between him and the barrier that held his mate prisoner. “Eva, which one was it. The boy or girl? I will kill them both if necessary.”
“No, reaper. Eva must take their life in order to break the death mark and gain back her power.”
“No,” she cried out. “Freddie is innocent. He’s only a child.”
Seph locked on Logan’s gaze. “How do we know which child?” He couldn’t make Eva kill an innocent; it would destroy her. There had to be a way to determine who was guilty.
Logan closed his eyes for several minutes, and when he finally opened them, they had their answer. “The mark is from one coming into their power.” He looked down at Eva. “If you were with two of Lucifer’s children, then the eldest would be your target.”
“How long does she have?” Seph felt himself on the verge of a shift, but managed to hold his shit together.
“My senses tell me not long. Perhaps a few more days.” Logan released Eva and moved to the barrier that held him inside. His palm still curled around the blade. “Time with your mate is ticking. When she dies, your son will die with her. Now, for my bargain.”
Seph worked his jaw. He would offer anything. Do anything to save his mate and unborn child. “Name your terms.”
“I find myself tired of these walls. I want out of here, and it’s time Daddy dearest’s reign ended. To break this barrier, you and another reaper will combine your power to blast me out of here.”
That sounded simple enough. “Why should I?”
Logan lifted a shoulder. “The choice is yours. Deny me, and your mate stays here and dies. Set me free and you might stand a chance at saving her.”
Seph hated blackmail. “What’s the catch?”
“Ahh, smart man. I like that. When you break my barrier, your souls belong to me.”
Shit. “For how long?”
Eva moved closer. “Seph, no.”
He looked at the woman he loved more than life. She was every breath he took. His beating heart. He was nothing without her. He summoned his darkness. “Eva, you will obey me this time and stay out of this.” The sadness in her eyes ripped him to shreds.
Logan cocked his head. “You and your chosen reaper friend will be my servants for the period of one century.”
One hundred years. He could do that. He would have to reside in Hell, but this would work. “What if the other reaper is already bound to Lucifer?” He thought of Charon. The reaper was already bound to Hell and might be willing to bargain. A century beat an eternity.
“Matters not, his service will belong to me once the two of you break me out of here.”
Seph looked back at Eva who remained quiet, but he saw the tears that stained her cheeks. Was Logan strong enough to destroy his father? How would that event change Hell? Logan could end up a worse ruler than his father. Seph sensed he was powerful and setting him free might unleash a war like they had never seen. Logan’s mother had been a powerful angel, but she had fallen. Had she still been good when she birthed her son?
“Do you remember your mother?”
Sadness swirled in Logan’s eyes. “She used to visit me, and then one day when I was still very young, she stopped coming.”
“Lucifer killed her.”
Logan’s knuckles turned white, his fists so tight. “I suspected as much but had no proof. The demons sent here to care for me refused to speak her name.” He lunged for the barrier; his fists beat against an invisible wall. “Free me so I may avenge my mother,” he snarled.
“Do not harm my mate. I will be back to set you free.”
Chapter Eleven
Eva watched as Seph faded away, and her heart beat against her ribs. She whirled on her new prison warden. “I should have known better than to trust you.” Her hands trembled.
He simply cocked his head and stared at her for several minutes. “Please know that I don’t wish to harm you. However, it’s time for me to take my rightful place. This realm belongs to me, and my father needs to pay for what he has done.”
She studied him. Did she believe a word he said? Her soft side did but that was what always got her into trouble. She was too damn trusting. Naive, Seph would say. Well not anymore. This involved her son and mate. Her life was secondary.
“You plan to rule Hell? I think Ashley is doing a fine job, and you should just let her continue.”
He arched a brow and crossed his arms over his chest. “Anything else?”
She lifted her chin. “Yes. You can’t have my mate’s soul. Not for a century, not even for a damn second.” She slammed her hands on her hips and hoped the fire burning in her soul showed in her gaze.
He shook his head. “You angels re
ally don’t understand how things work so let me explain it. First, I must combine my power with two reapers to break out of this hole. In doing so, they become tied to me. Second, once I rule even the Angel of Death will bow to me.” He shrugged. “It’s the nature of how things are done here, and I look forward to meeting Ashley in person. I wish to congratulate her for besting my father.”
“Are you really going to break up a family? If my mate is tied to you, he will no longer be allowed in the clouds, and I can’t visit Hell without an escort.”
“I will do what is necessary. First you need to kill my sister before you can start making any housekeeping plans.” He stepped closer. “Do you think you can take her life? I know you killed a demon only recently, but she is more powerful than you.”
Eva chewed her lip. “How am I supposed to kill her when I have no power?”
He appeared to contemplate that for a moment. “You called your mate’s sword once. You only need to keep her from blasting you to fiery pieces before you take her head off.” He leaned closer. “Here’s a tip for you.” He jerked his head to the right. “You seem to have befriended a hellhound. I’m willing to bet his family will be forever grateful and offer to help should you ask.”
Eva had forgotten all about Rebel until she looked to where Logan’s gaze focused. The pup sat there staring at her and next to him was a much larger version without the tufts of hair. She moved as close as the barrier would allow and squatted down. “Rebel, is this your father?”
“I am his uncle and Logan is correct. My family is in your debt for taking care of our youngster. We are at your service.”
She smiled. “I’m afraid it was he who took care of me but thank you. What is his given name?”
“He had no name until today. His parents like that you called him Rebel so that is what he will be known as from today forward. I am Wraith, by the way.”
“Ah, the famous Wraith. I really could use all the help I can get.”
The beast narrowed his eyes. “My family is searching for the girl as we speak. She will be found. Do not doubt it, Angel.”
A little hope sprang inside her. Now, if she could figure out how to save Seph from having to serve Logan, her world might just return to normal again.
It took Seph two portals and three gates to finally reach Charon. Logan was locked deep in Lulerain territory, a place Seph hadn’t even known existed, and he wondered how Eva had ended up there. When he finally found the ferryman, Charon was busy navigating the boat, taking three passengers to their new world. He landed on deck, but Charon never took his gaze off the swirling water.
“I’ve no news of your mate.”
“I have found her and am in need of your help.” Seph was met with silence, but he knew the ferryman waited for him to continue. Seph looked at the passengers and decided it was best to keep this information between him and Charon, so he connected to Charon’s mind and flashed the fast forward version. Thank the Maker angels were able to communicate in this fashion. He couldn’t imagine if they had to relay everything by word of mouth. He wondered if he should contact the others, and at least let them know Eva had been found but then decided they would ask too many questions. Soon Eva would be safe and everyone would know.
Charon navigated the boat to its docking location and waited for the passengers to disembark before he finally looked at Seph. “So, we are to give our servitude to this son of Lucifer for one century?”
“Yes.”
The ferryman rubbed his chin. “That does shorten my term.”
“Yeah, by an eternity,” Seph replied.
“What sense do you get from this Logan? What kind of ruler will he be?”
Seph flexed his jaw and tried to find calm. His mate was being held captive, and he was here carrying on chitter chatter. Necessary as it was. “Hard to tell. He is bitter for certain, and I do not doubt he will attempt to kill his father. Is he powerful enough? Lucifer saw something in the child that made him lock Logan away so I suppose it’s possible. Will he be as corrupt as Lucifer? He is the son of the dark king, but his mother was an angel. There is no way to know who Logan really is inside.”
Charon pushed his hood back. “I’m willing to find out. Especially if I can end my term and go back to my old duties of ripping out souls.” He looked around. “This job is no longer for me. I am bored and in need of the old days. I want to feel the wind of the human realm licking my face, and a human female sucking my cock.”
Seph understood what Charon was conveying without saying the words. “If Logan chooses to keep you as ferryman, I will take your term for ninety days with one stipulation. That it does not start until after my son is born.”
Charon gave a nod. “Deal. Now, let’s go free our prince and pray this was the right choice.”
The two opened a portal and made their way back to where Eva was being held. She sat in a chair behind the barrier while Logan paced like a caged tiger. When Eva spotted Seph, she jumped up and rushed forward as far as she could go.
“Seph, please, there has to be another way.”
“There isn’t. This is the only way to make sure you are at least free of this prison. As far as the girl, we will figure that out once this is over.” He touched the barrier, aching to pull the woman he loved into his arms and promise her everything would be okay.
“Are you two done yet? I want out of this fucking place,” Logan snarled.
Seph focused his attention on the dark prince. “Will Eva be safe?”
Logan gave a nod. “I give my word. I will protect her from the blast we are about to create.”
“Your word doesn’t mean much at this point,” Seph growled, but what choice did he have? “What do we need to do?”
Logan stepped to the barrier and placed his palms on it. “We need to connect and pull our power together. You will be required to summon the darkness inside you. Only the darkest of magic will break this barrier.”
Shit. Eva may survive this, but Seph might be plunged into the darkness for eternity. He already liked to walk on the edge, and like any junkie, this might be the dose that finally does him in.
Eva wrung her hands together, and her breathing had her near hyperventilating as she watched the three men come together. Their power sparked in the air, and for the first time in her life, she witnessed her mate shift into a reaper. The transition happened so quickly had she blinked, she might well have missed it. Seph morphed from the gorgeous man who slept beside her for the past one hundred years to a creature she no longer recognized. His jeans and shirt were gone, replaced by a black robe. It flowed in a wind that had picked up out of nowhere. His beautiful tattooed skin was only bone, and she imagined what his face looked like hidden in the shadows of his hood.
A vibration began under her feet seconds before an arc of red lightning forked through the air.
“Oh my heavens.” Eva tried to take a step back but found herself unable to move. Panic ensued as she realized there was a wall that circled all the way around her. She beat on the invisible shield, but to no avail. Outside her confining bubble, rocks fell. The air turned a thick haze of gray and demonic spirits swooped through the fog darting in and out, their evil screeches ear-piercing.
The entire cave turned into Eva’s worst nightmare as evil oozed from every nook and cranny. Even the floor was affected as a viscous green goop slowly made its way along the rocky terrain. Everything happened around her while she remained safe in the bubble Logan placed her in. However, the evil that hung like a cloud around Seph frightened her. Would her mate be able to pull himself back from the darkness that he plunged himself into? She searched for the two hellhounds, but they were nowhere to be seen. Hopefully they fled to safety because from where she stood, the three evil powers in front of her were about to bring down the entire mountain.
Then it happened. Cracks formed beneath her feet and raced across the ground and up the walls. With a thunderous explosion, rock shattered into dust.
Eva screamed.
/> The demonic souls surrounding them screamed.
Logan let loose an anguished cry, followed by Seph and the other reaper he had brought back with him. Eva pounded her fists on her glass cage and watched in horror as a brilliant white light emerged from their open mouths.
“Seph!” she screamed, but he didn’t respond. Pain sliced though her like a knife, starting at the top of her head and ending at her toes. It was so fierce it sent her to her knees. At first she didn’t understand what it was but then dawning hit. It was the pain of her mate. Their connection was amplified, and she knew Seph no longer had control or he would have broken their link. A flutter in her abdomen reminded her of the life that grew inside her. Instinctively, her hand flew to her belly.
“Little one,” she whispered and tried––between the slicing pain––to send soothing thoughts to her son. Maker help me. Please don’t let my son suffer. As the ground beneath her jarred her body from the explosive shocks, she prayed again they all came out unscathed.
A loud blast caused Eva to slam her hands over her ears. Pain came at her from every direction and then she was plunged into darkness. Sweet silence surrounded her before her vision began to clear. Eva blinked and the sun came into view. Her fingers dug into something soft. Green grass surrounded her. The ringing in her ears subsided and filled instead with the laughter of young voices. She looked around and found she was sitting in a grassy meadow on the outskirts of a park. Children played several yards away. Eva took a cleansing breath, the scent of blooming flowers and fresh cut grass filled her senses, and she realized she was in the human realm. Quickly she pushed to her feet, assessing her body for injuries and found everything in order, including her little bundle of joy that grew inside her.
Unleash The Darkness: (Eternally Mated Novela) Page 8