by Lia Davis
You can’t kill the witch. Not yet. Father has a plan. Samoan rolled her eyes. Dear ol’ dad always had a plan, and backup plans for his failures. However, he did seem to get the job done, at least most of the time. When he wasn’t treating her like a spoiled child and barking orders at her every time she was near anyway.
That would all change once she’d mated Khan and ruled the three worlds by his side. Then, Daddy would take orders from her.
Thoughts of being queen of the Underworld lifted her mood. She smiled as she entered her father’s office and dropped into a chair across from him at his mahogany desk.
Demetrius lifted a brow. “Do you have news?”
She shrugged. “No. I’m just thinking about my future mate.”
“Good. I’m glad you accept him.”
If only he knew. “He’s perfect for me, and everything I want in a mate. I’m grateful he accepted me.”
Demetrius nodded, and a small smile lifted his lips. “Khan approached me.”
Yes, she knew that but didn’t dare let her father know they had planned this union since Liam’s fuck-up a few months ago. And Demetrius’s failure to control the situation. Samoan had approached Khan with a deal too good for him to pass up. A queen that was more ruthless than he. It was a bonus that she and Khan were fated mates.
Another secret she’d keep from her father. For now.
“Oh, there is one small thing. The witch sent her warning message under her mother’s account in the witch social network.” Another giddy feeling fluttered in her belly.
“Good. Now, the Divinities will be scrambling, preparing for an apocalypse.”
“Leaving them vulnerable to attack.” And Samoan could take Logan and deliver him to his grandfather. A gift to her future mate. But first, she’d have to take care of Lydia. “There is the issue of the rogue huntress.”
“Curse her. If it’s blood she wants, make her crave it.”
A wicked grin tugged at her lips. “You are a genius.” She leaned forward to see what had him so preoccupied. Usually, he would be ordering her to keep the Lackeys in line or organizing a Regal attack or something. “What are you working on?”
He glanced at her and then sat back in his leather office chair. “Did you know that Siamese hellhounds can separate from each other for short periods of time? They will do so to confuse their opponents during battle.”
“I have seen the Divinities’ hounds do it.”
“Have you seen the Sinew on them?”
She stared for several long moments before she caught on to where he was going with this. “No, I haven’t, but I bet it’s there. They are the bound guardians.”
Meaning they couldn’t let it out of their sight. Ever. Or weren’t supposed to.
“Exactly. I’m going to capture the hounds and take the Sinew.”
Lifting a brow, she asked, “How are you going to do that? We’ve already tried to breach the Divinity House, but there is always someone there, and they keep strengthening the wards.”
Demetrius let out a chuckle. “After your little message, they will be plotting to come to us.”
“We’ll need to figure out when and where.” Samoan thought about it for a moment. The Lackey, Ryn, came to mind. It was almost too easy.
She stood, and her father asked, “Where are you going?”
With a smirk, she replied, “To find our friend, Ryn, and torture some info from him.”
“You are ruthless.” He sat back in his leather chair with a wide grin. “I’m glad you are on my side.”
He was wrong. She was on no one’s side. He’d taught her that. Trust and depend on no one. Only then will you be free and not be disappointed when those closest to you betray you. That had been his advice during training since she was old enough to walk.
She had lived by those words. Especially after watching her father become weakened by her mother’s death. Samoan vowed to never love that deeply. That’s why mating Khan was perfect for her. They could appreciate each other’s love for world domination and destruction.
A match made in hell.
Desiree tapped her fingers against the desk she pretended to work at, trying to think of a way to fool Samoan into thinking she was making progress on the stone. Gods, she hated this. The betrayal to her fellow Divinities and magickin ate at her. But what choice did she have? Khan had her son, holding him as collateral in exchange for her charging the piece of Sinew and giving him intel on the Divinities.
Please, goddess, help me. Direct me in the right direction.
She picked up her phone and called her mom. Eleese picked up on the second ring. “Hi, hon.”
“Hi, Mom. I’ll be heading home soon, and wondered if you needed anything.”
“No, I’m good.”
The tremble in her words put Desiree on edge. “Is everything okay?”
There was a slight hesitation before her mother answered. “I’m not sure. I think I’m being paranoid since the break-in.”
Desiree’s heart broke, and guilt threatened to steal her ability to breathe. “We’re safer now than before. Plus, the Divinities are close to ending the war.”
“Gods, I hope you’re right.” Eleese released a soft sigh. “I’ll talk to you when you get here.”
“Okay, Mom. Love you.”
As soon as she’d ended the call and laid her phone back on the table, power zapped through the room, and the door flung open, slamming into the wall. Whirling around, Desiree glared at the she-demon filling the doorway.
Samoan moved faster than Desiree could track, gripping her by the throat and lifting her off the chair. “You are withholding information from me.”
Desiree laughed, humorless and a little evil. “Of course, bitch. Did you really think I would tell you everything?”
Samoan’s eyes flashed crimson, and one side of her mouth lifted. “No, I guess not.” She tossed Desiree back. She hit the wall and crumpled to the ground. “I have a secret, too. Your son is really dead.”
Pain and rage swirled inside Desiree. She’d suspected Samoan had lied all along but hope that she’d once again hold her son had blinded her. With her telekinesis, she picked up the crystal and suspended it in mid-air between them. Focusing, she put everything she had into it. The stone glowed red, power filling it. Samoan reached out for it but jerked back a moment before the small piece of the Sinew shattered into dust.
Desiree smirked as she rose to her feet. Swiping her hand through the air, she blasted Samoan with an energy ball. The demoness flew into the wall across from Desiree. Walking to the door, Desiree glared at her. “I have secrets, too, bitch.”
A moment later, she materialized in her house at the Oceanway Coven. She collapsed into a ball in the middle of her living room floor. Her heart breaking all over again. Mathew had been two years old when he fell ill. Nothing she did made him better. Then she’d met Samoan about six months later, not knowing she was a demon.
Matty went into a coma, and Samoan had said she’d take him to a safe place to heal. Desperate to save her son, Desiree had let the demon take him. However, she’d lied to her family and coven, and told them Matty had passed on. Samoan had fooled Desiree into believing she was doing the right thing.
Gods, she’d been so stupid, and so desperate to have her son cured and back at home.
I’m such a fool. She should have been able to see through Samoan’s glamour. But she hadn’t, not before it was too late and she was trapped into working for the demons.
Matty would have turned ten in a few months.
Taking short, hiccup-like breaths, she sat up and conjured the phone she’d left in the lab. After staring at the numbers for several long moments, she dialed the only person she might be able to trust.
“Hello.” The rough, deep, male voice sent a shiver down her spine. When she didn’t say anything at first, he growled. “Speak, female.”
“Lex, I need your help.”
She hung up, knowing all too well the Death Demon would mate
rialize in her living room in a moment or two.
Fear froze her in place. She just hoped Lex would help her and not kill her for the betrayal and lies she’d built her life on.
Chapter Six
Every muscle in his six-foot-seven-inch body tensed up at the broken sound of Desiree’s voice. She was in pain, and all Lex wanted to do was hunt down the SOB who’d hurt her. For her to reach out to him of all people told him that she was in some deep shit.
When he materialized in her living room, his heart dropped to his feet. Fury mingled with concern, battling for dominance. Since he’d lost his own family, he’d sworn to never become attached to anyone ever again. The pain from the loss had damn near driven him insane.
Jagger and Hecate were the ones to reach into the dark place he’d retreated to and drag his ass back to reality. Still, Lex kept his emotions on a short leash.
Squatting next to Desiree’s curled up body on the floor, Lex brushed the hair out of her face. Her eyes were filled with tears. Her cheeks wet. Sadness choked him. Why was it so hard to keep the damned emotions locked up around her?
Without speaking, he sat with his back against the sofa and legs straight out while lifting her into his lap. Her strawberry scent coiled around him, stirring up desire along with the urge to kill every demon on earth and in the Underworld.
After what seemed like hours, Desiree spoke. “I have a son. He turns ten on the Solstice.” He nodded but sensed she wasn’t done, so he remained silent. “He was taken from me when he was two. An illness took him.”
She shook her head and continued. “No, the illness didn’t take him. Samoan did. She tricked me, told me she could cure him.”
The more she talked, the more the fury mounted inside him. Samoan, Demetrius, and Khan were going to die. Desiree told him about the lies she’d told her coven. And how she’d worked under Samoan’s command.
When she stopped talking, he pursed his lips and worked his jaw. She’d betrayed her own kind. Worked with the demons, feeding them information and helping them gain power.
He should be furious with her. Hell, it was his duty to kill traitors like her. And she knew it.
“Why haven’t you sought help before now?”
She gave a half shrug. “I was in too deep.”
“And now?”
“Now, Samoan knows I’m a Porter, and I have the power to recharge any part of the Sinew.” She raised her head and stared into his eyes. “I shattered the crystal.”
“She’ll be looking for you. Might just kill you.”
She averted her gaze. “I know. But I can’t shake the feeling that Matty might still be alive. That he survived the illness. Despite what Samoan told me.”
“Your son was never sick.”
“What?” She jerked her gaze to his and frowned.
“Who was his father?”
A spike of embarrassment colored her cheeks. She pushed out of his arms and stood. “I don’t know.”
He raised a brow as he stood in front of her. “Do you have a guess?”
“I was nineteen. Too young to know what I wanted. I was trying to fit in with everyone at college.” The next part was muttered, but Lex heard it loud and clear. “There was a party and a little too much fun with a couple of warlocks.”
If jealousy hadn’t raised its head, Lex would have laughed. Besides, sex was a natural thing. To find another magickin to share the pleasure with was a bonus. Gods knew he’d had his fair share of no-strings-attached lovers. “And you’ve never seen them again.”
“I didn’t intend to.” She blew out a breath. “I was craving the power exchange. I was just too high to realize they had other plans.”
A knowing settled over him. They’d gotten her pregnant on purpose. But for what reason? “Have either of them tried to contact you?”
“No, which is weird if they meant to get me pregnant.”
She wrung her hands and began to pace. He could tell she was churning the scenario over in her mind. He stepped closer to her and reached out to grab her hands. Upon contact, she stilled and met his stare. “Porters don’t get sick, ever. If they are mixed with a demon or something darker, they can go through a transformation.”
Her eyes grew large, and her bottom lip trembled. “Then he is alive. I have to go get him.”
Lex gripped her arms, keeping her in place. “You will not go alone.”
“Then let’s go.”
He shook his head. “The Divinities need to know about this. All of it. Besides, if I’m right about him going through a transformation, then he wouldn’t know who you are. He won’t be your son anymore.”
She narrowed her blue eyes at him. “He will always be my son.”
“Wait for the right time. Get yourself caught, and I’ll come for you. The demons can’t know you are coming.” He hoped she’d caught on to what he was trying to say. There were too many ears and eyes everywhere. The presence of demons around the coven made his skin crawl. “Tell your mother to strengthen the wards. Then wait for my call.”
She frowned but nodded. “I hope your plan is better than it sounds. Believe it or not, I don’t have a death wish.”
His lips twisted. “There will be no dying on my watch.”
Chapter Seven
Lydia woke with a start. At first, she didn’t know where she was, then she remembered the wonderful evening she’d spent with Zach. With a smile, she snuggled into the covers. Peace settled over her, and she took in the quiet of the apartment.
Wait. It was too quiet. Logan!
She flung off the covers and raced to the nursery. Logan wasn’t there. Fear froze her blood as she turned and ran down the hall. When she reached the living room, she stilled, frozen in awe. Zach held Logan in his arms, feeding him a bottle, and humming softly as he rocked back and forth in front of the wall of windows.
Her heart bloomed with love while other parts of her longed for a repeat of the night before. Shaking off the naughty thoughts, she stepped farther into the room. Zach turned and met her gaze. His brown depths had swirls of gold that reflected the natural morning light.
Logan let out a soft whine, drawing her attention to him. She advanced to them and took Logan from Zach’s arms, careful not to touch the male. Her skin was still too sensitive from the power exchanges during the many times they’d made love.
Abruptly, she twisted around to make her escape. “He needs to be changed.”
“I’ll fix breakfast. Do you have a preference?” Zach stalked to the kitchen.
Lydia tried not to notice the flicker of hurt that had crossed his features and the disbelief in his tone before he turned away. Her own feelings worked overtime. She was angry at the demons, sad for her loss, and the damn new mom hormones made her want things she shouldn’t.
Her vision blurred as she changed Logan’s diaper. It was all the sexy witch in the kitchen’s fault. Why did he have to be too good to be true?
What was she thinking? She couldn’t have feelings for Zach. Not yet. Logan’s future had to be secured first before she could think about her own happiness. A tear rolled down her cheek as Zach’s earthy scent filled the room.
The man made it hard to focus on her mission. Wiping her cheek, she lifted Logan in her arms, cradling the bundle of sweet baby to her chest. Oh, how she wished Mikal could have seen his son. More tears filled her eyes.
Zach stepped to her, his brows drawn. “What is it?”
Lydia shook her head, not wanting to talk about it. Even though she and Mikal weren’t magical mates, she’d still cared deeply for him. Zach stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “I wish I could take your pain away.”
She stepped around him. Being close to him overwhelmed her. His scent lured her in, as did his smile and the longing that mirrored her own in his brown gaze. “I can’t do this.”
“Do what?” He closed in on her.
“Us. Not now.” She stepped out of his reach. “It’s too much, too fast. I’m not ready.”
With a single
thought, she teleported herself and Logan to her bedroom at the Divinity House. She needed to get away from Zach to think, to refocus.
After kissing Logan on the forehead, she laid him in his crib and then traced his small round face with her index finger. My sweet angel.
Suddenly, the natural light from the window darkened. She leaned over the crib to move the sheer curtains to the side to gaze out. Dark, unnatural clouds covered the sky, blocking the sunlight. Lightning flashed outside the window, followed by the boom of thunder. She jumped back out of reflex, and a chill skittered up Lydia’s spine.
This isn’t good.
“That wasn’t me!” Khloe called from downstairs.
Lydia’s lips twisted in amusement. The playfulness was short-lived, as a moment later, her bedroom door slammed shut, and the power cut off, bathing the room in darkness.
Forming a small fireball to illuminate the space, she checked on Logan before going to the door. She grabbed the handle and jerked. It didn’t budge. Panic burned in her gut. She wasn’t claustrophobic or anything, but the idea of being trapped didn’t settle well with her. Especially since the dark energy she’d felt a moment before the lights had gone out was growing.
A moment later, a ghostly figure took form in front of her. She willed the candle on her dresser to light and readied herself to throw the ball of fire at the newcomer. The ghost wasn’t friendly. She wasn’t sure he was even a ghost. Shadow demon. She bared her teeth and formed a second fireball.
The demon laughed, an evil screech-like sound that made her skin crawl. Worse than nails on a chalkboard… The transparent creature spoke without moving his lips. “Fire will not harm me, witch.”
She feared that was the case. Yet, she schooled her features, to keep the demon from knowing she was scared shitless for her son’s life. Instead, she sent her best friend a thought. Khloe, I have a shadow demon with Regal powers in my room.
Yeah, we’re dealing with our own shit. Be with you soon. Khloe’s last statement was said with snark, as if she were enjoying herself far too much.