***
“I guess my dessert failed the taste test,” Serah said. “Are you armed?”
Daniel nodded. “Rafe slipped me a knife as he passed by.”
The demons lunged in the air, grabbing their throats. They spit out the cake.
Daniel’s eyes widened, his hand gripping his blade tight. A bulbous, hairy demon dove for him. He jumped back, slicing into its hair.
“Arrrgh!” it shouted, jumping for him again. Daniel crouched and ducked. He spun around and slammed the blade into its chest. It screamed, loud and guttural, blasting into a ball of flames.
Daniel dropped the knife and stepped backward, mortification filling his face. “Holy shit!”
He couldn’t flake out now. Not when they needed all the help they could get. “Daniel, grab the knife. You need to protect yourself. Please? We need to save this town before Salome takes over.”
Daniel blinked. He reached down and gripped the knife tight, swinging and slashing his way through a crowd of demons. “I am so getting a new job after this.”
She didn’t blame him one bit.
“Bitch!” one hissed, baring blue teeth. It lunged at her. She stepped to the right, pulling out the dagger Kalli gave her earlier. With a quick slash, she sliced its blue arm off. She thrust it into its chest. It shrieked, erupting into a mound of blue ash.
She caught a glance at her friend. Lucy jumped in the air and kicked one of the demons in the head. She threw a silver star, the blade lodging in its neck. She grabbed the demon by the neck and slammed its head into a pan of tiramisu. She reached under the cart and pulled out her katana. She sliced clean through the demon’s neck. His head burst, fire and sparks shooting from its torso.
She glanced across the room. The humans just sat there, not moving, as if they were catatonic, oblivious to what was going on around them.
“Why aren’t any of the real people moving?” Serah grabbed an elderly lady’s hand and let go. It fell to her side.
“Rafe and I put a spell on the water. Any humans who drink it are entranced.”
“Cool.” Serah dodged a demoness, her blue fangs bared and ready to bite. Screaming, she flung a battle-ax right at Serah’s head. Serah ducked in time, grabbing the demoness’s feet and hauling her to the ground.
The ax connected with the mirror on the far wall, sending shards flying. “That’s seven years bad luck, you dumbass demon.” She slammed the knife into the demon’s sternum, the crack echoing in her ears.
Standing, she wiped the dark demon blood from her face. She wished Matthias were there, standing next to her like Rafe had been there for Lucy. But that damn bitch Salome was too smart. She wouldn’t give up. She’d find a way, even if she had to blast through that door herself.
“Serah, I love you!” She turned toward the bolted door. Had she heard him? Her heart soared.
She had an idea. She closed her eyes and concentrated on channeling her energy. The warmth filled her body. She pulled the energy into the locket.
She had to break through. She needed him there. She loved him too. She kept her eyes closed and visualized the door bursting open and him rushing to her side.
A loud explosion shook the room. She flew backward, landing against a table. She grabbed ahold of a man’s leg. The entranced man just sat there, unknowing, while hell erupted around him.
“Serah!”
She’d recognize his voice anywhere. She spun around. Matthias burst into the room through the hole she’d just made with her necklace. Kalli followed, an AK-47 on her shoulder.
“Matthias!” She wanted to run to him and let him know she didn’t care about baggage. She wanted the entire package, baggage included.
All of a sudden, Barry Holland appeared right behind him, an evil gleam in his translucent eyes. Without warning, he grew taller, his fangs gleaming. Talons extended, he swung out his arm, ready to slice. Balthazar! Her stomach wrenched. This would kill Matthias inside.
“Watch out! Balthazar!”
Matthias dodged to the left and swung around, pulling out his handgun, aiming it at his old mentor. Balthazar threw his head back, crazed laughter bursting from his mouth. “You picked the wrong time to play hero, Matthias.”
“It’s never too late.” He stood in front of Serah, his sword drawn, protecting her. Lucy and Rafe joined Matthias, their weapons glistening. Kalli trained her machine gun on Balthazar’s head.
“I beg to differ.” The saccharin sweet voice did nothing but rankle her nerves. “How dare you turn my minion against me.”
Salome stood there, her soulless, turquoise gaze penetrating. She vanished in a cloud of smoke and rematerialized right behind Daniel.
“Daniel,” Serah shouted. “Behind you.”
But she was too late. Salome vanished in another swirl of smoke and appeared where she had previously stood.
“A pity now that he needs to die.”
Balthazar came to stand next to Salome, his fanged grin sardonic. “As does your descendant.”
“Show me this descendant.” Matthias said through gritted teeth. “I still don’t believe you.”
“They’re in this room,” Balthazar challenged. “But who?” Balthazar shrugged, examining one of his talons. “Is it her?” He asked, tracing a finger along a young twenty-something woman’s auburn hair. “Or maybe him?” Bal traced another talon down a middle-aged man’s cheek. “Or maybe, just maybe, it’s her.” He laughed loudly as he sliced the cheek of a young blonde.
Matthias shrugged. “Maybe it’s none of them.”
“Do you dare challenge me? I taught you everything you know.”
“Enough theatrics, Bal.” Salome swung out her hand, sending Balthazar crashing into the wall.
“Here’s your last remaining descendant,” Salome said, thrusting Daniel out at them, then flinging him in the air and back in her clutches.
Salome scratched her chin. “I forgot one teeny-weeny detail. He’s not your descendant.”
“Then what is he?” Matthias gritted out.
“He’s your son.”
Son? How? The world spun. His heart clenched. He’d seen Daniel’s eyes before. His wife’s eyes, blue as a placid lake. Daniel had her hair too, the color of wheat. He clenched his fists.
“I’m his son?” Daniel asked, bewilderment flashing in his eyes. “Wouldn’t that make him like two when I was born?”
“Silence, you ignorant fool,” She yanked him against her, her gaze maniacal.
“How?”
“I’ve discovered I have a truly fortuitous talent. Who needs Peragrans when you can travel through time.”
“Time travel?” Serah murmured. “Oh God, even I am baffled.”
“I was going to raise your son as my own.” She turned to Kalli and sneered. “But Kalli showed up and ruined my plans. I transported myself to the first place I could. I tried to bring your son back in time but I’m only allowed to move a person once. I left him with one of my minions. I knew I’d meet up with you one day. Now we can raise our son together.”
“He’s a grown man. Wouldn’t that be weird? He’s already been raised.” Serah rolled her eyes.
“I would take Matthias back in time with me to the day Daniel was born.”
“To 1228?”
Salome nodded. “You could have your life back.”
His life back? He’d never get his life back. He’d never see Serah again. He’d never be able to protect her—love her like she deserved.
“That’s the past. You might give me my old life back, but it will never be the same. I wouldn’t have the woman I love.”
He angled a sidelong glance at Serah. Her breath caught and her lips twitched. God, he wanted to wrap his arms around her and calm her fears.
“Even when I hold you by the proverbial balls, you defy me?” Her turquoise eyes glinted.
“I’ll always defy you, you evil bitch.”
Matthias gritted his teeth. He had to act. He had to save his son. He unsheathed his sword and lunged
for Salome. “I won’t let you take either of them.”
He swept the blade up, slicing through Salome’s shirt. She threw Daniel down and lunged to the right.
Balthazar growled. “I thought we were going to kill Daniel.”
“Belial wanted to kill him. My intentions are different.”
Matthias clenched the hilt of his sword. He had to put an end to this. He’d rather languish in limbo than give up Serah for Salome.
“You duped me!” Balthazar howled, lunging for Salome.
She dodged to the right and kicked Balthazar in the head. Ripping a large machete from its scabbard, she swung the blade.
Balthazar gasped, his head rolling from his body, flames bursting from his neck. He fell back into a pile of blue ash and blew away with the breeze.
“You’re right, I did.” With that, she wiped the blood from her blade with one of Serah’s elegant tablecloths and sheathed the blade.
“That tablecloth was expensive, Salami,” Serah ground out, a hint of defiance flashing in her eyes.
Salome’s gaze narrowed. She let out a primal roar through gritted teeth. “You have no respect for your elders. You will pay.”
Matthias reached out and grabbed her arm. “Serah, no. Not like this.”
“I won’t have her torture the man I love.”
His heart soared at those words. He would end this—now. “Don’t worry, my love. I know what I have to do.”
“You sure?”
Matthias nodded.
“Okay.”
With that, he sprung in the air and lunged for Salome. He unsheathed his sword and angled the blade, slamming it into Salome’s gut. She pushed Daniel to the side and swung, slicing into Matthias’s chest.
“Always so brave,” she said, pulling Matthias’s blade from her stomach and dropping it to her side. Her laughter came with deep roars of thunder. “Look where that got you.” She held her machete high, ready to deal the final blow.
So be it. At least he had protected Serah to the best of his abilities. He closed his eyes, ready for whatever death she gave him.
Instead, she stumbled forward, her gasp echoing through the hall. Matthias opened his eyes. Salome slumped to the ground, thick dark blood pooling from her mouth. Standing above her was Daniel, his face sullen, gripping Matthias’s blade tight.
With that, Salome’s body burst into flames and an eerie pop sent her exploding into a million fiery pieces.
“Matthias!” Serah rushed to his side, and knelt down by him. Peeling his shirt back, shuddered. Blood poured from his chest and down his stomach. She had to do something.
“Kalli!” she shouted. “Do something!”
Kalli came to stand next to her and peered down, taking in a sharp breath. She drew her hands across his wound and shook her head. “There’s too much damage.”
Matthias gasped, reaching out to grab Serah’s hand. She took it, her grip gentle, caressing.
“I… I…” He winced, blood trickling from his mouth.
“Shh,” she whispered in his ear. “I know.” She knew, she really did. She didn’t need to hear him say it. She’d seen how he’d defended her. She loved him too, and that’s all that mattered.
And she could save him. She had to. Closing her eyes, she placed her hands on his wound. She pooled all her energy into her hands.
“Holy shit, you scar is glowing,” Daniel mumbled.
“Wow,” Kalli said under her breath.
Did she dare look? And risk Matthias’s life? Hell no.
Paying no heed to the conversation behind her, she continued to concentrate. “Heal, damn it! I won’t lose the man I love.”
Heat shot from her fingertips and she flung her head back. She had to save him. She wouldn’t survive if he didn’t. Matthias moaned, stirring beneath her.
“This doesn’t feel like limbo,” she heard him say.
Her eyes flung open. She glanced down at Matthias. The wound left by Salome was just a red, faded line. She wiped a hand gently across his brow and gathered him in her arms.
“No, sorry to upset you, but this is in fact not limbo.”
“Good. I don’t know what I would do without you.” Matthias reached up and brushed a stray curl from her forehead. He sat up and gave a low grunt.
“You need to rest.”
“The pain is gone.” Matthias reached out and grabbed her hand. “I’m not a man of many words, so I’ll keep this simple. I love you.” He gathered her close in his arms. “I always have, since I first laid eyes on you.” He grunted again as he adjusted her in his lap. “I’m sorry I couldn’t find the words sooner. And now I’ve lost you.”
“I wasn’t very forthcoming either, you know.” She placed a gentle kiss on his nose, down to his chin and back up to his lips. “As for losing me? Not in this lifetime. I love you too.”
She couldn’t resist any longer. She brushed her lips across his. His arms reached out and crushed her to him, the kiss becoming more demanding.
“Awkward.” Daniel stepped back and tried to shuffle away.
“Yeah, I can understand that,” Kalli said. “Why don’t we let these lovebirds alone for a few.”
“A few? They’ll need more than a few,” Lucy said with a snort.
Serah shook her head. She’d give Lucy that one—for now. She was too occupied elsewhere to care. She wrapped her arms around Matthias’s neck and snuggled in his warmth.
Then again, Lucy was right. She definitely needed more than a few. She needed forever, and thanks to Matthias, she had finally found it.
Prologue
“What do you mean the chest is missing?” Rafael Deleon managed through gritted teeth.
Even though the clacking of boots on the polished black marble grated his nerves, he continued to pace the expansive room. Candlelight flickered and flitted, sending silhouettes darting against the ivory walls.
What about his sister? Jacoba had all but begged to join the guard, even though he’d pleaded with her not to. Unfortunately, Jacoba didn’t need his approval. She won the Fore-Demon Council over, instead.
Dominic Duvane, shrouded in darkness, stood solitary in the corner of the High Council chamber. A forlorn expression was etched across his face, adding to the already foreboding mood. The news was worse than Rafael had imagined. Utterly horrible.
Dominic drew in a ragged gulp of air. “The guards were ambushed.”
“Who?” He shook his head. He didn’t even need to ask the question. Belial, the bastard prince of northern regions of Hell.
Blasted Fore-Demons!
“Belial’s Infernati warriors. Have a seat, my friend.” Dominic motioned to the burgundy jacquard and gilt divan in the far recess of the room.
Rafael’s heart sank. Dominic meant to talk to him as a comrade and not a colleague. This didn’t bode well. He clenched his fists. He couldn’t panic. To do so would show weakness. He needed to be strong—or at least appear so.
“What… happened?”
“The Infernati swooped in and torched the encampment.” His friend’s gaze grew somber. “I suggest sitting, Rafe.”
Rafael folded his arms and raised his chin. “I’ll stand.” He’d receive the news like a man, not a coward. “Say whatever you need to say, my liege.”
Dominic growled. “I might outrank you, but I’ll be damned if I let you call me my liege.”
Rafael shrugged. “Too bad we’re already damned, Nic.”
“The chest was to be our salvation.” Dominic blew out an exasperated breath. “Bloody hell, Rafe. Why must you be so stubborn?”
“It runs in the family.”
Dominic grabbed him by the arms, his eyes blazing. “Your sister was captured.”
“She isn’t dead. Our connection isn’t severed.”
Dominic nodded. “Yes, but who knows what tortures Belial has bestowed upon her.” His gaze hardened and he clenched his fists. Jaw ticking, he paced. “I begged her not to join. I stood by you.”
Rafael shook his head.
“Coby wouldn’t take no for an answer. Even if the council forbade her, she would’ve found a way.”
Fighting the thought of his beautiful sister, with her magnificent flowing silver hair and enchanting silver eyes at Belial’s mercy, Rafael crossed his arms in front of his chest. “What happened to her?”
“Coby’s a hero.” Dominic’s jaw twitched, the demon blood tears rimming his eyes. “She managed to send the chest away before the guards could take it.”
A soft smile curved his lips. Leave it to Coby to save the chest instead of saving herself. Despite his despair, he was still proud of his twin sister. However, he wasn’t in the mood for Dominic to divert his questions. His gaze grew stern. “Where is she?”
“I guess I shouldn’t hide the truth…”
Rafael arched a brow and leaned against the wall. “Well?”
Dominic sucked in a ragged breath, sending candles flickering. “This hurts me as much as you, you know.”
“I do.”
His friend nodded. “My sources report she’s in Belial’s dungeon.”
Rafael clenched his fists as he held his anguish inside. Grinding his teeth, he paced. Bloody hell. Only a few of the strongest Paladin warriors had escaped that hellhole, but they were never quite the same after.
“Where did she send the chest?” he managed.
“Earth.” Dominic flashed a halfhearted smile, his eyes wide and alert. “Your favorite place.”
He didn’t even want to think about the chest being opened on Earth. Belial already controlled half the underworld—what would happen if he took over Earth too? But Rafael had to save Coby first. The Paladin needed her. She’d been the one the Fore-Demons had prophesied.
“Too bad I’ll be busy vanquishing Belial’s buffoons.” Rafael stood firm, holding his chin proud. “My sister needs me.”
Dominic shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not. You’ve been ordered to retrieve the chest.” His black eyes grew stony serious. “I’ll save Coby.”
“Ridiculous!” Rafael stormed. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. “She’s my sister. I need to rescue her. Why should you go?”
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