Her Demon Prince (Forbidden Fantasy)

by Cathleen Ross

  Galaden rose, walked over to the hospital window, his movement jerky and looked out at the view of New York. His wings flared and silver sparkles glittered in the air of the hospital room. His hand became a fist and he slammed it against the wall with a loud bang.

  "Father?" Cassiel said.

  Daniel's green eyes narrowed, a rare frown crossing his handsome face.

  Galaden turned and his wings snapped shut. "Cassiel, is Rachael well enough to travel?"

  "Soon," Cassiel said. "Her life-force is nearly fully charged. Even so, humans don't travel well."

  "I get a feeling you're not talking about me jumping in a cab," Rachael said, looking from Galaden to Cassiel and Daniel. Something was worrying Galaden, she knew by the stiffness in his wings and the fury his body barely contained, plus her psychic senses were starting to pick up.

  "He's thinking about teleporting you," Daniel said. "Cass and I can manage it together but it makes humans sick. Just for a short while. You might be better in a cab."

  "Do not let my Rachael suffer. She has been through enough. Cassiel, you and Daniel escort her home in a modern conveyance. I have something I must attend to," Galaden said.

  "Wait a minute. Where are you going?" Rachael asked. "I need to talk to you about Phoebe. I'm worried about her."

  Daniel started at the mention of his mother's name. "Phoebe is safe."

  "Silence!" Galaden said. "I forbid you both to speak of the vow."

  Daniel's jaw snapped shut, but the expression on his face looked mutinous. "Or what, Galaden?" he asked, clearly unable to stop himself.

  Galaden glared at Daniel, the expression in his crystal-blue eyes cutting. "I raised you as my son. I did not expect it to come back and bite me like a scorpion."

  "You raised me to love my mother, to be brave, to be true. Dammit, I strive to be all those things," Daniel said.

  "To whom will you be true?" Galaden challenged him.

  Daniel's moss-green eyes started to glow a vivid green and his muscles in his arms bulged as his fists clenched. Sparks flared off his body.

  Rachael raised her hand to her lips. Why was Galaden provoking Daniel?

  "So like your demon father. You are made to betray," Galaden said bitterly.

  "Like hell I am," Daniel said, clearly stung. "I spent thousands of years in the wasteland dimensions with Cass searching for you. We chased wraiths, wondering every time we found one whether it was you. Do you know how much that hurt, Galaden? Do you have any idea of what it was like for him to have his father leave him when the kingdom fell? You raised me like your son, then when things went bad, you dumped us."

  "Stop this. Now!" Cassiel looked from Daniel to Galaden. He finished his healing, stood and put his arm around Daniel's shoulders. "We need to talk, Father."

  Galaden's gaze moved from Cassiel to Daniel, his eyes narrowed with rage. "Angels follow their maker's orders. They do not discuss. I order you to escort Rachael home. Guard her until I come."

  Cassiel's chin tilted. "What you are going to do is wrong."

  "I have no choice," Galaden said, his voice hollow. "I made a vow. I order you, do not follow me to the studio. This is my fight. This time it will be to the death."

  "No!" Cassiel groaned. "You can't do this, Father. You could die. I only just found you after all these years."

  Daniel threw his arms around his cousin and hugged him, misery streaking his face.

  "Daniel?" Galaden said.

  Daniel's chin tilted up at the mention of his name, but his mouth was tight as if he didn't trust himself to speak.

  "I thank you for all that you have done. You are more than a cousin to Cassiel. You are what a brother should be. Loyal. Good. Brave. You have brought great happiness to my house. I am not your maker. I cannot order you not to come to the studio, but I do not want you there. I do not wish you to see two brothers destroying each other. Despite my harsh words, know I have loved you like a father," Cassiel said.

  "What's happening, Galaden? Please tell me," Rachael said. "Don't leave me here wondering. You know I can't bear secrets between us. Something is desperately wrong. It's destroying you. It's hurting Cassiel and Daniel."

  Galaden's gaze softened the moment he looked at her. "I sense the demon prince is back in New York. He has been here for some time. I can feel his energy lingering like a poisonous stench close by. It is time he met his end."

  "What about Phoebe? He kidnapped her. Where is she?" Rachael asked.

  "With the demon prince in her studio. Do not fear. I will take care of her," Galaden said.

  "That's what I'm afraid of," Daniel said. "You're asking me the impossible, by telling me not to come. You know you are. You're making me choose sides. You're breaking my heart."

  Galaden's large crystal-blue eyes grew sorrowful but he didn't argue with Daniel. "It is time for the reckoning." With that, he vanished in front of Rachael's eyes before she could ask him anything else.

  "Why did Agrat and Phoebe come back to New York?" Cassiel groaned. "Daniel, didn't you tell your parents to stay put in Hawaii?"

  "Phoebe was in Hawaii?" Rachael asked. "I don't understand."

  "Dan and I have a house there," Cassiel explained. "It's a special place on earth. No demons of the evil kind can go there and Galaden doesn't know that we have it. Agrat and Phoebe were safe there."

  "The prince kidnapped Phoebe and took her to a place near Salem. The energy's fantastic there for elemental demons. When you were in the coma, Galaden sent Snarcus, the head of his demon army after the prince. Agrat was out for the count. Injured. Bad. So I transferred Phoebe and Agrat to our place in Hawaii so Agrat could heal. I told Phoebe our house was protected, that Galaden wouldn't find them there unless he forced Cassiel to tell him where they were," Daniel explained. "Dammit, Cass. Why did they come back to New York?"

  "Talk about wayward parents," Cassiel said.

  "Wait. You're going too fast for me. Phoebe is terrified of the demon. When I was last with her in the studio, Agrat kidnapped her," Rachael said, trying to clarify what the hell was going on. Cassiel and Daniel didn't seem to be remotely concerned that they'd left Phoebe with Agrat.

  "That's because she didn't recognize the prince at first," Daniel said. "She loves my father. Agrat married Phoebe in her past life, but the old king forbade it. Phoebe was the old king's concubine. He punished Agrat by turning him to stone. Phoebe's memories must have come back because she was tending to the prince in Hawaii when he was injured after Galaden sent his demon army to kill him in Salem. Man, the prince fought off those demons. He's a fantastic warrior."

  Cassiel raised one perfect eyebrow. "Yeah, I noticed that about you elementals. Fierce to the core. You love a good fight."

  "Depends on who is fighting." Daniel gripped Cassiel's arm. "You can't let Galaden fight my father. I know he betrayed him by arresting Rachael in her past life but he was obeying the old king's orders. He had to do it. One of them will be killed. You have to stop him. He might listen to you."

  "I want to, but when I think of stopping him my whole body starts to shudder. I can't force him not to fight and Galaden knows it," Cassiel said, his voice distressed. "I hate this whole maker power trip he uses on me."

  "It sucks," Daniel agreed.

  "Wait a minute," Rachael said. "Daniel, you said Agrat arrested me in my past life and took me before the king."

  "It destroyed the brothers' relationship. Galaden vowed to kill Agrat for it," Daniel said.

  "Oh God, Galaden's making a terrible error," Phoebe said. "Galaden has got it wrong. The man who arrested me was not Agrat. He was dressed like him but it wasn't him. He wasn't even human. Whoever it was wore a helmet and I couldn't see his face, but his eyes burned with fire and his hands were claw-like talons. His blade was a horrible curled thing, not like the dagger Agrat carries. I can still feel it across my neck." She crossed her arms around herself and shuddered.

  "Snarcus!" Daniel and Cassiel said.

  "A demon?" Rachael asked.

/>   "Of the worst kind," Daniel confirmed.

  Cassiel opened his mouth to speak, but his whole body shuddered and no words came out. He ran his fingers through his thick blond hair. "Sorry, Rachael, there's more but Father has forbidden me to talk about it. When I try my body seizes up."

  "The prince is innocent. I have to stop Galaden. This hatred of Agrat is wrong. It has changed Galaden, sucked so much love out of him." Rachael swung her feet out over the bed. There was a small cupboard in the room. She strode over to it, opened the door, found her jeans, tee-shirt and coat hanging up. Folded neatly were her underpants, freshly laundered. On the floor sat her shoes.

  "There's more," Daniel said.

  "More?" Rachael asked. She was almost afraid to hear it.

  "The vow to kill Agrat also included Phoebe. The old king ordered if Agrat ever escaped his statue prison and reunited with Phoebe, Galaden had to kill them both," Daniel said.

  "What? Phoebe! Galaden's going to kill Phoebe? Oh my god, I'll never forgive him. No wonder he forbade both of you to speak of it," she cried. Rachael wrenched her hospital gown from her body not caring that Cassiel and Daniel were in the room. She dragged her tee-shirt over her head, pulled on her underwear, jeans and shoes. Her head swirled. Her angel husband, her gentle beloved soul was going to do something so sinful she'd never be able to forgive him. "How could he vow such a terrible thing?" Sheer, sharp horror gripped her. Galaden's words came back to her. "Do not put your trust in angels."

  "He never thought Agrat would escape. He made a foolish vow out of hatred for the prince," Daniel said. "He doesn't want to kill Phoebe. I'm sure of it. He had an opportunity to do so after Envy kidnapped her, but he didn't."

  Cassiel nodded. "Which is why Galaden's turning into stone. He made a vow to the old king, now he has to follow through or turn to stone."

  Rachael marched up to Daniel and Cassiel. "Take me there now. I have to stop him."

  Cassiel's body started to shudder. "I can't, damn it. Galaden ordered me to take you to your apartment. Daniel will have to do it."

  "I order you to take me there. I am your maker. I grew you in my body in my past life. I nursed you as a baby. You take me there now."

  "But the maker is male," Daniel said. "He has to obey a male's order."

  Rachael rounded on him. "Like hell it is. I am Cassiel's maker, too. Cassiel, do as I say."

  Chapter 16

  When Phoebe materialized in her artist studio in the Meatpacking District, her stomach rose up to meet her throat and the only thing that stopped her falling was Agrat's strong arms around her. He took the bottle of healing water she gripped, unscrewed the top and gave it to her. She drank a deep gulp although she could barely swallow, and the moment it hit her stomach the vertigo disappeared. "Daniel was right. It gets easier each time."

  "Soon, I will be able to take you anywhere you wish without illness," Agrat said.

  "I'll look forward to it when travel's on my agenda, but for the moment I want to know how Rachael is doing." Phoebe spied the telephone in the corner, which had been knocked off its telephone table but remained undamaged, unlike the statues in her studio. She strode over, put the bottle on the telephone table, picked the phone up and dialed information for the trauma hospital number and pushed the button to be put through. Rachael talked to the charge sister and put down the phone.

  "How does the healer fare?" Agrat asked.

  "The nurse said Rachael's conscious. She’s speaking normally, but her specialist hasn't seen her yet," Phoebe said, her voice full of excitement. "Galaden must have returned her life-force. He said he would, but I didn't believe him. I guess he must really love Rachael. She's getting better." She put her hand on her heart, relieved that her best friend was well.

  "There was good in my brother once," Agrat said, his face sad. "When Rachael is well, Galaden will leave her to find us. I could hunt him down but I do not wish to fight near the healer in case she is injured. It is better for me to prepare myself for the last fight here. It is daylight and Galaden will be strong."

  "What can I do to help?" Her life rested on the line with his. They both knew it.

  He moved over and put his arms around her, his hands moving lower to cup her bottom, pressing her into his groin. "The more time you spend close to me, the better my energy will flow after Lightning's assault.

  A sexual zing passed through her at the press of his hands on her behind and she wiggled out of his grasp. "Only you could be thinking of sex at a serious time like this."

  "My energy flow is serious. Lightning crippled me when Envy snatched you. Our son, Daniel, saved me from death when all the demons that once served me in the past converged on me in Salem on Galaden's orders."

  "What will Daniel do when you fight Galaden? He is from the world I created here in my studio." She looked around at the remaining sculptures: princesses from her past life; Tamir, the head of the harem; the fat eunuch she had bribed to escape and the decapitated head of Galaden's angel mother lying on the floor.

  "My son is my blood. He will support me. He helped destroy all the demons," the prince said, his voice satisfied.

  Would he? Phoebe wasn't so sure. "Galaden treated him as a son."

  Agrat's gaze rested on the head of Galaden's angel mother, which lay on its side near the body. "The fallen take great pleasure in the misery of others. Luckily, Galaden decapitated his mother by accident or she may have returned. She is a daughter of Lucifer and would test my powers to their zenith. Even I, as old as I am, cannot hope to best her evil power. Such misery she caused us, poisoning the old king's mind against me. Never was a female more manipulative and cruel than this creature. She hated the bond I had with Galaden. Did everything she could to destroy it. Galaden accused me of bringing Rachael to our father. I could not convince him otherwise. After Rachael's death, he withdrew from all public life. All joyfulness in his character gone. He grew hard and cold. Vengeful." Agrat's hand clenched into a fist as he stared at the decapitated angel. When he opened it, a fireball grew on his palm.

  "What are you doing?" she asked.

  Agrat turned to her, his eyeballs blazing with anger. "I will blast what's left of her into a million pieces."

  "Stop! No more blasting. She's decapitated. Grind her to dust so she cannot ever reform but no more blasting. I hate the fighting. I need peace when I can get it, especially where I create and I don't like seeing you roiled up with bitterness." Agrat's mouth turned down and his eyeballs changed to a fierce glow. She reached up and put her hand on his cheek. "I love you," she said simply. "Please try to calm down. I don't like it when your eyeballs turn to fire. I can cope with glow. I'm not freaked out by glow, but I prefer them human."

  Her words settled him. She knew because his eyes returned to their inky darkness though the pupils still blazed and she knew his anger lurked beneath the surface. She gave his hand a squeeze, pleased that she had soothed him. She looked around her studio. "My life is chaos." Bits of marble were imbedded in the walls from the force of Agrat and Galaden's previous fight, the floor littered with broken stone.

  "I will make it up to you, Princess, but first I want Galaden dead." The prince moved behind her and put his arms around her.

  Galaden. Dead. Agrat's words gave her no joy. She needed the safety, but what of Rachael? It appeared the angel loved her friend and Rachael loved him too. The whole situation was a nightmare and Phoebe didn't know how to fix it. A strong desire to clean her studio overtook her, a need to have order on the brink of impending disaster. "I want a tidy workplace and you in my bed. Those two things would make me happy."

  "In your bed, you say?" Agrat's expression became cheerful despite the dire situation and he waved his hand. Red sparks flew off his fingertips.

  Phoebe watched stunned as the debris implanted in the walls flew out and vanished. The walls closed over and looked as if they had never been damaged.

  Agrat turned and brandished his hand around the studio, a red web of energy spun out from his palm
stirring up the dust and absorbing it until none remained. When he finished, the studio sparkled, the stone dust and damage gone leaving only the completed statues and the one of Galaden's mother, its decapitated head lying on the floor.

  Amazement made her turn to the prince. "Wow! That was quick. I didn't know you could clean up. I thought you were only good for fireballs. You're definitely worth marrying."

  His eyes narrowed as his lips turned up. "You mock me, woman and you will pay the price for it. We married in our past life." He swept her up into his arms and strode to the back of the studio, through the door and into her apartment. When he placed her on her feet, he proceeded to pull her tee-shirt up over her head.

  "What are you doing?" she asked.

  "Completing the second part of your wish," he answered, undoing the clasp of her jeans and tugging them down. "I need you."

  "We've just made love and you're still as horny as hell."

  Agrat frowned and tilted his head. "I do not grow horns, unless you count what is between my legs." He grabbed her hand and pressed it against his erection. "Is this a horn?"

  Phoebe resisted rolling her eyes. She pulled her hand from his and butted it on his breastplate, studying him. "You've syphoned the cop's brain. You know 'horny' means you want sex."

  Agrat laughed and somehow his teasing helped relieve the knife's edge tension. "I always want sex." He wrapped his arms around her and cupped her breast, his fingers caressing the fabric of her bra, teasing the nipple underneath.

  "Wait a minute," Phoebe stayed his hand. Rachael's compact mirror and lipsticks lay on the carpet floor of the living room. Phoebe recognized them because she'd given them to Rachael as a present. Unraveling herself from him, she strode into her bedroom, saw that the bed was unmade and there was blood and silver angel glitter on the sheets. Rachael's cell phone lay smashed on the bedroom floor. "Galaden had Rachael here in my bed. Ugh! That's disgusting." She opened her wardrobe door, took out a set of clean sheets and put them on the bedside table. "I can't believe that creep had sex here. He's bled all over everything." She bent to strip the bed but before she could do anything, the bed sheets vanished in front of her eyes. She looked up to him. "How did you do that?"