by Marie Harte
One of his men tossed a pike of black havoc steel at Jentaron’s heart.
Eve jumped in front of him and blasted the steel with her blue flame. The steel turned to ash, and many exclaimed over the purity of her fire.
The blue flame just made Teban miss James that much more, and he rubbed his chest.
Eve glared. “Who threw that? Well, step up.”
“Eve…” Jentaron tried to hold her back, but his Guardian turned from a charming Decision making demon into a protector with bite.
“No,” she growled. “I would have his head.”
Myfere shrugged. “It’s yours if you can take it.”
The warrior who’d thrown the pike stepped forward. Not one of Myfere’s giants, but another havoc with weird stripes inked down his body. He looked like a zebra, and Teban would have said something snarky if he’d had the energy. But he was so angry at this waste of time, when all he wanted was to have Kihra and James close again. Kihra—who even now might be suffering at the hands of some angelic dickheads.
Not yet, came a sibilant whisper from inside his bones.
Myfere’s eyes narrowed on Teban, as if he’d heard the same.
Before Teban could call off this nonsense, Jentaron held him back. “Wait a moment, brother. This needs to be done.” His voice sounded odd, knowing, and Teban forced himself to go against instinct and wait it out.
Eve jumped to meet the warrior at least twice her body weight. He was fast, but Eve was faster. She waited until the last possible second to dodge his blows, then blasted him with a blue fire that shot right from her eyes.
“Theatrical, but isn’t she pretty?” Jentaron gushed.
The warrior screamed until his voice cut off, and his body turned to dust. Jentaron blew a breath and the dust scattered until nothing was left.
A moment of silence, and then the havoc around them gave a massive, bloodcurdling war cry.
“So it’s a war on demonkind you want first?” Myfere asked, his gaze still lingering on Teban. “Then it’s one you shall have.”
“Are you fucking insane?” Teban had had enough. He cut in front of Eve and pushed her back to his brother with his tail. “Your sister is suffering at the hands of righteous angels and you can do nothing more than war in the lower realm?”
“We are havoc. It’s what we do.” Myfere frowned. “My sister is strong enough to take on Asael himself. We do not fear demons. Not even those of the blue flame.”
“What about Kingu? Do you fear your creator?”
One of the warriors behind Myfere snorted. “A myth. We do as our chieftain commands, and we love nothing better than killing. Because we can.”
His friends roared with laughter, though Myfere said nothing.
“You’d better start fearing me,” Teban warned. “You make one move on the demons or the dragons and I’ll rip your damn heads off.” Teban snarled, smoked, and roared the last of his threat so that there could be no question he meant business.
“Oh shit. Did Teban really just threaten all of them?” Eve said in an overloud whisper.
“I told you he has hidden depths. He’s not always just a horny dragon.” Jentaron clapped. “Well done, brother.”
“Kill them all,” Myfere ordered, no bend in his voice. “Then we kill the demons. Starting with his mate.”
The ground shook. The crack under Teban’s feet widened, and a stream of lava pooled beneath him.
“Teban, fly! Get off the ground,” Eve shouted as Jentaron leapt into the sky with her clutched in a claw. The havoc scattered back, rushing from the unstable ground. All but Myfere and his giant warriors, who apparently didn’t have the sense Kingu had granted them.
Teban listened to the whispers, the ones that told him to hold still if he valued his mate. His life for Kihra’s, it suggested, and all would be well.
He thought about a life without her, without James. As much as he would miss them, saving Kihra meant more than his own joy. She’d have James, and James would have her. Together they could be happy. He recalled that her creator loved a good sacrifice, and Teban had nothing more valuable than his life and his love to give.
Yes, Kingu. I accept your offer. My life for hers.
The crack beneath him widened, and the lava consumed him, the pain exquisite and so overwhelming Teban knew he’d never come back from it whole, if at all.
His only regret—he’d miss his mates.
Chapter Nine
Something was wrong, but James had a hard time focusing because his father wouldn’t shut the hell up.
“You’re kidding, Zelec. Tell me again.”
Zelec cried he’d been laughing so hard. “Yes, they said it. A few times, and with an air of menace, probably because I kept laughing at them.” He lowered his voice and changed its pitch, imitating Annua’s bluster perfectly. “‘Your life for hers, demon.’ Imagine Annua’s delivery. Pretend I’m thrusting my chest out and shaking my amazing, wonderful hair.” Zelec imitated the angel a little too well. James wanted to zip into heaven and grab his mate, yesterday. “What a jackass. I still don’t know why you don’t let me kill him for the hair alone, sire. It’s so soft and pretty. Once I weave that deep red into a scarf, I’ll wear it around my neck. Think of it, how amazing it would look against my black skin.”
Though he had a point, James wished Zelec would just go away so he could work on his father.
“It would put Uriel in a snit, and he’s a pain in the ass on a good day. Sorry, Zelec. Maybe another time.” Asael laughed and turned to James.
It had been two days since he’d been dragged back to his father’s hole in the Abyss. Two long days separated from Teban and Kihra. He hated that he’d been so weak he couldn’t escape. His father’s servant had healed him only enough to allow him to live, but not to escape without help. He felt as weak as a newborn human.
What did Teban think? Had he mounted a rescue yet? Or did he believe the nonsense that a demon had kidnapped their mate? James shook his head, not sure why the fuck he felt so out of it. His physical wounds shouldn’t have made him so dizzy, but he felt less than whole. As if he were missing a part of himself.
Worry returned. What had they done to Kihra?
“James. I’m so proud of you.” Asael flew to his side and hugged him so tightly he busted a rib.
“Can’t. Breathe.”
“Oh. Sorry.” Asael let up and thumped him on the back. “You know, this physical form isn’t holding up as well as it should. The purity blade they stabbed you with was no joke, but I’d have thought you’d be up to snuff by now. Explain again how you managed to upset the angels, the dragons and the havoc in one fell swoop. You’re good, but boy, this is legendary.”
His father looked like a small child, alight with anticipation. Zelec was as bad, hovering in the air, his wings flapping as he circled around Asael’s throne room.
“I did nothing.” I mated a havoc chieftain’s sister and a dragon prince, and I lost them both before I’d truly had them. “I have no idea what the angels are talking about.” His heart raced. Honesty would win him nothing with his father.
“Come now. The scent of the female is all over you. The dragon too.” His father cracked another smile, and the sheer beauty of the male was blinding. Though Asael’s surrounding light hurt most lower realm beings, James was immune to his father’s taint of forgotten goodness. His alluring features, however, could still turn James’s head, though James looked so much like him.
“I fucked them both,” he admitted. “It was fun. Don’t pretend you didn’t know what Teban wanted. You sent me to him.” How to get to the angels and take the bait? His life for hers? Hell yeah. He had a score to settle with some enlightened pricks. And he needed to get Kihra back down where she belonged, connected to the Earth—and her lovers.
Asael smiled, but a hint of deceit tinged his expression. “Of
course I knew. You stole the egg but got caught, son. I expected better of you.” He sighed. “Still, getting the dragon to fall for you was an uncomplicated task, and you accomplished it.”
“What?”
“Teban’s been easy to read for years. His friendship with you had deepened some time ago, but the foolish dragon thought I wouldn’t notice. Unfortunately, he hasn’t behaved as expected. I cannot believe he mated you without getting permission first.” Asael raised a perfectly sculpted brow. “Did you pressure him into taking you so soon? I thought for sure he’d last longer. Hell, boy, you’re still technically his until your ten days are up.”
James’s mind was racing. “I knew you wanted another foothold into the dragon’s ranks. I love Eve, but she’s soft when it comes to Ranton.”
“And the hatchling.” His father sighed. “Yes, I know.”
“So I used Teban’s lust to bind him to me.” Forgive me, Teban.
“Excellent work. But I’m a little confused. Why this mess with the havoc? We haven’t dealt with them for ages. They can be more than a little unpleasant.”
“Yes, well, that was something I had planned for the angels. Unfortunately, they’re holding a grudge.”
“Still upset over losing so many of their winged brethren in that scuffle over Jentaron, eh?” Asael chuckled. “Well, it was only a few weeks past. I can see Uriel getting all huffy about it.”
It seemed taking a royal dragon egg had come back to bite him in the ass after all. James knew the angels had attacked at his penthouse to teach him—not all demons, just him—a lesson. “Uriel gets on my last nerve, so I thought I’d try something unexpected. I brought the havoc into his world.”
“Did you really? Because from what I gathered, the angels took a havoc female and are blaming us.” Asael shook his head. “Your heart was in the right place, but you fucked it up.”
“So let me make it right.” He grunted and straightened to his full height, ignoring the need to rub his aching heart and smiling at his father. “Besides, I like popping in on Mom in heaven. She’s not as high and holy as you think, Dad. She’s actually still very human.”
Asael frowned. Bingo. James had hit his father’s one vulnerable spot—the love he still had for Bethany Sinclair.
“Come on,” he added, twisting the knife. “She likes hearing about you.”
“She does?” Asael was starting to cave.
Zelec frowned. “That doesn’t sound like the Bethany I know.”
“Well…”
“Look. I’ll bring Zelec. He’s not a very trusting soul. He can verify I’m speaking the truth. We’ll hop on up to heaven, pretend I’m there to save this havoc female, and I’ll do a little spying while I’m there. Then I’ll muck up the works. She’ll die in the upper realm, the angels will be blamed, and after the havoc are done destroying the dragons, they’ll ignore us in favor of seriously hurting heaven.” A total lie since the havoc’s strength lay in their connection to the Earth’s core. In the lower realm, even in the middle realm, they might be a force to be reckoned with. In heaven, they would be little more than cannon fodder for Uriel’s mighty soldiers.
“Hmm. The dragons will be weakened. Then the angels will be occupied with the havoc. Bloodthirsty creatures.” Asael sounded approving. “And in the meantime, we spread our tendrils of power throughout the realm. We haven’t had a territorial dispute in some time. I think I’d welcome the chaos that should bring. Good show, James.” He patted James on the shoulder. “Well, Zelec? Take the boy to Annua, then stick around to observe.”
Zelec was a rare demon who could not only teleport, telepath and heal, he could blend into any environment as well. A total asset at Asael’s disposal. The bastard.
“I don’t like it, but okay.”
Zelec was smart not to trust him. As weak as he was, James needed an extra set of “hands” to boost his energy enough to get him into the upper realm. He and Zelec came together, arm in arm, and in a large push, sent themselves into heaven’s horrific plane. The beauty and joy of purity all around was enough to make James want to gag.
Zelec blinked, and his skin lost its dark warmth, turning angelic pale. “I really hate it here.” His hair also turned from black to gold, and his leathery wings turned fluffy and feathery.
“You blend in well.”
“I know,” the demon said sourly. “I’m letting you go now. Remember, boy, I’m watching.”
“Right.” James let Zelec take a step away before he deliberately stumbled. “Wait, Zelec…”
When Zelec lent him a hand, James pulled. Hard. He took the power Zelec would never have given on his own and watched as the demon grew dark once more. No blending in for the bastard now. “Time to teleport your sorry ass back to Asael.”
“I knew you were lying.” Zelec moaned. “You took too much.”
“Then you’ll die before you can tell on me. A win-win.”
Zelec glowered, obviously not too weak to rage, and disappeared just as Annua, Zephon, and a dozen other armed angels came into view.
Looking smug, Annua crossed his arms over his broad chest while several of the others surrounded James. “Well, well. The troublemaker of the damned has arrived. Here to defend your precious Kihra? She’s stunningly innocent, you know. No wonder Uriel’s taken to her the way he has.”
That was way worse than torturing her might have been. If the archangel Uriel swayed her soul, James and Teban might truly lose her. “I really hate you.”
Annua gave him a mean smile. “I know.” Then he nodded to the others, and they dragged James toward a scene he never wanted to see again.
Thank the damned Teban isn’t here to see this. He came to a standstill, watching as Kihra, now dressed all in white, laughed at something Uriel and Michael said as they reclined on heavenly divans and ate purified mana from blessed cups.
When Kihra glanced over and saw him, she didn’t react other than to nod at Uriel. “Uriel, you have guests.”
The jackass turned a beatific smile on James. “Ah, my good friend James. It took you long enough. We weren’t sure if you would come.”
He glared at Kihra and felt himself burn with indignation. Nothing righteous, just a good old-fashioned mad.
She smiled, looking sweet.
Kingu, if you could see her now. He wanted to cry.
“Come sit by us, James. I’ve missed spending time with you.” She patted a spot next to her.
Uriel caressed her shoulder, and it was all James could do not to sever the archangel’s hand.
“Well, I’m here,” he barked. “You said you’d trade me for her. So take me and let her go.”
Uriel batted his eyelashes, and the freak was so pretty the gesture looked totally innocent. “Whatever do you mean, James? We aren’t holding Kihra against her will. She wants to be here.”
James scowled, not sure what to make of her soft smile of agreement.
“It’s been such a joy to meet the angels, James. Did you know they tell me I have a soul? That my kind don’t have to live below if we don’t want? Such splendid things I’ve seen here.” She paused, and her enthusiasm seemed to dip. “I had wanted to share with you and Teban, but when you didn’t come after such a long time, I wasn’t sure you wanted to be with me anymore. But Uriel and the others have been so welcoming.”
“I’ll bet they have.” James stomped over to her, but instead of dragging her into his arms and shaking some sense into her, he forced a smile. “The angels can be charming when they want something.” He turned to Uriel. “I concede I have been bested.”
“Yes, you have.” The angel’s smug tone sent his temper skyrocketing. Higher than heaven, were there such a place.
“And I’m sorry,” James managed not to sputter, doing his best not to give away what he planned next. Uriel’s gloating and satisfaction literally hurt, the bright light of his happ
iness awful to bear.
“James?” Kihra sounded concerned.
He didn’t spare her a glance. Instead, he held out his hand to Uriel, daring the angel to take it. They both knew Uriel’s touch would burn. But James wanted to appear willing to bridge the sea of mistrust.
The stupid angel held out his hand, a sly grin on his face.
Then James did what he’d been waiting to do. He punched Uriel right in the face and let out his unholy flame.
Kihra stared, shocked and thrilled and overjoyed all at once. When James and Teban hadn’t shown up for over two days, she’d started to really worry. James had been hurt badly when she’d been taken away, and she had no idea what Teban might think of her capture after hearing the angels say the demons would be blamed.
Did her brother miss her yet? If so, and if he’d heard about her kidnapping, would he use that as an excuse to go to war on the demonarchy?
She’d done her best to pretend she liked it up here. But truth to tell, her entire body ached. She missed her mates, and the angels’ many attempts to sway her had grown exhausting. But at least they’d stopped trying to hurt her once they realized she might be tempted to turn good.
Ech. She wanted to vomit all over Uriel’s pristine white tunic. The havoc weren’t meant to be so far from Earth’s core. Angelic skies did nothing but weaken her. But perhaps they knew that and encouraged her limitation, so that they might continue to take advantage of her.
“He won’t come for you,” Uriel had said time and time again, his voice sad as each minute passed without a word from James. “The demons don’t love as we do, Kihra. We care for others, we love truly. Deeply. Stay with us and see.”
She’d seen all right. The angels wanted to use her, and they wanted to strike back at the demons in any way possible. They also had no love for the dragons, apparently, because she’d overheard the angel Abigail mention how angry the dragon prince had been since returning from the Ordinary, according to their spies below.