by Brenda Trim
Rhys knew better than to underestimate any being in the Underworld. There was a reason Buer was the leader and should be taken seriously.
“Wouldn’t think of it. What kinds of souls are trapped here?” he asked. Dante’s response was cut off as they crossed through the veil. The familiar sensation of being torn asunder and covered in flames was brief but disconcerting. Momentarily panicking, he glanced over to see what the flames might do to Illianna’s wings. Her jaw was clenched tight and her face was a mask of concentration, but she was still whole. He felt her relief as they passed safely into the Eighth Circle.
“This realm is inhabited by the fraudulent. I have no idea what else to expect or how we will be tested,” Dante answered as soon as they successfully crossed through.
“This is going to be the most challenging circle. We are going to need to work even closer together,” Illianna interjected, surprising him. She was fully committed and saw them as a team. The thought gave him a small measure of hope even if the return of her wings made his heart bleed. He couldn’t ignore the inevitability that once the mission was over she would return to Heaven.
He couldn’t help but notice her stride was strong and sure. With her wings, she was confident and ready to face anything. She glowed with her power and it awed him all over again.
“Why do you say that? I think we’ve kicked ass so far,” Kellen blurted, enthusiasm clear in his tone. He picked up a large stone and chucked it, huffing with the force he used.
Rhys watched the rock sail over a cliff up ahead as Illianna responded, “You are cambions. Your life is about deceiving others to feed your inner demons. In the last circle, you and Dante had to manipulate those females in order to heal. You then took it further and roped them into helping us get past the minotaur,” she told Kellen. Rhys silently cursed as he considered her response.
She was right about cambions and that didn’t bode well for them. At least she wasn’t judging them like she had previously done. She was merely stating facts about how cambion lifestyles.
“We are honest with the partners we choose,” Dante defended. “We never hide what we want from them.”
“But, you never really tell them that you’re taking part of their life force through the sexual encounter to feed your own and that, in and of itself, is fraudulent. If those females knew you had taken part of their chi, they would’ve denied you. They wouldn’t want to be weakened in anyway.”
“Fuck,” Kellen blurted as they halted at the top of the cliff. “You’re right. I never thought about it like that because any weakness we cause is only temporary. So now what? We can’t change who we are,” Kellen muttered as reality set in.
“You should have left with the silver angel,” Dante added. “Now, you’ve tied your fate to ours.”
“Wait a minute, don’t fucking give up now! We go forward and meet each challenge head-on. The Goddess wouldn’t have gotten us this far just so we could fail in the home stretch,” Rhys interjected, slamming the brakes on the negativity. He refused to believe the Goddess would bail on them at this point. “We just need to find a way to beat this circle.”
The four of them stood on the edge of the cliff and silence fell over their group as they overlooked the scene below. The cliff descended directly into the Ninth Circle. It was so far below that even with his keen eyesight he could only make out movement, but saw enough to know there were countless demons below them. But first, they needed to get past those that lined the walls of the cliffs.
Next to him, Illianna gasped, covering her mouth in obvious distress. Rhys wasn’t surprised that the sight of countless souls marching in lines as they were whipped by various lesser demons tugged at her heartstrings. His angel had a soft heart and he loved that about her. He wondered if the anguish he sensed from her had doubled with the return of her angelic powers.
Whatever the reason, he knew it was going to be difficult for his mate to pass them by without trying to save them from this fate. It was her true nature and impossible to ignore the suffering. He could relate because as a Dark Warrior, he found it impossible to pass the demons without ending their existence.
“How do we get down the cliff unseen?” Dante asked, rubbing his chin as they scanned their surroundings.
“We are going to have to pick our way down,” Kellen said, reluctantly, leaning over the side.
“At least I know I won’t fall to my death,” Illianna quipped, making Rhys’ blood go cold. She was joking, but the thought of her dying had his soul clamoring in his chest. “Let’s find a path down,” she suggested, eyeing him warily. When the time came, she may leave him, but there was no denying the connection they shared.
Shaking off turmoil that had quickly consumed him, he twined his fingers with hers as they walked along the edge. She squeezed his fingers, immediately calming him. The affect she had on him was mind-blowing, sending sparks of arousal straight to his groin. His mate mark burned, demanding they complete the mating. He had no idea how he was going to live with the escalating pain when she returned to Heaven.
Another squeeze to his palm brought his attention back and he and illianna stopped for a brief second. “Over here,” he called back to Kellen and Dante when he spotted a narrow path that led down.
“Okay, this is it,” Dante breathed out on a deep exhale. “Before we head down, I want to thank you both for being exemplary warriors. I couldn’t have done this without you. That includes you, too, Illianna. You’ve proven to be an asset and I’m grateful you remained to see this til the end. Keep your eyes peeled and be careful,” Dante expressed as they started down the steep rocky path. It was clear to Rhys this was a defining moment and his leader wasn’t sure of the outcome.
“You guys don’t make bad traveling companions. When we get through this we should take a vacation to Tahiti. And, cambions couldn’t ask for a better leader,” Rhys told his Lord. Dante returned his smile, knowing exactly what was and what wasn’t being said between them. They would fight, and die, if necessary, to try and succeed at this mission.
Illianna slipped on the rocks, falling into Rhys’ side. He grabbed hold of her waist and steadied them before they continued down the cliff.
“Careful, this shit is loose,” he warned his friends behind them.
“What the fuck is that?” Kellen cursed at his back. His question brought Rhys’ head around and he noticed what the male was pointing at.
They’d come to another ledge and about forty feet further down the face of the cliff he noticed there were numerous souls being tortured in another deplorable way. Their heads were stuffed into holes in the black granite of the mountain with their feet sticking up in the air. Fury demons holding torches burned the soles of their exposed feet, creating a macabre sculpture.
Seeing through their ghostly bodies was eerie and smelling the burning flesh was an odd conundrum. They were ghosts, yet smelled as if they had corporeal bodies, complete with red blood dripping down pale grey legs that flailed in the air as white bone was eventually exposed on each foot. When the demons had inflicted enough damage, they moved onto the next person and by the time they made their way back to the first soul the feet had healed so they could be tortured all over again.
The anger and indignation of the suffering fed the fury demons as they worked. It was a vicious cycle that perpetuated itself. Rhys shook his head in disgust. He understood his mate’s need to try and save as many as she could. If there were a way he could keep her safe while she saved them, Rhys would gladly allow her to work her magic. No one should have to suffer like that.
“I hate this. I look forward to leaving this place far behind me,” Illianna expressed as she continued walking. He’d gladly take a female whose biggest problem was not being able to help others over a selfish bimbo any day. He adored Illianna’s depth and it was an honor to be blessed with such a strong and caring mate.
After seeing the exceptional females that Zander, Gerrick and Jace had been given, he had high standards where his Fat
ed Mate was concerned. Thankfully, the Goddess hadn’t matched him up with his typical female of choice. Not desiring attachments, he’d always chosen females who cared more about the pursuit of pleasure than they did their friends or family. He had no idea what he’d been thinking all his life, but one thing was certain, he hadn’t been thinking right for a very long time.
Lost in his thoughts, his feet slid on loose rocks and Rhys skidded about ten feet then went sailing off the side of the cliff. Above him, he heard Illianna scream and Rhys reached out for her. Fingers grasping thin air, his stomach jumped to his throat as the sensation of freefalling at rapid speed rushed him.
Below him, the Ninth Circle of hell rapidly approached. After all he’d been through in the Underworld, he couldn’t believe this was how he would die. Slipping on rocks and falling off a cliff. The fucking irony of it all.
Thoughts bombarded him. Why hadn’t he told Illianna how he truly felt about her? She meant more to him than anything else. He was in love with the angel. Would do anything to ensure her happiness and safety. He’d give anything to have another moment with her if only to tell her he’d always love her no matter what.
Suddenly, he hit a large tree branch perched on the side of the cliff, cursing as it pierced his side. The branch was like a giant arm reaching out to grab him. Unfortunately, when he hit the black wood it shattered in a shower of bark and splinters lodged painfully in his body.
Out of nowhere, something grabbed him around the waist and his downward momentum stopped abruptly, making him jerk and bounce. His head snapped back and smacked into something soft. A feminine voice had him craning his aching head around.
Eyes widening in shock, Illianna was furiously beating her wings to gain momentum and keep them from falling further.
“I told you I wasn’t going to fall to my death out here, but I never thought I’d be forced to save you from that very fate. I’m a little disappointed. I thought you were more agile than that,” she teased.
He couldn’t help but laugh at that. His heart picked up its pace, knowing she cared for his sorry ass. She may not choose him in the end, but he would die knowing that his mate cared about him.
“That’s because you’re too damned distracting, Luscious. I’m supposed to be the one doing the saving, but I appreciate that I’ve got a sexy angel coming to my rescue,” he said, more light-hearted than he had been in a long time.
“I didn’t think I would make it. I haven’t flown for a hundred years, but it’s like riding a bike. You never forget,” she joked, eliciting another laugh from him. The fact that she could make him laugh as they hovered a few hundred feet above their deaths in the Ninth Circle of Hell told him exactly how perfect she was for him.
Her massive wings were strong and impressive as they carried them back up several feet. Setting him down on a ledge near the broken tree, she breathed a sigh of relief. Turning in her arms, he held her to him while their hearts settled and he scoped the area for danger. There were no safe harbors this far into Hell and he felt exposed.
About ten feet away there were souls lined up like a platoon of soldiers and they were surrounded by large sword-wielding demons. He had to glance away with a grimace when the demon closest to them began swinging his sword and hacking a body into bloody pieces. Of course, like most things in the Underworld, the bodies reassembled themselves so they could be dismembered all over again. The sight was nauseating and cruel. He sensed his mate’s revulsion at the sight and he wondered how much of his reaction was influenced by her presence in his soul. He welcomed her Light and how it illuminated every darkened corner of his inner beast.
“I need to go back up and get Dante and Kellen. Stay here and don’t get killed!” she practically growled at him. He caressed her cheek and placed a gentle kiss to her lush mouth, pouring all his love into the brief embrace. When they broke apart, he noted the confusion swimming in her silver eyes before she masked it.
He briefly struggled with the desire to stop her from going back for the others. He didn’t want her exposed, but understood they needed to move quickly and the best solution was to have her fly up and grab Dante and Kellen.
“Be careful,” he instructed, lightly kissing her again. “There are dangers everywhere.”
She nodded as he let go and took off, flying straight up. She was a magnificent sight with her gold wings glinting in the dull light and his heart soared right along with her. She quickly made it to Dante and Kellen, landing safely beside them. There was a brief exchange and Rhys saw the smile cross her face as Kellen shook his head vehemently. He could just imagine that the male was telling her fuck no. She grabbed him around his waist then jumped, swooping straight down at lightning speed.
Rhys bit back the surge of jealousy at the sight of his mate embracing another male. He wouldn’t feel so vulnerable if they had completed the mating or if she had given any indication that she was going to choose him. As it stood, she could choose any male she wanted. Anxious and uneasy, he resolved to convince her to pick him over everyone else…even Heaven.
His heart took off in a rapid beat at the same time breathing became difficult. How could he ask her to choose a cur like him over a life in Heaven? It was her calling. What she was made to do. Where she truly belonged.
A scalding knife sliced his heart in half at the realization he should let her go and not pursue a mating with her. She belonged in a place he could never go.
A loud roar echoed throughout the area, reverberating off the cliff walls just as Illianna landed with Kellen. Grabbing her hand, he ducked behind a tree and crouched, hovering over her in an attempt to hide her wings. Looking around for the source of the noise, he saw a creature prowling the sky overhead.
Dante had told them about the Geryon that called this circle home. Part human, part beast, the creature was massive and ugly as fuck. It had the head of a man on a lion’s body with wings and tail of a dragon.
“I can’t wait to get the hell out of this place,” Kellen whispered from behind them.
“Being able to walk and fly without fear of what is around me will be foreign, but so welcome,” Illianna echoed. Rhys pulled her to him as the Geryon flew below them.
“I’m going for Dante,” Illianna said, taking off without waiting for him to stop her.
“Dammit,” he cursed as he watched her before shifting his eyes to the demon in the skies below them.
Illianna was a skilled flier and stayed close to the mountain as she rapidly ascended and snagged Dante from where he stood. It was a rough transition and the male jerked around like a rag doll as she arrowed her way back down to them.
The Geryon must have sensed something because it turned around just above the Ninth Circle, which Rhys could make out a little more clearly now, and headed back up. Nervously, Rhys glanced toward Illianna and noticed she was much closer now with her wings folded against her back to gain more momentum. His palms broke out in a sweat as the Geryon drew closer.
Seconds later, Illianna flared her wings and landed with a thud, both her and Dante falling to the ground. Rhys immediately dropped himself over her back and shielded her with his body. Understanding his intent, Kellen and Dante echoed his action, their black clothing blending against the black granite of the cliff.
The beast roared and looked around, flying back and forth along the ledge. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he kept his head down, praying the beast didn’t see them. Minutes later, the Geryon flew off.
Rhys got up and helped Illianna to her feet, pulling her to him in an embrace. “Don’t ever give me heart attack like that again! You won’t risk yourself again,” he practically yelled in her face. He doubted his heart would settle after the stunt she had pulled.
Illianna was smiling from ear to ear. “That was fantastic! I’ve missed flying more than anything, and, I’ve never felt more alive,” she crowed, practically jumping up and down with excitement. Not many females would be so exhilarated under the circumstances yet his angel burned brighter than a bl
inding sun.
For fucks sake, she was going to be the death of him.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Illianna’s heart hammered in her chest and adrenaline pumped through her veins. Her shoulders ached and her back burned from flying, but she didn’t care. It had been hard to adjust to flying and carrying again, especially, at great speeds. The muscles in her back and shoulders that supported her wings were weak and atrophied after so long without them. It was going to take some time to get back to normal, but she’d do it all over again in order to save Rhys from falling to his death.
Rhys had promised to protect her no matter what and she felt the same way about him, even if that meant risking her life. It was in her angelic blood, after all.
“You’re absolutely stunning,” Rhys murmured, wrapping his arms around her middle and pulling her up against his hard body.
By now, she had memorized every muscle along his gorgeous body and come to expect the erection that nudged at her soft stomach. Initially, she was appalled by his arousal, but had come to welcome, even yearn for, his desire.
Recalling the time she had tried to offer sex to an incubus in exchange for food had crushed her self-esteem. She hadn’t been in Lemuel’s clutches that long and was so hungry she was willing to give anything, even herself, for something to eat. The incubus had rejected and degraded her, spouting she wasn’t woman enough to feed his needs. After that humiliating experience, she tried to hide her womanhood any way possible. She was certain that was the reason Lemuel refused to provide her clothing.
The fact that Rhys had never once looked at her as if she were anything less than beautiful and desirable went a long way in healing those wounds.
She patted his chest, “Like I said, you need your eyes checked.”
He dipped his head and claimed her lips in a brief, but explosive kiss. The way he dominated and took what he wanted while still making her feel cherished took her breath away. She knew he was feeding off her sexual chi when they kissed or had sex, but she had never felt drained or sucked dry like she had in the past with other sex-demons. With Rhys, she was invigorated and energized.