Eva kept her gaze on the tree in the distance. In all the madness surrounding her, the plant was the only thing she recognized as familiar.
There was also Max. She took a glimpse of him. Bloodied wrists, hair plastered to his face, and a dragging wing which, if his ashen face was anything to go by, hurt him. Her heart panged and she squeezed his fingers. He returned the gesture, and she sighed, releasing the tension endlessly creeping up her spine. If she were honest with herself, she didn’t understand what was happening. One moment she’d been at work and the next thrown into a vivid portrayal of Bosch’s painting. Max was not human and apparently, neither was she. Demons performed a dance around them, their bodies evocative and haunting at the same time, while others screamed with agonizing perfection, like a macabre chorus.
Insanity surrounded them, and there was no life boat to rescue them. Except, she didn’t need one. For her, Max was an island. At his side, she had no fear. His presence eliminated the despair, the uncertainty, the terror, and brought clarity to her. Together they would fight to live, but if they didn’t, she’d be content to die at his side.
“We’re almost there,” Max said.
“Yes. We’ve gotten here faster than I thought we would.”
Max’s lips flattened, and she sensed the tension crawl up his arm.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
“I’m worried it is nothing more than an illusion. Lust is good at playing mind games. It’s what she does at the castle. She turns walls into doors, empty corridors into ones with endless possibilities. She makes humans believe there is no love, only sex.”
Eva bit her lip.
The castle.
A place she didn’t know but when Max mentioned it, she couldn’t help but recall snippets of dreams she’d had. Stone walls, wooden doors. Beds and naked men lying atop white linen.
Humans.
“We’re not humans,” she stated.
Max halted.
“And you should count yourself lucky, my daughter. Humans are weak. Then again, you are one of them as you’re unable to perform your duties as a succubus.”
“Zah,” Max growled, shoving her behind him.
Eva peeked from behind his wide back. Her father stood between them and the tree, eyes glowing like lanterns amid the darkness.
“Frankly, I am surprised you’re both still alive. I thought I was coming here to collect your bodies.”
“Don’t you have anything better to do? Why don’t you go fuck yourself?” Max spat.
Zah laughed.
“It’s not nearly as fun as you’d imagine, Guardian. The truth is, I made a promise to our goddess and I intend to deliver.”
“Promise?” Eva whispered.
“Yes, my daughter. I promised her the heart of your Guardian friend. And now I’ve confirmed you’re too human to be a succubus, I shall give Lust yours, too. ”
Max spread his legs into a fighting stance.
“Over my dead body,” Max said.
Zah grinned, his mouth contorting into a grotesque mask.
“That’s my intention.”
“Max, no,” Eva said, clutching his arm.
He turned to her, urgency in the depths of his gaze.
“Run for the tree and climb. Find the castle and head in that direction. I will follow.”
“No,” she said.
"Do it.”
Zah chuckled.
“Do as he says, daughter, for once I’m done with him I’ll hunt you down. It will bring me great pleasure to tear you to pieces.”
“Vince Malum,” Max shouted.
With a guttural cry, he leapt forward and aimed a front kick at Zah. The demon averted it easily by jumping back. Max danced around the incubus, his feet moving nimbly and fast around the giant. Her father laughed and aimed a punch at Max, but he ducked and retreated a couple more feet, bringing Zah with him and away from the tree.
She raced to it, her breaths coming out harsh and fast. Limbs trembling, she gripped the lowest branch and wrapped her other arm around the trunk. Unable to find a gnarl to rest her feet, she grasped the trunk with her thighs and calves. The bark was surprisingly smooth, caressing her skin like a lover’s kiss. Her sex clenched.
“No,” she murmured. “I have to find the castle.”
She pushed up against the tree and threw her arms up to grab onto the next branch. Resting her forearms on it, she pulled herself up. Clenching and unclenching her hands, she went for the next one. Her clit bumped against the trunk, her nipples hardening at the friction. Liquid arousal dripped from her pussy, leaving behind a sparkling trail.
“No. No.”
Why did her body deceive her? Tears built at the back of her eyes. She had to find a way out of here so she and Max could live.
She grabbed the next branch and swung her legs up, straddling it. A branch tangled in her hair, and another whipped across her breasts. She gasped. Her clit throbbed. She looked out into the field. The castle was nowhere to be seen. She had to go higher. She rose to her feet. Her hand flew to her mouth. Zah had Max in a choke hold, his toes barely touching the ground while he desperately clawed at the demon who was supposed to be her father.
“No,” she cried.
Her nostrils flared. A familiar jab started on the base of her spine and rolled upward, bringing with it a rush of adrenaline. Spots danced in her vision. Her nails dug into the tree, and she realized they had transformed into claws. Heat flushed her body. Throwing back her head, she screeched. On instinct, she slithered down the tree like a reptile. When she reached Zah and Max, she stood on her legs.
“Release him,” she demanded.
Zah looked at her and dropped Max with a sickening crunch.
“I thought I had heard a succubus’s call,” Zah said. “You have finally come to your full power. Kill him and we’ll both get out of here.”
He kicked Max, drawing a pitiful grown from him. The sound of cracking ribs rent the air. Eva clenched her jaw.
“Indeed.” She sauntered to the demon and pressed her body to his. Zah’s eyes lit up. Eva smiled. Standing on her toes, she wrapped one of her hands around his shoulder and rested another on his chest.
“I have become a monster like you,” she whispered. “But I have also come to my senses.”
In a swift movement, she sliced Zah’s chest open with one of her talons. The incubus screamed and tried to jump back, but she had a stronghold on him. She twisted the claw impaled on his chest, widening the wound. Warm blood dripped down her arm.
“No one touches what is mine, Zah, and Max is mine.”
Zah grabbed her wrist.
“Don’t do it,” he choked.
“You promised a gift, and I will deliver it for you.”
She reached inside him, wrapping her fingers around his heart and tugging.
“Enough.”
An invisible hand launched Eva through the air, where she landed at Max’s side. She crawled to him, shielding him with her own body against the black cloud descending across the field like winter fog. The bellowing screams of the tortured souls quieted, and the voices of the demons prevailed. They shrieked harmoniously, chanting a single name.
Lust.
“Silence.”
Eva held her breath. Lust’s voice was deep, thunderous, and it seeped into her system like a caress, reawakening all her nerve cells into a frenzied desire over which she had no control. She shut her eyes and dipped her head into the curve of Max’s neck. He didn’t move, but he groaned as if he, too, were feeling the effects of the god.
“You are a fool, Zah,” Lust said. “I don’t understand how your people named you king.”
“My liege,” Zah moaned, coughing. “It was the heart of a Guardian.”
“A Guardian in love. It is corrupted. As is she, for she has aimed to kill you not out of lust but out of love for her mate.”
“But she is succubus,” Zah whimpered.
Lust’s sensual chuckle flooded her with warmth. Eva
glanced at them. She could make out Zah on the floor, blood trickling through his chest cavity and pooling around him. Lust, however, stood shrouded in mist. Its hand shot out and sank into Zah’s wound, pulling out his still-beating heart.
“Your black heart is so much better than theirs, Zah.”
The incubus convulsed violently, then stilled. Eva’s eyes widened. Demons crawled toward the body and lifted it. Carrying it on their backs, they hung him from a nearby platform, arms and legs outstretched to their limit. Another creature approached the body, a metal ring gleaming in his hand. Running his bony fingers across Zah’s cock, he attached it to the base. Then, lowering itself to its knees, it took the member into his mouth. Mesmerized, Eva watched it thicken. Suddenly, Zah screamed. Eva gasped. Blood dripped down his penis, the jagged device cutting into it and severing it. The demons clapped and cheered.
“His soul is now mine,” Lust said. “He has worked hard to be here.”
Eva glanced at Lust. She gawked at him. He was perfect. His toned flesh glistened under the gloom, his muscles rippling as he moved toward her. His wings were red, the tips dragging on the floor and leaving behind a trail of feathers which demons hurried to collect. Finally, he stopped a few feet from her and Max. Her breath caught. His features were masculine, sculpted no doubt by some fine artist. His lips curved and his eyes darkened. They were two pools of tar. Eva shrank back, gathering Max into her arms as best she could. Her heart pounded, almost deafening her.
“Zah was not mistaken, but he was hasty. You are one of us, Eva. But your love protects you, for now. It will not last forever, child of darkness. A sex demon will never be satisfied with only one partner. Soon you will tire of the Guardian, and then you’ll return to me and our cause. He will be weak, and I will send an Inferum to control him.” Lust smiled. “So, you see, sooner or later you both will join me, but as for now, I give you my blessing.”
Lust cackled. Spreading his wings, he disappeared into a swirling mist. Darkness descended and his voice rang loudly.
“Farewell for now, child.”
Eva’s eyes rolled to the back of her head.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Eva,” Max cried. He tried to sit up, but something held him down. He struggled against his bindings, pain shooting down his wing, across his arm and ribs. He gasped.
“Max, don’t. You’ll hurt yourself.”
Eva’s face came into his line of vision. He stilled, tears biting the corner of his eyes.
“Kitten.” His voice cracked.
She smiled, then dipped her head.
“I’m here,” she whispered, sniffling.
“Look at me,” Max said.
She did, and he took her in. From the tremble of her lips to the shine of her eyes. His heart thundered and emotion clogged his throat.
“I love you,” he whispered.
Eva broke down sobbing.
“I love you, too,” she said, covering her face with her hand.
“Hey, it’s okay, kitten.” Max pried her palm away and squeezed it. “We’re okay.”
“Sorry, I was starting to think I’d never hear you say that.”
Max frowned. How long had he been out of it? He glanced at his surroundings. They were in a small room, with white walls and large windows. An armchair had been set next to the narrow bed he lay on, and another chair, wooden and straight-backed, was placed at the foot. A vase of orange and yellow daffodils sat on the table next to him. He recognized the symbol embroidered into the fold of the white sheets which covered him. He was at the military hospital in the academy. He took stock of his injuries. Other than bruises and cuts, his left arm was in a cast and his wings and ribs were tightly wrapped.
“Can you help me sit up?” he asked.
“I’ll call the nurse,” Eva said. “They should probably check up on you. You’ve been sleeping for a week.”
Max swallowed. He nodded. One week. His mind raced along with his heart. Questions piled one over the other, becoming a jumbled mess. A team of nurses and doctors arrived. Piling into the room, they told Eva to wait outside, but he demanded she stay. They humored him.
“We’ll bring you something solid to eat in a short while,” the last nurse said, finally leaving them alone.
Max glanced at Eva. She stood beneath the window, arms wrapped around her middle, looking out. Sunlight hit her face and hair, giving her an ethereal glow, but it didn’t erase the lines of worry marring her features.
“Eva, sit with me, please.”
She turned and her gaze warmed. He made space for her at his side and offered his hand. She took it without a second thought and settled next to him. He breathed deeply, inhaling her scent. Home. A sense of peace settled over him. He shut his eyes. His body could be broken into tiny shards, but as long as Eva was there with him, he’d be okay.
“Maybe you should rest,” she said quietly.
“No. I’m okay.” He hesitated. He needed to know. “I realize this might be the last thing you want to talk about, but what happened?”
She toyed with his fingers, flattening her palm against his, and touched the tips together.
“I imagined you would ask sooner or later.” Taking a deep breath, she told him what had happened.
“So, you’re telling me Lust just let us go?” Max asked, unable to keep the incredulity out of his pitch.
“Yes. I fainted at the end, but when I came to, we were here. Well, in the Hall of Portals in any case. We gave the guards a fright. They took us to the hospital from there.” Her lips tweaked. “I’ve met your family, and coworkers.”
“You have?”
“Yes, once the spell casters gave me the okay, and I explained, they were all really nice.”
“The spell casters? What did they do to you?” Max barked. His muscles quivered, recalling his last bout with the magic users.
She shrugged.
“Eva.”
“Their job, I suppose. Poked and prodded and tried to figure out why I didn’t kill you when I could have. I tried telling them, but they’re not really good listeners. They don’t really believe I don’t want to hurt you, and since you’ve been asleep and couldn’t tell them, they’re still keeping us under surveillance. They’ve been treating you, too,” she said.
“Damn it, kitten. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She brightened. “Your parents have been really kind. Once your mom discovered what had happened, she insisted we stay together.”
“She did?”
Eva laughed, the sound immediately soothing his anger.
“Are you going to echo everything I say?”
“Sorry.”
“Yeah, she was really nice. She seems to think I saved you.”
“You did, kitten. If it hadn’t been for you, I’d be lying in Lust’s Garden, dead.”
She shrugged.
“Indeed you would.”
Max’s head snapped up. Aslan stood at the doorway, a slight smile grazing his normally stern features. “Welcome back, Maximilian. Hello, Eva.”
“Aslan.”
His boss entered and settled onto the blue armchair, crossing his ankle over his knee.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“I’ve been better,” Max replied.
Aslan’s eyebrows quirked.
“I imagine.” He pursed his lips. “Has Eva brought you up to date?”
“She was doing just that.”
“Good.”
“There’s something I still don’t understand,” Max said. “Lust saved us and Zah’s plan fell through. Why?”
Aslan grew serious. He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees.
“That is something we have also been pondering.” He glanced at Eva, who averted her eyes. “Personally, I believe Lust had no real use for you. If Zah’s plan had worked, you would have had to be in lust, not in love. As it is, your hearts belong to each other and no one else. You have been touched by the Virtues and therefore, you are corrupt to
Lust. So, even if Zah had succeed in cutting you open, Lust wouldn’t have taken his gift.”
“Is that really all we need to master Lust? Love?”
Aslan shrugged.
“It has always been so, but look at Earth. People have no time for love. They build shallow relationships based on sexual compatibilities or paychecks. Inferum roam at their will in more than one city, taking over souls left and right.”
“Is there no hope, then?” Eva asked.
“Of course not. That’s why we fight. To maintain the equilibrium between the forces.”
“But not victory,” she stated.
Aslan shrugged.
“There is no such thing as victory. There is only balance. We do not fight for the individual. We do it for the greater good.” He glanced pointedly at Max. “Although, I understand the mating pull. In any case, now you’re awake, I have further news to give you, Maximilian. Tests are still being run, but the Council has provisionally decided Eva must have a Guardian. We must be sure she will not pose a threat to our people, and your presence, from what she’s told us, seems to neutralize her demonic nature.”
Eva stiffened at his side. Max squeezed her hand.
“A Guardian?”
“A tutor, if you prefer. Due to your injuries, you are in no position to return to active duty in the Sin’s lairs any time soon, so I put your name forth.”
“And?”
Aslan’s eyes narrowed.
“They have agreed.”
Max expelled his breath in one swoosh.
“I shall leave you two alone, but we will meet again once you’re out of the hospital, Maximilian. Farewell.”
Aslan walked out, shutting the door behind him.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Max murmured. “Don’t worry, kitten. We’ll make everything work out.”
Eva glanced at him. Her brow furrowed. “Max.” Her voice lowered. “There’s something I haven’t told you or anyone.” She bit her lip. “Something Lust said.”
“Go on.”
“He said I’d tire of you eventually,” she said, her voice shaking. “And I’d go back to him. I’d give in to my nature.”
Her gaze searched his face, fear blatant in the depths of her eyes.
“Kitten, Lust, like any of the Sins, feeds off chaos. It presented itself as a male to you, but in truth, Lust is a genderless entity. It makes people believe things which are not true. It thrives on confusion, deceit, lies. We’re soulmates. Whatever it said won’t happen.”
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