by Lia Davis
“What?”
The shy smile returned before she answered. “Demons become more human when they fall in love.”
Confusion made Ryan draw back and study her features. “So mating for a demon isn’t out of love?”
“No. It’s more for status. However, for some reason Adair wants you, which will do nothing but get him kicked out of hell.” She scanned the room then fixed her attention on the door. “You do know that most demons can still enter a church?”
They can? “Adair can’t.”
She lifted her gaze and locked it with his. “You sure?”
Ryan shrugged, took her hand, and tugged her close. “He doesn’t go inside when he tracks me here. He stands outside and yells at me. Then uses the mark to make me come out.”
Kaylee pursed her lips. “Control thing. He’s playing with you. Demons are turned on by power plays. That will need to stop. We need to confront him and find out what he gains from mating us.”
Ryan didn’t like that she put herself in the mating but something told him not to argue. Frowning at her, he asked, “How do we do that?”
“We set the rules. If he truly believes we are his mates, then he’ll abide by them.”
Ryan wasn’t so sure he liked where this was going. He crossed his arms. “What if he doesn’t?”
Kaylee smiled. “Then he is lying and is fucking with you for personal gain. If that is the case we’ll find a way to kill him.”
His female was hot when she set a plan in place. But still. “How are you so sure?”
She rolled her eyes. “My dad is a demon. He told me when a demon falls in love he becomes more human. Just as he did when he met my mom. They now live here in the human world.”
Shaking his head, he still didn’t like her around Adair or plotting against him. It was too dangerous, too risky. Yet, the determination in her eyes hit him in the chest. He couldn’t tell her no. Only support her decision and protect her.
After several moments she tugged his arms, unfolding them so she could link her fingers with his. “I’m not letting you go no more than you want to let me go.”
His lips twitched. God, she was beautiful. “What kind of rules do we set for a demon?”
2
Adair let out a roar. The bear thought he’d run away from his fate.
Ever since Adair saw Ryan ten years ago he knew he had to have him. The physical ache for release was almost too much. Yet the bear rejected him.
And the male was blind to the danger he was in. Even after Adair tried to warn him and keep him safe, Ryan refused to listen.
Closing his eyes, he searched for the mark that bound them together. The same mark that allowed Adair to feel Ryan’s storm of emotions. They went from anger to desire and back to anger like a continuous loop. Didn’t he know it’d be easier to just let the mating happen?
Then the female entered their life. A half-breed at that. Even though she hid it to blend in with the humans. That kind of control was taught from birth. Adair wanted to find out who her teacher was.
Kaylee intrigued him more than anyone had, even more than Ryan.
Focus, damn it. He cleared his mind and focused on locating his mates. When he found them, he growled. They were at that damned church.
Before he could teleport to the location, the air in his house electrified. The scent of sulfur and rain filled his senses, drawing a deep, fierce growl from him. The other demon materialized a few feet in front of him.
Adair snarled and fists his hands. "Malbhor."
A slow curl of the other demon's lips annoyed the fuck out of Adair. "Don't be so surprised to see me, brother."
"We aren't brothers. Not anymore." Adair had severed the tie to Malbhor and their insane father when the two of them went on a soul-stealing, demon-killing spree through Hell, that set Ryan and his family in their path.
They may be demons, but they also lived by rules set forth by Lucifer. The number one rule was to leave the humans alone to kill themselves.
“What do you want, Malbhor?”
“The female.”
Adair barely contained his fury. “What female?”
Malbhor laugh, throwing his head back. “You know the one. Half demon, curvy, and smells delicious.”
After he spoke the last words, Malbhor licked his lips. Adair flew at him, gripping him by the throat, and slamming him against the wall, leaving an imprint in the drywall. Fury ran in his veins like electrified fire. A growl ripped from his throat. “You will not touch her.”
A dark brow rose as Malbhor taunted him further. “She’s a descendant of Lucifer. The daughter of one of his sons.”
Adair kept his surprise hidden. His brother was known to lie just to piss Adair off.
Normally he'd spar with Malbhor and tell him what an idiot he was for thinking about taking the female against her will. Especially if she truly was who he said. Lucifer would kill Malbhor on sight for touching the female.
"Good-bye, Malbhor." With all the bottled-up frustration from dealing with Ryan and the anger at the idea of what Malbhor would do to the female, Adair blasted his brother with his dark power. The male vanished. Most likely going back to dear ol’ dad to lick his wounds. And his pride.
Worry set in, fueling his anxiety and need to get to his mates. Not knowing what his brother was up to or why he was so interested in Kaylee pissed him off. Adair needed to know the truth.
Connecting to the link he shared with Ryan, Adair teleported outside the church. He wasn’t surprised to find his mates waiting for him. Ryan’s arms crossed over his chest, making his broad shoulders wider. He narrowed his blue eyes and Adair hardened. The bear was hot but what was hotter was Kaylee standing behind him, her fingers curled around his large biceps. Her brown hair was still pulled back in a ponytail.
Seeing them together undid him on a level he never thought possible. In more ways than he dared to admit. However, their lives were in danger. Because of him and because of who Kaylee might be.
“Who is your father?” he asked Kaylee a little sterner than he intended.
She didn’t flinch at his tone. Instead she pursed her lips, stood a little taller, and glared before finally replying to his question. “First we make a deal.”
A deal? He almost laughed. “That old trick only works on weak minds.”
She stepped around Ryan, fire in her eyes. Oh how he wanted to spar with her. Ryan snaked his arms around her and drew her back against him. Kaylee rolled her eyes. “So there are lesser demons with strong minds?” He let out a growl and she held up a hand to silence him. “Listen to me. We know you act all big, bad, mean demon, but we also know you don’t know better. It’s how demons are raised in Hell. To take what they want with no questions and never accept no as an answer.”
She was beautiful, fiery, and full of passion. Her words hit him in the chest. “You are my mates. Of course I wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
She nodded while a humorless laugh escaped her. “And how has that worked for you with Ryan?” Shaking her head, she wiggled her finger at him. “You have to convince his bear by proving you are a worthy mate. I can guess the bear didn’t like you stealing his sister away.”
Adair winced. The she-demon did have a point. However, it was all he knew. Humans were too soft. “How else was I to get his attention?”
Ryan sneered at him and shuffled a protesting Kaylee behind him. “Kidnapping Tiffany only made me hate you more.”
An ache started in his heart and cooled his blood. His words cut deep because his emotions running along the bond said he spoke the truth. What had he done?
Adair turned, giving them his back.
Rustling and a soft slap of skin were followed by Kaylee saying, “Trust me.”
Adair forced himself to remind still. He didn’t need to see Ryan’s rejection again. A moment later Kaylee’s cool fingers touched his forearm. He glanced down and stared into her big blue eyes. “I don’t understand. I didn’t harm her.”
Kaylee sighed. “When my mother taught me of the humans’ way of life she told me to forget everything I was taught in my young life as a demon. Even though humans fight and at times act much like demons do, they live life with their hearts.” She placed a hand over his heart and pressed. “I know you feel it. Love makes us all do crazy things. Humans can also forgive, and demons can be redeemed.”
A ripple of white magic danced in her eyes. White magic? “Who is your mother?”
She shook her head and backed away. On impulse, Adair grabbed her hand. Ryan growled and was at his side in an instant. Kaylee held up a hand. “He’s not hurting me.” Then she met Adair’s stare. “Why should I tell you right now? You also have to earn my trust as well.”
“If you are who I think, then your life is in more danger than I thought. And I’m the only one to keep both of you safe.” He released her and straightened his spine.
Kaylee eyed the demon. There was no way Adair had guessed who her parents were. If he knew who her mother was, then he’d know which of Lucifer’s sons was her father. If anyone found out she’d be killed right after she was tortured while repaying her father’s debt.
“There’s only one demon in the last five centuries to mate with an angel.”
Hugging her own waist, she shook her head and stepped back. “You can’t…I can’t.”
Every part of her shook and fear burned her insides. She had to leave. Go into hiding, again.
Ryan appeared in her line of sight. He framed her face. “What’s going on?”
Tears filled her eyes. “They will come for me. If word gets out…”
“No one will touch you.” Both guys said at the same time. Even though their tone held a lethal protectiveness, it still didn’t put her at ease.
Then Adair said, “We shouldn’t talk here.”
He grabbed Kaylee’s and Ryan’s hands. Ryan snatched his hand from Adair’s. “You can’t just teleport us around. Where are you taking us?”
Adair let out a low growl. Kaylee shivered and patted Ryan’s arm. “He’s right. We can’t talk here.” She met Adair’s gaze. “If you led them to me, I’ll bargain for you to take my place.”
Adair winced. “I didn’t. Please, come to my house. I have it warded and secure.”
Kaylee’s chest tightened. Aw, the demon was trying to be more human, which meant he was falling in love with Ryan. Taking Ryan’s hand in hers, she gave a gentle squeeze. “Please. I’ll explain everything when we get there.”
He glanced to Adair and frowned, creasing his forehead. His bear flashed in his eyes. She wasn’t sure if it was out of anger or fear. God, she hoped he could forgive her for withholding information about who her parents were from him.
3
Kaylee sat on a leather sofa in the living room of Adair’s home. She hadn’t expected him to have a house in the human realm. It was homey, clean, and comfortable. The one he took her to earlier that night was in Ever After, which also made her believe he was trying to separate himself from his demon heritage. Interesting.
Beside her, Ryan linked his fingers with hers. “I wonder what he did with the owners of this house.”
A laugh burst from Kaylee before she could stop it. She jabbed Ryan in the side. “Hush. This is his home. There are no other scents in here.”
Adair grunted as he left the room. Kaylee frowned. Behind Adair’s dark magic and grumpiness, he was trying.
Ryan turned sideways on the sofa to face her. “Tell me what’s going on. Why do I feel it’s much bigger than being half angel, half demon?”
After closing her eyes briefly, she told him. “You know my mother is an angel who fell from grace because she loves a demon. She was a warrior angel. And my father…he’s Lucifer’s eldest son.”
“It makes her blood and soul a valuable commodity,” Adair said as he entered the living room. He handed Kaylee a cup of hot water and a tea bag, then handed Ryan a beer. “It hasn’t been opened.”
Ryan took the beer and stared at Adair. Kaylee sagged against the back on the couch. After kicking off her shoes, she tucked her feet under her. She had her work cut out to get her two mates to come to terms with each other. She hoped they wouldn’t make her choose. “My parents hid me in the human world to protect me from the demons. The angels don’t even acknowledge my existence.”
“Why is she in danger, now?” Ryan glared at Adair while he spoke the words.
Adair sat on the coffee table, putting him inches from Ryan. “Before I went to the church after you two, my brother paid me a visit. Usually Malbhor just talks shit. Random nonsense to get a rise out of me. Somehow, he knows Kaylee is my mate. Maybe it’s because he’s known Ryan was and assumed Kaylee was too since he took interest.”
Kaylee didn’t know anything about Adair’s family or who Malbhor was, but she guessed he wasn’t on Adair’s favorite person list. She glanced at Ryan. He pressed his lips in a thin line and fisted his hands. Apparently, Ryan knew who Malbhor was and didn’t like him.
Ryan met her stare and frowned. Reaching over, he cupped her cheek. “Malbhor is the bastard of all bastards. He’s Lucifer’s top minion.”
Dread punched her in the gut. She picked up a throw pillow to her. “Is Lucifer looking for me?”
Adair shook his head. “I don’t think so. If he was then I’d have heard from more than one person about you.”
“We need to be sure.” Ryan threaded his fingers through his hair. “Do you have a plan?”
Adair sent Ryan a crooked frown. “I thought we’d come up with one together. Tomorrow, I’ll go down and see what I can find out. You two will stay here.”
Ryan let out a low growl. Kaylee swung the pillow at him hitting him in the chest. “Be nice.”
Ryan grabbed the pillow and tugged, bring her into his lap. “I’ll be nice when he is.”
She pushed off his lap and glared at both of them. “I’m going to bed. You two aren’t allowed near me until you find peace with each other. Or once this thing is over, Adair removes the mark and we all go our separate ways. No mating.”
Her own words burned her insides. However, she needed to make it clear to them she wouldn’t put up with them being at odds.
Shaking from nervousness of ordering two alpha males around, she stomped her way down the hall to the first room she came to. The guys were going to drive her crazy until Adair told Ryan the real reason he kidnapped Tiffany.
Kaylee discovered the truth the first time she saw the demon. Although he didn’t see her because she was cloaked. The angel side of her allowed her to read people—their emotions, their thoughts, their pasts. When she looked inside Adair, she found heartache and loneliness.
The demon’s emotions weren’t that of a regular demon. Behind the mean face he put on in front of everyone was a man who longed for what Ryan and his family had.
There had to be a reason he stole Tiffany that day. Adair believed he was doing something good.
Leaving the door to the bedroom open so she can try to eavesdrop, she padded to the massive king size bed and crawled under the covers. Within moments, her eyes drifted shut and she as pulled into the realm of sleep.
Ryan stared at the hallway where Kaylee disappeared. She just gave him and Adair an ultimatum. Did that mean she would accept both of them as mates?
Wait. Ryan hadn’t accepted it. What was he thinking?
He downed the beer Adair gave him earlier. Shifters couldn’t get shit-faced drunk, but Ryan wanted a comfortable numb right then. “What you did to Tiffany is unforgivable.”
Adair’s features softened and Ryan felt sadness and regret filter through the demon mark. It confused him. Who knew the demon had those kinds of emotions? Before he responded, Adair spoke softly. “At the time, I thought I was doing the right thing. I don’t regret taking her, but I realize now how I did it was wrong. And trapping you in a bond is wrong.”
“Why did you do it?” Ryan wanted to yell at him but it wouldn’t do any good. They’d screamed at one other enough
over the last five years. Ryan was tired of fighting.
“To save your sister’s life. My brother had spotted her and watched her too closely. Usually I don’t take notice of what my sick family does, but I’ve been watching too. Only I watched you. I knew the moment I saw you five years before, you were mine. That made Tiffany mine to protect from my brother and whatever twisted things he was plotting.” Adair stood, giving Ryan his back.
Ryan stared. “Did Tiffany know?”
Adair lifted one broad shoulder in a shrug. “I told her. I don’t know if she believed me. You showed up prepared to take her place as my…slave, as you put it.”
There was something he wasn’t saying. “If your brother was set on capturing Tiffany, then he would have gone after her once you released her.”
Adair glanced over his shoulder, his gaze shone with unshed tears. “I made my own deal.”
Dread slammed into Ryan. His telepathy may only work on humans, but his intuition worked just fine on all species. Adair wasn’t free. “What did you do?”
Lifting the hem of his shirt, Adair turned to face Ryan. On the left side of his abs was a mark. A demon’s mark. “I have to mate with you in order for your family to be free from his threat. Malbhor has been trying to collect on the debt.”
Confusion mixed Ryan’s thoughts up. What the hell was the demon talking about? “What debt? What. Did. You. Do?”
Adair closed his eyes and took his sweet time replying. Ryan was about to lose his patience with him before he finally spoke. “If I am unable to claim you for my mate I must return to the demon realm as his slave.”
Ryan stumbled back as if someone punched him in the chest. The raw emotions coming from Adair reached out to him, wrapped around him, and squeezed. “Why would you do that?”
Adair met his gaze. Sadness clouded his dark depths. “I told you. You’re mine. I mean, my mate. No one hurts my mate or his family.”