Becoming Briar

by Erin West

As if he heard his name, Eli makes his appearance, looking like his normal self. He frowns. “What took you so long?”

  Shit. That’s why Bael put me in his room, to block out Eli. That jackass. “I’m sorry. I was being deterred.”

  Eli walks across the room and sits down beside me, reaching out to touch my cheek. “What do you mean?”

  Leaning back on the couch, I bite my lip. “Bael knows we met up in my dream last night, so I woke up just a little while ago in his bed.”

  Anger flashes across his face. “You were in bed with the son of Satan?”

  Did I hear him right? “Did you say the son of Satan?”

  He groans. “Why the hell did I get someone so naive as a mate?”

  Despite the shock and hurt that lances my chest at his words, my heart thrums. Has he finally come to terms with it?

  Raising his head, he looks down at me. “Yes, Bael is Lucifer’s son. How can you not know this?”

  Oh, there’s the asshole I know. “Well, let’s see, he and I don’t talk that much. I’ve only talked to a few people down there, and when I do, he’s normally around. I mean, they’ve called him Dark Prince a few times, but I thought it was just because of his sunny disposition.”

  Closing his eyes, Eli shakes his head. “Yes, because people in the Underworld are all about comedy. Grow up, Rose, and open your damn eyes.”

  Standing up, I glower down at him. “You know what. I think I’m doing well enough, even without you, Drake, and Oren.” I snort. “I didn’t know anything about this world until the night at your club where you tried to kidnap me. And overall, I’ve taken it in stride.”

  He crosses his arms, tilting his head to the side. “Oh, so that makes your ignorance better. My apologies.”

  I place my hands on my hips. “No, it doesn’t, but I grew up knowing something was different with me and never feeling like I belonged. So, this whole paranormal world makes sense to me. That’s why I’ve always felt that way.” I take a step closer to him, leaning down so I’m in his face. “But nonetheless, I’m still new to it and don’t know a lot. Give me a fucking break.”

  Rising from his seat, he invades my personal space. “That may be true, but I’m not going to cut you slack, because we are all in over our heads and you better catch up fast.” He barks out a harsh laugh. “Fuck. How the hell are you supposed to come back here with us if the Dark Prince is determined for you to stay with him?”

  “Oh, that’s easy.” I take a step back and smile.

  His eyes widen. “Really? How so?”

  “Because he said once I can protect myself, he’ll bring me back.” I motion around the room.

  Eli’s jaw ticks. “And you trust him?”

  I plop back down on the couch. “Yes, what else am I supposed to do?”

  A tug pulls back at me. “Shit, I’m about to wake up.”

  Rushing to me, he grabs my hand. “Don’t sleep with him again. We need to meet and figure this out.” His green eyes blaze. “He’s a manipulator. He is biding time and doesn’t plan on bringing you back. We have to find another way.”

  Damn, he’s right. Before I can tell him what I learned from Amon, I’m pulled back into my body.

  Bael’s tone is short and his jaw clenched as he grinds his teeth together. “Why are you in here?”

  Opening my eyes, I turn away from him. “Because this is my room.”

  He reaches out and grabs my wrist, preventing me from turning all the way over. “I put you in mine. That’s where you’ll stay.”

  Shrugging, I force a look of indifference. “I had to pee and then came back here instead.”

  His eyes zero in on my wrist and his breathing becomes shallow. “Why is there a fucking A tattooed on you?”

  Dammit. I swear I can’t catch a break. “Oh, well, it just felt right.”

  He scowls and clenches his teeth. “This means you owe a favor. Don’t play cute with me, it’s made from fire.” He drops my hands and steps back. “Do you owe Amon a favor?”

  I sit up in bed and cross my arms. Two can play at this game. “When were you going to tell me you’re the son of Satan?”

  “He told you that?” His voice is a scary whisper and his eyes narrow.

  Well, I didn’t intend to make the innuendo, but it works. I shrug. “Does it matter?”

  I swear there are lightning bolts flashing in his cognac eyes.

  He runs a hand down his face. “No, but what matters is you owing a favor. What the hell were you thinking?”

  Standing up, I lift my chin. “I wasn’t thinking, okay. He had a key to the fucking house and let himself in, and you were gone on one of your tantrums.” I throw my hands up. “I didn’t know what to do. He wasn’t leaving, we talked, and it just happened.”

  Pacing the room, I pull at my hair. “I don’t know what’s going on and no one will give me answers. All I get is condescending comments or silence. He was willing to answer some of my questions, but for a price. How the hell am I supposed to know not to make deals with someone that seems to be your friend?” I ball my fists up at my sides, trying to keep my fire at bay. “It’s not like you’re up for sharing information with me. You beat my ass in training and disappear. At least Amon seemed interested in talking to me.”

  He’s silent during my tirade, but his anger pours off him, increasing the tension in the air around us. “There are things I have to take care of when I disappear. I’m trying to save your ass. Bringing you here has caused quite a stir.” He pauses, taking a few deep breaths. “Why do you have to be such a pain in my ass?”

  A huff escapes my mouth. “I’m a pain in your ass? That’s rich, coming from you. Since you don’t want me around any longer than possible, maybe we should get someone to help with training. Then you can get your shit done and get rid of me faster.”

  Great gasps of air leave my lungs as I hold tears and my flames back. I step closer to my bed with my back turned to Bael. Why am I so upset over his words? It’s nothing that I haven’t figured out already. I’m over this constant battle.

  My chest aches, but I bottle everything up inside. That’s what I’m good at.

  He still hasn’t replied to my last comment. If I didn’t feel his body heat behind me, I would have sworn that he had left again. But his silence speaks volumes.

  I don’t bother turning around. Seeing the rejection and indifference on his face would break me further and I can’t deal with that at the moment. I need some time to steel myself to his effect on me. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get a little more sleep before dawn.”

  Pulling the sheets back, I climb into my bed and flip onto my left side, facing away from where Bael is standing. My hands grip the pillow under my head as I wait for his retreating footsteps and the door closing. Instead, the bed beside me dips down and his body heat warms my back.

  I sigh. “If you must stay, there will be no touching.”

  He grunts, and the bed moves as he re-positions himself.

  My body hums to life at his proximity. Damn him and his pull on me.

  Stay strong.

  “Sleep well, Briar.” His warm breath whispers against the back of my neck. He’s closer than I thought, but not touching me. There’s nothing to say since he’s doing as I asked.

  Goosebumps pebble over my entire body. I drag the covers up to my chin to prevent his breath on my neck all night and proceed to give him the silent treatment. Let’s see how he likes it.

  At least I’ve already seen Eli tonight. Now, I can focus on getting some rest. As long as Bael stays on his side of the bed and I stay on mine.

  Chapter Five

  Strong arms tighten around my back and air blows through the strands of honey blonde hair on the top of my head. My body tenses, and I cut my eyes to the hard chest in front of me, then to my leg that's wrapped around lean hips. My eyes narrow on my own leg, like it’s betrayed me by thinking that it belongs anywhere near him.

  Shit. How am I going to get out of this situation withou
t waking Bael?

  I lift my leg, as slowly as possible, my eyes glued to his face for any sign of waking, and draw it back on top of my right one. My breathing is shallow as I prepare to slip away without rousing the beast. It has nothing to do with the expanse of muscles in my line of sight or the radiating heat from the skin to skin contact. At least, that's what I'll tell myself.

  I wiggle my arm and cognac eyes pop open, staring at me. His arms squeeze just a little, like he's trying to pull my closer to him.

  “Morning.” His deep, husky voice, rough from lack of use while he slept, warms my core and sends need coursing through my body.

  My legs clench together at the junction of my thighs, my body betraying me in its desire to be closer to him.

  Ugh, I better get my shit together. This is part of his mind games. He’s always trying to throw me off balance. Fuck him.

  I detangle from him and sit up. “Good morning.”

  Throwing my legs over my side of the bed, I rise and head to the door. I need distance from him and fast. My body and heart are both betraying me.

  He sits up, glaring. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”

  Once again, my body turns to him on its own accord. I take in his rumpled appearance and bare chest. Holy shit. If I thought there was tension before, it’s ten times worse this morning. My breathing comes out in ragged gasps and I lick my lips.

  “Out.” Leaving the room, there are no footsteps behind me, but I keep my focus on the front door. A few steps away, I speed up with my need to get out of the house faster. Fifteen feet away from my escape, Bael appears, leaning against the door, arms crossed over his chest and eyes narrowed.

  My body jerks to a stop ten feet away from him. “Get out of the way. You can’t keep popping up places. It’s getting annoying. Not to mention, you’re blocking my exit.”

  I need some fresh air. Why can’t he understand that? He’s overbearing and has every cylinder in my body firing on all levels anytime he’s near. I don’t want to fucking feel this way, at least not toward him. Despite what my heart says.

  He straightens, his face soft yet serious, and holds his hands out, gesturing between us. “Tell me you don’t feel what’s between us.”

  What is there between us? I want to ask but bite my tongue.

  How can there be an “us” when I already have three other men destined to be mine? Fate wouldn’t be that cruel, would it?

  Regardless of what my head says, my body moves forward on its own accord, drawn to him. His eyes become hooded and darken, as my tongue darts out and wets my dry lips.

  His gaze drops to my mouth and he wraps his arms around my waist, drawing me to him, our bodies so close a pin couldn’t be stuck in between us. Bael’s lips crash into mine, his tongue running along the seam of my lips, demanding entrance.

  I’m helpless to resist. I part them as our tongues duel with each other, stoking our passion. The desire to taste and consume each other is overwhelming.

  I moan, rubbing my hands over his neck before drawing them down his back like claws.

  A groan escapes him. His hands run up under the back of my shirt as he lifts it above my mid-drift.

  Lightning shocks radiate from wherever he touches me, my senses on overload from the sensation. Then it’s gone, replaced by cotton instead of skin, and Bael’s back is facing me.

  What the hell? Get me all revved up and then turn cold.

  I open my mouth to tear into him but notice the tense set to his shoulders, and a familiar voice filters through the fog.

  “The Underworld is in a frenzy. You have to send her back. Rumpelstiltskin wants her dead. His goons are on their way here now. It would be best to take her back now, before it’s too late.” Amon stands in the door frame, facing off with Bael, who is guarding me.

  My anger fades. I grip the waistband of his pants from behind and place a kiss on his shoulder, then step out from behind him. Amon looks more serious than I’ve ever seen him.

  I raise my chin, not meeting his eyes. “I will not run.”

  Amon shakes his head and opens his mouth, but Bael’s voice cuts off anything he might have been about to say. “She’ll stay here, where I can protect her.”

  I huff, and both men cut their eyes to me.

  Amon locks his gaze with Bael’s. “There are too many for you to take on by yourself. He has hired out the baddest mercenaries in Hreidmar.”

  Bael cracks his knuckles and barks out a chuckle. “You think they can take me down? It’s nearly impossible to kill me.”

  Amon’s eyebrows scrunch together in a frown. “Maybe not you, but what about her?”

  A high-pitched shriek renders the air. I drop to my knees and cover my ears with my hands.

  What the fuck is that?

  “A screecher.”

  I guess I asked that out loud, even though I’m not sure how he heard me over the keening sound.

  Amon cuts in as I stand. “Yep. I just hope it doesn’t mean her death.”

  What? My death? The scream fades away, and movement in the distance draws my attention. All of us turn to face the minions cresting the hill.

  There are three demons that appear human. One’s skin is red, with horns and wings, another is a dark angel with smaller wings than Amon, and there’s a shadow creature. Fucking shadow creatures. I hate those with a passion.

  Bael steps in front of me, blocking my view, and Amon stands shoulder to shoulder beside him.

  I roll my eyes and step up to the left of Bael, watching the demons sent to destroy me advance.

  Bael’s head turns toward me, a scowl marring his forehead.

  “I think you should go inside. Amon and I can handle this.” His fists clench at his sides.

  I sigh under my breath. Why can’t the men in my life just let me be me and believe that I can do this? I’ll not stand behind the men while they fight. I thought Bael had learned as least that about me. It’s a constant battle to prove myself to them.

  Amon makes a grunting sound but doesn’t intrude.

  My tolerance for him just increased. “Why? So you can be like every other person in my life? Stick me in the corner where you don’t have to think about me? Out of sight, out of mind.” My teeth grit together and pressure builds inside of me.

  Bael’s face becomes emotionless. “If that was the case, I would have left you back on Earth.” He trails off. “I don’t want to see you hurt.”

  My head jerks in his direction like I’ve been slapped. Did he just admit to caring about me? Right now?

  A gray, smoky hand grabs hold of my chin and pain sears my neck as something latches onto my skin. My life essence begins to drain out of me as a burning sensation expands from the bite, like acid was thrown onto that area.

  My fire blazes from my hand when I grab onto its arm, smoke lifting into the sky from our spot. Blurriness overtakes my vision a second before the shadow creature lets out an ear-splitting wail before releasing me.

  The vision returns to my eyes, but I’m weak. My knees tremble and it takes more effort than it should to stay upright. Was that like a super shadow creature?

  I reach up to rub the spot, blood covering my hand when I bring it back into visual.

  Thunder booms overhead and a crack of lightning pierces the sky. Bael’s in battle with two of the demons, holding his own by delivering blows with punches and kicks, as well as lightning strikes.

  Metal clangs against metal, drawing my attention to the right. Amon is swinging a sword that’s as long as I am tall, blazing with flames. That shit is awesome. The swords clash again, embers and sparks flying in different directions from the impact. The angel mercenary is at the other end of the fight, giving Amon as much as he’s getting.

  Where are the other two? My head swings around just in time to spot an energy orb coming my direction. Reflexes have me ducking at the last second, but I’m not fast enough to miss the blow to the top of my head.

  The impact causes my neck to jerk to the right
and my vision sways before I get to my feet. I crouch down, bringing my hands up to cover my face and tuck my arms into my sides, muscle memory from the countless boxing sessions and lessons I’ve taken over the years.

  That hit was harder than I thought. My ears are ringing. The horned demon steps in front of me. I get a couple of punches in and as he staggers back, I cup my hand, a fireball forming in the palm. I can’t draw my eyes away from it for a few seconds. This is new and enthralling, fire swirling in the center of my core.

  My hand rears back behind my head and I throw it like I would a ball, hitting the demon square in the chest. Yes. That was awesome.

  He falls to his knees. My entire focus is on him, not anything else around me.

  A hand grabs my left shoulder from behind and a cool, burning sensation runs through the middle of my chest. A chuckle rumbles in my ear, but my body is devoid of pain.

  I can’t feel anything as I fall to my knees and then to my back, staring up into the face of a demon with eyes as black as his soul. He raises two fingers to his forehand in a salute, his voice deep and gravelly. “Rumple sends his regards.” He blinks out of existence.

  A roar fills the sky that darkens as thunder rumbles above our heads.

  Hands slide under my back, lifting me from the hard ground, but all feeling is gone.

  Bael’s face stares down at me, pain etched on the corners of his eyes and mouth. Is he hurt?

  I open my mouth to ask him, but not a sound comes out. Is this what death feels like? Just fading off into the distance?

  His mouth moves, but there’s still a ringing in my ears, drowning out his voice. He shakes my shoulders, my head bobbing with the motions. I’m so weak, I can’t even hold my head up to look at him.

  Weightlessness takes over and a swaying motion lulls me into closing my eyes. After a moment, the ringing subsides and Bael’s sexy voice filters in.

  “Briar, open your eyes. Don’t you fucking die on me.” He chokes on the last word, and it trails off.

  I realize that he is carrying me back toward the cottage. Closing my eyes, I picture Drake, Eli, and Oren. What I wouldn’t give to see them one last time.