by Brenda Trim
“I wouldn’t dream of it…Nana.”
Nana patted his cheek with a smile. “You’re a smart male, Gerrick. Just sayin’.”
Gerrick burst into laughter. So that’s where Shae got it. He should’ve known.
Zander cleared his throat and cupped his hands around his mouth to be heard over the noise of the crowd. “There’s food, drinks and music in the ballroom for those who are interested.”
Elsie approached Zander and tugged on his arm. Gerrick heard her mention not feeling well. Poor female was having a rough pregnancy so far, suffering from morning sickness. Better Zander than him, Gerrick wanted at least a decade with Shae before they had children.
Gerrick ran his finger over the apple of Shae’s cheek, watching it flush under his touch. “Are you hungry?”
Her pupils dilated and her eyes glowed green. She licked her slightly parted lips. “Very hungry,” she husked, leaning to place a kiss to the pulse thudding at the base of his neck. He turned his head and pressed his lips to her in a brief but passionate kiss that had him panting when he finally broke away.
Glass breaking shattered the moment. Gerrick looked up in time to see Bhric and Kyran bolt into action, leading guests away from the patio. Skirm and lesser demons were pouring through the broken windows. How the hell had they gotten on the property? The area should be sealed against any intruders. He and Jace had cast countless spells with the addition of the Rowan sisters’ power.
Was this the Goddess’ way of making him pay for saving Shae? As long as Shae wasn’t injured, he’d take it as fair punishment.
“Go with them,” Gerrick ordered, motioning to the retreating guests. He didn’t want her anywhere near this trouble.
“I can’t leave you. Besides, this could be a diversion. The real attack could be taking place in the ball room like before.”
“Shite,” Zander barked next to them. “Bhric, Kyran, and Mack stay with the guests and take Evzen and Hayden with you for extra protection. Orlando, you stay next to my mate and doona let her oot of your sight. Shift if you must, but protect her with your life.” Orlando shifted in a burst of white light and took on his massive snow leopard form, standing guard over Elsie.
Elsie gasped and placed her hands over her mouth. “My sickness has been premonitions all along. I thought it was morning sickness.” Hell of a time to lose the ability to see details of the future, Gerrick thought.
He couldn’t think about it anymore as sgian dubhs were out and every Dark Warrior in attendance was in motion a second later. The new recruits, as well as, several other supernaturals also sprang into action.
Gerrick had dusted several skirm and was fighting off a hellhound when the air next to Orlando and Elsie shimmered with the black light he associated with Kadir’s Dark magic. Before he could shout a warning, Kadir had appeared and thrust a sword through Orlando’s feline chest. The male let out an awful roar of agony before he collapsed to the ground.
In a flash of movement, Kadir had his fully healed arm wrapped around Elsie’s stomach while he held a knife to her throat. Gerrick stopped in his tracks as he realized Kadir’s knife-sized claws were poised right over her pregnant belly. Zander lunged for the pair, only to be brought up short. “You don’t want to do that, Vampire King. You have something I want and your little mate and unborn child will be dead before I take my next breath unless you give it to me. And, if you try to use the amulet to kill me, I will take them to hell with me.”
Zander kept eye contact with Elsie, who was remarkably calm. “What do you want?”
Kadir tsked Zander. “Your mate cannot sift out of my hold so don’t waste anymore of my time.” Gerrick cursed and drove his knife into the skull of the hellhound wrapped around his leg. This demon was far stronger than they had anticipated. Not only was he fully healed in only a week, he’d figured a way around their protections and knew about Elsie’s pregnancy.
Zander looked down at the amulet he had clutched in his hand. Gerrick saw the battle cross Zander’s features and understood the dilemma he currently faced. Gerrick wouldn’t blame him for giving over the amulet, no one would. Your mate and child were far more important than an amulet.
Zander nodded at Elsie a second before he tossed the necklace into the air yelling, “Catch.” Kadir was forced to release Elsie who sifted to safety on the other side of the room.
Kadir laughed, swiping the platinum charm out of the air. The Triskele Amulet had Celtic knots around the outer circle and a spiral triquetra and bloodstone in the center. It represented the Goddess and had given the Tehrex Realm a way of communicating with her. It was vital to all their rituals and had the ability to destroy a demon’s soul, but it paled in comparison to the value of Elsie and her baby. Gerrick only wished Zander had had a chance to use it against Kadir.
“I’ll see you soon and I’m bringing hell with me,” Kadir taunted then disappeared.
Gerrick looked back to see Shae kill a skirm. Her beautiful dress had a rip in the side and was covered in ash and demon blood, but she looked unharmed. It was too much to hope that the skirm and lesser demons would go with Kadir.
Several staff and guests were huddled by the side of the room where Mack fought to protect them. Gerrick and Shae made their way to Mack’s side. He had no doubt it was his fault the amulet was stolen, and knew it was the cost of him saving Shae, but even knowing this outcome, he wouldn’t have changed his decision.
“Cover me,” Mack suddenly called out as she dashed to a small round ball that was sitting under a window. Gerrick had no idea what it was. It was black metal and about the size of a small orange.
A skirm stumbled into his line of sight and Gerrick smiled broadly, plunging his blade into the skirm’s heart, turning it to ash. When the dust settled, Gerrick watched as Mack ran her finger over the ball.
Suddenly, magic filled the room and the skirm and lesser demons were being sucked into the metal ball Mack was holding. Gerrick gaped when the last enemy disappeared into the black light that emanated from the object. Gerrick felt the reinstatement of their spells and breathed a sigh of relief. Somehow that object was responsible for allowing the demons onto their property. The question was how did it get into this room and who activated it.
“What the fuck?” Kyran barked, grabbing onto his mate’s arms.
“It’s okay. I’m okay. I saw this and thought it was a bomb, but felt the magic when I picked it up. I followed my instinct, focusing on the intent to save everyone. That’s twice, ya know. I’m like a superhero, or something. All I need is a cape,” she joked.
Kyran crushed her to his chest. “Damn, female, you never learn. Doona pick up what you think is a bomb. You could have been killed,” Kyran chastised.
Gerrick glanced around the room. Jace was busy tending Orlando as Zander and Elsie hovered beside them. Gerrick turned at the sound of whispering behind him. Sheila, one of the household staff was sitting in a ball, rocking back and forth muttering to herself. Gerrick crossed to her. “It’s okay. They’re gone and the protections are back in place. They can’t get back in.” Well, he hoped not.
“He told me he could bring her back, but he lied. I did what he asked, but he didn’t give her back to me.”
Gerrick laid a hand on her shoulder, making her pause in her motion. “What do you mean, Sheila? Who promised you what and what did he ask you to do?”
Tears filled eyes looked up at Gerrick. “Kadir. He approached me at the market and told me he could bring Shannon back to me and all he needed was for me to put that ball thing in the room during your mating ceremony.” She sat up suddenly, clutching Gerrick’s arm. “I had no idea it allowed him to come in here. Please, you have to believe me when I say that I didn’t know. I just wanted Shannon back. She’s my twin and I don’t think I can live without her.”
Sheila burst into tears and Shae gathered her into her arms. Gerrick sat back on his heels stunned. He understood profound loss and the pain that came with it. It was difficult to fault Sheila for gra
bbing that option. Hell, Gerrick would have done anything to get Shae back. Still, Sheila’s decision had cost them the amulet.
“Every choice we make has a consequence and we must live with the results. The people most eager to influence what choice you make are usually the ones least likely to be around in the end. You made a deal with the devil and where is he now? He has left you to deal with the fallout,” Gerrick told the female.
Gerrick looked up and noticed Zander and the rest of the Dark Warriors had been listening to them. The look on Zander’s face told him that Sheila’s life was forfeit. He wanted to defend and protect her, but he meant what he said. She had to accept the consequences, just like he did.
“Put her in the dungeons. I’ll deal with her later. We have bigger issues at the moment. This is no’ how I saw this night going,” Zander exclaimed, drawing Elsie into his side.
Rhys walked up and handed a drink to Bhric, taking a sip of his own. “I guess that means our next trip is going to be to hell and not Tahiti,” Rhys sighed. “I could have lived my entire life without visiting dear-old-dad again.” Gerrick knew there was bad blood between him and his father, but he had no idea what had happened between the two. Rhys had been preoccupied and acting different for a couple weeks, but this situation made his attitude even worse.
“Let’s take this to the war room. We need to assume that by now Lucifer has been set free. The plan now is no’ only to get the amulet back, but more importantly, to stop Armageddon. If Lucifer is allowed to bring his demon horde to earth, all life will cease to exist.”
Gerrick wrapped his arm around Shae who was shaken from the experience. He placed their mating stone in her palm as a silent reminder. Gerrick knew what lay ahead of them wasn’t going to be easy and he wasn’t sure of the outcome, but he was taking this moment with her. He had his Fated Mate and she was alive and well.
They followed everyone to the war room, but Gerrick’s mind wasn’t on the conversation around him. The night wasn’t going to end like this for him and Shae. He was going to take her upstairs, make love to her and have the blood exchange to complete their mating. The rest was going to have to wait.
“Thank you for saving me…again. I love you, Gerrick, with my whole heart.” He looked into jade green eyes that shone with the depth of her feelings.
“I’ll always save you, Red. Just sayin’.”
EPILOGUE
Rhys needed a drink, or ten. What had started as a promising day had turned into his worst nightmare. Demons and skirm had once again turned one of their own against them and that had to chap Zander’s ass. The male had been betrayed twice now by one of his subjects. At least Sheila wasn’t a former lover like Lena had been.
Rhys had planned on bedding one, maybe two, females after the mating celebration in hopes of banishing the angels from his mind. They hadn’t appeared again, but their visits had haunted him, making it difficult to get the sexual relief he needed. He couldn’t rid thoughts of Illianna or why her brothers were so adamant that he was connected to this angel. Truth be told, he was more connected to the demons he despised rather than a bunch of holy creatures.
And, fuck if he didn’t loathe the demons that had ruined his best friend’s mating ceremony. He felt terrible for Gerrick. The poor male led his Fated Mate into what was supposed to be their Eve of Eternal Union and it had been marred by that asshole, Kadir. Of all of them, Rhys thought, Gerrick deserved to have love and happiness. But, there was no rest for the wicked this night. There was an incursion into the Hell Realm to plan and Rhys knew what that meant for him. Lemuel. Yup, alcohol was in order.
The large conference room had a well-stocked bar in one corner and a bank of computers along the back wall. He headed straight for the bar and grabbed a bottle of scotch. He grabbed a tumbler and took a seat at the large wood as the Dark Warriors and council members piled into the room.
“Alright, what do we know aboot Hell? How do we even get there? And, do we have to use the Cave of Cruachan or can we open a portal directly to the inner circle of hell?” Zander asked as he took a seat at the head of the table.
Rhys took a deep gulp of his scotch and turned to Zander. “No, Liege, we don’t open a portal directly into one of the circles. There is only one way into hell and it’s through the entrance. We have to travel through each of the outer circles to reach Lucifer.”
“Shite, there’s really no way to portal directly to Lake Crocytus?” Zander asked.
The talk about that infernal place pulled Rhys into memories he would rather never think about. Rhys refused to recall his last time in hell and focused on the reality of their situation. “No, and it wouldn’t be wise even if we could. For one, Lucifer surrounds himself by a hundred thousand Behemoth demons like Kadir, as well as, having untold powers in his home realm. He has a court there where they entertain him by torturing souls in ways you can’t begin to imagine. But, the point is moot since we can’t open a portal directly into any of the nine circles.”
“We use the cave then,” Zander said. “I suspect it’s not going to be as easy as sending a thousand warriors through to track down Kadir.”
Evzen cleared his throat and lifted his head from the Mystik Grimoire. “I’m afraid it’s far more complicated than that. When we are able to locate the Cave of Cruachan, according to the Grimoire, we can only send those who carry the blood of a demon. Oh, and the Gates of Hell are guarded by Cerberus, the three-headed hellhound. It says here that he’s the size of a small skyscraper and his main role is to keep the dead from leaving, but also to keep creatures of the Gods and Goddesses out.”
“Shite,” Zander cursed. “Dante, select a handful of your best men. If I can’t send a strike force, I’ll send operatives they will never suspect. Choose individuals who know at least some of the realms they will be asked to traverse. Does the Grimoire tell us anything aboot what they will encounter?”
Rhys’ blood iced over because he was going to have to go back to a place he swore he would never return to. It was too dangerous to send individuals who had no experience with at least some of the trials of Hell.
Evzen flipped through several pages before shaking his head. “It doesn’t tell us much. Just that each circle has its own way of punishing you. One passage indicates you will not only face the lesser demons, but also inner ones, as well.”
They could send the entire population of the Tehrex Realm and it wouldn’t matter if they couldn’t survive the inner battles that would occur. Rhys listened to them discuss how to select the task force for several minutes before he spoke up. “It’s not the number we send that will matter. It’s their integrity and perseverance that count. They will face unspeakable obstacles. We need a spell, or a plan, on how we are going to either re-imprison Lucifer, or restrict his movement, or the whole mission is for naught.”
Dante sat down next to Rhys and grabbed the bottle of Scotch from him. “Rhys is right. I’ve heard stories about there being a way to close portal access between Hell and earth, as well as, tying Lucifer to the realm. The way I remember it, if we are able to cast the spell and he leaves Hell then he loses all of his power.”
Rhys tossed back a swallow of the alcohol, enjoying the burn. “I’ve heard about that, too. Perhaps there is something in the Mystik Grimoire about these spells. We don’t want Lucifer free to roam this world at full power. He will make Kadir look like a toddler throwing a tantrum.”
“Fuck,” Zander cursed. “How was Lucifer imprisoned in the first place? Was it really by an angry God that he committed treachery against?”
Dante took a drink and sat back in his chair. For all appearances, he was the picture of ease and nonchalance, but Rhys saw the tension bracketing his mouth. Rhys wondered if he was in need of sex, or if he, too, had spent time in Hell. It was dangerous territory if a cambion was in desperate need of sex. “Yes. The lore handed down indicates that it was indeed a God and that the lake is made up of Lucifer’s tears over his treachery and imprisonment and it’s kept frozen by th
e beating of his wings. It’s all part of the curse of the God. Our best bet is to do as Rhys suggested and find a way to restrict him to hell. That’s not to say he won’t still be able to wreak havoc on earth, but it will be secondhand through his weaker minions.”
“This is a bluidy fucking mess,” Zander cursed, running his hand over Elsie’s shoulders. The Queen was visibly shaken, but it seemed her illness had passed. Rhys guessed she was right about the cause of her sickness being the premonitions and not her pregnancy. “I will try to reach the Goddess, but withoot the amulet, I doubt I will get anywhere. Everyone needs to start combing through every book we have aboot Lucifer and how to contain him.”
Excerpt from Pema’s Storm, book one of the Rowan Sisters’ Trilogy
CHAPTER ONE
A loud crash startled Pema, making her look up from her computer. Cursing echoed from the front of the store, and she cocked her head to the side, catching snippets of the argument raging between her sisters. Apparently, Suvi had dropped a box of fluorite crystals, and Isis was on the verge of going postal. Just a typical day at Black Moon. Shaking her head, Pema ignored them and wound her long blonde hair into a twist at the nape of her neck and went back to the papers she had been reviewing.
She didn’t particularly enjoy the bookkeeping portion of their business, but someone had to do it. For two straight years business had boomed, allowing them to pay Cele, their High Priestess, back the money she loaned them. She had given them a loan to start Black Moon Sabbat, and it had taken a mere eighteen months to pay her back. They were proud of that fact, given the economy and Cele’s astronomical interest rate.
More quarreling reached her in the back room, and with a sigh, she stood up. Time to play peacemaker. Pema was beginning to rethink her idea of opening earlier in the morning to service more of their human clients. There were too many nights they stayed up late trying to find the perfect martini. Prosperity came at a price, she thought, as she made her way from the office to see what had happened. But it wasn’t like they were going to give up their pursuit of the perfect martini any time soon.