Duty and honor won out just as they always had and Ava slowed her pace. Something was lurking, watching her every move and radiating a confidence that would surely be its downfall.
“Oh look, it’s the slut who thinks she’s too good for the boys. Too good for us even. Did you see the way she looked down on us?”
Ava stood her ground, not turning to look at the brunette from the bar. Using the gifts she’d been born with, Ava pushed her power out and scanned for the woman’s exact location. The minute she found it, she smiled.
“Damn, Niki. Bitch won’t even turn around. We must not seem like a threat to her.”
The air around her began to crackle slightly and pressure began to build. The smell of something burning filled her head and her stomach tightened. Too many times before Ava had felt the same things happening around her. Every time they did, it meant that at least one of the Keres was near. They were the female version of the Host. Evil to the core and loyal to the devil.
Turning slowly, Ava made sure to keep her guard up as she faced the women from the bar. The brunette smiled cruelly. Ava held back from attacking. If they hadn’t already figured out who and what she was, she wasn’t about to tip her hand.
“Is that it, Ava?” the brunette asked. “Do you think you’re too good for us? Too good for our men?”
Ava stood still and smiled ever so slightly, knowing it would infuriate the demons masquerading as humans.
The redhead’s mouth dropped. “Niki, I think that would be a yes. I don’t know about you but I haven’t wanted to kill a human this bad in decades.”
Niki wagged her dark brows. “Me either.”
Ava waited for the women to morph into full Keres form. They didn’t. That surprised her. “What do you want?”
“To show you that you aren’t Mrs. High-and-Mighty.”
“That would be Miss because I’m not married and I beg to differ with you. I am high-and-mighty.”
Both women glared at her. Terri’s smile was purely wicked. Ava watched as she allowed her sharp fangs to extend downward. Still, the woman held back from doing a full shift. That worried Ava. Were there more Keres in the area?
“Shall we show her what she’s begging to differ with?”
Terri nodded as her eyes swirled to red. Niki’s did the same. Ava considered pretending as though she was scared but didn’t feel like bothering. The two women stalled a moment and gave her a questioning look.
“Why doesn’t she look terrified?”
“Because,” a deep male voice said, “she knows she can take you both easily.”
Ava backed up a step, recognizing the voice and unsure where Buite, one of the head warriors of the Host and full-time stalker, would materialize. A large hand clasped her upper arm and she bit back a scream. Turning her head, Ava found the dark-haired bastard she’d come to loathe yet couldn’t seem to bring herself to kill.
“Hello there. I would say boo but I doubt you would even do me the honor of pretending to be scared of me. Although it would be in your best interest to do so.” Buite tightened his grip on her arm and she bit her inner cheek to keep from whimpering. “Tell me how you came to be here?”
Ava didn’t answer him.
Buite jerked on her arm hard, sending pain shooting up it. “Did you think you could run from me, Ava?”
I’d hoped.
She kept her expression as blank as she could while doing her best to keep track of the two Keres. Buite leaned into her and took a deep breath. Every bit of Ava wanted to shiver and run the other way but she knew better than to show Buite any sign of weakness. “Get your hands off me.”
“Or what? Will you call your warrior to defend you since your dear friends have no way of knowing you are in danger, Ava?”
Warrior? Could he mean Donatus?
Buite walked in a slow circle around her, his black eyes raking over her the entire way. “I do love to find you all dressed up, Ava. It’s always such a treat when you aren’t in your slaying garb. Of course, anything you are or aren’t in is fine by me. I like this.” He ran the back of his finger over her clothed breast. “It makes me want to unwrap the prize beneath it.”
She batted his hand away from her chest and glared at him. “Touch me again and you won’t be getting that hand back.”
The other women laughed. Buite glared at them. “Silence.”
Ava couldn’t hold back her smile any longer.
“What is it you find amusing now, Ava?”
“Nothing, really. I just wish I’d have thought to tell them to play dead. Do you think it would have worked? They are such good little trained puppies for you.”
He gave her a cross look and took a step toward her. His bare, muscular chest pressed against her face as his large arm quickly wrapped around her. Buite took in another deep breath and laughed. “Ah, I knew you would bend to our will one day, Ava. Tell me who the lucky bastard that managed to finally get under your shell is. I shall see to it that he is rewarded. To bed one such as you is something I have dreamed of doing for ten years.”
Ava’s chest tightened. Please don’t mean Donatus. “Kindly get your chest out of my face. If I wanted something that’s been touched by thousands and riddled with creepy-crawlies, I’d go back into the bar and lick the pay phone or the red wall outside the ladies’ room.”
“Master, she dares to speak to you like that?”
Ava thrust one of Buite’s heavy arms off her and looked past him. Arching a brow, she stared at the brunette. “Obviously I do.” Standing straight again, she glanced at Buite. “Always going for the ones with the highest IQs, aren’t you?”
He shook his head slightly and sighed. “Why have I not disposed of you yet?”
“You know, I ask myself that very same question every time we meet up and I keep coming back to how boring my life would be without some insane demon stalking me.”
Buite leaned down. Ava ducked below his arms and backed away quickly. He growled as his eyes swirled with flecks of red. “You dare to deny me the pleasures of your body yet you allow another of my kind to have you. I have to admit, Ava, this hurts my feelings.”
The very idea of Buite having feelings to hurt made Ava laugh. “I have no clue what you’re talking about. I have not, nor will I ever lie down with anything even remotely close to what you are.”
Buite ran his hand down his torso and took hold of the top of his black leather pants. The second he started to undo them, Ava backed up more and drew her power up around her. He chuckled. “You run when I offer you my body and spew lies about never allowing one of my kind to be with you, to fuck you. Why is that, Ava? Do you really think that you are any better than we are? We were all the same once. It was mere chance that put you on the side of good. That’s all.”
“We are nothing alike, Buite. I didn’t sell my soul to anyone. It’s mine free and clear. I’m not the devil’s lapdog.”
His jaw tightened. “Is that really what you think I am? The devil’s lapdog?”
“The thought has crossed my mind.”
“Ava, he’s my father. What would you have me do? To go against him is beyond foolish. Shall I summon the ones you hold dear to your heart to remind you of this? Shall I summon Father so he may show you himself?”
She narrowed her gaze on him and took another step backward. Bumping into something, Ava turned to find a dark gray demon standing there. He stared down at her with a horrifying expression that told her everything he wanted to do to her and so much more.
Next to him stood a row of Keres with Host warriors littered amongst them. “Are you really that afraid of me that you needed backup, Buite? I’m unarmed and alone.”
Buite laughed. “Ava, I have learned to never underestimate you. It is one of the reasons I wish for you to accept my claim on you. I wish to spend eternity with a woman who not only stirs my loins but—”
“Plots ways to kill you in your sleep? Hmm, let me think about it.” Ava glanced at the row of evil surrounding him and shook
her head. “I’m going to have to say no. Sorry, ask again in a year or so to see if I changed my mind.”
“Agree to accept me now or I will not intervene. I will allow them to rip you limb from limb. Then I will see to it that your remains are delivered to your people as a show of my power.” He sighed again. “I would have been willing to allow you more time to think on the issue but smelling another of my kind on you tells me you are more than willing to accept us. It is only me that you hesitate with. You will learn to care for me in time.”
Ava stood tall and laughed. “I will never accept your offer, Buite. I’m willing to take my chances with your lackeys instead.”
Instantly, Buite was pressed hard against her back. He wrapped his arms around her quickly, cupping a breast with one hand and her sex with the other. “You dare to speak to me this way when you have allowed another demon inside you? He sank his dick deep into you, Ava, and with your permission. You reek of his scent. If I did not know you better, I would say that you accepted more than just his body, Ava. I would say that you accepted his claim on you. Tell me, is it true? If you belong to another, I will be forced to kill him and possibly you, depending on my mood.”
“You’re already planning on letting them try to kill me now. Can you pick a reason you’ll kill me and stick with it? I’m getting a headache trying to keep up with your rules.”
Buite grabbed her chin and pulled her head back. “Do you wish for me to end your life, Ava? Is that what you want? Tell me what warrior sank deep into your proud little pussy and I’ll send them all away. I will allow no harm to come to you.”
“Bullshit,” she spat. “I think we both know I wouldn’t let a monster near me.” As she said it, she thought about the demon in her dream. Ava had not only let a monster near her, she’d begged it to fuck her harder. Her breath caught in her throat as she vividly remembered the dark red demon laying claim to her as he filled her with his cold semen. Donatus’ insistence on being her husband—and a demon—hit her as well.
You will carry my child, woman.
You’re carrying my child, honey.
You’re my mate, my wife, my soul.
The moment the image of the painting at his house entered her mind, her chest tightened.
Ohmygods, I’m a fucking idiot. I can’t pretend to be in denial anymore.
“I sense that you fully believe that you would never allow one of us to touch you but you have, Ava. Trust me. I smell him all over you. He’s powerful. Tell me if he claimed you.” Buite slid his hand lower and stopped on her low abdomen. He gasped and jerked her hard to his body. “Tell me if he claimed you!”
“Let go of me.”
“Answer me, Ava. Tell me who took you without your full knowledge. I will see him torn to bits for what he has done to you.”
“I won’t warn you again, Buite. Get your hands off me.”
He didn’t move. Ava gave up attempting to reason with him and thrust her magik hard at him, sending him hurtling away from her body. The demons surrounding her shifted into human form quickly and stared at her. Unsure why they didn’t attack, Ava looked around. The second she saw Donatus, Gun and Kal standing outside the front entrance to the bar, staring in her direction, her heart leapt to her throat. Time should have been frozen for them. What the hell were they doing outside?
“Are they friends of yours, Ava?” Buite sounded amused as he stood quickly.
“Keep this in-house, Buite. Don’t air our dirty laundry in front of uninvolved parties.”
He chuckled and she knew he would more than air their issues if she didn’t do something fast. Her mind raced with a way to keep Donatus and the others away. Nothing came to her.
“Ava!” It was Donatus.
They moved toward her quickly. Each step they took made her want to scream at them more and more.
“Accept my claim. Tell me who touched you and I will assure you that he will not die,” Buite said, his voice even and cold.
Ava stared at Donatus. His green gaze hardened, holding her attention and making her lose track of what Buite was saying. Kal and Gunter had the same hard looks on their faces as they flanked Donatus’ sides. They truly looked like a wall of deadly gods coming toward her. Each one exuded confidence and power. And rage.
Donatus pushed his way past the Keres and headed straight for her. Ava shook her head slightly but he didn’t stop. “Ava, I was hoping you’d still be here. I wanted to make you understand that I’m not lying to you.”
“Umm, it’s fine, really. You didn’t need to come out here for that. It’s no big deal, really,” she said, doing her best to keep her fear for their safety out of her voice.
Donatus glanced around at the others. “Care to introduce me to your new friends? Niki and Terri I know, but I can’t say that I’ve seen the rest of the group around these parts before.”
There was something in his voice that sounded dangerous. Ava forced a smile onto her face. “Oh, I bumped into Terri and Niki as they were meeting up with their friends here.”
Buite chuckled. The sound made her cringe. “Don’t be modest. We are your friends as well, Ava.”
She shot him a nasty look. He winked and flicked his wrist toward Donatus, Kal and Gun. His warriors began to circle them slowly. Ava’s heart went to her throat. She did something she’d never done before—she caught Buite’s eyes with hers and silently begged him not to hurt the men.
Tipping his head slightly, Buite cocked a dark brow as he moved closer to her. “Ava, is their something you want to say to me? Something you wish to accept or perhaps tell me?”
“It can wait until dinner tomorrow night.” Ava’s gut clenched as she waited for Buite’s response to her obvious offer of spending time alone with him.
Donatus moved in close to her and grunted. “The two of you are going out on a date?”
Buite chuckled. “It would appear so. Tell me, Ava. Which of these men do you fear for so badly that you would finally agree to meet me alone?”
Ava froze. No part of her wanted harm to come to any of the men—let alone Donatus. She’d play along and give Buite what he wanted if it meant keeping Donatus safe. “What are you talking about, Buite? You asked me out and I said yes. These guys have nothing to do with that.”
“Liar!” Niki shouted. Looking toward Buite, she smiled wickedly. “I saw Gun, the dark blond one, hugging her in the bar.”
Buite’s nostrils flared as he directed his attention to Gun. “Is this true?”
Ava could hold her tongue no longer. She glared at Niki. “For a chick who did more than announce how she couldn’t get enough of them you sure the hell tossed one out for the slaughter. Either they aren’t that good or you’re a demonic piece of shit that I will more than happy to—”
Niki titled her head downward and looked at her through hooded eyes. “I was right, Master. She protects Gun.”
“Master?” Gun sounded shocked.
Suddenly, the demons swarmed Gun and Kal. Donatus remained free only because of his close proximity to her. Ava stared at Buite. “Don’t do this. They’ve done nothing. They’re innocents here, Buite. Even you have shown an ounce of humanity when it came to innocents before. Your fight is with me. Not with these men. Let me send them on their way with your word they won’t be harmed.”
Buite put his hand out. An invisible rope seemed to latch onto her, instantly yanking her to him. She slammed into his hard chest and would have bounced off had he not caught her by wrapping an arm around her waist. He stared down at her with eyes as black as night. “You refuse to accept my claim. Then you lie and tell me that you would never accept anyone like me, a monster, into your bed and then have the nerve to play off my need to please you, my need to make you see that I am more than the monster you like to label me as.”
He cupped her chin with his free hand and forced her face to remain still. “Call him to you, Ava. Summon the one you allowed to fuck you. The one whose cock you welcomed into your body, a body I have sought after only to
be refused time and time again. Bring him to me and I will consider allowing your friends to live. Although allowing the one they call Gun to walk away may prove to be too much for me.”
Ava shook her head and looked Buite in the eyes. “I’m not lying to you, Buite. I swear on all that I stand for that I have not, nor will I ever accept a demon’s claim on me. Why would I? It makes no sense. You know me.”
Buite tightened his grip on her chin and brought his face dangerously close to hers. His hot breath blew over her skin as he spoke. “Call him. Bring me the one who dared to touch you.”
“Let them go, Buite. We can discuss this then.”
He laughed. “The more you push me to release the humans the more I wish to hold them tight. You are much more cooperative with their lives on the line, Ava. Why is that? Is Niki correct? Do you fight your own defiant personality to protect the life of this Gun?”
“Don’t make me do this, Buite. Please.”
“Take your hands off her.” The sound of Donatus’ voice shocked Ava. It was hard, cold, terrifying.
Buite glanced over her head and smiled. “You have no idea what you are dealing with here. If you attempt to interfere, I’ll snap her neck—and then yours.” He smiled down at her. “Ava, don’t make you do what? Call forth the demon that fucked you and bit you, filled you with its essence? Or don’t harm your friends?”
Unshed tears gleamed in her eyes. “Don’t make me do this in front of them.”
“Do what in front of them?”
“Don’t make me kill this many demons alone in front of them. I can’t wipe something that massive from their minds without the help of the others and you know it.”
Niki laughed hysterically and the other demons followed suit. “She’s outnumbered, unarmed and has to worry about protecting three humans, yet she has the nerve to take that stance.”
Buite’s lips curved into a slow, lazy smile. “Ava, I would like to apologize for her ignorance.”
Niki gasped. “How dare you…”
Ava touched Buite’s chest lightly. “I have never asked you for a thing, Buite. I’m asking you now to let me send them away. Let me wipe their minds of this. I don’t want them to see this happen.”
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