by M. J. Haag
“Molev!”
The yell echoed through the neighborhood, and the door of a house just down the street opened. I froze like a burglar in a spotlight.
“Ghua, we gotta go,” I whispered.
I turned to dash back to our house but was brought up short at the sight of two men running toward us.
“Molev!” the one in the lead yelled again.
“Drav’s going to get him,” Mya called from behind us.
I looked over my shoulder and saw more people coming out of their houses and walking our way. There was no way to escape being seen, now.
Mya, Julie, and Mya’s father hurried toward the two newcomers. Both fey looked in rough shape. Their clothes were dirty, their hair unwashed, and their skin covered with scrapes and scratches.
“Who are they?” I whispered to Ghua.
“Thallirin and Merdon. They are outcasts, exiled for killing Oelm.” With an undecipherable expression, Ghua watched the two then glanced at me. “They said it was an accident.”
“You don’t believe them?”
The two groups met right in front of us. Afraid of drawing their attention, I stayed where I was. Ghua didn’t leave my side.
“Looks like this hunt was rough,” Mya said.
Thallirin nodded and held out three hearts.
“The hounds these belong to have been following us for days.”
Merdon favored his right side slightly. I knew what kind of injury a hound could inflict and wondered just how badly he was injured.
Molev and Drav came around the corner with Nancy and her kids in tow. Everyone stopped talking and watched their approach. Around us, the lights imbedded into the wall came on one by one, dispelling the encroaching shadows.
“I’m here, Thallirin. Do it now so you can leave again,” Molev said, coming to a stop beside Mya.
Thallirin lifted one of the dark, ragged rocks in his arms. It pulsed with negative light, a blackness that cast a shadow on anything around it.
He fitted his hand around the object and squeezed, his muscles bulging. I could hear the grinding crackles a moment before the thing disintegrated into black dust. He shook out his hand in a move reminiscent to what Kerr had done in the bunker.
Nancy wheeled toward us so she had a better view. Her kids followed. Thallirin glanced our direction as he gripped the second one.
Hoping what he did would be enough to distract any curiosity from the objects trying to stab through the sides of the semi-translucent bag Ghua held, I shifted the weight of the box in my arms and tried to be patient.
“That is eight, total,” Molev said. “Go.”
“Can’t they at least stay the night?” Mya asked.
“It looks like Merdon could use some rest,” Julie added.
“They struck a bargain. Ten hearts each for the life they took.”
Merdon swayed on his feet but bowed his head in acknowledgement and turned to go back the way he’d come.
“I know I’m new here,” I said, hating myself for speaking up. “But it seems to me, for a people who live in a town named Tolerance and who’ve been mistreated by humans, you’re pretty short on kindness to your own people.”
“They are being punished and need to earn their place here.”
“That’s fine, but do you really want them to die in the process? Mya said that each fey matters. How will periods of rest negatively impact their punishment? Or better yet, how will losing two more of your brothers impact the future of our world?”
Merdon and Molev both watched me intently as I spoke. Thallirin, however, only had eyes for Brenna. The girl was pointedly ignoring the attention.
“Can I help you with that?” Brenna asked, reaching for the box I held and drawing everyone’s attention to the fact Ghua and I had our arms full.
Mya’s gaze flicked to the bags. Her eyes widened in recognition, and her gaze flew to me.
“Hey, I just got here a few days ago. This isn’t from me,” I said quickly.
No way was I getting the reputation as a pervert after only living here for such a short time. Hell, I didn’t want that reputation ever. Not with this crowd.
She looked at Ghua. “Why would you collect these? Do you even know what they are?”
“Yes. Mom explained them to me.”
“What?” Mya turned her shocked face toward her mother.
“Don’t you give me that angry look, young lady. I answered the same questions for you and Ryan.”
“No you didn’t! I was smart enough not to ask them.”
Julie chuckled.
“What are they?” Thallirin asked.
Mya opened her mouth to answer, but Ghua beat her to it.
“They are supposed to be like human man parts, but Eden says they are not. Human penises are not this big. Mine is extra-large.”
Julie covered her mouth with a hand. Even Mya’s dad grinned at Ghua. I, however, wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
“I think that’s enough education time,” Mya said briskly. “Mom, can you and Dad take Thallirin and Merdon to an empty house?”
“Of course.”
“Try not to give them a full health class on the way there.”
Julie laughed and shook her head at her daughter. The pair walked off with Mya’s parents but not before Thallirin got one last look at Brenna.
“Maybe you should go with them,” Mya said to Drav. He kissed her forehead then jogged to catch up with Mya’s parents and the two new fey.
“I will walk you home,” Molev said to Nancy.
Mya said nothing as they left. Ghua shifted uncomfortably under her scrutiny and glanced at me.
“Are you angry, Eden? Your face is red.”
I sighed. “I’m not angry. I’m embarrassed.”
“Welcome to my world,” Mya said. “I’m sorry he managed to sneak those in. I’ve been trying to help them understand some things aren’t appropriate.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s his. He knew he wasn’t supposed to have them because he hid them under the couch cushions and in his closet.”
Mya groaned and shook her head at Ghua.
“You’re very lucky that Eden’s not too afraid of things. Seeing that many–”
“Man parts,” Ghua supplied helpfully.
“Yes. Seeing that many could have sent her running for the hills, and you would have missed out on having a relationship of your own.”
“This isn’t even a quarter of what he has,” I said.
“Seriously?”
“Very.”
“What the hell are we going to do with all of them?”
“I was going to ditch them by the recycling pile.”
“Hell no! That’ll be like a free for all.” She looked into the shadows around us. That’s when I noticed we weren’t really alone. Fey idled about, listening to our conversation.
“I changed my mind,” I said. “I’m so mad at you, Ghua.” I did not want to be stuck with his dildo collection.
He dropped his bags, scooped me up into his arms, and started back toward our house. I gripped the box I still held and stared up at Ghua in confusion.
“Hey,” Mya called. “Where are you going?”
“I need to go play with Eden’s girl parts to make her happy.”
“Ghua!” I buried my face in his shoulder. “I can’t believe you just said that loud enough for everyone to hear.”
Mya laughed behind us.
“Don’t worry, Eden. I’ll take care of this and come get you tomorrow.”
“Not before eight,” Ghua called back. “Eden likes—”
I slapped my hand over his mouth.
“If you say it, we won’t do it.”
He leaned in and set his forehead against mine. I removed my hand.
“Yes, we will do it. Because you love my touch and what I say and what I do. You love me, my Eden. And I love you.”
I tipped my head forward and pressed my lips to his in what was meant to be a quick kiss but turned out
to be a toe curler.
“Take me home, you sweet man.”
Epilogue
I covered my mouth and nose with a scarf and stared at the multicolored flames.
“Who knew burning dicks would smell so bad?” Mya said.
She stood by me with an empty can of gasoline.
“Let’s just hope they don’t melt into something worse.”
“What could be worse than a mountain of dildos?”
“One giant one.”
She laughed.
“Have those guys from last night left yet?” I asked.
“No. Merdon’s hurt badly enough that one of the fey just left to go get Mrs. Felds.”
“What’s she going to do? She used all the supplies for stitches on Ghua.”
“Kerr and a few others went out to go find more. He said he was watching what she was doing and thinks he knows what to get.”
“Good.”
“Thanks for sticking up for those two last night,” she said.
“I had to. This world is a scary place, and you were right to point out that we’ll need each one of them to survive it.”
Mya nodded seriously for a moment then grinned.
“Not only do they keep us safe, they keep things entertaining, too. Do you know what I heard Ghua telling Merdon this morning?”
I cringed, already knowing I wouldn’t like it. “What?”
“The best distraction from the pain is playing with girl parts.”
We both burst out laughing.
I had no regrets about the choices I’d made to get to where I was. Ghua was the best thing that could have happened to me. Sure, we’d had some bumps along the way, and he would likely continue to embarrass me, but I couldn’t be happier. I would keep taking each perfect moment for my own in this imperfect world. And, I hoped I would grab enough that Ghua and I could build an amazing lifetime together here in Tolerance, surrounded by our family.
Thanks for reading Demon Escape, book 4 in the Resurrection Chronicles. The series continues with Demon Deception , now available on preorder at select retailers!
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading! Becca and I loved writing the initial Demon trilogy together. However, our schedules didn’t quite mesh for continuing with more books. Hopefully, you didn’t notice too much of a difference.
Your support keeps me writing! Please tell other readers about these books or leave a review to spread the word about a story you loved or hated. Books with more reviews have increased visibility on retailer sites, so each review counts!
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Until next time!
Melissa
Also by M.J. Haag
Beastly Tales
Depravity
Deceit
Devastation
Lutha Chronicles
Escaping the Lutha
Facing the Lutha
Resurrection Chronicles
Demon Ember
Demon Flames
Demon Ash
Connect with the author
Website: MJHaag.melissahaag.com/
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