Lucifer laughed.
In a flash, Theo tossed his Mavet, and another Mavet cut the air from above. Sadie zoomed forward, wings in full glory.
Sadie! Thank God she was alive.
Both blades sank deep into Lucifer’s chest. He hadn’t even tried to move.
“Reverto ut Abyssus!” Sadie and Theo said in unison.
Lucifer laughed.
“Morte Aeterna,” Sadie said.
More laugher resonated through the trees, and they swayed. The floor rumbled, sending Yvonne off-balance.
Justin lunged, holding a sword. One Yvonne had not seen before—wait, the Sword of Terentia.
The blade pierced Lucifer from behind, the pointed edge poking out from his black shirt. The devil turned with such fury Justin was shoved to the side. He rammed into a tree trunk. In an instant, the demon grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Lucifer reached behind him and drew out the sword. “But thanks for this.”
Yvonne tensed as Justin’s eyes rolled back into his head, revealing only white.
“Stop.” She stepped forward. “Let him go.”
“Forever sacrificing yourself for everyone else.” He tossed Justin to the side as though he was a rag doll. Justin grunted, then rolled onto his back, but at least he was moving.
“I never said I was sacrificing myself for anyone.”
Lucifer growled and stomped toward her. She stood her ground.
“Yvonne, don’t do it,” Theo said as Sadie landed beside him. “Run.”
“Come here, you ass. Give me a kiss.” Yvonne ripped off her long gloves. The cool air slapped her exposed, sweaty skin, but she had to get all the flesh she could showing.
Lucifer stopped and smiled as if a proud papa. “Brave little girl.”
Justin rolled to all fours, gasping for breath. Lucifer cocked his head, and the sword vanished in a blast of black vapor. Shit, they’d just lost an Artifact to who-knew-where.
And then Lucifer disappeared. Sulfur stung her nostrils. Where the hell did he go? Why—?
An invisible force parted the trees. “Pario!” Yvonne yelled as his blunt shoulder rammed into her gut. He landed on her like a lead blanket. She kicked up, using the momentum he’d created, and flipped him over.
Three more demons plowed through the thicket, daggers raised. Clanking metal sounded as Yvonne hopped to her feet. Chills rocketed through her body, but she clamped her jaw tight and focused.
Dirt clung to the invisible creature before her. Defluo. She vanished and focused on the dagger Pario held floating in the air, trying to work out how far up his neck would be.
And she lunged.
A hard boot to her gut threw her trajectory off. She crashed into a tree trunk and fell forward, but one roll had her on her feet.
She batted at the leaves sticking to her arms. Pario’s blade fell to the ground, rendering him completely invisible.
Cracking branches sounded in front of her, and she ducked, sweeping her leg. Her shin met Pario’s ankle with a sting, but it wasn’t enough to move that gargantuan force of evil. He laughed, and his gloved hand clasped around her neck.
One movement had her airborne. She landed over fifteen feet away on the twig- and rock-covered forest floor. The bones that’d just healed twinged in protest along her back. In a flash, the demon was on her again, knee to her chest and a cold blade to her throat.
Iron-tasting blood trickled down her throat.
Black lights flickered in her vision. The corners curved as darkness tried to exert its force over her. She reached up, hoping to snag something, but a blunt force rammed into her cheek.
Darkness tugged further. Harder. She was drowning.
So much exposed skin, yet Pario was covered in leather.
Protected from the only thing that could end him. Grunts and clashing metal bombarded her ears. Justin. His grunts stood out to her the most. She felt his pain. It melded with hers. Every strike. Every cut. Every bite. Justin.
“Cooperate, and I will allow them to live,” Pario whispered.
Lucifer was here, but did Pario know it? It didn’t seem that he did, but how could he not feel his demon father? Then again, she remembered Pario saying Lucifer’s connection with his demons was somewhat muted on earth.
“Call them off. Now.” Yvonne rested her hands out to the side and tried to turn to see her Mate. She’d buy them some time.
Pario peeled his hand off her throat, and his weight lifted, but he kept a hand on her shoulder. “Get up. We’ve got work to do.”
Pushing through the agony raking through muscles and bones, she stood. His breath brushed along her bare shoulder. She spun around to grab his face, but a cold, immovable hand cuffed her wrist.
“Not yet, child.” Lucifer growled.
Pario flickered into sight, his eyes bugging as Lucifer had his other hand collared around Pario’s neck.
“M-m-master,” he stuttered. “I—”
“Silence.” Lucifer’s voice boomed so loud it nearly shattered Yvonne’s eardrums. He tightened his hold on her wrist. Interesting, he was wearing leather gloves now. So that was where he’d disappeared to. Had to ditch the sword he’d gotten and cover up.
The demons battling Theo, Sadie, and Justin stopped, eyes fixed on their master. Then they fell to their knees.
Theo and Sadie plunged their blades into the two in front of them and said the vanquish.
“Baby demons are such idiots. Though I very much enjoy their worship, they forget—” He shook his head. “Pario.” He clicked his tongue. “Pario.”
“Master. I can explain. I was—”
“Don’t. I see and hear the lies coming to your mind already.” He yanked Pario close until their noses nearly met. Lucifer held him over a foot off the ground as easily as if Pario weighed no more than a sack of flour.
Yvonne worked to see Justin. He stood there, bloody, hands on his knees, breathing heavy. But he was alive. The three Shomrei moved toward her in unison now that the demons were down.
“I suggest thinking before you go any farther.” Lucifer’s grip on her tightened.
Pario groaned.
“Such potential with you, Pario. Great planning. Great use of resources.” Lucifer glanced at the bracelet Pario wore.
He looked to Yvonne and back to the bracelet, as if considering letting her down to get it. The sense of desire swam through his eyes. Wait a minute, he needed that bracelet? And he’d taken the Sword of Terentia, too.
So, if he didn’t have a mate to make him weak, why did he need the Artifacts? Maybe—they hurt him directly. What better place to have the weapons that could end him than close to him, within his control. Or maybe the fire of Hades could destroy them.
Lucifer turned his focus to Pario. “You could have been right with me when I made my return…” He shook his head. “But you chose the wrong path.”
“No. I—”
“You lost all the Artifacts you had to the Shomrei!” Lucifer yelled. “Plotted to overtake me.” He laughed. “As if you, an insignificant child of mine, could ever do so.”
Pario looked at Yvonne. His dark eyes filled with fear. Hatred. And then he moved, lifting his wrist in her direction.
What?
“Where I have failed, others will not,” he said.
Before Yvonne could think of it, she reached out and snatched the bracelet off Pario’s wrist. Once she held the treasure, she grated her nails along his flesh.
In the next breath, Pario was dust.
“No!” Lucifer yelled.
Yvonne threw the bracelet in Justin’s direction and clawed to reach Lucifer’s face. Obviously, she could hurt him since he’d returned with gloves on and leather-coated arms and legs.
He backhanded her, and her shoulder collided with a tree, and then he was on her, gloved hand over her throat.
“I was going to keep you, use you to my advantage, but I see now, you will never cooperate.”
Cooperate? He was right on that, she never would, but why would he need her? Lucifer was the most powerful demon in existence.
The ground shook, and Lucifer shifted his weight. His eyes squeezed shut, and his nostrils flared. “No! You can’t interfere.”
“I can. And I will.” A new voice entered the playing field. Strong, solid.
Yvonne gasped for breath and looked to her side.
A man with a glowing aura and long brown hair stood off to the side.
Lucifer’s grip around her neck tightened, the pressure increasing, yet it wasn’t intolerable. It was more like he couldn’t crush it, despite his strength.
Lucifer grunted and tossed her to the side. With a growl, he turned, facing the newcomer.
“Gabriel,” Theo said.
“Where are your brothers in arms, little archangel?” Lucifer chuckled, eyes darting side to side. Yvonne saw the fear. The rage.
Gabriel just smiled. A glowing white sword appeared in his hand, and he held it at the ready. “Go back underground, Luci.”
Lucifer growled again, and his own sword appeared. The black aura around him pulsed, covering the length of the sword as well.
Gabriel chuckled and pulled out another sword from behind him. The one that Lucifer had made disappear before.
Lucifer roared.
“You know you are not meant to have this.” Gabriel tossed it to Theo. “We’ll let our chosen watch over that.”
Justin stepped forward, but Theo held him back. Gabriel and Lucifer, swords pointed, circled each other. Energy pulsed from them, ramming into Yvonne’s senses. She backed away, searching for Justin’s eyes.
A sliver of black appeared beside Theo, and he, Justin, and Sadie stepped into it.
A few seconds later a breeze tickling the skin at Yvonne’s back sent her whirling. Justin was the first through the splice, his arms open and reaching for her.
She happily fell into his warm embrace. Theo peeled off a layer of clothing and handed it to Justin. “Use this to cover her up.” Theo stepped in front of the three, watching Lucifer and Gabriel face off.
“What’s happening?” Yvonne asked as Justin helped thread the T-shirt over her shoulders. “That’s Gabriel, the archangel?”
“Yes,” he said. “Are you okay? Did—did Pario—”
“No. I’m fine.” She hugged him. “Pario’s dust.”
Justin held up the bracelet. “Nicely done, szép.”
“Slowly back away,” Theo said.
Justin nodded. “We don’t need to be anywhere nearby if those two start battling things out.”
“Where’d all the demons go?”
“We dusted quite a few, but with Lucifer near, and now Gabriel, they’re hiding.” Theo’s voice was even, as if talking to a wild animal.
At this point, Yvonne didn’t care. She was alive, Justin was alive, and Pario was dead. Not to mention, they had the Sword of Terentia and the Bracelet of Aoratos. That was four of the seven Artifacts.
“Where will we go since the compound was compromised?” she asked into Justin’s chest. She couldn’t stop shivering, both from cold and the fatigue. So much had happened.
The ground shook. Rumbles shifted the trees around them. Branches cracked. A roar, sounding like Lucifer’s, trembled through the air, and a rush of wind engulfed them.
“Theo. It might be time to—”
A percussion of air filled with sparks stormed through the trees toward them.
Theo opened another splice. Justin held on to Yvonne and leaped into it. The cold darkness beat at her tired body, but in the next breath, she and Justin lay on their side on a cold concrete floor.
“Here?” Justin asked. “Really, Theo?”
“Hey. I had to think fast. Our compound is compromised. We needed a surefire place.” Theo pulled Sadie to her feet. “Deal with it.”
Damn. They were at Halena’s. But if Halena stabbed Yvonne again, she’d dust her. It didn’t matter if she was a Gatekeeper, she was sick of getting stabbed, beaten, cut…
She checked her surroundings. More concrete. The far wall was filled with computer screens, pictures scrolling on a few, text and video on the others. But no Halena.
“She’s not here.” Theo’s eyebrow quirked. “And she’s not answering me.”
“Come on, szép. Let’s get you warmed up.” Justin kept his arm around her and guided her to the steps.
“Stay alert. If they breached our compound, they may be able to breach all of them.” Theo and Sadie followed behind. “Though I think they’ll lie low a bit considering Lucifer and Gabriel are duking it out.”
“Let’s hope.” Yvonne whispered. She needed a freaking break.
And a bath.
Chapter Forty-Six
“You did it, szép.” Justin whispered into his Mate’s ear. “You killed him.”
She hummed her response, evidently too tired to verbally answer. He clung to her cold body as he leaned over the tub, testing the water temperature.
“Almost ready. Sit up.” She’d expended so much energy fighting to stay alive and then killing Pario. Pride pulsed through his chest, along with the need to be with his Mate. To energize her. Take care of her.
She offered him a lazy smile as she leaned back. “So…cold.”
“Lift your arms. Come on. I’ll get you warm.” She did, and he peeled Theo’s shirt off her body. She’d so bravely shucked her clothes to expose more of her lethal skin.
Lucifer wouldn’t touch her, though. She was a weapon that could harm him, and that meant he couldn’t allow her to live. Or be out from under his control.
Maybe that was why Gabriel showed up. Maybe it was time for Lucifer’s reign to end. Justin could handle heaven on earth as long as he was with Yvonne, but what about all the humans who would be impacted by that?
He made haste removing the last of her clothing, then scooped her up and settled her into the warmth. Her eyes shot wide and a shiver rattled through her body, but she quickly settled and clutched his shoulder. “You, too.”
He had every intention of joining her. Just needed her to warm up a little first. “Be right in.”
She nodded and sank into the water. He admired her beautiful body as he went to work on his clothes. Her head rested on the edge of the tub, and her eyes were closed. Long, matted black hair lay across her chest. He grabbed the shampoo, conditioner, and soap from the shower, then eased into the bath behind her.
Gently massaging her scalp, he lathered up her hair, then tilted her head to rinse it free.
“Mmm. Feels nice.” She smiled, the color flooding back to her cheeks.
He soaped up his hands and massaged her neck, washing the grime away and kissing a trail along the clean flesh.
Once his Mate was clean, he rested back, hugging her close, and her breathing fell into a steady rhythm.
Justin opened his senses and found everything quiet so he settled in, tucking his Mate closer to him. Such a strong female and valuable, too, for Gabriel to intercede on the little Shomrei’s behalf.
Thoughts strolled through his mind until the water began to chill. He scooped his Mate into his arms, and once she was out of the tub and on her feet, he wrapped a big towel around her.
“That was perfect,” she said, her eyes closed as he rubbed her dry. “I’m just lazy now.”
“I love doing this.” He kissed her cheek. “Let me tuck you into bed.”
She buried her face in his neck and leaned into him. Gathering her into his arms, he strode to the bed. He crawled in beside her and tucked them into a cocoon of blankets. Heat radiated from her, and she burrowed closer to him.
“Make love to me,” she whispered.
“You should rest.” Though he said that, his body sure responded to her command.
“I want to feel you inside me.” She pulled him in for a scorching kiss. Her hand traced over his shoulder, down the side of him, and landed on his butt. She edged him closer as she worked magic with her tongue.
There was no
denying his Mate.
He lifted her leg and hitched it on his hip. She sucked his neck, humming her approval. He angled her just right, and then they were one.
Connected. In every way possible.
She moaned into his ear and drew in his lobe. “I love you.”
Still worried about her PTSD, he slowed down. His desire for her was pushing him onward, but was she ready? So much had—
“More,” she whispered, tightening around him as she pulled him impossibly closer.
Never breaking their connection, he rolled her beneath him.
She let out a long, contented sigh that matched his. Then she brought her other leg up and around him.
That shift shattered his restraint, and he dove fully into his Mate.
For several hours.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Justin. Theo’s voice in Justin’s head yanked him out of a deep sleep. He glanced down at Yvonne sleeping in his arms.
What’s wrong, brother?
Come to the living room…we have a visitor.
Justin’s heart rate picked up.
No. It’s safe. Bring Yvonne.
He gently woke up his Mate and reveled in her sea-green eyes. She offered a lazy yawn, then smiled. “Ready for more?”
He planted a thorough kiss on her sweet lips, then pulled away. “We’re being summoned to the living room.”
Her dark eyebrow rose.
“Come on.”
Within ten minutes, Yvonne and Justin walked into the living room, hand in hand.
Gabriel’s massive form filled the expansive room. Yvonne froze and her grip tightened.
“It’s okay.” Gabriel smiled. “You are safe in this place.”
Justin edged toward Theo, who was perched with Sadie on the couch. “What’s going on?”
“Lucifer is back where he belongs.” Gabriel crossed his arms over his massive chest, his biceps rippling. “You have done well.” He pinned his focus on Yvonne. “Very well.”
“I can hurt Lucifer, can’t I?”
Gabriel bowed his head slightly.
“And the Artifacts. They aren’t for his mate because he doesn’t have one. They can hurt him.”
“You have deciphered much, young one.” He smiled, and Justin’s heart swelled.
Marked By Hades (Entangled Embrace) Page 28