Demon or Angel (Age of Exilum Book 1)

by Lynn Michaels

  “Fuck. Stay behind me. Watch out. These things are fast.”

  Eight of the little fuckers joined their first two brethren. Some scurried up walls, while others came directly at them. Teague stomped on one with his heavy combat boots. It squealed, right before it squished. Vern ducked behind him, grabbing on to his t-shirt.

  “I can handle them, as long as they stay in front of me,” Teague growled, stomping at another one as it dodged away.

  “Bigger trouble behind us,” Vern hissed.

  Teague looked over his shoulder. He could see the dark warrior through a veil of mist. “You saw him?”

  “Yeah, heard him first.”

  “Heard him?” The dark warriors were silent killers said to be stuffed with the souls of defeated ninjas, wanting nothing more than to clear their names. The dark shape was wrapped in black bandages. Its eyes a glowing-gold. It slung a staff around its head. When it stopped moving, Teague could see the end of it had a curved blade lit with an eerie green fire.

  Something tugged at his jeans, and he turned, kicking the creepy-crawly off his leg. Vern squealed and kicked out, knocking an eyestalk off of one of the creatures, then punting it back down the alley.

  Teague had no time to worry about them. He shoved Vern to the side and pulled out one of his tools from his back pocket. It looked like an ordinary playing card—the ace of spades. Teague needed angel blood to activate it, and he hoped he had enough in his veins to do the trick. He opened his switchblade and jabbed his thumb, then smeared the drop of blood across the card.

  At first, he thought it had failed, but then both the card and the blade grew in his hands. With a pop, he had a full shield and sword. Very convenient, having angel blood. He raised the shield in time to catch a ninja star in the center of it. He wouldn’t bother with it, though. He shoved forward, charging the ninja demon.

  It must not have expected Teague to be so aggressive and fast. It fell back, slinging the staff above its head again before charging Teague. With a jab of his sword, Teague dodged to the side. His wings sprung from his back with a thought and pulled him high in the air above the ninja. He slammed his sword against the center of the staff. It broke in two, but before Teague could savor the victory, the demon twirled the two ends as if they were meant to be shorter weapons. One of which still had green flame blazing around it.

  Teague made a backward lunge and spun around, coming at the ninja with the shield like a hammer. In a heartbeat, it shoved the shield out of the way and returned a punch with the short staff into Teague’s stomach. Teague roared and sliced through the air with his sword. He cut into the ninja’s side. The fire blade came at his face. Teague blocked. It saved his head, but his shield lit up with the green flame. Worse, he felt the connection through the shield, hot enough to boil his blood if he didn’t let go. He dropped it but held onto his sword, swinging wildly.

  He hit the staff several times before it fell from the ninja’s hand. The ninja jumped back, and Teague followed. He could only win by attacking relentlessly. He kept swinging, not giving the ninja time to regroup.

  Teague had to cut the ninja down to nothing. His bandages fell loose as Teague attacked with his sword again and again. Green light flowed out from the openings. Teague ignored it and slashed at the ninja’s head. He knocked the ninja hard into the wall. With his next blow, Teague beheaded the demon.

  A loud piercing sound hissed out like the steam from a kettle. With a pop, the demon disappeared. Teague turned around to see Vern against the wall kicking at the scurrying creatures and smacking them with the lid from a garbage can. He grunted every time he swung the lid or kicked his feet. Most of his effort proved worthless as the things moved too fast. He managed to only keep them back, rather than make progress in killing them.

  Teague leapt forward, using his wings for more power and brought the sword down, slicing two of them open with one blow. Vern slammed the lid on another. Five more were left, but they rapidly scrambled away from Vern and Teague.

  The owner pulled them to his chest, cooing at them as if they were babies. They reassembled into his hands, and ended up looking like clawed fingers once again.

  “Did any of them bite you?” Teague asked.

  “No. But they tried like hell.”

  “Good.” Teague swung his sword in a loop and strode toward the creature. It looked up at him with wide, glowing eyes. Not used to being on the receiving end of an attack, the creature fled.

  “Is it over?” Vern asked.

  “Don’t know. Who’s left here?” Teague called out. He smelled it before he saw it. The scent of decay and rotting things, cloying vegetation from the darkest reaches of the forest. “Surgat.”

  “Fine.” Surgat stepped forward, his hoodie covering his head.

  “Don’t look at him, V. You do not want to see his face.”

  “I don’t want to see yours, either, Teague, but here I am.” Surgat leaned against the wall of the Coffee Kraze building and crossed his legs at his ankles. His tail flicked in an arch near his feet.

  “And why are you here? Didn’t you say you were on our side.”

  Surgat blew out a breath, but it sounded more like a raspberry. “This side, that side. What the hell am I supposed to do when I’m ordered?”

  “Ordered by who to do what?” Vern asked. He crossed his arms, looking very indignant.

  “I don’t answer to halflings,” Surgat snarled back.

  “Tough shit. Answer him.”

  “Fine. I’ve had enough of you Xaphan boys.”

  “Zepher? Zepher did this?” He waved his hand around, indicating the alleyway and so much more.

  “Of course. Zepher did this. To test you. Find out how strong you are because even though the rest of the realm has given up on your halfling, Zepher hasn’t. Full of revenge and after you.” Surgat pointed a clawed finger at Vern.

  Teague growled at him and stepped in front of Vern.

  Surgat raised his hands in front of him. “Protective much?”

  “Yes. He’s mine.”

  “Ah...nice, but I’m not the one you have to worry about.”

  “Zepher is? What about the others?”

  “The Seers will not look for him. The others have given up on it. I told you.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Now, I’m going. Watch your back, Teague. I have to report to him. I can’t lie. He’ll already know you defeated the ninja.”

  “It’s fine. Go.”

  Vern stepped up and placed his hand gently on Teague’s arm. “Where’d he go?”

  “To tell Zepher all about this heroic battle,” he said sarcastically. He wanted to kill his brother. “I now understand the story of Cain and Abel a little better.”

  “I’m sorry, babe, but what the hell do we do now?”

  “I don’t know. This is all new territory, but I guess, uh, I guess I don’t have to play by their rules. Yeah? I don't have to do anything except love and protect you. I intend to do both.”

  The second Teague had the hotel room door open, Vern shoved past him, strutting into the room. He yanked his shirt over his head and flung it to the floor, then turned to face Teague. “I’m so hyped. My adrenaline is pumping. I have to move. Fuck! So epic! And scary as hell.”

  Teague looked at him skeptically. “Epic?”

  “Yeah. You were awesome. I mean, I didn’t see much. Not with those gremlins comin’ at me. Fuck! I did see you swipe that dude’s head off. Man! Epic, yeah, understatement.” Vern didn’t stop moving as he spoke, rapid fire. He shucked off his jeans and jumped around the room in his underwear.

  “V? Are you all right?”

  “Yeah! I’m pumped. Did I tell you I like that?”

  “What?” Teague put his key card and wallet on the dresser. He never saw Vern coming.

  He jumped on Teague, arms and legs wrapping around him. His arms were full of Vern, mostly naked and writhing against him. He lifted his face for a kiss, and Teague could do nothing but oblige him. He pressed his lips against V
ern’s, thrilled when Vern opened for him. His tongue darted in and out of Vern’s mouth, rubbing against his tongue, every lick making him want to taste more. He moaned and gripped Vern harder, pulling him as close as he could.

  Vern pushed off with a gasp and stared at Teague. Vern’s hazel eyes were mostly golden with little green flecks and wide, blown pupils, and they stared into Teague’s soul with seriousness and uncontained desire. “Vern?”

  “No. I like it when you call me V. Ugh that! Makes me want to fuckin’ crawl inside you. Don’t you know by now? I hate Vern. Hate him. Vern’s the miserable little fuck who couldn’t fight back. He was bullied and humiliated, and he’s dead. I’m not him anymore. I’m Vick, but here, now? V works best.”

  “V...”

  Vern pounced on him again, devouring him with kisses and pulling his shirt off, leaving them both bare-chested. “Want you. Now.”

  Vern’s heart pounded overtime in his chest from the adrenaline high, but Teague had no problem taking advantage of it. “I have to put you down to get my pants off.”

  Vern jumped on the bed. He bounced a few times before landing on his ass. He couldn’t sit still and squirmed all over the place while he watched Teague untie his boots and get his pants off. His clothing came and went as he switched forms, but he couldn’t automatically take them off to be naked in this form. He didn’t understand why, but it didn’t take him long before he stood undressed in front of Vern.

  Jumping up, Vern circled around Teague like a predator. He shoved Teague down on the bed and slid his boxer briefs off of his legs while sensually wigging his ass. “I want to ride you...”

  “Whatever you want, V.”

  “Uhn! Yeah.” Vern crawled over the top of Teague and reached across him to get the lube bottle off of the side table. He flicked it open and dumped some on his fingers before reaching behind and sliding them inside his ass. Teague could definitely believe Vern was the grandson of Pharzuph, the demon of sex and lust, as Vern fingered his hole open. Green sparkles lit up his eyes and that fucking smirk on his face—the epitome of sex and lust a million times over.

  “Am I making you horny, Teague? Do you want me?”

  Teague swallowed hard. “Y-Yes...” Teague had been reduced to nothing but a trembling ball of desire, waiting and watching.

  Vern laughed wickedly and gyrated his hips around, fucking his fingers. “I’m so ready for you,” he purred, his voice velvety smooth.

  “Come on.” Teague’s words sounded low and harsh compared to Vern’s. “V, please.”

  “Yeah. Shh...almost there.”

  Another moment or two passed. Vern closed his eyes, but it didn’t stop the ecstasy from playing over his face. Without his glasses and his hair pushed back, his beautiful features stood out. As he gasped and moaned, his long eyelashes fluttered. His cheekbones were high and lips full. Everything about him was luscious and beautiful.

  Teague licked Vern’s neck. He nibbled along his skin, making him laugh out and wiggle more.

  Vern put his hand on Teague’s chest. “Stop. Lie back.”

  Teague obeyed, and Vern crawled up over his legs and straddled his hips. He lifted up and over Teague and grabbed Teague’s cock, aiming it at his hole. Slowly, he sank down, taking all of Teague in one slow, steady push, accompanied by a long, low moan that went straight to Teague’s dick, making it tingle.

  “V...”

  “Yes, yes,” Vern moaned with abandon as he moved in earnest, riding Teague, exactly like he’d promised. He used his powerful, runner’s legs and hips, bobbing up and down, his cock slapping against his tight abs.

  Teague grabbed his hips, helping to lift him, as Vern set a punishing pace. His ass grabbed at Teague’s cock with all its heat, hotter than any lake fire of Exilum. Teague bucked his hips and groaned. Vern fucked him furiously.

  “I-I-uh...I can’t...Teague,” Vern panted his words between huffing breaths. His legs shook, and he fell forward on Teague’s chest.

  “Can I?” Teague asked, desperately needing to take over.

  Vern must have understood his need. He nodded and gripped Teague’s hips with his knees as Teague rolled them over. They ended up perched on the edge of the bed with Teague looming over Vern, but they were still connected, Teague still inside him. He moved to pull Vern back to the center of the bed, and he slipped out.

  Vern gulped. “God. Teague.”

  “Sorry. I got you.” Teague repositioned him to the center of the bed. He pushed Vern’s thighs up and slid his cock back inside his precious hole. The heat grabbed at him at once. “Not going to last much longer.”

  “Then fuck me hard. Fast. Now!”

  Teague liked this demanding side of Vern. He wouldn’t disappoint. He angled his hips and thrust. Harder, harder, faster. Every little noise from Vern made him move furiously. He savored the fucking until he thought his brain would explode along with his balls. “V...”

  “Now, now...” Vern couldn’t get his hand between them, but Teague wasn’t about to slow or stop as he chased his orgasm.

  He thrust faster, until finally, it exploded throughout his body. His back, his cock, his arms, and legs, white diamonds sparkled behind his eyes. With a groan, he finally eased up, letting Vern’s legs fall to the bed. He had every intention of getting Vern off, now that he’d come, but he didn’t have to. Vern had shot off between them, his cum coating his chest and stomach.

  Vern lay there with a satisfied smile and open, vivacious eyes, a contrary mix of languid and loving. Teague lowered over Vern, his elbows on the bed on either side of Vern’s head. His face hovered mere inches above. Vern arched up, closing the distance and kissing him, gently.

  “Feel better?” Teague asked.

  Vern nodded. “Yeah, thanks.” He winked. He actually winked at Teague. “You’re something else.”

  “Ha! V, you’re everything.”

  Vern’s expression shifted to something serious. With his pupils shrunk to a normal size, Teague could see more of those beautiful emerald specks floating in a sea of gold and brown swirls. Vern’s eyebrows pinched above his nose. “Is this all the bond I’m feeling? Like...from the moment I first saw you, I knew I belonged to you. Don’t—please don’t think I’m crazy.”

  “I don’t, but it could be the bond. I don’t know. I’m not sure how I did it.”

  “Maybe you didn’t. Maybe we simply belong together.”

  “I think you’re right. We belong together regardless of the bond. I think...the bond kind of reinforces what we already have. I fell in love with you long before the bond thing.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Does it matter?”

  Vern sucked his bottom lip between his teeth, considering it. “Don’t know, but bond or no bond, I want you. I want to be with you in every way. It’s not only about sex. Sex is great, yeah. Of course it is. But I want to fight and live beside you.”

  “I want that, too.”

  “You never thought it would be possible, did you?” Vern reached up and carded Teague’s hair through his long, nimble fingers.

  “No, uh...I didn’t...I guess. I tried to keep my distance, but it didn’t work.”

  “I’m glad it didn’t.”

  Teague responded with another kiss. Happiness leapt through his heart with Vern’s words. He’d wanted to be with Vern from the moment he’d laid eyes on him as a delicate teen. But he’d grown into an amazing man since then, and Teague’s family would no longer keep them apart.

  He explored every inch of Vern’s mouth with his tongue, drawing out the kiss passionately, trying to put all the longing and the love, into every press of their lips. When they broke apart, Vern looked sleepy and ready to cuddle up. Teague shifted and rose to his knees while Vern protested and scrunched his eyes up.

  “V, let me get us cleaned up before we crash.”

  “Fine,” he breathed, reluctantly.

  It made Teague smile. If his whole body and soul could smile, they would be. When Vern didn’t want him to m
ove away for even a moment, it made Teague completely giddy.

  He warmed a cloth under the water and returned for cleanup duty. Vern snuggled down in the sheets, mostly asleep. Once finished, Teague dropped the cloth on the floor and slid in beside him, wrapping his body around Vern’s. He needed to keep Vern safe and loved. His whole existence revolved around protecting him. He wondered who exactly had bonded who.

  Teague slowly drifted off when his eyes popped open. Something inside pulled at him like a beacon. The old familiar twinge told him Zepher was not only near, but actively calling to him, probably from the roof. Part of him wanted to ignore his call, but he feared the consequences if he did, and perhaps he could change Zepher’s mind about Vern.

  He went back into the room and grabbed his jeans off the floor. He stuffed his legs in and fastened them before heading out the balcony door. He leapt upward and beat his wings, pushing his body to the sky.

  Zepher was on the rooftop sitting on a big metal box that housed the AC unit. He wore a red leather jacket and black leather pants and kicked his booted feet against the metal like a schoolboy. “Took you long enough.”

  “What do you want, Zeph?”

  Zepher scoffed. “Always straight to the point, huh?”

  “Zepher.”

  “Fine.” He jumped off the machine and strode forward, pointing at Teague. “You are so out, disowned, and I’m going to do everything in my power to get rid of Vern—destroy him. Nothing has changed there. This is your only warning. If you stand in my way. I’ll take you out, too.”

  “Why? If you care about me at all, you'll leave us alone.”

  “I’ve lost everything. The plan. My identity. My brother.” He paced the roof, throwing his hands in the air. “How can you ask me to leave this alone? I’m tired of fighting you. I didn't come here for that.”

  “Why'd you come then? What do you want? I'm not giving up, and you can't have Vern. Sean and I will fight you for him.”

  “Sean? The Schküs? Like he’s a threat”

  Teague clamped his mouth shut. He shouldn’t tell Zepher anything about Sean, shouldn’t have brought his name up. It wouldn’t scare him off, but it might make things worse. Might give Zepher another target.