Demons (Death by Reaper MC, #3)

by Esther E. Schmidt

  “You didn’t mention he’s not just your brother but your twin,” I gasp in utter shock.

  Gunner hears me but has his gaze fixed on Vike. He dashes up and shoves Dio behind him. One moment he looks like Vike, the next he’s doubling in size and turns black while growing massive horns out of his head. Yikes.

  “Ugh, please tell me you don’t look like that too,” I groan.

  “Watch it,” my sister snaps from behind Gunnar.

  I roll my eyes. “Or what, D? You’re gonna sparkle some flames my way? Newsflash, we’re the same and our flames can’t hurt each other.”

  Gunnar’s eyes find mine and I see him shifting back to his own self before my eyes. Gone are the horns and the black. His head tilts as he takes me in, swinging his gaze toward his brother the next instant, eyes wide.

  “Twins?” he croaks.

  Vike’s voice croaks with the same loaded emotion when he asks, “Did you? Is she?”

  Gunnar doesn’t need any more words, but his sparkling eyes and the protective arm wrapped around my sister while he pulls her tight against his body speaks volumes; Dio is Gunnar’s true mate.

  “How are you not...how...you’re...” Vike can’t finish his sentence but it seems Gunnar doesn’t need to hear the rest; he knows exactly what his brother is asking about.

  “The ceiling above me melted and next thing I knew she was standing in front of me. I tried to warn her not to touch me, shifting didn’t help either, she didn’t keep her distance. Stubborn little thing. Then she jumped me and bit my fucking neck,” Gunnar chuckles and shakes his head, glancing down at my sister who’s gazing back with a mushy smile on her face. What the actual hell?

  “Are you kidding me, Dio? Really? Why don’t you ever think before you leap?” I groan at the way my sister always jumps into things and never thinks things through.

  “I was so damn angry and started to burn and then it was as if some of my power ebbed away, as if someone was...I don’t know...tapped into it? I felt his presence, heard his pain. I knew he was mine, T. I had to get to him. Besides,” Dio says and points to where my fingers are still linked with Vike’s. “Getting cozy yourself instead of coming to my rescue? Hello kettle, pot, and all other things in the kitchen to make a sloppy tea where we’re so not going to discuss how we both seemed to nail a twin. Shit. I don’t know if I find this totally cool or just plain creepy.”

  Dio holds my stare until we both snort and say in sync, “Just plain creepy.”

  “Are you okay?” Vike asks Gunnar.

  Gunnar shrugs. “I sensed her, she soothed the rough edges and I reached out to feel more. That’s when the ceiling came down and she stormed at me. I felt the change when the euphoria hit as soon as her teeth sank into me. When I took what’s mine every bad voice filling my brain ebbed away until there was only serenity left.” He glances down at Dio and gives her a squeeze. “Yeah, more than okay.”

  “I don’t understand,” Vike croaks. “We’ve been searching for decades to find a cure to relieve you from the curse.”

  “Maybe there wasn’t a cure,” I muse and think things through. “Maybe Dio fixed him through the mating because with the mating of our other half-sisters the men changed too. They got a power boost, an upgrade so to say. Maybe the curse was rooted in his DNA and when that changed the curse was lifted. Plain and simple explanation. No wonder Tessera’s grandfather, Azrael, mentioned we’re part of the legend. Dio here essentially jumpstarted Gunnar.”

  “Fuck,” Vike grumbles beside me. “We really needed a cure, but having my brother back is most definitely something I’m grateful for.”

  “I’m just one fucking person, Vike. One,” Gunnar says in anger. “Vapula wants to take on the whole damn world. Even if I feel back to my own self, we’re right back where we were before that fucker started. We can’t let him finish what he started when his mutated ass cursed me as the first step to take over the fucking world.”

  “Do you know what the components of the venom or curse, thing, whatever, are? Maybe we can find a cure one way or the other now that it seems Gunnar found a way to overcome it. We need to contact our sisters. And Nixie. Nixie is a new friend of ours and she’s a witch. She’ll have vital input and so will the others.” I want to add some more strong reasons why we need to reach out for help, but I’m cut off by Vike.

  “We’ll do no such thing. This isn’t their fight and we don’t need their interference. You saw what happened last time. I almost had the fucker and she zapped him away.” Vike’s chest is heaving and the anger swirling in his eyes would be intimidating if he wasn’t annoying me so much right now.

  I elbow the infuriating man in the gut. “It is our freaking fight, but it’s theirs too. Only a fool would pass up strong allies.”

  “We don’t need anyone,” Vike sneers. “Certainly not the ones who turned their back on those who needed their help. And if I’m not mistaken, the demand from The Orderly still stands.”

  Shit. Talk about repressed anger. I was present when Azrael told Tess what happened with these brothers. What he neglected to mention was that they are twins. Just like me and Dio. And when Vapula attacked and cursed Gunnar—who was the President at the time—everyone turned their back on them.

  The Orderly—the ones in charge of all the MCs on this planet, making sure there is balance and order—they left the Demon Charter to clean up their own mess. They declared the Demons outlaws.

  Rumors state they live for the fun of killing. But then I heard Azrael talk about how The Orderly left them to clean up their own mess. When all the while it was one freaking Demon, who ruined it for all others. They were blindsighted by Vapula and not to mention dropped like a hot potato by The Orderly right after.

  How can those who are in charge demand all other Charters not to interfere with the Demon Charter? Leave them to clean up their own mess while the President had been cursed. Insane if you ask me, pulling your hands off a situation when the good ones need you the most.

  The Orderly has the upper hand and clearly made the wrong decision in this situation. No wonder Vike won’t accept anyone’s help, nor will he ever. Why should he? No one was there for them. Ugh. Trust issues and a whole lot of anger and resentment. Great. Juuuust great. Not to mention this guy is my eternal mate.

  I would complain but when I look at my sister—the one who got the cursed twin, though she reversed the curse—I’d say I’m fussing over little things because the look in her eyes shows clear adoration and it’s all aimed at Gunnar.

  I’ve never been one to hide my opinion or shy away from discussions. I know when to stomp my foot and demand to be heard. Yet, there’s only one way to get him to listen; speak in his language in an effort to make him see the benefits of having resources.

  “As the President’s Old Lady I demand you at least meet with them once. Even if it’s just to listen to what they have to say. Knowledge feeds your brain and lets it work all the angles so you can pick the correct one. No harm done when their babbling meant shit. But if there is just a spark of value that gets you to your goal...yeah. Stop being a dick and step over your personal issues. We need to handle this head on, with ears flapping and eyes everywhere.” Asshole. Of course, I don’t let that part slip out, though I really would like to smack the back of his hard, stubborn head. Even more when he’s glaring at me, I even used the term Old Lady to soften my words.

  “She’s right,” Gunnar states. “I don’t know who she’s talking about but you damn well know how vital it is to have input outside of your own resources.”

  “Their sisters are mated to fucking Presidents, brother. Hellhounds MC, Vampires MC. All those fuckers did nothing but follow The Orderly’s demand. They knew we needed help and didn’t do shit. It’s my fight, mine. I don’t fucking care if they serve him on a damn silver platter for me to kill...he’s mine to deal with,” Vike roars.

  “No,” Gunner booms. “It’s ours, Vike. Our damn fight and I know you’re the Prez...”

  “You can
have the damn patch because I’m going after him. I’ll take the VP patch back when I’ve returned from killing him.”

  Crap. What an over-dramatic bullhorn ego baby, this mate of mine. Does he see reason? No. He keeps running around the same circle without moving forward.

  “I don’t want the fucking Prez patch. I gather I’m the VP now? You made the switch as we have it written if things go to shit in this MC if something happened to one of us?” Gunnar asks.

  Vike growls in reply. Again...what an... “Over-dramatic bullhorn ego baby. Would you get over yourself already and face the future in a new direction so you can start fresh to nail this fucker’s ass? Jeez,” I huff, roll my eyes, and cross my arms in front of my chest.

  I can hear my twin snicker and it makes me aware I’ve not been able to keep my thoughts to myself. Oops. Oh, well, too late now.

  Yet, I have to swallow when Vike steps closer to me. His eyes light up blood red, pupils growing black, full blown orbs where blue flames start to spark. Oh, shit.

  “Vike...stand down, brother.” Gunnar tries to grab Vike’s shoulder but he shrugs it off.

  “Not your business. Didn’t you hear her? She’s my Old Lady.” And with this he lunges at me and next thing I know, we’re in another room. I’ve got my back plastered against the wall as one of his hands is wrapped around my neck while the other is next to my head.

  His face is leaning in close next to mine. “You’ve gotta watch that mouth of yours.” His breath is a hot caress over my lips.

  “Is this a one in a million statement or should I take it as a threat? No wait, if I’m questioning this, then it isn’t much of a threat, right? ‘Cause then it doesn’t hold much value to start with, and do I need to mention you’re not scary at all? Well, not to me,” I ramble and the way his eyes swirl with blue fire...I should be questioning my own sanity right about now.

  “Tria.” My name is a low growl so forceful it makes the wall tremble behind me.

  “Yes?” I answer breathlessly.

  Yup, leave it to me to be turned on by aggravating a Demon. I did mention I should be questioning my sanity, right?

  “Fuck it,” Vike growls and I can only gasp in shock when he slams his mouth down over mine.

  The way he shoves his thick leather covered thigh between my legs makes me shiver in his grasp. The thin fabric of my jumpsuit is leaving little to the imagination of how he would feel naked against me. My fingers dig into his leather cut and I roughly yank him tighter against me. I want more.

  I want to feel him dominating my body. Every delectable inch of me wants to surrender to the pleasure he’s only given me a hint of. One of his hands slides down my body and a tearing sound fills the air before a cool breeze touches my naked skin. I’m completely consumed by his kiss until he enters me in one hard stroke.

  My nails dig into his shoulder, my head tips back to scream his name. From pain? From all consuming pleasure? I don’t know but whatever it is between us; I need more. Leaning forward, I bury my face against the crook of his neck. My lips trail over his skin as I inhale his spicy, rich scent.

  The sense of belonging overwhelms me and the feelings coursing through me have never filled my veins. He’s my one and only, a once in a lifetime mirror to my soul. My fangs elongate and sink into his skin.

  He shudders against me and I swear his dick swells even more inside me. A rumble starts low in his chest. A thunder building up until his head rears back and then surges forward while I instinctively tilt my head to submit, allowing him to claim me. His teeth sink in and the first pull of my blood entering his mouth draws out my orgasm.

  Sparks of lightning tainted with pleasure and warmth wreak havoc on my body. I’m floating away and somewhere in the background I feel his hips slam against me a few more times before he stills to bury himself deep. More warmth enters me, a second orgasm rips away the last connection I had with my body, sending me afloat to be fully consumed by everything that’s Vike.

  Chapter Three

  ***Vike***

  My cock is still standing at attention even after being drained mere moments ago. I had to carry Tria over to the bed where I’m now staring down at her. My fingers slide over the spot on my neck where her teeth sank in; fully claiming me as her mate.

  Magnificent. There’s no better feeling in this fucked up world than to claim, and to be claimed, by your eternal mate. The power boost running through me? I’ve never experienced anything similar. It’s as if the air surrounding me is crackling with the mere vibration of it. Fuck, that feels good. And to glance at the beauty before me? My woman. My Old Lady. My everything I thought I was never worthy of.

  Long, red, fiery hair splayed all over the mattress, skin flushed, and her face is the visual of utter contentment. I did that. Correction, we did that. Us. Our connection is not only primal as rooted in our DNA but her strong character and the way she stands up to me head on—with claws drawn—shows me everything I need and appreciate in a woman.

  Tria stirs and flutters her eyes open to lock on mine. I get a cheeky grin before she stretches her arms out over her head. Yeah...the way she moves her body, all naked and displayed in front of me without any shame or discomfort?

  I’m ready for round two, three, hell nine or ten, who cares as long as my cock is buried inside her for the next few lifetimes to come. Thank fuck we’re immortal, it buys a man some time to thoroughly enjoy the woman who was made to be his.

  I blink and she’s in front of me. Shit. She blinked. I can teleport from one place to another with a mere thought and so can she. First time I saw her was after I locked away her sister in my dungeon, so I knew Tria was Dio’s twin since Dio wouldn’t stop talking about her. Mainly about how Tria would be coming for her and how she would kick my ass. I thought they were full Phoenix because I witnessed Dio being reborn out of flames.

  What I didn’t know back then was the both of them were a mixture of powerful Supernaturals. But I didn’t make that mistake again, fuck if I’d let her slip through my fingers. Meaning I casted a spell to prevent her from blinking to get away from me. Seems the spell obliterated due to our mating. Doesn’t matter since clearly, she isn’t going to leave my side ever again.

  Besides, with our bond set in place, I can find her anywhere on this whole damn planet with a mere thought. And vice versa. Her nails trail a path down my chest and I suck in a breath. This damn woman doesn’t know it yet but she has me by the balls.

  I’d do anything for her, even shit I don’t want to or hell, I might even do shit I never thought I’d ever bow down to. Like how she mentioned about reaching out to her sisters. To fucking ask for help.

  Damn Hellhounds should have had my back when all this shit happened with Vapula. I know she’s right but it repulses me. Maybe I need to let her lead in this, open up slightly to face all of them without accepting shit. Like she said, hear them out and do what I want with their words.

  First, though? First, I need to tell her she’s getting her way. And fuck if it’ll make her happy. Seeing her like this? All open and all smiles? I’ve never had this. In the time she’s been here it was always anger and frustration between us. Needless to say, I’m going to make it my personal goal to keep her happy. Even if it means doing shit I thought I’d never do.

  “Sweetness,” I croak, already regretting addressing her because her lips were taunting my nipple.

  All she does is hums in return and switches to my other nipple to lick and slide over to my neck to nip at the skin. Yeah, I’m gonna be shutting up now; what I had to say can wait. My hands slide over her naked hips but she actually growls at me. One moment I’m standing gripping her hips, the next I’m on the bed while she’s straddling me.

  What.

  The.

  Fuck?

  In a flash I’ve got her pinned underneath me, holding her hands locked above her head. “Now, now, little firefly. I’ll give you a pass this one time, but make no fucking mistake...I’m the one in charge.”

  Her eyes
narrow. Before, I found this expression a mixture of frustration laced with enticement. But now that I have her in my bed and underneath me, I find this look damn sexy and it turns me the fuck on. But I’d better smooth it over since clearly she’s getting pissed.

  “Though I am willing to make compromises somewhere else. Meaning I’m taking your advice,” I tell her while holding her gaze captive.

  Confusion spreads across her pretty face but a moan slips over her lips when I shift slightly, lining my cock perfectly with her pussy. I take the opportunity and bury myself in the sweet heaven she offers me. I move my hips to slide out and then forward to slip right back in. Fuck. She lights up every inch of my body and my soul along with it.

  She wrestles against my grip on her wrists. I know she wants to have some control, even if it’s only to grab hold or brace to push back on my cock. Shit. We’ve had each other one time and yet the both of us know exactly how to feed the other one’s craving.

  For that reason, I let go of her wrists and spin so she’s straddling me. Uh huh, exactly how she positioned me a moment ago but it’s different. I’m the one taking lead now. I grip her waist, helping her bounce on my cock while her tits have me mesmerized. Her eyes are closed but I need them on mine. Reason enough to mix business with pleasure.

  “You’re gonna give me your cunt squeezing with the orgasm I give you before I fill you up, hear me?” I growl.

  She clenches around me, almost coming from the demand I just gave her. But she stays behind closed eyes in her own world of pleasure. Her ass lifts and drops down, which is the perfect time to give it a hard smack and tell her, “Move faster, Tria. We have business to settle with your siblings.”

  She falters and since I was expecting the move, I hoist her up and roughly pull her up my body toward my mouth so I can taste the pussy that belongs to me. I graze her clit with my teeth and start to suck, giving her the perfect combination to explode above me. She grips my head with both hands and rubs her pussy all over my face while moaning my name. Damn magnificent.