Tales of a Demonic Familiar
Page 2
Lucifer coughed and tossed the remnants of his apple aside. “Something like that, maybe. Why? Do you have a problem with it?”
“Of course I have a problem with it!” I barked, taking a few steps forward. I wanted to pounce on him again, but I suspected that if I was able to move now, it must be because Lucifer had allowed it. That didn’t stop me from giving him a piece of my mind. “You’re not good enough for Lyssa!”
“Well, I can’t argue with you there,” Lucifer replied. “But your mistress is just that special, and I’m selfish enough that I don’t care if she’s better than me.” His expression sobered and he waved a hand, closing his book. “But never mind that now. Do you know why you’re here?”
I wasn’t done interrogating him about his intentions toward Lyssa, but my opinion didn’t matter. I had no choice but to reply. “Because I died.”
“Yes, and I’m keeping your soul from drifting into the afterlife,” he said. “It’s not forever. You’ll be able to return to the real world eventually. Your mistress’s males are taking care of that. I’ve made it a bit of a challenge for them, but don’t worry. I won’t let you die. Creatures that belong to me never do.”
The glow of his eyes sharpened, their light stabbing into me like a dagger. That was when I remembered.
Once upon a time, I’d been a hell-hound too, like the Stefan male. I’d been different, though, a twisted, misshapen pup, born with an inability to shift, more animal than person. The other pups in my litter had turned me away and deemed me a useless beast. My mother had been disgusted in me. I’d been so alone.
And then the fallen angel had arrived. He hadn’t chastised my family for their behavior. Instead, he’d just extended his hand and said, “Come with me. There is someone who needs you. I will take you to her, to your destined mistress.”
I hadn’t intellectually understood what he’d meant, but the image of Alyssa Michaelis had been in his mind. I’d seen it and I’d gone with him.
He’d left me there, in the alley, for Lyssa to find. And just like he had said, I’d encountered my true destiny, my beloved mistress.
The memory filled me with both gratitude and dread. I was thankful that he’d led me to Lyssa, but at the same time, I knew he had an agenda, something that he wanted from her.
“Why?” I asked him. “Why would you do this? What do you want with her?”
“I don’t owe you an explanation, little Shiro. You know enough to do your part, and you will obey me.”
Everything inside me rebelled against the implication of his words. No matter what my origins were, I only obeyed my Lyssa. I might be a hell-hound, but above all else, I was her Shiro. “You don’t own me, Fallen One, not anymore. I am loyal to Lyssa and to no other.”
“Unfortunately for you, Shiro, you don’t get a say.” Lucifer’s massive four wings appeared behind him, the feathers now as black as night. “But you don’t have to worry about it too much. I’ll claim her as well once she is ready.”
I didn’t like the sound of that, but there was nothing I could do. I felt a tug against my core and the room around us started to blur. “It looks like our time is up, Shiro,” Lucifer said. “We’ll see each other again soon. Do keep an eye on Lyssa for me until that happens.”
Lucifer’s smile was the last thing I saw before I was pulled back into reality. When I came to, I was back in Lyssa’s arms, and it was nighttime. I knew without being told that several days had passed, and that Lyssa had suffered greatly in my absence. And I knew that she’d suffer far more, and what little help I could offer her would not be enough.
TO BE CONTINUED
Shiro will be back in A Demonic Year Two, which is now available for pre-order. While we wait for classes to start again, check out my other works!
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Now available, free for download - the interlude/prequel to my Soulmates of Seasons series Winter’s Dragons. Draconic Affairs.
Once upon a time, a firedrake, a ryu and a wyvern melted a snow queen’s heart and learned to love and be loved in the process. But before they were her soulmates, they were bitter rivals. What secrets does their past hold?
About the Author
Eva Brandt is a romance aficionado who likes to spice up her stories with an extra bit of something special. Dragons? Perfect. Vampires? You got it. Any other type of mythological creature you might not have heard of? Absolutely. Sexy, snarky heroines and heroes with a penchant for falling head over heels in love with them? Yes and double yes.
She also believes in a very simple motto. Be passionate about passion. Embrace temptation. Life is too short to deny yourselves the most beautiful things about it.
When she’s not weaving her latest sexy tale, she enjoys relaxing in bed with a nice mug of tea and her ebook reader. Because nothing is better than writing a book, excepting reading one.
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Also by Eva Brandt
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