Ryker and I never believed Wrath would move into the neighborhood, but she took over my house the day we came back. I ran home to grab more clothes, and she had moved all my things to the backyard. She said she didn’t see the point in me not moving in with Ryker, and she wanted a place to stay.
Lust had shown up two days after the fight and was mad she didn’t get to help take down Kali. She took over the guest bedroom in my old house. Ryker was worried all seven sisters would rain down on our neighborhood.
One thing I had been glad about was being part of a pack again and spending time with my mother. She was sitting on the back porch, watching the sparring. I had seen her work with Wrath a couple of times, and she moved with grace and beauty.
I rubbed a hand over my flat belly. In nine months, Ryker and I would welcome our first child. We had been standing in the middle of the kitchen two days ago when Ryker dropped to his knees in front of me. He placed his ear to my belly, and a smile spread across his face. I had felt off for a couple days, but when Ryker said he heard a heartbeat, excitement coursed through me. Then he said he heard two. I almost fainted. Shifter hearing was good, but I was hoping he’d heard wrong. Two little ones would turn our world upside down.
The pack was excited about the new member. A few even told me they heard two heartbeats as well. My mate, on the other hand, had become way too protective and was on the verge of driving me crazy. But no matter how crazy he made me, I always wanted him by my side.
He walked up and said something to Wrath that made her throw her head back and laugh. The pack was full of laughter with everyone home and no more crazy demons trying to attack. Tyler and Sasha were both heading to Harvard. He’d gotten a scholarship to play basketball, and they expected Sasha to go to med school. Mary was worried about her daughter going out of state, but she knew it was the right path for both of them.
The local pack doctor had checked my mom out, and she didn’t have any lasting damage from her years in captivity. Her memories still hadn’t come back, and I knew it frustrated her that she couldn’t remember more. The doctor had told us they might come back over time and not to stress over it.
Dr. Henderson thought my mom had only survived because of her genetics. We knew Mom and Kali might be related, but we didn’t know how. Wrath had killed her before we could ask. Mom and I had spent hours reading through books, seeing if any of them talked about her parents. We were starting to think Kali might’ve been lying about Jasmin being her sister. Also, Lucifer didn’t remember much about Jasmin. He was trying to figure out how someone erased parts of her from his mind.
Ryker walked up on the porch and pulled me into his arms.
“What did you say to Wrath?” I asked. “I could hear her laugh over here.”
My sexy mate pulled me over to the white bench swing. “I told her she was getting slow and we might need to call in Lust to take over.”
I smiled at the thought. Wrath fought dirty with swords and magic. Lust wielded her powers to win.
“How was work today?” Ryker asked.
That was a sore subject between Ryker and me. He thought running the PI firm was too dangerous and didn’t understand that the bail jumpers I went after didn’t have magic or want to raise the dead. My job was a lot safer than the underworld.
Michelle still worked as my receptionist and was dating Archer. She had quickly become accustomed to the supernatural world and had spent time over at our house, watching my sister take on half the pack. She and Archer had decided to take things slowly, though I thought it was more Michelle than Archer. His eyes burned with love each time he looked at her. If I had to guess, I would bet Michelle was his mate, and he would wait until the end of time for her to be ready.
“Work was good. I took down two bounties and netted close to ten thousand dollars.”
Paxdon walked onto the deck and tossed Ryker a beer. “You, my lady, can’t drink any more beer, but I brought you a cup of decaf coffee.”
I reached up and grabbed the cup. It didn’t compare to the real stuff, but in nine months, I could drink my liquid gold again. “Did you decide to come live around here also?”
Ryker had been about to take a sip of his beer when I asked the question. His hand stopped in midair.
Paxdon’s smile spread across his face. “I would love to, but my home is in hell.”
Ryker let out an audible breath. “So, what brings you here today and without Lucifer?”
Paxdon blushed. “Lucifer is working on a surprise for both of you. He can’t wait for his grandbaby to come.”
I held up my hand. “No surprises. What is he doing? Unless it’s kidnapping Carlton the leprechaun, I don’t want it.”
“You know, it hurts my feelings that you no longer want me as your pet as well. No, he is not kidnapping Carlton. Leprechauns bite. Lucifer is in the process of building you a summer home in hell, and he expects you to raise your child part-time in hell.”
“Nope. Not going to happen, and I will tell the big guy that myself. I’ve never even been to hell.”
Paxdon shifted, clearly uncomfortable. “That is the other reason I’m here. He wants me to bring you back for a visit.”
“Again, not going to happen.” I crossed my arms over my chest. No matter how much my sisters talked about hell, I wasn’t ready to visit.
“Can you take me?” my mother asked. I hadn’t realized she’d stopped watching Wrath fight and was listening to the conversation.
“Yes. When do you want to go?”
“Mom, do you really want to go to hell?”
My mother leaned over and gave me a hug, and it ended too soon. “I need to figure out more of my past. Maybe someone or something can help trigger a memory.”
I stood and pulled my mom back into my arms. “Are you sure hell is the best place to try? We can find more books.”
Jasmin cupped my face. “I need answers, Paldon. Not knowing is killing me, and I think we’ve read every book under the sky. Let me do this. You can always come visit, and I will be back before the babies are born.”
“Baby,” I muttered. The doctor’s equipment had lied when it showed two. I didn’t sign up for two, so we were going with one no matter how many people told me I was wrong.
“Bye, Paldon,” my mom whispered before she and Paxdon vanished.
* * *
That night, I lay in bed next to Ryker. We were both naked, and I draped my body across his. I couldn’t get enough of the man and wanted to always be near him.
Ryker ran his hand over my claiming mark on my shoulder. Two nights after getting back from Georgia, Ryker and I had finished our mating. Ever since we mated, Ryker had magic as well, and he was getting the hang of the black bulbs of magic easier than I had. My speed and strength had increased. When researching how to get Mom’s memories back, I had looked to see if it was normal for powers to cross during mating, but I hadn’t found any information yet.
“Are you okay with your mom leaving?” Ryker asked softly.
“I didn’t want her to leave. I’m worried about something happening to her. We had so many years apart. I don’t know what I would do if she disappeared again. But her going to hell to see if she can find answers is a good decision—as long as she’s back before the baby is born.”
“Babies.” Ryker laughed.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not ready to admit babies yet.”
“I hope we have a boy and a girl. Can you imagine a little girl with your long brown hair and blue eyes?”
“Honestly, I thought you wouldn’t want a girl. Can you imagine all the little boys wanting to take her out on dates?”
Ryker frowned. “She can’t date.”
“Gosh, I can’t believe we mated and are having our first kid. Two months ago, I did everything to stay away from you. I thought I would tarnish your name because of my old alpha. But you should’ve been the alpha when everything happened.”
“I hate that I did this to you.” Ryker ran his hand down my face. T
he scar was still gone, but I still felt a tingling where it used to be. “I should have taken my place, then you would never have had this happen.”
“Never think that way. Everything happens for a reason. No matter who the alpha was, Glen and Kali still would’ve tried to rule the world and take Lucifer out. I love you, Ryker, and no matter what happened in our past, I wouldn’t change it because I ended up here with you.”
“How did I get so lucky to have you as a mate?” Ryker asked as he ran his hand down my side.
“You’re not the only lucky one. I have you. And we have everyone else in this pack. Mary’s so excited for the twins. With Tyler and Sasha leaving, it will give her something to take her mind off them being gone. We are a team and would be a better team if we could keep Carlton.
“I love you,” I whispered as I shifted to be on top of Ryker. His gray eyes flashed silver, another change since our mating. We had so many questions, but that moment, I wanted my man. “Now let me show you how much I love you.”
“I know you do.” Ryker’s words came out as a groan. “You are stunning, Paldon, and I’m the luckiest man to have you. I’m all yours,” he added after a minute.
I grinned at his hard erection between my legs. We had made love each night since we mated, and each time was better than the last. Ryker pulled my shirt off, and the second it was over my head, I worked on pulling Ryker’s gym shorts down. Need burned inside me as I gripped Ryker’s member and positioned it against me.
“Wait,” he said, grabbing my hips and stopping me from sliding down.
“Please, Ryker, I need you.” My words came out breathlessly
He rolled me over onto my side. “I want to taste you first.”
“I need you in me, Ryker. I need my man, please.”
Ryker must’ve seen something in my eyes, because he positioned his cock and slid forward. My back arched, and he pressed a finger to my clit. The added sensation brought me close to the edge as Ryker slowly worked his member in and out. He locked his eyes with me, and I could feel the love and tenderness. Ryker was breathtaking, and I couldn’t imagine my life any other way.
“Faster.”
“Better?” Ryker asked.
He reached down and pinched my pearl, sending me over the edge, and I screamed Ryker’s name.
Two more thrusts, and Ryker went over the edge as well. A minute or two passed before he rolled over and pulled me to his chest.
“Will it always be like that?”
Ryker ran his hand down my arm. “When the twins come, we might need to go quicker or hide so we can be together.”
“Twins, Ryker—what are we going to do?”
“We will figure it out. They will be here in nine months.”
Epilogue
Ten months later.
“How cute!” Mom gushed.
Paxdon had shifted into his pandacorn and was snuggling with Riley and Rex. My twins giggled as he blew raspberries on their tummies.
“Paxdon loves the twins. He comes at least once a week to spend time with them,” Ryker mumbled. He always complained when Paxdon showed up, but I could tell he enjoyed his friend coming to visit.
We were having our monthly barbecue, and it was the first get-together since the twins had come home—Riley, our precious baby girl, and Rex, our demanding little boy. Everyone from the neighborhood had shown up.
Michelle and Archer were still together, but they couldn’t make the barbecue because Archer needed to take care of something in Europe. He’d said he needed her help, and from the happy tone in her voice, I knew she would do anything for him. She didn’t tell me what it was but said that everything was okay.
“Do you think they are going to kill each other?” my mom asked Ryker and pointed at Wrath and Atieno, who were standing at the end of the yard, having a heated conversation.
Ethan walked over and handed Ryker a beer. Over the past few months, Ethan had fixed up the Georgia pack, and he and his brothers visited often. We had spent hours talking about our time apart. I was still trying to deal with the fact that I’d never questioned anything and my friends had paid for my mistake.
Ryker took the beer and answered my mom, “I understand what Atieno did back then, though I don’t like it. Wrath might care for Atieno as a friend, but she will always blame him for her husband’s death.”
Wrath turned and stormed off into the woods. She would be gone for a few days. I wished we could find someone to make her happy.
I turned toward Ethan. “Are you dating anyone?”
Ethan narrowed his eyes. “I like my life the way it is.”
“Really? Alone? I think Wrath is a good catch.”
Ryker laughed. “Run, man. Do you realize your father-in-law would be the devil? She hid it from me until I fell in love with her.”
“Liar,” I teased. “You know you love my dad.”
As if we’d mentioned him too many times, smoke wafted from the center of the deck, and Lucifer appeared. “Where are my little demons?”
Rex and Riley squealed when they saw Lucifer. My father showed up a few times a week to play with our kids, and Ryker and I were planning to go to hell in the next month to check out our vacation home. With Mom spending so much time there, she’d made sure the place would feel like home for us.
Rex burst out crying when Lucifer picked Riley up first. I went to get up, when my mom clutched her head and let out a scream that rivaled my son’s. When she looked up, tears were running down her face. That had happened a few times over the past ten months. Something would trigger a new memory, and she would get a piercing pain in her head.
“Mom, did you get another memory?” I kneeled in front of her.
“A memory of the day you were born flashed through my mind. But you weren’t my only baby born that day. I had twins.”
Hell’s Touch
Something other than a thirst for justice runs in her veins…
The past couple weeks have been rough for Pandora, even for a badass police detective on the fast track for promotion.
First, she’s forced to use her magic to save her grandmother from some goon looking to get on Lucifer’s good side. But is Grandma grateful? Nooo, all Pandora gets is a lecture about how she should keep her head down and act “normal”.
Next, she loses her best friend in a car accident from which Pandora herself walks away without a scratch. As if dealing with that load of guilt isn’t enough, she’s got a new partner, Atieno.
As Pandora and Atieno investigate a string of bodies turning up without a mark on them—but definitely not dead of natural causes—she’s having trouble resisting the heat building between them. But when push comes to hellfire, she doesn’t hesitate to make a choice that will change everything.
1
"Run, Pandora," my grandmother shouted as she cut the head off a red demon whose blood now covered the living room carpet. "You need to leave."
"Not going to happen!" I yelled back.
"Must die," a demon snarled. For being only three feet tall, these demons packed a punch when they attacked.
Grandma and I had been sitting, having our afternoon tea, as we did every Sunday, when a purple portal opened in the living room. The first wave of demons caught Grandma and me off guard.
These creatures had invaded our house, well, Grandma's house. I didn't live there anymore. The room was filled with evil. Demons, trolls, even a gnome. Each creature’s eyes were as black as coal, and the foam dripping from their mouths reminded me of a baby's drool. The one charging toward me chanted a language I had never heard. Grandma waved her arms and let out a blast of magic at the demon. He flew across the room and hit the white wall with a thud, rattling the pictures.
A ball of red magic swirled toward my head. I grabbed the white fluffy throw pillow off the couch and batted the magic. Instead of knocking the magic in another direction, the pillow disintegrated in my hands. The evil demon snarled at me, showing his yellow teeth. Grandma screamed, and the demon turned
his attention to her side of the room. I used the opportunity to slam a lamp over his head.
Unlike my grandmother's magic, mine didn't help in a fight. She could send balls of magic and other objects toward our enemies. The magic that coursed through my body wouldn't do any good fighting the demons and trolls in the room. I reached for the gun at my side and groaned when I realized it wasn't there.
"Now are you going to let me carry my weapon in the house?" I grumbled over the grunt of the demon losing his head.
My grandma turned and flipped me off before sending another ball of magic toward the demons lining the living room. "Don't throw my rules back at me during a fight. Stick your head through the portal, and see where it goes."
"Nope," I yelled as I side-kicked another enemy. "That's a good way to lose your head. We don't know what's on the other side."
The room vibrated with magic. I glanced from the portal to Grandma, and she tilted her hands toward the ceiling, chanting something so low I couldn't hear what she said. Her long gray hair whipped around her as her magic swirled up her body. The room of demons became quiet. When Grandma Cloven opened her eyes, they were crystal white, and I barely had time to duck before she let her magic loose on the room. I dove behind the couch.
White light flashed around the room, followed by the sound of bodies hitting the ground. I peeked over the couch to see dead demons and trolls sprawled across the floor. Grandma slumped down in the chair next to her and rested her head on her hand. However, the enemy wasn't done. One troll, another gnome, and two demons leaped through the portal.
They all headed toward Grandma. She was right. We needed to figure out how to close the portal, or this fight would go on all day. I glanced toward Grandma. She was fighting the troll and one of the demons at the same time. She grabbed a broom to defend herself. It would take a little while for her to have enough energy to use her magic again. In the corner sat the gnome, shooting arrows at me. The last demon guarded him. I struggled not to wince as I took a step toward the gnome. I didn't want to show I was hurt. Grandmother's words floated through my mind: "Never show weakness."
Fated Mates of the Underworld, Books 1-3 Page 14
