Daemon Deception

by Mariah Ankenman

  Anytime.

  He’d just finished a sparring session with Saint and his mind had wandered to the sexy Witch. He knew she was down here working with Krista. When she bolted after dinner last night, he wondered if she had changed her mind. He worried he had done something to upset her. Judging from the way she currently undressed him with her eyes, he attributed last night to her eagerness to get to work.

  He loved the way her mind worked. How diligent she was when faced with a puzzle. He may have wished for a speedier discovery when she first arrived, but after he saw how hard she worked—skipping meals, falling asleep at her desk in exhaustion—he had to admit, the lady put work first. That was sexy as hell, for some strange reason.

  “How goes the check up?”

  Celia’s eyes remained hazy with lust. He loved her dedication to her work, but also found it nice to know the sight of him could distract her.

  “As Marry Poppins says, ‘I’m practically perfect in every way,’ ” Krista said with a smile while Celia remained mute.

  He nodded.

  “I’m just waiting to get some blood work back from the lab.” Celia finally spoke, snapping out of her stare with a blush.

  So sexy when she blushed. Hell, she was sexy when she did anything. Oh yeah, he had it bad.

  “Ooooookay.” Krista slid off the exam table. “I guess that’s my cue to leave. I’ll just go now and lock the door on my way out.”

  The young woman winked at him as she left the room.

  Celia ducked her head. Her glasses slipped down her nose and she pushed them back up, refusing to meet his gaze. Instead, she read from the chart in her hands.

  “All of Krista’s vitals are beyond good. Her heart rate is the same as a Daemon, but she’s still human. Until I get the lab work back, I’m afraid we won’t know what exactly she is and—”

  He took two large strides and placed a finger over her lips. Silencing her.

  “Celia?” Tipping up her chin with his thumb, those amazing emerald eyes finally looked into his own.

  “Hmmm?”

  Bending down, he replaced his finger with his mouth. A soft kiss. At least, it started out that way. He only meant it as a hello kiss, but the second their lips touched, she let out a deep throaty moan. Damien snapped. The inviting sound coming from this woman broke all his control.

  One hand grasped the back of her neck, angling her head for a better fit. His tongue came out to stroke her lips. She opened for him, eagerly. Shock rolled through him as Celia grasped his shirt in her small hands and tugged him closer. In all their interactions, she had never been the aggressor. He pressed his body against hers willingly, never one to refuse a lady.

  His left hand came up to caress her hip. She wiggled against him, rising onto her toes to rub herself against his erection. He was so hard right now it hurt. He wanted nothing more than to rip his pants off, push her skirt up and sink into the heaven he knew waited for him under there.

  The fact no man had ever touched Celia in an intimate way made him want to roar like a lion. She was his. She chose him to share herself with above all others.

  That fact put pressure on a guy. He had to make sure everything was perfect for her, because she was perfect. She deserved flowers and romance, a big soft bed with candles and sweet-smelling rose petals. Not a quickie in a cold, sterile, exam room. Though he swore it might kill him to do so, he tore his mouth from hers and stepped back.

  His breath came out in heavy pants. “Sweetheart, we have to stop.”

  Her face was flushed, lips swollen from his kisses, breathing as erratic as his. “Why?”

  “Your first time shouldn’t be on an exam table. We need a bed. The first time should be special. You need romance. Music, flowers, hell, I’ll even bring you a stack of books so you can do a little research during the afterglow.”

  She laughed softly at his joke. Delicate hands reached up to stroke his jaw. “I don’t need all that, Damien. I just need you.”

  Damn. The woman could bring him to his knees with simple words. Mine. The thought screamed in his mind.

  “You will have a bed.” His voice was harsh with need, but he was centuries old. He could contain himself. “We need somewhere to rest in between.”

  “In between?”

  He smiled at Celia’s confused look. Turning her around, he pulled her close. Her back pressed to his front. He ground his erection against her ass. Sliding his hands up her waist and around her ribcage, he grasped one breast in each hand. Damn, she was good at hiding the size of these treasures. He caressed them, running his thumbs over her stiff peaked nipples before gently pinching them between his thumb and forefinger.

  She gasped, pressing back into him.

  “Once I’m inside you, Celia, I’m going to spend all night giving you the most intense pleasure you have ever known.” He whispered the words in her ear, taking a soft love bite at her lobe. “How about a sneak preview?”

  “Yes.” The word came out as a moan.

  He smiled. One hand continued its ministrations on her breast while the other slid down her body, past her hip to rest at the hem of her skirt.

  “These damn skirts are like freaking fetish wear. Do you know how many times I’ve imagined bending you over a desk, pushing this skirt up and burying myself inside you?”

  He was afraid the crude words might offend her, but he hung on by a thread here. To his surprise, Celia said, “Gods yes, let’s do that.”

  Well, well, his little Witch had a kinky side did she?

  “All in good time, sweetheart.” He inched his hand up and inside her skirt. “All in good time.”

  His fingers found smooth, naked flesh and his cock got even harder. Running up the inside of her thigh, he lightly petted her until he came to that sweet spot between her legs. One touch and he knew how much she wanted him. She made a soft mewling sound when he rubbed her.

  “Yesssss, Damien. More.”

  Ever the one to oblige, he slipped his hand up and into the waistband of her underwear. His fingers encountered coarse thick curls he knew were as fiery red as her hair. His hand moved lower, rubbing over her. She squirmed in his arms and he damn near lost it.

  “More, Damien, please more.”

  One finger pressed gently inside her while he used the heel of his hand to rub softly against her. She bucked against him, hips surging. One hand still focused on her magnificent breast, he used the other to push two fingers deep inside. Her inner walls clutched at his fingers. Oh gods, she was going to strangle his cock once he got inside her. He could hardly wait.

  Her breathing became rapid, her body tensed. She was close. One of her hands came up to grasp the back of his neck. She twisted her head and brought his lips to hers. He feasted on her sweet mouth while his fingers pumped deep and fast inside her. Her hips met him stroke for stroke. Her ass rubbed against his cock, causing pleasant friction.

  He felt her body stiffen. She pressed against him hard as her orgasm crested. She clenched his fingers and he swore he felt it in his dick. Then the little Witch dug her nails into his neck and bit his lip. Just the slightest little love nip, but enough to send him over the edge. He pressed hard against her, wringing out the last of her orgasm and doing what he hadn’t done since he was a young man many, many years ago.

  Gods, if simple foreplay with Celia was this explosive, what would actual sex be like? His mind once again whispered the word mine. Gazing down at the red-haired beauty in his arms, Damien wondered if the voice was right.

  Chapter 14

  “Tonight’s the night. Are you ready?”

  Celia looked up from her books to see Damien standing in her office doorway. A week had passed since she first discovered the timeline for breaking the Kako spell. A week spent studying and preparing. After that morning in the exam room—she still blushed thinking about it—Krista’s lab work came back with some very interesting news.

  The young woman’s DNA was the perfect blend of human and Daemon. Never had she seen anythi
ng like it in all her years working for the council. There were no half supernaturals, until now. Krista was half-human, half-Daemon, an entirely new species.

  She wanted to study the girl further, but she had a spell to prep for and only days to do it. Breaking the confusion spell was easy, but the blood curse required more attention. Though she couldn’t stop it, she knew of a potion to lessen its effects. That was what she spent the last five days working on.

  The potion was tricky. Everything measured, cooked and added at precisely the right time. It also required an incantation while stirring. And since it was magic, the incantation was, of course, in Latin. Good thing she had a linguistics degree.

  Krista, Tabitha, and Kiernan left the day before. Heading to back to Colorado with Saint in tow. She had been sad to see them go, but truthfully, she couldn’t afford any distractions at the moment. Probably the very reason why the sexy Euadaemon standing in front of her right now had given her so much space in the last few days.

  After their moment in the exam room, Damien checked in with her, made sure she ate, but generally left her alone. A part of her worried it had nothing to do with her need to have time to prepare. The self-doubt that plagued her all her life worried he’d changed his mind. Perhaps, she hadn’t responded correctly when he had worked her body into a tight ball of need. What if he had decided her inexperience was just too much for him? A small part—okay, big part, very big part—of her worried just that.

  “Are you sure you have to do this?” His concerned gaze captured hers.

  She nodded. “Yes. It has to be me. Don’t look so worried, Damien. I’ll be fine.”

  His jaw locked. He took a step closer, filling the space with his commanding presence. “You have everything you need? All your preparations are done?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Now I can do this.”

  She didn’t get a chance to ask before he pulled her out of her chair and slammed his mouth down on hers. A kiss of hunger. Hot need and lust, but also tenderness and—if she wasn’t mistaken—longing. Had he missed her touch these past few days as much as she’d missed his?

  His lips worshiped hers as his tongue pushed into her mouth, taking the very breath from her body. Then he pulled away. He pressed his forehead to hers, both of their breathing shaky.

  “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve been right here.”

  Softly, he kissed his way down the side of her face. Her temple, cheek, jaw, and finally settled on her lips for a soft, sweet kiss.

  “I didn’t want to distract you. Breaking this spell is too important. We have to take these Kako bastards down and this is a big step in doing that. I know how important it was for you to prepare. I didn’t want to get in the way.”

  The self-conscious sigh eased out of her. He didn’t want to stop what they had started. He stayed away for her. How sweet.

  “You wouldn’t have been in the way, Damien.”

  He pulled back, giving her a wolfish grin. “Sweetheart, if I had spent more than five minutes alone with you, I would have been in the way.” He leaned toward her, lips brushing her ear. “In all the way.”

  She shivered. His meaning loud and clear. She wanted it as badly as he did. Maybe even more.

  “Tonight. After.” His words were a promise.

  “Tonight.” Anticipation now joined the anxiety flitting around in her stomach all day. In a few hours, she would break the confusion spell. Then they would have an advantage over the Kakos. After that, her work here ended and she would leave, but not before she spent some time in Damien’s bed. A month or two should do the trick. His hands roamed over her body, setting it ablaze.

  Okay, maybe longer.

  ****

  The moon, a large bright ball, hung high in the night sky. Beautiful. The sight should have been peaceful and reassuring. It wasn’t.

  Celia made her way through the dense trees. She heard the crunch of twigs and dirt beneath her feet. Odd, though she knew he was behind her, she couldn’t hear Damien. She felt him, though. His presence wrapped around her like a warm comforting blanket. She could use a big snuggly blanket right about now. A shiver wracked her body as chilly wind blew across her face. The climate was much damper here than in the mountains. She wasn’t used to the cold humidity could bring.

  She clutched her bag tight to her chest as she stepped over a fallen tree. Her bag contained all the items she needed for the spell and counter curse. Damien had offered to carry it for her, but she politely refused. She liked to keep her supplies on her person at all times when performing magic this important.

  Alex walked ahead of her. Their guard for the night. No one expected any trouble. The Kakos had no idea she’d discovered how to crack their language. Still, it paid to be prepared. Glancing at the large crossbow in Alex’s hand, the menacing bowie knife strapped to his thigh, and the broadsword hung in a scabbard across his back, Celia was glad the Frost Giant was on their side.

  “Will this work?” Alex turned his head to ask as they entered a small clearing in the middle of the woods.

  She glanced around to find them standing in a circle, a perfect circle of trees surrounding a lush thatch of green grass. She glanced up to the moon, in all its bright, full glory, almost directly over the small glen.

  “Yes. This is perfect.”

  “We only have a few Witches working for us, but this is where they come to do a lot of their spells.”

  She imagined so. The place held a hum of protective energy Celia felt resonating through her body. She swore she heard the wind whispering and the trees singing. The power was very strong here. Yes, this would do nicely.

  She moved to open her bag. A gentle hand on her shoulder stopped her. Turning her head, she gazed into beautiful gray eyes. Eyes full of apprehension.

  “Are you sure?” Damien asked.

  She didn’t take offense. He didn’t question her talent or knowledge. Clearly, the man only worried about her safety. It felt kind of nice. Having someone worry about her. Strange, but nice.

  “Everything will be all right, Damien. By this time tomorrow, we will know everything the Kakos say to each other.”

  Triumphant anticipation gleamed in his gaze.

  Alex took a position at the edge of the clearing. His gaze watchful, grip tight on the weapon in his hand. Damien, who sported a few sharp and pointies of his own, took a step back, allowing her to work.

  Celia took a deep breath. She could do this. She had to do this. Flipping open her bag, she reached in and grabbed the first item, salt. After casting a sacred circle, she sat cross-legged in the middle and retrieved the rest of her supplies: sage, candles, matches, the herb mixture for breaking the confusion spell, and finally the potion for the blood curse.

  Positioning the candles around her body, she formed a pentagram. Then she lit each one while muttering a prayer to the elements of the earth: dirt, wind, water, fire, air, and soul. Next, she lit the sage, smudging herself while reciting an Old Norse protection spell. It wouldn’t stop the blood curse, but she hoped it would lessen its effects. Setting the herb mixture in front of her, she glanced up.

  Damien stood just outside the circle. His gaze never left her. Reluctant determination etched in every line of his face. This had to be done. They both knew it. She’d willingly pay the price for breaking the spell. Didn’t mean she was excited about it.

  Damien nodded, giving her the last bit of courage she needed. Pulling the stopper on the curse potion, she tipped the vial up and downed it in one swallow.

  Oh, gods! This is awful stuff. It tasted like rancid milk and sweaty gym socks. It better do the trick when the time comes.

  Now for the real part of the show.

  Raising her hands to the moon, she started chanting.

  “Videamus quid erat in nubilo. Solvite verbis liberum oculos posuit. Terram cum vi quod seminatum commutabo. Confusa est, et elevabis ad fumum, ut sciatur.”

  After speaking the words, she dipped her hands into the bow
l. In a clockwise fashion, she sprinkled a bit of the herbs on each candle. The flames shot high into the air, surrounding her in a circle of flames.

  “Scientia potentia est!”

  She screamed the words into the night sky. The moon shone brightly above, its hue taking on a slight blue coloring. The air charged with power, power so rich her tongue burned with the taste of it. The flames scorched higher, hotter. The candles melted at an alarming rate. Celia felt a rush of energy flow from her body into the air.

  The candles snuffed out. The wind stopped. Everything fell still.

  “Did it work?” Alex asked.

  “I-I think so.” Something had certainly worked. She never felt power like that before.

  “What about the blood curse?” Damien nervously glanced at her.

  “I don’t know.” Maybe the protection smudge and her potion had worked. Could she have blocked the blood curse? Maybe she was a better Witch than she thou—

  “Ahhhhhhh!” Pain seared across her back, as if someone shoved a red-hot pitchfork into her spine and dragged it down her body.

  “Celia!”

  She heard Damien’s horrified cry, but it sounded so far away. She tried to stand, but the pain was too great. Pitching forward, she fell face first into the soft mossy ground. The wind picked up again. It blew against her burning hot back, but did nothing to cool the fire. Dark red liquid started to pool around her face and it took her a moment to realize the crimson fluid was, in fact, her blood.

  So much for my precautions.

  She welcomed the darkness that began to consume her. Her body screamed with pain. The darkness soothed her, the void empty, free of agony. Just before she lost consciousness, a pair of dark, eerily familiar eyes filled her vision. She shuddered, then slipped gratefully into the inky blackness that waited.

  Chapter 15

  He stared at her in the dark. Watching the rise and fall of her chest. He had to watch. To reassure himself she was, in fact, still breathing. Damien witnessed Celia break the confusion spell. Everything seemed fine. Then the blood curse took its toll.