Maybe that was for the best.
It might be hard to get groceries if she had horns or a forked tail.
She shook her head and opened the bathroom door. Iradon and Admar stood by the door, talking quietly.
“So, what, are you guys friends now?” she asked incredulously.
Admar grinned at her. “Plaid suits you,” he said.
“Plaid doesn’t suit anyone,” she snorted. “But I’m serious. Are you guys cool now?”
Iradon’s jaw tightened. “We have an agreement,” he said.
Admar chuckled. “That means yes. We seem to have a similar problem.”
Jackie looked at them suspiciously. “What’s that?”
“Neither one of us wants you to be Queen of Hell,” Iradon said.
Her stomach tightened. “So you’re going to take me home? No going west like a flock of geese?”
Admar raised an eyebrow. “Geese don’t go west.”
“Trust the cat to know what the birds do in their spare time,” she said wryly. “Anyway, you get my point. You’re taking me home.”
“Not exactly.” Iradon lifted the lantern and Jackie’s eyes followed the green glow of the flame inside the etched glass. “We can’t take you home until the lantern has been put back where it belongs.”
“What? That doesn’t make any sense—”
“It has to be destroyed,” Admar said quickly. “We can do it, but we have to be fast.”
“Destroy it?” Jackie was starting to feel desperate. “That’s easy. Just put it in the parking lot and we’ll drive over it. Or I’ll smash it with a rock, or… something!”
Admar stepped toward her and laid a hand on her shoulder. The heat of his palm burned into her flesh, but she didn’t flinch away. “We have to take it back to its resting place, then you’ll be able to destroy it.”
“But why, this is all so confusing.”
“The lantern has a powerful magic,” Iradon said. “You’ve felt it, we all do. The closer we come to its cradle, the stronger the flame becomes, and the weaker the lantern’s magic is. If we get it to the cradle—”
“Then it can be broken,” Admar finished. “And we’ll all be free.”
Jackie swallowed hard. “So you’ve done this before, right? This is a sure thing?”
The demons looked at each other and then back to her.
“Well, obviously we haven’t done it before, or we wouldn’t be here,” Admar said primly.
“Great. So if it doesn’t work, I still get to be the Devil’s bride, is that what you’re telling me? When I was little girl I didn’t plan out my dream wedding with my dolls like my friends did. I didn’t even want my Barbies to hook up with Ken! I don’t want to marry anyone. Especially not Satan!! For fuck’s SAKE!”
She was ranting and pacing now, and she knew that she wasn’t making any sense, but that didn’t matter. If this ‘plan’ of theirs didn’t work, she was still screwed.
“You have to trust us,” Iradon said.
Jackie stopped packing and stared at him incedulously. “Trust you?” she spluttered. “Trust you? You’re demons. Both of you! How do I know that you’re not just… messing with me? Isn’t this all part of it? Torture the human a little for fun before condemming her to a life of torment as the Devil’s plaything?”
“Three hundred years, actually,” Admar said.
Jackie let out an unintelligible screech and buried her face in her hands. “This is insane. It’s all insane. This is all a concussion dream. Or I’m dead and this is my purgatory. I’m just going to have to wander the earth with these two infernal fuckwits for all eternity—”
She stiffened as two sets of arms encircled her and held her tightly. “We’re not messing with you,” Admar said softly. “We might have messed around with you, but we’re not messing with you.”
“We want to be rid of this thing,” Iradon said. “And we’ll do whatever it takes to free you of it.”
Jackie dared to look up at them. Iradon’s dark eyes, rimmed with red flame, and Admar’s pale green eyes, catlike and haunting, mets hers unflinchingly.
“But you’re using me as bait,” she said softly.
“You’ll have to be brave,” Iradon said.
She shook her head. “I’m not brave. I’m just some chick who can’t catch a break.”
“We’re here to change that,” Admar said. “Some mistakes can be fixed.”
Jackie glared at him. “It’s your fault I’m in this mess to begin with,” she said. She struggled out of their heated embrace and stepped back. The lantern was on the edge of the bed and she pointed at it accusingly. “You’re the one who put me on this… path or whatever it is.”
Admar shook his head. “You were on the shortlist,” he said. “It’s not like you can blame me for that.”
“Shut up,” Jackie snapped. “We’re not here to talk about my bullshit.”
“Well, we kind of are.”
“Shut it.” She started to pace again, but kept her eyes on the lantern. “I don’t really have a choice in all this, do I?”
Iradon shook his head.
“Not really,” Admar replied. “We have to take the lantern to its cradle. And you have to destroy it.”
“Me.”
“Yes,” the demons said in unison.
“Great. Well. Let’s get on the goddamn road then, shall we?”
Iradon grabbed the lantern and Admar stepped past her to open the door. “After you,” he said gallantly. Jackie just scowled at him and stomped out into the early morning dark. It was cold, and the wind was sharper than she had expected.
“Were getting close,” Admar said as their boots crunched across the gravel.
“Close to what?”
Admar pointed up at the waning moon.
“All Hallows,” he said.
Jackie frowned up at the sky. “What the hell does that mean? Discounted candy? I’m into that.”
“Not exactly.”
Jackie rolled her eyes and groaned. “If you’re going to give me some bullshit story about the veil being thinner or some shit, I’m just going to hurl myself into traffic to make all of this end.”
Iradon chuckled and put an arm around her waist to pull her into his side. “That probably wouldn’t work either.”
“You’re so reassuring.”
He hugged her tighter and she pushed him away, but her cheeks were warm when she did it. These assholes were really starting to grow on her. She could get used to having two demons around. Except that it was probably all a dream and she was going to wake up in the hospital with stitches and a major headache.
Admar opened the passenger door for her and she slid into the seat with a sigh. “I thought I’d be banished to the backseat for the rest of the drive.”
“Nah, Iradon’s lightened up a little,” Admar said with a sharp grin.
“Shut up,” iradon grumbled as he passed Jackie the lantern.
She held it gently and looked into the green flame. “It’s brighter, isn’t it?”
Admar nodded and opened the rear door. “It’s only going to get brighter. We’re running out of time.”
“Let’s go then,” she sighed. “But I was serious about the pancakes.”
Iradon growled, but then relented. “Fine.” He closed her door and jogged around to the driver’s side.
As Iradon jumped into the driver’s seat, she placed a hand on his muscular thigh and relished the heat that radiated up into her palm. Admar reached over the passenger seat to rub her shoulder and Jackie smiled at him. Yeah, she could get used to this.
“Are we there yet?” she asked for the thousandth time.
Four words she never thought she’d have to say so often.
Iradon glanced at the lantern she held in her lap. “Almost.”
Jackie laughed and leaned back in her seat to stretch her cramped muscles. They’d only stopped twice since they’d left the roadside motel. Once so she could use the bathroom and a second time for anothe
r quick round of backseat sex that had left her head spinning and her body trembling with heat and an almost demonic satisfaction.
“Finally! I thought you’d never say that.”
“There!” Admar shouted. “There take that exit!”
“Exit? There aren’t any markers!”
Admar was agitated and he moved in the backseat as though he were going to fling open the door and jump out of the car. “I don’t need a marker,” he snarled. “Just turn. HERE!”
Iradon swore, hit the brakes, and turned an almost ninety-degree corner to hit a dirt road that appeared between the trees.
“Are you kidding me,” Jackie shouted in surprise.
The car bounced wildly as they hit the first at highway speed and she held onto the lantern and edge of the seat tightly to keep from being thrown around like a hamster in a ball.
Iradon’s hands were tight on the wheel, and his jaw was clenched, sharp teeth bared in concentration as he tried to get control of the car and keep them on the narrow dirt road. Trees rushed by, and Jackie closed her eyes as a branch struck the windscreen.
“Shit!”
The car jerked as Iradon jammed both feet into the brake pedal and the car slid on the dirt. Jackie let out a thin scream and Admar’s arm came around the passenger seat to hold her back against it as the car lurched and spun.
All at once, the car was still and Jackie dared to open her eyes. One at a time. They were sideways on the road, the nose of the car was edged up against a tree and the car was filled with the sound of heavy breathing and barely contained curses.
“What the hell was that?” Iradon snarled.
“The turn,” Admar snapped in reply.
“And you couldn’t have warned me sooner?”
“I didn’t know it was coming!”
Iradon let out a rough laugh that was almost a bark. “You should have known—you’re the only one in this car that’s an actual lantern guardian. You should know this shit!”
Admar’s arm tightened around Jackie’s shoulders and she shifted in her seat. “Well I didn’t!” he shouted back.
Jackie pushed Admar’s arm off her chest and turned in her seat to look at both of them. “Guys. Fucking stop it! We’re not dead, we made the turn, and the car still starts, right?”
Iradon slammed his hand against the steering wheel and then closed his eyes and tried to start the car. The engine turned, and then shuddered, and then turned again.
“Amazing,” Jackie said bitterly. “So we’re walking? How far is it?”
Admar shrugged.
Jackie pressed a hand to her forehead. “You two are hopeless. If I’d known that I would be kidnapped by the most useless of hell’s minions I might have had second thoughts about taking that job.”
“Get out of the car,” Iradon growled.
“Yeah, yeah. Nature walk time,” Jackie grumbled.
She flung off her seatbelt and kicked open the passenger door. Her legs were stiff and she staggered just a little as she stepped out of the car. Admar moved to help her, but she pushed his hand away. “I can walk just fine,” she said.
He chuckled at her refusal but it didn’t stop him from walking beside her.
“So. Where are we going?” she asked as Iradon slammed his door shut and stomped over to them.
“The lantern will tell you,” Admar said. “Close your eyes, you’ll feel it.”
Jackie made a face at him and then looked down at the lantern. “This is going to tell me where to go?”
He nodded. “Close your eyes.”
“This is all bullshit, I hope you know that,” she muttered, but she closed her eyes anyway. The lantern was heavy in her hands, and for a moment she didn’t feel anything, just the weight of the metal handle against her palm.
She was just about to say something completely unhelpful when she felt a gentle vibration shudder through her arm. She froze in place and concentrated on the sensation.
“What the hell,” she whispered.
“Concentrate.” Admar’s whisper was right in her ear and she squeezed her eyes shut tight.
“I can feel—” she whispered.
“Where is it telling you to go?”
“Forward,” she said, and the lantern’s vibration moved to the front of her palm, pulling her.
“The lantern will guide us now, you’re just going to have to be our compass.”
Jackie opened her eyes and looked at the lantern. The flame was leaning forward inside the etched glass, pointing the way.
“I was always shit at orienteering,” she said.
“Doesn’t matter,” Admar said. “The lantern knows where to go.”
“Lucky me,” she muttered. The only way forward was the first road and Jackie straightened her shoulders and started to walk forward. Iradon on her left, Admar on her right. The hellcat reached out and took her hand. He squeezed her fingers gently as they walked and she was grateful for the small gesture of comfort. They would protect her. At least, that was what she hoped. She couldn’t chase away the thought that they were using her as bait—and if this all failed, there would be no escape for her.
Ten
She looked over at the demon again and felt a ripple run through her body as Iradon slid a hand up her shirt and rubbed his palm over her breasts. She bit back a moan as she realized she didn’t care if the demon watched. In fact, she might have liked the idea a little more than she realized.
“No,” she murmured, “I’m not afraid of anything when you’re here.”
“Good answer,” Admar purred.
Iradon’s fingers plucked at her nipples and Jackie moaned against Admar’s neck as she leaned against them.
Admar’s other hand held her chin gently as he kissed her, and then slid down her body and into the waistband of her jeans and the elastic of her borrowed boxers. She let out a gasping breath as Admar’s hand dipped between her thighs and slipped between her already wet pussy lips. The heat of his fingers only drove her arousal higher and she writhed against his touch, urging him to move his fingers to her clit.
Iradon chuckled against her neck as his fingers plucked and teased at her nipples and she could only moan helplessly as they drove her closer and closer to climax.
A muffled groan from across the chapel drew her attention and Jackie looked over to where the other demon had been leaning against one of the pews. He was not leaning now, and his black eyes shone with lust. She could see the outline of his cock under the coveralls he had thrown over his nakedness and her eyes widened as she saw the length of it.
“You said you didn’t mind an audience,” Iradon growled against her throat.
“I don’t mind,” she moaned as Admar’s fingers slid into her pussy. She moved her hips, riding him gently, and beckoned to the third demon with the hand that wasn’t buried in Iradon’s hair. “Do you mind if he comes to play?”
Iradon growled into her throat and bit her neck playfully. “Anything you want. This is about you.”
Moz’gethen stood and walked toward them slowly and Jackie moaned hungrily as Admar’s fingers moved inside her, fucking her faster. His thumb pressed against her clit, rubbing maddeningly, and she bucked her hips to encourage him.
“Come on, Moz,” Admar said with a grin. “She wants you.”
“The woman who resisted the lure of hell and all its pleasures,” the demon murmured as he came closer.
“Tough choice,” Jackie moaned. The demon knelt in front of her and placed his hands on her hips. Jackie gasped as his fingers burned deliciously against her skin.
Admar had already worked the buttons on her jeans loose, so it took no effort for Moz to slide her jeans and boxers down her thighs.
Jackie panted with need and looked down to where Admar’s hand worked feverishly between her thighs. He grinned up at her with his sharp teeth and catlike eyes and her head fell back as a wave of pleasure coursed through her. Iradon had pushed up her shirt and his mouth and tongue teased at her breasts, the heat of it dr
iving her closer and closer to the edge.
As the third demon tossed her jeans to the side and moved between her thighs, Admar slipped his fingers from her pussy and Jackie groaned at the loss of the heat and fullness. He drew his hand up her body and pushed his fingers into her mouth and she held his eyes as she sucked her juices off his fingers.
She could feel the third demon’s hands on her thighs and her eyes closed. She moaned around Admar’s fingers and he removed them from between her lips to kiss her gently.
She focused on the kiss, clinging to Iradon’s shoulders as Moz’gethen’s claws scraped lightly over the tender flesh of her thighs. Her gasp of surprise became a low moan as she felt the demon’s tongue lick against her pussy. The concentrated heat of his touch was almost too much to bear, and her back arched convulsively.
“Hold her,” Iradon murmured against her breasts.
Admar moved quickly and pulled her against his chest, his legs on either side of her to support her while her body shuddered.
Iradon leaned across, lavishing attention on her swollen nipples as Admar stroked her hair, kissing her neck and face.
Jackie cried out as the demon between her thighs placed his hands behind her knees and pushed them up, opening her pussy to him. She reached down to rub her clit, but Iradon beat her to it, and she moaned loudly as her orgasm began to build. Moz’gethen’s long tongue, as thick as Admar’s fingers, plunged into her pussy and she reached down to hold his obsidian horns as his forked tongue thrust in and out of her.
“I can’t,” she whispered. “I can’t—”
“Hold on, princess,” Admar whispered in her ear. “Hold on.” His rough tongue scraped against the side of her neck and Jackie felt the whole world shudder as her orgasm ripped through her body. Her cries echoed off the rafters of the chapel and she fell limply against Admar’s chest, cradled within the heat of her three demonic lovers. Frantic movements slowed, and cries of desperate passion slowed to moans and gasps. Moz’gethen’s demonic tongue licked at her gently and coaxed the last tremors of pleasure from her exhausted body while Admar cuddled her close and Iradon kissed her lips.
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