Cursed Darkness (Angels of Fate Book 2)

by C. S. Wilde

  Rage swelled inside Liam. He bolted toward Hauk, smacking a punch so mighty that the demon fell to the ground.

  Liam jumped over him, his fists burning with black flames. He punched the demon once, leaving charred skin on the spot. “Her name was Firma!” He punched again, the hollow thud mingling with the hiss of burnt flesh. “Dhalia!” Again and again he punched. “Madeleine! Juarez!” He struck Hauk nonstop. It felt like pounding meat.

  He spotted a piece of the demon’s skull, blood and scabs already covering most of Hauk’s face.

  “You’ll pay for what you did to them!” He bawled as he punched. Hauk stopped moving, but Liam kept hitting him. “You’ll pay for what you made me do!”

  The demon’s bones cracked, his flesh shrunk, and then Hauk returned to his original size. Still, Liam kept punching. Without realizing, black flames had erupted from his entire body, singing all of Hauk, not just his face.

  Liam went on. Hellsdamned if he would let that monster hurt anyone else.

  A hand set on his shoulder and he jerked to his feet, expecting a demonic attack. He found Jal instead of the enemy.

  The left side of his friend’s face was swollen, and he was missing a tooth, but he still gave Liam his typically carefree smile. “Down, boy. We must interrogate Hauk.”

  Liam glanced at the unconscious demon, a disfigured mess of burnt flesh and broken bones. Hauk barely resembled anything close to human, but the prick was still breathing. “No. I end this tonight.”

  “We need to get to Master, remember?” Jal sighed despondently. “Hauk’s our only link.”

  Liam’s chest heaved up and down. “The things I had to do, Jal …”

  “… Will be for nothing if we don’t get to the man behind it all.”

  As much as he hated it, Jal was right.

  Liam took one deep breath, then walked away. He had to, otherwise he would finish the job.

  Only then did he notice the sounds of battle across the warehouse had ceased. All demons were either dead or gone.

  He found Lilith at the corner, helping Jophiel walk. The Seraph looked weak and broken. Light shone from underneath his veins, and for a moment, Liam feared he might dismantle into tiny pieces.

  Suther, the werewolf lord, watched them with crossed arms, still in his wolf form. He caught Liam’s eye and nodded.

  Look at that, he mused. The dogs came through.

  He soon found Pedro sprawled lifeless on the floor, his black eyes gaping at the ceiling. A holy sword pierced his chest all the way through his heart.

  Ezraphael stood beside the corpse, his silver bodysuit ripped and sprinkled with blood. He wiped sweat off his forehead and heaved a worn sigh before yanking the blade out of Pedro’s chest.

  Pedro deserved to die. He might not have been the worst demon Liam had ever met, but he was an evil bastard like the rest of them.

  So, why did he hate Ezraphael for killing the puto?

  Archie came forward, limping on one leg, and the Messenger promptly helped him balance. Darkness spread on the old man’s calf as he healed himself. His father was hurt, but he would survive.

  They all would.

  Jal stopped beside Liam and pointed to Ezraphael. “Told you he wasn’t bad.”

  “Jackass,” Liam grumbled with a smirk.

  He turned back around to see Jal had set a pair of blessed cuffs on Hauk’s wrists and ankles.

  “He’s ready and packed.” The demon rubbed his hands as a maleficent grin spread on his lips. “I can’t wait to interrogate him back at the Legion. You see, torture used to be a specialty of mine back in the day.” He toned down his excitement. “Not that I’m proud of it, of course.”

  “Of course,” Liam chuckled.

  He closed his eyes and bent his head back, taking a deep breath.

  It was all over. At least for now.

  A glint shimmered in his essence, coming from somewhere near the entrance of the warehouse. He opened his eyes to see Ava smiling at him.

  He smiled back, ready to take her in his arms and kiss those soft, rosy lips he missed so much. He had almost reached her when an invisible force stole all his breath.

  He bent over and watched Ava do the same, her blue stare wide and asking. His chest burned—no, it blazed. The light inside him swelled along with his darkness, aching to explode and connect with the forces inside her.

  Thunder boomed everywhere, and the ground shook beneath their feet. At first Liam thought he might be hallucinating, but dust and debris crashed down from the roof.

  “Heavens,” Jophiel muttered as Lilith helped him balance.

  A flash of light and darkness burst from Liam’s chest, scorching and relentless, but at the same time soothing and peaceful. It mingled with the storm that rushed from Ava’s own heart, a dance of light and dark equal to his.

  The forces connected and spread throughout the warehouse, filling it with absolute dark peppered by golden light. Liam didn’t know how or why, but he felt complete. As if he was opening a door inside Ava that led to himself.

  Ava stared at him as tears slipped down her cheeks. Their light and shadow flickered joyously around the space before sinking back into their chests. The connection remained, though. An invisible line of love and care that bound them together.

  Forever.

  The warehouse was dead silent. It seemed fitting that Jal was the one to say, “Hellsdamned! Was that what I think it was?”

  “No,” the Messenger said as he stepped closer to Ava. Liam’s Ava. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Whatever it was, it meant nothing.”

  “Ezraphael, no!” Jophiel shouted. “He’ll kill anyone who threatens the bond!”

  Too late. Fury and bloodthirst engulfed Liam, and he saw red. Common sense slipped away, replaced by something raw and untamed; a primeval force urging him into violence.

  She’s ours, his darkness whispered. We’re hers, the light countered.

  Kill him, they said in unison.

  Liam growled low in his chest, a draconian sound more monster than man. He guessed that’s what he was now; what he’d always been. It didn’t matter. He would make that asshole pay for touching what was his.

  Ezraphael balled his hands; his nostrils flared. “You’re not good for her.”

  The laugh that rolled up Liam’s chest was cruel and bitter. “Better than you, asshole.”

  His wings unfurled from his darkness and spread behind him. Liam flew toward the Messenger, his movements faster than he could register. He had already smacked a punch on Ezraphael’s face, then on his stomach. The Messenger barely saw him coming.

  Liam grabbed him by his collar and pushed him up, propelled by his brand-new wings. Ezraphael kicked his chest and stomach, but Liam kept thrusting until he smacked the Messenger on the ceiling.

  Liam tried to kick him, but the Messenger blocked his attack and jabbed his stomach, sending him on a downward spiral. Liam grabbed Ezraphael with his wings at the last minute and pulled him along.

  They fought as they fell, the Messenger thwacking at his face and Liam kneeing his gut. He pivoted midair so that the angel would be the first to hit the floor. Liam could’ve flown away, but he wanted to see the job through.

  The asshole’s golden shield wrapped around him just in time. A cloud of dust rose as they broke a crater on the ground, but they quickly jumped to their feet and kept attacking each other.

  Ezraphael’s golden jab hurt like a motherfucker, though Liam barely registered the pain. His darkness healed him as he fought and soon enough, the Messenger’s shield waned.

  “Will you two idiots stop?” Archie yelled, but Liam ignored him.

  He nailed a strike on Ezraphael’s jaw and rejoiced when blood trickled down the edge of his mouth.

  “You bleed easily, angel.” His voice was more a growl than a human voice, but Liam didn’t mind.

  “Fuck you, Michael!” Ezraphael bellowed before punching the side of his face. “You won’t take her from me!”

  Blo
od spilled from Liam’s lower lip, and he wiped it with his hand. “Oh, I didn’t know the perfect Messenger could curse.” He clicked his tongue. “You should pray to the Gods for forgiveness.”

  He took momentum to punch Ezraphael again, but an invisible force pushed him aside. Liam thrust forward, yet the unseen power blocked him.

  Ava approached, her expression soft and kind. When Liam pushed against the force that held him in place, his princess winced in pain. Ava was using her telekinesis to stop them, even if it hurt her, so Liam immediately halted.

  Ezraphael moved to attack him and smacked against the same force. When he realized what it did to Ava, he stopped too.

  She walked to the Messenger and cupped his cheeks. “I’m so sorry for hurting you.”

  “Don’t.” He skipped a breath. “Please don’t go with him.”

  She nudged her nose with his. “You’re the best angel I know, and you inspire me to be better every day. But I can’t be yours, Ezra.”

  His fingers dug into her arms as he lowered his head. “Please, Ava …”

  She kissed his forehead, her eyes glinting with tears. “I need to know you’ll be okay.”

  He watched her with a mix of shock and hurt. Finally, he gave her a sad grin.

  “You always had such faith in me.” She gave him a tight hug. “I have faith in you, too.”

  Ava gently let him go, then turned to Liam.

  Archie approached Ezraphael and laid a supportive hand on his shoulder, pulling him away. “We’ll take it from here, kid,” he told Liam.

  He nodded, then focused on Ava, who now stood before him. He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. “So, soulmates are real,” he whispered. “Who knew?”

  She let out that beautiful, perfect smile that always told him everything would be fine. “Deep down, we both did.”

  He bent over and claimed her mouth, finally his. Forever his.

  Liam’s arms closed around her waist. Ava pushed herself on the tip of her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  Her golden shield spread atop them both. Liam knew exactly what she wanted him to do. Maybe it was because of their bond, or maybe he knew his princess all too well.

  With one boost of his wings, they blasted through the ceiling and flew into the night sky.

  34

  Ava

  They broke through the window and crashed into Liam’s old apartment. As the golden shield covering their skin sunk back into Ava’s core, she noticed her soulmate had pinned her against a wall. Love and warmth coursed through their bond.

  Home. He was her home.

  Liam cupped Ava’s cheek and kissed her the way he used to, gently at first, but his tongue quickly unraveled into her parted lips.

  She took all of him, her body aching for his touch. Smashed against one another, Ava felt the volume inside his pants pushing against her entrance. She nearly came undone at the thought of finally having him after so long.

  She broke their kisses, her breathing ragged. “I’d always assumed soulmates were folklore, but you’re here and you’re mine.”

  Liam kissed her, and that was the only reply she needed. There was nothing outside this room, no world outside these walls, no worries or bloodshed. Just Liam and her.

  His hands went to her bottom, and with one jump she wrapped her legs around his waist, her back still pressed against the wall.

  Liam drowned at the curve of her neck, kissing her skin and inhaling her scent. She did the same, catching the musky oak underneath his brimstone.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” his words drawled, still half-beast and half-man.

  “We’re dirty,” she hazily said, then gulped. “I mean, we’re coated in dirt and blood.”

  “Hmm …” He gripped her legs tighter and went to the bathroom.

  Heavens, he carried her as easily as if she were made of paper.

  Liam stopped before the shower, gently put her down, and turned it on. He crossed his arms and arched one eyebrow, his sly grin oozing with mischief.

  Slowly, tentatively, Ava unzipped her bodysuit.

  She undressed in curvaceous, lazy moves that released a feral snarl deep in Liam’s chest. Oh, that sound set fire to her core.

  Soon enough, her bodysuit pooled at her feet, and she stepped out of it.

  Liam’s wings disappeared and he removed his shirt, then unbuckled his belt. She helped him with his pants, then his boxers, and when she was done, Ava kneeled before him and watched his length.

  She leaned closer and licked it with the tip of her tongue.

  More; she needed more. So, she took him, all of him, in her mouth.

  His head snapped back. “Ah, Ava!”

  She kept sucking, and his salty oils dripped down her tongue. Her soulmate was so hard that veins thumped across his length and thudded against the walls of her mouth.

  Liam stared down at her and caressed her hair. Watching his hooded eyes love her so completely was almost a release in itself. But in one gentle move he stepped back and lifted Ava by her arms.

  “I want that, princess.” He nudged his nose with hers. “But I have other priorities at the moment.”

  He led her to the warm water and underneath it, Liam bathed all the dirt and blood away. All of Ava’s worries and fears, too.

  She leaned back on his chest and let him work. The soap danced over her skin, then lingered on her most intimate parts. Liam’s soft touch drove her to the edge, but once he was satisfied cleaning her, his deft palm went up, toward her breasts. When he rubbed over her nipples, Ava couldn’t take it anymore.

  They had to hurry if they were to start other things … She faced him and took the soap from his hand.

  She washed away the blood on his forehead, then his hair and chest. When she washed that part of him, the man gave way to the beast. Liam growled and turned her around, so that she bent over with her palms set on the tile wall.

  He kissed her shoulder and neck as Ava spread her legs, opening the path for him.

  Liam’s touch was frenzied and hurried as he whispered, “I need you, I …” He licked the side of her neck.

  She gave him a dizzy, breathless nod, and then he pierced her with a powerful shove. A gasp escaped her lips as she adjusted to his length.

  “Hells, Ava!” he barked more than said. “You’re so ready.”

  She tightened around him, and he hissed a curse. Liam rocked into her, each stroke stronger than the last. He drove himself deeper and deeper.

  Her fingers dug into the tiles as waves of pleasure swam down her body. This wasn’t sweet lovemaking—it was primal and ravenous and desperate. And it was only the appetizer.

  Liam kept thrusting, harder, faster and Ava lost her ground, the friction inside her making her head spin. Faintly, she remarked how her inner thighs were soaked. When his hand drifted between her legs and rubbed, an electric wave swam across her, paving the path for the next.

  “What you do to me,” she rasped in her ecstasy, and then she was gone. Her first orgasm lashed out, making her shiver and lose her ground.

  Once she came back to herself, he whispered, “This is just the start, princess.”

  He stopped thrusting and removed himself from her. Liam turned off the shower, stepped out of the box, and gave her his hand.

  Ava scowled at him. “What do you think you’re doing?” She nodded at his hard-rock length dripping with her oils. “I need to take care of that.”

  “Oh, trust me.” He smirked. “You will.”

  She stepped out of the shower begrudgingly. Liam took her in his arms at once, lifting her off the ground. They kissed as he took her to his bed.

  Liam laid Ava on her back and hovered atop her, propped on his elbows. Her soulmate drowned her in kisses, his tongue dancing with hers as his hardness brushed against her opening.

  Happy. She was so happy.

  “I’ll never let you go again,” Ava muttered as she filled him with kisses. “Forgive me. Forgive me for leaving you.”
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  Liam’s forehead crumpled. “You didn’t leave me. You did the noble thing like you always do.” He brushed a stray lock off her forehead. “You wouldn’t be my Ava if you hadn’t done what you thought was best for your charge, even if it hurt you.”

  “But you’re not my charge. You’ve always been so much more.” Her throat felt raw and heavy. “I shouldn’t have stepped away.”

  “It was the right thing to do.” He bit her lower lip softly. “Now, no more of this.”

  He trailed a path of blazing kisses down her collarbone, chest, and when he nibbled at her nipple, Ava’s mind spun.

  He kept kissing the trail down to her navel and only stopped on her most intimate part. His tongue rubbed the pearl between her thighs with hunger, and a moan escaped Ava’s mouth.

  Underneath his violent kisses, her breaths rushed closer to one another. Ava rose toward a peak so high it might doom her.

  “You taste so good,” he growled as he suckled and licked with a fury.

  Ava’s mind spun, and she had no time to breathe or think before she exploded within herself, crying his name twice as she thrashed on the bed. Through her haze, she was barely aware that he’d held her legs tightly in place.

  The sadist kept licking.

  Ava roared as another wave of maddening pleasure smashed against her. Her body shuddered violently until slowly, her string of orgasms subdued.

  Heavens! The entire building must have heard her.

  Liam peeked at Ava from between her thighs and gave her a grin that was half innocent, half evil.

  He moved up so he could see her eye to eye. His perfect mouth was so close … she kissed him and tasted herself on his wet lips.

  With one harsh shove, he filled her to his hilt. Wet sounds came from each slow thrust, his hips moving the way tides strike, once, twice …

  “You feel so good,” he said, his tone cracking with pleasure.

  Propping himself on his left elbow, he took her right breast fully in his hand and tugged at her nipple. His emerald eyes glinted with lust as he watched the pleasure that broke across her face.

  Gods, this was a torture she never wanted to end. Each thrust was a punch inside her, but the pain was delirious, wonderful, and it brought her higher and higher, closer to a release that was right there, so close to her fingertips.