“Let’s kill this fuck.” Dagan started to rise, but Ronin stopped him.
“No.” He motioned toward Amara and the other succubi. “This is their fight.”
A rush of warmth spread through Amara. How well Ronin understood her.
I love you, she mouthed.
Ronin smiled. “I know.”
Amara clasped hands with Brianna and Karen. Together, the six of them moved toward Asmodeus. He watched them approach, growing horror in his eyes. Good. Let him get a sense of what they’d felt with him. Fear, hopelessness, bleak resignation. They would never be able to repay the monstrosities he’d committed against them, but at least they could make sure he never did it to anyone else.
Amara observed him without terror for the first time since she’d discovered how evil he was. Funny how handsome he appeared, even now. How easy it had been to fall under his spell, to believe he was everything he seemed to be.
It was so easy.
So if that was the case, perhaps it was time to let go of all the grief and blame for what had happened to her and Solara. There was no room for it in her life anymore.
Asmodeus’s eyes moved from her to Brianna, then to Solara. With obvious effort, he forced his mouth to move. “Please, Solara. You know I...care for you.”
“No,” Solara said without mercy.
Karen released Amara’s hand and ribbons of energy streamed from her fingertips, floating Asmodeus into the air right in front of them. The words “I can’t believe this is happening” tumbled out of her mouth. She broke into a brilliant smile and experimentally flicked her fingers, pulling him closer.
At the same time, a liquid rush of fire coursed down Amara’s arms. Acting on pure instinct, she placed her hands on Asmodeus’s chest. Smoke rose off Asmodeus’s body where her hands touched his flesh.
“No. No!”
“Who’s afraid now?” Victorine let out a hoarse laugh, then gasped as her features began to distort. “What’s happening to me?”
Much to Amara’s amazement, Victorine turned into the large, wolflike thing that Asmodeus had been earlier.
“I feel strange. Something’s moving inside me,” Lynn cried. On her next breath, she let out a roar that morphed from human to animal, and the shape of her face changed until it resembled that of a huge panther.
Asmodeus’s terrified scream reverberated throughout Amara’s bones. The things Victorine and Lynn had turned into seemed to grow excited at the sound. Together, they closed their long, vicious fangs over Asmodeus’s head. With a snap and a pop, they tore it from his body.
She observed him with a sense of detachment. As if confirming that he was dead, the band clamped to her wrist expanded, clattering to the floor in unison with the bracelets of the other succubi. Good riddance.
“Amara!”
She turned, only to be enveloped by Ronin. He squeezed her tight. “Are you okay?”
“Can’t...breathe.”
“Sorry.” He released his grip and tilted her head back to give her a kiss. “You’re okay. It’s okay.”
Yes, she thought with amazement. It really is.
“Amara,” Solara said, her voice faint. “I don’t feel so goo—”
She fell to the ground without finishing her sentence.
“Mother!”
Ronin knelt beside her and checked her pulse. He set his hands on her, and her bruises and swelling disappeared. “She’s fine now.”
“Why isn’t she waking?”
Keegan dropped to his knees and examined her. “She’s likely worn out from all the energy she used on Asmodeus.”
Ronin gave her a reassuring smile and lifted Solara into his arms. “She’ll be okay. Promise.”
Amara nodded at him, then looked at the other succubi. Victorine and Lynn were back to normal. “It’s over,” she told them.
They all appeared shell-shocked and a bit lost.
“Yeah,” Brianna said. “I can’t believe this happened. That I did that.” She met Amara’s gaze. “Will it last?”
“I don’t know,” Amara said honestly. They were all flying blind when it came to their newfound powers. “What are you going to do now?”
Brianna and Victorine shrugged.
“Don’t know.” Karen lifted her hand and examined her fingers, which trembled. “I really don’t know.
“What about you?” Lynn asked.
Amara exchanged glances with Ronin. The loving expression in his eyes said it all. “I’m going home.”
“Can we get out of here now?” Taeg said. “Maya’s got to be worried as hell. She’s probably gonna kick my ass later for taking so damn long to defeat this guy.”
“Yeah,” Keegan said. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll miss you all.” Amara hugged the other women.
“Tell your mother to stay out of trouble,” Karen said, and the five of them laughed.
Dagan approached Ronin. “I’ll carry her.”
Ronin handed Solara over, then snatched Amara into his arms again. He gave her a kiss so scorching that she felt it all the way to her toes. She wrapped her arms around his waist, caressing the hard muscles of his back. Then she slid her hands down to his perfect ass. Seriously, there was nothing angelic about his body. It was made for sin.
“Guys. Come on!” Taeg called.
By the time she broke away, everyone else had already left the kitchen. She gave Ronin a look filled with promise. “Let’s continue this later.”
“Later,” Ronin agreed. “At home.”
He grasped her hand and they walked toward the front door. Amara didn’t bother to glance back. If she never saw this place again, it would still be too soon.
They made it no farther than the front step before they were swarmed by a crowd of people—Maya, Bram, Reiver, Lina, and her men.
“Xand—Ronin.” Lina came to a halt and smoothed a mask of indifference over her face. But she couldn’t quite hide the relief in her eyes. “We didn’t know what had happened. We kept testing the shield, and finally it disappeared.”
Ronin shrugged. “Must have fallen when Asmodeus died.”
Lina busied herself with zipping up her jacket. “Cool. Since I played a part in his death, I can claim the reward.”
Ronin laughed and released Amara’s hand, grabbing onto Lina’s shoulders and pulling her in for a hug.
“Hey,” she protested, but she waited for several long seconds before breaking away.
Maya shrugged out of Taeg’s arms and turned to Keegan. “We have to go. Now.”
Keegan frowned. “Why?”
“I got a call from Brynn’s doctor about twenty minutes ago. He’s at your apartment. She’s in labor.”
Keegan’s eyes widened and his hands shook. “Oh. Oh fuck. I’ll meet you there.”
With that he grew his wings, ripping the fabric of his shirt, and shot into the sky.
“Poor bastard.” Ronin chuckled and stared at his retreating figure. Then, as if just realizing what had happened, he yanked on Amara’s hand. “We’d better get over there.”
Taeg nodded. “Yeah. He’s going to fall apart without us.”
“Let’s go.” Dagan led the way back to his car.
Ronin started after him, then paused and addressed Lina. “Will you come back to the apartment with us? Please?”
She hesitated, and for one moment Amara feared she’d refuse. That would break Ronin’s heart. But then she nodded. “I’ll see you there.”
Ronin’s shoulders relaxed and he gave Lina a tentative smile. “Thanks, Li—Iolina. Thank you.”
Chapter Thirty
Belpheg sat in the darkened corner of the club and waited for confirmation of what he already knew. At least he was entertained while he waited. Limber bodies writhed and g
rinded together on the crowded dance floor. Vampires, fae, shifters, and incubi all looking for that something or someone special to make meaning out of their pathetic lives.
Easy targets, every last one of them. And he was in the market for a replacement.
One man in particular caught his eye, a stunning incubus with dark hair that fell almost to his collarbone and skin the color of mocha. The incubus leaned against the bar, the sleek muscles in his arms and chest flexing as he surveyed the crowd. Searching for nourishment, no doubt.
Belpheg’s body hardened, quite an achievement considering he so rarely felt sexual urges anymore, for either men or women. While he couldn’t help the incubus quench his hunger, he had a feeling there were other ways he might be able to entice the man.
Yes, the incubus would make a more-than-adequate replacement for Asmodeus. And then, once Belpheg was ready...he would seek out Mammon.
His cell phone buzzed and he put it to his ear, silently cursing when his hand shook. “Yes?”
The voice of the man he’d hired to spy on Asmodeus’s residence answered. “He’s dead.”
No surprise. He’d felt the snap of the invisible cord that bound Asmodeus’s soul to his own the moment the incubus had died. Still, it was nice to get confirmation of the fact.
“What of the blonde—the angel?”
“She left with the rest of the group.”
“Good.” Then all had gone according to plan.
In the end, Asmodeus had been more useful to Belpheg dead than alive. With his death, Belpheg had been able to put everything into place.
Oh yes, he had changed the rules of the game. And the best part?
He was the only one who knew that a game was being played.
§
A small crowd gathered in the living room of Brynn’s and Keegan’s apartment, all of them anxiously awaiting news of the baby. None of them more so than Ronin, who stood by the bar nursing the glass of whiskey in his hand. He held it more for comfort than anything. He’d barely taken two sips of the stuff.
What was taking so damn long?
Okay, he knew giving birth wasn’t a quick process, but being able to do nothing other than wait was excruciating.
At least they were here instead of in some random hospital. Given that the baby was part demon and part shifter, Brynn and Keegan had opted to give birth in their apartment, and they were utilizing the services of one of the best local Other obstetricians.
He really wanted to be holding Amara right now, but Brynn had asked her and Maya to stay with her during the delivery for moral support. From the way Amara’s face had blanched when Keegan had relayed the request to her, he didn’t know how much help she would be in there. But she had willingly gone.
Dagan, Taeg, Reiver, and Bram sat at the small table on one end of the large room, playing cards to pass the time.
“What did the mother maliki say to her newborn child?” Taeg laid one of his cards on the table.
Dagan examined his hand before dropping a card next to Taeg’s. “What?”
“Nice to eat you. Get it?”
Bram and Reiver chuckled while Dagan let out a groan. Maliki demons had a taste for flesh, both human and otherwise, so that could actually happen.
Ronin snorted and glanced out toward the balcony, where Lina stood by herself. She leaned over the railing, and every now and again a stray breeze caught her long, blonde locks, ruffling them to the side. With her hair color and delicate features, she appeared every bit the angel he’d remembered. But unlike his memories, she now had a hard edge.
Part of him had feared Lina wouldn’t honor her agreement to come here, but after dropping her sidekicks off at home, she’d actually shown up. He’d tried to engage her, but other than asking him for the scoop on what went on inside the townhouse, she hadn’t been too interested in conversation. He wasn’t going to give up, though. Fate had brought them together, and he wasn’t about to waste the second chance to be a part of her life. He’d do whatever it took for her to allow him into her heart once again.
However long it took.
The sultry voice of Amara’s mother sounded beside him. “I could use another drink.”
Rather than go up to his apartment to rest, as he and Amara had urged her to do, Solara had chosen to remain here with everyone else. Now she was draining Keegan’s liquor supply and taking turns flirting with every man in the room. Without meeting her gaze, Ronin took her empty glass and mixed her another gin and tonic.
She took it, but then placed her other hand on his sleeve. “I want to thank you. For everything you’ve done for Amara. If it weren’t for you, she’d still be trapped in that townhouse. We all would.”
Her words of gratitude startled him, mostly because from the way she said them, he got the sense she didn’t do it very often. “You’re welcome. I promise you I’ll care for her. Always.”
“I know you will.” Her smile became flirtatious, and she leaned in. He stood stock-still when her fingers trailed to his chest, rubbing lazy circles over his shirt. “If there’s ever anything I can personally do to thank you, let me know. I promise you’d be very satisfied.”
Mouth open, he watched as she whirled and stumbled over to the seat Dagan had vacated. The low, loose top of her dress gaped open when she leaned to sit. Bram and Reiver reddened, then dropped their eyes to their cards.
Dagan joined Ronin at the bar. He refilled his glass with whiskey and took a sip while observing Solara. “Someone’s gonna have to cut her off at some point.”
“She hit on me,” Ronin ground out.
Dagan laughed long and loud. “Join the club.”
When Dagan cast a quick glance out at the balcony, Ronin couldn’t hold back anymore. “You know it’s not okay, right?”
“What?” Dagan affected a nonchalant stance, but Ronin wasn’t buying.
“Lina. I really messed up with her. I should’ve protected her but I didn’t.”
Dagan shook his head. “You didn’t have a choice—”
“But she’s still my sister,” Ronin continued, “even if it isn’t by blood, and I know you. Lina deserves better than a one-night stand.”
His words made Dagan tense up. “I wouldn’t—”
“Stay away from her. Are we clear?”
From the way Dagan’s mouth tightened, it was obvious Ronin had hurt his feelings, but it had to be said. He knew his brother’s track record, and he recognized the look on his face whenever she came into view. Lina wasn’t going to be another one of his conquests. No way in hell.
“Got it?” he said when Dagan didn’t respond.
Dagan gave him a curt nod. “Got it.”
“Good.”
Anything more he might have said was drowned out by the soft wail coming from the hallway. His heart stuttered and clenched when Keegan stepped into the living room, a wrapped bundle in his arms. Tears streamed down his face. “It’s a boy.”
“A boy.” Ronin blindly set his glass down and headed toward his big brother. When something wet dripped down his cheek, he brushed it away. Hell, was he crying?
He was turning into a total girl.
Ronin and his brothers gathered around Keegan and the tiny bundle in his arms. Keegan pushed back the cloth so they could see the baby’s face. It was purple, swollen, and misshapen. The baby let out another wail and opened his eyes. They were a glowing red, with a darker shade of crimson swirling around the pupils. Almost exactly like the four of them when their eyes were unglamoured.
“What do you know?” Dagan murmured. “He has our eyes.”
“Oh fuck.” Taeg swiped at his damp face with the back of his hand. “How are we going to keep from screwing this kid up?”
“We’re not.” Ronin touched the baby’s cheek. It was the softest thing he’d ever felt
. Something deep and pure exploded inside of him, filling him for the first time in his life with a sense of peace and purpose.
All this time, it had been here right in front of him. This...this was what life was all about. One day, maybe one day soon, he would be able to share another moment like this with his brothers. But next time it would be his child. His and Amara’s.
“What are you naming him?” Taeg asked.
“We were thinking Aegin. It takes something from each of your names.”
Ronin’s chest expanded. “I like it. How’s Brynn?”
“Fine. Pissed at me. She says next time I have to be the one to give birth.”
“If only it worked that way,” Solara muttered.
Only then did Ronin notice Lina peeking over Dagan’s shoulder. Her eyes had welled up with unmistakable moisture and she stared at the baby with a soft smile on her face. But then she saw him watching her and sobered.
“Cute kid.” With those words she turned and headed back toward the balcony.
“I’d better take him back to Brynn.” Keegan pulled the baby into his chest and started to turn.
“Hey, bro?” Taeg said.
“Yeah.”
As one, Ronin, Dagan and Taeg said, “Congratulations.”
Keegan grinned. “Now the three of you get to fight over who’ll be the fun uncle.”
“Who needs to fight?” Dagan retorted. “We’ll all be the fun uncle.”
Laughing, Keegan turned and left with the baby. A moment later Maya tore into the room, joy and wonder lighting her face. “Taeg!”
Taeg caught her and twirled her around. Ronin started to smile, but then Amara entered, and he lost sight of everything but her. She took several hesitant steps toward him, then rushed the last few feet and leapt into his arms. He hadn’t thought he could feel more peaceful, more alive, than when he’d seen the baby, but he was wrong. With Amara by his side, he knew everything was right.
“Thank you,” he whispered into her hair.
“For what? I didn’t do anything but stand there and try not to faint.”
Touch of the Angel (Demons of Infernum, #3) Page 29
