“I have one more question before we go. Why the big push to get this done? You said that time was of the essence. What does that mean, exactly? It seems like there’s more that you aren’t telling us.”
“Perceptive, as always.”
“Shit,” Asmodeus hissed. “Don’t beat around the bush or play any more games. What is it now?”
“Zemi’s kingdom is at risk.” Kristine’s mouth set in a grim line.
“That’s not Kai’s problem or mine.”
“There is talk of a coup, Asmodeus. There are those who wish to remove her from power. I’ve been able to keep them at bay but I doubt I can stall them much longer. If Zemi doesn’t return to the Fae realm within the next Earthly month, I doubt she’ll have a kingdom to come back to. You may not care about Zemi but I do and we all know that Lucifer does.”
“We don’t know where they are, Kristine.”
Asmodeus’ voice was tight and his patience was obviously waning. Kai sensed his irritation and unease. If there was one thing Asmodeus hated was not knowing the answer to a question. He may be one of the seven Princes of Hell but he wasn’t omnipotent and she was pretty sure that bugged the crap out of him.
Even demons had their limitations.
“I believe you, Asmodeus. I also believe that there are dark days ahead for all of us. The Ring of Solomon chose Kai, just as it has now chosen Zemi, and there are still those who seek to possess its power. At any cost. Zemi is missing and the Ring of Solomon is with her. Her disappearance should worry everyone across all of the realms.”
“Understood,” Asmodeus said tightly. “I will share your concerns with the rest of my brothers. We’ll send word as soon as we find them. Believe me, we all want to find them. Especially, Belphegor, that lazy son of a bitch hates having to pick up the slack while Lucifer is away.”
“Thank you.” Kristine bowed her head to him before turning her full attention to Kai. “I—I am sorry for disrupting your honeymoon and taking such drastic measures. I know you don’t believe this but I do care for you. Just as I cared for your mother. My choices may not make sense to you but they were always driven by love. I hope someday you will understand why I did what I did.”
Kai had a bundle of complicated feelings about her grandmother, a grandmother who looked as young as she did, and even though she wanted to be furious with her, she wasn’t. Maybe it was because of the resemblance she bore to Kai’s mother, or the sadness that lingered behind her eyes. Kai understood her more than she ever thought she would.
Kristine had hidden her truth from Kai out of love, desperation and fear.
Had Kai been any different? Or Asmodeus? Both of them had kept their truths hidden. Love and fear had driven questionable choices but, like Isadora said, the truth is always revealed.
“I don’t like what you did, Kristine.” Kai looked up at Asmodeus and her heart skipped a beat when her eyes met his. “But I think I can understand why you did it.”
After an awkward goodbye with Kristine, Kai and Asmodeus dove into the pool and swam toward the light that was once again pulsating below the surface. Just like long car trips, it didn’t seem as difficult or as long on the way home as it did on the way there. When they burst through the water’s surface, down was once again up, and they were back at the waterfall on the island.
“Thank goodness,” Kai shouted. “We’re back.”
She swam toward the waterfall with Asmodeus at her side but just as they reached the edge, he linked his arm around her waist and pulled her up against him. Her backside nestled against the swelling evidence of his desire for her as he nibbled her ear.
“We damned well are and I’d say it’s about time we get back to our honeymoon and all the traditional activities that go with it.”
“Oh really?” Kai laughed and spun in his embrace to face him. Her feet touched the bottom and she wiped the water from her eyes. “What did you have in mind?”
“Sex,” he said bluntly. “Lots and lots of sex.”
Kai burst out laughing just before he covered her mouth with his. She linked her arms around his neck and opened to him. He deepened the kiss, his tongue lashing against hers with swift sure strokes. There was desperation in his kiss and a sense of urgency rose up between them. They were wearing too many clothes. Kai could barely contain the smile as the power throbbed beneath her flesh and rose like the tide. With a flash of light, both of them were left naked.
Asmodeus growled in gratitude as Kai wrapped her legs around his waist. The heat of their nude bodies, flesh sliding against flesh with water lapping over them was intensely erotic and all Kai wanted was to have him inside her. Knowing what she craved, Asmodeus gripped one hand on her hip and slid the other between them, before guiding himself inside her.
Kai threw her head back and shuddered as she rode him. The speed of their union increased at a maddening pace, as if all of their fears, frustrations and insecurities were bubbling to the surface, ready to be expelled forever. The barrier, the one made of half-truths and the fear of unmet expectation had been eliminated, and they could finally love each other with unfettered honesty.
Her pleasure peaked quickly and as the orgasm built inside of her, so did her power of light, the surge of it adding to the experience and intensifying each sensation. Asmodeus’ arms tightened around her as he pumped into her with one final thrust. The climax rolled through them. They cried out in unison, the release as much about relief and gratitude as it was pure unadulterated pleasure.
Asmodeus held her to him and nuzzled her ear with his mouth. His breath puffed along her neck in ragged jags. “That, my darling wife, was magic. You know, I’ve always called this place Demon’s Paradise but it wasn’t really accurate until now.”
“Why now?” Kai pulled back, wanting and needing to look him in the eyes. “Because I have my magic again?”
“No.” He smiled and brushed a wet strand of hair from her forehead. “Because when we were in No Man’s Land with Kristine, I thought I might lose you and if I had, it would’ve been my own fault. I could withstand anything…anything except that. Having you here, in my arms, loving me and all of my imperfections. You, Kai. You are my demon’s paradise.”
Kai hugged him tightly, tears stinging her eyes. When she looked over his shoulder, she saw their combined reflection in the waters of the pool. Their shared aura glowed brightly around their intertwined bodies with reassuring brilliance.
Like Isadora said, you can’t hide who you really are.
The truth is always revealed.
She was his and he was hers.
That was magical.
The End
Demon's Paradise Page 11
