Demon Warden: A Paranormal Urban Fantasy (The Cursed and the Fallen 1)

by Selene Kallan

  He steps closer; I smell smoke and earth. “I am the one who saved your life.”

  A stab of guilt cuts through me, and I hate it. “Thank you for saving my life,” I all but growl. “Now leave me the hell alone.”

  I turn towards the exit, faltering on my step as his hand clamps around my upper arm, painfully.

  “Demons, they are demons, no matter how many pretty lies they’ve sold you,” Aaron hisses, too close for comfort. “They drink the vital force of humans or consume it, leaving behind an enslaved, addicted husk. Do you think your little succubus friend will hesitate to take your life-force? She’s waiting for you to be strong enough to feast on you.”

  I shiver, not because I believe him but because he’s causing me pain. I’ve been completely on Isir and Nox’s mercy, and they’ve done nothing but protect me. It’d take more than a sketchy, grabby idiot to make me doubt their intentions.

  A scream is all I’d need to bring Bryce back, his hearing is sharper than mine. But I don’t want to back down and cry for help like a damsel.

  “Let me go now,” I growl.

  His hand clamps harder, I bite back a groan. “Come with me, learn the truth of all of them, see what you’ve gotten yourself into before it’s too late.”

  “Let. Me. Go,” I force through clenched teeth, stomping my foot on his with all the strength I can muster. He hisses and tightens his grip impossibly harder. I’m certain my bones would have shattered with such force mere weeks ago.

  The pressure around my arm disappears and a strong back bumps against my chest. I hold on reflexively to a silk-clad shoulder, stepping back for balance. My arm throbs with pain.

  “Get your hands on her again,” Nox warns, voice arctic, sending a shiver down my spine, “and I will send you to your maker.”

  I peer over his shoulder to see Aaron wiping his nose, a rivulet of rust-colored blood runs down his chin. I didn’t even see Nox hit him. My insides freeze when I feel several eyes on us.

  Without warning, Nox twists Aaron’s arm behind his back and drags him outside. A hand falls on my back and I flinch until I see Isir fuming by my side.

  “Are you alright?” Isir asks, squeezing my waist.

  I take a deep breath and nod. “Let’s go.”

  I hurry outside after Nox and Aaron, Isir right behind me. Muffled noises come from the alley to the right of Qetesh and I hasten, Bryce is out of sight too.

  A flash of green light almost hits me as I enter the alley. Isir pulls me aside. We both stare as the blast zooms past us and hits a fire hydrant. The metal writhes lightly and the pressure sends one of the plugs flying, water bursts high into the night.

  Nox’s back is towards me. I can see the faint shimmer of his shield as he stands facing Aaron, ripples of anger come from both males. The Prince feels like a black hole, a gravitational pull around him, dark, unforgiving.

  “Nox, wait,” I say. “Don’t kill him.”

  Black eyes turn towards me, chilling me to the bone. “Why not?” Nox asks, voice unearthly.

  “Because if you do, others will come after you,” I plead, “and he’s not worth it.”

  A grunt comes from the Nephilim. “Not worth it?” Aaron mocks. “What have they done to you, Dinah? How can you give a damn about a demon’s fate? Has he taken your soul? Are you his slave now?”

  “Shut up, asshole, I’m trying to save your life!” I cry, shooting a glance at him.

  “Why, Dinah?” Nox asks, drawing my attention back to him. “He hurt you and I can tell you his soul is not worth being saved.”

  “Nox,” Isir calls, voice appealing, “listen to Dinah.”

  Aaron laughs, his power blazing, bathing him from head to toe with an eye-piercing green light. “Oh, look at that three against one, disgustingly coward, like all demons.”

  I notice Bryce then, leaning on the opposite side of the alley, draconic eyes blazing with anger.

  “Enough!” I snap, standing in front of Nox, holding the flaps of his suit jacket in a feeble attempt to get him to look at me. His shield wraps around me at once, making me shiver. I realize then how much he usually holds back, how massively powerful he is. “He saved my life, and I owe him. So you will not kill him.” He still doesn’t look at me. “Please.”

  Nox’s dark gaze meets mine and despite the mask of impassiveness, I can feel his anger, his desire to kill.

  Aaron lets out a sound of deep disgust. “He’s taken your soul then, Dinah.”

  “Shut up,” I say, not turning.

  “It doesn’t have to kill you, you know?” the idiot continues. “He can take control of your soul slowly, make you feel it’s willing, and then wield it, becoming more powerful than he already is. Is that what happened? Are you his pet now?”

  A surge of dark power curls around me and I hear a gasp followed by a crack of bone.

  I peek over my shoulder to see Aaron on the dirty ground, knocked out cold, I’m certain his neck is broken. Nox told me that’s far from a fatal injury to a Nephilim, but I bet it’ll hurt in the morning. I wonder if it’s wrong for me to be just a little pleased.

  Isir snorts a few feet away from Nox and me. “All talk and no action, why am I not surprised?”

  I turn to look at Nox, whose eyes are still black. His hands come around my waist and a vortex of energy envelops us before I can protest. My stomach tightens and I swallow hard, shivering at the chilly wind that blasts me, taking in our surroundings. We’re on the rooftop, right above the penthouse. A light drizzle falls against my skin.

  I realize my hands are still fisted on his suit jacket, my fingers are sore. He releases them gently and lays his hand on my right arm, right where Aaron grabbed me. The heat of the confrontation had blocked the pain. It still throbs.

  “Fuck,” I grumble.

  A faint ripple of energy caresses my skin through the layers of the shirt and T-shirt I’m wearing; the ache vanishes. I look up to find worried amethyst eyes; Nox’s face remains impassive but less hard than usual.

  “I didn’t know you could heal,” I say.

  “I didn’t think it would work on you,” he admits. “Are you all right?”

  I let out a ruthless laugh. “I’m tired.”

  “I’ll walk you to your room,” Nox offers. His hand is still on my shoulder, I shrug it off.

  “No, I’m tired of everything, of being pulled in two directions, of you conveniently leaving out little details like the possibility of being used as a supernatural power source by a demon,” my voice shakes. I clench my teeth, pushing back the tears that threaten with spilling.

  Nox scoffs. “Is it that easy to believe what comes out of his mouth? I wonder why that is.”

  I point a finger at him. “Don’t you dare imply I believe him because he’s a Nephilim, Isir has taught me to read lies, and he wasn’t lying about that, was he? Tell me it’s a lie.”

  A muscle moves in his jaw. “It’s not, but it’s not the truth either.”

  “Then tell me what the truth is!” I cry. “All of it, not what’s convenient for me to hear.”

  “Your soul can be bound to a demon, but it can only happen if you make a deal, if it’s your will,” Nox explains, face impassive again.

  “So Kazzian could blackmail me into giving him my soul and then use me to boost his power?” I ask, hating the tremor in my voice.

  Nox’s brow furrows. “In theory, yes. But he is not a match for me, he will not be able to coerce you as long as I protect you, and you will be strong enough to protect yourself from him soon.”

  I snort. “Sure, one day I will be a match for him, but what about you? How do I know you won’t wake up tomorrow and feel like having a Nephilim minion?”

  It’s fast but I see it, the small flicker of hurt in the amethyst gaze that becomes as cold as ice. I regret my words, but now it’s too late to take them back. The chilly wind whips us both and cold droplets of water fall on my head, I resist the urge to hug myself.

  “I do not want a Nephilim minion
,” he says slowly, as if speaking to a child. “I’d rather never have to be anywhere near your kind, but I keep my promises, I don’t change my mind every other day.”

  The statement cuts through me like ice; it confirms what I already suspected. He can barely stand me.

  “That Nephilim is not your friend, his so-called rescue of you was a bit too convenient, don’t you think?” Nox keeps his eyes on mine, and though it hurts I don’t back away. “I can see his soul, there’s darkness there, ill intent, keep yourself away from him.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do,” I growl, regretting it at once.

  Nox scoffs. “Very mature, Dinah.”

  I want to slap him. My energy core stirs and I fight to contain it, I will not blast him again, no matter how pissed I am.

  “Why should I trust your word?” I snap. “I don’t even know your name! And you know everything about me, you know more about my grandma than I did, you know what haunts me in dreams. And yet you deny me something as basic as your name.”

  His eyes narrow. “My name is inconsequential to you.”

  “Is that so? Then tell me,” I demand.

  “No,” he barks.

  “Why?” I ask, hating the pleading in my voice.

  “Because I vowed no Nephilim would ever speak it again,” he spits, amethyst eyes shining with venom.

  A flash of pain explodes deep in my stomach and drags claws up my chest, leaving me breathless. Why does his rejection hurt so much?

  Lighting flashes illuminating his pale face, his hair looks darker in the rain.

  “You realize you’re a fucking hypocrite, don’t you? All that talk about how Nephilim and Asteri discriminate against your kind, and what are you doing with me?” my sight blurs and I blink, hating the evidence of the pain clogging my throat, hoping the rain covers it. “You’re judging me too, you’re just as bad as Aaron is, nothing more than a narrow-minded idiot.”

  He blinks, swallows, and takes a step back.

  I turn on my heels and walk towards the metallic door that leads inside, it’s locked. A frustrated growl rasps my sore throat as I kick the door, destroying the lock and making it swing open. It crashes against the wall with a loud clang.

  My chest is constricted with anger and bitter sadness. It’s far from being the first time I’m rejected for being different, but for some gods-forsaken reason it hurts more than it ever did before, it burns. My hand shakes as I use the key to enter the penthouse, Nox’s home.

  Clenching my teeth, I stomp towards my room.

  Not my room, I remind myself.

  The bag I’d packed weeks ago is almost full, I’ve been using the clothes I found in the dresser. Stupid tears run down my face as I pack some pieces of my old clothes and unplug my laptops from the wall. I won’t bother Nox with my presence anymore, I’m leaving. Where to, I have no idea, nor I give a damn. I’m certain Spence would take me back at once, but I don’t want to risk him, or Xander. Vampires are not as powerful as demons.

  I have some cash and savings, it’s not enough but I can manage for a while.

  “Dinah, what are you doing?”

  I don’t bother turning towards her voice.

  “Dinah,” Isir calls.

  I swipe my hand angrily across my wet cheeks and keep packing.

  “Dinah, stop,” Isir pleads, her hands gently but firmly turning me to face her.

  I hiccup. “I’m leaving.”

  “No,” Isir shakes her head. “It’s too dangerous, you’re not ready.”

  “I don’t care!” I cry. “I can’t stay here knowing how he feels about me. I can’t trust him if he doesn’t trust me.”

  “Dinah, please be reasonable,” Isir insists. Chocolate eyes warm. “If you go back to live with Spencer, he’ll be in danger, if you go on your own you’ll be tracked easily. It’s not safe, you do not want to end up in the hands of demons-”

  “I already am!”

  Isir releases my hands and steps back, eyes flashing with pain.

  I rake my hands through my hair. “I didn’t mean you, I meant him. I don’t want to see his face again.”

  Isir licks her lips. “Don’t make a rushed decision, Dinah. And you and Nox need to solve things.”

  “There’s nothing to solve, he hates me for what I am, he doesn’t want his name to ever leave my lips, he told me so,” my voice quivers.

  Isir rubs her temples. “I’ll kick his arse, I swear I will.” Her eyes focus on mine, pleading. “Don’t leave, don’t risk your life out there just because Nox is being an idiot, this is my house too and you are my guest, you are my friend, let me keep you safe.”

  “I don’t know,” I mumble.

  “Please,” Isir says, taking my hands in hers again. I feel her concern and anger that’s not directed at me. The space around her ripples and I realize the grumpy bastard was right, I hadn’t looked hard enough. Isir’s aura is almost transparent, gently rippling like smoke.

  “Okay,” I cave in.

  She smiles. “Right, take a warm bath, you’re shivering. I’ll make you some tea.”

  I feel coddled and embarrassed, but I’m too tired to argue, so I simply nod and walk towards the bathroom.

  NOX

  Isir leaves Dinah’s room and closes the door, her eyes turning azure as soon as she meets my gaze.

  “Silence spell,” she commands, pointing towards the door with her thumb.

  I comply, blocking any sounds we can make but making sure we can hear Dinah.

  Hot pain explodes on my left cheek, my molars protest a bit. I take a step back to maintain balance and blink, trying to get rid of the bright spots clouding my sight.

  “You absolute bastard, how could you?” Isir growls. Her teeth are clenched, upper lip curled, exposing sharp—if not too long—canines. I wonder if she’s shown this feral and intimidating side to Dinah.

  “It’s best this way,” I say matter-of-factly.

  Isir growls deep in her throat, the sound similar to that of a great feline. Her hands clench and I ponder whether to allow her to hit me again or moving out of her way. While she isn’t quite as strong as I am, she could make me bleed.

  “Yes, of course,” Isir hisses, “it is a great idea to make a female with severe psychological damage feel reviled and like a burden. What a brilliant fucking plan!”

  I flinch, unable to control the reaction as I realize what I’ve done. My stomach feels laden with guilt.

  “It’s best if I keep certain boundaries,” I insist. “I did not mean to hurt her.”

  Isir lets out a ruthless laugh, eyes still shining. “And who will benefit from that, huh? Those boundaries you speak of are only keeping your coward arse safe from developing feelings for her. Though I dare say it’s too late for that.”

  I clench my teeth, not bothering trying to deny it, knowing she would most likely slap me again for lying.

  “It’s worse, you know,” Isir states, “it’s much worse knowing you just hurt someone you care about.”

  “It’s dangerous for both of us,” I argue.

  Isir fumes a bit more for that, her aura a chaotic ripple of smoky darkness. “Coward, you’re a fucking coward and a hypocrite.”

  I glare down at her and she returns the gesture, fists balled, and shaking with anger.

  She’s right again.

  I feel sick, Dinah’s betrayed expression is burned into my mind’s eye. I hadn’t planned the cruel words, they stumbled out of my mouth, provoked by her cutting remarks and the way I feel unbalanced around her. By my cowardice, as Isir pointed out.

  I sigh and take a step back, not bothering putting on the impassive mask.

  Isir’s expression shifts. She’s still angry, but there’s something more in those eyes that makes me want to run. “She is not Zelyna.”

  “Isir,” I warn.

  She ignores me.

  “Dinah is not Zelyna, she’s not some cunning bitch looking for a way to trap you and torture you,” Isir presses. “She’s a good girl, a
strong and caring female, and I will not let you hurt her.”

  I swallow hard, feeling nauseated. “I know Dinah’s not her. But does she know who she is? She has her doubts, she’s too young.”

  Isir scoffs. “Well, you’re not making her doubts any better, are you? And cut the crap with the ‘too young’, Astherinox. She’s more mature than you were when you were three-hundred.”

  Her use of my given name makes regret worse. I take another step back.

  “She needs to train, have Bryce teaching her some basic defense with daggers tomorrow.”

  Isir clenches her teeth. “I will not allow you to run away from apologizing to her, you hear me?”

  I huff. Isir is powerful, her father is one of the oldest, purest vampires in existence, her mother was a powerful Fae, but in a real fight, she is no match for me. She knows it and doesn’t give a damn. Maybe that’s why I love her—because she is looking at me as if she’s pondering the pros and cons of knocking my teeth out. Because she’s never feared me.

  “I don’t think Dinah wants to see me right now, I’ll give her some space.”

  “And then you will find your balls and apologize to her,” Isir says, eyes melting back to chocolate but no less piercing.

  I give her a curt nod.

  “I’m glad we came to an agreement. Now get lost,” Isir all but growls.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I snap back.

  She growls a few imaginative curses under her breath, directed at males in general as I leave. My eyes close as I lay my back against the door, Dinah’s wide, tearful silver eyes are burning my frontal lobe. It takes all of my self-control to not barge into her room and ask her to forgive me, tell her my name and press her close against me.

  No.

  No, no, no. I’ve been there before, never again.

  Ash-gray, feline eyes flash in my mind’s eye, and my stomach burns with anger. I can almost smell the tall, redhead female, feel her presence. Zelyna, the Nephilim I once loved, who betrayed me. Flashes of her smile, her touch on my skin invade me, and not for the first time I wish my kind could forget. I swallow back the bile crawling up my throat. She played the damsel in distress role so diligently I fell for it. I let her know too much about me and she used it to strip me from my power and leave me in a dark hole for decades. If not for a certain young witch’s intervention I’d still be underground, chained, broken.