Chosen Blood: A Dark Urban Fantasy Romance (Demon Bayou Series Book 1)

by S Lawrence

  I’ve heard of Las Vegas. Lots of sinners. Lots of sinning.

  He’s on the phone with Evander, who was driving while tracking Torryn’s phone. The music slowly fades away as I watch the sky begin to lighten; morning has come once again.

  It grows quiet after he hangs up, just the distant yipping of an animal.

  “Evander wants us to go to the penthouse the company owns on the strip.” I have no idea what he’s talking about but I nod. “Are you alright?”

  “The song is gone. This is as close as I can get you all.” He comes around standing in front of me blocking the lights.

  “This is more than enough. You don’t have to do it all by yourself, Angel. Hell, maybe we can take the day off. Let Dagen look.”

  “Dagen?” He nods. “Dagen.” Whatever he hears in that word makes him grin.

  “Come on, let’s go tell him.” He leaps into the air, gliding down hundreds of feet before he begins to flap his wings. His laughter floats up to me and I have a feeling Dagen might not be as excited as Torryn is. “Are you coming?” He turns, starting to fly back to me.

  Stepping to the edge, I turn my back to him and let myself fall off the edge, free falling until I rotate, opening my wings and let them catch the air.

  “Jesus, you’re fucking crazy, and I love it,” he calls out.

  “I love you,” I call back and watch as he falters for a second. Silly demon.

  As we draw closer, fear tingles down my spine. They will be here. They will be hunting. People will die.

  Forty-Three

  LUCIFER

  Las Vegas. Of course. Dagen fucking lives there, for God’s sake.

  My lips twitch at my thought. I mean what else can He do to me, right? I don’t even fucking care anymore. He’s gone checked out. Left the rest of us to deal with the shit-storm He created, literally.

  I glance at the bed on the other side of the room. This could be a huge mistake. Or it could be exactly what is needed. I keep going in circles, unable to decide, and I’m running out of time.

  He could hate me for it. My mind whispers to me. He could, I agree with myself. Or I could be saving him. Shaking my head, I look over again, I’m arguing with myself. I could go ask Lillian.

  Fuck, one conversation, and I’m already dependent on her. Christ, Lucifer, just make up your fucking mind. Okay, yes. I’m going to do it. Grimacing, I look again, please let this be the right decision.

  Stalking out and away, I make my way to the edge of this realm, to the very boundary of my domain. There just beyond the invisible walls is the darkness, the void where those without human souls go for eternity. Or until I pull them from it.

  Seven times, I’ve flung my power into the nothingness and pulled those that were needed, that were deserving, free.

  Time to do it once more.

  Closing my eyes, I focus on the one I seek, ignore the others that call for me. There, shining like a beacon in the nothingness. I smile, yes this is the right decision.

  Latching on, I pull it to me and hold it close as I make my way back to the room. Standing beside the bed, I look down at her pale form, still perfect, still heavenly.

  It is the last that gives me pause, that makes me worry. The others lost the very essence of that when I brought them back. They are truly of Hell, demons through and through. They fought years to control the darker aspects of their natures. She will have to do the same.

  I place the light on the body, watching as it sinks in. Now, I wait. Some took longer than others. I flinch when she gasps, unprepared for the quickness of her awakening. Her body jackknifes up, and her crimson eyes lock on me.

  “Grace?” Chest heaving, she stares. “Grace, do you remember me?”

  “Lucifer.” The deep growl doesn’t match the angelic look. “What have you done?” Claws lengthen as she hops onto her feet, squatting on the bed, preparing to leap.

  “I freed you from the darkness, brought you back.” Another growl. “For another chance.” This time she does leap, I barely catch her wrist before she shreds my face.

  “I feel different.” Anger leaks from her and so does power. The room bursts into flames as anything small flies around us. “Dark. Hungry. Angry.”

  “I know. I promise I’ll help you with that. Or I could get Evander.” Teeth lengthen.

  “No.” She jumps off me as I try to contain the flames. My heart plummets when she skitters into a corner, hiding her face in it.

  “He loves you.” I say it softly as I draw closer to her.

  “He loved her.” She glares at me over her shoulder. “I’m not her.”

  I would argue but I know it will do no good right now. So instead, I sit on the floor near her. I’ve seen humans do it will wild and frightened animals, and right now, she is both wild and frightened.

  Minutes turn to hours which turn to days. I refuse to leave her, and she refuses to acknowledge my existence.

  I’ve replaced everything in the room many, many times after she destroys it. Her eyes have yet to fade from red.

  “I’m going to go but I’ll be back very soon.” Her eyes narrow. “I promise.” She turns and gives me her back. I smile at her defiance.

  I flash away, having walled up the door many days ago after I had to chase her through half of Hell.

  I wait until Torryn leaves to help Dagen search. They are no closer than they were the first day, but Lillian insists this is the right place. Normally she goes with them, but I called her earlier so she told them she wanted to stay in just for tonight.

  Knocking on the door, I wait for her to let me in, instead of popping right into the room. She smiles and wraps me in her arms after the door swings open.

  “Where have you been?” She looks me up and down. “What’s wrong?”

  “Do I look that bad?” I chuckle as she nods over and over. “I need your help with something in Hell.”

  She blinks, “In Hell?” I nod. “For how long?”

  “Honestly, I’m not sure. But I can bring you back every day.”

  “Okay, let me call him and tell him. He’ll freak if he comes back and I’m gone. We don’t need a demon tearing through the tourists.”

  I don’t know why I’m surprised by her quick agreement but I am.

  Several I love you’s later, she turns to me. “Ready.”

  I feel like I should warn her but I don’t know what to say, or how to say it. This is my last option to reach Grace, other than Evander, which I’m afraid will only make it worse.

  “This is really bad, isn’t it?”

  Instead of answering, I take her to the room.

  “Shit, what is going on?”

  She ducks as things fly through the air toward us. As soon as she speaks, they fall to the floor. Movement in the shadows catches her eye, and she squints at the form she can just make out.

  “You shouldn’t have done that.” The smoky voice calls out to me just as she steps into the light.

  “Grace?” Incredulous is how I would describe her.

  “Lillian.” The first flicker of iridescent appears and then is quickly replaced by ruby.

  THE END

  Epilogue

  CHOSEN SOUL

  Prologue

  I look out at my city, the neon shining bright. The constant noise barely heard by even my ears this high up. I ignore the others in the suite. I’m happy for them but tired of being surrounded by their happiness. We are Princes of Hell but actual Hell wasn’t as grating as the grab ass that is happening fifty feet from me. I’m ready to throw myself from the balcony, to free fall six hundred feet to the ground, but even that wouldn’t wouldn’t kill me.

  Every night for months, I’ve walked or driven the streets of this city searching for the Fallen, but like always, those bitches are hiding. Well, not hiding exactly, because they are out every damn night killing people. Not a slaughter like in New Orleans before they disappeared, but every morning, bodies are found.

  No shortage of sinners in Las Vegas.

&n
bsp; Lillian returned from her trip to Hell a few weeks ago and she has a secret. I can smell it on her.

  It clings to her like stripper glitter.

  I should head out but instead, I lower myself onto a lounge chair by our private pool. Perk of being a silent partner in the hotel is this suite. Top floor of the tallest hotel on the strip. Before it was the Palazzo, it was the Sands. I moved here in 1952 when the casino was first opened. Closing my eyes, I let the memories of the Rat Pack singing wash over me. I used to stand backstage and listen since I wasn’t welcome in the actual club back then. My skin was too dark. And now I own most of it. I designed the Rosina Club, approved even the tiniest detail.

  Sighing, I open my eyes as I hear quiet footsteps drawing near.

  “Dagen?” Turning my head, I roll my eyes up to look at her.

  “Lillian.” I say no more; instead I wait. She has been dancing around whatever she wants to tell me for days.

  She looks back in through the French doors. “He’s just getting in the shower,” I tell her, and she relaxes.

  Moving to the chair on my left, she sits, and I turn my head to look over at her.

  “Just spit it out, Lillian. It can’t be that bad.” She flicks her eyes to the left, and suddenly I’m not so sure. What in the world could have Luc gotten her into?

  She leans closer to me, and I have to strain to hear her low words. “Luc brought Grace back. She’s like you.”

  That is really fucking bad.

  About the Author

  S Lawrence is an emerging author of paranormal memoirs. She is a mom, a wife, a veteran and a fangirl. She lives just outside New Orleans and can be often found wandering the streets of the Quarter.

  To sign up for her newsletter to keep up to date on new releases and get in on some awesome giveaways head over to her website at https://www.slawrencewriter.com/

  To join her reader group the Myth Mavens go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/1946397745641272/

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  Also by S. Lawrence

  The Guardians Series:

  Celtic Fire

  Greek Fire

  First Fire

  Norse Fire

  Eternal Fire

  COMING SOON

  Chosen Soul: The Demon Bayou Series

  Born Magic: Chronicles of the Marked Series

  All can be found at https://www.slawrencewriter.com/home

  Acknowledgments

  When I wrote Celtic Fire, I had no idea I would end up here. And I couldn’t have, not without the support of so many people. My husband, who I can’t even begin to thank for his support and the work he does to make my dreams come true. My kids, for endlessly believing that I am going to be famous and that everyone will love my books.

  My best friend, who spent countless hours reading and checking for mistakes. She has always believed more in me than I do myself. She is Louise to my Thelma.

  To Summer, for amazing editing and support. I was looking for an editor and I found a friend.

  To those readers who took a chance on Celtic and have supported me through that series as I found my voice, I can’t thank you enough. There are no words for what you’ve done for me.

  If you just found me I hope you like it.

  Susan