A Demon's Work Is Never Done: Latter Day Demons, Book 2

by Suttle, Connie

  "We're beginning to see what he's capable of—Kory Wilson, that is," Berke spread his hands as he attempted an explanation. "Yes, we lost four, but they were unimportant, as Deris will tell you. The Sirenali were young—V'ili made sure they weren't able to speak, you know, before he sent them to do his bidding. Shame, though; V'ili should have told them to fold the warlocks away at the first sign of trouble. He was so sure the fire net would work that he didn't add safeguards. We won't let that happen again, dearest."

  "With another fire net? Why didn't the first one work?" I demanded.

  "We, ah, don't have another net. That was the only one we could acquire for now. As you see, it wasn't as effective as we'd hoped. Somehow, they managed to defeat it and kill our four servants. V'ili felt the obsession die when they did; regardless, no information could be gotten from them."

  "Where is Hannah?" I asked. "I want to ask her questions. She knows both of them. I want to know how to kill Kory Wilson and that trollop of a girlfriend he has."

  "I'll find Hannah. She's probably out sunning herself by the pool," Berke replied.

  "Tell her to get her ass in here, or I'll think twice about saving it next time," I snapped. "She has what she's wanted for a long time—a younger body. I did that for her. She owes me."

  * * *

  Lexsi

  "No more," I held up a gauze-swathed hand. Kory fed me steak, mushroom sauce and pasta until I felt as if I'd pop with one more bite. He'd fed himself while I chewed, so we could have dinner together.

  "I'll be done in a minute," Kory said. "I'll take the bandages off then, so you can get a shower. Your hands looked much better the last time."

  Lie.

  "Do they still hurt?" Sandra asked, turning me away from Kory's untruth. He'd said it to make me feel better. There was no need to accost him over it.

  "No. I just have trouble flexing them," I admitted. Yes, the net had burned through muscle and sinew on both hands; they looked skeletal at best and I secretly worried they'd never be the same. Automatically, I hunched my shoulders at the thought.

  "It'll be fine," Kory laid an arm over my shoulders. "High Demons are tough. My Lexsi is tough."

  "I don't feel tough," I mumbled.

  "But you are," he kissed my hair. "Trust me, ninety-nine percent of the High Demon army would have watched me burn rather than pull that shit off me and risk injury."

  "Ninety-nine percent of the High Demon army are idiots and they don't love you," I sighed.

  "My baby loves me," Kory pulled me into his arms.

  "I am pleased to see you home," Klancy declared. Sunset had come and the vamps were awake.

  * * *

  After my shower and the rewrapping of my hands, Kory settled me on the sofa next to him and crooked his arm about me while we answered Klancy and Mason's questions. Watson, Anita and the others came, too, in case there was news they hadn't already heard.

  "You call this a fire net?" Klancy was curious.

  "Yeah. It's a way of controlling High Demon criminals. No idea how they got their hands on one," Kory shrugged. "They're all guarded like your proverbial Fort Knox. You have to handle fire nets by the narrow edges only—everything else will burn what it touches."

  I watched their faces as they digested that information. "Where is Kell?" Mason asked after several seconds.

  "He stayed behind with Opal. She appreciates his advice," I said. "Plus, I watched him behead two warlocks and two Sirenali in about a blink. He was pissed, I think, that they'd attacked us like that."

  "Do you think the enemy knows those four are dead?" Sandra asked.

  "Probably. They've been a step ahead of us most of the way," Kory rumbled. I snuggled farther into his warmth as he explained what we'd seen and heard since our visit to the Colorado facility.

  "They attempted to kill you during the riot in Colorado, then again in New York. Why wasn't an attempt made in Virginia?" Klancy asked.

  "We don't know," Kory combed fingers through my hair. I closed my eyes and didn't open them again while the others talked. Eventually, I fell asleep.

  * * *

  Kordevik

  When I carried Lexsi to her bedroom to put her to bed, I found Li'Neruh Rath waiting for me.

  "I'm here to help her hands heal faster," he said as I laid her gently on the bed. "She shouldn't have to suffer like this."

  I watched as he removed the bandages from her hands as if it were something he was used to doing. I was afraid to pry, so I didn't ask. Lexsi's hands looked small and knotted, crisscrossed with net burns as they were.

  His hands were careful as he held hers, while light formed around them. Under his guidance, fingers straightened as flesh and muscle grew about healing bones. That's how her hands had been until now—nearly skeletal as they slowly recovered.

  When he finished, her hands looked so much better I felt tears prick my eyes. She was worried enough that I hadn't added my worries to hers.

  With Li'Neruh's assistance, I felt optimistic for the first time in days.

  "Thank you," I breathed, once the light dimmed and he laid her hands on the blanket covering her chest.

  "It is deserved," Li'Neruh shook himself as he stood. "Do not let fear defeat you. Either of you," he nodded and disappeared.

  "Whatever you say," I sighed and gently touched the hands he'd healed before rewrapping them. I'd let Lexsi discover for herself just how much they'd improved.

  * * *

  Lexsi

  I skipped into the kitchen early the next morning, hoping somebody would be awake to make coffee. I found Tibby and Farin in the kitchen. Without a word, Tibby pulled a mug from the cabinet and poured coffee for me.

  At least I could hold the mug between bandaged hands and sip. "Thank you," I sighed after getting my first taste of the hot brew.

  "Lexsi, I am so, so sorry," Farin began.

  "Lesson learned," I set my mug on the island and took a seat. "Stop beating yourself up about it. They're trying to get information on us, and that's how they did it."

  "Car's ready, man," Diego walked in.

  "Diego, I want to hug you," I said. "You and Tibby both, for what you did inside that wine cave."

  "I'll take a hug," he grinned. I gave him a kiss on the cheek, too, while I was at it, but refrained from kissing Tibby.

  Farin was watching, and he was her man.

  If I'd thought Tibby looked tough and muscular before, well, he'd improved in a matter of days. He looked as if he could take on bigger and badder and make them cry before he was done.

  "You know, I never asked who your opponent is in Vegas," I said, sitting down again and lifting my cup carefully to drink.

  "Lyle, 'Lover Boy,' Landon," Tibby shook his head.

  "Lyle wishes he were lover boy," Diego huffed. "That one—only his mother would love him."

  "He's ugly?" I asked, curious.

  "Not ugly. Mean and nasty," Tibby replied. "He married twice. Both left him because he wasn't a proper husband."

  "What Tibby's saying is that Lyle likes to hit and cheat," Farin said. "The money was good; otherwise neither would have married him in the first place."

  "Money covers a lot of sins, huh?" I asked.

  "Yeah. I guess," Farin shook her head.

  "Stop worrying about that pendejo," Tibby pulled Farin against him. "He is nothing to us."

  "I don't want him to hurt you," Farin mumbled against Tibby's shoulder. Diego snorted at her words.

  "I take it Tibby doesn't intend to get hurt by that pendejo?" I lifted an eyebrow at Diego, who laughed.

  They left a few minutes later, Tibby pressing a kiss against Farin's temple as he pulled her along with him. I was in the kitchen alone and had almost reached the bottom of my coffee mug.

  "Want more?" Anita's house slippers scuffed across the kitchen tiles as she wrapped her robe tightly about her and tied the belt around her waist.

  "Yeah. And some bacon and eggs, if we have any."

  "I think we do," she said and
pulled my mug away to pour more coffee.

  "Did you leave any for me?" Kory walked into the kitchen, followed closely by Watson.

  "I'll get the plates," Watson offered before Anita could say anything. I wasn't going to be the one to tell him she wasn't planning to say anything to him—her words would be for Kory, while she pointedly ignored Watson.

  Watson wore a grim expression as he laid out plates, flatware and cups for Kory and himself. Kory's setting was next to mine as Anita placed a platter of bacon and another of scrambled eggs on the bar so they could help themselves.

  She then took the barstool next to mine, while Watson sat beside Kory. Kory didn't say anything aloud. We're the divider between them, he dipped eggs onto his plate, then reached for the salt and pepper.

  "Bacon, please," Watson held out his plate. Anita had placed the bacon on her end of the island.

  "Dude," Kory reached across me, lifted the platter, snagged four slices for himself and passed the rest to Watson. Anita sat beside me and fumed.

  "Look, about that tail pulling," I began.

  "You don't have to say anything—or pull my tail," Watson admitted. "I know I fucked up. I just—I was in love with her since we were kids. And to have her do that—Anita, I owe you a big apology, but I have to get this shit out of my head, first. Okay?"

  Watson turned deep-brown eyes in Anita's direction, pleading with her to understand.

  "Then why didn't you say that to start with?" Anita demanded. "Instead of this pining away shit, like I didn't fucking matter to you. I thought you were fucking dead, you asshole."

  Watson stopped chewing bacon for a moment as he considered what she'd said.

  "Yeah. I get that now."

  Anita began to sniffle beside me.

  "It's not your fault," I put my arms around her. She turned, dropped her head on my shoulder and began to sob. I shot Watson the nastiest of looks while I awkwardly patted Anita's back with a bandaged hand.

  "Want me to kill Watson for you?" Kory asked almost pleasantly. "I can. Won't take much; my Thifilathi can burn just about anything, especially when it's this close."

  "What?" Watson scooted his chair back in alarm.

  "I'm not kidding. I can do it now if you want," Kory went on.

  Anita's head flew off my shoulder. She blinked tear-filled eyes at Kory. "Please don't," she whispered. "I love him."

  "Baby, I," Watson began.

  "I'm still mad at you," Anita wiped tears off her cheeks. "Really, really mad." She folded space before I could attempt to stop her.

  "Dude," Watson blinked at Kory. "Would you really have done that? I thought we were friends."

  "We still are. I just wanted to point out the reality of the situation. Anita thought you were dead. I offered to make you really dead, just to make her realize how much she cares. And to show you how much she really cares about your sorry, furry ass." Kory lifted another piece of bacon, folded it into thirds and stuffed it into his mouth.

  "You need to get your priorities straight," I said, waving a gauze-swathed hand at Watson. "Anita is here, now, cooking and waiting on you while your ex tried to kill you. She's been depressed for days because, well, you're an asshat."

  "Hey, are you forgetting that I almost did die?" Watson demanded.

  "See this?" Kory grasped my right wrist and lifted my bandaged hand so Watson could see. "Lexsi pulled a fire net out of my skin with these hands, over and over, so it wouldn't kill me. The pain of a fire net is indescribable. It burned her to the bone, man, and she did it because she loves me. Anita is doing the same for you, you stupid shit, because she loves you. I'm beginning to wonder why." Kory laid my bandaged hand gently on the island and patted it.

  I was blinking tears away when he did so.

  "Yeah. Well. I guess I ought to go find her," Watson slid off his barstool.

  * * *

  Opal

  "Colonel Hunter, I know you're more accepting of this sort of thing than the President and the Secretary of State," I said. He, Kell and I agreed to meet over lunch, not far from both our offices.

  "I find it interesting that there wasn't an incident at the Virginia facility. It's as if they were waiting to see who showed up there, to put their plans in motion in New York," August Hunter replied.

  Colonel Hunter never minced words and had more insight than most people I knew. Yes, I realized that he still dealt with the occasional racist opinion on the Hill, but he was one of the sharpest men I knew.

  It was something I'd dealt with myself often enough, as old as I was. Not just as a female, but as a native to the continent, before the Americas were called the Americas. When I was asked if I wished to stay on Earth and hold a position that could make a difference, I'd accepted it.

  Yes, I could have gone off-world and anywhere else I wanted to go. I'd chosen to stay on Earth. At least for as long as I could make a difference.

  Perhaps Colonel Hunter guessed I wasn't completely human. I didn't care that he might know—that secret would remain with him, hidden behind eyes that were darker than his skin.

  He knew of the vampires and werewolves employed by several security agencies—he had to, to consider the best ways to approach any security issue involving the country and its government.

  I also understood that he'd died once, and I knew what had brought him back and the cost of that miracle.

  Someone else had paid that price.

  I missed her.

  "I'm thinking about a trip to Ecuador," I said, shoving those thoughts aside.

  "For a vacation?" Colonel Hunter's eyebrows rose. If I said yes, he wouldn't believe it for a minute. He also would never say otherwise, if asked.

  "Sure. I hear the beaches have interesting things washing up from time to time."

  "You wouldn't mind shipping souvenirs back, would you?"

  He was telling me that he wanted evidence, if we found any. That included bodies we found ahead of the local authorities.

  "Sure thing," I shrugged.

  I had another reason for going, too, but I didn't want to say it here. I wanted to search for shifters in the area, both on land and in the water. They'd have tales to tell, and I needed that information.

  "Let me know if you need money before you buy my souvenirs," Colonel Hunter nodded.

  He was giving my attempt at espionage a green light and funding, too.

  "Thank you, Colonel Hunter," I nodded my acceptance.

  * * *

  Peru

  Laurel Rome

  Hannah was young, dark-haired and sultry-eyed. She owed that to me. "What do you want?" she asked petulantly.

  "I want you to go to Las Vegas," I said. "Charlene may not be able to do this by herself, so you'll have to help her."

  "Help her with what?" Hannah examined her fingernails. She'd just had them painted a neon-pink. It looked good against her tanned skin and she knew it. Word had it that she'd warmed Deris' bed a few times, but then Hannah never discriminated if a willing cock were involved.

  "Help her get rid of that colossal pain in my ass Kory Wilson, that's what," I hissed at her. Really, could she get any more obtuse than she already was?

  "Kory Wilson?" Hannah perked up immediately. She wanted to bed him—I understood things better, now.

  "Yes. That's the one. I don't care how you and Charlene do it, just get rid of him, all right?"

  "Sure," a slow smile spread across her lips. "When do I leave?"

  "Start packing now. Charlene's already there, getting things ready for the fight between Lover Boy Landon and Snark Demonio."

  "Ooh, I interviewed Lover Boy once," Hannah gushed.

  "Look, I don't care who you screw while you're there. Just get rid of Kory Wilson. Deris and his Uncle say he's the biggest threat to our operation, so we have to get him out of the way."

  "All right." Hannah turned and swished her hips as she walked out. I began to wonder how many times I'd regret saving the ass that she swayed so seductively at anyone willing to watch.


  * * *

  Lexsi

  "Kory," I said as he unwrapped my hands so I could take a shower.

  "What, baby?" He kept his eyes on his work, unwrapping the gauze as carefully as he could.

  "I'm really sorry. About the wedding. The bar. Everything."

  He raised his head and looked at me, then. "Onion, an apology isn't necessary. If I'd had any sense at all back then, I'd have realized how uncomfortable you'd be. I'd have gone to the King myself and demanded that we meet ahead of time, just to make you more comfortable. If my dad ever speaks to me again, I'm still going to ask him to present a modification of the laws at a Council meeting. People need to meet before they're forced to marry. And they need a say, in case marrying that person is the last thing they want to do."

  "I love you," I sighed. I watched his mouth as a slow grin developed.

  "I love you too. If we could, I'd kiss you right here and now. But that scares you, so we won't." He went back to unwrapping bandages.

  "People have sex without kissing," I said, causing his hands to stop. Slowly he lifted his eyes to mine again. I will never forget what he said to me, then.

  "Onion, I love you. More than anything. Unless I am very, very wrong, this will be your first time. A High Demon's claiming marks do more than just mark a female as his, did you know that?"

  "What else does it do?" Somehow, I'd never heard this part. I'd been willing to have sex with him, as long as we didn't kiss on the mouth. I was about to learn something about it that I didn't know.

  "It creates the linking." He went back to unwrapping my bandages. "The linking," he explained before I had to ask, "Is a mental bonding between the pair. It feeds off the desires of the mated High Demons, and bounces back five or tenfold. I've heard that once the linking starts during foreplay, that the sex that follows is the most intensely satisfying you could ever hope for. Baby," his eyes bored into mine, "I want that for your first time, all right? That you find it not painful, but highly satisfying. We're not having sex until then. Okay?"

  "Okay." My reply was small. Almost a whisper. I had no idea.

  None.

  "Look," Kory touched the flesh on my left hand.

  My gaze dropped and I gasped. My hand—it looked almost normal.