Dante's Desire (New Immortals Book 2)

by Tia Didmon

  Valen is yet to claim his seat at the council. He will, but the priority is the safety of the demon races. The Ladon wish to destroy us all.

  You wish the warriors to fight for the demon race once again.

  Yes, unless you have grown soft in the last two hundred years. Valen suggested I resurrect the trials to confirm you have not allowed time to weaken your skills.

  The ripple of emotion was barely perceptible, like a grain of sand blown into water. He believes us weak? Jordane asked in the same even tone.

  I told him I believed you worthy of the trials. My demon is eager to test the challenger’s skills.

  You are at full power?

  I am.

  None of the warriors have had the honor of fighting a Blood Prince.

  If you swear allegiance to Valen. The trial is yours.

  Valentino has the power of the people. He is to be protected. We all accept his mind is more powerful than any demon alive. You however have the power of blood. We look forward to the trials. We will swear fidelity to Valen. The winner amongst us will fight you.

  Dante was surprised. I assumed that was you.

  The custom was to fight each other first. The victor shall have the honor of defeating the Blood Prince.

  Dante’s demon rose in his mind. His guttural voice snapped at Jordane. None shall defeat me warrior. I am strong. You are nothing. You will beg for the power of my blood to heal you as your life drains away at my feet.

  It will be my honor. Jordane said.

  Dante chastised his demon for allowing Jordane to bait him. How long will it take for you to decide your champion? We need you here now.

  We will come immediately. Your demon will not back down. Once our victor is determined he will challenge you.

  Agreed. Where are you?

  In the mountains, close to a ski resort named Whistler. You will have eighteen warriors by tomorrow night.

  You always preferred the cooler temperatures. Eighteen warriors? I thought your pack had twenty-two.

  Some have sought eternal sleep.

  I am sorry Jordane. We are at the Davidson building and will arrange for you and your men. Dante opened his eyes. Everyone in the room was watching him. Valen had listened but hadn’t made Jordane aware of his presence.

  Jess was staring up at him. A sense of wonder on her face. She looked like an angel staring up at God. He didn’t deserve such a miracle but he would never let it go. “What happened?”

  “The pack will be here tomorrow night. We will need to find suitable lodgings for eighteen... large men.”

  Jess frowned. “All demons are tall.”

  “Warriors are chosen for their fighting ability and size. They are all six foot five and well over two hundred pounds. In their human form.”

  Jessica’s eyes narrowed. “And you will fight them?”

  “Only the victor, but not for a while. They need to determine their champion.”

  Jess rolled her eyes. “Men. Why did you call them a pack are they wolves in their other form?”

  “They live together. Hunt together. But their form is unique to the warriors. It is something you have to see to understand.”

  “I thought Weres chose a form that would fit into the animal world. This sounds different.”

  “Unlike the other Weres their animal form does not exist in the human realm.”

  “Really?” Jessica said.

  Dante assumed the thought of a warrior form would scare a human. Her obvious interest made his demon growl with pleasure. The knowledge of a demon fight combined with the closeness of his bride was too much. He kissed her.

  She was startled, and it took a few seconds before her arms went around his waist but when she kissed him back it was with intensity.

  “We need to go back to the apartment... now.”

  Chapter 7

  Jess stopped Dante at her apartment. “I will come over soon. I’d like a few minutes with my brother and Maddie alone.”

  Dante inclined his head. “Of course.” He kissed her temple and sauntered down the hallway.

  She closed her eyes, wanting to run after him, knowing she needed to let him go before it was too late. She walked into her apartment with a fake smile plastered on her face. “Hey, I’m home.”

  Darnell came out of Maddie’s room with his finger over his lips. “Shh, I just got her back to sleep.”

  Jessica glanced at her watch. “I didn’t realize she went to bed before eight.”

  Darnell shrugged. “She hasn’t been sleeping since Toto died.”

  Jess frowned. “I’m sorry about the dog.”

  Darnell rubbed his neck. “Yeah well, we have another issue.”

  “What?”

  Darnell looked at her, his anger clear. “Sam Krane is out of jail.”

  Jess blew out a long breath. “I know.”

  Darnell’s eyebrows went up. “Our mother’s attacker gets out of prison and you don’t think to inform me?”

  “I was planning to. I just found out myself,” she lied.

  Darnell huffed. “Yeah right.” His eyes narrowed. “Tell me Jess. What happened when you went to see Sam last year in prison?”

  Jessica’s heart stuttered. She had made a mistake in telling Darnell about that trip. She had wanted to know why he had raped all those women and if he was truly reformed as the report indicated. “He was apologetic, but it was all bullshit.”

  Darnell stepped up to her, his voice cold. “Did he realize who you were?”

  Jess glanced down before getting her emotions under control and meeting her brother’s gaze. “Yes. When I left, he said I looked just like her.”

  “Like our mother?”

  “Yes.”

  Darnell walked away. “You should get back to work. You have a job to do.” He sat on the couch and turned on the TV.

  She left the apartment blinking back tears. Could never make amends for her past?

  Jess knocked on Dante’s door.

  He opened immediately. “I do not require you to knock Jessica. My home is yours regardless of where we are.” When she didn’t respond he pulled her into the suite. “What happened Jessica? You are shutting me out but I sense your pain.”

  “I just need you to back off. I can’t be what you want. Need. I have too much...”

  Dante kissed her. His tongue swept forcefully into her mouth. Demanding entrance. Acceptance.

  She clutched the back of his shirt as adrenaline flooded her veins. Need, want and desperation surged through her body. An unstoppable force, and she was addicted to it. Her hand undid one button of his shirt so she could lip her hands through, caressing his skin.

  He growled into her mouth. The low vibration only enhanced the burning hunger. She nipped his lip, drawing blood. The sweet liquid coated their tongues as they dueled with one another. She was unprepared for the scorching lust that poured like lava into her bloodstream. She craved more.

  He pulled away. She watched in fiery arousal as his fangs extended. “You drew my blood Jessica.” He began unbuttoning his shirt as his eyes ignited with lust.

  She wanted to look away. Run. Tell him he was making a mistake but no words would come. She felt paralyzed, that he owned her body. Her soul. Her hands began removing her clothes as if they too belonged to him.

  He stepped up to her when his pants hit the floor. “You will allow me to take yours.”

  Her hands went to his lips, caressing his fangs with her fingertips. The sane part of her feared him. The rest of her wanted everything he offered. She gasped when he grabbed her wrist, holding it in a steel embrace as he sucked her fingers into his mouth, performing an erotic massage with his tongue. The sensation sizzled through her body straight to her wet pussy, causing the sensitive muscles to clench together in wanton need.

  He picked her up, forcing her legs around his waist as he carried her to the bed. She expected him to be gentle but as she connected with him, she saw the dark haze of fury in his mind. She had done that. Her words had fo
rced his demon into a black rage. Anger, fear and frustration all swirled with arousal and lust, choking any semblance of sanity.

  She screamed when he drove into her. A steel spike ripping through her soft flesh to anchor deep with in her. Each hard thrust from his hips, slapping against her heated skin. She thought the sensation of his cock pumping into her so savagely would be the death of her but his hand sought the slick flesh at the opening of her vagina. He pressed against the engorged bud, pushing her over the edge violently. When she clutched his skin, his fangs pierced her neck.

  Pain and ecstasy combined to make an erotic cocktail that had her panting in pleasure. Each deep pull of his mouth, pushed her to the brink of orgasm. Threatening her with ultimate satisfaction, then holding her there in complete torture. Her mind fragmented when she came. The walls so meticulously built, fell, leaving her raw and exposed for Dante to see.

  He thrust into her hard. His hot jets, coating her inner walls caused her to clamp down, forcing him to groan as he retracted his fangs.

  She hastily rebuilt her mental shields, invoking a low growl from Dante.

  “Why did you shut me out?”

  There were so many things she could have said. Should have said. The truth tumbled from her lips. “I’m scared.”

  Dante kissed her closed eyelids. “What have I done to scare you?”

  Jess opened her eyes. “It isn’t you. It’s us. The way you make me feel. I can’t have this in my life.” I don’t deserve it.

  Dante slipped his hand around the back of her neck. “This is going the happen Jessica. I won’t allow any other outcome. I have waited centuries for you. Wallowed in a pit of despair and misery yet unable to feel the trauma of my predicament. I will not allow you to send me back to such persecution.

  Jessica’s heat squeezed. “It can’t be that bad, I mean, there has to be some other way to save you from...”

  “There is not. I chose you. We chose you. If you refuse my bond, you sentence me to an eternity with nothing. No hope. No emotion. No life.”

  “Don’t say that,” she pleaded.

  “It is the truth.”

  “I can’t...”

  Dante kissed her. “I know you require your independence. I am not asking you to bond with me this moment. I realize you need time to adjust to what I am. My world. I only ask that you keep an open mind.”

  Jess wished she could reassure him. “What are you planning to do about the warriors? It doesn’t sound like you can house them here.”

  Dante pulled back. He knew she was changing the subject on purpose. “While you were with your family, we made other arrangements.”

  “What?”

  “Laura and Kiki are the legal owners of the shelter and its surrounding property. We are housing them there until I can make more permanent arrangements.”

  “Is there lodging at the shelter?”

  “Ed has a house on the property. While the house isn’t large, they spend most of their time outdoors. They also sleep in shifts with a third of the pack on lookout at all times.”

  “So, they are the demon version of the military.”

  “Yes.”

  “What is Laura doing with the shelter?”

  “It is closed right now. We have retained the shelter employees to care for the animals but Laura is hoping the warriors and possibly Chad will enable it to re-open soon.

  Her phone chimed. “That’s Jenner.”

  Dante frowned. “Does every person in your life have their own ring tone?”

  Jess smiled. “It makes it easier to ignore unwanted interruptions.”

  “Then ignore it.”

  She pushed against his chest. “You know I can’t.”

  Dante rolled to the side to allow her passage. “I will have to speak with my brother-in-law about his timing.”

  Jess was smiling until she read Jenner’s text. “Another woman was murdered.”

  Dante sat up. “Was she a demon?”

  Her stomach rolled. “The card says Demon Kill Courtesy of PURE.”

  Jessica led Dante to the parking lot outside the strip mall. Emergency vehicles had flashing lights everywhere. The dark night was lit like a Christmas tree adorned in blue, red and orange. The sirens however chimed to a cadence of death. They crossed the yellow tape that surrounded the crime scene. “This way.” She pointed toward the body.

  Dante knelt beside the woman, pulling back the gray tarp that covered her. Like the first victim they had decapitated her. Her face one of a grim peace. There was no fear as if she expected her death even welcomed it. He stood abruptly.

  Jess touched his hand. “Do you know her?”

  Dante nodded. “Her name was Cassondra. I thought her to have perished in the cotillion.” He rubbed his forehead aggressively. “I don’t understand. One woman escaping maybe, but two. Something more is going on here. I need to contact Valen.”

  Jess indicated the restaurant in the corner. “I will hit the ladies. I’ll be back in a minute.” Dante already had that disassociated look she recognized when he was concentrating on an internal conversation. She made her way to the bathroom.

  She had turned on the tap when a woman appeared behind her. “May I help you?”

  The woman ran her hand through the blond tips of her spiked brown hair. “I’m here to help you, actually,” she said, with a faint Italian accent.

  Jess dropped her hands under the water as her eyes roamed over the black leather clad woman. “Is that so? Do you know anything about the woman that died in the parking lot?”

  “Yes, her name was Cassondra.”

  Jess froze. “What is your name and how do you know Cassondra?”

  “My name is Charisse, and we were both at the cotillion with all the other woman the day the hall blew up.”

  Jess swallowed. “You’re a blood demon.”

  Charisse’s eyes flashed red. “Yes.”

  “You, Cassondra and Lilith escaped the fire?”

  Charisse glanced at the door as pain flickered across her face. “Many of us were not in the hall when it exploded.”

  Jess pivoted. Water flicked across the floor. “How is that possible?”

  Charisse glanced down at the water drops before meeting Jessica’s gaze. “They tricked us into going to another location. One at a time. We had no idea we were being targeted. They left the women that were too old to breed at the hall to burn.”

  “Who took you?”

  “Draven and Louis Lestant.”

  “The Chameleons. How did they trick you?”

  “They posses the ability to be anyone. They impersonated mates, other women even parents to get the ones they wanted from the hall. We were all led away by someone we trusted.”

  “Jesus,” Jess gasped.

  “I would have prayed to anyone who would have helped me that day.”

  “They took you. How did you escape?”

  “Twenty years later, after the first round of births I convinced my newly assigned partner to help me.”

  “I don’t understand. Births?”

  “The women are breeders, nothing more. All births have been male and they train those sons in Ladon Law from birth.”

  Jess clutched her heart. She felt a trickle of water run down her chest. “Oh my god.”

  “As I was saying. They assigned the original generation of sons to mate with some of the women. I had just entered my first breeding cycle when the oldest son matured. They assigned him to me. He helped me and ten other women escape.”

  “There are eleven of you?”

  “There are seven left in the free world. I do not know how many of the original thirty-seven survivors are left.”

  “Why didn’t you contact Valen, Dante... anybody once you escaped.”

  Charisse sighed. “They would never have condoned what the women chose to do.”

  Jess was afraid to ask. “What did they do?”

  “Their race was decimated. Their mates were dead. They elected to take human husbands, picked b
y their demons. They stayed with each for twenty to thirty years, faking their deaths and leaving their children when the time was right.”

  “The hybrids. They are the children of these women?”

  “Yes. There are many descendants now and they represent the future of all the demon races.”

  “How come their mates didn’t know they were alive?”

  “Because they were dead when the cotillion exploded.”

  “How?” Jess asked.

  “This is a burden I don’t wish for Dante but he has to know they need him back.”

  “Dante?”

  “They orchestrated an attack on him. Stole his blood. They used it to resurrect most of the women. They were dead for only a few minutes. Just long enough for their mate to follow them.”

  “So, you want me to warn Dante?”

  “No, my warning is for you.”

  “Me?”

  “You need to cut ties with the Ladon.”

  “I am not associated with them.”

  “You are working for them. Getting them intel on the Morettis’ or so you think.”

  Jess sucked in a quick breath. “I was contacted by PURE not...”

  “The Ladon are PURE.”

  “No, PURE stands for pure human why would...”

  “PURE stands for pure demon and the Ladon intend to be the only species left. Humans will be nothing more than slaves.”

  Jessica let her mind catch up to the overload of information. “You are not saying that all psychics are hybrids, are you?”

  “No, the human men the women chose had high psychic ability but the fact that their mates were gone and the destruction of their race unavoidable if they didn’t do as the seer told them, was the only reason they chose this path.”

  “Why did you warn me? Why do you care what happens to me?”

  “You are Dante’s bride and you betraying him will destroy him. Also, you are Cassondra’s great, great granddaughter. I made a vow to protect the children the women left behind.”

  “What... no.”

  “Look up your family history on your mother’s side. You will find what I say is true.”

  Jess rubbed her forehead. “This can’t be happening.”

  Charisse stepped up to her. Red flickered in her eyes. “Don’t turn your back on your true family Jessica. Tell Dante and Valen everything.”