Most Ardently

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Most Ardently Page 39

by Sheena Austin et al.


  The quartet, comprised of a pianist, a flutist, and two violinists began to play a waltz. Couples gathered in the middle of the ballroom. Each man encircled his partner’s waist as she placed her hand on his upper arm. The couples floated around the ballroom. The synchronized rise and fall of their bodies were perfection. Their festive attire created a kaleidoscope of color and movement.

  “Desiree, would you honor me with a dance?”

  She stared at Rayven’s extended hand then up to his handsome face. A face she could gaze into for a lifetime. How was she going to complete her scurrilous mission and walk away unscathed? The answer was; she wouldn’t. It would scar her heart and demon soul for eternity.

  “Yes,” she finally said mechanically, tamping down her feelings and taking his hand.

  Rayven bowed to Henry and Catherine and led Desiree to the dancefloor. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he followed the lead of the other couples. He looked at Desiree and frowned. She wouldn’t look at him. Her stunning green eyes were on everything but him. He wondered why. When they parted the evening before, he thought they were on the same page. She wanted what he did. To have a life that didn’t include an eternal battle between good and evil, angel versus demon. Had he been wrong? He hoped not because the beautiful red-haired demon in his arms had stolen his heart.

  “Are you alright?” He bent to whisper in her ear. “You don’t seem yourself.”

  “I’m fine,” she replied as she focused her eyes on him, her face rigid.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I'm fine." Her gaze moved from him to the other couples on the dancefloor.

  He tightened his arm around her and said nothing. He didn’t believe her. She was so subdued. He thought she’d be more excited about the ball and the future they were planning together.

  Desiree was near panic as the man she loved held her so protectively. He knows something is wrong, she thought. I can't do this.

  When the music stopped, she hastily excused herself and walked away from Rayven. She didn't give him time to respond before she crossed the ballroom to sit beside Catherine. She was relieved he didn’t approach her but danced with Henry’s sister instead. By the tense look on his face, he wasn’t happy.

  Rayven whirled Eleanor around the ballroom floor, but his attention was not on her. It was on the woman who walked away from him. Desiree’s coolness confused him. He was forced to dance with women he had no interest in - all because Desiree was avoiding him. She never left Catherine's side, giving him no opportunity to talk to her again. He wondered if her unexpected visitor last night was the reason for her mood change.

  After leaving her, he walked to the staircase, intending to go downstairs for a nightcap. As he descended the stairs, he felt a paranormal presence enter the mansion - another demon with a very powerful presence. Was it Amadeus? It had to be. He had encountered the ancient demon before and was familiar with his dark aura. Somehow, the demon tracked Desiree to this realm.

  Rayven started up the stairs and headed back to Desiree’s room but stopped. If the higher demon was with her and figured out she was having second thoughts, he would surely take her away. He didn’t want to tip the demon off. He couldn’t afford an ugly confrontation that would expose them to the humans in the mansion. So, he remained shielded. He didn’t use his powers to listen to their conversation. Any surge of angelic power would alert Amadeus. He had to be patient and trust Desiree to handle it.

  Each second was agonizing, not knowing what was happening inside her room. Then as suddenly as the presence appeared, it was gone. Rayven wanted to go to Desiree’s room to make sure she was okay. Instead, he unshielded long enough to hear her movements inside. Satisfied she was unharmed; he raised his shield and went downstairs.

  He found Henry in his study, sitting in front of the fireplace. He knocked on the open door and Henry turned his head, seeing him.

  "Rayven, what brings you downstairs so late?"

  “I could ask you the same thing.”

  “I couldn’t sleep,” Henry replied.

  "Me either. I came down to have a nightcap."

  Henry motioned to the bar. "Please help yourself.

  "Thanks." Rayven poured two fingers of brandy into a crystal glass.

  "How did your ghost hunting turn out?" Henry asked.

  "Not a ghost found," Rayven replied. "Catherine will be disappointed." He sat down in the chair beside Henry.

  Henry shrugged. "I didn't expect you to. It was a ploy to get you and Desiree alone."

  Rayven chuckled. "I know."

  "Did it work?"

  "I hope so, Henry. Time will tell."

  After another drink, Rayven went to his room, but he didn't sleep well. The visit from Amadeus remained on his mind.

  He hoped she would mention it to him at breakfast, but she didn’t. He did notice how quiet she was through the meal. After breakfast, she excused herself and went to her room. She spent the rest of the morning and afternoon getting ready for the ball. He didn’t see her again until she entered the ballroom.

  The ringing sound of a bell interrupted his thoughts. The guests grew quiet as Henry led Catherine to the center of the ballroom floor.

  “Thank you all for coming,” Henry began. “We hope you are having a good time. Catherine and I love hosting this ball every year. It is a tradition my ancestors kept for over a century, and we continue. Christmas is such a wonderful time to gather with family and friends.” He turned to his wife and beamed. “We are additionally blessed this holiday season to be bringing a new life into the world.” He raised his champagne flute in the air. “From our family to yours, Happy Holidays!”

  The ballroom erupted with applause and cheers. The music started up again and the dance floor filled with couples.

  Rayven looked around for Desiree. She had not moved from her chair. She took Catherine's hand when Henry escorted her back to the chair beside hers. She still wouldn’t look at him. He wanted to ask her to dance again, but it was obvious she was not interested in him or any other man in the ballroom. He watched man after man approach her, only to be turned away.

  “Rayven, Catherine is exhausted. I’m going to take her upstairs and get her settled. When I return, I want to introduce you to a few of my business associates. They’ve agreed to invest in the project I told you about in London.”

  “That’s excellent. Do you need help?” Rayven asked Henry.

  “Thank you. I can manage,” Henry replied as he helped his wife to her feet.

  Catherine smiled at Rayven as they passed. “Goodnight, Rayven.”

  “Goodnight.” He watched them enter the hallway and mount the staircase.

  Desiree surreptitiously watched Rayven as she talked to Eleanor. It hurt her to stay away from him, but she needed distance. Amadeus’ words played in her mind for the thousandth time. She could see no way out. She had to take the soul she came there to acquire. Well, not one soul but two souls; Catherine’s and her unborn child’s.

  Bile rose in her throat, and she thought she would be sick. She hated herself for what she was about to do. She saw Henry leading Catherine out of the ballroom towards the staircase and knew the time had come. Once Henry returned to the ballroom, she would go upstairs to complete her mission.

  Chapter 13

  HENRY RETURNED TO THE ballroom fifteen minutes later and headed straight for Rayven. They exchanged words before Henry steered Rayven through his guests. They stopped when they reached a group of four men. They were soon engaged in a lively conversation. They laughed at something Henry said. One of the men clapped him on the back. Rayven was talking to the man beside him, his back to her.

  Desiree saw an opening and made a hasty exit. She left the ballroom and headed for the staircase. She stopped midway up the stairs as the thought of never seeing Rayven again struck her very core. Nothing in her life would be the same again. She would carry regret and the pain of loving him with her forever.

  She stopped by her room to pick up t
he mahogany box from the nightstand. Once she had the souls, she would flash to the cemetery and take the portal back home. She would present the two pure souls to Amadeus and go on with her demon life – a life that would not include Rayven.

  Desiree flashed inside Catherine’s bedchamber, fearing someone would see her. The room was dark except for the fire blazing in the stone fireplace. Instead of being in bed, Catherine was sitting in the chair in front of it. Her eyes were closed, and her favorite gothic novel was resting on her round belly. There was a serene expression on her face. Why shouldn't there be? Catherine was married to the man she loved; she had two beautiful daughters and a new baby on the way. Henry had gotten his wish. Catherine was having a boy. She felt a sharp stab of pain. The bright, happy future the Tilneys were supposed to have would no longer happen. She was getting ready to take it all away. The happy ending Jane Austen had written would forever be altered.

  She had tears in her eyes as she stood over Catherine, barely breathing, the enchanted mahogany box in her hands. The box would soon contain Catherine and her unborn baby's souls. During her stay at Northanger Abbey, she’d grown to care very deeply for Catherine and her family, and she was committing a heinous act that would haunt her. If she didn’t do what Amadeus ordered her to, she would have no future. She would either spend her infinite life in Oblivion or escape it as a demon possessed human soul, only to be hunted and captured. Her final fate would be far worse than Oblivion. She would live out her days in the deepest pit in Hell.

  She began to open the mahogany box and stopped. Her hands trembled. Tears streamed down her face as debilitating grief enveloped her.

  “Desiree, baby, you have to stop,” Rayven said behind her.

  She glanced at him, not surprised by his sudden appearance. She knew he would come find her once he noticed her missing from the ballroom. “I...I can’t stop, Rayven,” Her voice trembled. “I have to do it.” She extended her arms.

  “It’s a boy, Desiree. Henry is finally going to get a son,” he whispered.

  “I know.”

  “You can’t take his son and his wife away from him.”

  Desiree turned back to Catherine. “I can’t think about that now.”

  “I know Amadeus came to see you last night.”

  She stopped moving and stared at him in surprise. “You did?”

  “Yes. I was going downstairs when I felt a powerful demon presence. I thought you might be in danger, so I lingered nearby to make sure you were okay.”

  “How did you do that without Amadeus sensing you?”

  “I was shielded. I only let down my shield when I’m with you.” He took one of her arms and tried to draw her away, but she resisted.

  “It’s too late, Rayven.”

  “No, I can protect you.”

  “You can’t help me. If I don’t do this, Amadeus will come after me or he’ll send demons to bring me back. All the demons in Hell are on high alert. Lucifer is desperate for pure souls.”

  "Why does he need so many pure souls?"

  "He's trying to negotiate his release from Hell. He needs pure souls to do that."

  Rayven regarded her with skepticism. "He thinks that will work?"

  "Yes."

  "It would be just the opposite. God would condemn his actions. Taking innocent souls will not please the Almighty. It will anger him. Lucifer must be stopped."

  "If you try to stop him, he will destroy you. You’re no match for him. He’s an archangel.”

  “Lucifer was once an archangel,” Rayven stated quietly, “but his powers have been greatly reduced. They are no greater than mine now.”

  Desiree said nothing.

  “You care deeply for Catherine and Henry and so do I. I know deep in your heart, you don’t want to hurt them. They deserve the happy ending Jane Austen wrote for them. Please, don’t take it away.”

  A muffled sob escaped Desiree’s throat as she looked down at Catherine. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my existence in Oblivion or languish in the pit of Hell,” she whispered, “but I can’t do this, no matter the cost.” She lowered the mahogany box.

  Rayven released her arm and took the box from her hands. He set it on a nearby table and pulled her into his arms. “I love you, Desiree.”

  Desiree’s eyes widened in surprise. “You love me?”

  “Yes. From the moment I first saw you.”

  Desiree inhaled a trembling breath, as his words warmed every part of her. “I...I love you too, Rayven. I tried not to.”

  Rayven smiled. “Love isn’t predictable, baby. And it can’t be controlled. Love just is.”

  She relaxed and laid her head against his chest. “Do you really think this can work between us? A demon and an angel?”

  Rayven grinned. “I believe in the power of love.”

  Desiree glanced back at Catherine, who hadn’t stirred. “I never wanted to hurt her or her baby.”

  “I know that.” He released her and took her hand. “Come.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Back to our realm.”

  She pulled the locket Mathilda gave her from around her neck. “I can use this to get us back.”

  He shook his head. “No need. I got this.”

  She put the necklace over her head and picked up the mahogany box. She tucked it inside the pocket of her gown. “What about Catherine and Henry? Won’t they wonder why we’re suddenly gone?”

  “No,” Rayven answered. “Once we leave this realm, they won’t remember our existence. Catherine won’t remember meeting you at the chapel and Henry will forget meeting me in London. Have you ever seen the movie Men in Black?”

  “No.”

  He chuckled softly. “The two agents in the movie used a handheld device to make people forget what they saw or experienced. I can do the same thing; only I don’t need a fancy device.”

  Desiree looked at Catherine one last time. "Be well, my dear friend," she whispered affectionately.

  "Ready, baby?" Rayven said, tucking her into his arms.

  "Yes." She wrapped her arms around his neck.

  They disappeared instantly, leaving the book realm behind.

  RAYVEN AND DESIREE appeared in his condo, still dressed in the clothes they wore in the book realm. The flashing lights of the Las Vegas Strip illuminated the living room around them.

  Desiree let go of Rayven and walked to the floor to ceiling windows. She’d never been to Las Vegas before but had seen it in photos and on TV. It wasn’t a place to find pure souls, just the opposite. There was never a reason for her to go there.

  The world outside Rayven’s condo was teeming with life. So, unlike the realm they just left. Sadly, she thought of Catherine and Henry, of his sister, Eleanor and their girls. The thought of never seeing them again hurt.

  “We can always go back there and check in on them if you wish,” Rayven said, knowing what she was thinking.

  She turned to him. “You’d do that?”

  “Of course. I will do anything to make you happy.”

  “I don’t know what to say, Rayven,” she murmured.

  He walked to her and took her hands. “You don’t have to say anything. I never thought I’d be in love. It’s not something angels are supposed to do.”

  She smiled. “Demons either. Will you get in trouble?”

  He shrugged. “I’ll deal with it if it ever comes to that.”

  “What about Amadeus?” The thought of how angry the demon would be once he knew she failed and disappeared, sent a chill of fear down her spine.

  “This building is protected by an angelic alarm system. If a demon ever tried to come in, I will know immediately. The only demons who can enter are the ones I allow to.”

  “If I leave the safety of the building, Amadeus and the other demons will detect me." Desiree was still trying to find a reason why their relationship would never work. She was afraid to believe happiness was possible.

  “When we do go out of the building, I will shield yo
u from demons. They will think you are human if they approach you. Don’t worry. You’ll be safe. No demon will be able to detect you.” He pulled her into his arms. “Stop worrying.”

  Rayven leaned down and kissed her. His lips lingered on hers, savoring her sweet taste. Her body molded to his and the touch of her lush curves against him caused his cock to harden. His need for her grew. She was no longer in danger and the two of them could focus on their future - and the smoldering desire building between them.

  Desiree felt something hard rubbing against her stomach. She flushed with heat as she realized what it was. The thought made her sex throb.

  “Rayven,” she whispered against his lips, clutching onto his biceps.

  “Tell me what you want,” he murmured. He knew what he wanted. The thing he had wanted from the moment he first saw her – complete surrender.

  “Rayven,” she breathed, “I want you."

  Rayven picked her up and headed for his bedroom. He set her on her feet beside his king-size bed. He didn’t turn on any lights. There was no need. Like the living room, his bedroom window faced the strip.

  “Let’s get these layers of clothes off you,” he said, with wry humor as he began to tug at them. “The women of Regency England wore too many damn clothes.”

  Desiree laughed nervously. The anticipation of what they were about to do caused her sudden anxiety. Would Rayven believe her if she told him she'd never been intimate before? Hell, she’d never been kissed until that night on the tower balcony.

  “So do the men,” she added with humor, trying to mask her nervousness.

  He grinned. “The one thing I won’t miss.” He turned her around and began to unbutton her dress. He stopped when the chemise she was wearing was the only thing between them. He removed his jacket, his vest and shirt to reveal a well-muscled chest. A light dusting of dark hair trailed down to the top of his breeches.

  Desiree took in his flawless perfection. He was beautiful. Can a man be beautiful? She thought, because the man in front of her was.

 

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