Genesis Queen (The Road to Hell Series)

by Miller, Gracen

  Phoenix hovered near her. He hoped the other man worried Micah would abscond with her for good. Making the Ark of Heaven edgy amused him. Not that he’d take her anywhere against her will. He’d made that asinine promise to her in Hell to give her the choice. What had he been thinking?

  A succubus craved power. As far as powers went, his were superior. Except for that little mojo Phoenix possessed where he could siphon the magic from others to use himself.

  The sneaky suspicion that Madison thought Phoenix the better man—at least the more moral of the two—chafed. It drove him nuts that there was any uncertainty of his ability to win her back. Failure wasn’t an option. Damn his original plan, he wanted Madison regardless if he could accomplish wrenching Heaven from Father.

  “Momma!” Amos entered the kitchen, Petralegija behind him, and he held up a photo. The Hellhounds went past him at a dead run to slide to a stop at Madison’s feet. “I drew this picture of—Daddy!” he ended on a squeal.

  Micah barely gained his footing before his son launched his body against him. He picked the boy up and hugged him tight. Two decades ago he would’ve slit the throat of anyone that hinted he’d be involved in such an open display of emotion. His prodigy in his arms felt natural. Good. He looked at Madison. The two of them felt like home. Hell had been his safe place before. Not anymore.

  He squeezed Amos tighter. Predictions attributed Micah’s greatest victory would come from the strength of his human family. At the time, he believed happiness would only come when he passed through the gates of Heaven because of their facilitation.

  I might have misinterpreted the Azura stones.

  The child remained in his lap when he sat. He could feel every eye on them. He couldn’t look at Madison right now. Not after the revelation of his true happiness being with her. All this time he’d thought it defeating his father. How could he have been so blind? Uncomfortable with his emotions, he kept his attention on his son.

  “I drew you.” Amos handed him the drawing. In vivid detail and color, his son had drawn Micah in angel form. “I have my two daddies with me.”

  His gaze whipped upward. His son grinned at Phoenix, who rammed his fingers through his disheveled hair. The Ark of Heaven’s stare did not waver from Micah’s surprised one. The other man’s expression said ‘deal with it.’

  “Why don’t I turn blue like you?” Amos turned his head so he could peer at him.

  Beliel had difficulty transitioning between topics. He wanted to discuss this plural daddy-word instead. “Nephilim do not alter the way angels can. You are stuck with one form.” He went back to studying the photo. “The object you drew in my hand, where—how—why did you draw it?” He hadn’t used that weapon since shortly after his exile from Heaven.

  “You’ll need it to save Momma.”

  His gaze slashed to Madison, then slammed to Elias. He handed the drawing to his brother and looked Madison square in the eye. “That’s the Scepter of Spirits.”

  “It remains in your possession?” Zennyo Ryuo stood near the window, expression void of any emotion. Eons ago, they’d been allies—if not friends—and he knew the immortal’s feelings ran deeper than most suspected.

  “Yes. No other angel could use it anyway. It was designed specifically for my use, with my DNA.”

  “Someone please explain.” Madison finished grating potatoes and dumped them in a frying pan.

  He hoped she made hash browns. They were one of his favorite items that she cooked. “It’s a weapon that’ll kill anything.”

  “Okay.” She looked between him and the immortal. “I don’t get how that is significant to you still having it.”

  “Angels cannot kill one another. The Scepter granted me power to kill even angels and reap them to whichever plane of my choosing.”

  Her mouth parted on a ragged inhalation. “You dominated the angels in Heaven? Before the Fall?”

  “I commanded archangels. Significant difference. We’re elite.”

  “So, basically”—Nix poured a mug of coffee—“you weren’t just the head honcho of the archangels, you were the bigwig archangel. The one no one fucked with.”

  Micah inclined his head. “So to speak.” He’d have worded it differently, but Phoenix’s words were accurate enough.

  His father’s keeper of balance pulled out a chair. “This proves we’re dealing with some sort of holy intervention.”

  “Or that we’re dealing with you.”

  The immortal froze in a half-seated position and gave him the once-over. He sat. “I’ve had plenty of opportunities to kill them, if that were my intent.”

  “Doesn’t mean you haven’t altered your mind.”

  “What Amos drew had wings. Zen doesn’t have wings.” Madison checked something in the oven and removed the Pyrex dish from within. “And I trust Zen with my life.”

  “This is your life we’re talking about, kitten. Amos’s, too.” Madison poured grease over the potatoes and adjusted the temperature as he continued. “I told Phoenix the Azura stones keep giving me one word: betrayal.”

  Zennyo Ryuo sat forward. “When did you tell Phoenix this?”

  “Last night. I also gave him your Azura stones, Madison. Use them after breakfast and help us fight for your lives.”

  “Why didn’t you give me this information, Phoenix?” The immortal faced the Ark of Heaven.

  Phoenix scratched his nape. “Mads and I got—ah, a little sidetracked.”

  Madison stirred the potatoes, a light blush heating up her cheeks. “No hello for your daughter, Micah?”

  A convenient change in topic. But damn…watching Phoenix tie her down and have his way with her had been way more erotic than he’d anticipated. Afterward, Mads had woken Phoenix with a blowjob, and he’d been amazed all over again. The erotic display would be imprinted in his mind for a long time to come. Better than succubus porn.

  He scanned the room and located Petralegija across the room near the refrigerator, pouring a large glass of orange juice. “Petralegija, so long as you protect my family, I have no quarrel with you.”

  “Petra is your family.” The scold from Madison surprised him.

  Petralegija was his daughter, but he’d never thought of her as family. He’d spent time with her, taught her how to be an excellent demon, but he hadn’t nurtured her with familial emotions. Not as he had his son or his wife.

  Had he committed a grave injustice against his eldest? Now wasn’t the time for that particular contemplation. He’d have time to ponder that when Madison and Amos’s lives weren’t at risk.

  He tickled his son’s belly. “We need to have a powwow with your momma about your abilities.” He sensed Madison’s displeased attention. Sure enough when he looked at her, frown lines slashed between her brows. “Just to see where we stand, kitten. Hiding your head in the sand and pretending neither of you have magic is as good as cutting off an arm at the beginning of a battle.”

  “I agree with him.” Madison swung toward Phoenix, who leaned a hip against the island. The Ark shrugged. “It makes good sense. I want you to survive. If you gotta leave your comfort zone to survive, I’ll push you harder than Micah will.”

  “You promised we’d work on mine, Momma, when you came back from Hell.” Micah restrained himself from high-fiving Amos over that reminder.

  Madison dashed salt over the potatoes and flipped them. Yep…hash browns and his mouth went to watering as they sizzled. It’d been too damn long since he dined on her cooking.

  “Yeah, I did.” Biting her bottom lip, she glanced between him and their son. “I want Zen present.”

  Elias handed the picture back to him. “If Zennyo Ryuo’s the betrayer, you’re giving him your game plan.”

  Madison slammed her spatula on the counter. “He’s not!”

  “I’m not the betrayer.” Zennyo Ryuo sounded as if they discussed something as mundane as the weather.

  “I have every reason not to believe you.” The immortal’s betrayal years ago still stu
ng. They’d been friends, they’d created together—accidentally, but it’d still been creation.

  “They are my new family.”

  “Heartwarming.” Elias’s dry sarcasm couldn’t be dismissed. His brother tapped a fingertip against the table and eyed the immortal. “Last time I checked, they share our blood, not yours. That makes them our family not yours.”

  “I like Zen. He’s part of my family.” Amos twisted toward his uncle. “Why don’t you like him?”

  “Long story.” The explanation would be better coming from Micah rather than from Elias. “We used to kind of be friends once.”

  His son shifted on his lap and examined Micah. “Before your Fall?”

  “Yes.”

  “Father sent him and his kind to kill us after the Fall. Wanted us obliterated from the face of earth.” Elias nudged Amos on the arm. “Many angels died violently at the hands of the Zennyo Ryuo.”

  “Lie.” The immortal’s clipped tone expressed his agitation.

  “Your kind goddamn sure did.” His twin slid his chair back with a scrape and rose to his feet.

  An electrical charge hit the table. A bowl-sized black hole smoldered in the middle of the wood. They fell silent. Elias’s jaw dropped. His expression collected, Zen turned toward Madison. Micah whipped his head about to stare at her.

  Madison had unleashed magic to shut them up. His dick twitched at her violent display of power.

  “I don’t know what war you three have going, and I don’t care.” She pointed at them. “Our child is sitting in your lap and I won’t have him be a part of some stupid, ancient feud. You’re here supposedly to help keep us safe. The bickering ends now. Arguing doesn’t solve a thing.” Her movements were jerky as she dumped the hash browns into a large bowl and slammed it on the table over the blackened spot. “As for powers, how was that for a demonstration, Micah?”

  “Well….” Beliel drew the word out as she retrieved plates and dropped them on the table. He would wager the bottom one held a crack or two. “The lightning bolt was mighty impressive.”

  Madison all but threw the silverware on the table as she tossed Micah a dirty look. “Hash browns and breakfast casserole”—she motioned between the two items, one on the table, the other resting on the counter by the stove—“eat up.”

  She snatched the picture Amos had drawn and walked—stomped, more like it—out of the kitchen.

  “Momma’s mad.”

  “How do you all tolerate her?” Elias slumped back onto his seat.

  “She’s intense.” Kur entered from the doorway and made a beeline for the table. “And I’m eating.” He grabbed a plate and served himself a heaping portion.

  Phoenix slammed his hands on the wooden table, snatching Micah’s attention off the immortal. “I talked hard to convince her to allow you to help. Don’t screw it up over your ego. If she or Amos die because of your arrogance, I will hunt you and Elias both down in Hell and skin you.” He stood and jammed his fingers through his hair. “Sport, how about a game of Zombie Wars?”

  “Uh oh.” His son slid off his lap and gave him a sympathetic grimace. “Daddy Nix”—Micah winced over the reference—“is mad at you, too.”

  He took off with the Ark of Heaven without a backward glance.

  Zennyo Ryuo dumped hash browns and breakfast casserole onto a piece of toast. He folded it like a taco. “I’ll go find Madison and apologize.”

  “I’ll go instead.” Elias pushed out of his chair. “You and Micah should work out the details on maintaining our princess’ security.”

  A black eyebrow rose high on Zennyo Ryuo’s forehead. “You are going to apologize?”

  His brother shrugged. “More or less.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Elias located Madison in what he’d call the study. Cleaning weapons. The slow, meticulous movements indicated self-control, which irritated him. As always, he just wanted to rumple her self-righteousness.

  Madison looked up from the pistol she oiled. “You got something to say or are you planning to take notes?”

  “Bullets won’t kill any demon.” He sauntered into the room, noting the furniture pushed to the walls.

  “Thank you, Sherlock Holmes.” She threw a bullet at him.

  He caught it. After a scant inspection, he tipped her a confused expression.

  “Minor details aren’t your thing, huh?” He frowned and she went back to stroking the cloth along the metal. “Pay attention to the tip.”

  Etched into the slug was her sigil. This mortal spawn continued to impress him. It wouldn’t do to let her know that, though, so he said dryly, “Inventive.”

  “They’re only used if I don’t feel like wasting my breath to send them back to Hell.” She set the weapon aside and watched him.

  “Yeah, I’ve met up with a few”—more than a few, to be honest—“that you commanded back.”

  She’d used her royal directive too freely. Not that anyone asked his opinion.

  “What do you want, Elias?”

  She sounded tired as she ran her fingers over her brow.

  “Maybe I simply want to talk.”

  “You don’t chat.” She watched him like he was a marauder who planned to conquer her territory. Who knew? With Madison anything was possible. “Never have. You bait me, talk down to me, and issue snide comments. So, I repeat, what do you want?”

  Yeah, he’d committed all those offenses against her. Too bad she didn’t fear him instead of just dislike him. He could work with fear. “We’ve resolved our issue with Zennyo Ryuo.”

  “So?”

  That made him stutter. He thought she’d be pleased they’d pushed aside their differences. “We will move beyond our hatred of him.”

  “I don’t care.” Tight little lines extended from her eyes in a heavy frown. “Got to be the weirdest conversation with you, ever.”

  “I didn’t come to fight with you. I’m here to help save your scrawny, ungrateful ass.”

  A scant smile hit her lips. It didn’t reach her eyes. “That’s more like it, Elias, but I sense you can do better.”

  “You rub me the wrong way.”

  “Ditto.”

  “I’d enjoy getting in your personal space just to make you uncomfortable, while making sexual innuendos about guns and cocks…I will refrain.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down his nose at her. Micah’s fucking princess was a pain in his ass. Yet, he’d do anything he could to save her pretentious ass.

  Madison angled her head, studying him with narrowed eyes. “Why do you enjoy making me uncomfortable?”

  “You don’t adore my brother the way he does you.”

  A long pause, as she collected a blade and a whetstone off the coffee table. She pointed at the door with the knife. “Get out.”

  “Honesty makes you uncomfortable, too.” He whistled. “Even more uptight than I realized. We’ll need to work on that now that you’re Hell’s Genesis Queen.”

  Mutiny flashed in her eyes to the perfect shade of Lynx pink. Madison flung the blade as she leapt to her feet. He could’ve dodged it, but instead he took the steel to the shoulder.

  “That only stings.” Fingers curled around the handle, he gripped the hilt and yanked. “If you want me dead, you’ll have to be a little more imaginative.”

  “If I wanted you dead, I would suck your seraph out of you like I did earlier.”

  He graced her with an ironic grin that tilted one side of his mouth. Reminding him of his near-death experience at her hands less than twenty-four hours later was a miscalculation on her part. “Thanks for refreshing my memory.”

  Elias went after her with a series of portal hops and demonic speed, nothing she could follow or defend. He came out of the last jump right in front of her. He grabbed her by the back of the head and buried the knife to the hilt in her belly.

  Stunned by his violence, a loud gasp fell from her rounded lips. Eyes wide, she stared at him.

  “I owed you one.” He winked.


  Half a breath later, Zen teleported into the room as Phoenix and Micah came through a hellish portal together.

  Betrayal came in the form of her brother-in-law. She would’ve never suspected.

  Elias stepped away, yanking the knife Nix had given her out of her stomach. She wasn’t sure which hurt more, the blade piercing her body as it entered or abrading her flesh as it exited. Her fiendish brother-in-law coolly tossed the weapon to Zen as Nix rushed her.

  Eliel’s smirk lasted as long as it took Micah to grab him by the shoulder, swing him about, and face-plant him with his fist. He slammed into the bookshelf, tomes crashing down on his head as her Sherlock ripped her shirt upward.

  He would heal her, nothing to worry about.

  Then silence. Utter stillness.

  Madison caught his stare at her belly and she looked down to discover the horror he witnessed. The wound began to repair itself, stitching back together again like a bad sci-fi movie.

  “No. No. Li!” She slapped at her belly, tears blurring her vision as blood coated her palms. The cut was gone, only the red evidence she’d bled remained.

  One look at Nix’s expression and she knew he was already aware of what she suspected. The concern on his face almost made her lose all level-headedness. Trembling all over, she crammed the fingers of one hand through her hair and swiped at the tears with her other.

  Nix stepped closer. “You’re getting blood all over yourself, baby.”

  “Tell me it’s not true.” She’d have gone to her knees and begged him if she thought it’d make a difference. She’d have sworn allegiance to God if she thought He would alter her circumstances.

  “You jackass,” her husband snarled. “What were you thinking?”

  “I thought she knew she was immortal.” Elias plucked books off him with indolence, while she felt like her world had shifted into the darkest pit yet. “I mean, fuck, how can she go demon and expect to remain human?”