The Fallen Queen: (Gods & Monsters Book 2) (The Gods & Monsters Trilogy)

by Janie Marie

  Jane couldn’t take a single breath as she waited for his response. If Death had lied to her, maybe David had, too.

  “No,” he said, his voice low. “Find another room, Artemis. My wing is occupied.”

  “Oh,” Artemis said. “Am I to assume you are keeping her there? I did not realize that you would put her in a donor room.”

  David’s body grew hot. “You know I do not use donors. Stop implying things that are untrue.”

  “What do you mean? You do allow me to stay as your guest.”

  He growled. “You pout like a child until I take pity on you. I do not wish to embarrass you or hurt your feelings, but you are pressing the kindness I have shown you. You know she has just had a difficult encounter with women, yet you are suggesting you and I are more than acquaintances. You are an occasional comrade in battle, that is all.”

  “I was only asking if the room was available,” Artemis said.

  “You are acting like an adolescent brat,” he snapped. “I am no fool. I know your desires to be named my Other, but you are delusional. She is my Other. I see only her. I always have.”

  Jane leaned back to stare at him. He didn’t look at her, and she was amazed to see the deadly look he was giving the goddess.

  “She is all I have ever desired,” he said, rubbing his hand down Jane’s spine. “Whatever fantasies you and the others have had are just that—fantasies. Carry them on silently, if you must, but know you are only an ally to Arthur. She is my female.” He tensed, but Jane rubbed her thumb along the back of his neck, hoping he understood she was okay with him calling her that, and he breathed out. “Now, go before you see me finally lose my last bit of patience with you.”

  Jane turned her head, but Artemis was gone.

  David slid his hand up her back and hugged her close. “I am sorry, baby.” He took a deep breath and kissed her shoulder. “I honestly did not expect her, of all people, to behave that way. Nothing she implied is true.”

  She smiled softly and caressed his hair. “Take me to bed, David.”

  “All right, sweetheart.”

  Jane turned in David’s arms to glare at the door he was about to open.

  “What is it?” he asked, glancing at the door to her room.

  “I don’t want to stay in there.”

  He chuckled, pulling her close. “She has not stayed there in many years and it is always cleaned thoroughly.”

  “I don’t care. My mind is too messed up right now.”

  He glanced at the door and sighed. “I have no other rooms on my floor.”

  “I want to stay with you,” she said, slowly moving her gaze to meet his.

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded and did her best to smile. “I need you tonight.”

  His expression softened, and he pulled her close. “I need you, too.” He kissed her forehead before taking her to his room.

  Without bothering with the lights, he carried her straight to the bed and laid her down.

  “Let me go retrieve some of your clothes so you can sleep comfortably.”

  Jane snatched his hand and shook her head. “Just let me borrow one of your shirts. I like them.”

  He smiled and lifted her hand, kissing it quickly before letting go. “I like when you wear them.”

  She blushed as he turned away.

  “Do you need me to get you bottoms?”

  “I like to wear yours.”

  He laughed and dug through his drawer. “I shall remember that when it is time to order more.” After he selected a few items, he shut his drawer and walked back. “My boxers will probably fit you best.” He handed her a shirt and black boxers. “I’ll leave you to dress. Then you can rest a while so we can visit your children when they wake.”

  “Okay.”

  As soon as he shut the door, she stripped out of everything but her bra and panties before quickly pulling on his clothes. As they had in the past, his shirt hit her thighs making it look like she was only wearing a shirt.

  Jane crossed her legs, smiling when she suddenly heard him peeing. It was so strange to imagine David like a regular guy. He was so proper, but he was definitely an alpha male. She grinned again as she remembered him flipping off Apollo. He gave the sun god the middle finger for looking at her!

  Jason suddenly popped in her mind and her smile faded. He didn’t like men looking at her. Only, he didn’t tell them to stop like David did; he told her to quit drawing attention to herself.

  She frowned, taking in David’s bed. She was going to sleep with him. Again. What am I doing? She knew this was a bad idea, but she didn’t want to stay alone. She didn’t want to be in a room Artemis had stayed in either, and she couldn’t go to Jason. She wanted David’s comfort. She wanted to feel him there after everything she had learned. Her heart demanded she stay close to him. Jane knew how it felt to nearly lose him, and she had to face the fact she may very well lose him again.

  David cracked the door open slowly before walking to the side of the bed. “What are you thinking about?”

  Jane shrugged, averting her eyes from his concerned gaze. “I just don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to lose anyone. And I’m sad.” She looked at him again. “He didn’t tell me.”

  “Oh, my love.” He sat on the bed. “You must remember that when Death met you, you were a human child.”

  “But I grew up with him.” Her lip trembled as the true heartache set in. “He always leaves. He always says he’s not lying, yet he doesn’t come when I beg for him, when I’ve begged for someone to help me and answer questions, and he kept this from me.”

  David pulled her onto his lap, hugging her shaking frame. “Jane, he is an angel. One who has probably the greatest position and burden to bear. He loved you even before he realized it, I am certain. How could he tell a girl, the only woman who meant anything to him, that he was the final Horseman of the Apocalypse?” He smoothed her hair back. “I do not think even I could tell you something so terrible. He has probably been terrified of you finding out since meeting you.”

  Jane held her hand to his heart and lowered her head so her ear was next to it as well. “I would have accepted him.”

  David ran his fingers through her hair. “I know you would have. Still, as a man who loves you, I promise it is terrifying to face the thought of you not accepting me.”

  She looked up but didn’t pull her head away. “Can we sleep now? I don’t want to think about him or the end of the world. It hurts too much.”

  He stayed quiet but pulled his blanket aside before gesturing for her to get in. She did, but she grabbed his hand in case he decided to leave her.

  “I can sleep on the floor, Jane,” he said, but he got in next to her.

  “I know,” she whispered, glancing toward the door as though someone might come through. “I just need to hear your heart so I can sleep.”

  He lifted his head and smiled softly. “Is that what he did for you? He held you so you could sleep?”

  Biting her lip, she nodded. “I have nightmares. I see bad things even when I’m not asleep. When I was little, he told me to listen to his heartbeat and think about going somewhere magical with him, and he’d come find me in my dreams.” She smiled as her eyes watered. “Except for my nap with him, I haven’t had anything close to it until you held me.”

  David pulled her head to his chest. “Was he with you every night?”

  “Almost.” She closed her eyes. “He left me sometimes, and when he did, bad things happened. He took my memory away, but now that I have it back, I remember there were nights when I swore I heard a heartbeat that did not quite match mine—it was him. He knew I needed him to sleep.”

  “Your heartbeat is fast,” David said quietly as he situated his arm behind her. “Does mine soothe you?”

  She nodded even though her lip quivered. “Yes, but you are both different.”

  He sighed. “I am sorry he has not returned to you, Jane.”

  “I’m not sure I want him to.�
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  “You do,” he murmured. “You’re just hurt.”

  “Why are you so good? You don’t have to take up for him or Jason, yet you always try to help me see the best in them.”

  “Because you love them, baby. I cannot speak badly of someone you love. And I do not want to add to the hurt you’re feeling already.”

  She turned her face and kissed his chest. “Thank you for being you, David.”

  He caressed her cheek but said nothing, and in that brief moment, she wished she had met him first.

  “David, will you promise to never hurt me?” She didn’t know why she asked it, but it just fell out of her mouth, and she wanted to hear his response.

  David stopped moving his fingers. “I will never hurt you, Jane. You have no idea how much I love you. I would rather suffer the most painful death than ever hurt you.”

  “Please don’t say anything about you dying.” She felt tears welling up in her eyes again. There was too much happening, and she was terrified of something happening to him. “If I have to go through that again, I don’t think I will make it.”

  He shifted her a little closer and kissed the top of her head. “You will not lose me.” Again, he kissed her head, and she suddenly threw her leg over his waist and grabbed the back of his neck to pull him down, desperate to have his lips on hers.

  “No, Jane,” he said, his eyes wide as he held her back.

  She stopped pulling and watched him scan her face as though she’d lost her mind.

  “Jane, please don’t cry,” he said, wiping her tears, but she only cried more. “Just not yet, my love. Not like this. You’re upset and tired. I know you will regret anything that happens between us now.”

  Shame and rejection hit her hard. There was no thought in her mind when she pulled him down, but now that she’d done it, she realized that was what she wanted more than anything.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, sniffing and removing her leg.

  David shook his head. “It’s okay. You are stressed, and we are growing closer; it’s my fault. I should be more cautious with my actions and words around you.”

  She let out a choked sob, trying to hide her face, but she decided the only thing to do was to get away. She’d made a fool of herself—shamed herself. She had to get away.

  David tried to hold on to her when she shoved him away and darted to the door. She didn’t want him to see her, and she couldn’t stand the thought of him pitying her.

  “Jane, calm down.” He somehow had moved faster and blocked her path. “Nothing happened.”

  “Let me go. I can’t stay in here.”

  “Yes, you can,” he said softly. “We can rest, and we can talk more in the morning.”

  Her lip trembled. “Move, David.”

  He shook his head again. “No. Stay with me. You did not want to be in that room, and you shouldn’t be alone after everything that’s happened.”

  “Please. I can’t be around you right now.”

  “Jane.”

  She moved to pass him. “I don’t want to be around you.”

  His expression fell, and he nodded. “I will let you leave tonight, but I am not leaving you, okay? I am here.”

  “I know,” she said, barely keeping herself in one piece.

  “I love you.” He opened his door. “I’ll be right here when you want to come back. I’m always here, my love.”

  Jane ran past him so fast that she was falling onto her bed before she had even processed she’d left him.

  You knew you would lose him.

  She sobbed loudly, agreeing with the painful thought. It was right, and she knew she was the awful monster she always feared. There was no entity inside, she decided. She was going to ruin them because she was the most monstrous being of all. Because she knew David was hurt. She was hurting him, hurting Jason and her kids, and she would destroy all of them when she lost control.

  You deserve this.

  Her cries increased, and she hugged her knees to her chest as she attempted to keep her heart from breaking. And even though she felt betrayed, she couldn’t help but call out. “Death. Please come back.”

  Death stood near the wall of Jane’s room, watching her cry out for him. He shouldn’t have come; he knew she’d feel him, so he stayed still and refused to get closer.

  “Please come to me.” Her body shook as she let out the most heartbreaking sobs he had seen her cry in a long time. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Her breathing became frantic as she stared out the window: the moon was in view. “Did you really love me?” She gasped. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I like him so much!” She began gasping faster and faster. “I’m sorry. Please don’t leave me.”

  I’m here, Sweet Jane, he thought as his chest tightened.

  She tensed up. “Death?”

  He held his breath, knowing she couldn’t hear or see him, but he realized now their bond was too strong for her to not detect it.

  “Are you here?” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Please. Please come. I-I don’t know what to do.”

  Death watched in absolute rage as the being who he’d known was there the entire time approached her side.

  Lucifer slid his fingers down her bare arm, and she froze.

  “I’m here, Sweet Jane,” Lucifer’s voice mimicked his perfectly.

  Death stood as still as a statue, watching Jane relax under Lucifer’s touch.

  A sad smile formed on her lips. “You didn’t leave me.”

  “Never, Sweet Jane,” Lucifer said, again using Death’s voice.

  Death’s rage knew no bounds when Lucifer lowered his face close to hers. There was no way he could stand by and watch, but, suddenly, Jane’s eyes shut, and her head rolled to the side.

  Death held his breath as Lucifer leaned away, tilting his head, just as confused as he was. She was asleep.

  “She’s had enough for today,” said a voice beside Death.

  Death turned his head and found Hypnos, a faint smile on his face.

  Never had Death felt such appreciation toward another as he did at that moment. Hypnos merely nodded as they both turned to see the anger in Lucifer’s expression.

  “He will not be able to wake her,” Hypnos added confidently. “Come, Death, we have found the gate to Tartarus. The others wait.”

  The door to Jane’s room opened quietly, and Death smiled at the sight of David entering. His smile grew as Lucifer moved away when David came to her side and lifted her out of the bed, cradling her unconscious form as he kissed her forehead and carried her out of the room.

  “I may have reminded him that,” Hypnos said, smiling, “sometimes, when a girl says she wants to be alone, that means: don’t let me go.”

  Death chuckled as they watched Lucifer vanish with a snarl.

  “Come,” Hypnos said again. “He will not touch her tonight.”

  “Thank you,” Death said quietly.

  Hypnos nodded, and without waiting, disappeared in a flash of white light.

  For a few seconds, Death could only stare at the empty doorway before he whispered, “Don’t let her go, David.” Then he, too, vanished into the darkness.

  Death opened his eyes and scoffed at the wretched creatures bound before him. “Well, I cannot say I am surprised to see you three involved.” He scanned the prisoners briefly and then turned to Moros. “Why did you keep them?”

  Moros sighed with a faint wave of his hand. “They surrendered and offered information in exchange for their lives.”

  Death knew Moros must have realized something if he was considering listening to them. He eyed his army of three, then looked at the most powerful demon—the King of Demons. “What information do you have, Asmodeus?” He didn’t trust them but knew they would do anything for self-preservation, even turn on their own.

  “The kind involving your brother’s revenge against you.” Asmodeus smiled. He wore a crown and armor—the head of a bull was on one shoulder of his impressive outfit, and the head of a ram was on the other.
His dragon-like wings were bound while his serpent tail writhed below him.

  “Revenge against me?” Death asked, unsure for a moment what was being suggested.

  Asmodeus nodded before responding. “There is a reason why Hell knows of your female, Death.”

  Now, Death knew what the demon implied, and he could only stand silent as his mind roared in rage.

  “It wasn’t always bearable for Pestilence to be considered lower than you,” Asmodeus went on “While he unleashed disease onto man, you have always come along, taking all the glory and benefits of reaping them. And what has Pestilence received? Nothing. You hold more power than us all, and he dealt with it because it was his duty. After all, you are his brother. Then, just as you are now, he found himself enchanted by a female. He fell in love with one, just like you. His wasn’t a human, though, was she? She was a Cursed––a Siren—and when Arthur and his knights came along to destroy her and her clan, your brother asked you to spare her.”

  Nemesis walked up to Death and put her hand on his shoulder.

  “You refused him, obviously,” the King of Demons said, smiling at the absolute fury Death knew was displayed across his face.

  The second demon began speaking. “Asmodeus speaks the truth, Horseman.” He chuckled. “Yes, we know who you are. Do not worry, the others do not. Yet. And Pestilence has kept his vow hidden, which is why we are here. The others fail to see who you and Pestilence are, and what it will mean if this agenda to destroy Heaven’s protectors succeeds. We do not wish to burn for eternity. We are quite content tormenting the souls we have managed to seduce. They are the truly wicked, not the unfortunate souls who got dealt an unlucky hand.”

  Asmodeus spoke again. “You know very well—we three have never created our own earthly demons, Death. We only want the wicked. Some Cursed wind up here, as I’m sure you have realized, so we have no problem with the knights. We also wish for you to know that this is not entirely your brother’s fault. He has an enchantment upon him, which I assume you already knew, considering your immediate refusal to spare the siren.”

  Death gave a look of acknowledgment while he fumed.