The leader sported two heads; the smaller one blew plumes of fire at her as the hellhound stopped a few feet away.
Long moments stretched between them and a wave of nervous energy rolled over Ana. She hissed, showed her fangs in defiance, and shouted, “What the hell you waiting for?”
Ana DeLacrux had never been a girl who waited for the shit to hit the fan. She’d rather be the one flinging it.
She flashed the dagger, rolling it easily in her hands as she advanced toward the pack. There were five of them. All of them were massive, easily topping her height of five-foot-two. Their hair was long, coarse, and they stank like the foulest shithole imaginable.
She would have only one chance to surprise them. Ana decided the best defense was to attack and take out the leader. Lightning bolted across the darkened sky, cutting through the strange red sheets of energy that shifted in the wind.
The hellhounds howled once more, but Ana was already on the move, her small body twisting in the air as she aimed her dagger at the double-headed pack leader.
She spiraled as high as she could, a savage yell falling from her lips as she slid through the darkness and fell between them all.
Chapter 24
Declan heard howls in the distance as he trudged through the dunes. Hellhounds, no doubt. Seth would use creatures such as them to guard the many treasures he held.
The cold, biting wind and sand were constant, pounding his body as he headed toward Seth’s compound. It was not far, hidden between two massive mounds of sand.
The demon had an impressive display of collectables, stolen from both the human realm as well as every corner of Hell. There were whispers that he housed several items taken from the Holiest of places—Heaven itself. Pieces that had been lost for thousands of years.
Seth was in fact a cross between an art collector and a garbage man who had some strange ability to land on both sides of the fence without getting burned.
He answered to no one and was free to come and go as he pleased. For reasons unknown, Lucifer had bestowed on the demon great boundaries in which to exist.
It was one of the reasons Lilith hated him so. And why she’d stolen one of his most prized possessions over five hundred years earlier, the stone of the Nile, an ancient necklace worn by Nefertari herself.
Seth had been trying to retrieve it ever since, with no luck. Declan planned to get it back for him—as long as Seth agreed to accompany him to District Three.
He was well acquainted with Lilith’s private quarters. He’d seen the prize. He knew where she kept it. If it wasn’t around her slimy neck it was hung on a golden rod near her bed. His mouth thinned at the thought of Lilith. Rage, pain, and fear mingled, forming a toxic soup that waited to be unleashed.
He’d love nothing more than to rip her head from her body. He wanted to make her suffer for the things she’d done to him. The things she’d made him do.
He shook such thoughts from his mind as he ventured deeper into the dunes. He needed to focus. His goal was the teenagers and Ana. Nothing more.
Thoughts of the vampire warmed him, bled through the cold that had settled upon his soul. He felt the strength she’d imparted to him, the vampire blood that now fused with his. It was a marriage of power—the brute, cunning strength of a vampire and the seductive magick that lived inside him.
He might be a fool but for the moment Declan felt invincible.
The sky above him flickered, with sheets of white energy rippling along the ribbons of red that hung there. Yet another storm was brewing. Everything down here was extreme and Declan pulled the collar of his leather coat higher as he picked up the pace, and jogged through the sand. By his calculations Seth’s compound was just beyond the next dune.
A sharp howl, followed by a scream, ripped through the night and Declan paused, his nostrils flaring as he whipped his head around. What the hell was that?
Fog slithered over the sand, whirling in a macabre dance with bits of garbage and sheets of mist. Adrenaline flooded his body and a tingle rippled along his skull. It was a weird sensation and at first he didn’t know what it was. What it meant.
He took another step and was about to take another when he dug in and came to an abrupt stop. A familiar scent rolled over his nose and his gut clenched hard.
Ana. What the fuck? She was at the Soul Sucker. Wasn’t she?
Quickly he darted between the shadows and he flicked his hand, charming the cool mist up his body. It enveloped his tall form, effectively hiding him in plain sight.
His power lay coiled in his chest and he tapped into some of that juice, welcoming the familiar wave of energy that rippled over his skin.
He smiled savagely. His magick was free. He could spell and charm as much as he wanted. Lilith had no dominion over that part of him anymore.
His heart slowed, his mind cleared as he carefully slid around the largest of the dunes. Ahead, he saw shapes moving slowly, in a predatory manner. They were large animals, their growls unmistakable. Definitely hellhounds
Declan watched the shadowy figures, eyes narrowed, body primed to attack. They stalked a prize, and as Ana’s familiar scent hung in the air, he swallowed the fear inside.
He knew how fucked up things were down here. How easy it was to fall victim to the mind crap that was everywhere. Rarely was anything as it seemed. There was no need to panic just yet.
Declan threw his hand forward, the edges of his fingers glowing as they emitted a luminescent light that swept before him. It enabled him to see clearly.
There were five hellhounds at play, their large bodies trembling with excitement as they growled and whined.
Yet it was the small form amongst them, the petite woman who drew his attention. He hissed sharply as his newly formed fangs erupted, and the growl that fell from his lips was anything but happy.
The hellhounds whirled around, their tongues lolling, their mouths agape. His eyes connected with Ana’s and he glared at her.
Ana held a dagger in front of her, which she took the time to wave at him. “I am so going to kick your ass when this is all over, O’Hara.”
Declan arched a brow, didn’t trust himself to speak; instead he threw an energy bolt into the pack, killing one of the hounds instantly. Howls erupted from within. The beasts snarled and all hell broke loose. He saw Ana whip her small body into the air, and she landed upon the largest of all of them. A hellhound with two heads. The leader.
He squared his shoulders and methodically picked off the remaining animals. His energy was red hot and he easily sliced three of them in half as they rushed toward him. Declan ignored the bits that flew at him and walked with purpose toward his woman.
Her hair was a wild mess, streaming behind her as the wind took it. She cursed an impressive blue streak as she sank the dagger into the neck of the larger of the two heads—all the while trying to avoid the fire-breathing second.
The hellhound bucked madly and Ana nearly fell off, barely able to keep her balance as she pushed the dagger in deeper.
Declan watched the entire scene, and though his anger was still at the fore, he couldn’t help but feel admiration for the woman.
She was magnificent. Fierce.
She was also knee-deep in his shit and he wanted her gone. There was no way in hell Lilith was getting anywhere near the vampire. It was a sobering thought and one that fed the urgency of the situation.
Ana glanced up and shouted, “What the hell are you waiting for? Blast this thing!”
The animal bucked madly as it tried to unseat the vampire. He thrust one massive grade A energy bolt at the hellhound. The damn thing exploded and Declan smiled harshly as Ana shrieked and went flying, followed by gory bits of beast.
She landed hard, rolled over. And then was still.
Declan arched an eyebrow. What game was she playing now?
He glanced around, aware that they were out in the open, deep in the heart of the dunes.
“Get up, Ana.” His voice was curt and a muscle wor
ked its way across his cheek. “We need to get our asses in gear because I’ve got to get you back to the hotel. I’m not taking you down with me so forget it.”
The air shifted with traces of something powerful. Declan cursed and dropped all pretence as he jogged to the vampire. His annoyance vanished when he reached for her.
Blood was spattered along her throat, a macabre splash of crimson against the ivory of her skin. Her eyes were closed. She looked like a broken doll.
Panic hit and he fell to his knees, his hands running up her body until he cupped her face. “Ana, for Christ sakes, answer me!”
His anger abated as fear took its place. What had he done? His fingers trembled as he traced her lips, her cheeks.
“Shit, babe, I’m sorry I didn’t mean—”
Her eyes flew open and her hands were around his throat before he had time to react. Two seconds later, he found himself on his back, with the spitfire vampire straddling him.
“How dare you leave me in that shithole,” she shouted at him, her lips inches from his.
She was pissed. Well so the fuck was he.
Declan’s hands crept up and he buried them in her hair as he cradled her skull, effectively holding her prisoner. He was not letting go. She couldn’t be trusted.
“I had my reasons.” His eyes narrowed as he fought the anger inside. She couldn’t be here. Not now. He had enough on his plate.
“I’m taking you back.” He tried to unseat her, but she held firm.
“That’s not going to happen.” Ana was breathing hard. Her eyes were round balls of blackness that stared at him in anger.
“I don’t want you here,” he snarled.
“You should have thought of that before you made me drink your blood.” She spat at him. “I told you I didn’t want this bond.”
“What the hell does that have to do with anything?” He pushed up, this time sending a line of fire out his fingertips, and smiled savagely when she rolled off him. “The only reason you weren’t attacked in that fucking club was because of me. Those demons would have been all over that delectable ass of yours if it weren’t for the fact my blood masked your scent.”
She cradled her abdomen. Declan was on his feet and stood behind her, his hands clenched at his side. The turmoil he felt was indescribable. It was a mix of mental and physical. It packed a serious punch, and along with it came resentment.
Would he ever achieve balance? Contentment?
“You don’t understand,” she whispered hoarsely, “what this means.”
Declan stared down at her slight form and fought the urge to grab her into his arms. To bury his nose in the thick mess of the hair at her neck. His mouth ached and an unfamiliar longing swept over him.
He wanted to sink his fangs into her flesh and take from her again. Sweat beaded his brow and his gut tightened as another wave of hunger rolled over him.
“We can’t be apart. We’re bonded whether you like it or not.” Ana turned her head to the side. “That’s on you, O’Hara.” She got to her knees and then stood, though she kept her back to him. “You think I will let you feed from another?”
Declan grimaced. He’d not thought about that.
“Let you hold someone close and take their essence into your body?” Ana whipped around and he was taken aback at the fury that colored her eyes deep crimson. “After we’ve bonded?”
She stalked over to him. Her fangs were fully distended and he smelled her hunger, her need as she stared up at him defiantly.
“You woke the beast, my friend. Let me explain exactly what that means.” She lunged forward, her hands on his shoulders, her body pressed against his, and she sank her fangs into the side of his neck.
Instantly he was flooded with hot need and he grabbed her, held her in place as she fed, baring his own fangs as the need inside him grew. The connection was instant and fucking glorious.
She broke away, her chest heaving as she fought for control. His own was thin and he growled in frustration. He was left hungry, full of a need that had not been met.
The wind whipped her hair into the air furiously. Ana tugged it out of the way and plunged forward. “This thing that’s between us is permanent. It’s not like you can return it or ignore it when you don’t want to deal.”
She thumped him in the chest and he gritted his teeth as he stared down at her. Energy lit the air and the feel of something powerful permeated the entire area as the storm gathered. Everything in him screamed get the hell out, yet he couldn’t move. He was mesmerized by the woman in front of him.
“You’re inside me, Declan . . . living inside of me.” Her eyes widened, they glittered with the sheen of what looked to be tears. “Can’t you feel it?”
He nodded. There was a ruthless hunger that had been gnawing at him since he’d left her. Declan had assumed it was some weird vampire thing but now he knew better, because as he stood inches from Ana, the twisted, wild place inside him was calm.
“Your energy feeds mine, keeps me sane, and fulfills my needs on every level.” Her voice lowered and he strained to hear. “I don’t want another. You are my soul now. I will not let you exist without me.”
He heard her pain, but dammit, there was no time for consoling. For the big I-love-you-we’ll-live-happily-ever-after kind of chat. Something was coming. He could feel it.
“I can’t . . .” he began, and grimaced as his voice trailed into nothing. He didn’t want her exposed to what existed below. The depravity and decadence were unparalleled, and the things he’d done . . .
He didn’t want her to find out the truth of his relationship with Lilith. Would she still want him if she knew? Bond or no bond?
“I need to get you out of here.” He tried to grab her, but she moved quickly. He’d forgotten how fast she was.
Ana grinned down at him as she stood atop a sand dune ten feet away. She wanted to play hard, so be it. He took a step forward, unaware of the forces gathering close until it was too late.
Two large demons appeared out of thin air, one on either side of the vampire. She didn’t have a chance and cursed a blue streak as she was taken into custody. Before he could do anything, he, too, was surrounded. He hissed his displeasure, his dark eyes narrowed accusingly onto Ana.
She stared down at him, chin raised, lips tight.
“Trespass.” The word was grunted from the demon closest to him. Declan arched a brow. “That’s a good word. All you got?” It never ceased to amaze how fucking dumb most of these soldiers were. He knew better than to put up a fight. There were too many. He needed to conserve his energy. To plot.
His only hope was that the demons worked for Seth. If not, his and Ana’s trip to the dunes of District One was going to be short.
And painful.
Chapter 25
They’d been separated for what seemed hours. Declan was nearly going mad, and not just because he had no freaking clue where they’d taken Ana.
He was hungry. He closed his eyes and the world was washed in crimson. Blood was all he could think about. If he could, he’d charm a fucking keg of the damn stuff into his prison, but that was beyond his capabilities.
His booted foot kicked the door again, though a yell didn’t accompany it this time. It was no use. No one was there to listen.
His gaze traveled the small room he’d been tossed in, methodically running over the gray stone walls for the hundredth time. He growled in frustration. The entire area was fortified with iron. He could feel it and knew the bloody stuff severely hindered his magick.
He ran his hand over the stubble that covered his jaw. Fuck me.
An echo outside his chamber had him holding his breath, coiling what power he had into his gut.
He might be in for a major ass kicking but he’d give as good as he got. He clenched his hands into fists, spread his legs, and eyed the door. Footsteps sounded, slow and measured. His breaths were coming faster than he’d like, but it was next to impossible to tame the beast within him.
It wanted out. It wanted the darkness.
When the footsteps stopped outside the door he readied himself to fight. Slowly it swung open.
It was Ana.
Her eyes were downcast, the long lashes hiding whatever was reflected in their depths. He saw how her hands trembled and the rage that he felt, the hot anger that swept over him nearly brought him to his knees.
What had they done to her?
Someone was there, just beyond the doorway.
“If you’ve touched a hair on her head I’ll rip you to pieces,” he barked.
Ana looked up then and he was taken aback by the sorrow in her gaze. It was quickly hidden and she looked away from him.
An uneasy silence fell into the room. What the hell was going on?
A tall man strode by her. It was the demon Seth. His face was grim.
“O’Hara.” Seth nodded as the door closed behind them. “You’re one sorry son of a bitch I never thought to see again.” The demon was tall, with powerful shoulders, white blond hair, and winter blue eyes. They were unnerving and he knew it. He was dressed in leather, with many tattoos adorning his flesh. None were the special kind that Samael sported.
Seth arched a brow and frowned. “You have a death wish these days?”
Declan glanced at Ana, but she was still overly engaged in staring at the stone floor.
He turned to Seth. Time was running out.
“I want back into District Three.”
Seth’s mouth tightened. “I know.”
Declan shot a look at Ana. What exactly had she shared?
“I’d like to speak to you in private.”
“There’s no need. I know what it is you seek.”
Declan blew out hot breath, cracked his neck in an effort to relieve the tension that knotted his shoulders. Ana was now staring at him as if he had two fucking heads.
“You’ll get me in?” he asked again, ignoring the vampire even as he took a step toward her.
Wicked Road to Hell Page 22
