Mystic Realms: A Limited Edition Collection

by Nicole Morgan

  He stared at me for a moment before replying. “On three conditions.”

  I gulped. “And they are?”

  “I ask that you respect my privacy. My home office is off limits. If I see you in there, I’ll ask you to leave, no exceptions.”

  “Okay. That’s no problem.” If he doesn’t find out. His home office was the first place I planned to investigate when given the chance. “Condition number two?”

  “If you’re living with me in my home then you’re mine.”

  “What?” I didn’t like the sound of that. I was nobody’s property.

  “My woman. My lover. Whatever you want to call it. You’re mine.” A feral intensity glimmered in his eyes as he stared down at me. “Which means no leaving in the middle of the night when he does come for you, and I know he will. No meeting up with him. No physical contact with him whatsoever. Is that going to be a problem?”

  I shook my head no. Judd wasn’t going to want to speak to me ever again, anyway.

  Simeon caught my chin and held my head still. “Are you ready for number three?”

  “Of course.” Not at all.

  “I want you to believe me when I say I love you, and that I’d never do anything to hurt you. And I want you to promise me you’ll never intentionally hurt me.”

  “I, I promise.” The heat rising up my chest and into my cheeks was undeniable. I didn’t want to hurt Simeon. I really didn’t, but it was inevitable. I needed to find Malakai. And unless Simeon was going to point me in the right direction, I’d lie, cheat, and steal to do it on my own.

  Simeon’s grave expression let me know he thought I was full of it. “The death of me,” he murmured and leaned in to press his warm lips to mine. “I’ll settle for two out of three for now. Let’s find my nephew.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Simeon’s nephew was a middle-aged physician with bright blue eyes, a kind smile, and salt and pepper hair. I returned his smile as he sat on the edge of my hospital bed. At least he didn’t seem to loathe me like Harley did. Instead, he stared at me as if I was his own personal science experiment. Wonderful. I foresaw multiple poking and proddings.

  “I’m Dr. Keller,” he said. “But you can call me Thomas.” He pulled out a little light and flashed it in my eyes. “Simeon tells me you were caught in a fire. That must have been frightening. How are you feeling?”

  “Super,” I said. “Really. I don’t think this is necessary at all.”

  Thomas ignored me and looked up at Simeon who stubbornly had his arms crossed in front of him.

  “I don’t know the rules.” The doc chuckled. “Do I listen to the Angel or the demon?”

  “You listen to your uncle,” Simeon said. “Continue, please. She inhaled a lot of smoke and nearly passed out.”

  “I’m a fast healer,” I argued. “All Angels are.”

  Thomas put the stethoscope to my chest and listened. “Your lungs are clear, but I’m afraid your temperature is a bit low, as well as your pulse.”

  “That’s normal,” I said. “Another Angel thing.”

  “I see.” Thomas’ eyes widened with intrigue. “I’ve never met one of your kind before. This is all very new to me.”

  Simeon leaned forward and clasped Thomas on the shoulder. “What about a chest x-ray? An MRI or some blood tests?”

  “Sim!” I sat up and threatened him with a glare. “Why don’t you just order me an enema while you’re at it? I’m fine. You’ve already taken him away from patients who truly need him. I think it’s time to go.”

  Simeon’s cell phone rang in his pocket, and he put up a finger for us to wait as he took it to the other side of the room.

  I rolled my tired eyes and turned to Thomas. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have bothered you but Simeon insisted.”

  “He can be quite persuasive at times, can’t he?” He winked at me. “Are you two friends then?”

  “You could say that.” I had no idea what to call my relationship with the half-breed. Time to change the subject. “Are you Harley’s father?”

  “Harley? Oh, no. She’s my brother’s child. My niece. Say, Simeon should bring you to the birthday party tonight, if you’re feeling up to it. Most of the family will be there. And I know Mother would love to meet an Angel. She’s always spoken so highly of your people.”

  “So you all know about us?”

  “We’ve all caught on, yes. And believe me, Harley’s the only one of us who has harsh feelings for the Angels. Quite the opposite, in fact. The rest of us appreciate what you do for humanity.” He patted my hand.

  I couldn’t help but smile. I liked the way this human thought.

  “Whose birthday is it?” I asked.

  “Birthday?” Simeon shoved his phone back in his pocket and ambled over. If I looked as exhausted as he did, I was in trouble. Not to mention my pale skin was covered with a thin layer of soot. Thank MOG there wasn’t a mirror in sight. I did not want to see how bad I knew my hair was, or if I had any left.

  “My mother, your sister,” Thomas said. “You didn’t forget, did you?”

  Simeon sank down onto the bed and sighed. “That’s tonight, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, and you should be there. She hasn’t been well lately, and she’s expecting you.”

  “Of course I’ll be there.” He shot me a hesitant look. “I’ll bring Abigail with me since you’re obviously giving her a clean bill of health.”

  “Whoa there.” I put my hands up. “Don’t you need to ask me if I want to go? Or have you forgotten that little thing called free will?” Or did I give that up when I’d agreed to be his? Damn.

  “Consider it another condition, sweetheart.” He gave me a weary grin. “I have a strange feeling I shouldn’t let you out of my sight for a while.”

  I was too tired to think about sex as I looked down at Simeon’s big comfy bed. If heaven could exist in a two hundred fifty square foot bedroom, this was where it would be. The sheets were silky soft, and the mattress had just the right amount of cushion. And the pillows...oh, they were calling my name. Abby, come lie your aching head on me. Forget about being a spy or a seductress or a loose, lying tramp of an Angel who single-handedly helped the demons burn the only hope for humanity.

  “You betcha,” I murmured and started to fall onto the mattress, but Simeon grabbed me by the waist before I reached heaven.

  “Don’t you want to take a nice hot bath first, love?” he whispered into my ear.

  “A bath?” That didn’t sound too awful either. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d taken a bath, not with the minuscule showers Demon Control provided.

  “Yes. We don’t want to get the sheets all dirty, do we?”

  “No way. I would never do anything bad to those sheets.” I leaned into him for support. If I had to stand another moment, I was going to collapse.

  I don’t know where he got the strength to scoop me up in his arms and carry me to the bathroom, but I wasn’t about to protest. I relaxed and nuzzled up next to his warm body as he walked into the master bath attached to the bedroom.

  He sat on the side of the large tub and held me in his lap, which was almost as comfortable a feeling as the bed. I didn’t see him turn the water on, but I could hear it running behind me.

  “Let’s get these clothes off you,” he said in a low, rumbling voice. He shimmied my T-shirt over my head, one of his hands grazing the sensitive base of my wings.

  Okay, so maybe I was thinking about sex just a teeny bit. How could I not when the sexiest being I’d ever encountered was undressing me?

  He reached for the hook to my bra next. But the doorbell ringing stopped him before he could release the clasp.

  He exhaled a breath and stood, setting me down in the same spot where he’d sat. “I’ll be right back.” He pointed to me. “Stay here.”

  Right. Last time I checked I wasn’t an Angel who liked taking orders. And even though my body wanted to sink into the steaming water filling up the tub, my mind thought differently
. Someone was at Simeon’s door, and I wanted to know who it was.

  I waited until he was out of sight, and then I slipped out into the hallway, tiptoeing across the thick carpeting. Deep murmuring voices gave me an idea that the guest was male. Demon? Human? I couldn’t tell.

  I edged along the wall until I got to the end, hoping any super-hearing beings present couldn’t hear me.

  “Is she here?” the unknown male asked. “There’s a faint smell.”

  My shoulders twitched, begging for my wings to form. A demon. Oh, boy.

  “Back up,” Simeon growled. “You try to come in my home again, and I’ll kill you. Understand?”

  The demon chuckled. “Somehow, Keller, your threats aren’t as intimidating as they used to be. Why do you suppose that is?”

  His voice sounded familiar. I searched my memory for a match but came up with nothing.

  “Give me the note and get out of here,” Simeon said.

  “My my, you’re in a hurry, aren’t you? Are you sure you don’t want to invite me in? I’ve never tasted Angel pussy before.”

  A commotion that sounded a lot like a fist hitting flesh had me too intrigued not to peek. With one eye, I looked around the corner and saw him. The green-eyed, dark- skinned demon who I’d seen leaving Simeon’s office the other day. No, it was just yesterday, but it seemed like a lifetime ago.

  Blood dripped from his nose, and Simeon had a tight grip on his shirt.

  “Leave,” Simeon said. “And the next time Malakai wants to send me a message, tell the coward to do it himself instead of sending one of his minions. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

  I backed up when I heard the name. Malakai. So Simeon was in contact with him. But it clearly wasn’t a friendly relationship. I didn’t know what to think of the information I’d just heard. I was exhausted, and I had to admit my feelings for Simeon clouded my judgment.

  As quietly as possible, I made my way back to the bathroom, finished undressing, and slipped into the tub. The water hit the top of my breasts, so I shut it off.

  I needed to look busy, like I hadn’t just spied on Simeon. I grabbed the bar of soap, lathered it in my hands, and washed the ashy soot off my body. My neck, arms, breasts, stomach...

  “Do you need some help with that?”

  The soap slipped from my hands when I heard his voice. “Oh, uh, well.” Snap out of it, Abby! “Who was at the door?” I squeaked. I actually squeaked.

  He sat on the edge of the tub and pressed two fingers under my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. “His name is Victor Adams. He works for my father. Mostly courier work.”

  “Oh?” I hadn’t expected honesty. “What did he want?” Might as well go for the gold.

  Simeon brushed his thumb across my lips. “It’s not important.”

  “Really? Well, who’s your father? Maybe I’ve met―”

  “Abigail.” He stopped me. “Let’s not pretend you don’t know everything about me. I’m sure your database mentioned my father, did it not?”

  My cheeks burned. “Yes, it did,” I admitted. “Although I only know his name. Nothing more.” Partly true.

  “That’s all you need to know.” He stood and tugged off his shirt. “You’ll never meet him, I can promise you that. He’d eat you for breakfast. Hell, his courier wanted to eat you for breakfast. Malakai isn’t like any demon you’ve come across.”

  “Is he behind the demon revolution?” The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Some spy I was.

  Simeon silently fumbled with his belt buckle, not giving me eye contact. “Is that what you think?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Do you suspect I’m involved? That Judd character seems to have a strong opinion on the matter.”

  “No,” I answered without a smidgen of doubt in my voice. “You don’t have anything to gain from destroying Demon Control. But maybe Malakai does. What do you think?” Please say you consider it a possibility and want to help me stop him.

  His pants fell to the floor, and he stepped into the tub then wedged his body behind mine, straddling me between his powerful legs.

  “I think,” he began, gathering my hair into a ponytail, “that you should leave the investigation to the other Angels. You’re with me now, and I plan to keep you safe from any harm.”

  Hmm... That definitely wasn’t one of the conditions I’d agreed to. I nestled my shoulder blades against his chest and closed my weary eyes.

  For now, I’d humor him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  I pressed my knees together and adjusted the hem of the peach and cream print sundress Simeon had bought for me. How he’d ordered it and had it delivered to his front door before I’d woken was beyond me. But here it was. A dress. On me.

  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d worn one, or I’d simply blocked it out of my memory. Probably I’d worn one on a date with Felix once...or twice.

  Blah. Don’t go there.

  “You look beautiful, love.” Simeon saved me from rehashing the ugly memories. His silvery eyes burned into me from the driver’s seat, dropping slowly down to my bare legs.

  I clenched my knees tighter, but the heat the man produced burrowed deep inside me. Dang it. How could he make me want him with a simple look?

  We pulled to a stop in front of a two-story brick-and-frame house with a large wraparound porch. The house was located on a large lot in the small town of Erie, about thirty minutes north of Denver. The background of the photo on Simeon’s desktop immediately came to mind.

  The sun had set an hour ago, but the house was brightly lit from the inside out. Every window on the first floor framed humans laughing and talking. Children swung with glee on the porch swing and ran in and out of the open front door. Their mothers sat in wicker chairs and talked and laughed nearby.

  And they all knew I was an Angel.

  I couldn’t try to pretend to be one of them like I did with every other human I’d ever met. Blending in to the crowd would be impossible. Even worse, they knew Angels were the reason Simeon had been deported to Hell twice before.

  I let out a nervous sigh. “I might feel a little more comfortable meeting your family if I had underwear on underneath this thing. I’m not exactly great with humans in the first place.”

  Simeon had ordered a dress, sweater, matching bag, and sandals but conveniently had forgotten the rest of the outfit. Everything I had on was lovely, and more than I could afford with a year’s savings, I was sure, but a pair of panties would have been nice.

  He leaned over and ran his warm hand up the inside of my thigh. “Sorry, sweetheart. It’ll be our little secret, okay?” He kissed me as his fingers wedged up further, pressing up against my center.

  I half gasped, half moaned and thought maybe the no-panties dilemma wasn’t such an awful thing.

  Until I heard a rapping sound on Simeon’s window.

  “Hello? Simeon! Are you coming in anytime soon?” Harley’s muffled yell startled me, and I pushed him away.

  Simeon chuckled and kissed my cheek.

  “It’s so not funny,” I muttered and tugged my hem back down again.

  He rolled down his window an inch. “Give us a moment, Harley. Go tell your Nana Naomi we’ll be right in.”

  I swear I could hear her eyes roll followed by hands planted firmly on hip as she swerved and stomped back to the house. Great.

  “I think she really likes you,” Simeon said with a devilish grin.

  “Oh, ha ha. She hates me, and I’m sure she’ll have the rest of your family doing the same once they hear about where your hand was a moment ago.”

  “They’ll love you, and even if they don’t, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of us. Remember?” He didn’t wait for a response as he pulled me closer and pressed his warm lips to mine.

  My cell phone buzzed and vibrated inside my new peach clasp purse sitting on my lap. I gulped down the dread. It was probably Judd again. He’d called five separate ti
mes today without leaving a message. Mostly while I’d been asleep in Simeon’s bed. It hurt like crazy that I wouldn’t see him for who knows how long. If he ever agreed to see me again, that was.

  “He’s relentless, isn’t he?” Simeon shook his head and sat back in his seat. “Why don’t you answer it?”

  “You don’t mind?” I gestured toward the crowd slowly forming on the porch, waiting to meet the Angel.

  “He’ll just keep calling if you ignore him. I’ll meet you inside.” He kissed my cheek and left me to answer Judd’s call.

  “Hello?” I said more softly than I’d intended. Sure, Abby, own up to the guilt with the very first word out of your mouth.

  “Hey, Abby.” He sounded relieved. Not at all angry. “Are you alone?”

  “Alone as can be. What’s up?”

  “MOG told me why you went with the half-breed.” He said half-breed as if it were acid in his mouth. “I just want you to know I don’t think you should proceed with this mission if you don’t want to. I’m sure MOG would understand. You’re not safe with him. And MOG says his father is even more of a threat.”

  I held my tongue. I could argue the fact that neither Simeon or Malakai had been proven to be a part of the revolution, but I knew Judd wouldn’t listen to reason. That was why I was here. To find the truth. I glanced over to where Simeon was being greeted. Handshakes and pats on the back. A couple of children grabbed onto his legs, and he leaned over to ruffle their hair.

  “I’m not in any danger at the moment,” I said. “But you’ll be the first person I call if I need backup. Okay?”

  He sighed into the phone. “I don’t like this one bit. I swear, Abby, if I find out he’s hurt you or persuaded you to do something you don’t want to, forget about deportation, I’ll kill the motherfucker.”

  “Aw, that’s sweet,” I teased. “You really do care about me.”