“Fuck,” Zagan muttered, collapsing onto his knees.
She slid from his grip on the roof of the building she’d first teleported the farmer and her demons onto. If the Immortals were alone, she’d think this is where they’d go.
In the skies, she spotted the dark shapes that meant angels flew overhead. “We need to be careful,” she whispered.
Zagan rubbed his head and stood. “Fucking warn me next time you’re going to do that.”
Then, she started walking around the roof. They weren’t anywhere easily spotted, but if they saw the angels, they wouldn’t be. She moved to where the massive air conditioning units and vents cluttered one end of the roof. Zagan followed closely behind. Everywhere she looked was empty. And then, she spotted the little metal closet. The spot beside the lock had been kicked in.
Taking a deep breath, she inched toward it, grabbed the edge of the door, and pulled it open. The farmer was clutching a woman in his arms, stuffed in front of a space filled with wires and buttons. He held a metal pole out in front of him, ready to swing.
His eyes widened when he spotted her and he dropped the pole. “Thank God, it’s you.”
She could sense the angels flying closer, to the point that it was hard to breathe. There were now three Immortals and only one of her, and enemies everywhere. She had no chance of protecting these people in her care.
Zagan leaned in. “Hey guys, how’s this life treating you? I know that last one sucked, and the one before that, and, ” he laughed, “well, you get the picture.”
We don’t have time for this. Not if we want to live.
Surcy didn’t wait for their answers. She grabbed onto them and teleported away.
They hit the ground outside of the sanctuary.
“Fucking hell!” Zagan shouted. “Didn’t I just say not to do that? Angels always love that shit, and it’s annoying. It gives me a damn headache.”
She laughed, even though the sound was painful. “We just escaped an army of angels. Let’s be glad. And let’s hurry and reach the others. We have a war to fight.”
Zagan shot her a dirty glance, but reached a hand down to help the woman up.
Her cheeks turned red. “I’m Nichole.”
He raised a brow. “No, you’re the Goddess of Life, and you and I have always had a lot of fun together.”
She visibly swallowed. “Have we?”
He flashed her his dimples. “And we’ll have fun in this life too.”
The farmer climbed to his feet, and Surcy led them through the barrier to the lands surrounding the sanctuary. A shiver ran down her spine as the power made goose bumps rise on her arms. The shield around this place had been reinforced by the druids since she left.
Good.
“Are my wife and kids here?” Clarence asked at her side.
Oh no. She took a deep breath. “Your kids are. And they’re safe.”
“And my wife?” There was a little more intensity to the question.
“She—she was stabbed by one of the angels. I dropped her off at a hospital.”
His voice shook. “Is she okay?”
Heart in her throat, she raised her eyes to meet his. “I don’t know. I had to leave before I could find out.”
“You need to go see,” he said.
She shook her head. “We can’t. There’s a war to fight.”
“I don’t care!”
Zagan and the woman froze beside them.
“Something wrong?” Zagan asked.
“My wife’s hurt, and she’s saying we can’t go and check on her.”
Zagan shrugged. “A marriage between an Immortal and a human is always short. It’s better to focus on protecting the afterlife of all of humanity rather than one woman.”
Clarence glared at the man. “Would you say that if she were your wife?”
Tension sung between them.
Zagan’s gaze slid between them. “Let’s get to the sanctuary and then we’ll decide what to do.”
They started walking again. After a moment, Clarence followed, looking angry. The woman dropped back to keep pace with him, and Surcy tried to tune out her whispers.
“We’ll get them in the water,” Zagan said. “They’ll get back their memories, and their powers, and he’ll remember what’s important.”
“I hope so,” Surcy said, but deep in her heart she wasn’t sure.
Love was a powerful thing. And this war? She might just give it all up to be back with her demons.
Unfortunately for her, she didn’t have that choice.
They continued trekking through the woods, but in her mind, she was far away, in the arms of three demons who made her smile. Who made her feel safe.
And who she might have lost forever.
13
The sanctuary was complete chaos, filled with people talking, laughing, and moving about. Surcy watched as the Immortals they had rescued earlier dunked the new ones into the pool to awaken their memories and their powers.
The God of Sin fucked a druid woman in one corner. None of them could see what was happening, but all of them could hear her shouts of pleasure.
Zagan had winked at Surcy beforehand. “I think she deserves a little happiness after serving us so faithfully,” he said as he led her over behind a tree.
Now, it sounded like he was determined to give it to her. Hard and long.
Which is pretty damn awkward…
The other Immortals seemed to all be doing their own thing, a few practicing their magic. Others ate and relaxed. And some of them needed healing and they were being tended to by the druids, who all seemed happy in their service.
And Surcy? She was sitting on a pedestal carved of stone, staring at it all numbly.
She and her demons had talked about this moment for so long. This was their goal, the thing they imagined might be impossible. Now, they’d actually accomplished it. All the Immortals were safe. They had the ability to destroy Caine and restore the balance of the realms.
But her demons weren’t at her side.
Of all the futures she imagined, this was not one of them. Losing her demons hadn’t felt possible.
The God of Summer, a shifter who could turn into a golden dragon, met her gaze. He moved confidently across the great sanctuary, that was enclosed by a massive dome covered in plants. He wore a simple white shirt and jeans. His skin and hair were both golden, and his eyes were immensely powerful.
Kneeling down in front of her, he cocked his head, and studied her. She was amazed by how strong he appeared, how muscular and healthy. It was almost unimaginable that just a short time ago he was a chained dragon, with grey, lifeless scales and holes in his wings.
They’d saved him. She’d imagined he was powerful beneath all his wounds. But now, she could see what he was meant to be, and it amazed her.
“You’re heartbroken," he said, his voice deep and rough.
It was hard to swallow. “Yes.”
“Then let me ease your fears. If we are restored to power, we should be able to save your demons.”
Every muscle in her body tensed. “What if Caine destroys their souls?”
A guarded look came over his face. “The Soul Destroyer is not what everyone believes.”
She waited.
“It is simply… another realm.”
She slid closer to him, heart racing. “So, they can be saved?”
“If they survive. The Soul Destroyer was not given that name lightly. Within that realm is the darkest, most horrible place in existence. It is filled with souls deemed too dangerous to be reborn. They don’t have to survive just going there. They need to survive within the realm.”
Her chest swelled. “They’re strong. They can do that.”
The slightest smile twisted his lips. “They are. Your demons are unlike any I’ve met before. But then, I’ve never known demons to fall in love with an angel, or an angel to fall in love with them. Caine… he’s created a world of chaos. One which we must fix.”
&nb
sp; “Surcy?”
She startled, looking up to meet Mark’s father’s eyes.
“Yes?”
“May I speak with you for just a moment?”
She nodded, then turned back to the dragon-shifter. “Thank you.”
“Any of us would have shared that knowledge with you.”
She smiled. That didn't matter. He was the one who had taken the time to tell her. “Not for the knowledge, for the hope.”
He shrugged. “I was hopeless when you and your demons found me. It seems only fair to give you hope in return."
She smiled and rose. Mark’s father turned and started walking. She followed slowly behind him. When they came to the mantel before the Immortals’ sacred pool, he reached up and took the broken staff from off of it.
Her breath hitched. Mark’s staff.
“I know what you must think of me. Throwing my only child out into the world alone and without his staff.”
“Well, whatever you did didn’t break him. Nothing could break him.”
The old man turned his blue eyes to her and her heart clenched again. Mark and his father had the same eyes. “He is… was something special.”
“You have no idea how much.” Surcy didn't even try to hold back the anger that surged through her.
No matter how she replayed what had led Mark to be tossed from his home, she couldn’t see any justification for it. No matter how hard she tried to see this old man in a different light, she only felt anger towards him for the cruel way he’d treated her Mark.
“I still can’t believe he’s dead.”
She felt her gut clench. “I’m done talking to you about this.”
You don’t deserve to feel sad, or to pity yourself. You closed the door on your child a long time ago.
He sighed. “I actually wanted to talk to you about more than just Mark.”
The sensation of fingers moving down her spine made every hair on her body stand on end. “Then what? Spit it out.”
The old man set the staff back down and turned to her. “I’ve been reading over the ancient texts, including what little we have about the time when Caine took over and the Immortals lost their thrones.”
She held her breath.
“Something is missing.”
No shit, if we knew everything this whole mess wouldn’t be nearly as bad.
“Have you ever heard about demi-gods?”
She raised a brow. “Like half-gods?”
“Yes, the children of the Immortals.”
She shook her head.
“Well, they’re rare, and most of them have little to no power. Their power might be something as small as being particularly lucky, or living abnormally long, or being incredible beautiful. Something small like that couldn't unbalance the Immortals’ power. But—“ he paused. “Then, there is Caine. He's not a vampire, a witch, a merman, a gargoyle… nothing about him makes sense. He lacks the characteristics of any of the paranormal beings.”
“So what does that mean?”
He held her gaze. “I believe he might be something… forbidden, a dark secret that should have never been brought to life.”
That sounds… bad.
Her heart raced. “What?”
“A child of two Immortals.”
She stared. “I don’t understand. I mean, why would that be so forbidden?”
He regarded her as if she were stupid. “Because there has only ever been ten Immortals. For this very reason. It’s too dangerous. It can change the balance. And yet…”
“What?”
“The balance doesn’t feel off.”
She sighed, tired of the old man’s riddles. “And what does that mean?”
“I believe there is a twelfth Immortal.”
Her brows rose. “So we need to find one more?”
“No, you don’t. But what you should know is that Caine is even more dangerous than we ever imagined, and these Immortals may have secrets that could complicate our plans.”
Like we need more complications. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “I wish we druids could offer you our help in the battle, but that is not our way.”
Mark did. “I understand.”
Turning away, she wondered what the significance of twelve Immortals might mean, and how it could impact the war between the two sides. I guess we’ll see.
14
Surcy lay on the grass, staring up at the bright moon. She’d left the warmth and comfort of the inner-sanctuary, where all the Immortals and druids lay sleeping amongst the magic plants, to take a quiet moment to herself. Tomorrow, they would attack Zudessa. They would take on Caine and his angels. Either the battle would destroy them all, along with all hope at a better world, or everything would change forever.
For some reason, both futures scared her.
This was everything that they’d been working toward, but now the unknown loomed in front of her, and for once, she felt empty when she imagined the future. Tristan had said he’d bought them three days before Mark’s soul was destroyed, but did he and Daniel have the same time?
Or had she already lost them?
And can the Immortals really bring them back if that’s where they were sent? For some reason, she couldn’t imagine it could be that simple. She didn’t want to think about what her demons might be facing in such a terrible place.
It’s possible they can’t survive there.
The moon blurred in her vision as her eyes filled with tears. She didn’t know the answers, but an emptiness clawed at her center, one she feared meant her demons were lost to her forever.
“Surcy?”
She shot up, and her gaze connected with Clarence’s. No, not Clarence, the God of the Earth. After dipping into the waters, he’d announced that he hated his human-name for this lifetime, and that everyone could call him Adan.
“Do you need something?” she asked, frowning.
He glanced down at something in his hand, a little vial that seemed to contain nothing but water. His expression was uncertain as he shifted it between his fingers.
“Yes, angel. I know that you don’t work for us… but I have need of you.”
His words vibrated through her in the strangest way. She touched her chest and frowned.
“You felt it didn’t you?” he asked.
“What was that?” she whispered.
“That, is how it feels when your ruler speaks to you. Once we’re in charge once more, that feeling will grow stronger when we give a command. When we wish something, you’ll all feel it deep within you. It isn’t in the forceful way that Caine commands you. It will be something more natural. Because that’s the way it was meant to be.” He moved a little closer, his gaze holding hers. “We trusted Caine. We never imagined he would be capable of what he did. But as much as he thinks he seamlessly rules in our place, he doesn’t. If anyone remembered what it was like before, they’d know how much was missing.”
She believed him, but that wasn’t what bothered her. “So, when all this is over, I’ll serve you?”
He nodded, lifting a brow. “Isn’t that what you desire most? Isn’t that why you’ve done all of this for?”
I did it because the world was wrong, because innocent people were suffering in the demon realm, and angels were mostly heartless thugs.
And because my demons convinced me to help them.
Not so I could serve a better leader.
Slowly, she shook her head. “No. I mean, I never thought about what things would be like for me if we restored the ten of you to power.”
He didn’t speak, just waited, watching her closely.
“After you're back on your thrones, will I be able to be with my demons?”
“We’ll judge souls fairly and place them where they should have been all along. Things will be very different, Surcy. Definitely more fair. But I can’t guarantee where you and your loved ones will end up.”
After all we’ve done! After all my demons sacrificed to help these people, they
really won’t even give us this? Anger blossomed inside her, but she forced it down. Anger would get her nowhere.
And when her anger faded away, it was replaced with nothing but a painful emptiness in her chest.
“I understand,” she said.
Then both looked at the moon for a long minute, a sadness that seemed soul-deep stretching between them. She wanted to beg him for special treatment. She wanted to tell him, after all they’d done, they should be exempt from judgment. But she couldn’t.
“Love is complicated,” he said. “It goes against all reason. Believe me. Love led me to one of the greatest mistakes I could make. And yet, I don’t regret it.”
Tears pricked her eyes as she imagined the faces of her demons. Goose bumps rose on her flesh, as if they even her skin missed the touch of the men she loved.
“I need you to go to my human-wife and make her drink this.”
She looked at him and then down at the water he held. “Why?”
“It’s from the pool. Going in the water is deadly for any but Immortals, but there’s a legend about the water's ability to heal. If she doesn’t seem to be recovering on her own, I want you to make her drink it.” He held out the vial, but she didn’t take it.
“Are you sure?”
He sighed, noisily. “I know I should be above things like this. I know I shouldn’t care for one human female, but that’s why love is such a weakness. It defies all logic.”
Reaching out, she plucked the vial from his fingers. It wasn’t that she was looking forward to a long night when she’d be battling in the morning; it was that she felt she owed this man. It was her fault his wife was injured. Maybe if the woman lived, she would provide an anchor for him, to help him remember that humans had value.
So he could never end up like Caine.
Rising, she started walking, knowing that it would take a while to reach the edge of the sanctuary. But, his voice stopped her. “Just in case we can’t save your demons’ souls, it might be a good idea to mourn them tonight, so their deaths can’t be used against you.”
She felt every muscle in her body tense. Are these Immortals trying to drive me insane? Can they be saved or not? It felt… terrible not to know.
Lover's Wrath: A Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance (An Angel and Her Demons Book 3) Page 6
