Hell's Phoenix

by Gracen Miller

  “You’re glimmering with power, an odd mixture of gold and blue.”

  “I won’t pretend I have the succubus under control, Zen. Ask your dragon. I didn’t wish to return.” The Hellhounds emerged from the other side of the tree. Zen sat up straight when they whined and she absently stroked behind their ears.

  “She’s right. If not for bearing Phoenix Birmingham’s covenant, she would’ve refused to return to earth.” Kur confirmed her statement with no emotion.

  Zen’s silence unnerved her.

  “You cannot believe the sadness I feel over the possibility that Micah might be dead.”

  “She cried.”

  “I only returned so Nix could release me from the covenant.”

  “And then what?” Zen asked.

  She shrugged. Her lack of response was obviously not to his liking because his ancient power snaked into her and hurt like tiny razor blades set loose in her veins. Madison sensed she could block his mental search, but she remained lax and allowed his probe, gritting her teeth through it.

  Kur stood at her feet, watching them with curiosity, his dark head cocked to the side as if they were of grave interest. She took the time to study the dragon. In daylight, his good looks were even more pronounced. The sun turned his shoulder-length hair into glossy blue-black strands. Even his black eyes held a hint of sapphire. He was tall, maybe six-five.

  “If not for Amos, would you return to Micah if he lives?”

  “Yes.” In a heartbeat. That was the scary part.

  “What of Phoenix?”

  Her pulse tripped a beat. “What of him?”

  “You would choose Micah over him?”

  Madison stared at Zen a long moment, carefully gauging her response. “I have no reason to stay for Nix.” Her voice trembled.

  “Don’t pretend with me, Madison. I see into here.” He tapped between her breasts. “I see.”

  “Nix has never led me to believe there is anything other than friendship between us.”

  “What he did to you in the hotel room was not a sign of friendship.”

  Madison flushed at the memory of Nix’s hand between her legs, offering pleasure of the kind she’d only dreamed possible. He’d shown her sex could be fantastic. Clearing her throat, she changed the topic. “Micah said I caused an earthquake.”

  For a brief moment, she expected Zen would press his prior questioning. “Yes.” Grave consequences echoed from his steely stare.

  Afraid of the answer, she almost didn’t ask the question. “How many…died?”

  “A lot.”

  “Zen.”

  “Thousands.”

  She blinked rapidly, attempting to stave off the tears. Failing, the first teardrop hit her cheek. “You son-of-a-bitch.” Her ragged voice shook with her anger. “Why didn’t you kill me before it happened?” She curled the fingers of her free hand. Her nails dug into her palm. “Like you fucking promised!”

  “You gave him power to kill you?” Kur sounded mystified by that revelation. Madison didn’t think he expected an answer, so she ignored him, as did Zen.

  “I didn’t have time to stop it by crushing your soul.”

  “Ouch! Enough!” She snatched her hand out of his grasp. “Whatever you’re doing, it hurts.”

  “Giving you some of my immortal power in an attempt to sway your succubus away from its love of angel manna.”

  “Not funny.” She despised that he attempted to joke at a time like this. And just like his power shots to the head, his immortal power hurt. Madison didn’t want any more of his mojo. “No offense, your power sucks. His didn’t.”

  “His isn’t good, Madison. It shapes you to his will.”

  Yeah, she got that without being told. “Doesn’t change the fact that his tastes like manna and yours tastes like crap.”

  He gave her a droll expression and she reached out and squeezed his hand. Zen squeezed back. Whatever he’d decided, all she knew was that he hadn’t decided to kill her. Yet.

  “Did you enjoy Phoenix’s power as much as Micah’s?”

  “Yes.” Maybe more, maybe not, she hadn’t decided. They tasted different, but either would be addictive. “Did everyone make it through okay?”

  “Yes.”

  She waited and when it became apparent he wouldn’t provide more information, she asked, “Did Nix heal Alessa in time?”

  “Yes.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Phoenix is furious at you for kicking him out of Hell.”

  She shrugged. “You said the Ark of Heaven had to come out, Zen. That he was more important than me, so I did what I had to do to get him out.”

  “What’s with the dogs?” He nodded at them curled up beside her hip.

  “They came to me when I called for something else.”

  “It indicates they’re cosmically connected you.”

  “That’s what Micah said.”

  Zen stood and offered his hand. Madison waved it off and rose slowly, but once on her feet, she toppled over from the sudden, dizzying movement. Kur caught her.

  “Thanks,” she said as Zen wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her. Madison squeezed Zen’s waist, a silent thanks for his support. “Did you bring a car? Cause if you teleport me I might vomit on your shoes.”

  “I’ll make sure we arrive in a safe place so you can puke.”

  Madison slammed her hand in the middle of Zen’s chest, curled her fingers in his black shirt. “You are not telep—”

  The rainbow orbs caught them up and relocated them before she could complete her sentence. They landed on the front lawn of the safe house.

  “Bastard,” Madison groaned and then bent over and gagged up stomach acid.

  Thankfully, Zen possessed the presence of mind to hold her hair out of the way and Kur said, “Your relationship with her is…dynamic.” She noticed Kur held a pup in each hand.

  “I hate you.” She glared at Zen.

  “You adore me.”

  “Thanks to you, I’m going to have vomit-breath when I greet my son with the news that I might have murdered his daddy.”

  Zen held up a pack of mint chewing gum and offered a smile that reminded her of a grimace instead. She hated the way he thought of everything. Snatching the pack out of his hand, she unwrapped two pieces and rolled her eyes at his smug expression.

  Looking at the house, she tried to harness her rampaging emotions. How would Amos react to the news? Would he forgive her? Hate her forever? Or understand?

  Then there was Nix. She hadn’t planned on seeing him again, so the humiliation of the orgasm and her begging for sex in the shower hadn’t been a concern. Now, it was front and center, right along with Amos’s reaction.

  She squared her shoulders. “Let’s do this.”

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  The door to the house flew open and Amos screamed for someone to remove the Angel Lock. Zoe obliged and he barreled down the steps, raced toward her, and flung himself against her. If not for Zen’s support, Amos would have knocked them down.

  Tears burned her eyes. She’d gone into Hell thinking she’d never see him again. This moment was more than she’d hoped for. Madison hugged him tight and kissed his blond head. But how long would Amos be excited to see her once he knew what she’d done to his father?

  “Nothing was as I saw it.” His body vibrated against hers. “I wasn’t sure you’d come back. I thought Daddy would keep you.”

  Madison cupped his face and tilted his head back to look at him. “He wanted me to stay.”

  The words about her culpability in Micah’s possible death wouldn’t breach her lips. She couldn’t ruin his happiness or what innocence remained.

  “Others wish to welcome you home.” She followed Zen’s gaze and hers crash-landed on Nix. He stood behind the others, arms folded over his chest, leaning against the doorjamb, his ankles crossed. A casual stance in direct contrast to his clenched jaw and the anger blazing from his eyes.

  James squee
zed her until she feared her ribs would crack, while Amos’s power healed the cut on her forearm. Her other arm hung limp at her side, not returning James’s hug, at a loss why any of them would be happy to see her. She’d left human and returned a demon.

  “Thank you for giving me my nephew back. You have my eternal loyalty, Madison. Anything you need, ever, just tell me and I’m there,” James said against her ear. “I could never repay you enough for what you’ve done.”

  “You don’t owe me anything, James.”

  “My turn, you’re hogging her!” Zoe elbowed James aside and started a series of hugs to follow.

  After Zoe, Gage squeezed the breath out of her, pledging his commitment in similar fashion as James.

  Georgie caught her face between her hands and smiled. “You had us worried.” Madison continued to worry. “Don’t let Nix fool you; he’s happy to see you.”

  She glanced at him, but couldn’t detect any of that ‘happy’ Georgie spoke of.

  Petra chewed on her bottom lip as Georgie went back inside. “Daddy?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  She nodded, touched Madison’s shoulder and squeezed. “Even if your demon is wild, I’m glad you returned to us.”

  Alessa stepped in front of her with her hands on her hips. “You scared the hell out of me.”

  “You scared the hell out of me with that vampire.”

  “Good as new thanks to Nix.” Her friend exposed her neck and indicated the wound-free flesh. “I don’t ever want to do that again.” Madison was surprised when Alessa hugged her.

  “Deal.”

  “Good luck with Nix. He’s a nightmare right now.” Alessa squeezed her hand and walked off.

  Only Nix remained and he hadn’t moved from the porch. Holding Amos’s hand, she walked toward him, contemplating what she would say.

  She and Amos halted in front of him. His arms remained folded and his stance didn’t promote open communication. Neither did his glare, for that matter.

  God, Nix was ecstatic to see Madison. Dark circles beneath her eyes showcased her exhaustion. He suspected she ran on adrenaline and might collapse soon, but damn, Nix had feared he’d never see her again. So, even wan, Hell no longer claimed her and that was enough for him.

  “I’m sorry you’re mad at me, but—”

  “I’m pissed off, Mads.” Furious came closer to defining his true emotion. Mad didn’t even come close to describing how he felt.

  For a long moment her gaze honed in on his mouth. He wanted to kiss her, but wouldn’t touch her until he had a handle on his erratic sentiments. Finally, she flicked a nervous glance at Amos.

  “You sent me home to worry about you while you fought that sinister bastard.” He should feel guilty for not greeting her enthusiastically because he was glad she’d come back. But his anger breathed fire like the dragon she towed up from Hell.

  “That’s my daddy.” Amos’s free hand fisted.

  “Go inside, angel.”

  “But—”

  “I’ll be in momentarily. Nix has something to say and he should be able to say it. Now go.” She glanced at Zen and Kur, the only other remaining two. “You two as well.”

  “I’m not leaving.” Zen folded his arms over his chest. “I’ll stand over there, but I am not leaving.”

  “I’ll walk the dogs.” Kur took off down the driveway, carrying the Hellhounds.

  In seconds, Nix and Mads were alone, except for the immortal who extracted himself out of earshot, leaning against a tree. But he was never really out of hearing range.

  “How could you do that?” he demanded. “You said fucking goodbye to me in Hell.”

  Mads rubbed the chill from her arms. He resisted the inclination to help her. He still hadn’t acclimated to the temperature change, but figured she’d adjust quicker than he did.

  “If I’d let you stay, he’d have used you against me, Nix. He would have manipulated me for his sick pleasure. I went there to protect you and—”

  He shook her, surprising her into silence and shocking himself that he put his hands on her in anger. “Damn you, Mads.” Her gaze flew to his, clearly stunned by his angry curse. “Damn you for thinking I don’t want to protect you, too! Do you even know how I feel?”

  “Um…pissed?”

  Nix growled, but released her before he shook her again. The world-weary woman he loved had no clue about her self-worth or how people adored her. She had an immortal that failed to kill her even when she unleashed enough power to sink part of a state. His uncle thought she hung the moon.

  Georgie and Zoe had taken a two-sided vote and inducted her into the Birmingham family. Ironic, since Zoe wasn’t a Birmingham. They even suggested giving Mads the option to change her surname if she wanted. Nix had thought the vote ridiculous, but proudly beamed that his family adored her as much as he did.

  Alessa had trusted her enough to venture into Hell with her.

  “You’re clueless, Mads. Fucking clueless.”

  Shaking his head at her ignorance and not trusting himself to say the right words, he turned and walked back into the house.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Madison sat beside Amos on the sofa and watched as others took various seats about the room. Nix snagged the over-stuffed chair across from them. She’d have to work to keep eye contact at a minimum. Zen preferred to remain at the edge of the room, like always. Zoe sat beside her and Gage in the chair nearest Nix.

  James and Georgie claimed the love seat. He kissed her temple as he curled an arm around the psychic’s shoulders, pulling her against him. Georgie snuggled into him.

  An empty ache centered in her chest. She’d suffered jealousy in Hell, but she refused to begrudge them their relationship on earth. Micah had given her the backbone to defy her father, but she’d never been comfy in his arms. To experience what Georgie and James had was a pipe dream. No use wanting something she couldn’t have.

  From behind Nix’s shoulder, Alessa asked, “You want anything to eat or drink, Madison?”

  “No, thanks.” Her cravings for fallen angel blood and seraph needed to subside before she could ingest solid foods.

  Nix stretched his legs out in front of him. “A shot of liquor might do her some good.”

  Liquor would make things worse. “No.”

  Alessa hesitated, but finally perched on the arm of Nix’s chair.

  Kur entered the home and settled the dogs on the floor. They charged her, leaping onto her lap. Amos giggled.

  “Brother and sister. They need names.” The soot-black male dog sported white dots above each eye. The mottled black-and-red female showcased one white paw and green nails. Adorable now, Madison had no idea what they’d grow into.

  “How cute.” Zoe reached across to pet one of the puppies.

  “Zo, don’t touch them!” Nix sat forward in his seat. Startled by his abrupt command, Zoe yanked her hand away. “You brought those flea-bitten things back with you? Are you crazy? Do you realize how dangerous they are?”

  Not wanting a fight, she ignored Nix. “Can you think of some good names for them, Amos?”

  “Do you even know what to feed them?” Nix persisted.

  “I’m not stupid, Nix.” She shot him a snippy-eyed glance. “I’ll handle it.”

  “Seriously, Nix, I can run to the store and pick up a bag of puppy food. It’s not a big deal.” Gage swiped his finger across his throat.

  Nix did not take the hint. “They’re nourished off of blood and human bones, Gage.”

  Silence lanced the room. Madison rubbed her eyes with her finger. “I’m sorry you’re angry with me, Nix.” She lifted her gaze to his and he held hers without blinking. A restlessness she couldn’t pinpoint shifted in his eyes. “I’m sorry you don’t agree with any of my choices. I didn’t agree with yours when you made the deal with Micah. Things are different now. I’m different, a demon with demon dogs. I’ll make it work.” Somehow she would.

  “You’re not a demon, honey.” Zoe sque
ezed her hand.

  Madison switched her attention to Nix. “You didn’t tell them? Prepare them?”

  Nix plowed his fingers through his hair. “Never found the right time.”

  She allowed her demon to surface to the forefront, and her cravings prickled like needles against her flesh. A gasp from Georgie indicated she’d gotten a good look at her eyes.

  “Fuck.” James tried to stifle the word behind his hand, but he followed it with a quick, “Sorry.”

  Gage stood, stepped over the coffee table between them, and tipped her head back with his finger to get a better look. Deep, scowling grooves slashed between his brows. “Why did you allow your demon freedom?”

  Madison held his stare. “It doesn’t matter why.”

  Zoe leaned nearer to get a better gander. “Makes no difference to me, so long as you’re not acting like a demon. You always had it in you anyway, how’s this any different?”

  “A lot different, but I’m not planning on acting like a demon.” At least not yet. She wasn’t sure how long that would last if she didn’t feed her demon what it needed.

  Gage’s aura retracted as if some of the air was sucked out of it. His voice dropped an octave. “You go demon for Nix?”

  As she powered off her inner evil, she turned her head aside and nudged his hand away. “The why doesn’t matter, Gage. What’s done is done.”

  “Pink’s pretty on you, Momma.” Madison smiled at Amos’s naïve statement, thankful he broke her focus from Gage’s intense scrutiny. Amos adored her even though she’d slaughtered thousands with her earthquake.

  Gage settled back into his chair, crossed his ankle over the other knee. He continued to scowl in her direction.

  Petra emerged from the kitchen, swirling a lollipop in her mouth, and blanched when she saw Kur. She altered her course to come stand behind Madison.

  “Micah told me I was a Lynx demon. That I’m one of a kind. God killed the first and only other one ever created and I’m a magical energy consumer.” Tense silence filled the room. James frowned as if she were the anti-Christ, while Georgie suddenly became fascinated with her hands resting in her lap. Gage’s scowl turned brooding. Nix rubbed his forehead.