Possession of the Soul

by Trinity Blacio

  “You two should just go on home.” Tabatha sighed and tried on a pair of black pumps. “You were busy, remember? Melody and I have plans, so just leave the guards and go. And don’t worry about dinner. We’ll eat out and make it a girls’ night out.”

  “You’ll come home when you’re done here. We’ll wait,” Chax growled.

  Tabatha turned and glared at him. She took a deep breath and relaxed. “I know you and Hoyt are worried, but I do need some girl time. I can’t be forced to be at your every whim night and day. You know what would make this perfect? If Shannon was here. I don’t know when the last time was we all went out for a girls’ night out.” She sighed and looked over at Melody, who nodded.

  “Yeah, but you know that asshole husband of hers wouldn’t let her come if we asked. He hates us.” Melody’s anger had all four men glancing at her. She waved her hand. “It’s a long story. Maybe one day we’ll tell you about her and you can help her.”

  Chax turned his attention back to Tabatha as he towered over her. His long red hair swung around his face. His stare, meant to frighten her, did no such thing. All she could think about was how handsome he appeared in human form. Muscles rippled under his shirt, which clung tightly against his chest. She could sit there all day and drool over him, but she shook her head.

  “I’m going to the movies with Melody after we’re done shopping, and then we’re going out for dinner,” Tabatha stated through clenched teeth. “With our ceremony coming up so quickly, I won’t have any time for myself.”

  “Can I help you ladies with anything?” A saleslady had come up to them.

  Chax opened his mouth, ready to say something else, then stopped. Tabatha smiled and handed the sales lady the basket of shoes.

  “Yes, you can ring these up and give them to him,” Tabatha stated and pointed to Chax.

  His face burned red, and his eyebrows twitched.

  “He’ll pay for them and put them in the car. I have some more shopping to do. Thanks, honey!” Tabatha smiled over her shoulder and pulled Melody with her. Two of Hoyt’s guards followed them out of the shoe department but kept their distance.

  Melody laughed as they made their way to the clothing department at Macy’s.

  Tabatha hung onto Melody’s arm as they walked through the store. “You know what? With all this talk about our ceremony, I forgot I don’t have a dress. We already picked out yours, so let’s shop for mine. Since this isn’t going to be a big wedding, I think something short and cool would work well.” Tabatha pointed to the dress section and moved toward it. “I don’t want white. I like dark red. I know it’s different, but it’s my favorite color and it would look great with Chax’s deep red hair and Hoyt’s black hair.”

  Tabatha and Melody browsed through several racks of dresses. Ten minutes later, she spotted the one she wanted, grabbed it, and held it up against her body.

  It’s perfect.

  It had no back, and the front swept down to show cleavage. She squealed and danced around with the dress.

  Melody laughed as they walked to the fitting room so Tabatha could try it on, but Chax stepped in Tabatha’s way, and took the dress out of her hand.

  “We need to get out of here. Something is wrong,” Chax hissed and put the dress back on the rack, pulling her to him and holding her around her waist. He drew her away from the dressing room just as a stranger stepped in front of them.

  The stranger leered. “Well, why would you do that, Chax? I wanted to see the slut in the dress. What’s wrong? Did you really think you had killed me that easily the last time we met?”

  Chax pushed her behind him and growled as if he were about to shred the guy. Unfamiliar demons appeared from nowhere and surrounded them. Tabatha moved closer to Chax. She could only guess how Chax kept the humans away. Okay, what the hell did Chax do now?

  Most of the demons around them were marked as slaves. Chax had explained earlier what certain markings on a demon meant so she could recognize danger.

  Melody scooted closer to the fitting room and tried to get away, but a demon marked with slave status on his upper bicep swept her up into his arms. She screamed and kicked, trying to get away.

  Tabatha ducked around Chax and ran straight for the demon that held Melody. But Chax’s brother Derk suddenly stepped up behind the demon and snapped his neck. At the sound of crunching bones, Tabatha almost vomited.

  Her brother Ben darted toward Melody and grabbed her, pulling her into his arms. He squeezed his mate tightly and kissed her cheek.

  Ben raised his head, glared at his sister and shouted, “How could you?”

  That look used to always make her scared of him, but right now it only infuriated her. She hadn’t done a damn thing! How dare he think this was her fault! Tabatha frowned and backed up and found herself up against a solid chest. She looked up into another demon’s face, one she did not recognize and that smiled down at her.

  Shit!

  Tabatha elbowed the giant behind her, but he didn’t budge.

  Shit and double shit!

  She did the only thing she could think of: She swung her arm down and hit him in the balls. She spun away from him just as he buckled to his knees.

  Tabatha used her whole body weight behind the kick she delivered to his jaw. The demon flew backward, falling to the floor by the dressing room.

  Tabatha shook herself and gasped for air. Out of the corner of her eye, Tabatha caught a glimpse of Chax. His growl sent a chill up her spine as she listened to his words as he faced down the strange demon who seemed to be the leader.

  “How did you get away from Caym?” Chax snarled and transformed into his demon form. Chax’s red skin grew brighter, his teeth and claws became sharp weapons. Tabatha had never seen him in his full beast form. What a sight!

  “Caym is too lazy and too cocky, thinking no one will oppose him,” the creature replied. “Now, I think I’m going to have that little slut you call a mate. I bet she’s a good fuck. Who knows? Maybe I’ll keep her until I get tired of her,” the demon taunted.

  Chax’s brothers spread out to contend with the other demons that crouched, ready to attack.

  Tabatha grimaced. The numbers still didn’t look good. In beast form, Hoyt, Shane, and her brother stepped up to join them. Melody was nowhere to be seen.

  The demon lunged at Chax, and both of them spun round and slammed into her before she could move out of the way. Tabatha flew backward and landed on her ass. She jumped up in time to see the same demon that she had knocked down earlier come at her again.

  Her body was aching and anger and frustration clouded her mind. Something shifted in her body, her skin itched, and her hands burned. Glancing down at herself, she saw hair start to sprout on her arms. Fingers turned into claws, and fangs started to protrude from her mouth. She was shifting, but she didn’t know whether into a demon or a beast. The demon continued charging at her, and she blocked his attack. Sinking her fangs into his arm, he screamed in pain and he tried to force her off of him. Tabatha growled and gouged part of his cheek with her claws. Jumping back, she waited.

  The demon wiped its face and screamed. “You’re going to die, bitch!” He moved so fast that the next thing she knew he was behind her and grabbing her by her hair, swinging her body like a rag doll. Her head ached as she clawed for one of the clothing racks. She held on despite the hair the creature tore out of her head.

  He laughed and released her, but that was his mistake. Tabatha’s anger only fueled her further, and she jumped him, clawing his chest.

  He tried to dodge her claws and at the same time, he struck back, barely catching her arm with his claws.

  “Why won’t you just go away?” She punched his jaw, sending him flying. She looked around and noticed a piece of metal from a broken rack lying close to her. She grabbed it and hit the demon across the head as he came back for more.

  Chax dashed to her with Hoyt right behind him.

  The fighting stopped as Caym roared and suddenly appeared next t
o Chax. He shook his head and laughed. “It seems my appearance has scared the others away. Oh, well.”

  He scanned the room, taking in everything that had happened. Snapping his fingers, everything returned to normal. He then turned his attention to Chax.

  “I can’t believe your mate just knocked out the same lesser demon, twice! Oh, this is great. Wait until the boss hears about this. I bet he shows up at your ceremony. You’ve lucked out, my friend. I must apologize, though,” he said, pointing at a demon on the floor, “for letting this one get away from me. I caught him last week, and the weasel slipped by the guards, who are now being punished for their lack of attention. It seems that he has been searching for you for a while, Chax. Something about you promising his sister that you would mate with her?” Caym growled and raised his eyebrow at him. Backing up, he kicked the demon Tabatha had defeated that lay on the floor. One minute he was there and the next he was gone.

  Tabatha leaned on Chax and searched for Melody.

  “Where’s Melody?” she asked.

  “Don’t worry about her. Chax sent Melody back to the house with some guards. You have other problems to deal with,” Hoyt barked.

  Tabatha started to protest, but he silenced her.

  “You put your life in danger. You’re lucky you only have a few scratches.”

  Tabatha shrank back, glancing at Ben and Shane, who gave her a fierce look. They turned and walked away without a word.

  Tabatha scanned the department store expecting to see more demons. But all the demons were gone. Everything was back to normal as if there had never been a fight.

  Caym called her name.

  She turned to see him coming toward her.

  “I must say goodbye, dear lady. It has been enjoyable, and I’m a little jealous of Chax. You’re the perfect mate for him. I would put a tighter leash on you than he has, but I’ll have fun watching you give him hell,” he whispered in her ear as he leaned over, kissing her cheek. “Good luck with these guys.” He pointed at her mates. “You’re going to need it.” Caym grinned and disappeared.

  Tabatha blushed and looked up at her mates’ furious faces. No one else said a word to her as they disappeared from the store. Everything blurred around her, and a humming noise rang in her ears. Strong arms held her, but her eyes remained closed as she tried to get her balance. Upon opening them, she saw that she was now with both Chax and Hoyt in her bedroom.

  “Okay, Chax. Next time, warn me before you send me anywhere.” She moaned and another wave of disorientation hit her.

  Blinking, she saw her bed’s headboard slowly come into view as her vision adjusted. She found herself face down on the bed with each of her arms and legs tied to a bedposts, Tabatha listened to her surroundings. With the bonds tight against her limbs, there was no way she could escape. Did they find me? Tabatha screamed, not knowing what had happened.

  “Chax? Hoyt?”She heard someone move behind her.

  “You’ll learn to listen to us and not risk your life or that of others!” Chax yelled and spanked her ass.

  “Let me go! How dare you do this to me!” Tears fell down her face as she struggled with the bonds. Her butt burned and for some reason, her hands burned, too. She looked up and claws appeared where her fingers were. Concentrating, Tabatha cut at the bonds with them. One tie snapped, then the other, freeing her hands. Tabatha’s legs were still strapped, but that didn’t matter. She heard the sound of rushing air before something made contact with her ass, and turned her upper body, grabbing his arm.

  “Get out before you go too far! I’ll not have a mate like Shannon’s. Any man who does this to a woman is nothing but an ass!” She snatched up the lamp near the bed and letting go of his hand, threw it at Chax’s head. “No one touches me in anger. I’ve already warned you once!”

  She dug her claws into the bed and waited for the men’s next move.

  Both mates frowned at her, but backed out of the room slowly. When they were gone, she cut each of the bonds on her legs, and jumped off the bed. Storming to the door, she slammed it shut.

  “This isn’t over, Tabatha,” Chax snapped on the other side of the door.

  “Yes, it is.”

  Tabatha held her breath. But all she heard was their retreat into the living room.

  The tears slowly stopped, and she closed her eyes. Tabatha didn’t understand why everyone was so furious with her. It’s not like I knew the demons would be there, and it wasn’t even my idea to go to the fucking mall!

  She started to sink to the floor when the room before her dimmed and the dizziness returned. “Chax, I told you to back off!” She screamed before she blacked out.

  “Are you all right, baby?” item’s voice was right beside her. Slowly, she opened her eyes to stare up at the biggest green eyes she had ever seen. Long silky blond hair reached to the floor as he knelt by her and swept her up in his arms. “I couldn’t stand it anymore. Those fools can do without you for a night, because tonight, my queen, you will be pampered. I’m so sorry they hurt you.” He gently laid her down on a huge bed. He stood next to it and stared into space for a moment.

  This man is a god, and I’m in his bed! Tabatha shook as she admired his muscular body. She choked when her gaze landed on his shaft which stood hard and ready. Okay, there is no way his cock is going to fit inside me!

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I have brought our mate here to my home for the night. The both of you better think of a way to get back into her good graces after the stunt you tried to pull. You should know better than to touch a female in anger, and this event was not her fault. One more stunt like that, and mates or not, I’ll pin both of you to the wall and see how you like to have your asses beaten in anger.” Wol-itelm let his rage slam into both Chax’s and Hoyt’s minds.

  He turned his attention back to Tabitha and smiled, noting her apprehension. “There will be time for that later, but right now I want to talk and show you my world, if that’s okay with you.” He reached out with his large hand.

  She hesitated for a minute but placed her delicate one into his. As he pulled her up he whispered, “Remember, Chax and Hoyt will have to deal with me, too.” She bit back a laugh as she imagined that future.

  “How would you like to go for a ride on a dragon? I want to show you my little paradise. One day I hope we all can spend time here, but until the Others agree, I’m afraid I’m taking a chance having you here tonight.” He led her to a huge, wide-open door large enough to fit three tractor-trailers on its threshold.

  “Then you need to send me back to Earth.” She stepped back and stared up at him. “I don’t want to cause trouble between you and the Others. I have enough problems on my own world,” she whispered.

  Wol-itelm lifted her chin with his index finger. “You needed an escape, Tabatha, and I needed to hold you, if only for a few hours. It gets so lonely here. Allow me this precious time to comfort me until the day comes when we can be together.” He lifted her into his arms and softly kissed her. Tabatha’s lips warmed his cold ones. “You’re so warm and it’s been so long since I’ve had the female company.”

  He placed her on the floor and backed away. His body shifted, wind blew her hair back as a giant red, black, and purple dragon stood before her.

  “As you see, my mark is my other form. Hop on, beauty, and let’s soar with the stars.” He bowed before her and placed his knee as a mounting step for her to climb up on his massive back. With a wide smile, she stepped up onto him and sat behind his neck, holding on tightly.

  “This is so exciting! I feel like a little girl again, going on a ride at an amusement park. Thank you, Wol-itelm.”

  She kissed his neck, and for the first time in centuries, he felt warmth spread through his body. He took off into the night, reaching for the stars for that once-in-a-lifetime adventure, because tonight she would be his.

  ***

  Tabatha was speechless. Everywhere she looked, there were sights that amazed her. Three moons surrounded his palace i
n the sky. Bright stars twinkled, while curious animals she had never seen before flew around them.

  Only in a fairy tale could one come up with a sight like this. His homeland was made of glass and gold and sparkled in the moonlit sky. The air, warm and gentle on her face, urged Tabatha to take a deep breath. The aroma of Lilly of the Valley comforted her.

  “This is so beautiful and peaceful Wol... Oh hell. I can’t say your name. Hmm. what should I call you? I don’t like Walter. That sounds nerdy and you certainly aren’t nerdy.”

  “Well, thank you for that.” He laughed.

  “I know! How about Drakos? It’s the Greek name for dragon.” She jumped, almost losing her grip on his neck.

  “Careful, little one, and Drakos is fine, but only you may call me this. Look over there to the left. See that lighted place far off in the distance? That is my friend’s home. I’m hoping when he wakens he will volunteer to be my Guide. To be in your world, I need a Guide. It means one to watch and help control my temper when it comes to my mates. My powers will have to be monitored to make sure I don’t slip up and destroy your world or annihilate your people.” Drakos’ voice faded at the end.

  Sadness slipped into Tabatha thoughts, and she detected that it was coming from Drakos. “Is being my mate going to cause you problems, Drakos? If it is, please don’t do anything that would bring you harm. I don’t think I could bear hurting another person.” She hugged his neck.

  “Little one, it is not sadness about our joining. It’s sadness that I will have to let you leave this place in a few hours. Come, it’s time to spend a few hours in my arms.” He flapped his big wings, and a snort of fire shot out of his mouth as he headed back to his palace in the sky.

  A surge of pure sexual hunger attacked her senses and dampened her thighs.

  “I’m sorry, Tabatha, but you’re going to have to come back now. Our mate can’t take you yet. He must have his mentor guiding him,” Chax gently informed them.

  Drakos landed at his door, and she climbed down while he shifted to his godly form. “You should learn to mind your own business, Chax.” He sighed and turned to her. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to spend some time with you, but Chax is right. If I crawled into the bed with you, I wouldn’t be able to stop.” He lifted her, backing her up against the closest wall. “You’re even more beautiful in person, my little angel. One taste before I have to send you home.” His mouth covered hers, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, not wanting to leave.