Marked By Hades (Entangled Embrace)

by Monroe, Reese

  Dyre tightened her hold on Justin as they stepped into the splice. Guess she wouldn’t be getting her ice cream after all, but Florida’s heat sounded even better.

  She landed on a soft carpet of grass, and a wave of thick, humid air immediately filled her lungs. She ripped off her coat, thankful she’d worn a short-sleeved shirt beneath.

  Theo roared.

  Two demons engaged the Gatekeeper’s Mate, snapping fangs. Theo approached them in a blur, chanting the vanquish. Another demon intercepted Justin before he could get his dagger out.

  “One ran…into the brush,” Sadie said.

  “I’m on it,” Justin said and pushed his demon at Theo. “Fry this asshole for me.”

  He took off into the trees.

  A demon approached Dyre, and she reached for her dagger. It wouldn’t do much against this seven-foot creature, but at least she could position him for Theo or Sadie’s Mavet.

  “You fight your own,” the demon said.

  “I’m a rebel that way,” she taunted, spinning her dagger on her open palm. “What brings you topside?”

  “You.”

  “Little ol’ me?” She pointed to her chest. “I’m honored.”

  “Be afraid. Pario has put a bounty on you so high, you’ll never not look over your shoulder.” He grinned, flashing fang. “That is if you survive me.”

  The demon lunged. She buried her blade in his chest, but she still crumpled beneath the weight of his massive body. Her back hit the grassy ground hard enough to steal her breath.

  He buried his fangs in her neck, but then dust plumed.

  Sadie’s face came into view, holding her Mavet. “Friend of yours?” She helped Dyre up.

  “Pario’s henchmen.” The demons were gone, but Justin wasn’t back. She tore for the trees. “Justin!”

  Her heart hammered as she navigated the overgrown path. Sweat sluiced down her back, instantly soaking her thin shirt.

  The foliage blurred by as she sprinted to find her Mate. Her future. He’d gone after a demon alone. What if it had been a trap?

  Branches slapped her cheek, her bare hands, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was getting to Justin. They’d just found out they could be together; it would be her luck she’d lose him now, after all they’d been through.

  Energy stormed through her chest and into her stomach and her legs, fueling them for the sprint. “Justin!”

  Grunts filtered through the thick leaves from the left, and she veered in that direction. Her pulse kicked up as she pressed onward. Movement behind her triggered a check over her shoulder. Sadie and Theo zoomed up behind her, Sadie nodding as if to encourage Dyre to hurry.

  That didn’t help the fear factor. They must feel something. Please let Justin be okay.

  She burst through the trees and found him battling three massive demons. He kicked, and his boot connected with the demon in front of him. The other lunged, a dagger at the ready.

  Dyre leaped and intercepted the creature. Justin roared and Theo echoed that cry. But what surprised her, was that she, too, roared like a hurt lion. No, an angry one. Rage surged through her, and she felt her fangs drop.

  Mine.

  She rolled with the monster but landed on top. She bent down, clamped onto his neck, and twisted.

  He went limp beneath her. She spit out the throat she’d just ripped from him and searched for her Mate. He was lying on his back, a demon perched over him, putting his weight behind the dagger poised at Justin’s throat. He held the beast off with a stiff arm, but it wouldn’t last long for how big that creature was.

  Darkness narrowed her vision, and all was black except for the demon’s hand holding the weapon that threatened to take her Mate’s life.

  In the deep recesses of her mind, she knew Theo was there to heal Justin, but if that dagger severed his neck, there was no coming back from that. Something inside her flipped, and she hopped to her feet.

  “Reverto ut Abyssus,” Theo yelled, and the demon holding the blade to Justin vanished in a poof of dust.

  Dyre kept on toward Justin, now shifting from anger and rage to worry. Justin wasn’t moving, but then he rolled onto his side and let out a breath. “Thanks, brother.” He reached for Theo’s outstretched hand and sat up. His gaze connected with Dyre’s, and he froze.

  “Her eyes!” Sadie said. “Look!”

  Justin’s face started fading. “No. Justin. Don’t go!” She reached out for him. “Justin.”

  “It’s happening.” Justin jumped to his feet and caught her in his arms. “Thank The Great One.”

  Darkness filled her vision. Pitch black. Strong arms encapsulated her in warmth. Protection. Safety.

  “Justin. Are you okay?”

  Soft lips brushed her forehead. “I’m fine. Just fine.”

  “I can’t…see.” She groped for his face, knowing it was close. “I love you. Don’t go.”

  “It’s okay, szép.” He kissed her eyes. “I’m here. I’m here.”

  As if lead filled her veins, her body went heavy, tugging her to the ground. Forcing her toward unconsciousness. Panic sent her into a fit of movement. No, she needed Justin. He was hers. She wanted to stay. Justin!

  “Thank you for giving her back to me, Dyre.”

  “Wait…I want…you.”

  “I’m yours,” he whispered. “And hers.”

  “Mine.”

  “Good-bye, Dyre” was the last thing she heard from Justin’s sweet voice.

  …

  Yvonne opened her eyes, hoping the softness beneath her wasn’t a dream. No, wait, she was in Hades, so it had to be a dream.

  She bolted up, her eyes snapping open. The room was dim; a window at the far end was open, letting in a heavy, salt-tinted breeze that toyed with the white curtains.

  No sulfur.

  She clutched her side, bracing for stinging pain where she’d been stabbed, but she was wearing a tank top and black leggings. Where was her leather?

  Hugging her stomach, she planted her bare feet on the carpeted floor. Justin.

  At least she hadn’t lost her Mark. She caressed her shoulder. Wait…it wasn’t raised anymore. She craned her neck to see. Black ink.

  But they’d kissed before she’d left to turn herself in, creating the bloodlink. She needed that link, needed that Mark if she was going to make it through whatever she was going to face. Had the demons found a way to remove her Ahavah?

  Justin.

  Images of walking through the woods with Sadie filtered through the haze. Sadie had apologized about her having to trade herself to save Theo. Vowed to save her.

  She wasn’t sorry for turning herself in. It was the right thing to do. The world needed Theo more than it needed a clueless former demon who couldn’t remember anything about her life prior to waking up on a bench.

  She stood, taking in her surroundings. A cherrywood dresser sat to the left of the door, then there was another door into a bathroom on the far wall. There was a hutch with a TV at the foot of the bed against another wall. She drew in a deep breath but didn’t hear anything. Was she here alone? Where the hell was “here,” anyway? Sure wasn’t Hades.

  Had the demons brought her topside? Maybe she could escape.

  She scurried to the phone beside the bed and picked up the receiver.

  “Operator. How may I help you?”

  The voice was female, pleasant.

  “Um. Where—what’s the address here?”

  “Do you need to have a parcel delivered here, Mrs. Bradford?” The woman on the other end of the line cleared her throat. “It’s 12345 Fifteenth Avenue, Wabash, Florida.”

  Mrs. Bradford? “Um. Yes. I— Thank you.” She slammed down the receiver.

  Oh, God. This was a torture technique. Vicious. Cruel. Bradford? That was Justin’s last name. Maybe she was dreaming, wishing she were his wife. His Mate.

  She cupped her shoulder. But her Mark was different. This wasn’t real. It had to be a nightmare.

  Heart hammering,
she spun, but just as she reached for the knob, the door burst open.

  She screamed and fell onto her butt. A zip of pain streaked up her spine, and she rolled over and hopped to her feet.

  Justin. Tall, beautiful, Justin. He was dressed in jeans, a white T-shirt, and black combat boots. Sexy as hell.

  And obviously an illusion.

  “Yvonne!” A smile filled his face. “Oh, Great One. You’re awake.” He reached for her, and she batted him away, scrambling toward the window. Would the demon deep down inside her allow her to jump from this high up and die? Or would she heal?

  She’d rather kill herself than face this torture. Not Justin. The demons had tapped into her greatest want, hadn’t they?

  “Stay away from me.”

  He stopped and expanded to his full height and took in a deep breath. “Szép?”

  Her heart cracked. The demon knew the nickname Justin had called her since they first met. Even when she herself didn’t see her beauty, he’d called her that. She saw only weakness, death, and then found out she was a demon and saw only that.

  But not Justin. At first he did, but then…that night she’d turned herself over to the demons, he’d wanted to make love to her. Wanted to take the final step to become Mates.

  Stupidly, she’d refused. Tears burned, but she bit them back. This demon would not see her break. Would not see her cry.

  “Yvonne. It’s me.” He inched forward.

  The demons even retrieved her memory of his beautiful, bright aura. He beamed, radiant, his pure soul pulsing beneath his skin.

  “Szép, let me touch you. You’re human again so I can be Marked.”

  Her heart stopped. He was already Marked. This demon didn’t know his stuff very well.

  Wait, there wasn’t any ink on his neck.

  Shit. Frantic to find a way out of this nightmare, she glanced around for something—anything to defend herself with. To the left was a fireplace. She rushed to the hearth and grabbed the poker from its stand.

  “Don’t touch me, demon.”

  “Just wait, szép.” He craned his neck. “Look. I lost my Ahavah when you turned yourself over to the demons. Stripped of our Mark.”

  She gulped. “Lies!”

  He shook his head. “No. Please. You were in Hades for over two months. Dyre surfaced. Your demon.”

  Dyre? That sounded vaguely familiar. She’d heard that word before. Why couldn’t she put things together? Remember?

  “Yes. Dyre. That’s your demonic name. Remember? We got you back, Yvonne. You’re back from Hades.”

  Holding up the crude weapon, she let her mind wander over the facts she could pick out from the muck clogging her memories. “I was stabbed in the side by that demon.”

  “Exactly. What else do you remember?” He continued to inch forward as if she were a wild animal. She actually felt like one.

  “I was in the forest. A trade for Theo.” She clutched her side. No pain. No nothing.

  “I won’t hurt you. Please let me touch you. I didn’t want to until you were awake, so Sadie cleaned you up. We’re in Florida. A band of demons came through to find you. I was attacked, you—er—Dyre went nuts trying to get to me. Then your green eyes flashed through her black ones.” He drew in a breath. “God. Your green eyes. I’ve craved seeing them for months. Remember how the marking works?”

  “First touch. Then kiss. Then…”

  “Making love. We almost made it to that one.” He let out a sexy half smile.

  “But the demons showed up. I…” Her shoulder pulsed; warmth spread down her arm and chest. “I couldn’t let you bind to a demon.”

  “You remember.” He let out a breath.

  “How’d you get me out of Hades?”

  “Dyre. Your demon helped. It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you everything, but please, let me touch you first. I need the Mark again. I’ve been lost without it.” His eyes filled with sadness. “Missed feeling you inside my mind and heart.”

  She gulped. Could this be real? “This is a demon trick. Torture.”

  “There’s not a demon in existence that could pull off imitating me.” He closed the distance between them and grabbed the wrist of the hand that held the weapon.

  It wasn’t a harsh grip, just firm. Warmth blasted through her and pooled in her belly. He grimaced.

  “Watch my neck.” He slid his free hand around her waist and drew her nearer. “I feel it coming.” His chest heaved. “I love you. Love you so much.”

  Just as he’d said in their bed before she left him.

  A single black line of ink crept up his neck. Another joined it, twining with it, forming the very design that was on her shoulder.

  The weapon she held dropped to the carpeted floor with a thud. “Justin,” she whispered.

  He was real, she was home, and she was human.

  There’d be no waiting this time.

  Chapter Forty

  Sea-green eyes stared up at Justin as the cloud of confusion lifted.

  Yvonne was back.

  At first, when she hadn’t remembered him and thought him a demon, he was worried something had gone wrong. She’d been asleep for hours, and that’d been torture. He’d wanted to clean her up, touch her, kiss her, but not while she was unconscious.

  “It’s really you,” she whispered. Her breath caressed his lips she stood so close.

  Her fingers grazed along his neck, sending his skin puckering. Flames erupted in his stomach, and his spine tightened.

  “First the touch. Then the kiss…” She licked her lip ring.

  His neck pulsed. Enough waiting. He claimed her mouth as he released his hold on her wrist and cupped her face. Rising to her tiptoes, she hungrily met him.

  He angled her head to explore deeper, and she opened, drawing him in. Her hands slid up inside his sleeves, and she grabbed hold of his shoulders. The warmth nearly undid him.

  His Mate was here with him. Dyre was gone, and Yvonne was back.

  “Off. Shirt off.” Yvonne nipped at his neck and stepped away.

  He slid off the material, and she followed suit. She stood before him in leggings and a white lace bra. Dark hair spilled over her shoulders and followed the curve of her full breasts. “Szép.”

  She shoved the dark leggings over her hips and grinned. His heart hammered so hard it stole his breath. At first, he worried how aggressive she was with him. It was so unlike her, but the glint in her eyes drew him back to the moment. She recognized him as her Mate. Wanted to join with him. Much like the night before she’d gone, but this time, there was no uncertainty. Nothing stood in their way.

  He unbuttoned his jeans and shucked them to the side. Her green eyes widened, and he couldn’t have been happier. No more demon black.

  She stepped toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, Justin. You’re mine.”

  She’d finally said the words, and his world tilted on its axis.

  He hoisted her up, and she wrapped her legs around his hips. The bed was too far, so he laid her on the couch before the fireplace. He’d wanted to set the mood, lighting a fire, laying her on the silk sheets of the hotel bed, but the flame in her eyes and her touch were too much.

  He needed her right now.

  His neck pulsed, reminding him that it had morphed due to their kissing. It beat in time with her now, and it was going crazy.

  She kept her ankles locked behind him as he held her tight. Her tongue went to work with his, relearning everything. Exploring. Tasting. Claiming.

  He moved in time with her, relishing her heat, her moans, and her enthusiasm.

  Wait. That was new. She was usually more reserved.

  Severing their connection, he looked down. Her lips were shiny, and her eyelids hung heavy over her sea-green gems.

  “What’s wrong?” She caressed his bare back.

  “Is this too fast? I don’t want to—”

  “I stopped you last time. I wouldn’t make love to you because I was leaving. I’m no
t making that mistake again, Mate.” She leaned up and sucked his bottom lip. “Kiss me.”

  Taking charge of the kiss, he dove into her, absorbing her lavender-laced scent. Not wanting a single thread of fabric separating them, he flicked her bra clasp, and it fell away. Finally.

  She skimmed her hand down his spine to his butt and squeezed. “Justin.”

  He pushed up and worked his way to her chest, kissing, nipping, caressing until he had her arching into his touch. Following the curve of her hip, he pushed off the panties, shed his, and then rolled on top of her. “Szép.”

  One gentle movement joined them. She gasped, and he stopped, letting their bodies adjust to each other. Energy coursed through him, warming his chest, and it took everything in him to stay still.

  His surroundings blurred until he saw only Yvonne. Her wide eyes, shiny lips, and rosy cheeks. He combed her hair back, getting lost in the sea of her eyes and the sensation of being inside her. Finally, they were Mated. His soul was complete.

  Coiling her leg around his, she allowed him deeper. She tensed, teasing him toward bliss. Toward heaven.

  Her hands grated up and down his back until they stayed on his butt. A gentle squeeze had him moving. Nothing in the world could have stopped him.

  His Mate. His life. His eternity.

  Tension rippled along his spine as her tight body edged him toward the cliff. He was more than ready to jump into bliss. Jump into mind-numbing euphoria with Yvonne.

  And earn his mated Mark.

  “I feel it,” she whispered, and tilted her head to the side. “I feel you.”

  Black ink crept over her shoulder, twining like a rope toward her neck. He brushed his lips along the developing Mark, and that’s when he felt his etching his skin. He welcomed the burn.

  And he picked up the pace.

  She met every movement he offered, joining with him. Possessing his soul.

  Tensing beneath him, she opened her mouth, and her head pressed into the couch cushions. Energy rippled around him.

  He half expected fangs to jet out and bury into his neck, but he was relieved when they didn’t. Instead, a sexy moan streamed with Yvonne’s release.

  And he chased right after her. Giving her every part of him. Not just his body, but his soul.