by Lori King
The blonde woman stood with the moon behind her, unfazed by Creed’s words. “I don’t believe I am all that skeered. Now, why don’t you both play nice and follow me? Besides, I’m too tired to play fetch right now.”
The scruff of the wolf in his palm turned into smooth skin as she shifted back. He didn’t take his eyes off of the threat in front of him, realizing he was facing a female who may or may not be dangerous. “Listen, female, it would be in your best interest to turn around and walk away.”
“She smells like my brothers,” she whispered from behind.
Creed turned to see his woman dressed in the same clothing she had on, looking paler than before. He caught her as she fainted.
Looking at the unblinking brown eyes of the sprite before him, then at the woman in his arms, he shook his head. “How is this so? Do I need to kill somebody?” Creed’s mind reeled at the news.
The woman waved her hand. “You can try it, demon boy.”
“I got your boy right here.” Creed shifted his burden in one arm so he could grab his dick, emphasizing exactly what he meant. Mature? No, but he felt better. He called that a win.
“Do you kiss your mama with that mouth?” Blonde hair spilled to the side. “I should probably warn you that I’m keeping notes for all your infractions. That would probably be of some help for you to know. Now, let’s start again.”
“What is your name?” No way was he admitting he didn’t know his own Chosen’s name to this woman.
“My name is Jennaveve Grey, I am Fey, and you are in my realm. My friends call me Jenna, but for now, you may call me Jennaveve, while the little wolf may call me Jenna when she wakes. What are your names?”
“I am Creed.” He thought it wise to answer since he didn’t have a clue how to leave the realm he was in. His Chosen stared up at him, a small smile on her face.
“My name is Alecia Raina, but my friends call me Raina.”
His body throbbed at the husky way she said her name. He let it flow through him, picturing it tattooed on his body.
Jenna snapped her fingers. “Hello, you still with me? Well, it looks like we have some things to discuss. Would you like to follow me to my home, or were you two just out for a lovely stroll through my property for shits and giggles?”
Looking up to the sky, he sighed. What the ever loving fuck? He asked his mother for a little help out of Hell, and she tosses him into this being’s backyard. “Thanks, Mom.”
“You talk to yourself often?” Dark brown eyes laughed at him from the Fey.
Creed had to fight the urge to toss a bolt through her chest. “Lead the way.” He indicated the other woman should go first with a tilt of his chin.
Creed carried Raina for what seemed only minutes and then he was inside a large open area filled with books and a sitting area. When he’d said they weren’t in Kansas, he’d truly had no idea where they were. Having dealt with the lowest of the low, instinctively he knew they could trust the Fey woman. The only question he had was where were they? And how the hell had they gotten there? Hell had many levels, which he’d traversed frequently. Being the son of Satan did have some privileges. The fact that he was thousands of years old meant there weren’t many things that shocked him, but being tossed into a realm filled with so much goodness was seriously fucking with his mind. Not that he was all bad. Creed had walked a fine line, leaning more on the side of good, only doing bad if you considered the ones he punished were the truly vile and evil. The lowest of the low.
Worry for Raina’s well-being ate at him. She was too pale, and he didn’t know if she could get the nourishment she needed in the realm they were in. His own blood was mixed with both his mother and father. The good and the worst. Not knowing how it would affect her, he didn’t want to risk her safety. Once they got to his home, he’d get one of his employees on the task of procuring her a donor for feedings. Female, of course.
“Your mind blocks are very good, Demon.” The feminine voice came from next to him.
“Years of practice. You don’t want just anyone wandering around in your head.” The fact he’d been lost in his own musings and didn’t realize she was so close was a testament to his lack of control.
Jenna nodded. “How old do you think I am?”
For the first time, he looked at the being who’d changed into a purple maxi dress and sat across from him and Raina in a large pink chair like a queen, without an ounce of fear. At over six feet three or four he intimidated most everyone he met, especially with the amount of muscle he carried. He knew he was a very impressive sight, for sure. Jenna, on the other hand, didn’t look a day older than mid-twenties, and maybe a hundred and twenty pounds. At the outburst of giggles from the sprite, he narrowed his eyes. “You reading my mind again, Fey?”
“Truly, I look that young? That’s totally awesome, but I am a few thou older than that, I’m afraid. Like probably much older than you, I assure you.” She wiped at her eyes.
“I don’t want to play the ‘I’m older than you game,’ but I’m up in the four number mark myself.”
Jenna stopped and looked at Creed. “You’re almost four hundred years old?”
Creed shook his head. “No. I’m over a thousand.” He screwed his face up in a grimace. “Heck, I think I might be a couple, but honestly, I stopped counting. It upsets my mother.”
She held her hand up. “Your name is Creed, which means faith. Who are your mother and father?”
Knowledge was power in their worlds. Black eyes flashed red and then back to black. “My father is the keeper of Hell, or the Devil himself. He has many names: Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Dickhead. I could go on, but it could take a while. My mother is an angel who he seduced. She had me and shortly after I was born, gave me to him to raise.” He gave a negligent shrug.” I guess because I didn’t quite look like a cherub, and wouldn’t have been allowed to stay with her. They have shared custody, if you will.”
There was more to it, but Creed wasn’t willing to go into the details of his twisted family. He let his eyes flash to red, knowing his skin would follow. The fact they’d landed in this being’s realm must have a reason, and they were visitors. He would not be killing the woman on her home turf. Yet.
“Your father sounds like a lovely…oh, for fucksake, your father is an asshole. You know it, we all know it. However, he has his place. It’s just not here.” Jenna waved her hand around.
An undefinable expression flashed across her face. One that set off alarms in Creed’s mind. He hadn’t stayed alive as long as he had in Hell without listening to those warnings. He stood with Raina in his arms.
“Creed, you need to calm down.” Raina spoke for the first time.
He glanced down, seeing his red skin against her paler one. “I’m sorry, Eros.”
She smiled up at him even though he worried his other form would repulse her. No look of disgust or scent of fear came from her.
Raina rolled her eyes. “Silly man.”
“You reading my mind?” He didn’t feel her presence inside him.
“No, but your face is very expressive.” Her hand traced his brow, soothing the beast within, then her eyes shut again.
“Come. I have had dinner prepared for you both.” Jenna glided forward, leaving them with nothing to do but follow. The comfortable room disappeared, and a large estate that looked like a modern-day castle appeared.
“You have a thing for kingdoms or what?” The sweet invitation grated on his nerves, making him want to lash out. He only wanted to take his Chosen home where he could ensure her safety; instead, he was in some fairy land with a being he didn’t completely trust.
“Be at ease, Demon. If I wanted to kill either of you, I would have already. Your mate needs blood, and I have no wish to see either of you harmed. I am still not sure how you came to my lands, but in the waiting area, you were approved for entrance. Otherwise, you both would have been sent back to where you came from.”
He reeled from her words. “Meaning we’d bot
h have gone back to Hell? How secure is this place and exactly where are we?” Creed wanted answers, and his tone brooked no argument.
Jenna reached out and touched his arm. “Meaning you’d have gone back to your home, and she’d have gone to hers. I do no harm, unless provoked. Do not provoke me, Creed, Son of Satan.” In that moment, he came to understand the façade the woman showed wasn’t truly who she was. The laughing, joking woman hid a core of steel. They definitely had some things to work out, and it wasn’t going to be easy. He wasn’t used to taking orders, except from Satan, and that was only when he had to. Although Jenna may be older, and this was her home, Creed wasn’t a boy, and he had a mate to protect.
He needed to make sure the home was secure. His own fortress was safe from his father and all his beings, but this place wasn’t his.
The feel of wards blanketing the perimeter hit him the closer they got to the structure.
Without a doubt, there were several things Creed knew for a fact. One of them was that his father was going to want to kill him, the other…he would kill for his mate. Not that he blamed the other man. Hell, his father wanted to kill him on a daily basis, as did most who met him. If they had the power to do so, they’d try, but most lacked the skill or balls. However, this time, Satan had a real reason. Creed had never truly done anything to warrant his father’s wrath. Not like he’d done this day, taking his consort.
“Your wards will keep out most, but will they keep out my father and his demons?” The hairs on the back of his neck rose, a clear indication they were being watched. “You should tell your people to stand down. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
Tilting her head to the side, Jenna seemed to be mulling over his words, then nodded. “Follow me.”
He kept his laugh contained. “Absolutely. This is your home, after all.”
Jenna raised her middle finger, but didn’t look back, making him laugh. Maybe they’d get along after all.
Raina stirred, her gorgeous dark eyes blinking open. “Where are we?”
He looked around the grand entryway, and had to admit it was pretty opulent. From the huge entrance with the white marble floor, to the double staircase on each side. He could imagine Christmas with garlands and lights draped around the banisters, and a huge tree right in the middle. Why the hell he was getting all sentimental he had no clue, but immediately put the brakes on that train of thought. His home was just as magnificent although it was a bit darker. Halloween in human terms looked more appropriate in his home.
“Welcome to my home, Alecia Raina.” Creed heard Jenna say, but didn’t acknowledge her words, waiting for Raina to say something. Anything. Finally, after minutes, she blinked up at him, then looked at Jenna. Creed held his breath, unsure what he’d do if she demanded they take her to the home she’d lived in with her parents.
“You can put me down now.” Her whispered words held more strength than before, but through the thin material he still felt the small shiver she tried to hide.
“You need nourishment, Mon Eros.” His casual use of the word love made Raina blush, but that was exactly what she was to him. He could feel it in his very being. Already his heart was trying to reach out to hers. For hundreds of years, he’d thought to die without ever knowing love, of ever finding the being meant for him. If his in-laws were hybrids, he’d figure out how to make it work…or else. The yawning years without her didn’t appeal. Living in his father’s world, knowing she was out there would be a death sentence to him. No. Creed would move any obstacle in order to make Raina love him.
“I’ve never needed blood the way full-bloods do.” Raina looked at Jenna then the floor, her tone belied the fact she felt ashamed to admit the truth of her statement.
Creed allowed her legs to drop, keeping her face at eye level to his. “Do not feel guilty for a natural need, Eros. We all have certain things we need, yet I won’t apologize for mine and neither should you. Everything about you is special and beautiful.” He kept his eyes locked with Raina’s.
She sucked in a deep breath, making her breasts brush against his chest. “When I have need, my father usually has a supply brought in. It’s all very civilized.”
He kept his thoughts to himself, but wished he could shake her father. Civilized and him had never been said in the same sentence. Well, unless you said he had just destroyed a civilization, but that was just semantics. “I can help you with the feeding, make you think it is like it was at your father’s home, if you will allow me to,” Creed offered.
“Hold up. We don’t know how she’d react to your blood. I will provide proper nutrition here, and then we will see if you two are compatible.” Jenna glanced between them.
Keeping his calm, Creed stared over Raina’s shoulder. “I am aware of this. I’m also aware of the effects I have on vampires. This is not my first rodeo, Fey.”
“Hey, be nice. She’s just looking out for us.” The heat that licked up his insides had nothing to do with the little fist she’d punched him with. Damn, he could just imagine her sucking him, and it wasn’t his blood she was after.
Blue eyes that flashed to red squinted up at him. “You are thinking dirty thoughts, aren’t you?”
He tried to look innocent. “What makes you think that?”
Raina glanced down between them, then back up. “I’m pretty sure if I could see below our waists, I’d be seeing you sporting a hard-on. As it is, I’d wager my Mercedes on the fact you were totally picturing me sucking you, and not your neck.”
Unable to stop himself, he laughed and hugged her tighter, letting her feel exactly how she affected him. Bringing her closer, even though he knew the other woman would hear anyway, he whispered in her ear, “You would win that bet.” Creed then licked the shell and nibbled on her lobe. The full body shiver it elicited made him groan, as he could scent her arousal spike the very air.
“Hello, you are in the presence of others. Haven’t you heard the saying about no PDA?” Jenna rolled her eyes.
Creed sighed and allowed her to stand on her own. “Stay beside me. If you feel threatened at all, call out to me.” He touched his temple.
Her smile lit up his world. “I think I can handle myself, but thank you.”
“Nothing will happen to her in my home. Geez, didn’t I just say I saved you from like death or something? I mean, I am like all-powerful and stuff.” Jenna threw her hands in the air and began walking away.
He really didn’t want to argue with the woman. Especially since they really did seem to owe her and he had no clue how to get to Earth. And the truth was, he had no clue if his father’s minions could show up at any time. The last thought had him checking the wards protecting the Fey. He worried they would be like child’s play, if the scourge of the underworld came calling with his father backing them. He hoped to create enough of a warning system they’d be able to escape if the worst did happen; although the Fey believed her realm was untouchable, in his experience, nothing was out of Satan’s reach. Now that he found his Chosen, he would never put her at risk. The first sign of trouble, and he’d move Heaven and Earth to protect Raina.
Without moving a muscle, and from hundreds of years of knowledge, the extra wards needed to keep out even the Devil himself were in place without him having to think about it. He hoped.
Jenna sucked in a breath. “What did you do?”
“I have ensured all our safety. Even your friends. Now, we can all rest easily.” He shrugged.
3
Raina gripped Creed’s hand. “Is that necessary?”
“What if one of my people tries to visit? Or someone tries to leave? Will they be killed on the spot?” Anger darkened Jenna’s features.
Creed rolled his eyes. “You’re being overly dramatic. I am not a young pup. My wards are like living, thinking extensions of me. When anyone gets too close, the wards reach out to me. If I’m busy, then they make the decision to allow entry or not depending on the being.”
“Jenna, if you don’t want them up, then h
e will take them down.” Raina jerked away from Creed, exasperation stamped on her beautiful features.
He could look at her face for an eternity and never tire. Porcelain skin with jet black hair that he’d swear had blue highlights under the overhead lighting. Her eyes reminded him of the bluest skies, drawing him in with promises of pleasure, but her air of innocence kept him in check. Instinctually he believed she wasn’t as worldly as he. How would she feel about mating a demon? He’d sampled just about every creature known to man. Hell, he was thousands of years old. He looked at the tiny being the Fates had decided was his. Although he’d dallied in many sexual escapades, never had he found himself attracted to another man, and had never thought his mate would be a hybrid vampire/wolf shifter.
“Your wards may stay up. I have modified them for my people.”
A quick check and he realized a pulsing vein of pure white light flowed throughout his wards.
Creed inclined his head. “Lead the way, my Lady. I do believe my Eros here is in need of some refreshment. I, too, could use a glass of your best hard liquor. Please tell me you have whiskey?”
“Of course. You should meet Kellen Stiles. I think that wolf has whiskey running through his veins.” Jenna took the opportunity to reach for Raina’s free hand, drawing her away from Creed for the first time. “You are scared?”
Her pulse jumped at Jenna’s words, visible in the vein on the slim column of her throat. The clawing to have her back at his side eased at her words.
“Wouldn’t you be?” she asked, but didn’t try to pull away.
Honestly, Creed would have been pissed if he’d been jerked from his home. But he kept that to himself. He followed, staying alert for signs of danger.
