Descent: A Trenton Investigations Novella

by Felicia Beasley

  Before I could shove my blade through his back and into his heart, he turned around, attention back to me. He caught my wrist and squeezed.

  The bones in my wrist snapped, and Gladys fell from my fingers. I screamed.

  He smirked. “Stupid, half-breed.”

  All hope wasn’t lost yet. I had a powerful weapon up my sleeve, one he couldn’t see coming. I just had to build up the nerve to use it.

  He released my wrist at the same time I rubbed the dripping blood from my cheek into my left palm.

  Blood still flowed from the jagged cut on his neck. I lifted my left hand and pressed my palm against the gaping wound, mixing our blood.

  Instantly I felt like a juiced up lumberjack ready to take on a forest. His power flowed through me, engulfing me with foulness.

  I swallowed the bile in my throat and pulled harder at the connection between us.

  His eyes widened, and he struggled to breathe.

  “Abomination,” he choked out, falling to his knees as I drained him.

  The more of his power I consumed, the thicker the blood flowed from his wound.

  Nausea overpowered my senses as the wrongness of him slithered inside my body, threatening to take over.

  Rage like I’d never felt before burned deep.

  He had wanted to rape me, degrade me, use me but I was the one who got to penetrate.

  And I had no Charm to make this pleasant.

  I bent to pick up Gladys in my left hand. I still needed to finish this and soon. Before the connection between us killed him and filled me with his evil for the rest of my life.

  I could still feel the hatred from the last thing I’d used my power on, and there wasn’t enough room inside me for another permanent visitor.

  He trembled on the ground at my feet, his amber gaze full of contempt and little something extra.

  Fear.

  Inside I fed on that fear like he would have fed on my sex. I wanted him to beg. I wanted him to feel the pain, and the fear as all of his victims had.

  I gripped my blade’s hilt awkwardly. The bones in my wrist began to mend. If I kept draining him like a battery, it would heal completely. The cost of that, though, would be out of my price range.

  “Wait,” he whispered before I shoved my blade back into his throat and tore out the other side. “Do you have any idea who I am, girl?”

  “A slab of meat, asshole.” Gladys slid through his neck like a hot knife through butter, and I severed his head from his body.

  Someone clapped their hands behind me.

  I turned. Killian Blackstone smiled, need and hunger plainly on his face.

  “My turn.”

  Chapter 18

  I expected to be bombarded with lust as he came at me. The power I had sucked from Leab had abruptly faded as soon as the demon breathed his last breath. My wrist still screamed in pain, and I was bone weary.

  I didn’t have the fight in me to resist when he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into his body.

  He didn’t squeeze. Instead, he laughed in my hair, genuine joy in the deep timbre. “I can’t believe you did it.”

  I couldn’t believe the incubus was hugging me after I’d just made mincemeat out of his friend.

  He pulled away, an infectious grin on his handsome face. I tensed, expecting the blow that never came.

  He kissed my cheek, not like a lover would, more like a friend greeting another friend after a long sojourn.

  My body began to crave his touch, wanting more. I sidled against him, a purr in my throat as I rubbed against his body.

  He stiffened, and his eyes went wide. It wasn’t his Charm turning me into a slut.

  “Get away from her,” Flora said, her voice straining with barely contained anger.

  He took a step back from me and inclined his head in her direction. “Turn off the Charm, Flo. I’m not going to hurt her.”

  There was a familiarity and gentleness to his voice that said there was more between them than either had confessed.

  The urge to have naked fun with the incubus faded. Not completely, though. I guess I couldn’t entirely blame her Charm on my craving.

  Flora walked between us, keeping her body toward Killian, shielding me from him. “I don’t trust you.”

  “That hurts. I promised you that I’d help, and I have.”

  What the actual fuck? Now I was pissed at both of them.

  “You should never have gotten her involved.”

  Killian chuckled. “You’ve known her a day, and already you’re making a claim.”

  “She is mine. You will back off.” There was no submission in her voice now. I wasn’t sure who would win between them, but as the seconds passed, I was more and more sure that it would be her.

  Killian shook his head, dismissing her threat. “We both know that isn’t true, Flo. She belongs to no one.”

  “She is standing right here,” I said.

  Killian’s eyes raised to meet mine. “Of course, my apologies.”

  There he was. Apologizing again.

  “It’s time to go, Flo,” he said.

  It was my turn to defend her. “I don’t think so.”

  Flora turned to face me. “It’s all right, honey. This is the way it has to be.”

  “No, it isn’t. You don’t have to go back with him. I can take him.”

  She laughed. “Oh, sweetheart.”

  “If you go back with him, I’ve failed.”

  She kissed my cheek. “You’ve done more for me than you’ll ever know.”

  I watched her walk over to the waypoint unable to think of anything to say to stop her. More was going on here than I’d probably ever know.

  Killian didn’t follow her to the waypoint. Instead, he continued to study me, wordless and curious.

  “What’ll happen to her?” I asked.

  “That’ll be up to the new head prosecutor.”

  I raised my eyebrow. “New? What happened to the old one?”

  He gestured to Leab’s corpse. “That’s the old one.”

  The puzzle pieces of Killian fell into place.

  Son of a whore.

  “You used me.”

  He shrugged his shoulders, looking unabashed. “You have been compensated for it. I’m a demon of my word.”

  I was going to burn all that cash when I got home. It was tainted. I’d rather be evicted. “I don’t want anything from you.”

  He reached out, but I moved back before he could touch me. I’d need to tattoo the words hands off on my forehead when all this was said and done.

  “That’s not true.” His voice was melodic, entrancing. “Just ask, and I’ll give you whatever your heart desires.”

  Whatever? I doubted that he’d be able to bring back my brother. “Promise me she won’t be hurt.”

  He nodded. “I’ll do what I can.”

  That would have to be good enough. I hated it, but I couldn’t make Flora stay if she didn’t want to.

  “I expected you to ask for something else,” he said.

  “There is nothing else you can give me.”

  “You may be surprised at what I’m capable of.”

  I never wanted to find out.

  Chapter 19

  I returned to my office after watching Killian lead Flora through the waypoint.

  I went through the door, locked it and sank to the floor in the middle of the room. I couldn’t stop shaking, couldn’t get warm. I was frozen from the inside out.

  I had failed Flora. No matter what she had said, I knew I had fucked up.

  I had failed Wes. Even if he returned, decided to forgive me, it would never be the same between us.

  I had broken everything, and I had no idea how to fix it.

  I had no idea how long Killian had been watching the fight. I had hoped Flora had been too out of it to see what I’d done. Killian was the wild card.

  I had to believe that if he wanted to kill me, he would have. Perhaps he’d held back because of Flora, an
d I wasn’t safe yet.

  I stroked Gladys’ hilt, tears stinging my eyes. Damian had given me the blade after my first arguably successful case.

  I had been so proud. He’d finally accepted me as his protégé. I was no longer just the kid sister he had to protect. He trusted that I was now capable of having his back.

  At least I had thought that. A few days later he was gone. No note. No indication he was leaving.

  I didn’t know what would be worse. If he’d been taken or if he’d left of his own accord. Both ripped me apart.

  I clung to that last object that connected us, trying to find comfort in her glow. It eluded me.

  I stopped trying to hold back the tears.

  I was still sobbing when a key went into the lock, and the door opened. I wiped my face and breathed out several deep breaths.

  I wasn’t a child anymore. I needed to stop acting like one.

  Wes raced in, eyes frantic, breathing hard.

  “Oh thank the gods,” he said, rushing to my side.

  He picked me up, arms tight around my body. He buried his head in my hair and sounded like he was crying.

  That couldn’t be right. Wes never cried.

  “I should never have left. I’m so sorry.” His voice broke with his words. He was crying.

  I pulled back, gently trying to get him to release me. He wouldn’t.

  “I can’t breathe.”

  That got him to let go.

  “How did you know to come back?” I asked.

  “I had a bad feeling.” He stared down at me, his forehead creased in worry. “Don’t ever be that stupid again.”

  I shrugged. “I'm fine.” He didn’t need to know how close to not fine I really was.

  He shook his head and then looked around the room. “Did you see Flora? She is looking for you, too.”

  “Killian took her back to Sheol.”

  Wes let out a long sigh. It sounded like relief. “That’s for the best.”

  “You’re okay with that? I thought-”

  He interrupted. “What did you think?”

  “That you were leaving. With her.”

  He scoffed. “I was never going to leave.”

  “But you said-”

  “Really? You thought that was it? I was pissed, hell I’m still pissed. But you’re stuck with me. Til death do us part.”

  I rolled my eyes. “We aren’t married.”

  His eyes softened. “No. We’re more than that.”

  My chest tightened, and I found it hard to breathe. Wes would never need Charm to make me weak in the knees. I desperately wanted his words to mean something they didn’t.

  “What are we?” I managed to squeak out, already knowing the answer but hoping for a different one.

  He pulled me into another firm hug. “Family.”

  I closed my eyes, sinking into the smell of soap and sandalwood. Not a trace of brimstone.

  “Gods, you two are going to make me vomit.”

  I lifted my head and looked around the room. Fi appeared by the front door.

  Wes pushed me behind him.

  “It’s okay. She’s a…” I hesitated. I almost said friend. “Something.”

  Fi sighed. “In your debt.”

  “Why?” Wes sounded on the edge of violence. Not that he would be able to do anything against her. She could wipe the floor with both of us if she so wished.

  I hoped she was feeling particularly lazy today.

  “You kept your word.” She fingered the silver collar still around her neck. “I’ll keep mine.”

  I didn’t remember her giving me her word on anything.

  I gestured to the noose around her throat. “You still have that.”

  She nodded. “A reminder of the dangers of complacency.”

  “So you’re like a genie? I get three wishes or something?”

  “Something like that.”

  She could be more specific, but she hadn’t been very forthcoming so far, so I didn’t have high hopes of that changing.

  “Can I do something for you now?” She reminded me of a butler. Maybe I should rename her Alfred.

  “Can you find my brother?” She’d been able to locate Flora without an issue.

  She shook her head. “I need recent DNA to find anyone. I’m not psychic.”

  Well, that sucked balls.

  “Can you check on Flora every once in a while and let me know how’s she doing?”

  She cocked her head to the side like a confused dog. She seemed to do that often. “Why?”

  “Because I want to make sure she’s okay.”

  “Why? You can’t do anything if she isn’t.”

  How could I explain caring about someone to a fiend? “Knowledge is power.”

  “Empathy is weakness.”

  Someone had been listening in on my phone calls. “Did you spend the whole time spying on me?”

  “Try to be more thankful. You wouldn’t be alive if I didn't interfere.”

  She had a point. She had used her presence to knock me out of Charm more than once.

  “Then I’d say we are even.”

  “That isn’t your call, Alexis. I am yours to command until my debt to you is paid.”

  “So I can ask for anything?”

  “Within reason. I’m not your slave.” She sighed. “I assume you know how to summon me if you’re in need?”

  “Not really.”

  “Then go to a library and figure it out.”

  With that, she disappeared.

  “That’s going to be trouble,” Wes muttered.

  Story of my life.

  Chapter 20

  A week passed.

  I had skipped going to my dad’s for dinner. No use flaunting myself in Sheol. I was sure I’d get an earful from dad later, provided I was still breathing.

  Wes had convinced me to stay at his apartment until things blew over. I was going stir crazy. Wes came and went as he wanted, and usually, it was went. I don’t think he was too happy with me at the moment. All I wanted was to get out of this apartment and get some Chipotle.

  Two sharp raps on the door startled me. I went to the door and peeked out the eye hole to see who was visiting my dear old friend. Probably another woman. Two had already stopped by as a surprise in the last few days. They sure were surprised when I opened the door.

  Wes was such a dog.

  Unfortunately for me, it was no blonde bombshell outside.

  Killian stood, poised and proper, looking directly at the eye hole, almost as if he knew I was watching him. I held my breath.

  “Come on, Miss Trenton. I know you’re in there.” He grinned. “I can smell you.”

  Creepy.

  His eyes began to glow. Tendrils of desire pulsed through my body.

  Bastard.

  “We can do this the easy way or the hard. Either way, I’m going to enjoy myself.”

  My stomach roiled. I unsheathed Gladys but made no move to open the door. Killian would be no pushover, and he’d be extra careful knowing what I did to Leab.

  “I don’t think your partner would be too pleased if I broke down his door. He’d never get his security deposit back.”

  He had a point. I had nowhere to run. “Fine. Just promise not to get any blood stains on the carpet.”

  My grip on Gladys’ hilt turned my knuckles white. I unlocked the door and then quickly hopped backward, giving enough room to attack.

  Killian entered and paid no attention to me in my fighting stance. I hesitated, unsure. He walked around me and then settled into the plush cushions of Wes’ couch. Only then did he raise his pale green eyes toward me.

  “You can put your toy away, Miss Trenton. I have no intention of harming you.”

  I cocked my head to the side and made no move to sheath my weapon. “What do you want then?”

  “To pay you.”

  My shoulders relaxed. I should have been terrified. He had orchestrated the destruction of one of Lilith’s top generals. I was a loo
se end. Tying up those ends would be smart.

  And yet his presence calmed me. The tension I’d been holding on to ever since that fight with Wes melted.

  “I told you not to bother.” I didn’t want him to know that I had wanted to see him again. Didn’t need to give him that power over me.

  “A Blackstone always pays his debts.” He smiled like we shared some inside joke.

  “Okay, Tywin,” I muttered.

  His grin widened as if he caught the reference. My esteem for him rose. At least he had good taste.

  “What happened to Flora?”

  “She’s in my care, now.”

  My chest tightened as images of Killian feeding on the knockout siren. “As your slave.”

  “Technically.” He rested his ankle on his knee. A poster child of arrogant power. I didn’t want to admit it suited him.

  “And when you’re hungry, you won’t even have to leave the house for dinner.” I didn’t keep the disgust out of my voice.

  He frowned. “I think you misunderstand, Miss Trenton. I have no desire for Flo. She’ll be well treated because, like I said, I always pay my debts.”

  “She’s a siren. Isn’t that like catnip to your kind?”

  “Flo isn’t what I want.” He smiled wistfully.

  I swallowed. The room suddenly got hotter, and I was too aware of his presence.

  “Why hire me?”

  “I knew you couldn’t resist righting the wrong.”

  I snorted.

  “I may have been a stranger to you when I walked into your office. But you weren’t to me.”

  A thrill went up my spine. Killian was a lot of things. Intense, arrogant, hot as hell. He didn’t need Charm to soak my panties. “So you’ve been stalking me.”

  “Doing my research.”

  “And what has your research told you?”

  He smiled, a softness to his features that seemed genuine. “You’re exactly what I’m looking for.”

  That was flattering if a bit alarming as well.

  “What does that mean?”

  He didn’t answer. Knowing what he was, I guessed he meant something sexual, but the look on his face contradicted that. There was a need, but not for flesh. For something else. Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.