Heart's Inferno (Fallen Guardians 4)

by Georgia Lyn Hunter

  “Nicor!” Riley growled. “Go find my sire.”

  Great. Fake-claimed by a gay demon. But knowing that Nicor had no interest in her except for her safety eased her a little. Kira rubbed her mouth again and followed Riley up the many stairs.

  On the top floor, Riley headed down the corridor, opened the door into a small hallway, and stepped into a spacious chamber. The walls lit up like stars from hundreds of recessed orbs. In this dark and dismal place, it looked like an oasis of tranquility.

  Lights cast a soft glow over the charcoal-gray stone walls and vaulted ceiling. Pale-gray granite floors ran the length of the living room. Several tall, arched windows broke up the overwhelming flow of the stone walls. To her left on the far side, an open door revealed a bedroom.

  This place, tranquil? It was all a damn lie.

  She wheeled back to Riley. “I want the truth. No more subterfuge or half-truths. If you do, I will climb out that window, and if I fall, you can explain to your father why I got hurt.”

  Riley’s lips twitched as he wandered around the room, passing the cream leather-like couches. “Don’t do that to make him pay, Kira. Beyond this citadel are just barren lands where the malcontents roam. They are vicious and dangerous.” A tic worked his jaw as if he remembered something bad. “I promise you, once you get the meeting with our sire over with and let him celebrate this birthday with you, I’ll take you back to the human world myself.”

  “You don’t understand, my grandmother’s old. If she finds out what happened, she could have a heart attack—wait! Does she know any of this? Who my father is?”

  “No…” Riley’s brow creased as he stopped at the window. “I don’t think so. Like I said, I only found out about you a year ago. I didn’t say anything the first time we met because I wanted you to have a normal life before everything changed forever.”

  Kira sagged onto the arm of the couch and rubbed her burning eyes. “How did this happen? With me living in the human world?”

  “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask him.”

  She looked to where he leaned against the low windowsill, eyeing him thoughtfully. “Did your mate calmly accept all this? Did she even come here to Stygia or know that it exists?”

  “She does…” A hint of a smile. “Saia and I, our relationship was tenuous and totally impossible at first. My fault, I guess. I wanted her safe, so I kept her at arm’s-length. Then she was abducted by a demon and brought to this world—”

  “Like me?”

  “Not exactly. Our sire wants you here. That fucker used Saia to get revenge on me and took her to the barren lands. The malcontents who roam the place would have sold her to be kept as a trophy or worse as a sex slave had I not come after her. Humans are hunted here. It’s why leaving this fortress is a very bad idea.”

  Okay, definitely not stepping out there. “Why did he want revenge?”

  “Long story. Let’s just say he worked for someone who hated my guts and what I was.” His jaw hardened. “Don’t worry, he’s dead now.”

  Riley’s tone was so cold, but it was good to know that. “And, Saia? Was she okay being here?” Kira asked, curious now.

  “Not at first. But none would dare touch her now. My mate is good at handling the demons here.”

  Meaning, she wasn’t so brave? Just because she didn’t like fighting and killing, didn’t mean she couldn’t.

  “So, is this father of mine…I mean ours”—she paused, grinding her teeth at the truth—“is he a big deal or something? I mean, he lives in a castle.”

  “Actually, it’s a fortress…” Riley angled his head, his brow creasing as if he were listening to something. “I’ll be back.”

  He walked out, stopping to talk to the two guards at the door who’d magically appeared.

  Kira jumped up, undid her apron, pulled off her sweater, and tossed them on the couch. She rubbed her sticky arms, stomped across to the window, and rested her palms on the windowsill. A warm, slightly sulfuric breeze brushed her face. Wonderful.

  As much as she didn’t want to think about the part that weighed like lead on her heart, her thoughts slipped back to Týr. The fury on his face as he flashed to her had pain constricting her chest like a lasso. Thank God, he hadn’t jumped through the portal. If he had, then he would have learned the truth, and would already be hating her.

  Once she got back home, she’d have to see him, and hope—no, she prayed—he’d still want her, despite what she was. But the thought was a hollow one when she remembered his absolute hatred of demons.

  Her chest heavy, Kira scowled at the reddish shrubs and their darker-colored flowers in the private courtyard, wanting so badly to see blue skies and the tranquil green bushes of Earth.

  A pulse of power shot through her like an electric buzz. Kira stumbled back. What the heck? She stared at her prickling, red palms.

  A knock on the door distracted her. She hastily hid her hands behind her back, fighting to tamp down the buzzing.

  “Kira?” Riley called out, and she relaxed a little. He opened the door and stepped inside. “Come. Our sire awaits you.”

  Chapter 16

  Flames roared and crackled, lighting the distant hills. The houses dotting the craggy, dull gray landscape flared like torches. In this constantly overcast place in the Dark Realm, the sweltering temperatures reminded Týr of a furnace. Like the cold, the heat didn’t bother him. However, dressed in all black, he and Dagan probably resembled those assholes in the distance, shoving a line of prisoners—mostly females—along with them.

  Sheol, the supposed protected domain for the docile Otium demons was anything but safe. Pain and fear thickened the air, wrapping around Týr like razor wire.

  “I doubt they would bring her to a place like this,” Dagan said at his side.

  Every time Týr opened a portal, he always ended up in the wrong parts of this damn realm, first at the blood demons’ territory of Eurymos’ Run, then two more obscure places, and now here.

  An hour in this place and he’d have lost almost an entire night in the human world. And four days since Kira had been abducted because time moved so fucking slowly here.

  Týr’s fingers balled, his powers roiling beneath his skin, wanting to escape him—to burn this hellhole to the ground. Teeth gritted, he turned away. A figure came barreling into him. With a flash of his hand, Týr grabbed the male by his collar, his katana palmed and raised for a kill.

  The watery, red-tinged eyes of a pre-teen demon boy shut in hopelessness as if knowing his fate was sealed.

  And that pissed Týr off. His patience as short as his temper, he snapped, “You should try the human realm, it’s safer than this shithole.”

  The boy’s eyes snapped open, surprise widening them. He twisted free and scampered off.

  “Let’s go.” Dagan waved his hand, and the murky air split apart, revealing a portal. They leaped through the shimmering gateway and ended up back in the biting cold air of New York.

  Týr just stood there, anger, frustration, and helplessness garroting him. Why the hell couldn’t the Fates give him a fucking break for once.

  As he glanced around the cold, dingy backstreet, a familiar mental knock swept through Týr’s head. Get over here, Aethan telepathed. Found the bastards and several kids!

  Týr dematerialized, tracking Aethan to the warehouse in New Jersey near the bay. He kicked free the rusty door hanging on its hinges. The thing flew back, clattering to the dirty floor, raising a layer of dust. Aethan crouched near several children with tear-stained faces huddled on the dirt-covered floor.

  A lingering trace of candy and spice snagged Týr’s attention. Tomas.

  He tore down the stairs into the basement. Nik turned from examining a huge, empty cage, his expression hard. Týr skated to a halt next to another vacant cage where the scent was strongest. “Where’s the kid from this one?”

  Nik shook his head. “Gone. Got here minutes too late, but we have one of the fuckers. Not locals. They’re hired muscle str
aight from the Dark Realm.”

  Dammit! Týr stomped past Nik, frustration strangling him. Near the cages and concealed in the gloom, a demon sagged, frozen to the wall with ice manacles, the stench of sulfur reeking off him thick enough to burn layers off the inside of Týr’s nose. On the floor was a pile of disintegrated demon dust.

  Týr waved his hand, melting the ice off the demon’s mouth. He yanked the scum by his hair. “Where are the children?”

  “You assholes are too late.” The scourge laughed, his eyes bleeding red, his skin mottling to a leathery black. “They’re gone to where they’ll be of better use. There is nothing you can do.”

  Fury barely leashed from his empty search in Sheol, Týr summoned his Gaian sword and swung the blade in a deadly arc, beheading the waste of space. Dismissing his weapon, he jogged up to the ground floor. Nik followed.

  Aethan turned, pushing his cell back into his pocket, his expression grim. “Tagg’s on his way. He’ll handle this and the law. Hell…” He glanced at the children sitting near the wall, watching them with curious stares now. Obviously, he’d already scrubbed their memories of this horror. “Some of these kids don’t look like they’re from the streets. Let’s get going. It’s close to daybreak.”

  The moment the cop-slash-bouncer entered the building, Týr’s stomach heaved, recalling Kira with him. Tagg nodded. Týr walked out.

  Back at the castle, he stood at the open French doors, staring outside into the dark, his mind splintering. Snatches of the warriors’ conversation with the Arc about the children found drifted to him. “Anything?” Michael then asked someone.

  “No,” Dagan answered. “Been in Sheol. Nothing there but burning villages.”

  Týr barely heard them, Kira’s scream ricocheting inside his skull again as the demon hauled her through the portal.

  Heavens, he shut his eyes. It had been days. He had to find her. It was killing him wondering what she must be going through. To keep from pounding the granite wall and destroying their home, Týr stepped out onto the freezing terrace and dematerialized.

  Kira walked along the third-floor corridor, trying hard to ignore the curious stares of the demons who eyed her inquisitively but also gave them a wide berth.

  Riley smiled encouragingly at her. At least he didn’t say it would be okay again.

  “Those demons look…scared,” she murmured.

  He cut them a cursory glance. “They are. They recall the last time one of them dared to claim my mate.”

  Oh, right. Kira remembered what the demon in the courtyard had said about the death fight. As they neared the huge black door at the end of the corridor, she inhaled another shaky breath. She was about to meet her father—the demon. Oh, God. Her stomach twisted in pure panic.

  Riley pushed open the door into a vast, study-slash-library room and waited for her to enter. The slightly musty smell of ancient tomes, aged leather, along with a hint of sulfur teased her nose. Old book crammed the floor-to-ceiling shelves on the opposite wall, and adjacent to it stood a long table covered with several opened scrolls.

  Kira stumbled to a halt as a tall man…er, demon, with aristocratic features and a military-type bearing looked up from reading a parchment.

  He was good-looking but in a cold, deadly sort of way. Magnetic, neon-green eyes swept over her in an assessing manner before trapping her gaze. A shudder swept through her.

  As if sensing her nervousness, Riley put a hand on her back and escorted her to a black couch near a shelf thick with scrolls and parchments. But she didn’t sit, too aware of him watching her.

  “I quite admire your handiwork with Nicor.” His voice was deep, compelling.

  No matter the rope of dread coiling around her like a boa, the words refused to stay back. “He deserved it.”

  The demon dropped the scroll on the table and chuckled. The icy hew of his lean, tan face reformed into one of incredible handsomeness.

  Riley leaned against the table adjacent to her. “Kira? This is our sire, Wrath.”

  “So. It appears that you’d rather be thought of as dead than meet me?”

  His calm tone crushed her fear as old hurt resurfaced. “You ignored me all my life, and then suddenly decide you want me back? Why now?”

  “The mortal realm was the safest place for you as your brother will attest, even if he didn’t approve of my methods. But I had my reasons.” Wrath’s boots barely made a sound as he strolled closer, stopping a few feet from her. His expression didn’t soften an inch. Man, he was such a cold fish.

  “I wanted you here before whatever abilities you’ve inherited start to unravel on your twenty-fifth year of birth and they draw my enemies’ notice. However, I find it odd that it’s already begun since I bound your identity to keep you safe…” He folded his arms over his black, linen-clad chest and surveyed her thoughtfully, the soft lights on the walls highlighting the various shades of gold interwoven into his bronze hair. “Unless, of course, you’ve crossed paths or already met your true mate.”

  Her heart bumped hard in her chest. Týr?

  Happiness surged and then died just as fast.

  Kira bit her lip. How could she tell her newly found parent just how much Týr hated his species, one that was hers now, too? Then what he said had her breath cementing in her throat. Recently? “You mean Nicor?”

  Cool, neon-green eyes held hers. “Unless it’s an anomaly. In my experience, finding one’s true mate is what negates a binding. And yours is unraveling.”

  “No.” She started shaking her head at the implication, her stomach roiling. “I’m not mating him. I won’t!” Nausea rushed up her throat. She slapped a hand to her mouth and stumbled. Riley grabbed her arm and hurried her out of the room to a bathroom. She fell to her knees and vomited the water she’d had earlier into the toilet. Tears leaking down her face, Kira sat there, eyes shut. She worried about Týr finding his destined mate, but she’d never thought that she would be the one to actually fall into that trap.

  Water gushed. Riley hunkered down before her, holding out a glass. “Here.”

  She took the crystal with a shaky hand and gulped some liquid. Her vision blurry, she looked up at her brother. “I can’t be Nicor’s mate—”

  “You don’t have to mate him. Just don’t engage his attention in any way,” he said, his expression gentle with understanding. “It will only cause the bond to grow if he is your true mate, regardless of what stands in your way. And, remember, Kira, in this world, things work differently when it comes to males claiming their consorts. Don’t accept anyone’s invitation to dine in the great hall during evening meals. If you do, it’ll be a proclamation that you are their intended, and a decree you’ll have to abide by. Demon laws are harsh. Wrath or I will accompany you to any meals. Or you can take your repast in your chambers.”

  His voice softened. “This will be over soon.”

  Over? When it had barely begun? She set the glass on the floor beside her. “Will Nicor know what I am to him?”

  He frowned. “Not until your concealment binding has unraveled completely. If Nicor is indeed the one, then, yes.”

  Okay-okay. Staying far away from that cretin.

  “C’mon.” Riley helped her off the floor. “Let me take you back to your chambers.”

  Kira wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt and followed Riley into the study. Wrath looked up from reading another document, those neon-green eyes glowing as if he saw into her soul. “Rest, daughter. I’ll see you later.”

  With only thoughts to escape from there, she gave him a quick nod and hurried out with Riley.

  Back in her chambers, she paced the living room, too rattled to be still. A goddamn true mate. A few hours ago, she’d been tormenting herself about Tomas running off, about Týr meeting his destined in her lifetime. Now, she was trapped in another realm, with a possible mate she didn’t want. Before she started hyperventilating again, she pivoted to Riley, but he was instructing a guard who’d entered to set a food tray on the coffee table
in the living room. She rubbed her achy temples.

  “Why don’t you eat something and then rest?” Riley suggested. She looked up to find that they were alone. “You’ll probably feel better after. Before I forget, there’s a dagger in your nightstand. If it makes you feel any safer. Doubtful you’ll need it with the guards about, but my mate likes having a weapon close at hand…” A faint smile ghosted his lips. “I’ll see you in the morning and escort you to breakfast. If you need me, send one of the guards.”

  “Wait.” Kira stopped him before he could leave. “My mother? Do you know anything about her?”

  Riley frowned. “No. Like you, I didn’t know mine either, except she was a demoness. And your mother was human. I suppose Wrath will tell you more. But don’t hold your breath. He’s not a fount of information regarding anything. At least not things he reveals.”

  She plucked at the beaded bracelet on her wrist. “There’s something else I wanted to ask… You live on Earth most times, right?”

  “Yes, in New Orleans. Why?”

  “Did you hear anything about a sect of demons abducting human children and bringing them into this world?”

  His green eyes narrowed. “No. But then I’m seldom here. What happened?”

  As she told him about the missing children and Tomas, his brow furrowed. “Okay, I will find out. And, Kira?”

  At his serious tone, her tummy cramped in fear. Now what?

  “Just be careful with that blond Guardian, okay?” He gave her a little nod and walked out.

  Týr hunkered down and touched the snow-covered asphalt where the portal had opened, and Kira had disappeared. Nothing. Any lingering vibes from the gateway had long faded.

  He rubbed a hand over his scruffy jaw, fear flogging him, making it hard to think—to take another step, terrified at what could be happening to her in that damn place. Hang in there, elska, I will find you.