The Devil: A Paranormal Vampire Romance Novel (Devil Series Book 4)

by Raven Steele

  More people were going to get hurt because of something I did. The sick feeling in my stomach turned into a full storm. I lowered my hands and pressed them into my stomach.

  Llona continued speaking. "My best friend was taken and questioned, more like tortured, to find this necklace. They thought Auras were hiding it. Lucien and Henry saved May, so in return I offered to help them find you, but I also needed to find the necklace to get the DSRD off Lucent Academy's back. They've been trying to force their way into the school to search for it, no matter how many times we've told them we don't have it. In fact, Liam almost died trying to keep them off school grounds. I don't know why they are so insis—"

  "I do," I blurted, unable to hold the guilt in any longer. I inhaled a shaky breath.

  No one said anything for what felt like an eternity. The silence in the room was a weight on my chest, crushing and painful. Liam stepped next to Henry, his eyes full of fire.

  "I'm so sorry," I said. "I had no idea it would put Auras in danger. All I wanted was a safe place to hide it. I remember Charlie talking about Auras and their great power, so I did a bunch of research and learned that they really do have the oldest, purest power on Earth. I figured it would be the only thing to mask the necklace's evil."

  "People were shot protecting a secret they didn't know they were protecting," Liam growled and his muscles rippled across his bare chest. "Why didn't you tell someone?"

  I rubbed at my face, regret eating away at me. "I thought by not telling anyone, I was keeping them out of potential danger."

  Liam curled his fingers into fists. "You thought wrong."

  Lucien straightened and moved between Liam and me. "She meant no harm."

  "Stop!" I ordered and, even though I didn't feel like it, pushed myself up onto my feet. "I screwed up! After I killed Charlie," I heaved, my breath catching at the memory, "I was on auto pilot. I admit that I didn't think through a lot of my decisions, but I'll make it right. I swear it."

  Llona rose to meet me at eye level. "I'll hold you to that. So where is this necklace hidden?"

  "In a clock tower on campus. I snuck in there one night and found a loose stone."

  Llona glanced back at Liam as if they were communicating silently.

  "But don't touch it!" I said quickly. "It's extremely dangerous. I will accept full responsibility and will take care of it as soon as I can."

  "We'll take care of it," Lucien said, emphasizing the word "we".

  I had a hard time meeting his gaze. I didn't deserve him. All that I had done…

  "Once we retrieve the necklace, then what?" Liam asked. Llona had moved back and was leaning into him, almost as if she needed the support. Liam lowered his hand and looped his fingers through hers.

  "We destroy it," Henry said simply. "Somewhere safe, of course. It doesn't need to be on Lucent's campus, but we'll need to do it quickly after it’s removed. Erebus will sense its movement."

  "Are we sure this will work?" Lucien asked.

  Henry frowned. "I'm not sure of anything, but we don't have any other options. I left Dr. Han searching the old scrolls. Maybe's he's found something that will help." He glanced toward the window. I followed his gaze. The sun was just beginning to set. Reds and oranges bled on the tops of trees surrounding the home. I could see nothing beyond them.

  "Take some time. Rest if you must," Henry said. "Then come to Wildemoor. I'm going there now to prepare."

  Before anyone could comment, he disappeared.

  "Cool trick," Llona breathed.

  "How are you feeling?" Liam asked her. He smoothed his hand across her stomach. "Does this hurt?"

  "I'm fine now, really. How about you?" She reached up and smoothed his hair back. A little blood seeped through the bandage on his forehead.

  I glanced away, but startled a little when I realized Lucien had silently come next to me.

  "You should rest," he said, his voice quiet.

  I nodded and swallowed hard, my heart racing. I had forgotten how much his presence affected me. I took a few steps away from him, but the growing space between us left me cold. I glanced back at him. He watched me intensely. No motives. No deceit. Only love.

  I held my hand out to him. He glanced down at it, inhaled a hitched breath, then took hold, his fingers curling around mine protectively. My flesh tingled and burned in all the right places. How had I survived this long without his touch? I pulled him down the hall and to the bedroom, leaving Liam and Llona alone.

  As soon as we crossed the threshold, he closed the door while I walked to the window filled with the last of sun's light. It warmed my skin. Lucien came up behind me, standing so close our bodies touched. I closed my eyes and dropped my head back into his shoulder, my breathing slowing to a pace it hadn't been for some time. The hurt inside of me was still raw, especially when I thought about Charlie, but the pain wasn't as crippling. Maybe enough time had passed for me to heal, or maybe Llona's Light had helped enough to make up the difference.

  Whatever the cause, I had to stop thinking about me and focus on Lucien. I know I had hurt him. It didn't matter if it was unintentional.

  I spun around to face him. “I know I hurt you, and I want to make it up to you. Starting now.”

  I lifted on my tip toes and pressed my lips to his. Gentle at first, to test my emotions. I didn’t want to have any more flashes of hurting Lucien. I hoped they never came again.

  Lucien’s lips felt hesitant against mine, like he was afraid he might break me. I swept my tongue into his mouth and moaned. “I want you, Lucien. Don’t hold back.”

  His hands tightened on me, and he jerked my pelvis into his already stiff member. I gasped at the suddenness of it.

  “You left me,” he growled.

  “I did.” I didn’t attempt to explain again why. It wouldn’t take away his pain.

  Before my heart could sound its next beat, Lucien had me against the wall, my hands pinned high above my head. He dragged his nose up my neck, inhaling deeply. “Every second of every day, I thought about you. What I would do to if I ever saw you again.” He drew my earlobe into his mouth.

  “What did you want to do?” I asked, breathlessly. I could feel myself coming undone beneath his touch. It had been so long since I had felt it. I pressed into his leg, wanting to rub myself against it.

  He gripped my hips and pressed me back against the wall, away from him. I glanced up. My hands were still bound in place above my head, held there by magic. I lowered my gaze to his. The intense and burning look in his eyes told me what he needed. He needed to feel in control, something I hadn’t given him when I’d left.

  “Answer me,” I whispered. “What did you want to do?”

  He pressed his forehead to mine, his chest heaving. He was still holding back for my sake. Afraid he might move to fast.

  Staring directly into his eyes, I said with strength in my voice, “Show me what you wanted to do. My body is yours. I want to feel everything you felt when I left.”

  He searched my eyes, air puffing from his nose, fingers digging into my hips. He brought his lips a hair-length away from mine until we shared the same breath. “You left me wanting, and I’m going to make you feel every sliver of that kind of agony.”

  With his mouth so close, his heated breath and passionate words, I couldn’t help but move to kiss him, but he pulled back. “You don’t get to touch me unless I say.”

  I swallowed and sucked in a sharp breath. I hadn’t seen this side of him yet, hungry, demanding, controlling. Heat bloomed in my abdomen and spread straight between my legs.

  “Did you mean what you said?” he asked, his gaze lowering to the swells of my breasts just barely peeking out of my dress. “Is your body mine?”

  “Always. Use it how you wish.”

  In one fluid motion, he tore the dress off my body, leaving me gasping for air in only my strapless bra and panties. His magical grip on my hands above me tightened. He stepped back and took all of me in, drinking me with his eyes as if I was
a prized possession. The blue of his eyes brightened and a surge of power filled the room.

  A second later, my bra unhooked and fell to the ground by an invisible hand. My nipples hardened under his hungry stare. I’d give anything in that moment to feel his lips, his fingers all over me, but I remained silent, determined to let Lucien do what he wanted.

  My panties came next, slowly sliding past my hips, my thighs and down to my feet. Lucien watched the motion, the bulge in his pants straining against his jeans.

  I was completely exposed and vulnerable pressed against the wall entirely nude, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  After a long moment, he finally approached me. His hand came up and cupped my breast, his thumb caressing my nipple. I moaned but his hand covered my lips. “Keep silent.”

  As hard as it was, I obeyed.

  His other thumb slid into my mouth, and I sucked on it hard, never breaking eye contact with his heated gaze. He lowered his hand from my breast and glided it down my side, leaving a trail of fire against my skin.

  His eyes dropped between us. “I want to see how bad you want me.” His hand slipped between my legs, and he groaned. “You’re so warm and wet.”

  My body trembled, and my nerves hummed. I wanted to writhe in pleasure, grind against his palm, but I remained still despite every urge in body.

  “Please,” I whimpered around his thumb still in my mouth.

  He massaged my mound in slow and deliberate circles and dragged his wet thumb away from my mouth and to my nipple. He pinched it hard. “I said no talking.”

  I yelped and licked my lips. His eyes tracked the motion. I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead he stepped back again, leaving me cold and breathless. “I think you’re enjoying this too much.”

  He continued moving away from me, and yet, I could still feel his touch. Down there. Caressing, swirling, then dipping inside with invisible fingers. Over and over.

  I bit down trying not to move, not to make a sound. My whole body shook from the exertion.

  “You look like you’re suffering, Eve,” he said, his voice deep and husky. “Are you suffering?”

  I nodded quickly.

  “Good.” He tore off his shirt, revealing thickly corded muscles across his chest, arms and stomach. His pants came next, and his large erection sprung free. I licked my lips again, still trying not to react to the way his mental touch still stroked, curled and rubbed between my legs.

  Once he was fully naked, I expected him to come to me, but instead he flopped backwards onto the bed and tucked his bent arms behind his head. He closed his eyes.

  I nearly burst into tears, every nerve ending scorching with heat. “Lucien! What are—”

  “Shhhhh. I’m trying to take a nap.”

  I wanted to explode. Yell. Shout. As if he could sense my frustration, the motion between my legs became more vigorous. Plunging deep inside me, stretching me, then sliding back to circle my clit.

  Tension built inside me, and my breathing quickened. I closed my eyes. I was so close—

  Without warning, it all stopped, leaving my body on fire, and my body humming with want. My legs were so weak, I would’ve fallen to the ground had my hands not been bound to the wall.

  I opened my eyes, my heart thundering against my ribcage.

  Lucien was peeking at me with one eye open and smirking. “Are you left wanting?”

  “Yes,” I gasped.

  “Perfect.” He closed his eyes again. “Don’t forget to be quiet and hold still.”

  I opened my mouth to ask if he was going to release me, when his mental touch bombarded me again. This time adding my breasts to his torture. I threw my head back as his incorporeal fingers claimed me all over again. I even felt a tongue at one point invading my body. And once more, just before I could tumble over the edge, Lucien stopped.

  This went on for some time, him bringing me close, only to stop pleasuring me before I could fully come. My anguish was made worse by not being able to respond to his mind-blowing torment.

  As his most recent mental titillation ended, I slumped my head forward, breathing hard. I didn’t know how much more I could stand.

  “Eve.”

  I looked up, meeting Lucien’s heated gaze just in front of me. His hold over my wrists disappeared, and I fell forward into his hard chest. He scooped me up and carried me to the bed. He was gentle as he laid me down and crawled between my legs.

  Looking down at me with a pained expression, he said, “Please don’t ever leave me again. You are the only thing in this world that satisfies me.”

  I pressed my palm to his cheek, my eyes watering. “I get it now. And I swear to you, I’ll never leave your side again.”

  His furrowed brow relaxed, and he smiled. “Good. Now how about we finally finish what I started?”

  I practically screamed for joy.

  He laughed and plunged his member inside of me, thrusting hard and fast, his eyes never leaving mine. I could feel his need was as great as my own, and I clung to his back, my fingers digging into his flesh.

  When I felt him getting as close as I was, I turned my head and exposed my neck to him. “Do it. Please.”

  He didn’t hesitate. Fangs grew long in his mouth, and he pierced my skin, moaning as my blood flowed into him. The sensation ignited my pleasure into a full-blown ecstasy storm. The earth tilted, and the room spun with colors I didn’t recognize. I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, only feel his touch everywhere on and inside me.

  We erupted together. Fell together. Always together.

  Later, we lay in bed, my head resting against his bare chest while he stroked my hair. I slid my hand back and forth across his muscled pecs, thinking of all that had happened. Being intimate with Lucien had helped me temporarily forget my past actions. If I felt we had enough time, I’d have sex with him again just to forget.

  But we didn’t.

  There was still so much pain inside me, a darkness that was always there. Did mine appear like Llona's had? Was it always searching my mind, looking for light to destroy? I had to be strong. I needed to find a way to overcome my grief and sorrow, especially for Lucien's sake.

  "Will you miss your life as Reina?" he asked. His voice held a note of regret.

  I looked up at him, resting my chin on his chest. "Her life wasn't real. It was all fabricated."

  "But you were happy. I sensed it."

  I averted my gaze and chewed on the inside of my cheek. "I liked to pretend I was. There was always this hurt inside me, a giant hole that I couldn't explain. There were many nights I cried myself to sleep." I inhaled a breath, as he trailed his fingertips across my bare back.

  "I made a mistake, Lucien," I continued, looking up at him. "I thought by escaping my life I could somehow heal my wounds, but they only festered and became something dark and ugly. All along I wanted to protect you from my pain, but it still found a way into your life. I'm so sorry for everything I put you through."

  He stared at the ceiling, his elbow bent and hand propped behind his head. "You needed time."

  "Yes, I did, but it came with a price. Look at me, please." His gaze lowered to mine. "I promise you, for as long as I am able to take a breath, I am yours completely."

  "You were with Bo." The words weren't accusatory but held pain nonetheless.

  I smiled and sat up straddling my legs on each side of him. I stared at him, my hair falling to the sides of my face. "I was never with him, not in the way you're thinking. He wanted to, but I could never do it. I think a part of me knew I belonged to you. His touch never felt right."

  "Truly?" His voice lightened.

  I lowered my face to his. "Truly."

  He lifted his head and kissed me. His arm snaked around my back and flipped me over so he was on top of me. It was his turn to stare down at me, his eyes shining brightly.

  "I love you, Eve Segur. And when this is all over, I want to give you something. Something I wanted to give you before …" He closed his eyes
briefly and opened them again. "No matter. Soon."

  "I look forward to it."

  He bent down and kissed me deeply. I welcomed the closeness again, knowing how precious this time was.

  We were about to go up against a powerful devil from Hell. Every second counted.

  Chapter 2

  I glanced over my shoulder for the hundredth time. The airport was full of people all hurrying in different directions, and it made me feel uneasy and exposed. Any one of them could be working for Erebus.

  Lucien gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. We’d landed thirty minutes ago and were waiting while Liam rented a car. Llona stood at the counter with him, her body close to his. When I had gotten up early this morning, Llona and Liam were already dressed, but I noticed they had slept in the same bed.

  It warmed my heart to know they were happy together, but at the same time I worried for them. Like us, they would have to deal with certain hardships we wouldn't otherwise have if we were normal humans. Supernatural species frequently battled against each other. Our lives seemed to always be in danger. One day Llona may lose Liam. And one day, I could lose Lucien.

  I wrapped my arms tightly around him, surprising him. He hugged me back.

  "Are you all right?"

  I nodded against his chest.

  Liam and Llona walked back a few minutes later.

  "All set," Liam said. "We should reach Lucent Academy within a few hours."

  "It feels so strange traveling this way," I said. Since my memory had returned, so did the knowledge of all my abilities. I was pleased to remember that like Henry, I was able to teleport between locations.

  "But it's safer," Lucien reminded me. "We don't know for sure whether Erebus can track supernatural activity. With teleportation, and possibly even the way Liam and I travel, he may sense our magical footprint."

  "Let's go," Llona said, tugging on Liam. "I can't wait to see everyone."

  Liam's whole body stiffened. "Will he be there?"

  Llona glanced down and picked at her fingers. "I don't know."