devil 04 - the devil you know (28 page)

Finding nothing, I ran back down the stairs.

Back in the circular hallway, I plunged into the next stairwell. A few minutes later, with the same result, I ran back down the stairs. By this time my heart was pounding so hard I thought I might pass out and I could barely breathe. But still I ran. I was terrified to stop running.

Astra! Finally! I thought you guys would never get here.

I stopped in the middle of the third staircase.
What do you mean? Who found you?

You didn’t send him?

I bent double, gasping for breath.
Darma! Answer my question!

Emo. Emo’s here. And he has the jerk pinned. He’s going to kill him.

“Shit!” I started running again, completely panicked. My mind kept replaying Emo’s expression the last time I saw him. He was on the edge of embracing his devil completely. If he killed Nerul, he would be lost to me forever.
Darma, listen to me, you have to stop him. Whatever you do, don’t let him kill Nerul.

Are you crazy?

No! I’m not. If Emo kills Nerul he’ll be lost. He’s fighting his devil right now and killing Nerul with anger will send him over.

Darma sighed. I could picture her crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at me, shaking her head in disgust.
It’s very complex in your world, Astra.

Despite everything I barked out a laugh.
Tell me about it.

Okay. I’ll see what I can do. But hurry.

Groaning, I ran harder. As I neared the top of the stairs I heard voices. Relieved that I seemed to have found the right tower, I cloaked myself in a power bubble and ran faster. I didn’t have time for stealth, so I opted for a full-on frontal attack.

The two guards at the top of the stairs turned as I thundered toward them and brandished their swords. Seeing them armed only with swords, I didn’t even slow as I dropped my shield and swung my arm, slicing both of their heads off with a power arrow and leaping over the bodies as they tumbled noisily down the stairs.

The guards at the doors looked surprised, but were no better equipped for my arrival than their headless buddies. A heartbeat later I was stepping over their bodies to open the golden doors.

I opened them to the sound of crashing.

The tableau that awaited me when I opened the doors would have been funny if I weren’t so terrified for Emo. Dressed in a flowing, sleeveless white gown that plunged low between her pale breasts and puddled around her feet, Darma stood next to a huge bed with a large figurine in one hand and a lamp in the other.

Across the room, Emo had Nerul pinned against the wall at the end of a sword, blood dripping down his throat from the razor-sharp tip of the weapon. Rather than looking frightened, Nerul’s dark eyes sparked with humor.

Emo looked pissed. “I’m glad you’re here, Astra. Now you can tell your sister that I’m not the enemy. She nearly beheaded me with that last urn.”

He was surrounded by broken glass and debris and one cheek was bleeding from a large cut.

I looked beyond the anger and saw that he was suffering from his Settling. I could tell it was getting harder for him to hold his devil in check. He held himself rigidly, as if he were fighting for control. That and the frantic flickering of his eyes told me he was in a bad way.

It was a good sign, however, that he hadn’t finished Nerul off.

“Partner. You don’t want to do this.”

His face softened as he glanced my way, but his arm didn’t waver. “I’m doing this for you, Astra.” His voice caught on the words and it broke my heart.

I stepped closer, watching him closely for a reaction. “Don’t do it for me. I don’t want you to kill that smoldering hunk of dark-world turd. It will send you over the edge and he’s just not worth it.” I touched the cross around my neck and called my aunt.
Myra! Get up here, I need your help. We’ve got Nerul.

Emo shook his dark head and increased the pressure on the sword. Blood ran more quickly from Nerul’s neck, but the randy royal’s expression never changed. He obviously didn’t believe Emo would kill him.

I wished I could believe that.

I tried a different tack.

“Step away and let me take care of Nerul, Emo. It isn’t your place. He hurt me and my family, not you.”

Myra!

Hold your thong, Astra. I’m coming.

I knew my friend and partner well. And I could tell when he had set his mind to something and didn’t intend to be dissuaded. I flicked a glance at Darma.
Fling something to distract him. I’m going to try to sneak up on him.

Darma nodded and lifted both arms, throwing the figurine and cocking her arm to follow it up with the small crystal lamp. Praying Myra would arrive in time, I pulled my power forward and space shifted to a spot just behind Emo. Returning to the visual plane, I had to immediately duck as the lamp whizzed through the space where my head had been.

Emo swore and shifted sideways to avoid the lamp. “Damn it, Darma!”

The air next to us had begun shimmering just as I reached around him and slammed my arm up under his, dislodging the sword and wrapping him in a power-induced hug to hold him there. The razor-sharp metal flew out of his hand and sailed through the air. I heard a squeak of alarm behind me but didn’t turn. Emo pulled his own power forward, obviously intending to break my hold so he could get to Nerul. I tapped into my daemon hickey to overpower him, encasing him in a restrictive bubble.

Nerul grinned at me and lifted a hand, giving me a little finger wave. He started to shimmer just as Myra popped into the room. “Myra, now!”

Before Nerul could shift away, Myra reached over and clamped a hand on his shoulder. White light speared from her hand and Nerul paled, his back stiffening in pain. After a moment, he dropped to his knees from the infusion of white magic. Nothing takes the starch out of a devil like an angel’s light magic. With her other hand, Myra forged silver manacles and clamped them on his wrists and ankles.

Emo was in a complete rage. He threw himself against the bubble with a curse, his black eyes swirling with red and orange. “Let me out, Astra! What the hell are you doing to me?”

The air changed again and Dialle was suddenly there, quickly followed by Torre. Dialle glanced at Nerul and then Emo. “It looks like you have things under control, my love.” He reached out and ran a heated palm down my arm. “Are you all right?” He must have seen the pain in my eyes for entrapping my best friend. The way Emo glared at me I wasn’t sure he’d ever forgive me.

I nodded. “I kept him from turning completely to his devil.” We watched him fling himself against the magical restriction I’d encased him in, screaming in rage. He was nearly frothing at the mouth. “I did what I had to do.” That message was as much to comfort me as it was intended for Emo.

Glancing at Emo, Myra lifted a golden eyebrow in question. “He’s going to need celestial intervention, Astra.”

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes but I nodded. Sniffing, I reached to pull the chain from my waist. “I’m doing this for your own good, partner.”

He saw the golden chain and realized what I was about to do. “No, Astra! Don’t do this to me!”

I glanced at Dialle. He stepped forward and was ready to grab Emo as soon as I dropped the restrictive bubble. While my friend thrashed and swore, snapping his teeth frantically in a nearly rabid effort to escape his fate, Dialle held him tight and I was able to snap the cuff around his thick wrist.

As soon as the cuff closed around Emo’s wrist he went limp, his head drooping dejectedly. I couldn’t believe it, but I found that almost harder to bear than his rage had been.

Leaning close, I whispered in his ear, “I’m so sorry, Emo. I love you.” He jerked away from me before I could kiss his cheek.

Drawing a shaky breath, I handed my aunt the chain. “Take good care of him, angel.”

She nodded, giving me a supportive smile. “You did the right thing.” Then she disappeared, taking both prisoners with her.

I sighed, feeling as if I’d pushed Emo away for good.

The sound of moaning made me turn and I almost lost the contents of my stomach. Torre and my sister were locked in a passionate embrace, obviously succumbing to the lust magic in the air.

“Where’d you find him?”

“Dungeons.”

“He seems to spend a lot of time there.”

Dialle shrugged. “There’s a reason he’s not in line for the throne.”

I grimaced as the activity on the bed grew more heated. “Good Lord, Darma, get a room!

Apparently taking me literally, Torre took two steps forward and Darma toppled backward, onto the bed. He crawled up her body as she giggled like a schoolgirl.

“Bleurgh! I think my eyes are burning.”

Dialle’s chuckle made my body tighten with instant need. He touched my arm and I turned, realizing in that moment that the adrenaline from battle had washed from my system, only to be replaced by unadulterated lust. I was just glad the depression I’d felt over Emo had been temporarily pushed away too.

I knew it would be back. But I was happy to set it aside for a while.

The only thing ruining the moment was the horror show going on behind me. “Let’s get out of here.”

Dialle lowered his head and swiped a heated tongue across my lips. “Your wish is my command, my queen.”

“Don’t—” And we were off, locked in space and time. We landed in the middle of an enormous bed in a familiar room. “Call me that.” I looked around, grinning. “You’re back on Earth?”

Dialle’s lips found the pulse beating on the side of my throat and pressed a gentle kiss there. “Yes. Thanks to you my problem has been solved. No more aggressors to my crown.” He nipped the spot where my hickey throbbed and I cried out as the tiny bite sent lightning bolts of pleasure spearing through me.

With a thought, Dialle dismissed our clothes and covered me, his rock-hard shaft pressing insistently against my stomach. I tilted my head back to give him access to my throat and slid my hands down his sides, skimming them over his firm, round buttocks.

“I’m not sure I can perform without an audience.” I teased him.

Dialle slid down my body and captured a perky nipple in his mouth. “I think I can distract you from the lack of intrusive gazes.” Every pull of his heated mouth on my hungry nipple sent fissures of delight swimming through my body. I tangled my fingers in his hair, bunching the silken strands in my fists as I rode out the delicious waves.

“I
am
feeling slightly distracted.”

He bit down on my nipple and I moaned. Dialle’s fingers slid inside my body, finding me wet and more than ready for him. I arched my back, encouraging him to drive deeper with the questing digits. In response, he added another finger, spreading me wide as he plunged deep while rubbing the sensitive nub of my clitoris.

My muscles tightened. Stars burst in front of my eyes. And my pussy clenched happily as I rolled over into release. Sliding over me, Dialle captured the other nipple and continued his delightful ministrations there.

I reached between our bodies and grabbed his cock, rubbing a finger over the weeping head. Dialle moaned and the sound rumbled through my body, pulsing through my pussy in gentle aftershocks. I kissed the side of Dialle’s throat, enjoying the throbbing vein that pulsed there. Suddenly fascinated, I ran my tongue over the spot and was shocked when the action created sparks.

Dialle was back at my neck and I knew if he closed his mouth over my hickey I’d be lost, so I planted my feet on either side of his hips and pushed, rolling him beneath me in one smooth move.

“Grrr,” he told me with a smile.

“Shut up and enjoy yourself,” I responded.

I grabbed his hands and pulled them over his head, sliding up his body to place my breasts over his face. He happily obliged by taking my nipples into his hot, hungry mouth again.

But the Settling roared through me and I was ravenous with need. My skin crawled with it, my body ached. I slid down until his hard cock was nestled between my legs, pressing myself down on the rigid column to ease the wonderful pressure in my clit.

My legs wrapped around his, my feet running up his softly furred calves as I rubbed like a cat on his hard shaft.

I continued my slow glide down his body until his cock was in front of my face. Reaching to smooth my hands up his flat, hard belly to his nipples, I kept my gaze on his face, watching as my tongue slid out to lick the salty offering beaded on the head of his cock.

Dialle placed an arm behind his head and watched me with his swirling black gaze.

I savored the salty bead of pre-cum on my tongue and pressed my aching pussy into his leg, moaning with delight as the pleasure built.

I held Dialle’s intense gaze as I opened my mouth and covered the fat head of his cock with my mouth. His sharp intake of breath mirrored the pull of my mouth on his rigid flesh. Dialle’s eyes rolled back as I sucked him deep into my throat. I scraped my fingernails gently down his stomach as I worked his hard cock, making his skin jump beneath my fingers.

Flames flared around us, dancing in multicolored hues around our bodies, a visible sign of our shared passion that continued to grow as I licked my way down his shaft and sucked his tight, hard balls into my mouth.

Dialle had given up trying to hold my gaze at that point and had tangled his long fingers into my hair, his head thrown back in unfettered delight. With a final leisurely lick up the underside of his cock, I did a sensual glide back up his body and captured his sweet lips.

Dialle slanted his head and pulled me in for a toe-curling kiss, his fingers still tangled in my hair.

I lifted my hips and nestled myself on his cock, slowly lowering myself until he was buried deep within me. I shuddered as pleasure speared deep and rolled through my limbs.

Dialle captured my tongue between his teeth, sucking it hard as I rode his cock, swiveling my hips to create an extra level of tension in the strokes. His sucking rhythm matched the rhythm I set with my body. When he moved those talented lips to my throat I knew I was lost.