“You dare threaten me on his behalf?” The creature sat back on its ass. “You like my Creed?”
Hearing the thing in front of me refer to Creed as hers had a shard of jealousy rip through me. True, the man was thousands of years old, and I’d known he’d had many lovers of all species. However, looking at the tiny creature that looked more childlike than female...I couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea.
“Oh, stop looking at me like that, sicko—Creed’s like my brother. In fact, he’s my Halfling. We share the same father, sort of. Although Satan doesn’t claim me the way he does Creed. Not that I care you understand,” it hissed.
The ground rumbled before I could ask more, making the creature scramble back to its boulder. “Come, you must not be down there.” I stared at the outstretched hand with the long, bony fingers that had only moments ago been holding a human arm. Looking at the piles of skeletons, I hesitated.
“They were all pedophiles.” The disgust evident in its voice held no trace of subterfuge.
“I really need to shore up my walls,” I muttered. “What is your name, thing of Creed’s?”
I leaped onto the top of the boulder instead of taking the hand offered. “Raina. What is yours?” I stood and looked around. As the ground below stopped shifting, red lava poured out of where I had been, melting the very spot. “Does that happen often?”
My eyes took in the scene, then looked at the little thing crouched next to me. “Kyrene is I. I am female like you.” She tilted her head to the side. “That happens when he is mad.” Her finger pointed toward the castle.
Fucking great! I knew for a fact if you died in the dream world, you died in the real one. Usually, I was the one in control, but I was not the one with the power this time. My only hope lay in the hands of the being who was bent on claiming me. Hellwould freeze over before I allowed him to lay one finger on me or those I loved.
“Oh, I’ve seen that look before. It is usually just before heads rolled,” Kyrene muttered.
“Where is Creed?”
“I wish I knew.” I inhaled deeply. “Do you know how to leave this realm?”
When Kyrene nearly fell off the rock with her wheezing laughter, I almost gave her the extra push. My humanity and the reminder that this was Creed’s relation stayed my action.
“Nobody leaves. This is the Master’s world. You can check out anytime you like.” She waved at the pile of bones. “Lots of ways to do that. But, there is no way to leave the way you are suggesting, unless you are Creed, or one of His minions.” Kyrene shuddered.
“How did you get here?”
I wanted Creed. I wanted to wake up. Dammit, I felt like crying.
Kyrene scooted forward, then stood. At five foot five inches, I was considered average height, and I had thought the crouched thing—no, female—would be small. Yet as she stood, we were almost eye-to-eye. In a blink, Kyrene shifted into a lovely-looking woman.
“Don’t look so shocked, Raina, who smells of Creed. We all have facades. You think my mother wasn’t smart enough to ensure I knew how to protect myself from harm, before she was no longer of use?”
I held my ground as Kyrene began walking around me. The rhythmic swaying of the other being’s body was almost hypnotic. In my world of paranormal knowledge, I should have known not to trust anyone at face value. The childlike image and the use of Creed’s name had lured me in. Well, if this thing thought I’d be an easy kill, she had another think coming.
“I guess you surprised me. What with the crouching child, hidden beauty routine?” I let my wolf push forward just enough that my bones were ready should I need the extra power.
“I’m not sure what you are referencing, but I feel it has something to do with your culture.” Kyrene stopped in front of me. “Tell me something. What would you do to save your own life? Would you give up something precious, like Creed, or your firstborn child?”
The thought of giving up either of the things Kyrene suggested would be worse than death. “Never,” I said with vehemence, my words coming out as a deep growl as my wolf agreed.
“Hmm, interesting.” Kyrene reached out to touch the side of my face.
Tired of watching the swaying form and fearing the unknown, I shoved my arm into the chest of the creature in front of me. Red eyes widened before a smile flitted across Kyrene’s face. The demon fell off the boulder, leaving me alone to watch as she fell onto the red ground.
“You pack a hard punch, youngling.” Kyrene sat with her legs crossed, lava flowing all around her, the red liquid moving past her without touching. “I think you have been underestimated.”
I’d seen my father and brothers shift to half wolf, half vampire enough times, and if I’d ever needed to tap into that ability, now was the time. If this thing were related to Creed, sparing her would be something I’d try to do, but only if the creature didn’t do anything stupid. My claws came out, fangs dropped. The sound of seams ripping was loud to my ears.
“You want to see how much you underestimated me, bitch. Bring it,” I said, waving my fingers, which didn’t look anything like a human’s any longer. I braced for impact, knowing even in my altered form I’d not be able to take the heat from the melting ground.
Beady red eyes narrowed, then Kyrene was crouching. “You don’t want to fight with me, thing of Creed.”
Shaking my head, I agreed. “I don’t want to fight anyone. However, I will gut you and see what color you bleed.”
I looked back at the bed, expecting to see Raina where I’d left her. My feet froze at the sight that met my eyes—an empty bed, and the smell of brimstone.
