“You silly boy. Why don’t you run along like the good puppy you are, and leave this morsel for me to handle?” The deep baritone suggested he was more than happy to make Yomy do as he said.
The demon stood in front of me, blocking my view. “My job is not complete.”
A tall, dark-haired man came into view. His black slacks and black top made him look like a debonair businessman. He had to be at least six and a half feet tall. Surely, he couldn’t be human, especially since I was sure we were no longer on Earth.
My wolf didn’t care what he was, the hussy. I stood on my bare feet, trying to control my inner beast.
Creed flicked his fingers. “Go now, and I will not hurt you. Much,” he growled.
Oh, yeah, my wolf liked the sound of his voice. “Just because you’re the Master’s bastard son doesn’t give you any right to order me around.”
Shit. I ordered my wolf to calm down. No way in hell was I wanting a deranged kidnapper’s son.
“Yomy, Yomy, do you never learn? I am more than just his bastard. I am the bastard.”
One minute, the demon who’d stolen me away was in front of me, the next, he was flying across the room. I jumped back until the scorching wall held me up, staying as far away from the battling duo as possible. Shit! I’d watched my brothers and my father’s elite soldiers fight from afar, but nothing had prepared me for the battle in front of me. Neither being cared that Iwatched them try to kill each other, and that was exactly what they were trying to do.
Right before my eyes, the man named Creed grew even larger. His smooth tan skin became a startling red. Horns similar to the ones on top of Yomy’s head grew from his own, only larger and sharper looking. The black things gleamed in the overhead light as he became what I’d envisioned the devil himself would look like, only he still appeared a beautiful man. My wolf still wanted him.
Blood splattered the walls from the many gashes inflicted by Creed, yet he appeared to be playing with the other demon. I eased toward the door I’d seen, hoping I’d find a way out. If I got away from Yomy and his blocks, I might be able to contact my dad or brothers. I didn’t think I’d survive whatever Master, or the one named Creed, had planned for me. Scratch that, I knew I wouldn’t survive. That was probably their intention.
The door opened to a dark hall, and the stench of decaying flesh hit me when I stepped out. Quietly, I shut the door and looked at the three tunnels. Each one was pitch-black, but with my enhanced vision, I could see beings lurking beneath them all.
With no other recourse, I opened my mind, praying I could connect with my family. A sense of loss threatened to swamp me until I felt a light touch on the familial path—one I’d feared my ability to connect with again had been severed until that moment.
“Who is this?” Tears blinded me for a moment at the deep baritone of my father, his anger seeping through to me. “I asked who this was. If you don’t answer me, I will make you wish you hadn’t disturbed my family and me.”
The authority in his demand made me blink. Did they not know I was missing? Couldn’t he tell it was me?
“This is Raina, Daddy.” Proud I didn’t come across as breathless as I felt, I waited for him to respond.
“Bullshit. Who the fuck is this?” An image of my father, with his flashing black eyes, popped into my mind. Anger burned into my brain along with the pain of his invasion.
“Stop it,” I cried out, my hands reaching blindly for the walls. I was a hybrid and didn’t need blood regularly, but the loss of my own blood was making me weak. From the new assault delivered into my head, I felt more of my precious life’s blood pouring out of my nose and ears. Damn, maybe I shouldn’t have shored up my walls so tightly.
“Raina? It truly is you,” he said, worry etched into every syllable.
Strong arms wrapped around me. “Where do you think you are going, princess?”
I turned my head, meeting the black eyes of the monster I’d run from, only now he was back to the devastating image of the man named Creed.
“Please, just leave me alone. I want my mom,” I whimpered.
“Who is with you? Look at them. Let me see through your eyes.”
“I can’t. So tired.” I tried to look at the man who now cradled me against his massive chest, marveling at the fact that he wasn’t covered in blood and gore. I wanted to do as my father demanded in my head, his voice rising until I was sure he’d pierce my eardrum, and I truly did want to obey.
“Tell him I can’t. Too tired.”
Chapter Two
Iheld my woman, awed at the tiny thing in my arms. Her mumbled words made absolutely no sense to me. However, I knew I would protect her with my life. First order of business would be getting her the fuck out of Hell, and away from my bastard father. What the prick wanted with the sweet little thing that called to me, I had no clue, but she was mine.
I navigated the tunnels, kicking the souls of the damned out of my way as I went. Their cries for help didn’t faze me. The only reason they were in Hell to begin with had to mean they were the scum of the earth and deserved to be there. Some were worse than others, some not as bad, but all deserved to be where they were. I wasn’t their judge or jury, but I did consider myself the executioner in some cases. Luckily, I was able to traverse to Earth, unlike my bastard father, thanks to my mother’s blood running through my veins. I shook myself before I shifted to my demon form. I didn’t want to scare my woman any more than she already was.
Damn, she was smaller than I’d pictured my mate being. However, she wasn’t human. I inhaled, trying to figure out what she was exactly, getting a hint of vampire and wolf. A smile lit my face. My mother would love my Chosen.
A rumble shook the entire cavern. In a burst of speed, I raced toward the entrance that would get me to Earth the fastest. The one place I knew we’d be safest. There, I’d find out why this woman was picked from the millions of others to be consort to the devil himself. The miles of twists and turns were filledwith pitiful beings who thought they could crawl out. I used my powers to keep them at bay, the scent of burning flesh so familiar I hated it. Another reason Satan and I didn’t get along, I presumed. While I was okay with killing those who deserved it, I didn’t prey on the weak. Nor did I spend much time in my father’s realm.
