The woman in my arms stirred, the smell of her apple and cinnamon scent mixed with the smell of her blood, had me hard as nails. “I’m a damn pervert to want an unconscious, bleeding, half-breed woman. What’s the saying? Like father, like son?’ I growled the question into the darkened tunnels.
“Are you talking to yourself?”
I nearly dropped my precious cargo at the whispered words. “Damn it, woman. You shouldn’t scare a being like that,” I said breathlessly.
I, the bastard son of the Devil himself, was winded, and not from running. I could flash from one place to the next, but down here, I wasn’t top dog. Not yet. Hopefully, not ever.
She tugged on my hair, the slight sting making me come to a stop. “Where are we going?” Her piercing blue eyes blinked up at me.
“I’m taking you to my home.” I did my best to keep my eyes from turning red with need.
“I want to go to my home. My parents must be worried. My family is very important.” Her body became rigid in my arms.
I wouldn’t allow her to leave me until...well, ever, but I wouldn’t inform her of such things. Women, no matter what breed, tended to get all wigged out when they were told such things, or so I was told. No, I’d hold that info back until I wooed her. I’d never felt the need or urge to do so for any female until now. However, I had no doubt she would fall in line with me and my plans. Once I had some plans, other than escaping Hell, that is.
The mental call the big bastard was sending out was grating on my ever-last nerve, causing me to almost miss the invisible exit only a select few could access. Waving my hand around the perimeter, the usual glow that activated my signature didn’t light up. “Mother of Light, give me the key,” I muttered. With those words, my access was accepted, and then my female and I were out the door, landing in the middle of a forest.
I glanced up at the glittering sky. “Looks like we ain’t in Kansas anymore, princess.”
“My brothers live in Kansas City. If you could just take me there.”
If her words weren’t said with such longing, I’d have laughed. “Ah, baby, I promise you will love where we are going.” My home was a veritable fortress where none of the bastard’s minions could reach us. Of course, getting there was going to take some doing, since I seemed to have been zapped with some sort of spell.
I rubbed my temple at the pounding that continued even though we were no longer within the realm of my father.
“You’re bleeding.” My woman said.
That was when I realized I didn’t know her name. “What’s your name, sweetness?”
Fingers that had been twisting in my hair tugged without answering. “Listen here, buddy, I appreciate you getting me out of that...dungeon, but you need to take me home. My father will be grateful, but if you continue to hold me against my will, you will be sorry.”
I laughed, even though I knew it wasn’t the smartest thing to do. Hell, many had said I’d been dropped on my head at birth. But hearing the beauty call Hell a dungeon was too damn funny. That was one mistake. The next was letting her slide out of my arms. I hadn’t counted on the fact that she was a supernaturalbeing with powers, and damn it, I thought I could handle the tiny slip of a woman.
When she shifted into her wolven form, I stared in awe at the beauty of her other form. Maybe if I hadn’t stared so long like a fool, I might not have missed the quick shift in her stance. Then I wouldn’t be left with my tongue hanging out. Damn it, the woman—or now wolf—was faster and bigger than normal wolves.
Taking off after the wolf, I flashed in front of her. It took me a whole minute to catch up, and by then, I wasn’t sure who was more surprised by my appearance...her, or the being who appeared out of thin air. I quickly tackled the little wolf, then shifted her behind me, letting my demon form come to the front.
“Leave now, and you won’t live to see another day.”
A blonde woman stood with the moon behind her. She seemed unfazed by my words. “I don’t believe I am all that skeered. Now, why don’t you both play nice and follow me? Besides, I’m too tired to play fetch right now,” she said in a sweet singsong voice.
The scruff of the wolf in my palm turned into smooth skin as she shifted back. I kept my hand on her but didn’t take my eyes off the threat in front of me. I realized I was facing a female who might or might not be dangerous. “Listen, female, it would be in your best interest to turn around and walk away. You don’t want to see me get angry.”
“She smells like my brothers,” my female whispered from behind me.
I turned to see my woman dressed in the same clothing she had on, looking paler than before. Every instinct within me told me she was unwell. My inner beast roared to protect what was mine. Ignoring the others around us, I spun, catching her as she fainted. My heart thudded in my chest. A heart I was sure didn’t exist...until right then.
“What the fuck?” I whispered.
Looking at the unblinking brown eyes of the sprite before me, then at the woman in my arms, I shook my head. “How is this so? Do I need to kill somebody?”
The woman waved her hand. “You can try it, demon boy.”
“I got your boy right here.” I shifted my burden to one arm so I could grab my dick, emphasizing exactly what I meant. Mature? No, but I felt better. I called that a win.
“Do you kiss your mama with that mouth?” Blonde hair spilled to the side and over her shoulder, exposing her long neck. “I should probably warn you that I’m keeping notes for all your infractions. That would probably be helpful for you to know. Now, let’s start again.”
“What is your name?” No way was I admitting I didn’t know my own Chosen’s name to this woman.
