Page 49 of Soul Redeemed

Before he had a chance to rectify that, Calix stepped past him toward the staircase. “See you around, Zayne.”

“Glad Ava’s back, Brother. You take care of that female,” he heard him say from behind.

A wave of dread claimed Calix’s muscles as he climbed the stairs toward his bedroom, until they were so stiff with guilt, he could barely turn the knob when he reached the door. What had he done? What could he have done? Had he fucked those females and left them for dead, how could he possibly look Ava in the eye again?

Thankfully, as he entered the dark room, his eyes caught the motionless mound of blankets on the bed that told him she slept. He circled the bed, quiet as a stalking incubus, and stared down at Ava. Black hair fanned over the pillow, her skin carrying the soft glow that’d begun to return to her face since having taken the blood. Beautiful. Peaceful. Delectable.

His muscles hardened, thoughts twisting into a horrific visual of her body covered in sweat, tied to the bed, so weak and frail, as he pounded into her for gods knew how many hours. Calix had never tested a female’s endurance. Sure, he and Ava had had some long nights of sex, but as starved as he was, he could undoubtedly go for days, straight. And in his delirium, wouldn’t even register her needs.

His fantasies drew him closer to her, until his knee hit the mattress and red swallowed up his vision.

No.

Get away from her, a small voice inside his head rattled, batting those visuals out of his head until he backed away.

“Calix?” Her syrupy voice broke his spell. “R’youc’min t’bed?”

“I’m going to hang with Xander for a bit. I’ll be up soon.”

“’Kay.” She smiled, eyes still closed, nuzzling her face into the pillows, and the deep, easy breaths told him she’d fallen back to sleep.

Gods, he needed to get out of there before he did something he’d regret.

He exited the room, jogged down the stairs to the empty foyer, where Zayne had stood just a bit ago, and made his way to the catacombs—the only part of the mansion Calix couldn’t stand. Cold, damp and creepy reminded him too much of a place trapped at the back of his mind, one he refused to venture inside, for fear it’d pull him under the surface. A place from his past that would explain why he happened to be the only incubus who wasn’t interested in fucking everything that moved.

The dark concrete walls closed in on him as he descended the stairs, with only the soft flicker of the sconces lighting his way. A cold curtain of death swallowed him, the deeper he went, until at last, he reached the cells.

The wicked tone of an angry female reached his ears, and Calix followed the sound toward the chambers in the back. Xander’s distinct laughter left him shaking his head as he approached the last set of bars on the left.

Stopping just outside the cell, Calix peered inside, and could just make out a female’s slender legs peeking out between Xander and Zayne, who stood with their backs facing him.

“Xander, can I talk to you for a sec?” Calix asked through the bars.

The angel twisted around, giving just enough space for Calix to see the female chained to the wall, wearing a T-shirt and what appeared to be a pair of men’s boxers, kicking and tugging at her binds. Long strands of curls hung over the edge of the cot upon which she lay. The familiar tattoo blinked from her neck.

“Thais?”

The bed stilled, and her head shot up, her disgruntled expression staring at him. “Fucking brilliant. You live here, too? So, what’s your plan? Torture me sexually until I talk?”

“I hadn’t planned to, but if that’s what it takes …” Xander chimed in, crossing his arms over his chest. “Happy to mete out that punishment.”

“Nobody’s going to torture you.” Zayne threw an arm in front of Xander and stepped past him. “It’s not my first choice to have you down here, but we can’t have a Fallen angel roaming the place.”

“Oh, except him.” She nudged her head toward Xander.

“Yes. He is the exception.” Pulling a chair from against the wall, Zayne took a seat beside her. “A young girl has gone missing. I need some information.”

“You lied to me.” Thais jolted and hissed, rattling the chain against the wall with her abrupt movement. “You told me I’d be safe here. So I’m not telling you shit.”

“I never lied. You are safe here. No one is going to hurt you.”

Xander hiked a thumb over his shoulder and backed up toward the cell door. “While you two sort this out, I’m going to see what Calix wants.”

Once out of the cell, Calix led him down the hall until they were out of earshot, and spun to face him. “I need you to lock me up.”

“This sounds familiar.”

“How so?”