An Angel on A Demon's Shoulder (A BBW Paranormal Romance) (Demon Brothers' Trilogy Book 3) (6 page)

What the fuck? Remington thought. Had Luc lost his everlasting mind?

“What the hell are you doing now, Luc?” Ravjeer and Ephraim immediately stepped forward. They were both thrown backward by a blast of power from Luc. Both Roark and Rafe had been required to prove their love for their new mates. Remington had no problem with doing the same. He had an issue with Luc for putting Clementine in danger. Now that the dark fae wasn’t holding her, he really had no problem beating the man to a bloody pulp.

“It’s alright, Dad. I’ve got this.”

“Not the point, son. The curse is broken, and he needs to learn his place.” Ravjeer stepped forward again—and again he was thrust backward. Rafe caught him before he fell on his ass.

“You always were a little wise-ass, Luc,” Ephraim said. During the last two encounters the Conroys had with the Prince of Darkness, the demon had proven invaluable. For some reason, Luc was a more than a little weary of the half-demon, half-incubus. “Cut this shit before I—”

Another wave of power and Ephraim found himself on his ass on the granite floor. Luc walked to the edge of the boxing ring, looking down at his captive audience. “I’ve tolerated your interference long enough.”

Remington realized Luc had never been afraid of the two other demons. He’d simply used them as he used everyone else—for his own gain.

Luc turned back to the two fighters in the ring. “Alright gentlemen, let me go over the rules. Oh, wait, there are no rules. Anything goes. I have, however, temporarily taken your powers. Only those you were born with are yours to use.”

Luc disappeared from the ring as quickly as he’d appeared. Remington saw him reappear behind his family. He gave Remington what could have been interpreted as an encouraging nod. Seeing no other alternative but to fight the dark fae, he put his hands up, eager to get this over with so he could hold Clementine once again. He looked down from the ring and saw her standing next to his parents.  Her face was white, and he wanted nothing more than to jump from the platform and pull her into his arm. But first things first.

“Why are you doing this?” Remington addressed the other man in the ring who had started to circle him. Remington matched him step for step.

“Freedom, the same as you,” the fae answered. He threw a punch that almost landed. Remington skirted back away.

“You know better than that. Luc will never give you your freedom.” Remington really didn’t know the circumstances that had landed the other man in the servitude of the Prince of Darkness, but he knew Luc would find any loophole he could to keep him there.

The big fae shrugged his shoulders even as he kept his hands up to defend himself against Remington’s blows. “I gotta try man.”

He let leash a series of strikes that forced Remington back against the ropes of the ring. He heard Clementine cry out his name but tuned her out. He had to as the fae landed another hard blow to his chin. Shaking away the dazed feeling the jab had produced, he saw Rafe pull Clementine away from the ring, talking to her and trying to calm her down. His distraction cost him a few more hard body punches before he pulled his attention back to the matter at hand.

Seeing Clementine’s distress, he realized he really had only one choice. He had to defeat the fae and make the angel his. He laughed silently to himself. As if she would ever be anyone else’s. He’d defy the laws of the universe for her.

Luc may have taken away the powers given to him for his bounty-hunting gig, but he still had his inherent powers. But then, so did the fae. When most humans thought about the fae kingdom, they usually imagined small, delicate creatures flying around on gossamer wings. Not so. Fae, especially dark fae, also had fierce warriors at their disposal. And this guy was one of the best.

Summoning his demon, Remington felt his body increase in size, his form turning bulky and intimidating. The fae automatically tried to take a step backward, but it was too late. Remington’s fist flew out, landing a punch on the other man’s handsome features. Blood flew from the man’s nose. His demon roared in approval, and Remington let the creature take control. He needed that raw, primal power to end this quickly. This man, this man was what was standing between the demon and his mate.

In just a few moments, the fight was over. The demon—Remington, the victor. The dark fae lay on the floor of the ring, his face a bloody mess and his upper body covered in bruises. Remington stood over him, his breathing heavy. “I’m sorry.”

The fae looked up at him. “Me too. But I had to try.”

Remington knew that feeling. It was new to him, though. He’d never really thought about the family curse that had kept the Conroy males in servitude to the devil. It was what it was. He’d had all he’d ever wanted—wealth, power, and women. All that had changed when Rafe had broken the curse and it was no longer just a fantasy to be with one woman. The woman he loved. Clementine.

He jumped from the ring, landing on his feet. Clementine ran towards him, and he opened his arms, a feeling of such completeness and contentment settling over him. His demon retreated, allowing the man this moment. He had a feeling he wouldn’t be seeing as much of his demon as he had in the past. Each had found that piece they’d been missing. Remington had Clementine, and his demon had an angel to balance out his soul.

“Are okay, baby? He didn’t hurt you did he?” He cupped the sides of her head, searching every exposed inch of her face and neck.

“No, no,” she shook her head, sending the tumble of dark locks swinging madly.

At her reassurance, Remington couldn’t wait another second. He bent his head and took her mouth, eating her up. He’d never felt so helpless in all his life. He had all these powers, and yet, he’d been unable to stop the man from getting a hold of her. He pulled away, put kept her wrapped up tight against him. “Do you remember what I told you at my parents’ house?” He reminded her of what he said he’d do if she ever disobeyed him again.

She grinned up at him. “Technically, I didn’t disobey you then, and I didn’t at the nightclub. You told me to get his attention.”

Remington growled low and deep, but it only made Clementine love him more. “But, I might be willing to be a bad girl so you can deliver that punishment.”

He bent low, giving her another kiss that reached the edges of her soul. She pulled away slightly. “I was so worried,” she whispered, her lips still touching his.

“What? Afraid I couldn’t take out a dark fae?”

She shook her head. “No, I was just worried you might get hurt.”

“Not a scratch on me, sweetheart.” His wink turned to a grimace when a hand clamped around his shoulder. Okay, so he had more than a scratch or two. But he would heal. And it had all been worth it to have Clementine in his arms.

“Good going, brother. You showed that fae what was what.” His brother Rafe stood behind Remington and behind him was Roark. Both men were grinning from ear to ear. “And, looks like you got your angel.”

Remington turned around and pulled Clementine to his side. “Damn straight.”

At the looks she was getting from everyone, she wanted to hide her suddenly burning face against Remington’s chest.

To her surprise, everyone stepped forward to give their blessing. Rachel took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Welcome to the family, Clementine.”

Clementine threw Remington a worried glance. Heart-stopping looks and panty wetting kissed had been exchanged, and he had fought the dark fae for her. But she had a feeling that he would have done that for any female. There had been no declarations of everlasting love or happily-ever-after.

“I, umm.” She smiled lamely at her employer.

“Rachel, sweetheart, you might be jumping the gun here.” Ravjeer placed his large hands on his wife’s shoulders and gave Clementine a warm smile.

“No, she’s not, Dad.” Remington cleared his throat and took Clementine’s hands in his. “Clementine.”

“On your knees, bro. You need to get on your knees.” Rafe whispered loudly, earning himself a snarl from Remington. To her surprise, Remington did fall to one knee.

“Clementine. I have loved you since I first saw you. I’m no prize in the mate department. I’m stubborn, bossy, want my own way.”

“And that’s just a few of his faults.” This from Roark.

Clementine looked up, her vision obscured by the tears forming in her eyes. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world. She was surrounded by people who loved her and the man she loved was kneeling before her, promising her… in so many words… the moon and the stars.

Another snarl from Remington had his brother chuckling, but refraining from saying anything else. “Will you marry me, Clementine?”

Remington’s face was a hard mask. She could see the muscle in the side of his jaw twitching, could almost hear the grind of his teeth as he waited for her answer. She took in all those things. The hardness, the inability to bend. That was Remington. A hard man, a stern demon. But that was the man she loved.

Just as she opened her mouth to give him her answer, Luc’s voice cut through the silence that had fallen. “Wait just a minute now.”

Remington jumped to his feet, placing himself between the other demon and Clementine. He saw the other males doing the same with their women. The sound that rose from Remington’s throat was that of a ferocious animal, cornered and protecting his mate. This was exactly what Remington was doing. “I will send you straight—”

“To hell? How redundant, Remington.” In a gesture that was almost awkward looking for the usually suave and sophisticated man, he thrust a small, black velvet box into Reminting’s hand. “You’re going to need this.” And with nothing more than a slight stirring of the usually hot-tempered air that abounds in hell, Luc disappeared.

Remington frowned at his boss’s abrupt departure. The man had been acting odd lately. Ever since, Remington realized, the Conroy curse had been broken. He brushed those thoughts aside, opening the small box. Inside was an old-fashioned, diamond solitaire engagement ring. He gave a whistle when he saw the size of the rock sitting atop the gold prongs. Damn, he was going to be in Luc’s debt again. But it was perfect for Clementine.

He took a deep breath before turning back around to his would-be-bride. He was nervous as hell. They’d spent so little time together, hell, had yet to make love, but yet, he felt as if he’d known her forever. “Clementine—”

She stepped toward him before he had to repeat his question. “Yes, I will marry you.”

Remington barely remembered to place the ring on her finger before he drew her into his arms for a kiss that made the males standing around them roar in approval. This, this was what happened when a demon found an angel sitting on his shoulder.

Remington felt sure the kiss might have lasted forever if a hard hand hadn’t clamped down on his shoulder. He tore his mouth away from Clementine’s eager one in order to give whichever of his brothers had interrupted them a piece of his mind. It wasn’t his brother; it was Luc, back again.

“Since my invitations to the last two wedding were lost in the mail, I’ve decided that you’ll be married here.” He waved his hand, and the room was transformed into a beach scene complete with the sound of ocean waves and sand beneath their feet.

Remington looked down and saw he was dressed in a pair of white linen pants and matching shirt opened at the neck. His brothers and the rest of the males in the group sported the same look. All the women wore long flowing dresses of varying colors. His gaze couldn’t help but linger at the burgeoning stomachs of his brothers’ mates. He wanted that too. Clementine swollen with his child.

Both his brothers had had fairly large weddings, and he didn’t want to deny Clementine that opportunity, despite Luc’s high-handedness. But, he wanted nothing more than to start their life together, right here and right now. “Clementine—”

She placed a finger over his lips and nodded her head. “It’s fine, Remington. I want this too. Right here, right now.” She gave him a saucy wink. “Besides, the sooner we’re married, the sooner we can have our wedding night.”

His brothers let out another series of loud whoops.

“If you’re sure.”

“Never more so in my life.” She turned her attention to the demon who was orchestrating everything. “Do I get a bouquet, Luc?”

He nodded his head regally. “Of course, my dear.” Immediately, a bouquet of flowers appeared in Clementine’s hands. They were white flowers, Remington didn’t recognize. Clementine seemed to love them, and that’s all that mattered. He realized that was all that would matter in the years to come. Clementine.

His father stepped forward, clamping his hand around his shoulder. “You ready, son?”

“Yep.”

“Then let’s get this show on the road. Clementine, may I walk you down the aisle?” He held out his arm and Clementine took it with a grin.

“Thank you, kind sir.”

Everyone fell into place naturally. Remington stood at the end of the room with his brothers acting as best men. Her two new sisters-in-law, their stomachs heavy with child, walked down the sandy pathway before her. Roark’s in-laws stood beside Rachel. Now, their appearance made sense. Luc, bless his heart, had thought of everything.

She looked at the end of the altar where the Prince of Darkness stood, his attire somewhat more somber than the other males, but casual and beachy as well. She didn’t know how she felt about having a demon instead of an angel officiating at her wedding, but knew it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the man standing under a flowered covered altar. Clementine realized it resembled the altar in her dream, but that was all. Thankfully, everything about this moment and that vision was different. And the most important thing was that Remington waited for her at the end of the aisle.