Demons Prefer Blondes (29 page)

Belial smirked. “Do we have an agreement?”

“She’s truly lost.” Rafe’s voice, although a muffled whisper, packed a punch that sent her senses reeling. He grabbed Lucy’s hand, his grip tight. “Now I understand.”

Was he giving up on his sister? If he gave up so easily on her, what would he do with her? Grabbing the collar of his jacket, she pulled him to face her. He couldn’t give up. “She sent him back to Limbo. Big deal. She didn’t kill him. You can’t give up. Not now. Your sister needs you.”

“You need me more. The only way to defeat Belial is for me to let her go.”

“But she’s your blood.”

With his thumb and forefinger, Rafe lifted her chin. “Michael said Coby would have her time. I’m not so sure of that anymore.”

He couldn’t give up on his family, not after he helped her get hers back. “But there has to be a way.”

Rafe’s gaze flickered. Reaching out, he traced a finger down her cheek. “She’s been under Belial’s control for too long. She needs to be destroyed.”

She reached down and grabbed a discarded dagger from the frozen ground, the cold metal biting her skin. “You’d let him take your own sister?”

“She won’t ever be the same. She’s lost her position as a Paladin.” His fists tightened as the silver oceans of his eyes churned. “Trust me, it’s what Coby would want.”

“Sorry, I don’t agree with adult euthanasia.”

Belial coughed, pulling them from their conversation. “I asked if we had an agreement.”

Rafe’s despair urged her on. Belial was going down. If he was supposed to put his sister out of her misery, she wouldn’t be denied giving Belial the same pleasure. “I think we can only agree to disagree, you demonic dickhead.”

With that, she scooped up Nic’s sword from the snowy ground. Somersaulting through the air, she lunged for Belial. He needed to go down—
now
.

“Lucy! No!”

Rafe’s plea, although loud, echoed faintly in Lucy’s ears. If he didn’t think he could save his sister, maybe she could. She had to.

“I have to stop him,” she ground out. With a quick thrust, she lunged for Belial.

Like a quick gust of wind, he spun away, the blade barely scraping his arm. He reached out and snaked his arms around her, yanking her against him. His chuckle, low and sinister, chilled her to the core. He plucked the sword from her hand and dropped it to the ground, his fingers steaming. Blowing a cold breath against his palm, he shook his head. “Let’s face it, Lucia. You’ll be my wife whether you want to or not.”

With a deep growl, Lucy struggled in his hold. Now she understood. She went after Belial in anger. Because she let her anger take over, she was back where she started.

“Like hell she will.” Rafe’s voice boomed, reverberating against the buildings.

Lucy snapped her head up to meet his gaze. Rafe’s gaze churned like two giant oceans, anger brewing on the surface. He stood with crossbow trained at Belial, aimed and ready to strike.

She threw him a pleading gaze.
Please, remain in control.

There were three emotions stronger than anger. Determination for one, courage for another. And, of course, love. And she had plenty of them all, especially love. She allowed each emotion to pound their way through her body. She had to survive. She needed to send the
Arca Inferorum
back to Limbo. She slid a gaze to Rafe’s sister. She needed to save Coby. Saving her would save Rafe.

“Hmm.” Her angelic voice lifted through the air. Coby scratched her chin. She turned to glance at her brother, her gaze empty. Rafe jerked his gaze away.

“See how he denies you, Jacoba?”

Lucy bit down hard into his wrist. “Don’t listen to him!”

“So who are you going to save, Rafael Deleon?” Belial threw back his head and chuckled. “Your flesh-and-blood sister?” He flung Lucy forward, his claws deep in her arms. “Or the succubus you’ve been fucking?”

“Bastard,” she breathed under her breath.

“Yes, I am.” He hauled her against him, the hard planes of his body jabbing into her. The stench of brimstone and cinnamon engulfed her… swallowed her. Were those his lips? Sloppy, wet, and fetid.

Rafe roared, the sound echoing in the air. The eerie snap of the crossbow followed. Belial gasped, the arrow wedged deep in his shoulder. Lucy jerked herself from his grasp and tripped across the snowy ground. Hopefully Rafe could load another arrow as quick as he had that one.

With a sardonic chuckle, Belial ripped the arrow from his shoulder, the almost-black blood dripping steadily down his arm. In all the excitement, she’d failed to notice that blood no longer scared her. Maybe it was because he deserved to bleed.

“Jacoba, dear. Kill him.”

Lucy’s heart stopped and her stomach lurched. Screw the blood. He deserved more. He deserved to go back to Hell.

Jacoba reached behind her back and grabbed her dagger, aimed at her brother and ready to strike.

Rafe stood there, grief creased his face. His jaw locked. He clenched the crossbow tight, any tighter and the thing would split in half. “Coby, it’s me. Rafael.” Despite the thick tension in the air, his voice remained calm and clear. “Your brother.”

Jacoba narrowed her gaze, her nose scrunched. Silvery strands of hair whipped with the wind. Dagger poised and ready to fly, she took a long breath of air. “Some brother,” she muttered. With sheer fluidity, she traced her finger along the blade, like she was admiring its shiny surface.

That walking sack of demon excrement had pulled a number on her. Lucy had to act quickly or Coby would do something she’d regret. She took cautious steps forward, holding her hand out like she was approaching an injured doe. “Your brother loves you. He’s done nothing but support you.”

“Support me? Where was his support when I sat in the dungeons of Hell?” She clenched the hilt of the dagger, her gaze slicing.

“The Fore-Demons sent him here instead. Believe me, he would’ve rather been there rescuing you had he the choice.” She inched closer to Rafe, ready to defend.

Belial growled, his claws digging into Lucy’s arm. “Kill him now, Jacoba.”

Lucy pleaded through her pain, “Your brother loves you. He’s told me all about you. Don’t do it. You’re his sister, his flesh and blood. That’s got to mean something.”

A flicker of remorse flashed in her eyes. She bit her lip as a glisten of a tear formed in the corner of her eye. “Rafe,” she murmured. The dagger dropped to the ground, the snow enveloping it in a frozen cocoon. Lucy breathed a sigh of relief. There was hope for Coby after all.

“Lucy! Coby! Watch out!” Rafe’s voice, full of urgency, reeled her back in.

She swiveled around.

With a loud, garbled roar, Belial ripped out a long, serrated blade, the tips sparking against the ice and snow. “You worthless bitch! You failed me. Now you die.”

“So be it,” Coby mumbled.

In a literal flash, the blade sailed through the air. Lucy’s breath caught in her throat. She just stood in place, her head hanging low, ready to accept her fate.

Fortunately for Coby, Lucy wasn’t ready to accept that fate. And she had news for Coby: neither was Rafe. She sailed in the air, toward Rafe’s sister.

“Lucy! No!”

Rafe’s new phrase of choice. Regardless, she wouldn’t turn back now. There was too much at stake. She did this for him. She loved him. She couldn’t let Belial take his sister away from him.

Wind whizzing through her hair as she flipped through the air, Lucy smiled. She wouldn’t fail. With a not-so-graceful somersault, she dove for Coby. In a flutter of her heavy priestess robes, they tumbled to the ground, snow and ice flying.

“Aren’t you big and brave,” Belial seethed. Armed with a long, simple dagger, he flew at them. His golden eyes sparked like violent flames. Long gnarly horns ripped from his head. Anger and rage contorted his face, his tawny mane whipping around his head. A roar, deep and primal, ripped from his mouth as he continued his grotesque metamorphosis.

She could add shape-shifting to Belial’s long list of demonic feats. And it was only appropriate he’d shift into a lion. Then again, lions didn’t usually have horns.

In the distance, a bell tolled. Belial stopped in his tracks. Did someone invite Hemingway to this little foray? For her fear of old men and seas, she hoped not.

“Belial! You’re too late.” Rafe stood tall, the crossbow poised and ready.

“Your silly arrows won’t keep me detained more than a few weeks at the most.”

“How about an archangel’s arrow?” he asked, his finger poised on the trigger.

An archangel had blessed Rafe’s weapon? Lucy’s heart soared. She scanned his expression, stony and severe. Not a lick of emotion spread on his face. Perhaps it was only a bluff. Even if he were bluffing, she knew he could do it.

“As if an archangel would bless any of your weapons. I’ve seen your record.” Letting out a loud guffaw, Belial lunged for him.

With one fluid motion, Rafe pulled the trigger, the snap of the crossbow a welcome echo in her ear. The silver tip of the arrow sparked as it sailed through the air.

With a loud pop, the arrow hit Belial’s chest.

Dark blood pooling from his chest, Belial let out a gurgling gasp. Blood trickled from his mouth and nose as he clutched the sliver arrow wedged deep into his black heart. His once-vibrant gold eyes faded to black. He stumbled forward and threw his hands out, ready to grab Rafe and bring him where ever he was going.

“Rafe! Look out!”

With a quick leap, Rafe sidestepped Belial’s grasp. Belial, with a gurgled groan, fell forward and landed in the puffy snow, blood tainting the pristine whiteness as he withered away, a coating of gray ash and dust the only thing remaining. With a biting cold blast of air, the ash blew away in a violent whip of wind.

“Rafe!” Full of relief, she flung herself into his arms and pressed her lips to his. Wrapping her arms around his neck and latching onto his silky hair, she pulled in closer. She never wanted to let go. Her lips roamed and prodded his as her tongue swirled and pushed its way inside. Zings of warm energy rushed through every vein in her body. Not as hot as before, but still as intense. Reluctantly, she pulled her lips from his and nestled her head on his shoulder. “You did it,” she breathed.

“We aren’t finished yet,” he stated with a quick peck to her cheek. He turned her to face the
Arca Inferorum
, still glowing like a giant demon beacon. Sparks and shadows swirled around it. Smoke and fog danced in eerie accompaniment.

“The demons are loosed and ready for your control.” Rafe’s sister padded toward them, her head still cast down. “I am your humble servant.”

Rafe sucked in a deep breath and reached for his sister’s hand, his eyes swirling with warmth. “Coby, you’re free.”

Coby jerked her hand from his grasp and turned away. “Free? You call this free? How can I possibly be free now?” Silver eyes flashing, she snorted. “If you know what’s right, you’ll just let me be,
Rafael
.” With an annoyed huff, she spun away and stalked toward the road.

The scathing use of his given name sent cringes racing through Lucy’s system. Fists clenched at her side, her blood boiled. This was the thanks she gave her brother—her own flesh and blood—for saving her life? “Now wait just a minute,” she ground out. “Your brother risked his life to save your ass. Be a sister, damn it.”

Coby shrugged, a cryptic smile spread across her face. “No, he risked his ass to save
yours
. But it was worth it.” She disregarded Lucy with a toss of her spun-silver hair and turned away.

“Hey there, aren’t you mine to command?” Lucy asked, doing her best to sound authoritative. She stood tall, her arms crossed.

Coby strode off, her hair swaying with each move of her hips. “You already have,” she called over her shoulder as she faded into the mists.

Turning to Rafe, she brushed a lock of stray hair from his brow. “I didn’t tell her to do that, did I?”

Rafe shook his head. “No. It’s common for the Infernati to twist someone’s words.”

Her stomach knotted. “She’s Infernati?”

“Not completely, but enough to remain a threat.”

“But she refused to kill you. You’re just going to let her walk away?”

“Coby does what she wants and doesn’t let anyone stop her.” A small half-smile curved his lips. “At least that part of her is still intact.”

“Then there’s still hope? Someone has to go to her.”

“That, unfortunately, isn’t my mission.” Rafe gazed down at her, a bittersweet mixture of silver and gray swirling in his eyes. “You—not Coby—not even the
Arca Inferorum
—are my mission.”

“What?”

“When Michael presented himself to me, I finally understood. He also said Coby will have her time. All isn’t completely lost.”

“What about Nic? How can she get over that? She killed him.”

“Nic isn’t dead.” His gaze flashed a hint of somberness. “At least not his body. He loved her, you know.”

“Oh Rafe, I’m so sorry.” she pressed close to him, allowing her warmth to mingle with his. She traced a finger through his hair, just wanting to give him comfort—to show she cared. Heck, she wanted to show him she loved him too.

“The Fore-Demons knew the only way I could defeat Belial was if I stepped from my sister’s shadow. I’ve kept myself secluded too long. It took one saucy succubus to cure me.”

“I cured you?”

“More than you realize.”

“And I didn’t even need a degree in medicine to do it.” She nudged Rafe toward the circle of rocks, ready to finish the mission—together.

She scanned the area to check on her friends. Squeaky, wearing a ragged suit coat and crumpled fedora, flexed his chimp muscles for Serah. With a snort, Serah laughed then doubled over, wincing with pain. Squeaky, ever-attentive familiar that he was, turned Dr. Ross on her and examined every bone in her body.

Kalli, arms crossed, leaned against the side of the chapel, dreadlocks mangled and fishnets gaping with even larger holes. Cigarette poised between her lips, she took a long drag, spirals of smoke puffing into the air. With a brief flicker of amethyst eyes, she offered a cursory nod Lucy’s way and turned to stare off at the cloudy gray sky.

She’d leave Kalli to her thoughts. She knew most of Lucy’s as it was.

Frankie and Gerardo, on the other hand, fought and bickered. Gerardo flicked a snowy white, slightly mangled wing while Frankie ripped off the sleeve of his sweater into perfect strips. Despite the minor injuries, everyone was okay.

“Everyone’s safe, honey,” she whispered in Rafe’s ear. “Let’s send this baby back to Limbo.” She laced her fingers with his and led him toward the damned chest. The sooner they sent it back, the sooner she could start her life—with Rafe.

Kneeling in the snow, she peered inside. The chest’s energy washed over her, its tentacles of warmth crawling over her skin. If this was their idea of ecstasy, they never spent a night in bed with Rafael Deleon.

Rafe’s grip tightened on her shoulder. “Be careful. Its energy is very intoxicating.”

She soaked in the minty scent that wafted from him as he knelt beside her. Placing her hand on his chest, she smiled. “Not as much as you.”

His heart thudded against her fingers and he drew in a deep breath of air. Inky black hair blowing against snowy white flakes, he brushed a snowflake from her cheek. Despite the biting cold wind, tender warmth swirled between them. She needed to concentrate, or she’d end up a pile of mush in the snow. Reining in her hormones, she took in a deep breath.

“So what do we do?”

“It’s all you, Lucy. I’m just here for moral support.”

“And here I thought it was because you loved me.”
Wow, way to drop the L word, Lucy.

A slow smile widened his lips. “That too.”

Her eyes widened. “Really?”

“Yes, Lucy.” He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her to him, the heat of his chiseled chest pulsing from him and filling her with sizzling energy. His silver eyes bored into her with a fervor she never knew. “I love you.”