Demons Prefer Blondes (30 page)

He didn’t wait for her response. Instead, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. His lips, firm and protective, crushed against hers. Coaxing her mouth open, his tongue swept inside, melting her against him. As quickly as the kiss started, he pulled away.

“Why’d you stop?”

Rafe brushed a fingertip over her kiss-swollen lips. “The
Arca Inferorum
, remember? We’ll continue the kiss later.”

Nodding, she threw a dagger-like glare at the chest. She wanted to send that chest back to Limbo now… more than ever. She had purpose. She’d save the world. She’d save her friends and family. She would save her shop. She’d continue that kiss with Rafe. That, itself, made it all worthwhile. “I look forward to it.” She stood on strangely steady legs. With a wide smile, she offered Rafe a hand. Not that he needed her help, but she just needed his skin against hers. She knew she had to be the one who wrangled the demons back in the chest, but having him with her made all the difference. He was her man, and she’d definitely stand by him.

“Thank you darling.” Rafe brushed snow from his jeans and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Now let’s get your minions collected.”

“
My
minions?” Even though she went through enough weirdness in the past couple of days to last a lifetime, it still was surreal. She could control a whole legion of demons. That was a lot of power. She shivered as the pulsing and flashing energy from the
Arca Inferorum
tried to weave its spell. She didn’t want that power.

“Don’t let it seduce you.”

“Only one person can do that. And it certainly isn’t some dusty old box.”

With that, Lucy spun around and glared down at the chest. The one thing that had turned her life upside down, sideways and inside out. The only good thing that came from it was Rafe. That’s what made this whole ordeal worthwhile.

Lucy took a deep breath. Did she have to say anything special? It couldn’t be as easy as just saying “Get back in.” She closed her eyes. Soaking in the energy around her, she allowed it to spur her on.

She opened her mouth to speak, the Latin flowing from her tongue like butter. “All my loosed minions, I command you return to the
Arca Inferorum
.”

Angry screeches intermingling with tormented moans rent the air. A bitter cold blast of air whipped around them. The chest glowed brighter, a beacon for the lost souls. Violent gusts of air spiraled, sending their hair flying in every direction. Even as the icy winds flicked at their faces, they stood proud and remained calm. The wind intensified, spinning and whirling from the center of the chest. She snapped her head up. The eerie gray vortex flung itself around, the echo of the winds hissing in her ears. Screeches and groans, squeals and moans cried out in a terrifying cacophony as the greenish gray clouds rotated and intensified, sucking in her demonic minions with each brutal twist. But she and Rafe stood tall. She could do anything, as long as he was by her side.

Reaching out through the tornadic wind, she took Rafe’s hand in hers. His grip, strong and sure, sent waves of determination coursing through her. Hands still clasped, they stood together as the chest sucked the remaining Infernati back to whence they came.

“Please!” a haunting voice whined. Fingers, thin and long, clawed at her legs, latching on. “Don’t send us back.” The demoness’s claws dug into her jean-clad legs, her icy grip weakening with each cyclonic gust.

It was a test. No matter how sweet and innocent the woman sounded, she’d been put in the
Arca Inferorum
for a reason. And it wasn’t because she won the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite the evil that she eradicated, Lucy still felt a little guilty. She closed her eyes, her heart constricting in her chest. She pursed her lips together and bit back the tears. A trickle traced down her cheek and over her lip, the odor of iron wafting to her nose. Blood. These weren’t her tears.

“I’m sorry. It’s the only way.” Lucy shook her leg and the demoness’s claws loosened. The blood tears faded and her sorrow lifted, only to be replaced with anger and rage.
Bloody Infernati.
With a swift kick, she sent the demoness flying backward, her screech fading into the violent spin of the wind. The cyclone fizzled and the glowing energy faded away.

She took a deep breath and slammed the lid of the chest down, the loud snap of the lock reverberating against the buildings. Reclaiming Rafe’s hand, she let him draw her close and envelop her in his warmth. There was no other place she wanted to be. Maybe one other place… her bedroom.

With a quick review of the area, she saw her friends, all together, smiles and cheers bursting from their lips. Squeaky’s chimp form jumped down with enthusiasm as he clapped and hollered. Kalli offered a sly smile yet remained strangely aloof. Frankie and Gerardo hugged and high-fived each other like they’d just watched their favorite football team win the Super Bowl. Weird. But right now, she didn’t care. They just saved the world.

“You did it,” Rafe’s breath teased along her ear, sending delightful shivers racing through her body.

She snuggled closer. “No,
we
did it.”

“Indeed.” He wrapped his arm tighter around her. She never wanted him to let go. Relief washed over her as his heart thrummed in her ear. She smiled. Rafe couldn’t call himself a failure anymore. He’d helped rid the world of a legion of demons. His mission was a success.

Lucy turned to him, longing to say those words that had tickled her tongue for so long. “I love you, Rafe. Ever since the day you walked into my shop. I’ve never felt so strongly for anyone. It’s fiercely hot yet warm and tender.” Great. She was on the verge of turning into a Shakespearean sonnet. “I know this sounds cliché, but it’s magical.”

Rafe chuckled, deep and throaty. “It’s not magic, it’s love, and it’s how I felt when I first met you.”

He pulled her close and brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. “I would do anything for you. I can’t say it enough, I love you.”

Lucy wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his, warmth and love filling her every pore. “Magical indeed.”

Rafe traced a finger across her lips. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Lucy placed tender kisses along his fingertips. Neither would she.

I’d like to thank the many people who have read bits and pieces of this manuscript, either for feedback or critique. Especially Tanya, Peggy, Kim, Susan, and Juli. HUGE thanks to Bobbi Smith and Judi McCoy. If it weren’t for Bobbi’s awesome writing workshop and Judi’s awesome Post-it notes plotting workshop at the 2008 Romantic Times Convention, this book wouldn’t exist. Also thanks to Judi Fennell, CJ Redwine, and Kerri Nelson for assisting me with perfecting the dreaded query letter. You all rock!

Sidney Ayers
loves infusing her stories with humor. What would the world be without a little bit of laughter? She writes in a wide variety of genres, ranging from historical to paranormal to contemporary. A native of Michigan, Sidney still lives in the same town she grew up in. No matter how hard she tries, she just can’t seem to get away. Michigan is in her blood. Scary thought, huh?