CHAPTER 14
Zarreth
“P ut on your dancing shoes, it’s a little bigger than a small get-together,” Ronin says when I answer his call.
I’m standing in Frankie’s driveway leaning against the Jeep. Jess left early this morning, and I spent the day counting how many times I could make Frankie come. “I figured Dante wasn’t capable of doing anything small. Who’s all there? Anyone we need to worry about?”
“Fucking Cronus is here. I don’t recognize anyone else.”
I hate Cronus. Before Ronin and I were captured, we did some reconnaissance for Dante whenever he had issues with his horde and needed someone they wouldn’t recognize to do some cleanup. Cronus was always a sneaky son of a bitch who can’t be trusted.
“Okay. We’ll be there in about an hour.” I end the call, slipping the phone into my pocket.
Frankie’s standing next to me wearing a pair of ripped jeans that perfectly hug her ass and a tight pink t-shirt that shows off a sliver of her sexy stomach. “I’m nervous. How bad is this going to be that we had to send Ronin ahead to scope things out for us?”
I grab her jaw, pulling her mouth toward mine. “Don’t be scared, little one,” I say before devouring her lips.
She mumbles against my mouth, “I feel like you’re trying to distract me, and it’s working.”
I bite her bottom lip before opening the door, watching Frankie crawl into the passenger’s seat. I quickly shut the door before I devour her again.
“Ronin is a shadow demon. It’s in his blood to always be on the lookout. He scopes out his location a head of time no matter where he’s going,” I explain after sliding into the driver’s seat. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Just stay by my side and try not to bring attention to yourself.”
“I can do that. I’m good at keeping a low profile.”
I smile as I put the Jeep in drive, knowing what I’m about to say next will make her freak out. “You can’t help it, Frankie. You smell different.”
“What! What do you mean I smell different?” She lifts her arm and sniffs. “I stink?”
I laugh. “Trust me, Melita . You do not stink. Most beings have a specific scent. Your scent is a little different is all.”
“Different from what? Different from other humans?” She panics.
I reach over, resting my hand on her thigh. “You smell sweeter. It’s not a bad thing, but other demons will notice it. We need to avoid unwanted attention the best we can.”
“Well, that’s just great.” She huffs before adding, “what does Melita mean?”
“There’s not really a direct translation to English, but Melitamelech basically means a sweet treat. I think it’s fitting. Don’t you?” I squeeze her thigh.
She blushes, scooting closer and placing her legs on each side of the stick shift so she can rest her head on my shoulder. An unfamiliar feeling creeps through my body. Contentment, I think.
We drive through a towering wrought-iron gate. I park the jeep next to a row of motorcycles. The building that lies in front of us is a gothic masterpiece. Intricate carvings adorn the black stone walls. Statues of winged demons are perched along the steeply pitched roof.
Frankie fidgets with her necklace as she gives me a nervous smile. “Let’s do this.”
A blue eyed, blonde-haired demon appears beside her door. He yanks her door open, bowing in a grand gesture. Confused, she looks at me as I roll my eyes. “Ronin’s a little over the top.”
He locks eyes with me, smirking before grabbing Frankie’s hand and bringing it to his lips. “You must be the beautiful woman Zarreth’s been fawning over.” He inhales deeply, taking in her scent. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, love.”
I’m at his side before he does anything else to piss me off. I clench my fists to keep from punching my best friend in the back of his head. Why the fuck am I so jealous? Ronin flirts with everyone, but I know he isn’t interested in Frankie. He’s fucking lucky he likes males.
“So, are you guys going to let me out, or are we just going to hang out here all night?” Frankie asks.
We step aside, letting her exit the vehicle. She interlaces her fingers with mine, looking at me with a nervous expression. “Don’t leave me alone in there.”
“I wouldn’t even think about it,” I say as I bring her hand to my lips, replacing the kiss Ronin left there.
Ronin flashes me an evil grin as the three of us walk toward the arched doorway. “Frankie, huh? What a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”
If I clench my jaws any harder, my teeth will crumble.
She blushes. “My name is Frances, actually. I hate it, so I go by Frankie.”
I look at her, trying to imagine calling her Frances. It’s cute, but Frankie fits her personality better.
She gasps as we step through the threshold, entering the building. Red drapes hang from the ceiling where naked demons perform aerial acrobatics. A massive wrought iron chandelier hangs from the vaulted ceiling, windows framed by giant arches.
Demons are gathered around the stage, watching performers spin and dance in an elaborate choreography involving fire. Naked succubi with red skin walk around carrying trays of wine and demon brew.
“Oh my God,” Frankie exclaims when she sees two demons having sex on a sofa in the middle of the room. I’m glad her human ears can’t make out what’s going on in the other, more secluded rooms. Although, I would pay good money to watch her blush if she could.
“I wonder if they’re looking for a third.” Ronin nods at the naked couple and meanders toward them. He’s good at using seduction to gain intel. He may look like a playboy, but he’s always on high alert.
A succubus wearing only a loin cloth and pierced nipples walks by holding a tray of drinks. Frankie stares at her, mesmerized. Succubi are known for their beauty. It helps lure in their victims so they can feed on their souls.
“Don’t look at them for too long. They’re more dangerous than they appear,” I say as she blinks a few times before peering up at me.
“It’s hard not to. I’ve never seen curves like that before.” She reaches for a glass of demon brew.
“You must not look in a mirror very often,” I say, quickly grabbing the demon brew from her hand and replacing it with a glass of wine. She may have a higher alcohol tolerance now that she has started the change, but the demon brew will still knock her on her ass.
“Well, if it isn’t Aradon’s favorite toy.” I suppress my growl, turning around as a burly demon with a huge scar where his left eye should be pats me on the back.
Tucking one hand in my pocket, I lean back on my heals and squeeze Frankie’s hand with the other. “Well, if it isn’t Cronus—always stirring the pot, but too much of a coward to face the heat yourself.”
His jaw clenches at my insult, but he ignores it. He looks Frankie up and down, giving her a wicked smile. I feel her body shudder in response.
I wrap my arms around her waist. “She’s mine, Cronus,” I warn, letting him know she’s off limits.
Cronus turns his gaze toward me. “Lucky you,” he says.
I bare my fangs and growl.
“Dante wants to see you.” He points to a heavy wooden door. “Go through that stairwell. It’s the first door to the right.”
We walk through the door, pausing when it closes behind us. It’s dark in here and I know Frankie’s eyes need time to adjust. I feel her stiffen. Even in the dark, I can see the color drain from her face as her breathing turns short and choppy.
“I-I’m sorry. I’m a little claustrophobic. I need a minute.” She cracks open the door, letting in some light, and stands in the doorway.
I wonder if she developed claustrophobia from being trapped in a pantry for days on end when she was a kid. I take a deep breath to dampen my anger. I can’t think about her piece of shit parents right now. That will only cause her more stress.
Pressing my back to the door, I hold it open as I cup her face with my hands. “Breathe with me.” Together, we mindfully inhale and exhale until her breathing returns to normal.
“I can meet with Dante alone. You’ll be safe here with Ronin.”
“No, please. I want to go. If Dante has any information whatsoever about my brother, I want to be there.”
“I understand. Would it help if I carried you?”
“Yes, but I want to walk. I can do this.” She takes a couple more deep breaths and stiffens her spine. “Okay, let’s go.”
I grab her hand, guiding her deeper into the stairwell. As the door closes she says, “Please don’t let go of me.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulder, pulling her to me. “I will never let you go,” I say, realizing I mean every word.
Her body trembles against mine as we walk up the stairs. “We’re almost there, little one. You’re doing so good.”
I’m suddenly thankful for the lack of light, as we reach the top. Frankie doesn’t need to see the bloody, half-dead creature chained to the far wall. It’s similar to the one I destroyed in front of her and Jess. What the fuck is Dante up to?
We enter the first door on the right. It opens up to a large room with a balcony overlooking the main floor.
Dante is sitting on a red, velvet couch. His long white hair falls down his back; huge horns curl forward from both sides of his head. His gray eyes hold the wisdom of someone who has lived a thousand lives, which he has. His age makes him much more dangerous and harder to kill than an average demon.
He stands, sending the two succubi perched on his lap falling to the floor. They scramble away as Frankie gasps in shock, covering her mouth. I give her hand a gentle squeeze, silently reassuring her.
Dante picks up a staff he doesn’t need and leans on it. He likes making people underestimate him. Even bent over, he stands about six inches taller than I do.
“Zarreth! Long time, no see,” he says like we’re old friends. He holds his hand out to me, wrist limp, fingers adorned with an assortment of gems.
I take his hand, reluctantly kissing the back of it. Dante giggles like I caught him by surprise, but everyone knows this is how he likes to be greeted. “Thank you for inviting us.”
“It’s my pleasure.” He gestures to the couch across from the one he was sitting on. “Sit, sit.”
Sitting down, I pull Frankie on my lap, staking my claim. Dante sits on his own couch, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply. When he opens them, they’re black, but they quickly turn gray again as he focuses on Frankie.
“So, who do we have here?” He pats the seat next to him. “Come here, child. I want to have a look.”
I tighten my hold on Frankie, knowing he wants more than just a look. “She’s with me, Dante. You can see her fine from there.”
“Calm down, Zarreth,” he says. “I would never hurt your pretty little halfling.”
Frankie looks at me, confused. She opens her mouth to say something, but I shake my head. I can hardly believe it when she listens and closes her mouth.
“Why did you bring us here?” I ask.
Dante nods his head towards Frankie. “I knew you had questions about the halfling’s brother, and my curiosity simply got the best of me.”
Frankie’s muscles tighten when he emphasizes the word halfling, but she doesn’t mention anything about the nickname. “Y-you know about my brother?”
Dante’s eyes soften in a fake show of empathy. “I wish I had information for you, dear. I really do, but I know nothing of your brother.”
She scoffs. “So, you brought us here to gawk at me? The halfling? Why do you keep calling me that, anyway?”
I squeeze her hip, willing her to stop talking. That mouth of hers is going to get us in trouble. I knew I should have told her everything before we came here, but I didn’t want to make her more nervous than she already was. Why the fuck did I think Dante would keep his mouth shut?
Dante cackles, sending shivers down my spine. He rubs his hands together. “Isn’t she exquisite? Wherever did you find her, Zarreth?”
I don’t want Frankie to pique his interest any more than she already has. It’s best to leave now, even though we’ve learned nothing. “Okay, well sorry to waste your time. If we’re done here, we’ll be on our way.”
I tap Frankie on the hip, signaling to her it’s time to leave. She stands, and I follow suit.
Dante leans back, sighing dramatically. “Okay, fine. You’re such a party pooper, Zarreth. You need to lighten up. I brought you here to talk about our future together. Now that you have finally escaped that monster, Aradon.”
I sit back down with Frankie on my lap again. “We don’t have a future together. You know I’m a Recreant through and through. I will never join your horde.”
“Of course, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be allies. I know about Aradon’s secret weapon, the one he wants to use to destroy the Human Realm. That fool should know he can’t keep a secret from me.”
“How do I know you won’t go after the secret weapon yourself?” I’m sure he could use someone with Frankie’s foretold abilities.
Dante’s eyes shift to her before answering. “I have no use for said weapon, other than to prevent it from falling into Aradon’s hands. I’ve made a comfortable life for myself here. I need to make sure he doesn’t ruin it. I know you have your own reasons for stopping him, and I figured we could help one another out.”
Frankie shifts uneasily on my lap but remains silent.
“What do you need from me?” I ask.
Dante grabs a decanter of demon brew from the side table, pouring himself a glass. He then tilts it toward me in a silent offer. I shake my head.
He takes a drink and says, “The future isn’t clear where Aradon is concerned. The only thing I know for sure is you and your halfling are key to stopping him.” He zeros in on Frankie. “Or do you prefer the term secret weapon? I, myself, think that term is rather boring. Maybe we can come up with something more exciting to call you, like Realm Eater, perhaps.”
Fuck! Anxiety claws at my chest. I did not want Frankie to find out this way.
She wrinkles her forehead. “What the hell are you talking about?” She turns to me. “Zarreth, what the hell is he talking about? What the hell is a Realm Eater?”
I glare at Dante as he gives me a knowing smile. “Oops,” he says dramatically. “I didn’t realize you hadn’t told your mate everything yet. Please forgive me for causing any confusion.”
“What’s going on?” Frankie asks, panic causing her voice to raise a few octaves.
Before I can say anything, Dante stands, grabbing the decanter of demon brew from the table. “Well, I best be off. I don’t want to get in the middle of a lover’s quarrel.” Right before he disappears, he looks at me. “Trust your instincts, Zarreth. Your mate is more powerful than you think.”