Chapter 9 #2
Those in attendance stopped what they were doing the second he’d appeared.
Standing at attention, they froze in place, each of them perfect warriors with skills honed to defend, protect, and keep the Underworld from those things evil and other that would dare try to seize what Lucifer had claimed for himself.
Being appointed General of the Daemonium Guard was an honor and a very grave duty.
Ash took his responsibilities seriously.
He only employed the best, most fearsome Demons and residents of Purgatory for the job.
Which was why he was so fucking pissed at them.
With a mighty snarl, he entered the room.
“What is so terrible that my hand chosen legates cannot contain it without calling me like an injured babe calling for his mother?”
“My liege,” the legate in question, a Demon named Heinrich, finally looked down, averting his gaze in that same respectful manner that was his due.
“Apologies, my liege, but I thought you needed to see this,” he mumbled, holding out his tablet.
It seemed everyone was online these days. Even in the Underworld. Just another modern annoyance, in his opinion. Okay, fine, so he enjoyed the ability to monitor his legions from his office without relying on some seer to report to him.
Ash growled deep and low, still annoyed at the Demon’s gall in summoning him. Only the sound of someone chuckling from inside his own office stopped him in his tracks.
It seemed Lucifer himself was in residence. Fabulous. Like Ash needed more interruptions. He glanced down at the proffered tablet and frowned. Fuck. This was serious. A large number of the soulless were gathering at the same southern border he was worried about earlier.
“Send legions eight and fifteen on the double. And make sure Vanth is updated. The number of soulless has tripled in the past forty-eight hours with no one’s notice! Unacceptable! I want reports, now. I want to know who missed this, and I want the legate in front of me on the double!” he roared.
“Yes, my liege,” grunted the Demon as Ash handed him back his tablet.
Without sparing another glance at the men in the room, he headed for his office door. Inside was Lucifer, larger than life, sitting at his desk, with his feet on the otherwise polished surface.
Fucker.
“Ah! There you are! Well?”
“Well, what?” Ash asked as his wings, horns, and tail receded.
“How was speed dating?”
“How did you even know I went?” He tried changing the subject, but the Lord of the Underworld was not stupid.
“Would my most loyal Demon disobey an order? Come on, spill!” Lucifer’s grin was wicked as he slammed a fist on the table.
Seemed he was not going anywhere without news, so Ash sat down and crossed his legs. He brushed some lint from his coat, knowing that Lucifer was damn near to blowing a gasket.
“I met someone,” Ash announced before his boss could erupt like a bloody volcano in his workspace.
“So, you admit, I was right? Ha! Tell me, old man. Who is she? Where is she? Does she live here or up top?”
He exhaled, rolling his shoulders, and trying to put a damper on the excitement he felt. He did not want to appear overeager, but there was no denying he cared for her. So, he told Lucifer about Gabriella, noting the man’s excitement that he too was fated to a Werewolf.
“This is fantastic, Ashmedai! I could not be more pleased. Have you told her yet? About being your fated mate and living here with you—”
“Not yet, no,” he said, interrupting Lucifer at his own peril. “But I will.”
He had to. Ash had a long way to go before he felt worthy of the sweet female, but he knew one thing for certain.
Gabriella Keen was his.
“My liege?”
Ash turned with a scowl at the sound of the interruption.
“Forgive me, but they need you on the southern border. The soulless are starting to overrun our legions!”
“Fucking hell,” he snarled.
“Better see to that,” Lucifer commanded, but Ash was already off.
Shit.
He’d much rather be on his way to pick up Gabriella, but it was Ash’s duty to be battle ready, if not eager for a fight.
Besides, knowing she would be his one day was an incentive to rid the Underworld of the nefarious creatures threatening its stability.
Above all other things, her safety was of the utmost importance.
“Legates! At the ready!” Ash shouted.
He bowed to Lucifer and exited the office, exhaling slowly at the responding growls and snarling from his elite warriors. Swords, maces, semiautomatics, and a variety of weapons in hand, his men saluted, falling in line behind him as he led them outdoors at a brisk pace.
The Daemonium Guard had their own secret portals to traverse the Underworld.
It was the only way to do what they did in any reasonable amount of time.
Chest heaving, he psyched himself up to investigate and, if necessary, put an end to the soulless’ invasion.
He faced his men before entering the tunnel that would bring them to the southern border in seconds and repeated the Daemonium creed.
"Sanguine et sudore nostra defendimus!”
The words were old but potent. Translated, it meant with blood and sweat we defend what is ours.
What else would a Guard do, after all? But it was the response that made all who’d heard of them fear the Daemonium Guard, those that protected the Underworld’s borders, led by the ruthless General Asmodeus.
“Ut dolor!” The legates snarled their response in unison.
To the pain, Ash translated snarling wickedly. And that was a promise. They would defend their lands to the pain of anyone who dared test them. There were things worse than death. Much worse. Ash could attest to that himself. It felt good to be on the giving end, rather than the receiving.
True, he had a lot to overcome in order to feel worthy of his sweet, but if love ever was a motivator, then now was the time.
Ash flexed his wings, glad that he’d worn jeans and a simple shirt to escort Gabby back home.
He had no time to change if he wanted to be on time.
And he would be on time to pick her up without fail. Always.
Pushing his mate’s sweetness from his mind was difficult, but he managed it. All he had to do to accomplish that was focus on her well being. No one would threaten his future mate’s safety and live to tell the tale.
Snarrrlll.