Chapter 6
“I don’t know what the fuck you two did in there, but I have a feeling we have all been banned from every demonic bar in a thousand-foot-radius,” Logan said on a growl.
He staggered ahead of us naked and covered in soot. My session with Kaito had brought hellfire into the Demonspawn city, which apparently was not supposed to happen. The streets glowed red and Demonspawn had fled the vicinity seeking shelter.
Even Demonspawn thought Hell could get too hot—who knew?
Although the streets were clear, I felt eyes on us as we followed Logan toward the Demonspawn barracks.
We knew exactly where to go because our mate-circle connection guided us.
All this time bonding with my Virtues made sense to me now.
I hadn’t been wasting time, and instead reassured each of my Virtues that they belonged with me, and I with them.
Together, we would grow and learn to trust one another despite all the bad history between us.
Kaito and I clasped hands as we walked in silence.
His body glowed with waves of red power and his tattoo lit up like a metallic brand on his skin.
Above all, I sensed a growing confidence in him that hadn’t been there before.
A smile lit my face when I realized that I had put that conviction there.
Because of me, he wasn’t afraid to face what he was: a demon who he had believed to be beyond redemption.
That was a kindred fear that I could relate with and together, we would conquer it.
“Thank you,” he said, glancing at me and rewarding me with a gorgeous smile.
“It’s like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
All this time I have been pursuing the prophecy in hopes of gaining power—power that would wipe out all my sins.
But I realize now that the power I sought wasn’t as I imagined it.
” He brought my fingers to his lips for a kiss.
“You are that power. You are everything I’ll ever need. ”
Logan paused to glower at us. “I’d tell you two to get a room, but that proved to be a bad idea.”
Chuckling, I grabbed Logan and squeezed his hand.
He made a sound of complaint, but then fell in line so that I could walk with two of my Virtues hand-in-hand.
Despite where we were, and the challenges coming our way, I couldn’t help but burst into a giddy smile.
I didn’t dare name this feeling, because if I admitted I was actually happy, I knew something would swoop in and take it away.
And being between two powerful males who loved me, with one of them showing off all the goods that were entirely at my disposal? Yeah. I was pretty fucking happy.
“We really have to find you some clothes,” Kaito said to the wolf. “You’re distracting Lily.”
Logan grinned. “Hey, after that last show you two pulled, I’m going to use every advantage I can get.”
While my two Virtues broke into witty banter with me literally stuck in the middle, the Demonspawn barracks came into view. Magnificent black spires jutted into the cavern’s ceiling and creatures flew around the top, giving the building a haunted atmosphere.
Yep. This was the place where my screwed up destiny would take a nose dive further into the pits of Hell.
At least I wouldn’t be alone. I felt the pull to the rest of my guys, even if they all had mixed feelings about my latest session with Kaito.
It had brought heat and hellfire into the mate-circle, fueling us all with the power of suffering that came naturally to the darker parts of my genetics.
Being part-succubus and part-Demonspawn, I had to come to terms with the source of my power.
Suffering was a part of my history, a part of the culture all around me and it couldn’t be ignored.
As they say, when in Hell, do as the demons do.
An armed entourage of Demonspawn greeted us at the entrance. One of the males with crooked horns motioned to the hall. “Luc is waiting for you.”
I kept ahold of Logan and Kaito as we walked in. The remaining four Demonspawn surrounded us and didn’t seem to notice Logan’s lack of clothing, but they did keep a wary eye on Kaito.
My mentor glared back at them with defiance as his tattoo glowed with power. I had no doubt that if they made one wrong move, he would show them what a Kami was capable of.
The entourage led us through the halls until we came to a massive throne room, complete with a smug-looking male who didn’t need a crown to demonstrate his claim.
Two large horns protruded from his head, but those weren’t what captured my attention.
The fanning bat wings behind him swayed and spread out over the throne’s armrests as he considered us.
The audience of Demonspawn parted, revealing the rest of my Virtues chained by their wrists. Orion broke his shackles the moment he saw me and sent the Demonspawn around him roaring with panic.
Hendrik chuckled while Dante watched with those ever-pensive eyes of his. Jess screeched from her position next to the male on the throne. “I told you guys to play it cool!”
Orion ignored them all while he scooped me up, ripping me from Kaito and Logan in the process.
“Little star. How are you feeling? Are you okay?” He held me aloft while his other hand ran over me as if checking for injury, although he spent too much time checking my breasts. He smiled as he squeezed.
“She’s more than okay,” Hendrik commented as he glared at Kaito. “And I’d say the counselor has some explaining to do. I know dark magic when I feel it and that was some pretty dark shit.”
I squirmed in Orion’s crushing grasp as I tried to kick him. “Put me down, you oversized hornsickle!”
Orion chuckled, but obeyed. I spotted the demon on his throne watching us all with an amused expression. He bowed his head in respect. “Princess. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Huh. A polite demon, go figure.
“I assume you’re Luc?” I asked, shaking free of Orion’s groping hands to approach the throne. The rest of my Virtues watched in silence, but I sensed their tension.
Will you all calm down? I said, sending out the thought into their minds. I can take care of myself.
I didn’t need to remind them that until recently, I’d had no one to protect me from them.
Their emotions quieted as Luc rose from his throne.
I didn’t like the smile on his face that said he knew exactly what was going on.
“I can’t hear you, but your powers stem from Hell itself, so please be aware that I can sense when you’re having a telepathic conversation with your… ” he glanced at my males, “guardians?”
“Virtues,” I corrected. “I may be a princess, but I’m no damsel in distress.” I released my claws, showing them off for his benefit. “I don’t need guardians.”
He chuckled. “I can see that.”
“We totally didn’t mean to intrude,” Jess interrupted, rudely shoving between me and Luc. She grabbed onto his massive forearm and giggled in that flirty way of hers when she was putting on the charm.
She was good at it, too, which I had always written off due to her experience as a succubus, but now that I knew she wasn’t a succubus at all, I had to admit, I was a little jealous of her ease around males.
Jess tugged Luc aside, making sure she had his full attention. To my surprise, he allowed it and his massive, gorgeous wings fluttered before folding to his back. “You’re not intruding,” he said with a wicked grin. “You know how I love new prisoners.”
Dante banged his chains against the floor. “This is a fucking courtesy, you asshole. Lily needs something from you and we’re respecting your turf, but we’re not going to be staying. You can count on that.”
Luc pouted as he glanced at me. “Is that true, Princess? If you want to vouch for these…” he twirled his wrist, “mongrels, then I’ll permit their release.” He glanced at Orion. “Even if they tend to disrespect this realm’s hierarchy.”
Logan snapped his teeth. “She’s the fucking Princess of Hell. How’s that for hierarchy?”
Luc smirked as if he knew something we didn’t, then he raised both hands in surrender. “Who am I to argue with a nude shifter?”
I waved Logan to stand down. I wasn’t sure if I preferred my guys being assholes to me, or assholes to somebody else.
Either way, they needed to chill. “Sorry about them,” I said, giving the handsome Demonspawn my best apologetic smile.
“What they’re trying to say is that I’ve come here for my mother’s help.
I’m the Champion of the Third Echo of Calamity and it’s going to be coming after me. ”
Luc lifted an eyebrow. “Calamity? The vortex of death, destruction, and chaos is after you, and you want to trap it here?”
Well, when he put it like that I wouldn’t buy what I was selling either. “It’s not like that—” I began, but Luc burst out in a wicked grin.
“Why didn’t you start with that, Princess? Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve had a decent battle to defend the lower realms?” He snapped out his wings, startling me. “Centuries!”
“So you’ll let us stay?” Jess asked with a sparkle in her otherwise dark eyes.
“Stay?” Luc responded. “I’ll do better than that.
You all can use the barracks as honored guests and when Calamity comes knocking, you’ll have Hell’s power in your reserves, and my armies ready to fight.
” He clapped his hands. “Alright. No time to waste, then and it’s getting late.
The next low tide of Hell’s pit won’t be for another twelve of your hours, so I suggest we all get some rest. You’ll want to be at the top of your game when it’s time to make the run to the next level. ”
“Tide?” I asked.