Chapter 5 #2
I leaped onto the top of the boulder instead of taking the hand offered. “Raina. What is yours?” I stood and looked around. As the ground below stopped shifting, red lava poured out of where I had been, melting the very spot. “Does that happen often?”
My eyes took in the scene, then looked at the little thing crouched next to me. “Kyrene is I. I am female like you.” She tilted her head to the side. “That happens when he is mad.” Her finger pointed toward the castle.
Fucking great! I knew for a fact if you died in the dream world, you died in the real one.
Usually, I was the one in control, but I was not the one with the power this time.
My only hope lay in the hands of the being who was bent on claiming me.
Hell would freeze over before I allowed him to lay one finger on me or those I loved.
“Oh, I’ve seen that look before. It is usually just before heads rolled,” Kyrene muttered.
“Where is Creed?”
“I wish I knew.” I inhaled deeply. “Do you know how to leave this realm?”
When Kyrene nearly fell off the rock with her wheezing laughter, I almost gave her the extra push. My humanity and the reminder that this was Creed’s relation stayed my action.
“Nobody leaves. This is the Master’s world. You can check out anytime you like.” She waved at the pile of bones. “Lots of ways to do that. But, there is no way to leave the way you are suggesting, unless you are Creed, or one of His minions.” Kyrene shuddered.
“How did you get here?”
I wanted Creed. I wanted to wake up. Dammit, I felt like crying.
Kyrene scooted forward, then stood. At five foot five inches, I was considered average height, and I had thought the crouched thing—no, female—would be small. Yet as she stood, we were almost eye-to-eye. In a blink, Kyrene shifted into a lovely-looking woman.
“Don’t look so shocked, Raina, who smells of Creed. We all have facades. You think my mother wasn’t smart enough to ensure I knew how to protect myself from harm, before she was no longer of use?”
I held my ground as Kyrene began walking around me.
The rhythmic swaying of the other being’s body was almost hypnotic.
In my world of paranormal knowledge, I should have known not to trust anyone at face value.
The childlike image and the use of Creed’s name had lured me in.
Well, if this thing thought I’d be an easy kill, she had another think coming.
“I guess you surprised me. What with the crouching child, hidden beauty routine?” I let my wolf push forward just enough that my bones were ready should I need the extra power.
“I’m not sure what you are referencing, but I feel it has something to do with your culture.” Kyrene stopped in front of me. “Tell me something. What would you do to save your own life? Would you give up something precious, like Creed, or your firstborn child?”
The thought of giving up either of the things Kyrene suggested would be worse than death. “Never,” I said with vehemence, my words coming out as a deep growl as my wolf agreed.
“Hmm, interesting.” Kyrene reached out to touch the side of my face.
Tired of watching the swaying form and fearing the unknown, I shoved my arm into the chest of the creature in front of me. Red eyes widened before a smile flitted across Kyrene’s face. The demon fell off the boulder, leaving me alone to watch as she fell onto the red ground.
“You pack a hard punch, youngling.” Kyrene sat with her legs crossed, lava flowing all around her, the red liquid moving past her without touching. “I think you have been underestimated.”
I’d seen my father and brothers shift to half wolf, half vampire enough times, and if I’d ever needed to tap into that ability, now was the time.
If this thing were related to Creed, sparing her would be something I’d try to do, but only if the creature didn’t do anything stupid.
My claws came out, fangs dropped. The sound of seams ripping was loud to my ears.
“You want to see how much you underestimated me, bitch. Bring it,” I said, waving my fingers, which didn’t look anything like a human’s any longer. I braced for impact, knowing even in my altered form I’d not be able to take the heat from the melting ground.
Beady red eyes narrowed, then Kyrene was crouching. “You don’t want to fight with me, thing of Creed.”
Shaking my head, I agreed. “I don’t want to fight anyone. However, I will gut you and see what color you bleed.”
I looked back at the bed, expecting to see Raina where I’d left her. My feet froze at the sight that met my eyes—an empty bed, and the smell of brimstone.
“Motherfucker,” I yelled.
The foundation shook beneath me. My demon form took over. Our mate was gone, and we wanted blood.
“Calm down, Creed.” I turned toward the door, staring at the tiny Fey.
“I need to go back to Hell. They have Raina.” Kellen tried to put his body between the female and me.
“You need to chill, dude.”
Looking at the alpha, I tried to figure out what the hell I was seeing. “What are you?”
“Hello, you’re really asking me that.” Kellen looked me up and down, then sighed. “You know what, I don’t give a flying fuck what you are. Fey, I need out of here. Raina is gone.”
Jenna stepped closer to the bed with Kellen right next to her. In the next instant, the air seemed to suck out of the room. Two men I had never laid eyes on entered, their bodies vibrating with anger, yet I scented Raina on them. Instantly, I wanted their heads on a platter.
“Where is she?” I reached them in a few strides, holding each up off the floor by his neck. Voices rang in my ears, but all I wanted to hear was where my Chosen was. My black claws pricked their skin, drawing blood. My nose twitched as I inhaled the familiar scent.
“Why do you smell like my Raina?” My red skin was startling next to their tan, all-American-looking ones. “Speak now or forever lose your ability to do so.”
The fact they were identical all of a sudden registered. They were blond, while my Raina was dark as night. I brought them closer, inhaling deeply.
“If he fucking tries to kiss me, I’m gutting him.” Brown eyes blinked out of a face that most women probably thought was handsome.
“Shut up, Damien. No need to piss off Big Red here. Now, listen, unless you want my big brother to get really angry, you should probably let us go so we can work together to find our sister.”
The one named Damien smirked. “Baby bro is trying to be nice. I am finding I do not want to bleed all over our Hearts Love’s home.”
Jenna gasped. “Boys, really. Let’s not do this in front of the company.”
“Little Fey, we are as far from boys as this thing is from a human. Now, release us, before I get a real good mad on. My baby sister would not be happy if we gelded you.”
“Will you two wear a fucking sticker with your names on it for fucksake? Yo, big red dude, you’re wasting time trying to kill those two.
They are not the enemies. Well, I mean, they would kill for your woman.
Now, I did want to kill them, but that’s another story.
” Kellen’s deep voice came from beside me.
I allowed the two beings’ feet to touch the ground. “You got here, you can get out. How?” I asked, not stepping away or releasing them completely.
“We were finally able to track her here. Shit, she’s gone.” Damien moved his hands in the air; electricity crackled.
“You don’t want to go where she is. Just get me there, and I will bring her home safely,” I swore.
At the exact same time, Damien and Lucas disappeared. I spun, expecting them to come at me. Only they stood next to the petite Fey. Their focus is completely on her.