Chapter 25 – Wave
There were way too many emotions swirling inside Wave. Her bond with Jarred hummed and purred, and when Esserieh had acknowledged Jarred as her Claimed, he’d been proud. Now there was worry in the mix too.
She wanted to reach out and reassure him but couldn’t. She didn’t know what was going on. Still, she stroked the bond a little and felt him respond. He was there, right by her side. Whatever this was, she wasn’t facing it alone.
He had claimed her.
Well, she had claimed him too, but really, how could she not? The feelings that echoed between them made her giddy. Like the risk had been worth it and so much more.
He was hers.
Jarred purred, and Wave glanced at Esserieh. He seemed tense, but his lips twitched a little at the sound.
Seeing Uncle Essi after all this time was amazing. She had missed the demon but understood why he hadn’t been to visit after Father’s death. While it had been Wave who first caught the demon’s eye, it had been her father who became friends with him.
She glanced at his hulking form but kept her mouth shut as they walked out of the house. If Esserieh said to stay silent, she would. He had taught her so much and was on the very—very—short list of beings she trusted with her life.
Unlike Lucifer. Or his son.
Fuck.
Hellion was Lucifer’s son. He was the prince of hell, not just an envoy. How had she missed that? If she’d known, she would have never allowed herself to be caught up with him.
A little snort escaped her and earned a glance from both Jarred and Uncle Essi.
Like she had allowed anything that had happened with Hellion. He had swept her off her feet and things had tumbled from there.
The air felt crisp despite the heat the males on both sides of her exuded. They made their way down the stairs and out of the yard just as Wave heard someone calling her name. She looked over and Irishen was jogging toward them with a worried expression on his face.
“Wayla! Justin texted me. Are you—” He ground to a halt when he realized who was on her other arm. A snarl broke free, and he took a threatening step forward, but Uncle Essi huffed.
“Calm down, Prince Irishen. I’m not here for your mate, nor you. Besides, the contract for your head was canceled.”
“What? You tried to kill Irishen?” Wave shrieked and pulled her arms free so she could spin to face Uncle Essi with a proper scowl.
“No. You know he would be dead if I had been sent,” he replied easily.
Wave knew it was true, but she still couldn’t let it drop. “But why—”
“Hell politics, droplet. He’s safe now.”
“What the hell?” Irishen growled.
Esserieh turned his focus to him and gave a chilling smile. “You are Wayla Stormwell’s mate. Consider yourself very well protected from Hell’s agents. Well, at least the ones following orders. Accidents do happen.”
“Stop threatening him.” Wave stepped in between them. “That’s not nice, Uncle Essi!”
“Uncle—” Irishen choked behind her.
Esserieh ignored him and Wave’s protest as he took her arm again and started walking. “You two, follow.” He gave the order to Jarred and a still-gaping Irishen.
Jarred murmured something to Irishen and they trailed slowly after her, giving her and Esserieh space. Once they were far enough from the house, Esserieh spoke.
“There’s trouble brewing in Hell, droplet. You need to be extra careful. Keep your Claimed and mate close if you trust them, but—”
“Jarred knows,” she blurted out.
Esserieh threw a glance over his shoulder. “Mmh,” he hummed. “You can’t afford to slip now, Wayla. Too many eyes are looking. I swear if Marchellion—”
“Hellion was digging? About me?”
He nodded.
“And Marc?”
“Ulriche’s oldest, yes. Him too.”
Wave gulped, her gaze darting around. “Do I… do I need to run?”
Esserieh didn’t look happy. “It might come to that. I cleaned up the best I could, but if they persist… you have a way out?”
“Sort of,” Wave hesitated.
“Not good enough. Make sure, droplet. Have I taught you nothing?”
“Besides how to stay alive and suppress power for decades, not much,” she joked, poking at his side. “I promise I’ll make backup plans that don’t rely on help from Hell, okay? Happy?”
Esserieh harrumphed. “Some heaven-related option if you can pull that off and at least two mundane ones.”
“Jarred has a motorcycle.”
“And can you drive it?”
“Not yet.” Wave sighed. “I’m sure he’ll teach me, though. Now that he knows…”
“I promised your father to look after you, Wayla. I already failed once. Don’t make me fail again,” he said and Wave had to swallow.
He hadn’t been able to find and save her, but he had tried.
And after that, they hadn’t been able to risk seeing each other, in case his presence pulled more attention toward Wave. She took a breath.
“That wasn’t your—”
A crackle of power stopped Wave short. A portal opened in the middle of the street and Esserieh breathed in deep.
“That’s my ride. I’ll keep in touch, Wayla. Stay safe.” He let go of her and walked over to the portal. Just before he stepped through, he focused on the men now standing behind her. “Watch her back,” he said and stepped through, the portal closing behind him with a whomp.
Wave just stood there, trying to figure out all that had been said and everything Esserieh had left unsaid. Something was seriously wrong in Hell.