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"I... I distracted him... Stomped on his toe to give you time to get to me."
I look at her in disbelief. "You distracted Rapha, an ancient Iberian vampire with immense power… by stomping on his toe?"
Penelope lifts wide eyes to mine. "His name is Rapha?"
I shake my head incredulously, impressed and worried at her bravery. "That's the bit you took from the whole, 'ancient Iberian vampire with immense power thing?'"
My wife pouts. "Well, he still has the heel of my Jimmy Choo embedded in his big toe." She lifts her feet, giving them a wiggle, and sure enough, one of her spiky heels is missing.
I stare at my wife—my clueless, fiercely courageous wife. She may still be ignorant of many of the dangers of my world, but she's no damsel in distress. My chest swells with a love almost too big to contain. My Penelope has a core of steel.
But now we're facing a new threat—the reappearance of Rapha.
What does he want? My position? My power? Did Lucifer put him and his asshole goons up to this? My mind races with plans and strategies to confront Rapha and ensure Penelope's safety. This unexpected encounter has brought forth old enemies and new dangers, but I will protect my beloved wife at all costs.
"We need to get you out of here," I say urgently, scanning the dimly lit alleyway for signs of further danger. “We have to go to The Below. I’m sorry, Penelope. We have to cut our trip short.”
Ignoring her crestfallen expression, I lift Penelope into my arms and rise to my feet, my demonic senses on high alert.
I snap my fingers, and we're in the protected walls of our mansion in The Below. Rapha could make his way to Hell, but he can't get through the mansion's walls. Nothing and no one can except Lucifer.
“We’re safe here, I promise,” I tell Penelope, lowering her to our bedroom floor.
She gives me a sad look. “I didn’t think we could be attacked like that in public.”
“It was the only way they could attack me. It's why I'm so cautious about your safety in The Above." I cup her face, looking into her beautiful brown eyes. "While I'm proud of you, my little Hellcat, for sacrificing your Jimmy Choo, Rapha could have snapped your neck or torn your throat out in an instant. But he didn't. And I think I know why.”
"Why?"
I draw her to the bed with an arm around her shoulders.
"I think today was a warning. Like Lucifer, he was testing me to see what I’d do if you were taken from me. He wanted to know how important you are to me."
Penelope's brows draw together. "Rapha was the one watching me. Lucifer was right. I'm your weakness."
I tilt her face to mine, pinning her with my gaze. "Yes, but you are also my greatest strength. If you have taught me one thing, it's that we're stronger when we know we're loved in return."
Penelope shoulder bumps me. "Look at you getting all introspective," she says teasingly. "My demon husband is getting soft in his old age."
A growl rumbles from my chest. "Tell anyone, and I'll be forced to tie you to the bed and torture you."
"Is that supposed to be a threat?" my wife sasses, her eyes kindling with lust.
I chuckle as I shake my head. "I'm a demon who's created a monster."
"Tell me more about this Rapha," Penelope says, linking our fingers. "Why does he want to hurt us?"
“I angered him a long time ago when I wouldn’t bring back the vampire he loved. Vampires have no souls to trade, and he had nothing else to offer me, so I refused the deal.” I sigh, wondering if it was the wrong decision. Wouldn't I do the same now? “I didn’t know what it was like to love back then. How you’d do anything, trade anything, to be with your loved one.”
“It’s not your fault, Mammon. You’re the demon of greed, not love.” Penelope places her hand on my cheek, her love shining from her eyes. “You can’t blame yourself for something you had no control over.”
“I know. It seems we are both guilty of taking blame for circumstances beyond our control.” I pull her closer, needing to reassure myself that she's all right. “You were so brave, little one.”
“Only because I knew you were there,” she whispers as my lips find hers, igniting desire deep within me.
I crush her against me, letting her feel my desperation. She responds with a needy moan, which only adds fuel to the fire of my desire. Her insatiable hunger for me is humbling, a hunger I return with interest.
“Mammon,” she says softly, and my body goes hot and cold simultaneously.
