AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He is good to my sister,” Cari whispers between sips of punch. “What he thinks of you or me does not matter to me.”
“It matters to me, my love,” I tell her, tipping her head back. “They do not want me here with you. At least that witch does not. He remembers me from another life. He might have a better idea of who I was than anyone else.”
“No one has a better idea of you than I do,” she exclaims, cradling my face in her little hands. “You said it yourself. We’re bonded to one another now. Nothing man or monster can change that. Remember?”
“I could never forget. I will be bonded to you until the end of times.”
What I said before is true. I cannot hurt her, not the way her sister Luci fears I might. Cari is a powerful Nymph and they’re cunning, clever, and dangerous creatures. Seeing a glimpse of someone’s future or past is merely a parlor trick.
In a fight, a Nymph would lay ruin to some of the monsters in attendance at this party tonight. Me included. Gareth might be a powerful witch and his wife a skilled mystic, but Cari would see their attacks coming. Even Edon and Bessi, powerful wolf shifters, would not be much of a match for her if she was determined to win.
While that soothes the protective beast inside of me a little, it also worries me. I would never want her to be forced to go against anyone for my sake. Much less consider her two sisters, the two people she is the closest to in this world, her enemies because I am in her life.
“Come, dance with me,” Cari pleads, pulling me from my thoughts.
“As you wish, my love,” I tell her, bending a little to take her hand, drawing it to my lips for a kiss.
We move towards the fireplace, were other couples dance to the soft music playing. The fire is going, filling the room with amber warmth. Twinkling lights and flickering candles are the only other light in the room. In the almost darkness, I blend in with the costumed partygoers, even in my current form. It has made tonight possible, but it too makes me worry.
What will she have to give up to be with me? I can become anything I want, anything she chooses, with the wave of a hand. I can put on a skin suit to look like her favorite actor from the monster movies we watch together. Or I could look like the football quarterback she admitted she finds attractive.
That sort of magic is fleeting I would be able to pull it off for a very short time. I will always revert to this form, to my ugly, twisted, battered Demon form. I cannot shed my horns or my tail, or bring human color to my skin or my eyes.
I will always be a monster on the outside.
“Stop thinking about something that does not matter,” Cari commands, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other toying with my horns.
It drives me crazy when she plays with my horns. Turns out they have a direct path to my cock. I growl at her, nipping at her lips in warning. I have barely been able to keep my hands off her since I first claimed her. I rather be buried inside her, watching her come, instead of dancing with strangers.
“It does matter. You accept me as I am. No one else will.”
“Please, stop it. It sounds to me as if you’re making plans to leave me. You swore you would never leave me again.”
Stopping our slow swaying, I stare down at her. “No, my love. I will never leave you. It would be impossible.”
“Don’t be so sure about that, handsome,” an all-too-familiar voice cackles beside me.
Stepping back, I shove Cari behind me, my tail wrapping around her body. Azazel blends in with the others in a stupid costume that makes him look like a twisted clown. I should have known he would come looking for me. I am his favorite little pet, after all. And this monster loves a good party.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing here?”
“Came to have a good time, just the same as you. It looks as if you’ve had a very, very good time up top, pet.”
His dark, red eyes flick over Cari, and I feel her start to tremble. I did not strike fear in her in my Demon form, but it is no surprise he would even in this stupid costume. Azazel is the truest definition of a Demon. He takes great joy in the torture and taunting of souls in Hades.
It looks as if he came to deliver some torture up top.
“You were not invited, Demon,” I growl. “I am going to ask just once for you to leave. You do not belong here.”
“But somehow you believe you belong here, pet? Tsk, tsk, no, I am afraid not. You belong in Hades, with me, doing the bidding of our master. He has missed you and requested your return. Remember time is different there, he has given you plenty of time to...play with your little toy up here.”
Behind me, Cari stiffens. I cannot let her hear more of his poisoned words. He has sharpened his wicked tongue for a thousand years, he can make even the cleverest soul believe the awful things he spouts.
“Get. Out. I am not coming back to Hades with you. Tell your master,” I grit the words out. “That he will be fine one Demon short. My place is here, with my mate.”
Azazel laughs before he moves faster than the breeze, circling us to drag his hand down her face. I spin, moving her behind me again, rage unfurling inside of me. If he wants a fight, he will get it. He is no match for me, so I assume he did not come looking for a fight. He just wants to humiliate me and plant seeds of doubt in my mate’s head.
“Mate? Oh, please, pet, this creature is no mate of yours. Although I do smell her magic and it smells diving,” he hums in an improper tone, inhaling a deep breath of Cari.
