Page 6 of Knight’s Retribution

If they could get the ancient demon’s finger bone back, they could stop Diemos from doing the same to another demi like Ky.

Rocco landed and put Willow down, walking her to her door, then waited while she unlocked it. “What do you need me to do?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I’ve got this. And I’m going to need to go away for a few days. Vorena’s blood is only one part of this ritual. I’ll be cutting it close, but I will get you what you need by the time the portal opens for the solstice.”

“Fuck… Thank you, Willow,” he said, his voice rough as hell.

Willow rested her hand on his arm. “Are you sure you won’t tell your brothers?”

He shook his head. “I won’t be stopped this time.”

She gave him a nod, understanding, not pushing, and he fucking appreciated it more than she knew. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Stay safe,” he said, his control steadily slipping through his fingers like sand now, and stepped back before flying up into the darkening sky.

A short time later, he landed in the alley where the portal would open—the portal that would lead him to Hell—to his Kyler. He breathed deep, drawing in the evil that hung around him, that always hovered around this place. His inner demon stretched and hissed low, and that control he’d been desperately clinging to shattered.

The rage and pain he’d been fighting to suppress while he was with Willow came rushing forward, and with a roar he smashed his fists into the wall repeatedly. His demon shrieked and clawed at his psyche, trying to cling to sanity right along with Rocco. Together, they were losing their grip, and the fear, the fury of what Kyler was going through right at that moment was more than they knew how to deal with.

How did a being hold that inside them? The knowledge that the most important person in their world was suffering, was afraid—he punched the wall again—was being tortured. Was in pain.

He gripped his head with bleeding hands, like that would take away the images his mind had conjured, like that would stop her cries of agony from ringing through his mind constantly.

Nothing would stop it.

And until she was home, safe with him, he wouldn’t rest.

If he had to pay with his own life to free her, he would gladly give it a thousand times over.

His forearm throbbed, and the reminder of what it meant allowed him to draw in a much-needed breath. Dragging up his sleeve, he peeled back the blood-soaked bandage covering the spot where he’d hacked out his angel’s brand. It wasn’t healing, probably because he barely ate and never slept, but he didn’t give a fuck.

This was his way into Hell. If he’d left the brand there, he would die as soon as he walked through the portal. No, this had to work. It had to fucking work.

No matter what, he was going to Hell, and he was bringing his female home.

Chapter 2

Hell

Kyler buried her face against Rocco’s shoulder, seeking comfort. The nightmare she’d had, still so fresh in her mind, so real. But they were in her apartment, safe in her room.

She traced the intricate tattoo on Rocco’s arm and her big, tough construction worker boyfriend shivered. Crawling on top of him, her smile turned into a lip bite when his massive rough-skinned hands slid up the backs of her thighs.

“Wrap your arms around me…and your legs,” he said.

“Stop that,” she said breathlessly.

“What?” he asked, going for all innocence and failing terribly.

“Trying to get me to stay here in bed with you when I need to get ready for work.”

His hands, hot and sure, slid higher, up her back and down again, and it was her turn to shiver. “I’m doing no such thing.”

She chuckled and cupped the handsome devil’s face. His eyes were closed and his lips were curled up at the sides. “Have I told you lately how happy I am that you came into the bar that night?” she said.

Something moved through his eyes that she couldn’t read, but then he smiled and happiness bubbled inside her. God, pure joy.

Rocco fisted her hair, and he pulled her down, pressing her face into the crook of his neck. “Finding you was the best thing that’s ever happened to me, my darling. I’ve waited my whole life for you.”