Hell, if they hadn’t caught on now, I had no idea what to say to them. I mean, people were actually missing, and I had to fucking ask to find that out. I shook my head, hoping to the Maker that the other boys figured out something before coming down here. I missed them like crazy, but I would prefer a life saved, even if it meant waiting to see them. I knew that these victims only had a limited time until they would no longer be alive, if they weren’t already dead.
We walked for about another five minutes, all of us tapering out of conversation as we traveled further into the forested region. The obsidian-like landscape fully changed to thick black greenery and plant life. Dark willow-like trees with ashy leaves grew closer and closer on all sides, and little glowing eyes stared at us as odd creatures ducked back and forth trying to stay out of sight.
My magic was vibrating happily under my skin, and I really tried to keep it tempered. She was being a fickle bitch though. You know, because of all the goddamn spirits floating around. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? Becoming oversaturated with enough power that I ended up killing everyone around me? Who was worried? Not this girl.
My eyes flickered to Declan, wondering if he would be able to remove some of my excess power like last time. I promise it wasn’t another excuse to touch him more…
Suddenly and without warning, the space around me shifted. Everything in the air seemed to flash with a searing heat, and I frowned, feeling short of breath for a moment as the air around me seemed to sizzle as if it were burning. I felt Alaric tug me back, the trees breezing from a phantom wind as the smell of citrus exploded around me. I smiled in relief and excitement.
A very familiar demon appeared in front of me, looking as cocky and devilishly handsome as he normally did.
Dorian.
2
Narcissa
“Dorian!” Immediately, I was throwing myself into his strong, secure arms. There was no other way to describe my ridiculously soft action, and it was completely worth it when he caught me, pulling me flush against him.
I didn’t even care if my action was insane-looking, because I was far too focused on trying to express just how happy I was to see him. Thank the Maker that he had access to this realm. Forget what I said about being responsible—I wanted all my men here... now.
My incubus groaned, chuckling, as he hooked my legs around his hips naturally. I mean, this was far from the first time that I’d thrown myself at him, but the flawless way he caught my chin with one hand and kissed the shit out of me still made me breathless. Instead of fighting the urge to delve my fingers into his thick auburn hair, I pulled on it slightly, only leaning back to watch the burning grey inferno-like eyes darken with heat and desire.
This attraction between us wasn’t even about his incubus powers, although his magic was wrapped very possessively around me—just the way I liked it, for the record. But no, this wasn’t just his magic, this was us. This was Dorian and I.
I loved him, pure and simple, and our attraction to each other was anything but. I had literally missed the cocky bastard in the few hours we’d been apart.
Examining him, I noticed his hair was messy, and stress creased his brow in an unusually serious expression. I could tell he was attempting to appear relaxed, but he was failing miserably at it. My fingers rubbed against his oversized dark shirt, which was wrinkled and a bit loose in the collar, as if he had been pulling on it.
I frowned, wondering how worked up he had to have been to look like this. I mean, I didn’t want to assume he’d been worked up about little old me... although, that would be extremely flattering. He totally had been. I mean, not that I could blame him—I was pretty great.
Abel asked Dorian something, but I couldn’t focus on the words coming from his perfect lips. No. All I could focus on was how Dorian’s lips moved to respond. His magic vibrated against me, growing in power, and my eyes nearly fluttered shut. Alright. I lied. His magic was totally taking effect now.
Tightening my grip on his shirt even further, I leaned into him fully, not caring about our audience. Instead, I pressed my lips to his and moaned slightly as he deepened it, his fingers tightening on my thighs in a bruising grip.
“Missed me?” Dorian teased, looking flushed while examining my expression. His eyes were a bit more wild than usual, and I could feel how hard he was against me.
“Yes,” I answered honestly and a bit breathlessly. What? Give me a break! He was an incubus and literally sex incarnate. You can’t exactly blame me.
“How did you know where we were?” Abel asked. I was curious about that as well.
Alaric’s eyes were on me, searing my skin with heat, but overall he seemed more relaxed than he’d been before. I realized with slight surprise that I often forgot how close these guys were. I had no doubt that he’d been worried about the others up above. Despite the odd start to their friendship, they were almost like brothers. It made me thrilled that they worried about one another as much as I worried about them. This really was a family, the group of us. Our family.
I smiled into Dorian’s chest, feeling elated at the concept. Declan’s fingers twisted into my hair lightly, Dorian shifting me so he had more access. I slid down his hard body, his chest rumbling slightly, as he kept me pressed against him as tight as possible. Against his fantastic yummy chest.
I was totally digging my nails into him, just slightly, but enough that he let out a low, dangerous hum. I began to imagine what exactly could happen in a very different situation where I was between Dorian and Declan. We really needed to finish this shit so we could move on to the fun stuff.
“When you left the Earth realm, we immediately felt it. Scared the shit out of me.” Dorian’s voice was soft, concerned, and filled with a tension I didn’t like at all.
He continued, “Almost right away, your grandma appeared outside our house, looking furious. We’d been on our way out after feeling the change, but we explained everything, and she didn’t exactly seem surprised. In fact, she immediately stormed down the block, cursing up a storm… something about your mother. That was really all I heard before we were distracted by Zachariah, who had decided it was time to go across the street to pay Nero a visit.”
“He went to Nero’s?” I asked, my chest filling with panic.
I knew my Voodoo priest was a total badass, but I still didn’t like the idea of him choosing to put himself in the way of danger for me. It was totally sexy, but still, my slightly softer side had me wanting to kick Nero’s ass for even bringing it to this point.
Dorian’s lips tilted up slightly—possibly at my expression, or possibly at the pain that Zachariah would no doubt be inflicting on Nero. “Yes, but we can talk about that later. Raphi and I split up, and when I came to the cemetery lot, I could immediately smell the portal's power signature and just hoped for the best. Seems we are a bit more connected than even I realized.”
“Really? We have a connection? Weird.” I teased—because, no shit—as he winked.
An angry change came over his face suddenly. “Oh fuck, is it true? Is all of this because of your fucking mother?!” Oh good, he had connected the dots there. How the hell had my grandma? Interesting.
I mean, at least that was what I am assuming, due to my grandmother’s angry mutterings regarding the woman in question. I nearly scowled at the thought of her. Maybe we needed family therapy. That so wasn’t my thing, but—what I wouldn’t give to see her sit through a session, extremely uncomfortable and awkward. Did ghosts go to therapy? I wasn’t positive that was even a thing.