Page 26 of A Daemon’s Alliance (Daemons & Lumens)

Morax

M y entire body was itching to transform as we walked back to our room.

I slipped into the guard’s mind as he delivered the news of the professor’s death.

He had also been present in the professor’s house when he abused that poor human girl.

And he enjoyed it. But what nearly had me ripping his fucking head off was the fact that he was one of the men who kidnapped my girl and her father.

He touched her. And seeing her chained by Darren Radnor just now got the piece of shit so aroused I slipped right into his fucking head.

I ripped open the door and ushered Michaela inside as gently as I could.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind Gremory, I pushed her hair aside and tore the ugly collar from her slender neck.

I pulled her close, my hands cupping her cheeks, and rested my forehead against hers.

Having her close was the only thing keeping my daemon form locked down right now.

I couldn’t kiss her in this filthy King’s body, but scenting her and touching her were enough.

She trembled in my arms, her eyes closed.

“Look at me, little lumen.”

Her face turned up to mine, and I let my daemon eyes show through, reminding her who I was.

“Gremory is going to stay with you. And I am going to try desperately to save the girl.”

She nodded. “What about the one the professor had?”

I shook my head. “I’m not sure where she is.” I turned to Gremory. “Do you know? Were you with them at his home?”

He frowned. “Yes. I am not sorry for the professor’s death. His basement was like a red room of pain. He had many photos. The last girl was not the first. He had photos of Michaela.”

I snarled, and Michaela brought her hands to my face, bringing my attention back to her. “He was there when I was taken. He was hoping to have me after the Kings were done. I’m not sorry either.”

“I wish he was alive so I could fucking send him back to hell myself.” I was losing control, images of Michaela trapped in that sick fuck’s basement invading my mind. “I’m going to disembowel that guard as well. Tony.”

Michaela smirked, and I zeroed in on her mouth, needing desperately for something to stay my hand. “He’s on my list of people you can put down. So, by all means.”

Gremory chuckled. “Your mate has a devil side.”

I prowled toward her, backing her up until her legs bumped into the bed. My eyes glowed, shining for her and only her. “Of course she does. Though she be but little, she is fierce. ”

Michaela smiled up at me, her blue and hazel eyes holding me hostage. It was like looking into the night sky above Caligo, my home. She was mythical, otherworldly in mind, body, and soul.

“So, what happens now?” she asked, sitting back on the bed.

I crossed my arms and turned to Gremory. “Do not let a single being near her while I am gone.”

He nodded, his dark-brown eyes stoic.

“I will try to keep the Kings from finding Audrey. But I can’t promise anything. If letting her escape means risking your life, I will have to bring her here and hope that we can save her some other way.”

“I don’t want another girl hurt because of me.” Michaela shook her head, her face sullen. “That professor went home to hurt the girl he had in the basement after he left the cabin because he couldn’t touch me yet. Please don’t bring her here.”

Pain radiated from my mate, and the growl building in my chest was loud enough to unsettle us both. She needed me, and I was failing her.

“Michaela, can you try to relax? Morax is about to unleash because he can sense your pain.” Grem stepped closer to us, his hands up. A little white flag appeared, and he waved it like a jackass. “Now, Audrey may come here, but we will do everything we can to make sure she remains unharmed.”

I nodded. “Yes.”

Grem turned to Michaela, and she nodded as well.

“Great. Now, Darren. Get out of here. And watch your fucking back. Did you notice the Kings? They’re agitated. Something doesn’t feel right.”

He wasn’t wrong. I couldn’t read their thoughts, but the range of emotions coming out of Samuel and Laszlo was unnerving. This had to be quick. I turned back to Michaela and knelt in front of her. She smiled at me, but it didn’t meet her eyes. I took her hand and placed a kiss on her palm.

“Don’t leave this room. Gremory will keep you safe.”

My mate’s fierce expression made it obvious she wanted to protest, but thankfully, she chose not to object. I needed to know she was safe in my absence. It would take all my focus to make sure the next few hours didn’t go up in flames.

I left the room swiftly, unable to look at her again or I would fuck our plans to hell and kill them all. We were so close now. Once Seraphina arrived and The Obscuritas performed their stupid ritual, my brother would come and we could end this.

Things were not working out. I was sitting in the back of the SUV next to Audrey Kingston.

She was shaking with fear. The scent was awful.

The two other guards who came with me were basking in it.

I almost ripped them in half for the horrible thoughts flying around in their minds when we kidnapped the girl.

I chose to ride in the back with her to keep her safe from their wandering hands.

Being Darren Radnor was the absolute worst, however, because he was a lecherous pig.

I grabbed her by the throat when we entered her apartment.

It was the only way. Darren likely would have done worse, but I just fucking could not do it.

We were almost back to the mansion, and night was falling swiftly.

We had to travel by helicopter to Boston to retrieve the girl.

The entire task took far too long. I sent my mind soaring after my mate.

Michaela’s thoughts were still closed to me, but her emotions were easy enough to read.

Until the mate bond was solidified, getting a general sense of her emotions was all I could do.

She was currently calm, and her relaxed state eased my own frayed nerves.

I wished I was able to help the young human coated in fear beside me, but there was nothing I could do without others noticing.

I closed my eyes and focused on her recent memories.

A familiar blue-haired female popped up frequently.

Seraphina. She was becoming close with Michaela’s sister.

And she had no idea her father was currently signing up to become a cult groupie.

She did overhear her parents fighting about some of her father’s new “friends,” but Audrey didn’t stick around to listen. Seems her parents fought frequently and she stayed away from them most of the time. Yet here she was, being dragged into her father’s mess.

It was not unlike my own situation. Dragged into a war because of my father’s greed and black heart. And like my fierce mate, I had two siblings equally stuck. Unfortunately, one of my brothers was pure evil and only made everything worse.

We arrived at the mansion, and I stepped out of the SUV, tugging the girl with me.

I attempted to be gentle with her and simultaneously bark orders at the guards.

Audrey was shaking like a leaf as I dragged her to The Study.

A spike of fear from my mate had me stumbling several steps before I could collect myself.

The female eyed me, confused and afraid.

Something was wrong. The closer we walked to The Study, the stronger the scent of Michaela’s fear became.

It was palpable, invading my mind and my nose. She was not in our room.

I picked up the pace and rounded the final hallway, shoving open the doors to The Study.

I noticed Laszlo Blackbyrn one second before my eyes zeroed in on Michaela.

She was seated in an armchair near the fireplace, and Laszlo stood to the right of her, his hand resting casually on her shoulder.

My grip on Audrey tightened, and she whimpered in pain before I realized what I was doing.

Samuel stood off to the side of the fireplace, his eyes brightening when they landed on the female.

“That was a lovely sound,” he murmured. “I look forward to making you do it again.”

I noted ten guards entering the room from the doors behind me. Gremory was one of them. I kept my eyes locked on Laszlo.

“What’s going on here? Why do you have your hand on my toy?” Darren’s voice growled out the words, laced with rage, and my daemon form ached to be unleashed.

“Now, now. She is still your toy. But we are all in this together, aren’t we, Darren?” Laszlo’s voice was low and slow, almost lazy. His relaxed state was more unnerving than if he were angry. I did not like this.

“We are all Kings. Equal in that, yes. And yet I have not gone after your toys. So, why did you bring mine out?” It took all of my strength to keep this form as Laszlo’s grip tightened on my mate.

Michaela closed her eyes, and I felt her fear, but also her strength. She was sending me strength, willing me to remain calm. The little lumen was so much stronger than she knew.

“I want a demonstration of your power over her. You refused to let Samuel play,” Laszlo continued, stepping in front of Michaela.

She was wearing the collar again, and he tugged the leash, forcing her to stand.

“She also seems relatively unscathed. Generally, your toys have a more haunted look about them, even after one night.”

I shoved Audrey into the arms of a guard and stalked toward Laszlo. I snatched the leash out of his hand and eyed him wearily. “What kind of demonstration?”

Laszlo smirked at my outburst. His dark eyes were cold and piercing. He didn’t become the leader of this deadly cult for his charm. This man was ruthless and clever.

He cocked his head to Samuel. “Samuel wanted to bring out his toys and see how you used them. But something much simpler will do. Get her on her knees and have her suck your cock.”