Page 239 of Evil Hearts

Chapter Ten

Skia

I n all my years, no one has ever summoned me except my Lord. To say I am furious is an understatement. Until I notice the big one called Andras is riddled with the stench of evil.

I do not think, I only act, teleporting us both directly to my Lord’s outer chamber. Before I can open my mouth and call for him he is there.

“Oh cousin, what have you done?”

He thrashes around on the ground, but I keep him contained within my shadow tendrils. “What do we do my Lord?”

“Hold him. Because there’s only one thing that can be done, but he must accept it. If not, I will be forced to end his life.”

Unable to speak, all I do is nod, and listen. “Andras, child of God, cousin of my flesh. Will you accept my gift and join me?”

Andras is a powerful man—or fallen—and I’m having difficulty keeping him down. His screams are incoherent. Something in me calls for me to help. Leaning close to his ear, I whisper two words,”My mate.”

His thrashing immediately stops. His eyes stare up at me. He says one word before his eyes close. That word is, “Yes”.

Magic I have seen Lord Prōto use many times surrounds me. It tingles across my skin and I watch as the fallen before me is transformed into the most breathtaking demon I have ever seen. Andras’ horns, much like my Lord’s, are spiraled and very long. His beautiful wings are the color of blood. His skin shimmers with a bronze sun kissed look. He is magnificent.

Once the magic has done its work, Lord Prōto snaps his fingers, and we are transported to a room much like my own. Lord Prōto picks up Andras and places him gently in the bed. I am still kneeling on the ground where I landed when we were transported here. I watch his every move.

Once Lord Prōto has Andras settled, he walks over to me and holds out his hand. “Come child. We have much to talk about. I think it’s time I explained to you who you truly are.”

Taking my Lord’s hand, I glance to the new demon. “I do not want to leave him,” I say, glancing up at my Lord.

He wraps his arm around me in a comforting embrace. “He will sleep for some time. I will have you back before he awakens, you have my word.”

Unable to speak, I just nod, and we are transported back to my Lord’s outer chamber. “Sit.” I do as I’m told, and he walks to a nearby table and pours a couple of drinks. He glances back at me and adds a little more of the blood alcohol.

Lord Prōto sits in the chair next to me and hands me the glass that is filled to the brim. Without hesitation, I down it in one drink. It burns yet soothes something inside me.

Lord Prōto chuckles, and asks, Feeling better?”

Nodding, I ask what I have wanted to do for some time. A question that has embedded itself in my brain since the moment I spoke the words. “Why did I call him my mate?”

Lord Prōto smiles, downs his drink, and sits his glass on the small table beside us. I place mine beside his. “As you know you are the first and only shadow demon. What you do not know is you were actually the first demon I created.”

The shock must show on my face because he reaches out and brushes the hair from my face, gentle and kind. “You see, when I created you, I knew not what I was doing. I just knew I was lonely, and I wanted a companion. Originally, I created you to be my mate.”

I am up out of my chair and standing, staring at the demon that created me. Before I can say anything, he continues, “Please, allow me to finish.”

Taking my seat, a million questions are running through my head. “Yes, I created you to be a mate. But it seems when I used a piece of my own heart to create you and you took your first breath as a demon, I did not see you as a mate, but my child. A child I was told I would never have.”

His hand brushes my cheek, and I lean into it. Now I understand why his seduction never worked on me. “So that is why your powers don’t affect me and why you cannot control me?”

With a smile and nod, he continues. “Exactly. Now before we get to your question…” He runs his fingers through the scruff of his shadowy beard. “I have a theory, but need to ask a few questions before I tell you. How did you know he was in the midst of transforming into a devil?”

“I heard the one called Evangelos begging for me to help. I was pulled to them from my chambers. I was beyond furious when it happened until he collapsed on the ground. Something in my heart wept with him, and before I knew what I was doing, I teleported to… oh my Lord, I teleported to your chambers! The penalty is…”

Lord Prōto places one finger over my lips, silencing me. With a snicker he says, “You did nothing wrong, and you have always had the freedom to enter my chambers. You are my daughter. You carry a piece of my heart. I could never be mad at you. But please continue. We do not have much time before he awakens, and you and I need to be there.”

Daughter? With a nod, I continue. “I can’t explain it since the first time I met them. There was this pull here.” I touch my heart, his heart? This is crazy.

“Hmmm, as I thought. If my suspicions are correct, when I gave you my heart in hopes of you being my mate, I somehow created a mate bond not to myself, but to my cousins who I had always hoped would join me.”

“What? All three?”

Lord Prōto smiles brightly, and then lifts his head. “Come, daughter. It’s time to greet your first mate, my cousin. And welcome him home.”