Hades

  Cat scooped up a bit of bread and gravy. “Makes sense, I guess. But what kinds of good demons are you talking about?”

  The muscles in his shoulders rippled as he shrugged, and her pulse kicked. When she’d clung to him earlier, her lips had been right there. She could have kissed him. Licked his skin to see if it tasted as smoky as it smelled.

  At least, she could have done all of that if she hadn’t been occupied with trying to keep from curling up into a weeping ball of spider-trauma.

  “Kinds like the ones who work at Underworld General Hospital.” He propped one booted foot against the wall behind him, his pose casual, but deadly energy remained coiled beneath the surface, so tangible that Cat swore she could feel it dance on her skin. He might say they were safe, but he was prepared for anything. So he might not feel safe, but she did. Nothing was going to get past him.

  “Or the ones who live among humans and do nothing more than try to fit in,” he continued. “Before this expansion, they went to the 1st Ring, which is still a pretty hellish experience. Here demons can actually enjoy their time until they’re reincarnated. Which, thanks to Revenant being Sheoul’s new overlord, happens pretty quickly.”

  Someone who looked human walked past the window, a ball in his hand. Hades didn’t even glance at the guy, but Cat had a feeling he was well aware of every step the male took.

  “I’m curious,” she said after the guy disappeared. “In Heaven, humans choose their appearance, but everyone can still ‘see’ each individual as the person they’d always known, even if they knew them on Earth as a twelve-year-old boy, but in Heaven they appear as a twenty-five-year-old female. Is it the same here?”

  Hades dipped his head. “Essentially. Demons in the Inner Sanctum do choose their appearances, but people don’t always recognize them. I think it’s because they’re rarely born twice as the same species.”

  Huh. It hadn’t occurred to her that a Seminus demon wouldn’t be born again as a Sem. “How does that work?”

  He cocked an eyebrow. “Do you really want to talk about this?”

  “It’s your fault,” she said around a mouthful of bread. “You piqued my curiosity.”

  “Well then,” he said with a lopsided grin and an impish glint in his eyes, “I guess I’ll have to satisfy your…curiosity.”

  Oh, yes, please. Satisfy anything you want.

  She swallowed about a million times to keep her mouth from opening and those exact words from falling out.

  Hades didn’t seem to notice the lustful distress he’d caused, continuing his demonic reincarnation lesson as if he hadn’t just teased her with sexual undertones. “Demons here are generally reborn as a member of a species that fits within their soul’s Ufelskala, but every once in a while a level one will be reincarnated as a species that rates a five, or vice versa. It’s why you’ll sometimes encounter a Soulshredder that wants to help others, or a Slogthu that likes to kill.”

  That made sense, she supposed. Anomalies happened in every species on Earth, so why not in Sheoul? “So how does all of this work? How do you keep everyone in line?”

  “That’s the reason the Rings are all based on the Ufelskala. No matter your score, you can travel to any level that is higher on the scale, but never lower. So an Ufelskala Tier Two demon can travel between the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Rings, but they can’t go to the 1st Ring. And no one from any Ring can come here.”

  She considered that for a moment. “But as you said, the Ufelskala scale is based on a species’ level of evil as a whole, and not every individual is representative of their breed.”

  “Which is why Azagoth and my team review every person who comes through the gate.” Hades bent over and yanked off his boots. “Now, if you don’t mind, I need to clean up.”

  She scooped up another bite of gravy-soaked bread. “Go for it.” Oh, wait...was he going to use the open––very open––bathroom? He strode over there, his fingers working at the ties on his pants. Oh, boy, he was going to––

  He dropped his pants, and she nearly swallowed her tongue along with the bread. With every silent step, the muscles in his legs and ass flexed, making her fingers curl with the desire to dig into his hard flesh.

  Hades hit a lever, and water streamed from a wide slot in the stone wall. He stepped beneath the steaming waterfall, closing his eyes and dipping his head back. He was a living, breathing work of art. Angel and demon all wrapped up in a package of physical perfection. Her mouth watered, but now it had nothing to do with the food. She wanted something much more tasty.

  Wanted it desperately. And the thing was, lust had driven her wants before, but something had changed. Yes, when she looked at him, lust was a writhing, burning entity inside her, but there was also a flutter of attraction to the male inside that magnificent body.

  But did he want her? He’d spent months avoiding her––or, at least, it seemed that way. And back at his crypt, he’d taken off just when things had gotten hot. But things had gotten hot. And he’d sort of flirted a couple times, the way he had a moment ago when he talked about satisfying her…curiosity. So there was something there. Right?

  She needed to know for sure. Her curiosity had always driven her, even when she should have minded her own business, but a wereleopard couldn’t change its spots, could it?

  Gathering all her courage, she stood, letting the blanket fall to the floor. His back was turned to her, so he didn’t see her moving toward him, her pulse picking up speed with every step.

  “Need help washing your back?”

  He whirled around, eyes wide, his lips parted in surprise. A blush crept up his neck and into his face as his gaze traveled the length of her body. Between his legs, his sex stirred, swelling and lengthening as he took her in. Between her legs, she went wet, and she hadn’t even stepped under the water yet.

  “I...ah...I’m doing fine by myself...” It was adorable how flustered he was. Big bad Hades was completely off balance. She was so taking advantage of that.

  “You missed a few spots.” Stepping into him, she gripped his biceps and forced him back around. The tingly, whiskey heat of him immediately sparked on her skin, giving her that contact high that had been so incredibly seductive back at his crypt.

  She soaked up the sensation as she palmed the hard bar of handmade soap and began to wash him, starting on the back of his neck and working her way down. Damn, his body was firm, his skin smooth. She’d never touched a male like this, and she made a mental note to do it again. Hopefully with Hades.

  Intrigued by this new experience, she committed everything to memory, like the way his muscles leaped under her touch. Like the way the water and suds sluiced over hard flesh that rolled with every one of his rapid breaths. Like the way his fingers dug into the stone wall as if he was trying desperately to hold himself upright.

  “Cataclysm,” he said roughly. “This might not be the best idea.”

  Pulse fluttering in her veins, she dropped her hands lower, skimming his buttocks as she scrubbed in wide circles.

  “Why not?” She hoped her words came off as light and teasing, that the sound of the water hid the tremor of insecurity. What if he rejected her again?

  Taking a deep breath, she went lower, so she was gliding the soap over his firm ass and hips.

  “Because.”

  His voice, husky and dripping with male need, made her bold. “That’s not a reason,” she murmured as she tucked the soap in the crack of his butt and slid her hand downward, her fingers reaching between his legs––

  His hand snapped back to grasp her wrist, and then he was turning into her and pushing her back against the wall. “I think,” he said, as he pressed his body against hers, “that it’s my turn.”

  Yes! He did want her!

  Dipping his head, he captured her mouth as he wrested the soap out of her hand. His kiss was hotter than the water pouring on them, and his hands, oh, sweet hell, his hands. They roamed her body with finesse, his touch alternating between light and firm,
teasing and let’s-do-this-thing serious. Every pass of the soap over her breasts and buttocks made her groan, and when he dropped the bar and dipped his fingers between her legs, she cried out in relief and amazement. She’d never been touched so intimately before, but now she was glad she’d waited. Hell, she’d have happily given up her wings for this one, beautiful moment.

  “You like this,” he said in a deep, guttural rasp. “I like it too. I shouldn’t, but I do.”

  There was a strange note in his voice, a tortured thread of...regret? Before she could think too hard on that, he did something sinful to her clit, and she nearly came undone. His fingers slid back and forth between her folds, the pressure becoming firmer as her breath came faster. He changed the rhythm every few strokes to rub circles around her sensitive nub or to slide the pads of his fingers past her opening, hitting a sensitive spot she didn’t know she had.

  “Please,” she begged, not even sure what she was begging for. She wanted everything he could possibly do to her, and thanks to Lilliana, Cat knew a lot of things were possible.

  He smiled as he kissed a path from her mouth to her jaw and down her neck. Arching her back, she let her head fall against the stone wall to give him as much access as he wanted. He grunted in approval and nipped her throat, the tiny sting adding fuel to the fire that was building inside her.

  Another pass of his fingers had her panting and pumping her hips into his hand. Then he slipped one inside her. Yes, oh, damn...yes!

  He worked her for a moment, wringing sighs and moans from her before adding another finger. The burn of her tissue stretching yielded to pleasure within a couple of heartbeats, and she surrendered herself to his masterful play.

  His fingers pumped as his thumb circled her clit, and too soon she exploded, her first climax with a male coursing through her body in an uncontrolled free fall. When she still had her wings, she would sometimes climb high into the air, tuck in her wings, and let the fall take her skimming close to mountaintops and deep into canyons. The orgasm Hades gave her was like that. Freeing, life affirming...and dangerous.

  She knew herself well enough to know that for her, sex and emotion would be tightly linked. It was a horrible character flaw, one that had the potential to hurt badly. She supposed it was a good thing Zhubaal had rejected her, but now she thought that maybe Hades should have, too.

  He brought her down slowly, his touch growing lighter as she became sensitive to every waning sensation.

  “You’re so beautiful.” His smoky voice rumbled through her like a second climax, sparking a new wave of pleasure skimming across her skin. “God, the sounds you make when you come.”

  “I need to hear you,” she said, taking him in her fist. “Let me.”

  He gasped, his body going rigid as she squeezed his erection. She’d never touched one before; she and Zhubaal hadn’t gotten this far. Not even close. The skin was so silky, the shaft textured with veins she wanted to trace with her tongue.

  Suddenly, he seized her wrist and shoved her hand away. Confused, she glanced up at him. He didn’t meet her gaze as he backed out of there, leaving a trail of puddles on the wood floor. “I have to go.”

  What the hell?

  “Don’t do this again.” She shut off the water. “Please, Hades. What’s wrong?”

  Someone knocked on the door, and she swore he jumped a foot in the air. “Who the fuck is it?” he yelled.

  “Silth. I have news you’re going to want to hear.”

  The urgency in Silth’s voice said the news wasn’t good, but Hades seemed relieved. Was he happy for an excuse to get out of the bedroom? “I’ll be out in a second.” He didn’t bother drying off, simply jammed his feet into his pants. He didn’t look at her as he said, “In this part of the Inner Sanctum, and only this part, you can clothe yourself in whatever you want, with just a thought. But the second you leave, the clothes will disappear.”

  Cool, but clothes were the least of her concerns right now. “Can you slow down for a second?” She reached for one of the folded cloths on the shelf next to the shower. “We need to talk.”

  “Talk,” he said sharply, “doesn’t seem to be what you want from me.” He held up the hand that had, just moments ago, given her so much pleasure. “I gave you what you wanted, didn’t I?”

  Stung by his sudden, inexplicable anger, she lashed out. “No, you didn’t. Not even close. You think I sit around fantasizing about your hand?”

  Said hand formed a fist at his side. “Sorry to disappoint, babe.” He yanked open the door with so much force that the iron handle broke. “But I’m sure Zhubaal will be happy to give you whatever it is you fantasize about.”

  “Wow,” she said quietly. “I can see where your reputation as a master torturer comes from. You know exactly where to plunge your dagger, don’t you?”

  He jerked as if she’d struck him, and then he stormed out, leaving her to her fantasies. Which, right at this minute, included smacking Hades in his stubborn, infuriating head.

  Chapter Twelve

  What the fuck have I done?

  Snarling, Hades slammed the bedroom door and strode into the hut’s living room, his hard cock pinching in his pants and his regrets piling up with every step.

  He never got this moody, but right now he was strung tighter than a vampire stretched on the Rack in the Rot’s dungeon. Sexual frustration combined with the anger from the situation with Cat and the bullshit going on in the Inner Sanctum had damned near reached critical levels. He considered himself to be a pretty laid-back, easygoing guy, especially for a fallen angel, but damn, when he was with Cat it was as if he was mining desires and emotions he’d kept buried, and now he’d hit a vein that ran thick with fury and hopelessness.

  It had been centuries since he’d last succumbed to the kinds of feelings that usually signaled an impending catastrophic bout of self-destructiveness.

  He either wanted to kill something, or he wanted to fuck something...and the latter something was Cat.

  Stupid, Hades. It would be so fucking stupid to start a relationship that can’t go anywhere, not to mention the fact that Azagoth will break you in half like a wishbone.

  Oh, but didn’t he already board that stupid train when he made her the brunt of his anger at not being able to make love to her? She hadn’t deserved any of that. Then he’d made it worse by bringing up Zhubaal, which had only served to throw jealousy and shame into the toxic mix brewing inside him right now.

  He’d hurt her when he’d sworn to protect her. He’d done what he did best; find a soft spot, slip a blade in it, and give it a good twist.

  Fucking idiot.

  Water dripped down his back, reminding him of how Cat’s gentle fingers had caressed him in the shower. He’d felt like a map and she was the explorer looking for interesting places to go. He’d wanted so badly to let her. Her touch was a gift, a connection he hadn’t had with anyone since before he fell. Even then, his relationships hadn’t been serious. He’d been young and impulsive, and females had been a fun distraction from his crappy job and his priggish, cold parents.

  Since his fall, the few females he’d been with had been sexual partners and nothing more. How could they be anything more when the total of his time outside of Sheoul-gra could be measured in hours instead of days?

  Gnashing his teeth, he stopped in front of Silth and tried to keep his tone civil. “What is it?”

  “We captured the Orphmage who was holding the Unfallen female you rescued,” he said, and Hades’s heart leaped. Finally. Maybe he would get to kill someone after all.

  “He’s alive, I take it.”

  “Yes, sir.” Silth fingered the hilt of the sword at his hip, his chain mail armor tinkling softly as he moved. “We have him at the Rot. But I had a chance to interrogate him at the site where we captured him.”

  “He talked?”

  “After I reached into his chest cavity and started breaking off ribs.”

  “Nice.” Hades nodded in approval. “So what did he
say? Did you get the human?”

  “No, sir. But he did say that when he jammed his staff into the Unfallen, he released an enchantment inside her.”

  Hades’s heart stopped leaping. “Her name is Cat. And what kind of enchantment?”

  “The kind that drains her life force.”

  Oh, fuck. His heart started beating again, but in an erratic, schizy rhythm. “For what purpose?”

  “To open holes in the barriers between the Inner Sanctum and Sheoul, as well as the barrier between the Sanctum and Sheoul-gra.”

  Not unexpected, since demons were always trying to get out of the Inner Sanctum to wreak havoc as ghosts in both Sheoul and on Earth. But they’d been trying to do that for eons, so what made this attempt different?

  “I’m still not clear on how that would work,” he said. “What role does the human play in this?”

  “They’re draining him, too. Both the Unfallen, ah, Cat, and the human are timed to drain at the same time.”

  Hades’s gut was starting to churn. “And how much time do we have before this event takes place?”

  “Approximately twenty hours. But it could happen sooner if both the human and the Unfallen are beheaded simultaneously. When their souls flee their bodies, perforations will appear in the barriers, and demons will escape.”

  Holy shitmonkeys. “Find a hellhound,” Hades said. “Quickly.”

  Silth’s upper lip peeled back, revealing two shiny fangs. Like pretty much everyone else, he hated hellhounds. “Why must I track down one of those filthy mutts?”

  “Because I need a message delivered to their king. Tell the hellhound that we need Cerberus’s help. We can use every hellhound they can spare to find the human.”

  Silth’s curse told Hades exactly how he felt about dealing with the beasts. “And if that fails?”

  “Then we’ll need the hellhounds to patrol the borders. We can’t let a single demon escape, let alone millions of them.”