Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed #2)(21)

“It isn’t safe. For you, and especially him.”

“This is nuts. You are all overreacting.” With that, she reached for the door handle and tugged. It wouldn’t budge.

“What the f*ck?” She yanked and pulled some more.

“I’m sorry, Serah, but I need to protect you.” And, just that quickly, an icy swirl of wind, snow, and ice misted around him. And—poof—he was gone.





Chapter 8


Matthias swiped frost, snow, and ice from his shoulders and head. Backing against the cold concrete of the building, he made his way toward the darkened alley. He knew Serah would be irritated but it was the only way he could keep her protected while Balthazar lingered.

Balthazar. He recognized that reek anywhere. Once Belial’s right hand man, he hardly ever traveled from the comforts of hell. He preferred to work from the pits. This confirmed Matthias’s suspicions—Serah was in bigger trouble than he thought.

But Balthazar hadn’t always been Belial’s lapdog. He was once a friend—

A mentor. Matthias gritted his teeth. His mentor. He’d taught Matthias everything he knew about being a mercenary. But even mercenaries were vulnerable.

He’d never thought his friend would fade into the darkness of the Infernati. How wrong he was.

He inched along the side of the building, creeping slowly down the alley. Hand firmly gripping his dagger, he continued his stealthy movement.

“I taught you those moves, you know.” The familiar baritone voice he used to revere as a friend’s now pounded in his ear. His friend was gone. Then again, he already knew—ever since they had last met in Belial’s chambers in hell.

Balthazar sniffed the air, sucking in a deep breath. With a devilish wink, he licked his lips. “Mmm. The Pure-Blood is nearby. So you’ve come to finish your mission, I hope?”

“What’s it to you?”

“You have too much at stake to act so bloody glib.”

“As far as I’m concerned, I upheld my part of the bargain. I delivered the package as requested. Belial broke his end of the deal when he locked me up.”

Balthazar snorted, the sound reverberating against the concrete surrounding them. “And what part of the bargain said you could try to break Serah SanGermano free?”

“When a customer doesn’t pay, I take my services back.” Not a complete lie. But deep inside, he knew it was more. There was something about that woman that stirred him in ways he never knew. It went against everything he’d learned over the years. Every emotion he tried to keep contained fired where Serah was concerned. Lust, anger, frustration, and other strange feelings he hadn’t felt before. It unnerved him.

“Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her.” Balthazar clucked his tongue and waggled his finger. Light blond hair whipped in the air as he shook his head. “You’ve lost your touch.”

Matthias was done playing Balthazar’s games. “What brings you to Earth?”

“There’s a nasty rumor circulating around hell that you’ve joined the Paladins. I’ve come to dispel said rumor.”

“And if I have?”

“Then I have no choice but follow through with our demands.”

Matthias gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Belial, even from the pits of departed demons, managed to be the bane of his existence. He’d always hoped whatever hold Belial had on his friend would dissipate when he was vanquished. Another thing he’d miscalculated.

“Belial is dead. You don’t serve him anymore.”

“I serve someone else now.”

“I remember a time when you wouldn’t serve anyone. I am truly disappointed.”

Balthazar shrugged, his now-red, beady eyes sparking in the dim moonlight. “Oh well, my friend. Have it your way.”

“You are not my friend. My friend is long gone.”

“So be it, Ambrose. But heed my words. Your mission still stands. Bring me Serah SanGermano or your last remaining descendant will die in three days.”

“How do I know you’re telling me the truth?”

“Your wife… she was with child when you left for the Crusades.”

Matthias drew his jaw straight. He hated talking about his demonic turning. How he took a Saracen blade in his chest. How he crumbled to the ground, his blood pooling. Just when he closed his eyes, she appeared. An angel, he’d thought. Little did he know, she was far from being an angel.

“I want proof.”

“Have I lied to you before?”

“I trusted the man who mentored me, not the monster standing here now.”

“Have you joined them or not?”

“Why does it matter?”

“It matters because your descendant will die.”

Matthias’s heart sank. The world’s existence depended on the last Pure-Blood’s safety. He needed to protect Serah no matter the cost. Without her, the world was doomed.

He hated what he was about to say, but Serah needed protection. “If I have to sacrifice one descendant for the entire world, then so be it.”

“You have joined them!” Balthazar chuckled, deep and sardonic. “You fool. You are setting yourself up to fail. That’s what those self-righteous Fore-Demons want.”