Demons Like It Hot (Demons Unleashed #2)(29)

Love,



Nonni





Serah could only stare at the letter. She would have tried to say it was a fake, but the handwriting said it all. She’d know Nonni’s signature anywhere. The way she swirled the n’s and dotted the i’s. There was no way to forge it.

Then again, Minerva was a goddess, and goddesses had powers—strong powers from what she could see. “How do I know you’re not playing me?”

Minerva chuckled. “You’d already be dead. Now open the box already.”

Matthias unsheathed his dagger, the scraping sound echoing in her ears. “If anything happens to her, I’ll send you to—what did the Romans call it? Tartarus.”

“I’m hardly a sinner, but you have my word, Matthias, she will be safe.” She sauntered toward him and snatched the dagger from his hand. “I am getting sick of this thing. Have some manners, Ambrose.” She tossed the dagger to the corner of the room.

Matthias grunted but backed away. “I’ll still be watching you, Minerva.”

“I wouldn’t expect any less from the Pure-Blood’s protector.” She swirled in her skirts and came back to the table where Serah sat. “And if I meant you any danger, Matthias would have already run me through. Right, Matthias?”

“She can be trusted—for a while.”

“Thank you, I think.” Minerva took Serah’s hand in hers, the warm peaceful energy soothing her fingertips. “See? I mean no harm. Now, Serah, please close your eyes.”

Sera nodded. Maybe she planned to do a séance. She had so much she needed to tell her grandmother. But most of all, she wanted forgiveness. Slowly, she drew her lids closed and held her hands still for Minerva. “I’m ready.”

“Wonderful.” The sound of the latch popping up echoed in her ears. She resisted the urge to peel one of her eyes open and sneak a peek. Remembering the last time someone opened a chest, it was best to follow the goddess’s direction.

The lid clicked shut. Minerva took her hand again, still as soothing as before. Matthias, surprisingly, remained dead silent. Maybe she gave him a magical muzzle.

“Do you truthfully accept your destiny and whatever comes with it?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“You don’t sound too confident, Serah. I am being serious.”

“If it brings me closer to Nonni, I accept.”

Minerva clucked her tongue. “Fine, but remember what I’m about to give you will work only if you fully accept what you are.”

Serah nodded. “I will.”

Minerva opened Serah’s palm and placed a pendant and chain in her hand. The metal was warm, not cold—silver. She could feel the encrusted stones tracing paths across her skin. Warm energy flowed through her body, similar to what she felt when she held her Nonni’s watch.

“Can you feel it?”

“It feels like a necklace.”

“Is that it?”

“Yes. Can I open my eyes now?”

Minerva blew out a breath. “Angelica told me you’d be stubborn. Yes, you can open your eyes.”

Serah looked down at the necklace she held. Not a pendant, as she originally thought, but a locket. A circle of chipped diamonds surrounded the shiny silver surface. Dangling from a plain silver chain, it sparkled and shined, despite the stones’ poor cuts. She looked down at her watch—the similarity in the arrangement of the stones almost knocked her senseless.

She finally exhaled. “This belonged to Nonni, didn’t it?”

“It did. Now it belongs to you.”

“It’s just a necklace. Why couldn’t I have it sooner?”

“You aren’t fooling anyone, Serah. You know why. And if you don’t accept your destiny, the Earth is doomed.”





Chapter 12


Minerva couldn’t have said it any more succinctly. Maybe all Serah needed was a kick in the ass from a goddess. He fought the smile that threatened to curve his lips. No way would he show emotion. Emotions were a weakness, often taken advantage of.

Matthias would not let Minerva have the upper hand. Too much was at stake.

Unfortunately, Serah shrugged. A deep roar of laughter burst from her lips. “I find it hard to believe that a simple caterer is destined to save the world.”

God’s teeth. He knew she’d be stubborn, but this was worse than he thought. He clenched his teeth, and his words came out strained. “You are far from simple.”

He reached for her, his hand brushing hers. Jolts of electricity flowed between them. A soft gasp escaped her lips and her lids fluttered across her eyes, which were clouding over. He’d seen that look before. Desire. His loins tightened, pressing uncomfortably against the briefs he had tried on earlier. They were called tighty-whities for a reason. He struggled to control his gulp.

A brief hint of recognition flashed in her gaze. As if a lightning bolt had zinged through her, she gasped. Yanking her hand from his, her sapphire gaze grew stormy and her lip trembled. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but stop it already.”

Matthias’s blood grew colder than it already was. He had not done anything, save for touch her. He tamped down the paranoia creeping through his body. Did she remember? He hoped not. None of his victims, demon or human, had ever remembered. His unfortunate skill made certain of that. If she remembered, it meant one of two things. Either he was losing his powers, or she was stronger than the Fore-Demons realized.