Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(108)

“Belial! You’re too late.” Rafe stood tall, the crossbow poised and ready.

“Your silly arrows won’t keep me detained more than a few weeks at the most.”

“How about an archangel’s arrow?” he asked, his finger poised on the trigger.

An archangel had blessed Rafe’s weapon? Lucy’s heart soared. She scanned his expression, stony and severe. Not a lick of emotion spread on his face. Perhaps it was only a bluff. Even if he were bluffing, she knew he could do it.

“As if an archangel would bless any of your weapons. I’ve seen your record.” Letting out a loud guffaw, Belial lunged for him.

With one fluid motion, Rafe pulled the trigger, the snap of the crossbow a welcome echo in her ear. The silver tip of the arrow sparked as it sailed through the air.

With a loud pop, the arrow hit Belial’s chest.

Dark blood pooling from his chest, Belial let out a gurgling gasp. Blood trickled from his mouth and nose as he clutched the sliver arrow wedged deep into his black heart. His once-vibrant gold eyes faded to black. He stumbled forward and threw his hands out, ready to grab Rafe and bring him where ever he was going.

“Rafe! Look out!”

With a quick leap, Rafe sidestepped Belial’s grasp. Belial, with a gurgled groan, fell forward and landed in the puffy snow, blood tainting the pristine whiteness as he withered away, a coating of gray ash and dust the only thing remaining. With a biting cold blast of air, the ash blew away in a violent whip of wind.

“Rafe!” Full of relief, she flung herself into his arms and pressed her lips to his. Wrapping her arms around his neck and latching onto his silky hair, she pulled in closer. She never wanted to let go. Her lips roamed and prodded his as her tongue swirled and pushed its way inside. Zings of warm energy rushed through every vein in her body. Not as hot as before, but still as intense. Reluctantly, she pulled her lips from his and nestled her head on his shoulder. “You did it,” she breathed.

“We aren’t finished yet,” he stated with a quick peck to her cheek. He turned her to face the Arca Inferorum, still glowing like a giant demon beacon. Sparks and shadows swirled around it. Smoke and fog danced in eerie accompaniment.

“The demons are loosed and ready for your control.” Rafe’s sister padded toward them, her head still cast down. “I am your humble servant.”

Rafe sucked in a deep breath and reached for his sister’s hand, his eyes swirling with warmth. “Coby, you’re free.”

Coby jerked her hand from his grasp and turned away. “Free? You call this free? How can I possibly be free now?” Silver eyes flashing, she snorted. “If you know what’s right, you’ll just let me be, Rafael.” With an annoyed huff, she spun away and stalked toward the road.

The scathing use of his given name sent cringes racing through Lucy’s system. Fists clenched at her side, her blood boiled. This was the thanks she gave her brother—her own flesh and blood—for saving her life? “Now wait just a minute,” she ground out. “Your brother risked his life to save your ass. Be a sister, damn it.”

Coby shrugged, a cryptic smile spread across her face. “No, he risked his ass to save yours. But it was worth it.” She disregarded Lucy with a toss of her spun-silver hair and turned away.

“Hey there, aren’t you mine to command?” Lucy asked, doing her best to sound authoritative. She stood tall, her arms crossed.

Coby strode off, her hair swaying with each move of her hips. “You already have,” she called over her shoulder as she faded into the mists.

Turning to Rafe, she brushed a lock of stray hair from his brow. “I didn’t tell her to do that, did I?”

Rafe shook his head. “No. It’s common for the Infernati to twist someone’s words.”

Her stomach knotted. “She’s Infernati?”

“Not completely, but enough to remain a threat.”

“But she refused to kill you. You’re just going to let her walk away?”

“Coby does what she wants and doesn’t let anyone stop her.” A small half-smile curved his lips. “At least that part of her is still intact.”

“Then there’s still hope? Someone has to go to her.”

“That, unfortunately, isn’t my mission.” Rafe gazed down at her, a bittersweet mixture of silver and gray swirling in his eyes. “You—not Coby—not even the Arca Inferorum—are my mission.”

“What?”

“When Michael presented himself to me, I finally understood. He also said Coby will have her time. All isn’t completely lost.”

“What about Nic? How can she get over that? She killed him.”

“Nic isn’t dead.” His gaze flashed a hint of somberness. “At least not his body. He loved her, you know.”

“Oh Rafe, I’m so sorry.” she pressed close to him, allowing her warmth to mingle with his. She traced a finger through his hair, just wanting to give him comfort—to show she cared. Heck, she wanted to show him she loved him too.

“The Fore-Demons knew the only way I could defeat Belial was if I stepped from my sister’s shadow. I’ve kept myself secluded too long. It took one saucy succubus to cure me.”

“I cured you?”

“More than you realize.”