Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(109)
“And I didn’t even need a degree in medicine to do it.” She nudged Rafe toward the circle of rocks, ready to finish the mission—together.
She scanned the area to check on her friends. Squeaky, wearing a ragged suit coat and crumpled fedora, flexed his chimp muscles for Serah. With a snort, Serah laughed then doubled over, wincing with pain. Squeaky, ever-attentive familiar that he was, turned Dr. Ross on her and examined every bone in her body.
Kalli, arms crossed, leaned against the side of the chapel, dreadlocks mangled and fishnets gaping with even larger holes. Cigarette poised between her lips, she took a long drag, spirals of smoke puffing into the air. With a brief flicker of amethyst eyes, she offered a cursory nod Lucy’s way and turned to stare off at the cloudy gray sky.
She’d leave Kalli to her thoughts. She knew most of Lucy’s as it was.
Frankie and Gerardo, on the other hand, fought and bickered. Gerardo flicked a snowy white, slightly mangled wing while Frankie ripped off the sleeve of his sweater into perfect strips. Despite the minor injuries, everyone was okay.
“Everyone’s safe, honey,” she whispered in Rafe’s ear. “Let’s send this baby back to Limbo.” She laced her fingers with his and led him toward the damned chest. The sooner they sent it back, the sooner she could start her life—with Rafe.
Kneeling in the snow, she peered inside. The chest’s energy washed over her, its tentacles of warmth crawling over her skin. If this was their idea of ecstasy, they never spent a night in bed with Rafael Deleon.
Rafe’s grip tightened on her shoulder. “Be careful. Its energy is very intoxicating.”
She soaked in the minty scent that wafted from him as he knelt beside her. Placing her hand on his chest, she smiled. “Not as much as you.”
His heart thudded against her fingers and he drew in a deep breath of air. Inky black hair blowing against snowy white flakes, he brushed a snowflake from her cheek. Despite the biting cold wind, tender warmth swirled between them. She needed to concentrate, or she’d end up a pile of mush in the snow. Reining in her hormones, she took in a deep breath.
“So what do we do?”
“It’s all you, Lucy. I’m just here for moral support.”
“And here I thought it was because you loved me.” Wow, way to drop the L word, Lucy.
A slow smile widened his lips. “That too.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
“Yes, Lucy.” He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her to him, the heat of his chiseled chest pulsing from him and filling her with sizzling energy. His silver eyes bored into her with a fervor she never knew. “I love you.”
He didn’t wait for her response. Instead, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. His lips, firm and protective, crushed against hers. Coaxing her mouth open, his tongue swept inside, melting her against him. As quickly as the kiss started, he pulled away.
“Why’d you stop?”
Rafe brushed a fingertip over her kiss-swollen lips. “The Arca Inferorum, remember? We’ll continue the kiss later.”
Nodding, she threw a dagger-like glare at the chest. She wanted to send that chest back to Limbo now… more than ever. She had purpose. She’d save the world. She’d save her friends and family. She would save her shop. She’d continue that kiss with Rafe. That, itself, made it all worthwhile. “I look forward to it.” She stood on strangely steady legs. With a wide smile, she offered Rafe a hand. Not that he needed her help, but she just needed his skin against hers. She knew she had to be the one who wrangled the demons back in the chest, but having him with her made all the difference. He was her man, and she’d definitely stand by him.
“Thank you darling.” Rafe brushed snow from his jeans and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Now let’s get your minions collected.”
“My minions?” Even though she went through enough weirdness in the past couple of days to last a lifetime, it still was surreal. She could control a whole legion of demons. That was a lot of power. She shivered as the pulsing and flashing energy from the Arca Inferorum tried to weave its spell. She didn’t want that power.
“Don’t let it seduce you.”
“Only one person can do that. And it certainly isn’t some dusty old box.”
With that, Lucy spun around and glared down at the chest. The one thing that had turned her life upside down, sideways and inside out. The only good thing that came from it was Rafe. That’s what made this whole ordeal worthwhile.
Lucy took a deep breath. Did she have to say anything special? It couldn’t be as easy as just saying “Get back in.” She closed her eyes. Soaking in the energy around her, she allowed it to spur her on.
She opened her mouth to speak, the Latin flowing from her tongue like butter. “All my loosed minions, I command you return to the Arca Inferorum.”
Angry screeches intermingling with tormented moans rent the air. A bitter cold blast of air whipped around them. The chest glowed brighter, a beacon for the lost souls. Violent gusts of air spiraled, sending their hair flying in every direction. Even as the icy winds flicked at their faces, they stood proud and remained calm. The wind intensified, spinning and whirling from the center of the chest. She snapped her head up. The eerie gray vortex flung itself around, the echo of the winds hissing in her ears. Screeches and groans, squeals and moans cried out in a terrifying cacophony as the greenish gray clouds rotated and intensified, sucking in her demonic minions with each brutal twist. But she and Rafe stood tall. She could do anything, as long as he was by her side.