devil 04 - the devil you know Page 13

  But Dialle could be ruthless when he needed to be.

  And he had me.

  I climbed out of bed and started to dress. A moment later I heard the door open and turned in time to see Dialle’s fine ass retreating through the door. Gerch’s expressive red face turned in my direction and he gave me a little smile.

  I shook my head and he shrugged.

  “Try to stay out of trouble, Astra.” Dialle instructed me before the door slammed closed behind him.

  “Yeah,” I responded to the empty room. “I’ll try.” Knowing full well that it was nearly impossible for me.

  I straightened my clothing and headed for the door.

  First task on the list was confronting Nerul. I needed to know if he was acting as a spy for Dialle the First. And I needed to know where my sister was, so I could get her out of there.

  And most importantly, having just had my Settling beaten temporarily back into submission, it was a good time to confront the evil but dangerously charming Royal.

  Two stern faced guards turned to me as I exited Dialle’s rooms. I glanced at them before moving past. They fell into step behind me. I stopped, turning to confront them. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  The bigger guard spoke first. I cranked my head upward to meet his dark eyes. Unlike many of the red, scaly types, his gaze was filled with intelligence. “We have been instructed to stay with you, as protection.”

  I nodded, trying to keep my expression blank.

  It wasn’t something I was good at.

  I think my blank face must have looked more hostile than neutral because the smaller guard flinched, his thick, red fist sliding toward his sword.

  Grinning meanly at him, I responded, “I don’t need a guard. You can stay here. I’ll be back shortly.”

  The big one snorted. My smile dropped away as I turned to him. “You got something to say?” Expecting him to back down, I was shocked and a little impressed when he responded.

  “Yes. You will not return. You are very crafty. King Dialle warned us about you. We will go with you wherever you go.”

  I frowned at him. “Is that so?”

  His craggy lips spread in a wide grin. I realized with a start that he was enjoying our exchange. “You’ll be wearing us like a cheap red suit until our King tells us different.”

  The other guard cleared his throat but his dark eyes sparked with humor.

  Gritting my teeth, I turned and stomped down the hallway, deciding that if I couldn’t shake the guards, I’d make use of them.

  Of course, if I could shake them I would.

  It didn’t take me long to realize I needed their help. I kept moving forward for a full minute after the realization, not wanting to ask them for help. It nearly killed me to stop, turn and ask the question. “Where’s Nerul? I need to speak to him.”

  The smaller guard rolled his rocklike lips. The big one didn’t bother to hide the smug smile that popped onto his face. “I will take you to him.”

  I fell into step behind him while the other guard took up my flank. I felt like the meaty filling for a small, angry Astra sandwich.

  I didn’t like the feeling at all.

  And me without any weapons.

  After several minutes of twisting and turning and climbing, I realized I would most likely never have found Nerul on my own.

  The realization only made me crankier.

  Nearly an hour later we finally stopped in front of a wide metal door covered in guards. As we’d approached down the hall Nerul’s well-appointed and well-trained guards straightened away from the wall and converged on the door, obscuring it in a double line of impeding devil.

  My guards stopped several feet from Nerul’s soldiers and moved in front of me, obscuring my view.

  I tried to step around them but they kept shifting to stay in front of me. Resisting the urge to hop up and down to see over them, I pulled my power forward and shifted to a spot between the two muscular red walls of devilry.

  “I need to speak to Nerul.”

  Nerul’s guard stood unmoving and silent before me. I focused my attention on the center guard, whose body language told me was the leader.

  Well, that and the fact that he had shoulder bling as big as my head on each broad shoulder.

  As he continued to glare silently at me I took a step forward, daring him to attack.

  My guards stepped forward too, until they were flanking me. Two thick, metal-covered arms pressed in front of me until I felt squeezed and displeased. Turning sideways, I slipped through their restraining arms and glared at the bigger one.

  I made a mental note to get their names. I couldn’t keep referring to them as big and less big. I decided to call them Frick and Frack in the meantime.

  “Tell Nerul I’m here.” I addressed shoulder bling. “He’s expecting me.” The guard’s dark eyes focused on me without emotion and he continued to hold to his spot before the door without moving. “Do it, or you’ll be answering to King Dialle!”

  The guard finally blinked and slowly turned to the guard on his left, flicking his rocklike red chin upward. The guard turned and headed toward the door. It opened briefly behind them to allow the guard to enter Nerul’s quarters.

  I stood with my hands loose at my sides and my legs spread in a warrior’s stance. I could feel the tension level building in my two guards with every second that ticked by. They knew, like I did, that if things went south we would be vastly outnumbered.

  They weren’t taking into account the fact that I could pull on my and Dialle’s combined power through my daemon hickey and blast the hostile guards’ asses if necessary. This comforting thought made me relax a bit.

  A moment later, the door behind Nerul’s guards opened again.

  Without a sound, the line of guards split to reveal the soldier who’d entered the rooms, and shoulder bling caught his eye. They engaged in silent communication.

  The result of this communication was that shoulder bling turned back to me and bowed slightly, indicating with a thick red hand that I should enter. I eyed the double masses of Nerul’s guards and pulled my power forward, coating myself with a protective bubble before entering the gantlet.

  As I’d hoped, Frick and Frack didn’t make it very far trying to follow me. Nerul’s guard closed behind me, cutting them off. Frick didn’t like this. “We will accompany Mx. Phelps or she will not enter.”

  The sound of metal skating through scabbards made me stop and turn. Frick and Frack had their swords drawn and were surrounded by dozens of sword points, like a reverse porcupine.

  I knew, if there was a fight, they didn’t have a chance unless I helped them. And I had no intention of helping them. “Stand down, boys,” I told them. “I’ll be fine. If I need you, I’ll blast a hole in the door and scream.”

  I turned and marched through the door, fully aware that I was on my own and realizing that it had to be that way. I didn’t want any witnesses to what Nerul and I were about to discuss.

  All I could hope for was that my cocky attitude would be enough to keep me safe. Unfortunately, in my past dealings with the crafty and lightheartedly evil King Nerul it hadn’t been. I wasn’t sure what was different this time. Except that I was more desperate.

  It would have to be enough.

  “Hello, lovely Tweener.”

  Nerul stood before me, his silky black hair loose and settled around his broad shoulders. His handsome face was clean-shaven except for a goatee on his chin. That was new and undeniably sexy.

  Nerul was wearing a black silk robe and nothing else. Which, in my current condition, would have been bad enough, except it was worse. The robe hung open, tucked back on his hips, and he was waving at me.

  Without using his hands.

  My Settling roared, sending sensual musk into the air. My temperature spiked and my nipples hardened.

  Just like that I was a sexual flare again.

  So much for taking the edge off with Dialle.

  “I see you’r
e underdressed as always, Nerul.”

  His nostrils were flared, scenting me, and his smile was predatory. “As you told my guards, I was expecting you.”

  Nodding, I forced my eyes to drift from his waving package before I succumbed to my Settling and did something a lot of people would regret. I walked away, focusing my power on sensing him so that I’d know the first moment he made a move.

  As long as he didn’t touch me I’d be all right.

  I stood in front of a wall of windows not unlike the one in Dialle’s quarters, but this one was much closer to Hell. It was only a couple of floors above ground level, and gave a close-up view of the arid, fiery environs where I found myself.

  Heat radiated outward from the glass and I realized the temperatures had to be extremely high to create waves of heat from the special glass.

  So hot that everything wavered and pulsed behind it.

  Nothing living moved among the glowing rocks and brown earth. Nothing moved at all except for the flickering of flame and dead, gray ash. The sky above was a dirty gray-orange, made thick and opaque by the mixture of heat and cinders. There were no birds flying above, no dragons. There weren’t even any harpies or dark angels in the sky. Nothing could survive for long beyond the glass and stone walls of the habitations in Hades. Except for the occasional green dragon delivering goods from castle to castle, all movement was done through magical means.

  It was the most depressing sight I’d ever encountered. And I suddenly wished to be gone from there more than anything else.

  I sensed movement behind me and turned. Nerul dropped onto a nearby divan, sprawling negligently. Daring a glance, I saw that he was mostly decent and risked turning to address him face to face.

  “I need to know why you’ve offered your services to Dialle.”

  “I told you. I wish to back the winner.”

  “The real reason.”

  Nerul didn’t bother trying to hide his emotions from me. His dark eyes swirled with agitated color. It was up to me to figure out what he was agitated about. I doubted it was my pretty face or lush curves. Nerul was an extremely ambitious creature. He acted strictly based on potential for personal gain. And while I knew he would gain some pleasure from taking me, it would not gain him much in the long run. “Spill it, Nerul. I know you have more than bragging rights at stake here.”

  His lips spread in a slow, sensual smile that made me pull my power around me in a protective bubble. He laughed, sensing the power surge, and inclined his silken dark head. “I have determined it is in my best interests to nurture the Second and oversee the defeat of the First.”

  “Because?”

  His gaze probed my face for several beats before he responded. When he did I realized he was being honest with me. Probably for the first time. “Second is younger. He has less experience as King. I believe my influence will be greater with him.”

  I nodded. “In other words, you think you can defeat him more easily and take the crown.”

  Nerul merely licked his lips, his eyes sparking.

  “You’re forgetting something.”

  His tongue touched his upper lip, lingering, as his dark gaze raked my body and his nostrils flared with interest. “What would that be, lovely Tweener?”

  “Me.”

  For just a flicker in time, his eyes widened before he masked his surprise. “Yes. There is you. Together, you and Dialle the Second make a formidable team. And your lust…” His mouth opened and, for a moment he looked like he was having trouble breathing. “Your lust gives him strength. I would do much to gain that strength for my own.”

  I realized suddenly that we were getting to the crux of things. He wanted the power he’d get from a sexual bond with me. “I would give you everything, lovely Astra, if only you would come to me.”

  Nerul’s scent wafted toward me, drawing me into his sensual sphere. I shook my head and started to turn away in a panic.

  But, sensing my withdrawal, Nerul quickly changed tactics.

  “I recognize that Second has the upper hand on both his father and me. So I am willing to play along for now. You can be sure I will help him hold his throne against his father’s lust for power. It is in my best interests to do so. For now.”

  I frowned. I believed him. As long as he thought it benefited him to aid us he would. But I also knew that he would be a constant threat to Dialle’s power. One moment of weakness would be all it took. Nerul would be watching and waiting, ready to grasp control.

  That was a problem for another day.

  Satisfied that the issue of Nerul’s intentions had been adequately addressed, I turned my attention to the other issue on my mind. “Where is Dialle the First holding my sister?”

  This seemed to catch Nerul by surprise. His black eyes flared briefly with smug satisfaction. I realized in that moment that Nerul knew exactly where my sister was being kept. More importantly, he knew he had something I wanted, giving him power over me.

  I knew he would help me find her, but I wasn’t sure I could afford the cost.

  I barely suppressed a shudder at that look. “Tell me where she is, Nerul.”

  He spread his legs and his robe fell open, exposing the impossible length and thickness of his shaft.

  I licked my lips.

  He dropped a large hand over his cock and stroked it slowly, sensually. “What would be in it for me, lovely Astra?”

  Transfixed, I watched a bead of pre-cum rise to the fat, purple head.

  My Settling roared to life and I was moving toward him before I knew what I was doing. In the beat of a heart my temperature had spiked and my skin became almost painfully sensitized, so that the soft slide of my clothing over it made my pussy clench.

  But I was only aware of these things residually, at a deeper layer of consciousness, almost beyond my grasp. Lust had taken over my mind and was a rabid creature, consuming all thought, every scruple, leaving me an exposed nerve, a raw wound.

  All I saw was that beautiful shaft, sparkling with moisture on its fat tip. I was suddenly frantic to touch it…desperate to taste it…anxious to draw it between my lips.

  I dropped to my knees and leaned forward.

  Nerul’s musky scent enveloped me. My nostrils flared and I moaned deep in my throat, mindless with an almost unquenchable hunger.

  From deep within the fog of my lust, I could hear Nerul’s hypnotic voice, urging me forward, giving me words of encouragement and promise.

  My body throbbed and softened toward him. I found myself unwilling to pull away. Unable to resist.

  But something deep within my mind rebelled. I opened my mouth and screamed, lifting a hand toward the door. Power surged through me but I didn’t have the presence of mind to focus it, I let it shoot away from my fingertips, unfocused and wild.

  There was an explosion. At the very edges of my consciousness, beyond the fog of lust enveloping me, I heard heavy footsteps thundering toward me.

  Something large and heavy hit me and I was thrown sideways just before my lips closed over that wonderful cock.

  I cried out, desperate with lust, and tried to shove whatever had flattened me to the ground away. I started to pull my power forward to blast the dense weight away from my chest but lost my focus when something thick and heavy slammed against my cheek.

  Blinking, I came to awareness and looked up into the wide, worried red face of Frick. My guard.

  He gave a sigh of relief when my vision cleared and I recognized him. “Come. We must leave quickly.”

  I nodded, allowing him to pull me to my feet, and avoided looking at Nerul as Frick and Frack ushered me out, safely buffered between their large bodies.

  The smell of smoke tickled my nose and I looked up to find a huge hole in the place where the door had been. We stepped over the mangled bodies of several of Nerul’s guard.

  Had I done that?

  “We will finish this discussion later, Astra. Do not doubt it.” Nerul’s voice rose above the sound of groaning from his falle
n soldiers.

  I shivered and picked up my pace, horrified by what I’d almost done. I was nearly running by the time we reached the end of the hallway and turned out of sight. Although I’d regained my sense mentally, physically my body still screamed and wept for release.

  I needed to find release, and quickly, or I could still embarrass myself. I stopped, panting, and reached out to him telepathically. Dialle!

  What is it, Astra? Are you all right?

  No! I need you, now. Please!

  Silence met my plea and I closed my eyes, leaning against the cool wall at my back. Please, Dialle!

  The air beside us shimmered and Dialle was suddenly there. I threw myself into his arms and dragged him into a desperate kiss. I consumed his lips with mine, sucking his soft bottom lip into my mouth and chewing it hungrily, pulling none too gently on the sweet flesh.

  Dialle placed his hands on my buttocks and lifted me, dragging me up his hard cock beneath the tight black leather pants he wore. He groaned as my hands sifted through his silken hair, holding him as my mouth worked his lips and dragged starving nips and kisses over his face and down his throat.

  The world stopped, sound stilled and then returned in a rush as we landed in his quarters and Dialle pressed me backward onto his bed. His hands dragged at my sweater, ripping it away and severing the delicate lace at the vee of my bra. He dipped his head to suck on a rigid nipple.

  My head went back on a long, hungry growl of need. “Yes, oh god, Dialle, yes!”

  He sucked harder on my nipple and then released it with a soft pop, turning his avid attention to the other nipple. As he nurtured my starving flesh, his hard, hot hands slid down my ribs, over my waistline and over my hips, tucking under my buttocks and drawing me upward to grind against his hard cock.

  My skin felt as if it were on fire. Heat spread through me, setting my blood to boil and making every touch feel raw and tender.

  A fine sheen of sweat broke out all over our bodies, so that, when we moved against one another, our skin pressed in a sensual glide that created an almost painful friction.

  We were both naked, Dialle having taken care of the final, frail obstructions to our lust. I spread my legs and reached for him, fully intending to impale myself with his weeping cock.