Page 32 of Facet

Then he was carefully setting me on Damien’s bed.

“Willow, you had a terrible and crazy dream that you’re not going to remember, but you’re fine and safe in Damien’s bed. No one will hurt you, and between Damien and I, we’ll protect you. Okay?” His words were soft-spoken and mesmerizing.

“Mmm, okay. Thank you,” I sighed as he tucked my legs under the covers. The weight of the blankets settled over my shoulders, and I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

Séamus

I had no idea what Maeve had been up to or how she thought she’d get away with what she’d been doing. She had compelled our son’s woman into a sex-drugged daze. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that she was going to kill the girl.

But why?

As I prepared to leave the room, I could hear several of the members talking out in the main area. Instead of using the door, I utilized my gift of teleportation to return to where Damien and I had been talking.

Not surprised to find him gone, I went inside. He and his friends were gathered in their common area. They all looked my way when I crossed the threshold.

“Where did you go?” Damien demanded.

“Your mother… she’s gone. I could sense her leaving and tried to stop her,” I smoothly lied. In reality, I scented the overwhelming fragrance a succubus created when they were compelling a victim. Though I could sense it, I knew they couldn’t. I certainly hadn’t expected it to be Damien’s woman she was after.

I froze.Wait. How did she hide that from me that night nearly thirty years ago?

Another second and I’d have sucked out her life-essence and ripped her head from her body. Instead, she had teleported which wasnota skill that should be available to a mere succubus. She had abilities a simple succubus shouldn’t have, and I had a feeling she was working with a very strong entity.

“What?” Damien asked with a look of disbelief that distorted the features that were uncannily like my own.

“She’s gone.”

“So she brought you to me, then she left?”

It wasn’t exactly like that, but I didn’t want to tell him I believed his mother tried to kill his woman.

His gray eyes flashed silver, signifying a highly emotional moment for him. Exactly the reason he didn’t need to know. Because until I knew what was going on, I didn’t want to risk him going berserk. His abilities had been subdued all his life. He should’ve had a chance to learn to manage it by this point.

Another reason why what Maeve had done infuriated me. She had to know there would come a day that he would remove the amulet, or something would happen to it. What did she think would happen? Unless she thought he would be an incubus and she didn’t want that for him? Knowing what I knew Maeve was now capable of, I doubted her reasons were so noble.

I shot off a text to one of my contacts. It was time to get to the bottom of what Maeve had done to give birth to Damien. Though a type of cloning could be done, I would’ve had to have been a part of the process. If Maeve was working with someone or something, they might’ve been able to work some highly evil magic that might have allowed her to carry my child somehow. I needed to find out who and what it was.

Once I did, hell would have no fury like what I would unleash upon them.

Until then, I was going to do what I could to help my son. The thought that I might make enemies or betray a business associate didn’t deter me at all. As I had told Damien, I was a descendent of Erebus, one of the primordial deities. In other words, I was a descendent of darkness itself.

My specific talents were as a demon hunter. Ironic, yes—a demon who hunted demons when needed. In a way, I assist humanity, but let it not be said that I am an ally of the world’s humans. Because I certainly was not.

Now I had what no other demon had, a son born to him that was full demon—and not one that was created. Demons only “reproduced” by impregnating a human woman, or stealing the sperm from humans. I was going to ensure he was trained and no one and nothing would harm him.

If finding his woman’s family made him happy, I would gladly slay every scumbag and evil entity I’d ever worked with. Because I now had a new purpose.

As if my body could sense the man who had become my other half, I slowly broke free of my slumber and stretched. After a massive yawn, I blinked the sleep from my eyes and gazed up at the dark-haired man that held my heart.

“Hey, baby,” he murmured. Damn, I loved hearing the term of endearment roll off his tongue as if it was second nature.

“Mmm, hey. Man, I had the weirdest dream,” I mumbled before another yawn stretched my jaw.

“Oh yeah? What was that?” he asked as he smoothed my hair back and out of my face.

I nuzzled my cheek into the curve of his hand. His touch was almost drug-like. “I don’t exactly remember,” I replied through yet another yawn. “What time is? I didn’t notice when you came to bed.”

“It’s early yet. But my father and I have some things to take care of. We might be gone all day.” His thumb brushed over my lower lip, and I licked it. He grinned. “None of that. I have to go. But I’ll be back in time to take you to work.”

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