Page 36 of Another Underworld

“Oh yes!” he said with a warm smile. “Before I go into battle, I make a wish—a wish that might appear fantastical… even impossible. It gives me something special and wonderful to look forward to. It makes me fight harder with the staunch desire of coming out alive and having something beautiful to hope for.”

I liked that. Actually, I loved it. It was positive and had nothing to do with male genitalia, stealing priceless art or selfishness. Of course, I could be wrong about the priceless art. We were dealing with Demons, after all. “I think that’s lovely,” I told him. “Let’s do it.”

The ten assassins, who all bizarrely had names that began with the letter A went first. Their list was humbling and funny.A few wished to be reunited with their families. Another wished to go to an ashram in India to learn about spiritual peace. That was surprising, but I was learning fast that Demons were anything but typical. Two wished for a pony and one wanted a chocolate Labrador puppy. The last three wanted to go to Disney Land. Kind of unusual requests from assassins. I’d expected to hear the desire for weapons and world domination, but I was continually amazed by my people in a very good way.

It was Tiny’s turn. The poor man was beet red and rocked back and forth on his feet in trepidation. Three times he’d opened his mouth to share his wish. Three times no words came out.

“Umm… Tiny?”

“Yes, Bitch Goddess Cecily?” he choked out.

“We really need to get going,” I told him. I didn’t want to pressure the Demon, but we had things to do and a Chub Chub Wang to eliminate.

“Of course.” Tiny was literally shaking. He appeared terrified. I was now scared of what he was about to say. I didn’t know what might be, but from his body language, it was going to be bad—really bad. The Demon took a deep breath and let it rip. “After the battle with Chub Chub Wang is over and won, I would like to take Goddess Pandora to Nobu in Los Angeles for a sushi dinner. Afterward, I’d enjoy a walk on the beach under the moonlight and possibly a visit to an arcade to win a stuffy for her. I’m excellent at hitting targets.”

The horrified silence was loud.

“I’m sorry, what?” I asked, squinting at him certain I’d heard incorrectly. Did Tiny just ask Pandora out on a date? My eyes met Abaddon’s. He was more shocked than I was. It was very possible that I could knock the man I loved over with a feather right now.

However, it was Pandora’s expression that took the cake. Her face scrunched up, and she looked like she was either about to cry or kill all of us dead where we stood. The Goddess’s eyes sparked blood red, and her hands were clenched into fiery fists at her sides. We didn’t have to wait for the battle. It looked like shit was about to hit the fan before the fighting had begun.

Quickly stepping in front of Tiny so he didn’t get decapitated, I stared Pandora down. If she so much as lifted a finger in violence against the idiotic Demon who’d just asked her out on a date, I’d electrocute her until I’d fried the hair off of her head, and she wouldn’t walk right for a decade. Tiny’s wish was indeed fantastical and from Pandora’s reaction, it was impossible.

“Pull your shit together,” I warned her.

It took some effort, but after a few minutes, when I wasn’t sure she could do it, she calmed down. Tiny had gone from beet red to ghostly white. I was positive he wanted to erase the last few minutes more than I wanted to delete the fact that I’d brought up dick jokes. Neither of those wishes was possible. Words could not be taken back.

Abaddon stepped in to save the day, or at least Tiny’s life. “It’s my turn. My wish is for a month-long vacation with Bitch Goddess Cecily. Somewhere tropical where clothing is optional.”

That raised a few eyebrows from the assassins and earned a few appreciative whistles. I’d now traded places with Tiny… my face resembled a tomato. However, Abaddon’s wish was one I was very into making come true.

“Done,” I told him. His feral grin at my response made me want to tackle him and shove my tongue down his throat. Since I’d already suggested junk jokes, I didn’t think making out with my hotter-than-asphalt guy would be a good look. I’d hang on to that thought and put it into practice at a later date. Hopefully, very soon.

“And your wish, Bitch Goddess Cecily?” Tiny asked. The sweet guy had regained his composure but was studiously avoiding eye contact with Pandora. She was still seething, “What does your heart desire the most?”

The truth will set you free. It was something Man-mom had always told Sean and me. He’d also told us if we were going to lie, that we’d better be whip-smart since the truth was easier to remember than falsehoods. My brain wasn’t sure what to say, but my heart and my mouth took over. “I want to marry Abaddon.”

Pandora had semi-recovered from her need to behead her would-be suitor and chimed in sarcastically. “How utterly human of you.”

“Shut up, Stinky Whore. You’re next.”

My gaze shyly met Abaddon’s. Finding oxygen to breathe was difficult. The look in his eyes made me feel like the most beautiful and desired woman in the Universe. I had no idea if the Demon was into human traditions, but I’d been human up until recently. My first marriage had been a mistake. I hadn’t loved Slash Gordon. I’d been young and stupid. I was still young compared to the company I was keeping, but I wasn’t naïve or stupid anymore. I loved Abaddon with every fiber of who I was and wanted to make it official… human style.

“Did you just ask me to marry you?” he inquired.

“Pretty sure I did,” I replied trying to sound casual and failing miserably.

His smile went all through me and his laugh of pure joy made me tingle all over. When I’d met him, I was sure he despised me. He was an angry Demon tasked by my mother to protect me. I’d nicknamed him Dick. He was now Abaddon—beautiful, beautiful Abaddon. The man I loved more than I loved myself. The man I wanted to spend the rest of my very long life with.

“I accept,” he replied softly before he kissed me properly.

My small army applauded, and a few shed a tear or three. I was pretty sure the criers were the ones who wanted to visit Disneyland… or maybe it was the two who wanted ponies. It was hard to tell since everything was a little blurry due to the happy tears rolling down my face. Tiny’s ritual was perfect.

“For the love of everything cringeworthy,” Pandora groaned. “We have assholes to kill. There’s no time for this sappy bullshit.”

“There is always time for sappy bullshit,” I told her. “And now it’s your turn to add to the bullshit pile.”

“I refuse to play this game,” she snapped.

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