Page 12 of Consorting With The Enemy

The demon prince merely laughed. “Look around you, Ariel. I assure you, my army can do this much longer than you can. At least you’re trying to die like a warrior.”

“Yourarmy?” I mocked. “I do believe my brother would take great offense to that remark. Perhaps we should summon him?” It was a weak threat. If Tantrumonious had already taken the throne, he wouldn’t be able to leave the underworld.

“Between the two of us, you’d be the one to fear Tantrumonious’ arrival more than I,” Andromalius answered with a smug grin. “He wants you destroyed, Ariel. You aren’t even allowed to return to the underworld to face trial for what you did.” He laughed again and motioned for three new demons to step forward. “Isn’t that just too sad, Ariel? Nobody wants you in the underworld and nobody wants you here, either.”

I forced the truth of Andromalius’ words from my head and prepared to battle the three demons. I knew these soldiers—they were deadly, well trained in the arts of killing and never a fan of mine. Maybe I should just stop fighting? Why did I battle so hard to keep living, century after century? Alone. Unwanted. Never feeling like I fit in anywhere. My wings drooped. I’d spent the majority of my existence wanting someone I could never have.

It needed to end.

Feeling defeated, more mentally than physically, I dropped to my knees. “You speak the truth, Andromalius,” I admitted. “There’s nothing tying me to the underworld…and nothing tying me to this one either.” I felt a flutter of wind behind me, and then the most intoxicating and familiar scent took over my senses.

“I’d have to disagree with that statement, Ari,” Az said. When I turned to look at him, his bright blue eyes blazed down at me. “Get the fuck up off your knees. I’m theonlyone you do that for.”

Andromalius took a step back when Azazel’s wings extended to their full size. They were a charcoal color and fluffy, but I knew just how deadly they could be. That fluff turned razor sharp in the blink of an eye. My damaged wing snapped back into place, like it was showing off for Az. Hell, it was. I stood up and took my place next to him. Giving him side-eye, I said, “It wouldn’t hurt for you to be on your knees in front of me once in a while.”

He kept his eyes on the demons, but a small smile tugged his beautiful lips. Why in the fuckity fuck did I have to fall in love with an angel?

“We’ve no quarrel with you, fallen one,” Andromalius said. His serpent had twisted tightly around his arm, fearful of Az’s power. “We are here only for the traitor. Then we’ll return to the underworld without any further disruptions. Your presence isn’t needed here, and, if you walk away now, your nephew will be left in peace. Leave us to deal with our own.”

Damn. Ouch. That one would be impossible for Az to pass up. Perhaps Andromalius wasn’t as stupid as I’d thought.

“Actually, my presence is needed here,” Az countered. “From the look of things, one might believe that you and your merry band of idiots were about to attack something that belongs to me.” In a calm voice, he added, “I frown on that kind of shit.”

Okay. Belongs to him? What the fuck? Were we doing this now? He was just throwing it out there, playing head games with me? I’d pretty much felt like Azazel had looked at me as an abomination—albeit one he enjoyed fucking.

“Oh, really? I wasn’t aware I belonged to anyone, especially you.” That was a fucking lie. I’d move heaven and hell for Azazel—I just didn’t want him to know it.

“Just because I haven’t put a collar on you doesn’t mean you aren’t mine.”

Before I could respond…or even get my heart to start beating again, Andromalius’ demons struck. As predicted, the fluffy wings turned razor sharp and sliced through the first demon that crossed into our space. Yeah, that one would have destroyed me if Az hadn’t stepped between us and took him out. Images of Az’s collar wrapped tightly around my neck had totally distracted me from the battle at hand.

“My bad,” I called out to Az as I dove toward Andromalius. Killing the leader usually shortened the battle. Our bodies tangled together, each dodging one another’s wing attacks. I wasn’t, however, able to dodge all the times that fucking serpent kept biting me. I felt the poison flood my system, but it didn’t seem to be doing too much damage…which was weird. Andromalius’ pet was supposedly deadly, even to demons.

“You made a grave mistake in killing your father, Ariel,” Andromalius hissed against my ear. “Your stupidity has led to the possible destruction of the ruling family of the demons. And for what?” One of his claws sliced across my cheek. “Over a pet?” Another slice, this one down my chest. Enough was enough.

“That pet has a name, and he doesn’t belong in the underworld.” I ripped the head off of his pet snake. A roar of fury and despair ripped from the demon’s mouth. Using my wing, I pulled him close to me. “And you’re right. I don’t either.” With that, I finished the job, sending his head in one direction and his body in another.

I took a deep breath, willed my body to heal, and turned around to help Az handle the rest of the demons. What I saw wasn’t what I’d expected. Az was lounging lazily against the ledge of the rooftop. Demon corpses were scattered everywhere. Fuck, he was powerful. My feet wanted to race across the building and make him say I belonged to him, but I forced myself to remain perfectly still.

He grinned. “Took your time, didn’t you?” He stood up and started walking in my direction. His wings were back to fluff, making my mouth water. “Was it because you were lazy and wanted to make me dispatch the rest of his tagalongs or were you playing with him?”

By he’d time he’d finished talking, we were chest to chest, his lips only inches from mine. My body flamed with desire, the way it always did whenever he was near…or even when I thought of him. As always, I didn’t feel demonic when near Az. Actually, at this precise moment, I felt like a horny teenager with zero control over his libido.

Feeling the panic of never knowing where I stood with Az, of what was real and what wasn’t, I started to back away and try to put some distance between us. I’d barely made a move when he reached up and wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, causing my movements to freeze. I looked up at him, marveling at how beautiful his blue eyes were and how it wasn’t fair that mine were black. He deserved better. Hewasbetter.

“Don’t. Ever. Run. From. Me. Again.” His tone was demanding, leaving no room for argument. “We had unfinished business, and you disappeared. Why is that? Do you not…likewhat’s happening between us?”

“Like?” I sputtered and tried to look away, only to have his hand force me to continue looking at him. He was so damn calm and everything inside of me was being torn to shreds. I was hot with desire, but cold with fear of rejection. I wanted to be good enough but knew I wasn’t. When he looked at me, I didn’t want him to see a demon but knew it was impossible for him not to. “Why, Azazel? Why did you say those things to me a few minutes ago? Was it to confuse or anger Andromalius? Maybe to knock him off his game so he’d be easier to destroy?”

His lips tightened. “I’d laugh at the utter ridiculousness of that statement if it didn’t anger and hurt me so badly. Andromalius was no competition for either of us.” He lips crashed against mine. His tongue, bold and demanding, forced its way inside my mouth to dance with mine. The kiss continued until I feared my knees would buckle from the desire it forced upon me.

Mere seconds before I collapsed against him, he pulled away and said, “I said those things because they were the truth, Ari. You are mine. In a way, you always have been. Yes, we’ve both fought it because we didn’t think it was possible, but I’m so damn tired of fighting. I want you to be mine.” One of his fingers traced my jaw. “But if you aren’t ready to be, then I’m just going to have to double-down and convince you where it is you belong.”

Oh, shit. That was it. I was toast. With a few simple words, he’d gained control of me for the remainder of my existence. Trying not to show how easily my heart could be captured, I retorted, “What? With a collar…on my knees?” My words had meant to mock his earlier statements, but when I heard them leave my mouth, I knew how fucking needy they made me sound. When his eyes darkened, I knew Az had heard in my voice just how badly I wanted those things.

His hand moved around to the front of my throat and gave it a gentle squeeze—just enough to cause my already hard cock to nearly explode. “I’m going to be honest with you, Ari. The thought of a collar around your neck, screaming to every fucking universe that you belong to me…well, that’s going to be something I want. I’ll have one made for you immediately if you’ll allow it.” He kept the one hand around my throat but used his other to explore my pecs. Circling. Massaging. He pinched my nipple, causing a moan, or maybe even a fucking whimper, to escape from my mouth. “But if I remember correctly, it sounded like you wanted me on my knees in front of you.” The fingers that had just pinched my nipple dropped to trace the outline of my cock through my leather pants. “Am I remembering correctly?”

Words. I needed to use words. Fuck, I didn’t have any. My mouth wouldn’t work. I nodded.

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