Page 30 of Hell’s Flame

Ryker nods, not looking like he was going to say no. “I have some to spare to protect you and your family.”

“Shadow Guards aren’t allowed inside the palace. How did they get in?” My father groans.

“It’s likely they aren’t legitimate Shadow Guards but merely pretending to be them. When we got here, they were long gone.”

My father looks at me for answers. “What happened, Asura?”

I shrug. “I can’t remember.”

He sends me a look.

“I really don’t remember. One minute I’m looking at Fenric on the stairs while one of them chokes me. The next I’m holding Fen in my arms, and everyone is rushing inside. The intruders were gone.”

He sighs, looking remorseful. “I’m so—”

I hold up my hand. “Before we get to that, I have two hellhounds that are just as severely sorry as you are. Neither of you did anything wrong. So, please. I’ve been beaten by too many men today to be listening to the wrong ones saying sorry.”

“Why was my son beating you?” Thatcher, Death, asks.

I shrug. “I look better than him. It happens.”

Thatcher smirks, shaking his head at me.

Slowly, I stand, groaning each movement. A hand grabs my forearm, making me look up. Ryker holds me up, watching me carefully.

“What a gentleman,” my father says, earning a glare from me.

“I’m going to bed,” I mutter. “Tell that nurse when she’s done with Fen to come see my ass. If you want answers, ask Fen. He knows more.”

My father nods.

Slowly, I limp away, using Ryker as a crutch. His body is warm against mine, and part of me doesn’t want to let him go, but as soon as I see Ledger, he is moving to me.

I look up at Ryker, holding out a hand for Ledger to take. “Thank you, Mr. Azule.”

His pink full lips part and curl into a smile, flashing fangs. His pointed ears wiggle a bit through the thick pink hair. “Have a better night, Ms. Beelzebub.”

My eyes drop, taking in his wide, tall body. He doesn’t compare to Ledger’s height, but he looks just as amazing. I almost forgot how beautiful of a man he is.

Ledger lifts me, carefully but also possessively.

“Lovely seeing you again, Ledger,” Ryker teases, moving toward the other Soul Reapers to check out the crime scene more.

Ledger carries me up the stairs and stays with me until I’m fully healed and showered up. Even then, he doesn’t leave. But I leave him in the room to check on Hazen. After a few knocks, Hazen opens the door after a second, blue eyes meeting mine. “Hi…” he mutters, looking away.

I roll my eyes, even though I don’t mean it in a rude way. “What’s wrong?”

He sighs and moves to the bed. “I feel pretty pathetic.”

“Hazen,” I say with a sigh, moving to him. “Why, because you couldn’t protect me?” He nods. “Even though you had no idea this was happening?”

He sighs.

I snort, moving to straddle his lap. My hand grips his hair.

His breath becomes jagged. “Asura.”

I pull on his hair and grind my hips. Below me, his cock stiffens and grows to its full length. “You’re pathetic, but not in the way you’re thinking.”

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