Page 71 of In the Devil's Shadow

“Bash, I’m over your bullshit, and I’ll do whatever the fuck I please.We’re going.”

The five of us on board with the plan linked hands. Michael’s magic pulled at me as he faded us out, and at the very last second, I felt two arms wrap around my waist before the whole room went dark.

Chapter 25

The two arms wrapped around my waist squeezed me a little too tightly. I could tell from their weight that it was Desmond latching onto me to hitch a ride. We arrived outside a lavish, ranch style home in the Hollywood Hills with stucco siding, a sloped roof, and greenery surrounding it. I turned to see Desmond’s angry, tomato-red face glaring at me. Mr. Control Freak was not feeling this lack of planning and go-with-the-flow style, but tough shit,Desi Douche Knuckle.You chose to tag along, so you can shut the fuck up about it.

“I thought you were staying home?” I teased him, trying to lighten his mood. I wasn’t feeling his attitude, and I doubt Azazel was either.

“If you’re going to be foolish enough to do this, I need to be here to save you when shit hits the fan,” he grumped.

“Ifit hits the fan,” Ares corrected him. “And I’m here to protect her, so if you’re going to be negative and start a fight with her right now, go home,” he threatened in a steely tone.

Fuck, that made my insides quiver a bit. The accent…the veiled threat. I needed to think with my head and not my eggplant eater, because now wasn’t the time to drool over my personal Greek dildo…even if he was fine as fuck.

I saw Mal and Bash had hitched a ride with us too. Mal had his hand on Ares’ shoulder.

I support you, princess. Please just promise me we’re going to be careful, he linked me.

He had done such a one-eighty since the day I met him. He went from being a nasty asshole with an attitude issue to being a supportive boyfriend. I gave him a hug, and thought about how I had changed, too. Putting my trust and faith in him was a huge step for me. It could be hard to trust those who’d hurt us, even if they were sorry, but I was glad I did.

“Okay, the house is locked down, but I should still have access to open the magical ward on the door,” Michael said as he led us up the front walkway.

It was weird to think of the most evil, powerful man of all history–my father–living in a house with flowers along the walkway…and a bird feeder. It felt so normal. I half expected to see a pit of dying, suffering souls in the front yard and a gaggle of gargoyle keeping watch over the property. Michael put his hand in the middle of the door, and a flashing green light beamed out from underneath his palm.

He opened the door, stepping inside. He held a hand out to keep us back as he looked around. I guessed he was waiting for booby traps or some type of attack. When he was satisfied at the lack of commotion inside, he let us in. I was flanked so closely by Ares and Desmond that I was surprised I could even walk. Azazel’s eyes bounced from the walls to the furniture. When I followed them, I realized exactly where we were.

“This house looks familiar…” Bash announced. “I’ve been here before.”

“Yeah, we have. This is the house we went to in the dream where you claimed me,” I reminded him with a frown. “Azazel saw me here too, if only briefly. It seems so different without the music, the party, and the drugs.”

“Yeah, about that claiming, Diana, we’ll talk about it later,” Michael promised her, his voice stern. “Hopefully, we can find your other father, and he can undo it. I don’t even want to know why or how that happened.”

“Well, it happened, and it’s permanent. We own each other, mind, body and soul, so get used to it,” Bash said through gritted teeth. He took my hand and held it, staking his claim like a dog with a bone. But he wasmydog, and hopefully those bones were ribs.Wish we ate before leaving.I wouldn’t be surprised if Bash pulled his pants down and pissed on my leg.

“Okay, let’s get back on topic. Do you feel him here, Michael? I feel something strange, but I don’t know if it’s him,” I said, leaning against a bookshelf.

“I definitely feel him here. Couldn’t miss that dark, menacing energy even if I tried.” Oisín smiled, spinning around to take in the whole open floor plan. “I’ve never been to this house before. Dad has good taste.”

Michael walked up to the book shelf, scanning each book as he ran his finger along their spines. He stopped at Machiavelli’sThe Prince.

“Diana, can you stand with Ares please, away from the shelf?The Princewas one of your father’s favorites, you know,” he commented as he pulled the book. I heard a latch loosening, and he pushed the shelf open. A long, dark staircase that curved down was visible from where we stood. “He’s down there...”

“That doesn’t bode well. Nothing good ever comes from descending a creepy, hidden staircase,” Mal warned us.

Ares took a torch that was leaning against the top of the staircase. He used his fire magic to light it and handed it to Michael. “You take point, and I’ll stay with Diana. Someone should stay up here and be on the lookout, in case this is a trap.”

“I’ll stay up here,” Mal offered. “I don’t mind waiting to meet your other father, Diana.” I could sense how nervous he actually was. I felt the same way. Michael accidentally revealed he was my father, but I’ve had time to hear rumors and tales about Lucifer. The image I formed of him was terrifying to say the least.

“Okay, here goes nothing.” I straightened my sweatshirt, which I stole from Azazel earlier. Taking a deep breath, I stayed behind Michael as we descended the stairs carefully, step by step. Ares followed me closely, and the rest of the guys lined up behind him. He lit sconces on the wall as he went so we could at least see how narrow it was.

“How deep is this thing, Michael?” I asked.

“We’re almost at the bottom. Have some patience,” he teased.

When we finally reached the bottom, we were in a dark dungeon room with stone walls, scant light, and…BDSM equipment? Floggers, whips, chains, a vibrator-packed shelf, the whole kink and caboodle. There was a Saint Andrew’s cross…a spanking bench…a locked chest with who the fuck knew what in there…Christ on a bike…

The dots connected and I felt like I was going to hurl. “Oh…Ewww. My fathers used this stuff!” I shrieked, burying my head in Ares’ chest. I felt it rumble with his signature booming laughter.Glad you think my life is funny, hummus human.

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