Dangerous Dalliances (Maxwell Investigations) (16 page)

She
moved down his body and allowed her nails to ghost over his muscles. A smile
crossed her face as his body shivered. She closed her eyes as she lowered
herself onto his manhood. Lily bit her lip when her powers flared. Barry’s
hands were on her waist as he guided her lower on his shaft. His lips were on
her neck kissing and nipping at tender skin. Once again, she was starting to
feel drunk from feeding from him. She felt his magic surrounding her and at once
her powers responded.

Barry
inhaled through his nose as he became bombarded with sensations that could only
have come from Lily. He looked at her with clouded eyes as he felt her power
pushing into him. The feeling of her body moving on top of his was intoxicating.
Now she seemed to be adding her own pleasure to what he was feeling. Barry had
no problem admitting he was slowly becoming addicted to her. “I love you,” he
whispered. A smile crossed his face as she looked at him with glowing eyes.

A
slow blush crossed her face as his hands moved along her skin. The combination
of his magic and her power made her nerves raw and hypersensitive. Tears came
to her eyes as she felt his emotions as clearly as her own. She kissed him
frantically as she moved against him. Her claws scratched at his chest as she
became dizzy on the duel sensations slamming into her. Lily was vaguely aware
of her body shifting forms as everything became too much. She arched her back
and cried out as her orgasm washed over her.

Barry
rolled over and pinned Lily under him. He could only groan and curse as his
body lost control. His body shuddered over Lily’s as their combined orgasms
slammed into him. “I’m sorry, Baby,” he whispered as he looked at her. He then
blinked and smiled as his hands caressed soft pink toned skin.

Lily
returned his smile. “I’m fine,” she said softly. She shifted her back and
frowned when she felt her wings trapped beneath her. “I shifted forms, didn’t
I?”

Barry
laughed as he sat up. Unlike the last time they made love, he felt more
energized than before. “I heard of making someone speak in tongues, even going
bi-lingual. But shifting forms?” He caught her hand when she swung at him.
“Hey, I think I’m entitled to have a big ego at the moment.” He shivered when
he felt something ghost up his spine.

Lily
laughed as he eyes nearly rolled to the back of his head. “How are you
feeling?” she asked softly. When he cuddled next to her, she stopped her
ministrations with her tail. “Barry, did I take too much?”

He
shook his head and kissed her cheek. “No. But I do think you did something to
me,” he answered. When she pulled away from him slightly, he ran his fingers
through her hair. “I felt your powers pushing into me, and then my magic did
something back. I think you bonded us together.” When her face started to pale,
Barry kissed her nose. “You have no choice about Vegas now, Baby.”

Lily
looked up at the ceiling with a worried expression. “We can’t be bonded,” she
said in a whisper. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

Barry
smiled and kissed her again. She groaned as he pulled her on top of him and
lightly traced where her wings sprouted from her back. “Think about it,” he
said softly. “Every other species has a way to lay claim to their true love.
Why can’t Succubi?” he asked as he started to nibble on her neck.

Lily
laughed as she traced the contours of his back with her tail again. He was
still inside of her as she moved on top of him. Lily wrapped her arms around
his neck and brushed a gentle kiss against his lips. “I don’t know. I don’t
care.” She continued to kiss him over his face and neck. “I just want you to be
safe tomorrow. Then we can figure out everything else.”

Barry
nodded as he tangled his hand in her hair. “In the meantime,” he mumbled. He
stood with her in his arms and started for the en suite. “Let’s see what you
and that tail can do,” he said before kissing her again.

Madison
watched the final preparations for the New Year’s parade. She smiled as a
number of boys ran through the crowd, tossing little snapping fireworks in
their wake. One looked over his shoulder and locked eyes with her. He paused as
her eyebrow arched in a dare. The young boy shook his head and ran off with his
friends.

The
air was full of energy from the Gate. Madison was nearly vibrating with the
magic surrounding her. It was only a matter of time before she would be opening
the Gates and allowing the barrier between the Mortal plane and Abaddon to
fall. A figure clad in festive red and gold stood near one of the many restaurants
waiting to celebrate as well. Madison walked over to Pan and painted a smile on
her face. “I wonder if you’re really here to help me, or stand in my way,” she
said conversationally.

Pan
looked at her with hard eyes. “You have changed, Madi. This is not what I
wanted, and you know it.”

She
laughed. “I’ve changed,” she echoed. “You planted seeds of doubt in my mind
since I was a little girl. Then you have a demon of Death possess me. I have
killed people, tormented my family, and you say
now
that I’ve changed?”
Madison leaned close to Pan’s ear and continued to smile. “Suck it up, Gramps.
You got what you asked for. Now I’m just leveling out an old score.”

“By killing my wife?”
Pan spat.
“She has done nothing to you.” He started to turn towards Madison, only to
pause when he felt her hand in the pocket of his overcoat.

“She
nearly destroyed the family that I think of as my own.” Madison pulled a small
golden trinket out of Pan’s pocket and smiled. “See, with all of the reading
that I’ve been doing I figured out your little plan to see your beloved wife
again. When I wasn’t reading, I meditated for a while. This little demon and I
have come to an accord of sorts. I’ll kill for it, but only the targets we
agree on. Your wife is the same bitch that sent those humans after Victor’s Christine.
That means your dear, dear
Morrigan
signed her own
death warrant.” Madison’s smile slowly fell as she looked into Pan’s eyes.
Disgust crossed her face when she saw shame cross Pan’s features instead of
shock. “You knew,” she said quietly. When he didn’t deny it, she shook her
head. “You’ve known what she’s done and this entire time you’ve protected her?”

“
Morrigan
couldn’t stop herself,” Pan said as an
explanation. “As a Succubus, she knew what she wanted, and when Victor didn’t
want her back... I don’t know. It did something to her.”

“Your
wife wanting another man should have done something to you,” Madison said as
she moved away from him. Her eyes hardened as she looked at the man who taught
her how to use her own magic. “But I really should applaud the fact that you
kept all of this so hidden.” She looked at the small horn in her hand and
slowly inhaled. “But I won’t. And after I deal with your wife, if Victor hasn’t
killed you, I will.”

Pan’s
eyes darkened as he looked at her. “You will do no such thing,” he spat.

Her
eyes turned crimson as she allowed the demon in her free reign. “Watch me,” she
mocked before lifting the golden horn to her lips and blew into it.

* *
* * *

Jimmy
and Barry walked quietly through the nature preserve. Casper, Lily and Athol all
went ahead. Everyone knew she was their best chance at finding the Gate. “You
and Lily,” Jimmy said after a long silence.

Barry
smirked as he thought about her. “Yeah,” he confirmed.

Jimmy
glanced at him.
“A fling or something serious?”

“It’s
serious,” Barry said with a nod.

“Damn
it. I owe Thorne a beer now.” Jimmy continued walking. He laughed when his
brother frowned at the mention of his ex-partner. “Don’t look at me like that.
We just had a... friendly wager. If you found someone to settle down with
before you were 30, I’d take him for beers.”

Barry
snorted. “That doesn’t sound so bad. Actually, I should feel insulted at being
so cheap,” he joked.

Jimmy
laughed. “Don’t be. It’s beers in Germany during Oktoberfest.
All on my dime.
I can’t even borrow the Council’s jets.”

Barry
couldn’t help but laugh at his brother. It was a turnaround from the previous
day. He cleared his throat as he saw Lily and Casper in a clearing ahead of
them. “So that call before we left was good news?” he asked.

“It
seems that things are more complicated than we thought,” Jimmy said lowly.
“Madison took my daughter to Victor late last night. She’s safe now. A little
shaken, but Victor said that his staff will be keeping close tabs on her.”

Barry
nodded. “That’s great.
One less thing to worry about.”
He looked ahead and saw Lily walk off in another direction. He frowned when he
motioned for Jimmy to follow him. “What is she doing?” he asked under his
breath.

Before
Jimmy could answer, the ground started to rumble under their feet. Barry looked
at his brother and saw that Jimmy’s arms and legs were encased in diamonds. His
stomach sank as he felt the magic quickly building. Just as he was about to
move to protect himself, a large beast slammed him to the ground. Barry quickly
rolled with the beast and pinned it down in the dirt. With a quick flick of his
wrist, the roots of a nearby tree snaked forward and captured the creature.
Barry heard growling over his shoulder and turned to see a crimson wolf attacking
another of the beasts like the one he captured.

Jimmy
moved closer to Barry and held out the hilt to a blade made totally of
diamonds. “You’re gonna need this,” he said as an ogre stomped through the
foliage. He smirked when Barry held the sword in one hand, and his gun in the
other. “And I hope you brought more than three clips, like that one time.”

Barry
rolled his eyes. “Are you ever going to let me live that down?” he asked. When
the beast behind him broke free of the tree roots, Barry turned and cut off its
head. As it fell to his feet dead, the ogre bellowed in rage.

“I
don’t think you should have done that,” Jimmy said lowly. He pushed Barry out
of the way as the ogre charged them. Just as they landed on the ground, Jimmy
saw his brother aim his gun and fire off three shots. The ogre’s head was
knocked back as it fell into another tree. Jimmy glanced at Barry as the tree
started to wrap its branches around the monster. “Headshots?” he asked.

Barry
jumped to his feet. “Like Madi always said, go for the brain. If that doesn’t
kill them, then realize how fucked you are.” The ground underneath their feet
rumbled again. He looked around and frowned when he didn’t see Lily, Casper or
Athol. “You don’t think they opened the Gate already, do you?”

Overhead,
the skies quickly turned black as numerous flying demons soared. Jimmy frowned
as he looked around. There were a number of lumbering demons also rushing
through the forest. “I think that’s a safe bet,” he said lowly. He touched a
sapphire at his throat and a crystalized knight appeared before him. Jimmy
looked at his construct and pointed to the demons approaching them. “Kill as
many as you can,” he ordered.

Barry
ignored the knight as it saluted and started to march off. His eyes scanned the
area looking for Lily. He knew she could protect herself, but something about
the thought of her fighting alone ripped at his heart. Just as he was about to
run off, a dark form crashed into the ground from above. His eyes widened when
he saw Lily fully transformed, and perfectly fine.

Better
than fine as she ripped the wings off of the dragon-like creature she was
currently standing on.

She
looked at him with glowing green eyes. “Hi Honey,” she said before blowing him
a kiss. When he waved dumbly at her, she smiled and took off again.

Jimmy
chuckled as he watched his brother. When Barry frowned at him, it became a full
laugh. “You’ve got it bad,” he said with a shake of his head.

Barry
shook his head and turned his attention to where the creatures were coming
from. “We have to get close to the Gate and close it. I can’t see Casper or
Athol, so keep an eye out for them.”

Jimmy
nodded at Barry as they started to make their way past attacking demons. He
slowed as they approached a clearing. “Take a look,” Jimmy said pointing to the
large stone structure. Demons were bursting forth. Some took to the air, others
ran in various directions. A flash of golden hair caught his attention as he
saw Siobhan standing in the center of the chaos. “I’m going after her,” he yelled
out to Barry.

* *
* * *

Siobhan’s
eyes scanned the terrain of Abaddon. She knew he had to be here. She started
this madness with one end goal, and she couldn’t stop now.

Her
eyes focused on the gilded creature in the distance. The
Unseelie
King sat atop his battle stallion watching his hordes. Siobhan growled low in
her throat as she slowly approached the Gate. “Father!” she screamed out.

The
only reaction she received was the King tilting his head to look at her
curiously. Siobhan moved off of her stone platform and started to make her way
to the Gate. She was forced to stop when a pair of arrows pierced the ground at
her feet. A snarl escaped her as she turned around. “Big brother, you won’t
stop me,” she said with a shake of her head. She watched as he notched another
arrow and took aim at her. “He will pay for what he’s done.”

Athol
kept his eyes focused on her. “You don’t know what he’s done,” he said. “Just
like you don’t know what you’ve done.”

“I
know exactly what I’ve done,” Siobhan said with a smile. “Just like I know
exactly what I’m going to do. Now, stay out of my way,” she said darkly.

As
Siobhan started to turn, Athol let his arrow fly. He growled low in his throat
when Ashton appeared out of thin air. He could only watch as the Necromancer
caught the arrow and safely tossed it to the ground. “You’re going to let him
fight your battles for you?” Athol taunted. When she didn’t say anything, he
turned his attention to Ashton. “I never took you for a lapdog.”

Ashton
smiled as he looked at the Fae Royal in front of him. “I wanted to watch
history be made,” he said simply. When Athol’s eyes narrowed, he nodded for
Siobhan to continue with what she was doing. “It’s not every day all of us are
outed to the Mortal population. The cleanup for this is going to be fun.”

Siobhan
turned her attention back to the Gate and found the
Unseelie
King again. He was slowly making his way to the opening. A grin crossed her
face, knowing that once he was through, vengeance would be hers.

A
slight change in the wind was the only warning Siobhan had before Lily lifted
her up by her jacket. She didn’t struggle as they went up into the air. Siobhan
waited a moment before she raked her clawed fingers down Lily’s arms. A smirk
crossed her face when she landed carefully on the top of the stone archway.
“So, you came out to play too?” she challenged.

Lily
landed on the same stone as Siobhan and glared at her. “I’m not here to play,”
she said darkly. “You have to close this.”

Siobhan
laughed as the stone under their feet started to rumble again. “No, I don’t
think so.”

Just
as the stone under their feet crumbled, Lily jumped into the air and lashed out
at the demon that caught her arm. She quickly reversed the hold it had on her
and shredded its wing. As they crashed to the ground, Lily launched herself at
Siobhan again. Her eyes narrowed as they traded blow after blow. Lily barely
dodged the clawed hand that went for her eyes and growled as she countered with
a swing to the Fae’s midsection.

Siobhan
scowled as she backed off a step. “My fight isn’t with you,” she spat. She
ignored the fact that demons were now giving her and Lily a wide berth as her
sword appeared in her hand. “Back off.”

Lily
felt her eyes widen as a shadow appeared out of what was left of the gate. She
took a step back from the Horseman of Conquest and glanced around the field.
Ashton was currently fighting both Athol and Casper. Jimmy and Barry were
making their way through the released demons. Lily motioned to the figure
looming behind Siobhan. “Is that
who
you were looking
for?” she asked.

Siobhan
looked over her shoulder and smiled when she saw the
Unseelie
King. He was everything she remembered. Beautiful beyond description, skin the
perfect shade of tan, while eyes the color of the clearest summer day scanned
the area. Golden blonde hair flowed in the wind as he approached her. Siobhan
tightened her grip on her sword. “It’s time for you to pay for what you did,
Father.”

Lily
looked at Siobhan. “You did all of this to free your father?” she asked.

The
Unseelie
King laughed as he looked at Siobhan. “I do
not believe you have realized the hell you have unleashed.”

Siobhan’s
eyes glowed vividly as her features started to change. “I know exactly what
I’ve done,” she said darkly. Her voice took on the same symbiotic quality Madison’s
voice would take on. Fangs extended over her lips as her skin slowly started to
darken. “I’ve found the heartless bastard that killed my mother.”