Desire After Dark: Lords of Pleasure (26 page)

But would their help be enough?

Aldric stepped over to him, shaking his hand. “Thanks for coming to the rescue.”

“No problem. We’ll make short work of the dogs, go home, and fuck our partners.”

The men chuckled, though some of them shifted, tense and wary. Demons weren’t easily spooked, being near the top of the food chain. They were strong as hell, really fucking scary when their features sharpened, claws and fangs distending, and they could also torch stuff. But it would take all their skills to vanquish the putrid, flea-bitten scum of the paranormal world.

Val quickly addressed his demons. “I want the first team to go ahead and take up position in the treetops. You’ll fight from overhead and take out as many wolves as possible. The other half will remain on the ground with me and keep a line of defense around our vampire friends so they’re not overwhelmed by the enemy’s numbers. Questions?”

Nobody had any, and the first group of demons flew into the trees. That was the first time in Luc’s memory that he wished like hell he had wings.

He went with his brothers, Val, and the rest, and they crouched behind some foliage to wait for their enemies. It wasn’t long before faint rustling could be heard on the far side of the clearing—the crunching of leaves and brush made by many feet, which were moving at a good clip.

“Here we go,” Aldric whispered. “Let the gods be with us.”

They looked like something straight from Hades, and Luc hadn’t known how seeing one again would affect him, much less an army of them. Cold fingers of fear closed over his throat, and his knees shook. Like the one that had attacked him, they were
tall and broad, with long muzzles and glowing eyes. Long arms swung at their sides, hands tipped with sharp black claws. There were so many of them.

This was going to be brutal.

Val let the last of the wolves move completely into the clearing before he shouted, “Go!”

The demons descended on the wolves with a vengeance, from the air and the ground. Luc charged after them, and he had to admit their allies were an intimidating sight, even outnumbered as they were. The wolves should be afraid.

The two fronts met with a clash of fangs and claws—and steel where there shouldn’t have been.

“Some have swords,” Val shouted. “Watch out!”

Horrified, Luc saw one demon’s wing get lopped off by a wolf swinging a blade. The demon screeched in agony before bravely throwing himself at his enemy once more. They went down together, and Luc lost them.

He whirled just in time to block an unarmed wolf from slashing his throat with its claws. His sword sliced through the dog’s arm like butter, and it threw its head back, roaring. Luc thrust his blade deep into its heart, silencing it. Then he used his booted foot to brace the creature as he withdrew his sword, immediately spinning to face another wolf charging up right behind him.

This wolf got in a slash on Luc’s side with its claws. Luc staggered and stepped into the front of its body, screwing up the enemy’s reach. He thrust his blade under the smelly beast’s sternum and up with all the force he had, and it, too, fell dead. But again, another was right there to take its place.

Three more he dispatched this way, bringing his count to
five. Then another, and two more. He’d lost count when a slashing blow raked down his back from shoulder to waist, leaving an acid trail of fire in its wake. He barely managed to take out the wolf he was fighting with a forceful swing that took off its head; then he spun and ducked, barely avoiding that same grisly fate himself. He killed that wolf, too, and three more advanced.

This was all but hopeless.

All around him, his brothers and the demons were fighting the same terrible odds. They were the best warriors around, but there were too many of the enemy. They were slowly tiring, and when they were exhausted, they’d be overrun. Destroyed.

Blood ran down the backs of his legs, into his boots. It was time to call for more help. He had no other choice.

“Legion.” The word was out before he even knew what he was saying. Then he started shouting as he met steel with steel. Fought for his life harder than ever. “Legion!
Legion!
”

The demon appeared in the middle of the battle and took in what was happening in a blink. With a powerful blast of fire, he took out two of the wolves that were about to skewer Luc, while Luc took the third.

“Get some help!” Luc yelled desperately to his friend. “Anybody! Whoever you can find, or we’re going to die!”

“Hold on—I’ll be back!”

With that promise, Legion disappeared.

As more wolves closed in, Luc prayed reinforcements would come. And that they would be enough to save his brothers and their friends. Desperate, not realizing what he was about to set in motion, he whispered a fateful entreaty to the gods.

“Please, help us. Don’t let our fight end like this.”

On a cold, barren mountaintop, Aisa heard his plea. And readied her shears.

Legion appeared in the Valkyries’ palace, in Serena’s bedchamber in the middle of the night. With a flick of his hand, he magically turned on the lights, then yelled at her.

“Serena, get up!
Get up!
”

Kass’s sister bolted upright in bed with a frightened gasp and stared at him wide eyed. “What in blazing Hades are you doing in my room?”

“Listen to me,” he ordered in a tone that brooked no argument. “If you know where Kass is, get her here now. Right fucking now, because Luc and his brothers are in trouble. Her mate is going to
die
if you waste one second arguing with me.”

But still, she took at least a couple of seconds to process the urgency of his words before nodding. “She’s in Valhalla, with Odin. I’ll get her.”

Legion couldn’t set foot in the place where a god resided; the barrier literally wouldn’t let in a demon. He had to wait as Serena disappeared. His mind raced, frantic as he was with the need to get back and protect Luc. But he wasn’t the only one Legion cared about who was in danger.

Valafar.

Oh gods. Protect him, even though he’s forsaken me.

There was a shift in the room’s atmosphere, and Kass appeared with her sister. Kass ran over to him, already in full battle dress. “What’s happening to Luc? Tell me!”

“I’m not sure why, but your mate and his brothers are in a
battle with werewolves, and they’re losing. Valafar and some of his warriors are there fighting with them, but there’re too many wolves for them to overcome.”

Kass looked away from him, frightened, but thinking. “We’re going to need more help. I’ll go get Odin and his soldiers while you and Serena round up the rest of my sisters. I’ll be back.”

Legion nodded, and Serena said, “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a good rumble. Let’s kick some ass.”

He just hoped they were in time—for all of their sakes.

Odin seemed to be waiting. Kass wasn’t surprised.

“It’s time,” she said, swallowing her fear. “Luc and his brothers need us. Valafar’s demons are aiding them against the werewolves.”

“I heard your mate call out to the gods for help,” Odin said, nodding. “They are good, worthy men, and we will answer. I’ll gather the soldiers and meet you in front of your palace. Legion will take us to the battle.”

“Thank you.” She gave the god a quick hug, which he briefly returned.

“You’re a brave warrior, Kass. You never fail to put others above yourself, and you will be rewarded. Believe this.”

He disappeared, and she quickly transported herself back to her palace to await Odin and his men.

Time was almost up.

Hang on, my love. I’m coming.

Luc’s sword arm felt like lead.

Never in all his centuries had he faced odds this bad in a
fight. If he hadn’t trained with Taryn and Kass’s other guards, he’d be dead already. He’d grown soft and complacent in modern life.

If he survived this, he’s stay in top shape from now on.

But survival didn’t seem likely.

Then he saw Aldric fall and was galvanized into motion again.
“Nooo!”

He slashed like a madman, trying to get to his brother’s side. Aldric was their rock. He had to be all right.

But he had too many wolves in his way, and not enough strength left to defeat them all. Still, he kept trying, swiping and stabbing at everything he could.
Hearts and heads, stab and thrust.
He kept up the litany as he swung.

And then, over the trees, a brilliant light emblazoned the entire night sky with a yellow-orange halo. Many of the combatants were caught in the berserker rage of the fighting and didn’t pause, but many more did. Luc, mesmerized by the phenomenon, did a double take, wondering what on earth it could be.

Legion reappeared suddenly, throwing himself into the fight. Luc saw, noted it, and dispatched another wolf, which took his attention from the strange, amazing light for a few seconds. When he looked at the glow again, six Valkyrie warriors stepped out of it and ran right onto the field, yelling battle cries, swords drawn.

And behind them were Odin and his soldiers, in all their glory. It was the most awe-inspiring spectacle he’d ever witnessed.

Which was why he didn’t see the wolf until it was too late.

Seeing movement from the corner of his eye, he spun to face his attacker—and the snarling beast thrust the blade of the
sword in its fist straight into the center of Luc’s chest, driving it all the way to the hilt.

“Uughn.” His breath left him in a soft exhalation, and his knees buckled.

The shock of the agony, of seeing the hilt protruding from his own chest, was surreal. He slumped to the ground, half on his back, half on his side, taking in the battle around him with shrinking vision.

It really was an awesome sight, the very gods coming down from on high to fight the monsters. What would Legion have to say about that?

There was his Kass, too, fighting like the goddess Taryn liked to call her, and no wonder that he did. She saw Luc at that moment and screamed, a blood-curdling sound of grief that made several of the enemy distracted, for which they paid dearly.

Maybe he was hearing things. He thought he heard Kass scream at Odin, “You promised! It was supposed to be me!”

What did she mean?

But he was so tired. He struggled to breathe as she fought to his side, beheading one wolf after another. Blood bubbled up into his throat, and he coughed, trying to clear it, but the crimson liquid kept coming.
Kass.

As if she’d heard him, she turned and came toward him, apparently thinking her way to him was at last clear. Or maybe not thinking at all and simply acting out of desperation. Luc saw the wolf behind her before she did and frantically tried to warn her.

“No! Behind…” He choked again, unable to finish.

Kass’s whole body jerked, and she staggered to a halt, eyes wide, silently beseeching him as a blade, driven through her back, burst through her chest and clear through her heart.

He knew, because he felt the agony the instant their bond was severed.

The second she fell to the ground, dead.

“No. Oh gods…” Rolling to his stomach, ignoring the scorching fire in his chest and back, he half crawled, half dragged himself over the ground, desperate to reach her. To hold her, though she was already gone. “No. B-baby.”

He couldn’t make it to her. His mate. Several feet short of her body, he slumped to the ground. Stillness, suddenly. All around. Then, weeping. Whose?

Not his; he had no breath. No tears.

No soul.

Hands grabbed Luc’s shoulders, then turned him as far onto his back as possible with the sword in the way, pinning him like a butterfly to a corkboard. His sight was dimming, but he managed to make out Aldric holding him in his lap, tears streaming down his face.

Safe, then. And Soren? Legion? Val?

Their streaked faces, too, floated above Luc. Both of his brothers and his friends, bloodied but alive.

“Hold on, little brother,” Aldric begged. “You’re going to be okay. You’re a vampire—you’ll heal from this.”

“Luc, we’re going to pull the sword out,” Soren said grimly. “There’s no other way. It’s going to hurt like fuck, but we have to do it so you can take blood. Then we’ll get you to the hospital.”

“M-mate,” he gurgled, trying to make them understand. “Dead.”

He’d never heal. Not from her loss, or how it had happened—she’d died trying to save his life. There was no coming back from that.

Legion stroked his hair, his expression wretched. “I know, and I’m so sorry. But you must hang on.
Live
.”

“No.” He begged Aldric. The one with the strength to do what Luc needed. “Finish me. Take my head…
please
.”

“You ask the impossible, little brother,” Aldric told him, his eyes miserable and sad. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t. You will live, and we’ll be there for you.”

But he couldn’t. There was no life anymore. Not when Kass was dead.

His family and friends were okay, and they’d be fine long after he was gone. He could let go now.

So, despite their pleas, he did.

And sank into complete, absolute darkness.

There was pain. All-encompassing and absolute.