Deadly Desires (8 page)

Nemmy swallowed hard. “There was…power coming from here. We were checking on things.” The angel seemed flustered. Samael couldn’t help that he felt thrilled by this. He couldn’t stand those damn wind thumpers. They both pretended to be so good, but Samael knew what these two were capable of. They weren’t angel material. They were hanging on to their position by a damn thread.

“All you felt was my wife and I reuniting our vows. Marcella remembers the majority of her past now, you know.”

He waited for Nemmy’s reaction. The thrill that flashed over his features wasn’t missed. “So you’re ready to come back?”

Marcella tilted her head. “Possibly in the future, but you know where I stand, Nehemiah. I have to protect myself first and foremost. If I jump right into business, then I risk the chance of being taken out again. We both know that if we want to be successful in our paths then we have to be prepared.”

“Absolutely.” Sweetness filled the air at the angel’s happiness, and it made Samael want to gag.

“I could use your help, though. I mean, if you wanted to rush the process of our dealing of souls.”

Nemmy looked over at Caspius. The man’s dark skin and pink eyes pierced into his partner. Nemmy ran his hand through his blond hair with blood-red streaks. The gray of his eyes darkened. “Whatever you want.”

“Careful.” Marcella laughed. She eased her arm from around Samael and walked in Nemmy’s direction. “You shouldn’t say that. I want a lot of things.” The way she swayed her hips was all seductress. The angel’s gaze was glued to her as if he were in a trance. Samael growled. He could practically see the drool dripping from his mouth.

“Well,” Nemmy breathed heavily. “What is it that you need?”

“Your soul.” Silence became thick as he stared at her. After a few seconds, laughter exploded out of her mouth. “I’m just kidding, Nemmy. I don’t need your soul.”

“Oh.” He laughed. “I thought you were serious there for a minute.”

Samael couldn’t believe what he’d felt in that short expanse of time. The temptation that had been rolling off of Nemmy was obvious. He looked over at Caspius, knowing the man had picked up on it, too.

“No,” Marcella said. She smiled and it was as if there were no tension between the two of them any longer. Nemmy had blackmailed her not long ago, and now it was as if he’d completely forgotten his threat to expose her if she didn’t fulfill his unknown commands.

“Tell me. I’m sure I can help. I mean, if it’ll get us going with the souls, I’m down. That’s all I ever wanted to begin with.” A sadness took over his face. “I have to admit, I was angry with you over the Jason incident, but I’ve confessed my sins about that day. I know you were truthful when you said there was nothing going on between the two of you. We just came in at the wrong time. I shouldn’t have acted the way I did.”

Ugh, what a gullible soul. Samael shoved his hands in his pockets. The sooner this was over the better.

“How much do you know about the immortals? Is there a chance we can help them become good again?” Marcella’s heat rolled against him. So the immortals were her target. Interesting.

Nemmy turned to Caspius and then gave her his attention. “Well, it’s worth a shot, I guess. I’m sure some would be able to get past their bad ways, but it’ll be nearly impossible for others. Evil is just too strong in their hearts.”

“What’s the purpose of this mission you want us to go on?” Caspius asked, judgingly.

Marcella smiled and stepped back, grabbing Samael’s hand. They gripped to each other tightly against the sensation that filled them both. Their gazes connected. What she was about to say was going to shock him. He knew it. And he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear what it was.

“We all know in the past that I was close to coming to the good side. Well, I’ve been giving it more thought. But I can’t do it alone. I want Samael to transition with me.”

Nemmy’s mouth dropped open before he could catch himself. Samael knew what was going through his mind. If Nemmy was held responsible for bringing over Marcella, it would be huge, but him…oh yes, he, the Devil’s son, would be the holy grail for any angel. It was an immediate promotion in station to an archangel.

“Samael.” Nemmy stepped forward. “I had no idea you’d been giving it thought. Between all three of us, I’m positive we can change your evil ways. We’ll always be here to support you. I know you can do it, brother.”

It probably wouldn’t be good for him to laugh, although he wanted to. Samael pressed his mouth together hard and just nodded. Damn, he hoped Marcella wasn’t serious. He wasn’t sure he could change who he was born to be. The evil surged through his veins. It was ingrained in who he was.

“We better get going,” Marcy said, leaning closer to Samael. “We leave soon for Wiccan territory. I’m going to look for as many good followers and souls as I can. When I’m finished with this process and I’m ready to start dealing, I’ll get ahold of you, Nemmy.” She gave the angels a tender smile. “Maybe after dealing for a while I can prove that goodness does dwell within me enough to earn a position amongst you all.”

Both men bowed to her. Samael pulled Marcella close to his body and headed into the house. Once the door closed, he spun her around to face him. “How much of that was the truth?”

A shiver shook her body and she slammed him into the far wall. His eyes got big as he watched her stalk the few steps that separated them. “More than you know. But let’s face it Samael. You and I will never be allowed past the pearly gates.” She jumped up to straddle his waist and he twisted the red silk in her hands.

“Soon, I’m going to bury myself deep within you, and you’re going to be screaming at me to let you come. You want that, don’t you? My cock deep in your pussy? Pounding? Slamming into you?”

“Yes,” Marcella moaned. They suddenly appeared in her room, right in front of all of her men. They were grouped together at a table talking, and became silent when they noticed their queen. He lowered her, and Marcella ran and jumped into Dominic’s arms. “How do you feel?”

Red flew through the air while he spun her around in his arms. “Wonderful, Marcella”—he planted a big kiss on her mouth—“I can’t explain it. I feel free. Lighter. Besides loving you, this is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

A squeal came from her mouth and she hugged him tightly. Samael couldn’t contain his smile. Everyone was so happy. It was refreshing.

“So who’s next? Ambrose.” She looked at her vampire master. “Are you ready?”

“More than ready.” The long, dark hair framed against his face as he rounded the table and came to stand in the middle of the room. Well, this was it. It was time to see if the vampire took to the change as well as the demon had. Samael wasn’t so sure things would go as smoothly as the last time.

* * * *

Dominic stood at the head of the circle while Ambrose lay nude in the middle. The ritual was absolutely beautiful as he watched his queen raise her hands to the sky. The light began to swirl faster and faster, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of it. Something had happened when he changed. The evil was stripped from him, and suddenly things had become clear. He knew what he needed to do.

If someone would have told him a year ago that he would experience any of these amazing things that had happened, he would have died laughing. Now…he was a changed man. So changed.

Words filled the darkness and Marcella’s hair whipped wildly around her body. The glow of her eyes was mesmerizing to watch. He couldn’t believe he was now like her. Dominic looked toward the light and felt the goodness wash over him.

Marcella kneeled, and he watched as she licked down Ambrose’s chest. Blood poured down his sides until it began to pool on the concrete ground. The dagger caught his attention, and Marcella brought it down hard against her skin. As she repeated the words to the vampire master, Ambrose reached for her and drank greedily from her wound.

Dominic looked at Samael. How would the master demon react to the change? As he took in the darkness that now aerated from his body, he wasn’t so sure. The man had so much evil that there was no telling if he’d ever be able to be cleansed of it. Or if he’d even want to be. Dominic still didn’t think he was going to go through with the act.

The wind died down and the room became silent as Ambrose began to thrash against the pain Dominic knew he was going through. The cleansing was the worst part. So many times in his head he’d begged for death to come. Anything was better than having his evil stripped from him. It was as though the badness was an actual living thing, gripping onto his inside with claws that were razor sharp.

A yell snapped Dominic back to reality. Ambrose spun to his stomach and began slamming his fist down on the floor. Marcella jumped to her feet as his body began levitating off the floor a good two feet. Her eyes wildly went to Samael. The moment the dark angel went to rush forward, she slammed him with an energy blast that knocked him clear across the room.

“Do not break this circle no matter what!” she yelled to them.

Ambrose’s back began to arch, and Dominic could feel his hand rise to his mouth. The yells were downright torturous.

The old language Marcella had spoken began to come from her mouth again. Her hands rose to the air and the light filtered through. Her pleas were desperate. Ambrose started to rise higher toward the ceiling, and Marcella grabbed the dagger, slicing the blade down her arm multiple times. She reached for Ambrose’s hand and jerked him in her direction.

As she pressed her arm to his mouth, he gripped it hard. The wind was so violent that Dominic was having a hard time seeing what was going on. More words came from her mouth, and Dominic could see blood covering her entire chest and waist from having her hand in the air.

The blade fell to the floor and Marcella moved Ambrose’s mouth to her neck. “Bite, dammit! Do not give up on me.”

The vampire’s already pale skin looked downright ghostly. From his view, Dominic couldn’t tell whether Ambrose was drinking or not. What the hell was going on? Why wasn’t he taking to the change?

Jason’s hand reached out and clutched to Dom’s so tight that he was sure Jason was going to break something. “I have to go in there.”

Dominic looked at him, shocked. “You can’t. Marcella said not to.”

“He’s too immune to her blood! He needs another collector’s. I can help him. I took some of the wolves’ souls. I have one to give him.”

Dominic wasn’t sure what to say. He looked at Ambrose and knew he was close to death. “Go!”

The moment Jason broke the circle, all hell broke loose. Donavon reached out and held Dominic like an anchor. Samael quickly made his way to them. “What the hell is he doing,” the dark angel snapped.

“He thinks Ambrose is too immune to Marcella’s blood. He’s going in there to take her place.” Dominic was yelling as loud as he could over the whipping wind. Marcella staggered out of the circle and the air immediately died down a lot. There was just too much power contained when they were both in there together.

Jason picked up the dagger and pulled Ambrose into his arms. The vampire was still levitating, and the light seemed hell-bent on taking him somewhere. Dominic wasn’t so sure suddenly that it was heaven, like he’d originally thought. Heaven and hell didn’t deal with supernaturals, and it wasn’t like Ambrose had his soul anyways. Marcella had it.

Blood spilled from Jason’s forearm, and like Marcella, he made multiple cuts until the blood was pouring out steadily. After a few seconds, Dominic saw his coloring began to come back. He sighed in relief and caught Marcella as her legs gave out.

“I thought I killed him,” she sobbed. “Oh God. I thought…”

“He’s fine, love.” Dominic tried comforting her, but he was so shaken up by the events that he was damn near crying himself. What would they have done if they’d lost Ambrose? He loved that man more than words could describe. They were all a part of each other. Without one, none of them would be whole.

A loud yell roared through Ambrose. His body slammed into the concrete with such a sickening thud that if it wasn’t for Samael, both him and Marcella would have hit the floor. Nausea pushed against Dominic’s throat. The concrete was literally cracked on the outsides of his body. Lord only knew what it actually looked like underneath.

Jason kneeled as Ambrose began to convulse. His eyes went to Marcella appearing to ask her what to do. As they looked around at each other, no one had a clue. All they could do was wait in silence until Ambrose’s heart stopped beating and Jason could transfer over the soul. That was, if it would even take.

Marcella turned to Donavon and Samael. “It’s off. We’re not doing this again. I was stupid to think that it would actually work.”

“It will work,” Samael growled. “Ambrose is stronger than you all can imagine. I’ve known it for a while. Ever since we took over Luis’s pack. If Jason’s blood would have been the one to do this from the beginning, everything would have gone smoothly.” He turned to Marcella. “His diet of just-you rejected the change. Minus the soul collecting and the shift changes, Ambrose was just as physically strong as you, Marcella. Mentally, he is even more advanced than your collector. When Ambrose pulls through, we’re going to have one hell of a collector, and he knows that. Why do you think he’s been looking forward to this so much?”

“So the rest of the transformations should go smoothly?” Marcella’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure, Samael?”