“Finally.” Aza strolled closer. “We’re gonna have so muchfun.”
She countered his moves, keeping her distance. She summoned her abilities, but only a faint heat remained. Had Dagan taken all of them? Shit, she was so screwed. She needed time. “What? You think I’m just going to lie back and let you fuck me while chokingme?”
“You’ll do anything I want. You see, I’m protected from your abilities, and I know Ash still lives. This time, I’ll make sure he stays dead if you don’tbehave.”
He’dhurt Ash? Fury tore through her. “Youbastard!”
He shrugged. “At least I had the forethought to prevent you from mating anyone else with my mating mark. I wouldn’t have been in this position, but the asshole Guardian just had to destroyClub Illudo, the one place I could have my needs fulfilled. Now, he thinkshe can haveyouas his mate?” Aza glared at her like it was all her fault. Then he sighed. “Yes, providence is a wonderful thing. I will have it all now.” He broke off, eyed her coldly. “You stink of him. You’ll regret letting him touch what belongs tome!”
“Go to hell,” Shae spat, sidestepping a broken table. “The only thing I regret is ever agreeing to go out withyou.”
“We’ll both be going to Hell once the mating’s completed,” he murmured, trailing her. “You won’t be residing in this world muchlonger.”
“Dagan is mymate, the one thing you’ll never be. I’m going to killyou.”
He smiled, kicking a piece of wood out of his way. “You cantry.”
“And fail,” a new voiceadded.
Kaerys appeared beside Aza in silvery-blue sparks.Shit!
The viper wore a pretty navy sheath, but her eyes were hard, her smilevindictive.
“You couldn’t face me, a mere mortal, on your own? You had to get this Fallen’s help?” Shae taunted, wanting to tear the goddess from limb to limb. “Andyoutold him aboutDagan?”
“He deserved it.” Kaerys’ mouth twisted in anger. “Your bravado won’t save you now. Dagan will not find you in this place. I cast a shielding spell, keeping us hidden from mortal and immortal alike in this dull littletown.”
“I’m going to kick your sorry ass,Kaerys!”
“Do not address me so informally, mortal,” she snapped, circling Shae like a damn flea she desperately wanted to stomp out. “You should be begging for your worthless life. Did you really think I’d let you humiliate me and get away with it? After Aza mates you, Dagan will have no say in anything regarding you. My vengeance will be complete. He’ll regret walking away fromme.”
“The only thing you regret is not being aligned with his family, the affluence of being joined to a powerful lineage,” she shot back. “Except he didn’t care for all that. He chose to be aprotectorto hissister.”
“Do it, Aza,” Kaerys snarled. “And don’t be gentle when you mate her. I want to hear her screams. Then I’ll let Dagan hear them,too.”
Shae fisted herfingers.
“No, you don’t.” Aza flashed and grabbed her by her arms. He kept her hands pinned to her sides and lowered his head, dragging his mouth down her cheek, which no longer bore the bumpy scar. “We know what these can do. We don’t want them to get in the way, do we, littlepsychic?”
Bile shot to her throat at his touch. “I’m sure you don’t. Pity you didn’t remain to see what else I could do before you slithered away from the fight like the snake youare.”
He smirked. “All that matters is when you’re struggling beneath me as I ram intoyou—”
Shae kneed him hard in the nuts. A keening howl broke loose. He doubled over, clutching his groin. She hoped she’d flattened his damn balls into pancakes. “Since you like pain, I hope you enjoyedthat!”
A blast of power hit her right in the chest. Shae crumpled to the grimy floor, unable to breathe, so sure her lungs would never work again. Kaerys stood over her, beaming. “I really enjoyedthat.”
Wait, dammit! She was immortal now, and reborn, stronger than before, right? Going on instinct, she blocked out the pain. Instantly, her limbs functioned again, and her breathing didn’t hurt like her lungs wanted to escape. Beautiful, familiar heat whirled through her oncemore.
Ugh, she had to get hurt to regenerate.Typical.
“You’ll have to mate her here, Aza. Now. If you leave, Dagan will sense her,” Kaeryswarned.
“I hadn’t planned to do it here.” Aza grimaced. He dragged Shae up, grabbed her wrists and twisted them to her back, staying behind her this time. She flinched, pain wrenching her shoulders. “But I’m certainly going to enjoy this.” He hauled her toward the open door of another room. A bed appeared with ropes tied to the fourposts.
“A gift.” Kaerys gave her a chilling smile. “So you don’t teleport away.” With a slash of her hand, she ripped Shae’s top down thefront.
Damn bitch. Teeth gritted, Shae’s energy spun as if it would pull her into avortex.
