bedeviled & beyond 02 - bedeviled & bedazzled Read online

  Almost simultaneously I felt his hand on my breast and his teeth on my throat. Then, before I knew what was happening, my daemon hickey started throbbing and it sparked, causing the randy king to jerk back from my neck with a startled cry.

  I used the sudden breathing space to pull rational thought back into my fuzzy head and quickly gathered my power together before he could settle himself back at my neck. Slamming my palms to his chest, I shot every ounce of power in my core into him and he flew backward, hitting the wall with a thud and a curse.

  I didn’t wait around for his reaction. Dialle, get me the Hades out of here!

  A blink later I was back out in the hall and the three of us were running like the last circle of Hell was closing in on us. Dialle dragged me down the long hallway by the hand and Gerch followed, constantly looking over his shoulder with terror-filled eyes.

  As we turned the first corner we heard something that sounded like an explosion, followed by screams of pain and frantic shouting. The last sound we heard before my Dialle whisked us out of there was the king’s voice pounding down the hall like a physical presence, vibrating the building with unrestrained rage. “This isn’t over, boy!”

  My Dialle looked at me and shook his dark head. “I see you’ve managed to put yourself into a pickle again, Astra.”

  “I didn’t put myself into a pickle, Dialle, the pickle put itself into me.”

  I blinked, heat flooding my face as I realized what I’d said.

  Laughing, Dialle pulled me into a kiss that made my socks smoke and the world stopped moving as he transported us away from a literal Hell on Earth.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Phantom Love

  A phantom rides upon her thighs and leads her thoughts astray

  But learning who the culprit is, must wait another day.

  The Viper settled into its usual parking space with a whisper and hovered silently above the ground. “Exiting,” I said and the driver’s side door opened upward on a whoosh of air. I climbed out and headed for the flash lift in the center of the parking structure. The grey metal doors swung open as I approached and I entered the dimly-lit lift.

  “Thirteenth floor,” I instructed the lift.

  A tidal wave of sensual warmth rolled over me. The heat felt like thousands of tiny touches caressing my body, leaving behind row after row of goose bumps that made me shiver and tighten my thighs.

  I closed my eyes, clenching my teeth, and rode the wave as the car sped upward, toward my office. The unexpected attacks had been happening all morning and I was starting to get worried. I couldn’t seem to control them and they came with no warning at all.

  I was like a bitch gargoyle in mating heat.

  As I neared my floor the wave started to dwindle. Just when I thought I was going to survive another one, my eyes jerked open and I gasped as the first ghostly touch pressed the heated spot where I throbbed and ached the most.

  A jolt of pleasure shot through me, robbing me of breath. I almost went over the edge from just that one touch. My knees buckled, dropping me to the floor in a boneless sprawl.

  I cried out as invisible fingers slid into my wetness and touched the core of my pleasure. At the same time moist heat settled over my lips and something hot and wet bathed both breasts. Helpless against the totality of the onslaught, I lay writhing on the filthy floor of the elevator, moaning as my ghostly lover ignited every pleasure center in my traitorous body.

  The invisible fingers moved with a lover’s rhythm and I pressed my knees together as an explosion built around the ghostly touch. My hips flew off the floor and my knees jerked apart in mindless submission. My power sparked in response to my body’s explosive heat and I let it loose, hoping it could somehow save me. Instead of exploding away from me as I expected, the power wrapped around me like a blanket, pulling my spectral lover more tightly against my body and enhancing every feeling his ministrations had ignited.

  Suddenly a different spectral part replaced the ghostly fingers and all rational thought went bye bye. My heated channel clamped hungrily onto the delicious invader, riding it toward a release that waited a heartbeat away.

  My sexual core burned from the exquisite torture of the spectral ministrations, my power heightening the pleasure and pulling my spectral lover almost to the visible plane. My gaze locked onto the shadow of a delicious face. Black silk flowing around a masculine face with strong lines and the outline of a long, hard body. But the form faded away too fast, and my invisible lover’s ministrations increased, driving all thought of physical form from my mind.

  I climbed higher and closer to that peak, my mind begging my hidden lover not to stop...to let me reach that elusive peak that was oh so close but still just out of reach. The rational part of my brain knew something wasn’t right, but it was being beaten down by the pleasure seeking slut-monkey of my emotional side and I rode the cavalcade of intense feelings with only a tiny feeling of latent guilt. The whole thing felt entirely too good to be bad. Didn’t it?

  A moment later, a scream exploding from my throat, I finally tumbled over that elusive climax. The release turned my muscles to iron for several seconds, before finally subsiding into a pleasant feeling of warmth and a gentle throbbing.

  I lay limp and panting on the floor of the lift until I remembered where I was. As the doors slid open my ghost lover bent over me one last time. Soft lips touched my ear and words whispered against my sensitive skin, Until later, lovely Astra. And then he was gone. The fog in my brain filtered slowly away as the elevator doors slid to full open position.

  It took me a few seconds to realize that I was looking up into a couple of worried gazes. Two of the other tenants in the building were standing in the hallway, looking down at me sprawled on the filthy floor.

  I started to push myself up and, looking down, realized that at least I was still fully dressed, if a bit rumpled.

  The taller of the two men reached for my hand as I struggled against rubbery limbs. “Are you all right? Have you been attacked?”

  I looked up at him and...amazingly...I laughed, my body still shuddering with pleasure. “You might say that.”

  Looking even more concerned, the second man reached to help me to my feet by placing a hand under my arm. “Should we call for the unplanned injury crew?”

  I shook my head and gently extracted my arms from their well-meaning grasp. “No. I’m fine, I was just feeling a bit...ill. I’ll be fine once I get a chance to sit.”

  The taller man, who I noticed had longish, curly black hair and the most amazing hazel eyes with long lashes, reached as if to steady me and I realized I was still wobbly on my legs. “Can we help you get somewhere? You don’t look at all well.”

  I laughed again, causing the two men to frown at me as if I were emotionally unstable. In that moment I probably was. “No, really. I’m feeling fine now. Thanks though...for your help and your concern.”

  The taller man extended a large hand with soft, curling black hair on the back of it. In my current, heightened condition the hair seemed to sparkle softly, like dew. “My name is Ralph Peters. If you need something...anything...please feel free to ask. I’m in Thirteen C.”

  The smaller man extended his hand and I took it. “I’m Ralph’s partner, Bob Gleason. Ditto on the help.” He smiled and his warm, nondescript brown eyes sparkled. “Anytime.”

  I thanked the two men and wobbled toward my office, feeling their gaze on my back all the way to my door. I entered my office and closed the door behind me with a sigh of relief, leaning against it and closing my eyes. “Hades. What just happened to me?”

  “Astra? Are you okay?”

  My eyes flew open and locked onto Emo, my newly delicious partner and longtime friend. I was still trying to get used to seeing a drop-dead gorgeous royal devil instead of the squat, red version of my Emo that I’d practically grown up with. I’d recently learned that although Emo had been born into the royal court of a royal father and a fallen angel mother, he’d been cursed as
a young man by devil King Nerul to look like one of the lesser devils. My friend’s real form had been restored to him upon Nerul’s death. Unfortunately, the new Emo was disturbing to me on so many levels. But he was still my friend. And I needed a friend right at that moment.

  I smiled, pushing away from the door. Reaching out for him, I gratefully allowed myself to be folded into his leanly muscled arms. “I’m fine now. I just felt a bit ill for a few minutes.”

  He tensed in concern. “What can I do for you? Should I call the unplanned injury crew?”

  “No. Nothing. I just want to sit for a few minutes.” I reluctantly pulled myself from his arms and dropped into the nearest chair. Then I looked up and smiled to ease his worried frown. “Have you had any luck with that stuff I asked you to do?”

  Emo continued to stare at me for several seconds more, his midnight gaze seeming to pierce my mental barriers until I began to worry he’d read my recent ghostly attack there. My face started to burn and I looked down, hoping he hadn’t noticed.”

  Finally he sighed and moved around to sit behind his desk, where I assumed he’d been when I came into the office.

  “The local coven is denying any involvement in the uprising. They refused to let me speak to the Supreme High Witch but they were quite adamant that the last thing they would want to do was get involved in a fight between the royals and the demons.

  I shook my head. “The king isn’t wrong. If he says they’re involved they are involved. King Dialle is many things but he isn’t careless, he has always kept a tight rein on the dark worlders.”

  Emo nodded. “I agree. Word is the Supreme High Witch is ambitious and jealous of the attention the other dark worlders are getting. I’ve heard the rumors too that she wants to make a play for more power.” He paused, slanting me a look that said I wasn’t gonna like what he was about to say. I braced myself. “I’ve been thinking. Maybe you should contact DD Raoul.”

  I frowned. It had, of course, occurred to me that Death Detective Raoul might be able to help me with the witches since he’d been part of the coven for most of his life. But I was resisting bringing him into the current mess. He’d recently been having some personal issues and had requested leave from the Strange Deaths Department to work through them.

  “I was hoping to avoid that.”

  “I know. But if he can give us some information it might save us several days of trying to pull it out of a very resistant coven.”

  I sighed, knowing Emo was right. But that didn’t make my decision any easier. “I’ll think about it. I know I should do it but I really hate to bother him right now.”

  Emo simply shrugged. “As for the demons, the king’s information has been confirmed. I have an...acquaintance in the demon court. He confirms that Alcott plans to capture and put to death hundreds of humans in a show of strength to help them break out from under the devils’ control. They are counting on the royals being averse to publicity and having the humans all riled up against them.”

  “But you heard nothing about the Supreme High Witch being behind it?”

  Emo shrugged again. “All I have are rumors. But the rumors I heard tell me that she’s involved somehow.”

  I nodded and sat, thinking. After a minute I realized I had no choice. Sighing, I stood up. “I’ll go see DD Raoul. I don’t see any way around it.”

  “Okay boss. Good luck.” His blacker than night eyes sparkled and his beautiful lips curved up just the tiniest bit at the corners. I found myself wanting to chew gently on that yummy lower lip and almost gasped aloud with shock. I just wasn’t used to having those thoughts about my friend and partner. Tearing my gaze away, I turned toward the door.

  I could have sworn I heard chuckling behind me.

  A thought occurred and I jerked around to look at him. Eying him with my fiercest, most suspicious gaze I asked, “What were you doing just before I came into the office?”

  Emo narrowed his gorgeous almond shaped eyes at me and laughed. “Why?”

  “Just answer the question.”

  He laughed again and the eyes sparkled with mischief and something...more. “I was filing. What else would I be doing?”

  I narrowed my own green orbs at him and cast my eyes around his office. Not a single piece of paper lay across the top of his desk or anywhere else for that matter. Emo had always been almost compulsive about keeping his desk neat. I decided it was possible he could have been filing but...

  I didn’t believe him. Damn!

  I continued to stare at him but he just laughed and shook his head, black ringlets swirling around a darkly whiskered face with a square jaw. “Whatever you’re thinking I didn’t do it.”

  Holy shit! “What didn’t you do, Emo?”

  The grin on his face widened, “Go talk to Raoul, Astra.”

  With a final glare I left and took the damn stairs down to the parking level.

  ~SC~

  Raoul was in his backyard, on his knees digging in the dirt of what looked like an herb garden. Having never dug in the dirt in my life, my first thought was that Raoul had gone over into his happy place and would be lost to retrieval.

  He heard my approach and looked up, sexy brown eyes narrowing as he smiled in welcome. “My day is looking up.” He stood and turned toward me, brushing dirt-coated hands on his soft, grey pants. “How’s my favorite demon hunter?” He walked over and put his arms around me, careful not to touch me with his hands.

  I wasn’t sure how to react to the hug. Although Raoul and I had moved into the realm of comfortable with each other, maybe even close to friendship, over the last couple of years of working together, we’d never before shown any kind of physical affection toward each other. I stood with my hands at my sides for a few beats and then placed them uncomfortably on his back, patting him. It came across as clumsy and insincere.

  When he finally stepped back he gave me a wry look. “I’m afraid to ask why you’re here.”

  I grinned. “You should be.”

  He nodded. “Let’s go inside, I could use something cool to drink.”

  I followed him into his place, which was light and cool and filled with natural fibers and potted plants. It looked like a girl’s place.

  He caught me looking around and smiled. “I know what you’re thinking. It looks like a woman lives here, right?”

  When I shrugged my shoulders he laughed. “People tell me that all the time.” He looked around. “I guess, in my line of work, everything’s so dark, it soothes me to come home to light colors and natural things.”

  “That makes sense.”

  He nodded. Moving into an abbreviated food service area, he washed his hands and then pulled two cold tubes from a small refrigerated unit and handed one to me. I pulled open the corner of the foil tube and took a sip. It tasted like fruit, very sweet, but it felt cool and creamy in my mouth.

  Raoul lowered his butt onto one of the tall stools at the counter and looked at me. “So, what can I do for you, Astra?”

  Following his lead, I dropped my own butt onto the stool next to him and took another sip of my fruity concoction, stalling for time.

  I stared at him for several beats, reluctant to ask for his help when I knew it would most likely drag him into my mess. But, like earlier, I couldn’t see any way around it so I took a deep breath and dived in. “King Dialle the First summoned me to his rooms to tell me that the demons are staging a revolt to try to win independence from the royals. He believes they’ll go after humans to create a stir, which the royals can’t afford.”

  Raoul whistled softly. “I’ve been afraid of this happening. The royals have infiltrated the human way of life so completely it’s made them vulnerable. The demons do have some leverage if they can create fear and use it against the royals.”

  I nodded and watched him. Raoul’s mind was very sharp and he’d been working in the Strange Deaths Department of the police for over a decade. He knew his dark worlders. Suddenly he looked up at me. “What aren’t you telling me? Why
are you coming to me with this?”

  “The king has heard that the local coven is pulling the strings of the revolt.”

  Raoul set his drink down with more emphasis than was strictly necessary. “That’s preposterous!”

  “He’s not the only one who’s heard this.” I was praying he wouldn’t ask me who else had heard the rumor. I didn’t want him to know it was Emo.”

  His sharp, brown gaze locked onto mine and I felt myself wanting to look away. “Who else has told you this lie?”

  Hades! “That isn’t important...”

  “To me it is.”

  Raoul’s normally calm face had become a storm cloud before my very eyes. His reaction seemed a bit extreme.

  “How well do you know your Supreme High Witch?”

  It was his turn to stare at me. His light brown face had grown tight with anger, his lips pressed together into a thin, disapproving line. “I know her very well.”

  “Then you would know if she had...shall we say...delusions of grandeur?”

  Raoul’s face changed darkened to a deep, mottled purple. I knew that what I was asking him wasn’t going down well but not I didn’t know what to do about it. If Raoul had information about the coven that would help me I had to get it from him. Human lives were at stake.

  Finally he took a deep breath and stood. “If I knew any such thing I wouldn’t tell you, Astra. Coven business must remain in the coven. It’s one of our strictest laws. Anyone who opens coven business to outsiders risks expulsion.” His angry gaze turned soft around the edges until it gained a pleading quality. “I can’t face expulsion now, Astra. I need my white witchcraft to survive.”

  I reached for his hand, which was clenched into a sweaty knot on the countertop between us. “I understand that you’re dealing with some personal issues, Raoul. Believe me when I tell you I never wanted to bring any of this to you. But you’re part of the coven and I need your perspective, that’s all.”