Wicked Road to Hel (League of Guardians 1)

Lilith was inches from Declan and she sniffed, her face wrinkling in distaste. “She’s the one who turned you. I should have known. You’re not as sweet as you once were.”

Her long, elegant fingers reached out and she ran them down Declan’s cheek. Laughter bubbled from inside her, falling like musical notes. “No matter.” The laughter stopped abruptly. “I shall be your breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

“You will not touch him.” Ana’s anger erupted but she underestimated the queen’s power. Lilith had her by the throat before her words had even left her tongue. The demon held her aloft and her legs thrashed wildly as she struggled to break the grip. She didn’t need to breathe per se, but it would take nothing for Lilith to snap her neck in two.

“I will end you.” Lilith glared up into her eyes. “And since this is my Hell, I will look forward to repeating it, every single day.”

A ribbon of black bled through her vision and Ana hissed, her fangs fully extended as she tried to break the queen’s grip.

“Put her down,” Declan growled. His tone commanded attention and Lilith paused, a perplexed expression marring the perfect features.

Lilith squeezed a little harder, her nails digging into Ana’s flesh, and the smell of her own blood filled Ana’s nostrils. Shit, she’d already lost too much. She was weak and ceased her struggles.

Lilith arched a brow and let Ana fall to the ground. A loud groan escaped as she hit the stone hard. She rolled over and staggered to her feet. Declan was at her side in an instant. His face was full of concern, but he was angry.

“Not a great time to disobey my orders.”

“You would do the same,” she rasped, her gaze never leaving Lilith. Her throat was fucking killing her. Why didn’t Declan attack?

“When the moment’s right, you run. Got it?” His words were a whisper against her ear.

Lilith leisurely fingered a long strand of her blond hair as she paced in front of them. Her full lips were softened by a smile that never left, and it widened as she stopped abruptly.

“Does she know the details of your stay down here, sorcerer?”

Declan tensed beside Ana and his hand dropped from her waist.

“What’s done is done and I don’t care to know.” Ana glanced at Declan as she spoke and hated the way his face was closed, his emotion turned off.

Lilith ignored her; her electric eyes never left Declan. Her hands dropped to her naked breasts and she slid her fingers over the plump flesh. “Remember what it felt like? To be my lover, to have your hands on me?”

Ana was sickened by the pink tongue that escaped as the demon started to pant. The bitch was aroused.

“To be inside me?” Lilith’s face changed, and once more Ana saw the true monster behind the mask. “To kill with me?”

An invisible hand was once more upon her and Ana grunted as she was thrown to the floor. Her arms and legs were spread wide.

Declan’s gaze followed a trail of blood that was now flowing freely from her side and frustration brought tears to her eyes. She tried to move but it was no use.

“She looks yummy, doesn’t she?” Lilith asked. She knelt beside Ana and beckoned to Declan. “Don’t you want a taste? I don’t mind but you’ll have to wait.” The demon grinned and Ana watched helplessly as the bitch’s fangs slipped from between her lips. “I’m not standing in line, sorcerer. I’ve never been one for sloppy seconds.”

Ana glared at her, all the hatred and fear inside, coloring her eyes to midnight. “I’ll never let you take from me.”

Lilith smiled. “You insignificant bitch. That’s what they all say, even your precious sorcerer. A little secret?” She glanced up at Declan before bending lower. Ana flinched as the warmth of Lilith’s breath slipped across her skin. “I don’t care.”

Ana’s muscles tightened. She gathered what strength she could and looked up into Declan’s eyes. They were cold, flat. The air around him shimmered, but Lilith couldn’t see this. She was much too busy licking Ana’s skin as she slowly made her way toward the beating pulse at her neck.

What arrogance. To assume Declan was no threat. To assume he would follow like a pathetic fool. Lilith had no fucking clue.

In that moment she knew Declan would get them out. He would settle for no less.

“Take your hands off my woman.” Declan’s words were spoken slowly, each one enunciated with care.

Lilith gazed down at Ana, tucked a piece of auburn hair behind Ana’s ear, and shrugged. “I’m going to enjoy eating you.” She ignored Declan and continued, “And then I’m going to have sex with my sorcerer and we’ll both feed from you.” She giggled. “You won’t like it, but I sure as hell will.”

The ground shook and the energy around Declan erupted into a shower of sparks.

Lilith’s face contorted into a grimace and she snarled as she turned from Ana to confront Declan. She rose and her body started to twitch as if she was unable to control the anger inside her. “You think to challenge me? I am the queen, you belong to me.”