Fallen (Dark in You 7)

Carmen swallowed and then followed Hector into the elevator. The metal doors slid closed, and Maddox found himself alone with his anchor.

He sat beside her on the sofa and lifted her head to rest it on his thigh. She didn’t stir or make a sound. He wasn’t surprised. If she’d fought whatever power was in that dagger, she’d have expended a whole lot of psychic energy—that was always draining.

Seeing her this way only increased his demon’s fury. It wanted blood. Wanted vengeance. It would get it at some point, but not right then.

Maddox sank his hand into her soft hair and glided his fingertips along her scalp. He allowed himself to touch her occasionally, wanting her to get used to his touch. But he hadn’t tried to take it further, because he wanted her to feel comfortable around him; wanted her to trust him. More, he wanted her to realize that his wish to have her in his life wasn’t about sex.

He’d done his homework on Raini. Very in-depth homework. He knew a lot about her, including that she didn’t particularly like being a succubus. More to the point, she didn’t like that so many of the men who pursued her only did so because they were caught up in the succubae spell.

Many coveted her like one would a shiny, expensive car. They sought to claim her. Possess her. Own her. Some had even been so deeply ensnared that they’d become obsessed with her.

If Maddox had guessed correctly, she worried that he only wanted her around because he was caught up in the sexual, compelling allure she radiated. She worried that he didn’t truly care about her safety or well-being; that he was simply subconsciously driven to have her in his life, like many others were before him.

He got that. He could understand it. Little did she know, but he was resistant to compulsions—including that of succubae, no matter how powerful they were. That didn’t mean he didn’t want her in his bed.

A man would have to be dead not to want Raini Campbell. She was beyond beautiful. Bedroom eyes. Long, thick lashes. Plush mouth. Perfectly symmetrical face. Flawless skin. Full, round breasts. Shapely legs. Curves that made a man think of sex and sin.

Maddox would make his move eventually, but not until she trusted that he wasn’t under the influence of the allure she radiated.

Hearing the whir of machinery, he lifted his head. Soon enough, Hector stepped out of the elevator. Behind him were Raini’s coworkers, Knox Thorne, and three of Knox’s sentinels. Their eyes went straight to the woman sleeping on the sofa, her head still resting on Maddox’s thigh.

Harper eyed him. “Your sentinel said her wound is healed.”

“It is,” Maddox confirmed, again stroking his fingertips along Raini’s scalp.

“Was it necessary for your demon to take her?”

“She needed healing, so yes. I won’t apologize for putting her before what you would have wanted.”

“You can’t only be her anchor when it suits you.”

He didn’t credit that statement with a response. He wasn’t going to justify himself to Harper Thorne or anyone else.

Devon crossed to the sofa and gave him a small smile. “Thank you for healing her. She’s very important to us, you see, so we’re a little on edge after seeing her be hurt.”

The hellcat settled on the other end of the couch and placed Raini’s feet on her lap. Harper perched herself on the armrest while Khloë sat on the floor and put her hand on Raini’s leg.

Noting how disapproving the males looked at the sight of the women so close to Maddox, he almost snorted. They were safe from him purely because they meant something to Raini.

He looked at Knox. “I don’t suppose you managed to kill the demon who attacked, considering he was astral projecting.”

The Prime shook his head. “But we have the dagger.” He stepped closer to Maddox and held up the blade. There were no smears of blood, so Knox must have wiped it clean. There were, however, strange runes carved into the steel—some of which Maddox had seen before.

“An incantor either made that dagger or simply inscribed the runes onto it,” said Maddox. “That blade wields magick, which explains why Raini said it stripped her power from her.”

Devon gasped. “Stripped her power?”

“She took it back, which is probably why she passed out.” Maddox noted that none of the women looked surprised to hear that Raini had been strong enough to wrench it back. Knox and his sentinels, however, exchanged a look.

The elevator whirred to life again. Moments later, Carmen walked into the office swiftly followed by Jolene Wallis and two of her sentinels.

Jolene’s gaze locked on a pale, unconscious Raini. Like that, her expression hardened, and the walls of the building began to tremor.

“She’s okay, Grams,” Harper quickly assured her.

Jolene’s eyes snapped to Maddox. “Her wound?”