Bound By Darkness: Eternally Mated Novel Read online

  Kelana swore she’d been electrocuted. Once as a child, she had picked up an eel that swam ashore at the lake where she had been playing. Before her mother could scold her, a jolt of energy had been sent through her body. It had been enough for her to drop the creature and run to her mother. After that, she had avoided all manner of demon water creatures. Her body felt much the same now, except it was more like the energy of hundreds of those eels jolting her system.

  Finally to her feet, she gave herself a minute to allow the fog in her head to clear. After several deep breaths, she forced her legs to work and walked—one hand on the wall for support—feeling for anything that resembled an opening or door. After several steps, her fingers felt a hinge.

  “Thank god.” She placed both hands on the cold steel and felt for a knob. With her hand firmly on the smooth round metal, she prayed it turned. Carefully, she gave it a try, and her heart leapt when it didn’t hesitate. When she heard the click, she pulled the door open slightly, enough to give her a peek outside. Light flickered in the distance, and for a moment, she hesitated but finally slipped out of the room. On the other side of the door, the walls smoothed into a solid, black tourmaline, a mineral abundant in Hell.

  Kelana tried to cloak but nothing happened. Her wings refused to appear, and as far as she could tell, she was powerless. Was it an after effect of whatever her father had done to her? She quietly made her way down the corridor toward the light, keeping her senses open. She didn’t detect a presence, but then she wasn’t sure she should trust anything. How could she? When she finally reached the light, she found a room where a fire burned in the hearth. The walls were bare, and two plain wooden chairs sat by the fire. The floor was made of wooden planks that had seen better days. The finish scuffed off long ago. She looked from one end of the room to the other and spotted a doorway on the other side. Wasting no time, she crossed the creaking floor, praying no one heard, and made her way toward escape when a form appeared in front of her.

  “Going somewhere?”

  A woman with long, black hair, dark eyes, and wings that reminded her of a bat’s blocked her way. She leaned against the doorjamb and smiled. “Your father wanted to end you, but I begged him to let me have you instead.” The woman straightened and with a slow graceful walk moved closer to Kelana.

  “Of course he jolted your power so you are helpless. Just the way I like my slaves.”

  Kelana backed up and found herself against a wall. She reached for the blade at her hip and discovered it gone. The woman laughed.

  “Stupid girl.” She pulled a lock of Kelana’s hair through her fingers. “Pretty though and a succubus. It blends well with your angel, and I already have a waiting list of men who wish to have you.” She let go of Kelana’s hair and grabbed her throat, pinning her to the wall. “You took what belonged to me. The angel was mine, and you had no right to him.”

  Oh hell, this must be Aezyla. Anger for what Aezyla did to Lyzander had her shoving her knee into the bitch’s crotch. The demon loosened her grip enough that Kelana got free and landed a fist to her nose. Blood trailed down Aezyla’s face.

  Damn. That felt good.

  “You’ll pay dearly for that,” Aezyla snarled.

  “Fuck you, bitch.” Kelana was high on pure adrenaline and hatred. With head down, she charged and butted the demon in the gut, slamming her to the floor. Straddling her, Kelana managed to land several more punches to the bitch’s face. Each strike fueled the next. “How dare you hurt my mate!” she screamed, and it was then Kelana realized she would do anything to protect him. Even sacrifice herself.

  Aezyla, in a burst of power, shoved Kelana off and slammed her against the wall. Kelana was frozen, unable to move as the demon brushed herself off and dabbed blood from her swelling face. Well, at least Kelana had the satisfaction of marring the bitch’s perfection. She’d heal, but it would take some time.

  “Well, well. Lyzander’s mate. How perfect for me. You’ll make a fine trap to lure him back to me, and this time I will make sure he never escapes.” Her bloodied, cracked lip curled, revealing the tip of her fang. “I will relish making him watch as I slowly drink every ounce of blood from your body. I will break him.”

  Kelana? I’m almost there. You okay?

  Lyzander? Leave me and run. Never look back. Don’t let Aezyla find you. The thought that he might end up in this woman’s clutches again caused her panic to rise.

  17

  While the crew discussed options, the air shifted and split open. Seph stepped through, looking like he was ready for a fight. “You were planning this rumble without me?” the reaper asked.

  “Guys, I think Aezyla has Kelana. She just told me to run and leave her,” Lyzander ground out. Not a fucking chance in hell. He’d just renounced his entire life. He was not leaving without her.

  “Do you know where she is?” Tegan asked.

  Lyzander closed his eyes and concentrated on his mate. She tried to block him out, but he was stronger. He sensed her weakness, and panic drove a stake through his heart. What had they done to her? “I have her.”

  “We must be careful, there is likely a trap on the other side,” Raze said.

  “I’ll rip out someone’s soul if they hurt her.” Ashley stated. “Where is she, Zander? I’ll make sure any resistance on the way is met and dealt with.”

  Lyzander shared the information as best he could with Ashley through their telepathic link, so she could relay it to the others. While he couldn’t pinpoint the exact location, he would be close. Close enough that he would find her and lay waste to that bitch Aezyla. Without waiting for the others, he shot into Hell’s night sky and took off to the east. Kelana was located on the outer mountain range of Lulerain. Instinct told him now that he was fallen, he would be able to enter Hell’s pit without trouble. The others... Tegan, Eli, and even Ashley couldn’t go there since they were not true occupants of Hell. Being a fallen, this was his world now. Seph, he wasn’t sure. Hell, he wasn’t even sure if he could communicate with the reaper. He’d lost his link to Tegan and all his brethren with the exception of Cade and Raze, since they were like him.

  Seph?

  Yeah, brother?

  You really do walk on both sides. I wasn’t sure I could connect with you. Are you able to enter Lulerain?

  Shit! Is that where she is?

  Yes.

  I’m reaper. No domain is off limits to me. Let’s get your mate.

  Seph offered to relay the information to the others, who said they would keep watch outside and stop any interference from coming in. It was the best they could do, and Lyzander appreciated each and every one of them. They didn’t have to risk their lives for Kelana, but it was what they did for each other. Even though he had fallen, they didn’t turn their back on him. He hoped like hell they didn’t have to pay a price for their assistance. An angel hadn’t fallen by renouncing the Maker in centuries, and those who had never found their way back. He pushed all thoughts of his past life aside. Only one thing mattered right now. Kelana. He debated trying to reach her again but thought it might be best if she didn’t know he was coming. However...

  Kelana, can you still hear me?

  Go away, Lyzander. I’m not worth saving.

  He brought forth the cold-hearted warrior inside him. He wanted her to think he had turned his back on her. Just in case anyone tried to probe her for information. You’re right. I have no desire to be trapped in that hellhole again. I’m sorry, love, but you’re on your own.

  Her fear filled him. While she wanted him safe, wanted to send him away, it was obvious it wasn’t what her heart desired. Now she was sure he had abandoned her. With Kelana’s despair sitting in his gut he pressed forward, fearful she would now give up. Moments later, he landed in silence outside the small wooden house tucked on the mountain side. Cade and Raze were next to him.

  “We have no weapons,” Cade announced.

  True, but Lyzander felt his power filter through him. He prayed it all still worked. “A
situation we will have to rectify later. Right now, we have to use what is at our disposal.” He tried cloaking and was relieved when it proved successful. His brethren followed suit. Now to see if any of his other talents worked. He attempted to walk through the structure and was relieved when molecules parted, and he slid through without fail. So far things were going as planned.

  He spotted Kelana slumped against a wall, Aezyla towering over her, and he lost all control. He flew at the demon, wrapped his hands around her neck, and spun her to face him. He was momentarily taken by surprise at Aezyla’s two black eyes and swollen lip. His mate had gotten in some good blows. Bravo for her. Lyzander uncloaked and extended his new wings. The demon’s eyes widened.

  “That’s right bitch, I want you to look me in the eyes when I tear your fucking head from your body.”

  * * *

  Kelana didn’t believe what she witnessed. Lyzander was here, even though she had told him to go and leave her to her fate. Something wasn’t right, but before she could determine what it was, Lyzander snapped Aezyla’s neck. The sound of breaking bone and tearing flesh filtered into her ears as he continued to rip the demon’s head from her body as if it were the easiest thing he’d ever done.

  “Damn, dude,” Cade replied, appearing behind Lyzander. Two others also materialized. One which she recognized as a reaper, but the other didn’t look familiar. Suddenly it dawned on her what was wrong, and her hand flew to her mouth to cover the gasp.

  “Lyzander. Your wings.” The white tips gone, they were completely black except for the crimson veins running through them. They were the wings of a fallen angel as were Cade’s and the other who was with them.

  He looked at her. “You okay, love?” He touched her. Warm hands ran over her body, checking for injuries.

  “What have you done? I thought you were escorted here. It never occurred to me that you fell.” She ran a finger over a red vein.

  “I came for you, and this was the best way to do it.”

  She shook her head in total disbelief. “Cade?” Why on earth would he fall from grace? The angel she had sparred with earlier stepped forward as did the other.

  “Kelana, this is Raze.” Cade indicated the man beside him. “When we learned who you were, we didn’t hesitate to help.” He shifted his weight. “Raze and I were the ones who killed your family.”

  She took a step back in disbelief, and both men dropped to their knees.

  “Had we known what our mission really was, we would have refused. However, ignorance is no excuse,” Raze said, his gaze meeting hers. “We are truly sorry and are willing to pay for our sins.”

  “I don’t understand,” she stated. None of this made sense. “You fell to pay for your sins?”

  “No. We did it to help you and Lyzander,” Cade said. “Now Raze and I offer ourselves to you for punishment. We accept whatever you deem fit, including death.”

  Kelana went numb and looked to Lyzander. “I still don’t understand why you did it. Not when you could have gotten here another way.”

  Her mate stepped in and scooped her off her feet, his lips to her ear. “I told you that I love you and nothing was going to stop me from getting to you. When will you believe me?”

  “Guys, we should get out of here before the others try and storm this place,” the reaper said.

  “Others?” Kelana whispered. Who the hell else had shown up?

  “Later, love. We need to get back to the palace and sort this mess out.” Lyzander headed for the door with the others flanking them and Kelana’s head spinning. She still didn’t understand what happened, but for the moment, she buried her head into his chest.

  You came for me.

  Always.

  * * *

  Nothing had ever felt better in his entire existence than having his mate pressed against him. He swore he was never letting her out of his sight again, and when they finally set foot outside Lulerain, he refused to put her down. If not for her fussing, he wouldn’t have. Tegan, Eli, and Ashley were now in the company of her hound, Wraith, and several of her guards.

  “That was too easy,” Seph said.

  “Agreed,” he responded. “I think we’d better head out of here and fast.”

  “I’ll take care of that,” Ashley said as she formed a portal and motioned for everyone to hurry through. Once the last of them entered, it closed and they stepped out directly into Ashley’s dining room. More guards rushed forward and whispered to the Angel of Death while everyone else settled at the table.

  “What happened?” Lyzander finally asked. Kelana shifted in her seat, and he could tell she was uncomfortable.

  “I went for a walk. Hiked the mountains and as I was standing there looking at the view, my father appeared.” Her gaze darted around the room. “He’s fallen.”

  There were some whispers, but they quickly faded.

  “I was unable to move. I don’t know what he did to me, but everything went black and then I woke up in the place where you found me.” She continued with the encounter with Aezyla and how she’d laid the bitch out flat. Lyzander wished he’d seen it. He bet his little fireball had been a sight to behold.

  Ashley approached. “I have guards our searching for Malik, but so far there hasn’t been any signs of him.” She looked directly at Kelana. “Now that he’s a fallen, he is under my rule. My guards have instructions that if caught, he is to be brought to me. However, you will still be the one to decide his fate.”

  “Thank you,” Kelana said.

  “For tonight––with the exceptions of Seph––I think everyone else should stay here. This is the safest place, and in the morning, we can come back to the table fresh.”

  Kelana tugged on Lyzander’s arm. “You can stay with me.”

  Was that a twinkle in her eye? He wasn’t about to refuse. Matter of fact, he had already sensed his mate was weak from her ordeal and had planned to seduce her. Even after her conversion, her succubus still needed feeding. “Lead the way.”

  His mate led him down a wide corridor and to the room at the end. When she opened the door, he was pleased to find a king-size bed and couldn’t wait to get her in it. “How are you feeling?”

  “Better. I think my powers are coming back. It was like he short-circuited me somehow.”

  “He likely did. Being fallen, I’m discovering our powers are darker if that makes sense.” He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor. Hey, he knew his mate loved his pecs, and he wasn’t above letting her gander all she wanted. He didn’t want to force the issue, but he needed her. Wanted the connection only being together would bring.

  She touched his chest; her warmth seeped into him all the way to the bone. “I still can’t believe you fell. Can you go back?”

  “No idea. I’ve never fallen before, and the only ones who have ever come back were those who fell during Devon’s terror. Their souls were returned by Ashley, and they simply went back to who they once were.” He rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip. “I renounced everything I am. This is different.”

  Her eyes filled with moisture. “You shouldn’t have done that. Not for me.”

  “I would do it again a thousand times over. Nothing would stop me.” He dropped to his knees. “Kelana, you are my heart and soul, and I know I’ve hurt you. Please forgive me. I hope we can have a life together, but if you still wish for my death, then I will gladly give you the satisfaction.”

  18

  She stared down at the most glorious man alive. Her protector. He had saved her as a child, and he came back to save her again in so many ways, not just the recent events with Aezyla. He had saved her blackened heart. Showed her what true love was all about. He gave up everything he was for her, and now he offered his very life. She knew he wouldn’t resist if she raised a sword right now and swung it.

  He wouldn’t flinch.

  Lyzander was a true warrior and he was hers. She knelt in front of him. “I forgive you but only for the death of my family. The one responsibl
e is my father, you were only following orders.” Amazing how those words set her free. They lifted a weight from her shoulders she hadn’t even realized was there.

  “But there is something you don’t forgive me for? It’s finishing the bond, isn’t it?”

  “No. I forgive you for that too. It’s for falling. I’m not happy you gave up everything for me, and I will find a way to make it right. Lyzander, I swear you will get your wings back.”

  He shrugged. “I still have wings and they’re kinda cool.”

  She laughed and tackled him, shoving him on his back then planted a kiss on his lips. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight, his erection pressing into her abdomen. His mouth opened and his tongue darted out, making contact with hers. Before she knew what had happened, he rolled them so he was now on top. His kiss deepened, became more demanding until she thought he would take everything she was.

  She’d gladly give it to him.

  His hands slid under her tee, upward until he cupped her breasts, then he rolled her nipples between his thumb and finger. She arched into him and moaned. Paying him back, she wiggled beneath him, rubbing his erection.

  He broke the kiss. “Damn you, female.”

  She grinned. “Seems you have a big problem there.”

  His brow arched. “I’m hoping you plan to take care of it for me.”

  “I don’t know. I was kinda thinking I’m tired.” She feigned a yawn, and he lifted her shirt and rolled his tongue across a nipple. He gave her a wicked grin then pushed off her and jumped to his feet.

  “Wait! I was kidding.”

  “Now, I would hate for you to lose any sleep on account of me.” He reached to pick up his shirt, and she was quick to grab it before he got to it.

  “Not a chance.” She was on her knees and pawing to get the button on his jeans undone and the zipper down. Luckily, he didn’t stop her. Not that she would have anyway. She was on a mission and soon had his pants around his ankles and was staring at the most beautiful erection she had ever laid eyes on. She flicked her tongue out and tasted the velvety tip.