Hellen had given herself more orgasms than she could count, knew much about sex, sexual positions, and parts of the body that responded well to being touched, but she had never truly been kissed in her life. She was sure of it now. In school she had stolen a few pecks from a few brothers of her classmates, and it had been nice, though dry and altogether too quick. But nothing could have prepared her for the feeling of Erion's kiss. He held her tightly, almost protectively, surely possessively, and seemed to make love to her mouth. A sensual drag of the lips, then a breath-stealing, full-bodied kiss, followed by a tug with his teeth.

And then there were his fangs.

She smiled against his mouth as he angled his head and lapped at her lower lip, groaning with a need she felt against her belly.

"Do you laugh at me, demon girl?" he uttered, his tone thick with passion.

She shook her head. "Just want to know what this feels like."

"This feels fucking amazing."

His growl made her laugh again. "No. This." She ran her tongue over one fang, then the other. Smooth, sharp. The muscles between her legs clenched, and she was surprised by the intensity of her desire. Demons weren't supposed to find fangs attractive. Those who knew of the bloodsucker race thought them animals-inferior, undesirable, worse than humans.

Those demons were fools.

"Have you ever bitten anyone?" she whispered against his mouth.

"Only when they deserved it," he growled softly.

She felt the vibration through her chest, and her gaze lifted to meet his. "What do I have to do to deserve it?"

"Keep looking at me like that."

"That's all?" she asked, dark, wicked desire swirling inside her like a storm.

He grinned. "Unfortunately."

She laughed. "How did we get here, Erion?"

"Through that door, demon girl."

"No. Not here in the hallway. Here. You and me and the kisses, and your leg between mine, and me wanting so much more between my legs, and you threatening to bite me, and a feeling that was never supposed to surface . . ."

She stopped, knowing she sounded like a lunatic. She needed to cool this down and regain control of the situation before they were found in each other's arms in the hallway of her father's compound.

"What feeling do you have?" Erion asked, lowering his head and kissing her neck. "Because maybe I have it too."

Hellen closed her eyes and sighed. His mouth. How could something be so soft yet so deadly?

They were in trouble if they continued this. She was in trouble. There was so much at stake here. Her sisters' futures and Ladd's safety.

Placing her hands on Erion's chest, she pushed him away. It wasn't a move of anger or protest, but one of regret and sadness and self-preservation. If she wanted to see things right in the future for those she cared about, she needed to break from his embrace, his hauntingly beautiful eyes, and his mind-shattering kisses.

"I want to take you somewhere," she said, grabbing his hand.

Eyes hooded, mouth heavy and hungry, Erion still wore the look of a male who wanted desperately to fuck, but his body grew tense. "Back to the dungeon? Am I to be punished for feeling your mouth with my own? For wanting what I've already tasted, what belongs to me?" He cursed, ran a hand through his black hair. "Or what, gods help me, should never belong to me?"

Hellen's body trembled at his words. "You're not going back there," she said. "Not yet. Not until you have to."

"Your father." A growl rumbled in his chest.

She shook her head, trying to ignore the heat that surged into her sex when he made that sound. "He's not here. He's gone aboveground. I'll know it when he returns." She tugged at his hand. "Come on. Please. I think you'll like it."

"Yes," he uttered, his eyes moving over her. "That's the problem."

A hot shiver ran through her. From her earlobes down to the heels of her feet. It was sudden and intense, and with it came a shock of understanding. She hadn't even thought about it before, certainly not while he was kissing her. Her insides were burning up with desire, with longing, and yet she'd taken two vials of cooling draft only an hour or so ago.

Panic flooded her. Had she grown immune to it? Was it an off batch? No, that couldn't be right. She'd felt the cold numbness move through her, reveled in it as it coated the heat inside her. Not fully, but enough.

Erion was watching her, studying her. He looked wary, sexy as the hell she was in both literally and figuratively. Can one male, she wondered, in particular be so powerful? Had Erion and his claiming touch set her ablaze again? And if so, had he ruined her frigidity forever?

"Second thoughts, demon girl?"

You have no idea, demon male. Maybe it was the heat that was making her reckless. Maybe this was a bad idea-spending more time with him. It would certainly complicate things more for them both.

Her gaze traveled the ripped cords of muscle that were his belly and his chest, and the wide shoulders and thick arms that had wrapped around her in the most exquisite feeling of possession she'd ever experienced, up to his face, his beautiful face with its demon lurking just below the surface.

She had one night left before her mating with Cruen. "No second thoughts," she said, flashing him a smile. "Let's go."

She moved swiftly through the tunnels, her heated body making her doubly aware of what was around her. It was a strange sensation. She had always been focused, cool in both body and mind, but now she was impassioned, vigilant, strangely impetuous. She couldn't shake the thought that Erion had something to do with this change in her, but when the scent of ash grew heavy in the air around her, she released all thoughts and quickened her pace. She was close. Round a curve, then another. A sudden blast of warm, ashy wind, and she saw it: the archway of light ahead.

"What is it?" Erion called warily behind her.

"Freedom," she called back. "As much as we're going to get anyway."

Hellen paused at the entrance, remaining in the shadow of the archway, Erion beside her. The landscape stretched out for miles, hills of black scorched earth, patches of blooming fireflower, massive crystallized rock that allowed for shade and, as she recalled from childhood, wondrous hiding spaces. It was the most beautiful sight.

For a few seconds, she tracked left to right for any sign of movement or body heat. Could we be this lucky? she thought. She detected no one.

She broke into a run and grinned as Erion came up alongside her, his black hair whipping back from his neck. He looked wild, a natural hunter, his demon pushing him as they rounded one massive gold crystal and broke into the pale lemon light of the Underworld.

"Are there guards patrolling the property?" he asked as they jogged up a black-earthed incline.

"Yes, but not here." This was a fairly unused exit from the compound, had been her secret way out of the Underground for years. She'd never even shared it with her sisters.

But even so, Hellen remained cautious, using her senses to feel, smell, even taste anything that might alert her to a problem.

"I love this time of day," she said as they ran side by side. "The scent of the fireflower recedes, and all I can smell is ash."

He laughed.

She glanced over him. "What?"

"Women normally prefer the scent of flowers to the scent of cinders."

"I keep telling you, I'm not a woman."

"No, you're not." His mouth was tipped up at the corners and his eyes filled with sensual, appreciative heat. "You're my demon girl."

She may have actually blushed as they headed down a steep incline. "Not sure I like that name."

"Oh, you like it," he insisted, moving closer to her, his nostrils flaring. "Your body heats up every time I say it."

"You're very arrogant."

"And you're very beautiful."

Without warning, Erion pulled her into the curve of a nearby crystal and had her pressed tightly against his chest as his narrowed gaze moved over the landscape.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, struggling in his grip.

"Quiet," he whispered, his fangs descending and every muscle on his body flexing, preparing for a fight. "I heard something."

"I didn't," she said, hating that their moment was being spoiled, while chastising herself for not being more vigilant. "I don't scent anything either."

For several moments, they remained still and quiet. Then Hellen broke from him, ignored his irritated grunt of protest as she moved through the hollows of the crystal to the other side. She wanted a better view. If there was really something, someone out there, she would see him first, take him down quickly.

She gripped the window within the rock and peered out. Suddenly, a smile broke on her features and she started to laugh.

"There had better be some cute, fuzzy creature out there," Erion said blackly as he came up behind her. "Otherwise we have just been made."

"Not cute," she said. "And definitely not fuzzy. Let's go!"

"Hellen!" Erion called after her tersely.

But Hellen was gone, leaping out of the window in the rock and barreling down the other side of the rise. She'd had no idea they were so close. How had she not sensed it?

Ash billowed in the air as she jumped from the hill and landed a few feet below. The long steel trunk that held her equipment winked at her in the pale light, and she hurried over and yanked the top open.

"Dammit, demon," Erion growled, coming up beside her. "Don't make me haul you back to the compound and place you in that false dungeon."

"You wouldn't dare."

He grunted. "Wouldn't I?"

She whirled on him, her bow drawn back. She smiled at him. "Not to worry. I sense no one. Most citizens don't care to go out during the time of ash."

He looked from her to the longbow. "Sexy."

She grinned. "Thank you." Then lowered the bow and tossed it at him.

He caught it with ease. His eyebrow lifted. "Where am I to use this?"

"In there," Hellen said, gesturing to a stretch of land behind him. "What you sensed and heard hides within. Excess magical energy courtesy of my father." She grinned wider. "Ready for some fun, demon?"

He turned to look, and she watched him take in her pride and joy.

"This is the Rain Fields," she said. "The clouds that hang just feet off the ground give hot rain and also give rogue demons a place to hide." She expected curiosity in his expression, perhaps even excitement, but found him looking strained. "What?"

He shook his head.

"Erion, what's wrong?" His face had gone very pale.

"It's not possible," he said, his gaze fixed on her beautiful hunting grounds. "But I swear I've been here before."

The power that surged through Cruen was a welcome friend. It had been so long since he'd felt this strong in mind and in body; he mourned the time he'd lost.

Unfortunately, it would have to be a short memorial.

"It is all you will get until my daughter is with child."

Cruen inhaled deeply, then settled his keen gaze on his benefactor. "No. I don't think so."

Abbadon rose to his full height, his skin a deep and angry red, his eyes piercing. "You dare to speak to me this way?"

They stood outside under the white-tented succulent garden behind Cruen's compound. It was Cruen's feeding ground as well as his place of meditation. He would not have his servants or anyone in his employ seeing him take blood from the Demon King. They would not fear him as they should. Nor would they respect him. Granted, the former was more important to him, but one needed both to rule properly.

Cruen also rose to his full height, nearly ten feet, and when they were eye to eye, he said in a calm yet grave voice, "You want a secure foothold here, I will give it to you. But I have wants, needs-a future I will see. I won't break our bargain, but I won't go into it unprepared."

"You want my power?"

"Yes."

"And yet you insult me."

"I won't bow down to you, Abbadon. I respect you," he added for good measure. "We have an agreement. You continue giving me your blood, and I will give your daughter a balas."

"A demon."

"Call it what you will," Cruen said, returning to his natural height and going to sit at the table near his small stream.

Following his example, Abbadon retreated to a more forgiving size and joined him at the table. "Unfortunately, Cruen, that is not quite enough for me."

"Your daughter's demon swell is not enough? The child with the perfect magical DNA for you to extract? The DNA that will allow you to remain on Earth indefinitely?" Cruen sniffed. "That is quite a pretty package, unlike your daughter. Truthfully speaking, Abbadon, I don't know many who would agree to take your female. Or have you not looked upon her face as of late?"

The Demon King lifted his chin. "She may not have beauty-"

"She is hideous."

"She is a demon," Abbadon snarled.

"To any vampire, she is ugly, undesirable. I don't say this to be cruel; it is a fact I have accepted. But understand, no one of my rank would take her on. So when you ask me for more-"

"No vampire would take her?" Abbadon repeated, his white eyes glistening with mirth.

"If you feel you must explore that assessment, have at it."

"I don't think that will be necessary. Your former son has already tasted her." He grinned wickedly. "And found her most pleasing."

Cruen stilled. "My son?"

"The mutore."

He sat up in his chair, grew a foot taller in his sudden apprehension. "Erion? How would you know such a thing? Where is he?"

The tension was not lost on Abbadon. His grin widened. "I have him contained in Hell."

"You must release him," Cruen said with too much passion. He knew it wasn't wise to show his care, his concern, for the male. Abbadon would use it.

"After taking what didn't belong to him, he must be punished."

"The punishment was the boy. I gave you the boy."

"I claimed the boy," Abbadon said. "You were too weak to fight."

Cruen's jaw tightened. He cared nothing for the balas, but Erion was something special to him. He wanted the male home. He had affection for him and wanted to use him and his blood in the new tests he was conducting on an improved Breeding Male gene. But he saw the look on Abbadon's face. His power, his demands with the Demon King only stretched so far. His number-one priority must and should always be himself and getting the blood he needed to sustain his power.

He sat back in his chair and eyed the Devil before him. "How do you plan to punish him?"

"That is the little extra I seek from you, Cruen." His eyes locked with Cruen and held. "He is going to be a witness to your mating ceremony with Hellen."

Is that all? "Fine."

"Your entire mating. Not just the words and the promise of a long life together, but the sexual union. It will be a special and rare treat for him and for my community to witness the conception of my demon child."

As this information took root, Cruen's mouth twisted into a savage expression. "I will not participate."

"If you wish to have my blood and my power, you will." He crossed his arms over his powerful chest and breathed in his triumph. "You will take my daughter before the crowd. And after she has birthed the first child of Hell, if you wish to toss her to your mongrel son, I will not fight you. But until then, this game will be played my way."

Erion's first rogue kill gave him a total hard-on.

Who would have thought it? After an entire life spent serving and protecting Cruen and his interests, never feeling right or real in his own skin, never understanding where he belonged or to whom. As he ran beside Hellen, hunting, his demon fully unleashed and partnering with hers, he was complete.

Maybe that was what he'd felt when he'd looked at the Rain Fields. A connection for his demon side. Whatever it was, he wanted more. A grin touched his lips as he spotted a flash of blue light. Maybe he would bring his son here, let the boy's demon side come out and play. A battle between father and son-

The idea made his insides pulse with dread. What was he thinking? The Underworld was no vacation spot, no matter how much it called to Erion in this moment. Once he got Ladd out of here, they were never coming back.

"There!" Hellen called to him. "Behind you."

Erion rotated, nocking the arrow and drawing back his bow. In less than three seconds, he caught the flash of light between two clouds and released the arrow.

The blue flash cracked under the attack, and Erion growled with victory.

"You!" Hellen called, running toward him, her grin wide. "You were born to do this."

Her words, how she looked at him with both awe and curiosity, made his gut clench. Yes, it felt as if he belonged in here, hunting, killing. And as the demon female's eyes warmed with appreciation, it also felt as though he belonged at her side.

They took off again through the clouds, hunting low, instincts high. In perfect unison. When she dropped to one knee, he turned and covered her back. When she took out rogue after rogue, he grinned and admired her and congratulated her, and wanted her like he'd never wanted anyone.

He sprinted out in front, and just as he did, the clouds broke around them and hot rain coated their legs from the knees down.

"Erion, to your left!"

He spun, his bow already stretched, and launched an arrow at the blue fire that shot into the air. Another rogue followed, but Hellen was quick to take it out. After the cracks rent the air, they both turned to each other, breathing heavily and grinned.

"Having fun?" she said.

Erion stared at her. She was magnificent, the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen. She was in her full demon state, a proud, capable, sexy warrior, and he wanted her mouth under his, her body under his.

"Oh, shit." Her eyes went wide at something behind his ear, and she bolted toward him, her arrow nocked, her bow drawing back.

Erion didn't have a second to turn and address what was behind him. She yelled, "Get down," and sent the arrow flying as she leaped into the air.

She landed on top of him with a jarring crash. Instantly protective, Erion grabbed her around the waist and flipped her onto her back. His head came up, his fangs came out, and he growled at whatever might be lingering. Then he saw it, the arrow she'd sent. It was for only a second-the tip piercing blue light. Then the arrow dropped and the crackle of dead rogue rent the air.

"I got him, baby. No worries."

Erion looked down at her, tucked beneath his body. She was grinning wickedly up at him, and he broke out laughing.

"We make a good team. Don't you think?" she said.

He placed his arms on either side of her head and lifted himself just enough so she wasn't bearing his weight. "As long as you're around to save my ass, we do."

She pulled her arms free and grabbed his ass. "Oh yeah. Infinitely worth saving."

Erion groaned, his cock swelling, his fingers digging into the ground. "You feel so damn good, demon girl."

Her back against the wet earth, her front snug against him, he leaned down and took what his body, his mind, and his mouth all desired.

It was the worst mistake of his life.

She didn't feel good-she felt electric.

She didn't taste good-she tasted like the sweetest blood.

She didn't belong to Cruen . . .

Shit. He changed the angle of his kiss and consumed her again.

. . . She belonged to him.