Betrayal: Immortal Protectors, Book 1 Read online

  “Fine, I don’t need you here any longer,” Gerard replied and stalked down the hallway toward his bedroom.

  “I wasn’t asking for permission,” Sebastian called after him.

  One day he’d kill the fucker.

  Gerard spoke to the demon guards that stood outside the bedroom door. “Don’t let anyone disturb me under any circumstance.”

  He trembled in anticipation of releasing his frustrations on the half-demon inside.

  If he had feelings, he’d feel sorry for Emma right now.

  # # #

  One of the demons told Emma that Briana willingly stayed with Gerard. She refused to believe it. Was her sister alive, but one of Gerard’s minions now?

  Is Briana capable of doing something like this?

  Her sister was impulsive and rebellious, but not mean. On the other hand, a half-blood was susceptible to influence when in the constant presence of high-level demons. It wouldn’t be hard for Gerard to turn Briana against everyone and everything she knew.

  Had she done all this for nothing?

  What about Cyn? Not sure if it was wishful thinking, but she didn’t sense his death. Ache pierced her chest, at the thought. If they’d killed him, it was her fault. She shouldn’t have trusted Gerard.

  Even if she’d done it all to try to save her sister, she’d betrayed Cyn and brought him here to die. After he’d been willing to help her. Tears threatened and she blinked them away. She would save him, even if she had to die to do it.

  After all, what did she have to lose now?

  She needed to get a hold of her emotions for now and face Gerard. She would not let him see how much she hurt. He would enjoy it too much.

  Gerard spoke to someone outside the door and she steadied her breathing. She collapsed into a chair. It proved impossible to quiet her thoughts. They were a complete mess. Her hands curled into fists with the urge to attack the demon as soon as he entered. He needed to die and she would gladly do the honors.

  Gerard entered the room and stared at Emma. She remained immobile in the chair, her hands folded on her lap. When she looked up at him she could only hope he didn’t sense her feelings.

  His eyes raked over her, black and cold. She couldn’t suppress a tremble of repulsion. By the curve of his lips, he enjoyed her distress. The Master demon walked to her and stopped just short of the chair and reached down to stroke her cheek. She turned from his hand.

  “I am going to do so many things to you tonight. You will be begging for more of my touch, beautiful Emma.”

  Emma bolted up from the chair and glared at him. “The hell I will. I am not going to have sex with you, Gerard — ever. Where is my sister? Is she even alive? I want to see her now.”

  Gerard grunted and let out a deep breath. “Drama tires me,” he told her impatiently waving his hand, as though to dismiss her remarks. “I don’t need your consent to take you.”

  Anger spiked her words. “Let Cyn go, I want to see him leave.”

  “No.”

  “We made a bargain and you’re not keeping your end of the deal. I demand you release him now.”

  His eyes roamed over her body leisurely. The sheer gown didn’t hide much of her nudity. But at the moment she was too angry to care. Let him look all he wanted, he would not touch her.

  “I can have you regardless, why should I bargain? Come to me,” Gerard ordered.

  An invisible force pulled Emma toward him. She fought against it, but he was too powerful.

  In seconds, she was only inches away from him. He grabbed her head and brought her face to his. His mouth took hers in a hard kiss that wasn’t meant to arouse but to punish. In sheer panic, she bit his lip and kneed him in the groin at the same time. With a grunt, Gerard stiffened and released her. Emma turned to run toward the door. But before she could take two steps, he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back. He held her against him with one hand; with the other he turned her head to expose her neck. When his lips touched her throat, Emma lost control of her emotions. She punched his face with all her might.

  “Fine let’s play rough. I enjoy a feisty woman.” Gerard pressed his fingers onto the back of her neck. She instantly went limp. The only thing she could do was glare at him with defiance.

  Emma gagged when his mouth covered hers once again and he forced his tongue past her lips. Gerard drew her head back and stared into her eyes while he dragged a long fingernail down her throat and pierced her skin. He licked at the trickle of blood that spilled. Pain slammed into her when his fangs plunged in to her vein. She could do little more than whimper when he fed from her.

  Aroused, Gerard rubbed his hardness into her while he suckled. His breathing became ragged. There was nothing she could do to stop him. She was alone with no one to help her.

  A tear slid down her cheek and splashed on the side of Gerard’s face. He retracted his fangs from her neck. His face contorted with fury. “You cry? Little bitch, do you know how many women beg to be in my bed? After I am finished with you, I will toss you to the guards. They can take turns with what’s left of you.”

  “I see my sister returned.” Briana’s voice took the Master demon’s attention away from her.

  Gerard let go of her and Emma fell to the floor like a rag doll. Her eyes widened in shock when her sister crossed the threshold. Briana was alive and well, dressed in her usual low cut blouse and short skirt.

  Emma still couldn’t move although a tingling began to travel down her body. Gerard’s numbing touch was fading.

  Ignoring her, Briana sauntered up to Gerard and caressed his face. Her sister kept her attention on the Master demon, reverence evident when she looked up at him and rubbed her thumb over his bottom lip. “I missed you, Sire.” She then ran her hands around his neck and brought him down to kiss her.

  Horrified, Emma watched Briana and Gerard’s passionate embrace, her mind a whirl. Had her sister turned? Was she a full demon now? Did Briana really plan this with Gerard all along? No! Surely her sister was just under his control.

  Finally she found her voice, and whispered hoarsely, “Briana, go away, leave this place. You have to save yourself.”

  Briana directed another look of total adoration at Gerard before she went to where Emma lay. She kneeled down next to her and peered down at her.

  What used to be the same honey brown eyes as hers —were red-rimmed now.

  “Emma you were always such a damned good girl. I don’t want to save myself. I’m where I want to be. I belong here, with Gerard,” Briana sneered. She looked over her shoulder at Gerard. “Can we send her away? I need to be with you now, I’m on fire for you Sire and I am running out of patience.”

  Gerard didn’t answer Briana. His eyes roamed over Emma, a hungry expression on his face. “I like the taste of her blood, I will have you both.”

  Briana glared at her, obviously not inclined to share. “Fine, but I’m first.” She rose and went to the Master demon.

  As her sister began to undress Gerard, Emma stared in disbelief. However, she still tried to catch Briana’s attention hoping that together they could figure out a way to escape. But Briana didn’t spare her a glance, seeming to forget she was even in the room. Her concentration was solely on Gerard. Not able to move, Emma had no choice but to remain on the floor.

  Could Briana hate her so much now, that she’d allow Gerard to hurt her?

  Perhaps her sister thought herself to be in love with the Master-demon. She tried to see Gerard from a woman’s perspective. He was sleek and extremely attractive. The strength of his powers could be very appealing to a half-demon who needed to be accepted. Briana basked in his full attention — confident his black eyes following her every move.

  Gerard remained motionless as Briana licked a trail down his chest. Her hand slid down his flat stomach. A loud moan escaped from him when she unzipped his pants and freed him.

  Briana slid his pants down past his hips, while her lips covered the skin from where the material slid. Emma’s eyes wid
ened when her sister kneeled and took him fully in her mouth.

  Lost in the gratification he received, his fingers curled in Briana’s hair and he closed his eyes.

  Stunned, Emma dragged her eyes away from the sight of a world she could never be part of. She wiggled her fingers and realized she could move now. Her eyes caught a flicking motion of Briana’s hand, as if her sister was signaling for her to leave.

  Emma was not sure at the moment if Briana helped her out of concern, or jealousy, but she wasn’t going to hang around and find out.

  She kept an eye on the couple to ensure they didn’t see her and dragged herself slowly toward the door.

  Just as she reached for the doorknob, the door flew open and strong arms grabbed her, one hand covered her mouth to keep her quiet. Emma was lifted and carried into the hallway.

  The demon guards outside the door were gone.

  “Don’t fight me. I’m getting you out of here,” a masculine voice whispered, as he placed her to her feet. She met the male’s eyes and desire slammed into her, sending trails of heat to pool at her center, ecstasy overwhelmed her senses.

  Her rescuer was an Incubus. A sex demon.

  Perfect.

  The Incubus met her eyes for a moment then took her hand. “Come.”

  Emma allowed him to tug her along the hallways as they ran out of the warehouse. It became clear he knew exactly where to go and had taken care to remove any obstacles.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  A few days later Emma ignored the steady rhythm of the rain that pelted the bedroom window. It was the middle of the night and as usual she couldn’t sleep. She looked at the clock on the nightstand. It was two o’clock in the morning. Weary, but not sleepy, she sat up and reached for a tissue to blow her nose.

  Staying at her apartment wasn’t safe at the moment and with nowhere to go; she’d gone to Wendy’s.

  What have I done? Emma asked for the hundredth time. Tears began to fall from her swollen eyes. Oh my God, I betrayed you and may as well have killed you myself.

  Renewed grief filled her and she fell back into her bed. Her sobbing shook her entire being. Emma cried bitterly, until she was so exhausted and empty she just moaned.

  Images of Cyn and their time together tumbled nonstop through her mind. A constant reminder of what she’d done to the only man she ever loved. The physical pain of heartache became almost unbearable. She curled into a ball and tried to fall asleep.

  Sleep must have claimed her because a nudge woke her and she dragged her eyelids open to Wendy’s concerned face.

  “Oh Honey,” Wendy exclaimed. “Let me get a cool compress for those eyes.”

  Wendy disappeared into the bathroom and came back with a wet washcloth.

  “Here put this over your eyes while I make us some tea.”

  Later in the kitchen, Emma sipped her tea and took a small bite of one of the danishes Wendy had gone out and bought that morning. Emma had to admit, after a shower and some sustenance, she felt a bit better.

  Eventually, she would have to go back to her apartment and move on with her life. For now, Emma was grateful for her friend’s presence and that Wendy hadn’t pushed her to talk. Instead, she’d just fretted and fussed over her.

  “I’m not sure what I need to do now,” Emma sighed. “I’m so drained.”

  Her friend picked at her own pastry. “Obviously things didn’t go well. What can you do?”

  “I don’t know. Frankly I just want to go back to bed and stay there for a month or two.” Or, however long it will take for the hurt to go away.

  “What happened to Cyn?” Wendy finally asked.

  “He’s dead.” Emma’s voice shook, the tears already falling. “I got him killed for nothing. Briana is still there, under Gerard’s control.”

  “Oh my God.” Wendy covered her mouth with her hand, rounded eyes locked on Emma. “Are you sure they killed Cyn?”

  “I’m pretty sure. I hope not. I love him. I didn’t even tell him.” Emma closed her eyes at the constriction in her chest. “It hurts so much. I can’t believe I killed him.”

  “Oh Emma stop it. You didn’t kill him, those idiot demons did. I told you that Briana wouldn’t leave. I know you want to think better of your sister, but she isn’t like you.”

  Wendy didn’t say anything else. She must have realized Emma already hurt enough and didn’t need to hear anymore.

  # # #

  A month later, wearing distressed jeans and a light jacket, Emma walked into Inferno, and tried without success to block the blaring techno music and flashing strobe that blinded her. She’d never been a clubber because the combination of loud beats, smoke, and lighting gave her a headache.

  Several males, both human and demon turned when she walked by them. A male demon stepped in her path in an attempt to get her attention. She pushed past him and went to the glass bar that flanked the entire length of the club’s wall. Emma sat on a barstool and ordered a club soda. She spotted Sebastian on the dance floor.

  Although a fast beat song played, the Incubus and his companion danced to their own slow song. The woman writhed into him and threw her head back as if in the throes of passion as Sebastian fed from her sexual energy.

  Yep, the woman was having a major orgasm. Emma’s eyebrows rose.

  Sebastian held the woman who now convulsed against him. He moved off the dance floor and half dragged her to a nearby chair. Emma watched Sebastian lean over and peer into the woman’s eyes, no doubt to erase her memory of what just occurred between them.

  He turned when another woman came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist while she swayed to the music. It was evident he didn’t suffer from low energy. The Incubus removed the woman’s arms and urged her toward the crowd on the dance floor and away from him.

  He must have sensed Emma watching him and looked toward the bar, scanning it until he saw her. With a sensuous curve on his lips, he strolled toward her.

  Emma studied the attractive demon. Dressed in black jeans and a silky teal shirt, he looked more like a movie star than a club owner. His shirt was unbuttoned and pulled out of his waistband. Probably the work of the woman he’d been dancing with. He wore a black undershirt that molded to him perfectly. He was tall and in good shape, with an angular face that gave him a rugged appeal. Sebastian wore his black hair trimmed and tussled. Then again, that too could be the woman’s handiwork.

  “I see you ensure your customers have a good time,” Emma told him when he leaned on the bar next to her. “I wonder how she’ll explain it to herself when she gets her bearings and realizes she’s just been well pleasured.”

  Sebastian looked back toward the woman, his eyes flat. “She’s woken up next to some slob many a time not remembering his name or even if they had sex. At least this time, she kept her clothes on.”

  “You know how to pick 'em,” Emma teased him.

  He motioned for the bartender to make him a drink then he turned his attention back to Emma. He regarded her and smiled. “True, I tend to shy away from good girls like you.”

  “You didn’t the first time we met,” she replied, grateful he’d not used his sexual powers on her since.

  “That day I didn’t know if you were a good girl or not.” His eyes twinkled with mischief.

  Sebastian’s smile faded. “I know you didn’t come to dance. Not that I don’t enjoy your company, but why do you insist on returning time and again? I’ve told you, I am not going back to Gerard’s warehouse. I’m surprised he hasn’t torched this place after what I did. The only thing I can figure is that he must not know it was me who helped you escape.”

  Emma placed her hand on his arm. He didn’t move away, but held her with his gaze. “Understand me Sebastian, I have to know if my sister is all right. I must get her out of there.” And I want to kill Gerard to avenge Cyn. “I need your help, I can’t do it alone.”

  Sebastian picked up his drink, then took her arm and guided her around the bar toward his office.

/>   Once they stepped inside his stylish workspace, he closed the door. He emptied his glass. “I told you—your sister was the one that went to Gerard with the idea of trapping the Protectors.”

  “But she’s young and susceptible. I’m sure if I could talk to her alone, she will realize she’s making a serious mistake. Sebastian, I know Briana fancies herself in love with Gerard and she’s always been impulsive. I assure you she didn’t expect that anyone would actually get hurt.”

  Sebastian went to his polished metal desk and opened a drawer. He took out a gadget and threw it at her. She caught it and studied the item. Emma recognized it as the remote for the tracer Gerard implanted in her neck. “I don’t understand. What you are trying to tell me with this.”

  “When we removed the implant from your neck, we had to dispose of it immediately. We took it to an open field so that we could safely detonate it,” Sebastian explained speaking slowly to ensure she understood. “Emma, the device was an explosive, you were supposed to die.”

  With a shaky hand, Emma rubbed the jagged scar on the side of her neck. “I didn’t know.”

  “I know. Look, both you and your sister are half demon. Your father was a high-level so your demon heritage is strong and it can consume you, especially if you open yourself to it. Your sister is no longer human.”

  Sadness threatened to envelope her, but she steeled herself against it. He spoke the truth. She just didn’t want to accept it. Resigned, she started toward the door. “You’re right, but I find it hard to give up on her. I love her and I know that she must still care for me, we are all we’ve got.”

  She stopped and managed a smile toward him. “I owe you my life Sebastian. I’m not sure why you helped me, but if I can ever do anything for you, call me and let me know.”

  The longing in Sebastian’s expression told Emma what he wanted from her. The desire in his eyes spoke volumes. He was attracted to her.

  Although she found him appealing, Emma wouldn’t be ready for a relationship anytime soon. The grief of losing Cyn was still ever present and raw.