Dark Divine (The Divinities Book 3) Read online

  Zach grunted. “That’s a little TMI.”

  The playfulness between Khloe and Zach eased some of Lydia’s tension. The portion that wouldn’t go away was the part that worried about how Logan was doing. Her heart ached to go to him, to hug him, and to smother him with kisses. Tears stung the backs of her eyes.

  A moment later, Zach wrapped an arm around her waist and handed her the phone with the other hand. “Call my grams. I’m sure your mom is there having tea.”

  She released a sigh and took the phone. As soon as she did, Jagger and Khloe moved to the balcony. “Thank you.”

  “My pleasure.” He kissed her on the forehead and then joined Khloe and Jagger.

  With a heavy sigh, she dialed Vanessa’s number. She answered on the second ring. “Hello, dear.”

  “Hi. How is he?”

  Vanessa let out a breathy laugh. “Perfect. We just gave him a bath, and Angie is feeding him.”

  “Good.” Do not cry. It was temporary. Plus, once she got a handle on the vamp thing, she’d be able to see him every day.

  “We heard what happened. I just wanted you to know that Noah is looking for a counterspell.”

  Lydia’s heart bloomed. “Thank you, for everything.”

  “Hey, we don’t have to be blood to be family.”

  Vanessa was right on so many levels. “I’m starting to believe that now. I’ll be by as soon as I can.”

  “I know, dear. Take care of what you need to and kick some demon ass. The sooner this comes to an end, the better.” There was a slight note of envy in Vanessa’s tone. Like she wished she were fighting in the war with them.

  “We’re working on.” Lydia didn’t want to give any more information than that. After all, she wasn’t a hundred percent sure they’d be able to end it anytime soon. The lingering worry that they’d walk into another trap hung heavy in the back of her mind.

  Goddess help us all.

  Chapter Twelve

  Getting into the warehouse was way too easy. Warning bells sounded off in her mind. The way Zach stiffly navigated the rows of shelves as they made their way to the basement door, told her he too felt it was a trap.

  “I smell a trap,” Bear said, not bothering to lower his voice.

  Then the other hellhound head, Teddy, nodded. “Yep. It’s a trap.”

  Just then, the pair shimmered and split apart, forming two enormous hellhounds. They were almost too big for the warehouse and definitely wouldn’t fit in the basement section where the lab was located.

  “Isn’t it safer if you two are together?”

  Teddy puffed out his body, trying to be more intimidating than he was, which was freaking scary as hell to most. “Technically, yes. But we fight better apart, as a team.”

  “Teddy’s right. Plus, our priority is to keep all of you safe.”

  Khloe let out a soft growl. “You two talk loud enough to wake the dead.”

  Together the hounds said, “They already know we’re here.”

  Just then, the doors to the loading docks, and the front door blew open. A dozen or so demons rushed inside. Lydia opened her senses and magic to the fire element, ready to light up a few demons.

  When they charged straight for the hounds, Lydia’s gut burned with dread. “They’re after Teddy-Bear.”

  “On it,” Zach said as he barreled toward the demons.

  As Lydia followed suit, Khloe and Jagger were causing their own distraction. The hounds could take on a few or so demons, but not a dozen Regals.

  One of the hounds yelped, and Lydia growled. She threw a fireball the size of a large exercise ball at two of the demons. Once it made contact, they screamed and twisted to glare at her. A moment later, the fire extinguished. What the fuck?

  “Nothing I use on them is working,” Khloe shouted before she cried out in pain.

  Lydia turned in time to see a very pissed off Khloe shift into a large black jaguar, teeth bared. She roared then charged at the demon who’d hurt her, latching her jaw onto his neck. With a quick jerk of her head, the demon went limp.

  A moment later, pain exploded on Lydia’s knee and then raced up the nerve that to her spine. Lydia growled and whirled around, her fangs extended. The demon raised a brow. “Nice, a Divinity with fangs.”

  “All the better to rip your throat out.” She rushed forward, slamming into the demon. They fell to the floor and rolled. Lydia snapped her teeth and then smiled wickedly when she made skin contact. With her hand wrapped around his throat, she called her healer’s gift and gave the bastard everything she had.

  The thump, thump of the demon’s heart slowed. Her vamp senses amped her Divinity power, and she could actually visualize his heart in her mind. She imagined her hand around the organ and squeezed. The demon coughed, then stilled.

  Something in her subconscious pinged, followed by a sharp pain in her chest, and made her whip her head up. “No!” She scrambled to her feet and ran to Zach.

  There was a demon with a sword raised over his head while he fought off another. A moment before she reached him, Zach’s glamour fell away, and he threw out his hands. A grey cloud of energy surrounded him, then shot out, expanding in a circle. Much too late, she realized she was in the path. Once his spell, or whatever it was touched her, she seized and dropped to the ground.

  No. This couldn’t happen. They were magical partners, unable to harm each other. Her vision blurred, and it was hard to stay awake. Right before she lost consciousness, she heard Jagger say something about the vampire curse.

  “Lydia!”

  Zach’s heart stopped the moment she dropped to the floor. His pulse returned in an erratic beat as he rushed to her.

  “The vampire curse made her part demon. Your spell was directed at the demons.” Jagger squatted next to him.

  Zach grunted, not needing the male so close to his mate. “We’re not supposed to be able to harm each other.”

  A moment later, Khloe, still in cat form, came over and sat on Zach’s other side. She let out a soft whine as she looked down at Lydia. Zach expected a smartass remark from the hellhounds. When he didn’t hear it, he glanced up and scanned the area.

  They were gone.

  Jagger growled. “Lex and I will stir up the Lackey communities. We’ll find out where they took Teddy-Bear.”

  Zach lifted Lydia in his arms and teleported to his grandfather’s study. He was glad Papa was the only one there when he materialized.

  With brows drawn, Noah asked, “What happened?”

  “I happened,” Zach said dryly. “The first time I use my elfin power and I kill my own mate.”

  Noah tsked and pointed at the couch. “Lay her down.” When Zach did as he was told, Noah hovered a hand over Lydia’s forehead then down her body. “She’s not dead, just stunned. What spell did you use?”

  “Not sure, really. I heard Lydia scream, and the demons were everywhere. I focused on them and willed them gone.” Zach sank onto the couch at Lydia’s feet. As he removed her boots, a thought came to mind. “Oh, no.”

  “What?”

  “I willed all the demons gone. I wasn’t specific. That would have included Teddy-Bear.”

  Noah sighed and walked to his altar. “It’s fixable. I have some incense that can wake Lydia. I’m guessing the hounds are in the Underworld.”

  On the heels of Papa’s words, Zach sent Ayden a telepathic message about the hounds. His reply was, “I’ll let Lex and Jagger know.”

  Noah came over and handed him an incense burner and a lighter. “When she wakes, she’ll want to feed. I’ll be upstairs if you need me.”

  Zach nodded and waited for Noah to leave the basement before lighting the coal under the herbal mixture. After the incense had started to smoke, he waved the holder over Lydia and then set it on the coffee table. A few long moments passed before she started to stir.

  When she opened her eyes and glared at him in confusion, he said, “I thought I killed you.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Lydia bli
nked at Zach’s sad, regretful tone. His usual earthy scent had a hint of soured fruit. Must be what sadness smelled like. She frowned. Almost twenty-four hours of being cursed, and she was adapting quite well. What did that mean?

  Pushing the question aside, she sat up and cupped Zach’s cheek. “To be honest, so did I.” When he moved away from her, she gripped his arm and tugged him back to her. “But you didn’t. And, you didn’t mean to. In fact, you saved us all.”

  He shook his head, and dread hit her in the chest. “Who?”

  “Teddy-Bear. I accidentally sent them with the demons.”

  She hugged him tightly, which caused them to roll off the couch and onto the floor. “We’ll get them back. We’ll just go get them.”

  Zach stared at her from above her. The sour notes in his scent disappeared. Flicking her gaze to his throat, she groaned softly at the sound of his blood flowing in his veins. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “Take what you need. Hell, be as rough as you want. I deserve it.”

  She nipped his lips with her fang and licked the warm, coppery liquid. “I’ll take from you, but you don’t deserve punishment.” When he opened his mouth to speak, she placed a finger over his lips. “Hush. No arguing with me.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He lifted one side of his mouth.

  She cupped the back of his head and drew him in, then turned his head to the side and bit down. The flow of his warm blood touching her tongue and then sliding down her throat stirred desire she’d never felt before. Being a vampire had its advantages.

  His pleasure instantly washed over her, mixing with her own. As soon as he tightened his arms, the world around them dissolved, replaced by Zach’s bedroom a moment later. But it wasn’t the one at the condo. Scenting the air, she realized they were still in the Daniels’ house.

  “What?”

  She met his stare, smirked, hooked a leg around him, and flipped them over so she straddled his waist. “Just thinking of all the ways to fuck you.”

  “Really? Do share.” He tucked his hands behind his head and raised a brow in challenge.

  Challenge met. She used her magic to strip them of their clothes, then climbed down his body, nipping at his skin along the way. “You should know me enough by now not to challenge me.”

  He smiled, wide and brilliant. It made him look more handsome than ever. She’d have to remember to make him smile like that more often.

  She curled her fingers around his cock and slowly stroked. A sharp intake of breath sent a jolt of satisfaction through her.

  She took him in her mouth and sucked.

  Zach jerked his hips. “Fuck.” The word was a growled whisper.

  Smiling, Lydia continued the slow strokes with her tongue as she sucked him and allowed her fangs to graze him. His thigh muscles under her hands flexed and then tightened as if he were fighting to gain control. Good.

  She glanced up, and their eyes locked. The gold in his eyes dominated the rest, glowing. She could command anything of him in that moment.

  His balls tightened, and he spoke her name in warning. Releasing him from her mouth, she climbed his body and settled her pussy over his impossibly hard cock. Before she could lower herself onto him, he gripped her hips and thrust up inside her.

  Pleasure exploded within, and she almost climaxed at the feel of him so deep. Oh, gods. Sex with Zach got better each time. Or was it the blood bond strengthening their magical one? She didn’t care.

  She wanted him. Right then, and always.

  Pleasure mounted, pushing her closer to climax. She rode him, harder, meeting each thrust until she couldn’t hold on anymore. An orgasm tore through her, and she had to stifle a scream to keep the others from hearing them.

  Zach gritted his teeth as his own climax peaked.

  She lay on his chest and listened to his rapid heartbeat. With deep breaths, she tried to calm her own rapid pulse. In that moment, she didn’t want to leave the room or deal with the demons. She was where she belonged.

  In Zach’s arms.

  Zach hugged Lydia close, loving that he felt so connected to her. It was as if they were bonding much more than just the Divinities bond.

  “I think by taking your blood, I’ve bound myself to you.”

  Her words echoed his thoughts. Breathing in her scent, he kissed the top of her head. “Are you okay with that?”

  She lifted her gaze to his. “Only if you are.”

  “I’ve wanted you from the night we met. You’ve been through so much…I will wait.” He meant it, too. She was his. He wasn’t ready to admit it a few days ago, but now he knew he couldn’t let her go. At least not without a fight.

  She crawled up his body and gave him a quick kiss. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to love another. Didn’t think I had it in me.”

  Her eyes grew round just as his heart skipped a few beats. “What are you saying?”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip before speaking. “I…um…I’m falling in love with you.”

  Framing her face, he kissed her. Instantly, she opened and tangled her tongue with his. Breaking the kiss, he gazed into her blue and green eyes. “I’m falling hard.”

  She frowned and made small circles on his chest. “What if I want to stay a vampire?”

  “I’m cool with it. I mean, it comes with some pretty good perks.” He waggled his eyebrows, which made her laugh. Then he asked, “Why do you ask?”

  She shrugged. “I guess I’m getting used to it, seeing the perks. My Divinity gift is amped, along with the rest of my magic. Plus, I know it seems too early, but I think I’m in control of my hunger.”

  “Really? I’m not surprised. You are a strong person with a strong will.”

  “Or just too damned stubborn.”

  “Well, I wasn’t going to say it out loud.”

  Lydia slapped at him. “You don’t have to agree.” She smiled widely. Her fangs weren’t elongated, but he could see their points. “As I was saying. When I woke up in the basement, I could smell everyone in the house, knew exactly where they were. But I only wanted your blood.”

  A smile lifted his lips. “Because I have premium blood.”

  She laughed and then bit his pec, not breaking the skin. “Don’t get a big head.”

  “Oh, I got one.”

  “Zach!”

  He laughed and flipped her to her back, her skin pressed against the cool satin sheets. Her laugh reached her eyes and made them twinkle with life and happiness. For the first time in his life, he was comfortable and truly happy. “I love you.”

  The words tumbled out before he realized what he was saying. Lydia stared wide-eyed for a brief moment and then fumbled over her words. He pressed a finger to her lips. “You don’t have to say the words. I just want you to know. I’ve never been so relaxed around anyone. Hey, you even like my pointed ears.”

  She relaxed. “I do like your ears.” It was several moments of them staring at each other before she spoke again. “You know what?”

  “What?”

  She lifted her head and nipped at his chin. “I want to see your bike.”

  “I’ve got a better idea. I’ll borrow Papa’s bike, and then we’ll go get yours.” Her face brightened.

  “I’d love to go for a ride.”

  He would, too. And to share the thrill with Lydia meant more than anyone could ever know. She might not be ready to say the words, to admit to herself that she loved him, he already knew. The link between them grew each time she took his blood told him. Plus he was an empath. She couldn’t hide her feelings from him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lydia and Zach pulled up to the Divinity House at 6:00 AM. They’d ridden all night. Well, they’d stopped a few times to take in the clear, crisp, fall night. She loved being with him, sharing her secrets and her life with him.

  Even though she’d loved Mikal, they weren’t magical partners like she and Zach. There was no denying that they were meant to be together.

  Just as she dismounted from her bike,
the front door of the house flew open, and Khloe rushed out dressed in a pink babydoll nightie. Her blonde and pink hair was a ruffled mess around her face and shoulders. “We had a vision. I mean, Kalissa had a vision.” She rubbed her eyes. “It’s too fucking early. I need coffee.” She turned around and went back inside.

  She sent a curious glance to Zach, who shrugged. Together, they mounted the stairs and were met by Kalissa at the door. A frown marred her face, and the fragrance of worry and fear clung to her skin. “Sindee was taken by demons. They are still collecting the Dark Divine.”

  Ayden appeared behind Kalissa and wrapped his arms around her. “Come inside.” He paused and studied Lydia. “You good?”

  Nodding, Lydia tamped down the slight hurt that bloomed in her heart. She understood his concern. “Yes. It’s weird. I’d expect to be a raving loon when around others.”

  “I’m not surprised. You have a very strong will.” Ayden gave a short nod to Zach and stepped aside.

  Five minutes later, they were piled in the living room. Khloe was working on her second cup of coffee and had changed into a pair of jeans and a pink t-shirt. Kalissa sat in Ayden’s lap in the armchair next to the fireplace, which had a fire going.

  Mel joined them a few moments later and sat on the couch next to Khloe. The house seemed a little empty without Lydia’s mom and uncle. Maybe it was just that she missed them. She’d have to stop by and see them. Although, she’d been there last night and hadn’t dared to go see them.

  Bloodlust may not control her, but she was beginning to crave blood again. Retreating to the window closest to the front door. It slid open a few inches, and Lydia darted her gaze to Mel. The telepathic Divinity Elder smiled. Lydia mouthed, “Thank you.”

  A moment later, Jagger and Lex walked through the door. Jagger handed her a couple of bags of blood. Lex moved to stand in his usual spot next to the stairs and closer to the back door. She wondered what Lex’s story was. Why was he so distant from everyone?

  He had a lethally calm edge to him. His energy said to fuck off, which would make humans just stay out of his way. However, there was pain hidden deep inside him.