Authors: Unknown
He grinned and stood. “Hey, Devon. You looked good today.”
“Thanks! Coming twice a week is really helping. Sensei says I should be ready to test up to my blue belt soon.”
Devon was a thick fifteen-year-old boy still waiting for that teenage growth spurt to hit him. Gabe jogged down the steps, his gaze sweeping over to Tegan just in time to see her bending over to put the boxing gloves away. Bonus.
He glanced at the boy again and ran his fingers back through his damp hair. “If you ever need a sparring partner, you know where to find me.”
Devon’s eyes lit up. “Maybe next week I can get my mom to bring me a little early.”
Tegan came up beside Gabe. “Be careful. Devon’s getting dangerous.”
“Devon, my mom’s here,” one of the other kids called from out front.
“Coming!” Devon bowed to Tegan and scurried to grab his shoes before running out to the car pool.
Tegan smiled up at Gabe. “Feeling better?”
“Much.” He walked over to the door that Devon failed to close. “How long did I sleep?”
Tegan glanced at the clock on the wall. “About sixteen hours. Any dreams?”
He shrugged. “If I had any, they weren’t bad.” He flipped the dead bolt. “Until we catch that guy you saw last night, you should probably suspend your classes. Just to be safe.”
Her smile faded. “I thought about it, but you said the demons have to hide their existence, right? He wouldn’t come in all demon-y with a room full of teenagers.”
“We can’t be sure what he’s capable of.” Gabe crossed to her, taking her hand. “You care about those kids. I’d hate for anything to happen.”
“You’re right.” Tegan sighed. “I’ll cancel classes next week.” She headed for the stairs to her apartment. “I bet you’re starving.”
He followed her upstairs and sat at the table while Tegan pulled out a tray of lasagna from the oven.
“I slept through you making lasagna?” Gabe’s stomach churned.
Tegan pried two pieces from the pan and plopped them onto a paper plate. “Don’t get too excited. It’s not homemade, it’s Stouffer’s.”
Gabe’s gut squealed in anticipation. “Too late.”
Chapter Sixteen
After dinner, Gabe cleaned up while Tegan went over her notes again. The answer had to be here.
Children of the Dragon.
She rested her elbows on the table and closed her eyes. What could it mean?
What’s in our bloodline that demons might want? It can’t be actual dragons.
She snapped to attention, flipping to the front of the journal. Dragons and demons. Demons. What if her bloodline wasn’t from a dragon? And then a piece fell into place.
“Gabe?”
“Yeah?” He glanced over at her from the sink.
“You said demons can do most things we can, right?” She tapped the end of her pen feverishly against the table. “Could they father children?”
“Sure. Incubi and a couple of other types of demons can impregnate women who give birth to half demons. Why?” He put the last glass away and sat beside her.
She shuddered. “I’d hoped they were just horror-movie stuff.”
“Nope. They’re real.” He draped his arm around the back of her chair. “There are half demons among us.”
She dropped her pen. “If the dragon in my dad’s old story was really a demon, maybe that’s what in our blood. We could be children of a demon, not a dragon in the way we think of them.”
Gabe shifted her papers around and pulled out the Wikipedia page she had printed. Scanning it, he mumbled, “They could have been winged demons, much larger than humans.” He read further and set the paper down. “If the red dragon was really a demon, and he vanquished the white dragon back to hell, he may have stayed in this world. A hero among mortals. Worshipped.”
“There was something about the dragon and a king.” She sifted through her papers until she found what she was looking for. Goose bumps rose on her arms as she read her translation: “
And the king offered his daughter in tribute to the dragon.
” She set the paper down. “I thought that line meant he sacrificed her to the dragon, but what if ‘offered’ meant more like a mate? A trophy for the savior of their people.”
“Very possible.” Gabe pulled the journal over. “And if his bloodline continued, I’d bet his blood keeps the white dragon banished in hell.”
“Yes. Wait, I saw something in here.” She flipped the pages of the journal back to the third page, right before the names began. Her stomach twisted, dinner threatening to come back up. “
The blood of the red dragon must be preserved
. It sounds insane, but could I carry the red dragon’s blood?”
Gabe shrugged. “You lifted the hex on my dreams, and it’s really no stranger than me being a slayer, right? Maybe each generation, one of the red dragon’s bloodline carries the key to ending the white dragon’s imprisonment in hell? That would also explain why your dad’s name isn’t in the book. He’s not the carrier for his generation.”
He ran his finger down the dates and looked up. “This had got to be why he wants you, Tegan. It has to be. Lago said the Hingo demon is building an army to attract the president’s favor, but I bet that’s only a cover. You’re his ace in the hole.”
She pulled her hair back from her forehead. “This can’t be real. It can’t be. If all these people were killed, why wasn’t the white dragon already released?”
“Generations overlap. Maybe as they killed one, another had already been born. Your dad was the first one to leave his homeland, right?” He took her hand, holding it tight. “You could be the last one.”
Tears welled in her eyes while her brain wrestled with Gabe’s words. “How? How did he find me in the first place? How could he possibly have known?”
Gabe rubbed her back slowly. “I wish I had a clue.”
She was almost a demon incubator.
Was that what happened to all the names listed in the journal?
Was the demon’s army built from generations of her family?
…
Tegan was in the shower taking some time to absorb the information they’d just put together. He didn’t blame her, but he hoped she’d be ready soon.
Thumping came from her closet, and Gabe sprang to his feet, grabbing his dagger from his coat. Making his way toward the closet, he checked that the bathroom door remained closed. If he could spare Tegan a fight, he would.
He slid her closet door open.
Lago winced at the light, bringing his gnarled hand up to shade his large eyes. “Gabriel?”
Gabe’s shoulders sagged with relief. “I forgot you were in there.” He stashed his dagger. “Feeling better?”
Lago tottered out of the closet, fluttering his newly healed wings. “Much better.”
Gabe sat on the edge of the bed, facing the demon. “I’m glad you’re here. Tell me what you know about Haagenti. He’s the president in hell you mentioned, right?”
The demon tipped his head from side to side, popping joints like popcorn. “Yes, and he commands thirty-three demon legions.”
“But what about his legends? Did he ever live in this world?”
Lago sniffed the air. “Lasagna?”
“If I give you some, it’s a trade for information. Deal?”
The demon nodded, and Gabe went in the kitchen and unwrapped the tray of the leftover pasta. He tossed it on the table in front of the demon. “Now talk.”
Lago dug into the lasagna with his hands. “I think he did live in the human world, ages before this one.”
“Could he have looked like a dragon to the humans?”
“A dragon?” Lago licked the tomato sauce off his fingers. “He does have wings. Big, white wings with claws on the tips.”
Gabe gripped the edge of the table. “Haagenti needs Tegan’s blood to come through the portal. She’s the last of the red dragon’s bloodline in this world. Or at least that’s the best we’ve come up with.”
“If you two right…” Lago stopped eating for a second and stared at Gabe. “She’s the key. Understand now.” He scooped up the last bits of lasagna. “Demon opens the door for the president, he sends demon home when the portal opens.” Lago nodded, preoccupied with licking the pan clean. “Armies don’t matter after all. He needed key. Your woman.”
The bathroom door opened. Tegan flinched when she noticed the demon in her chair. “Lago. Jeez. I forgot he was here.” She pulled her robe tighter. “You look better.”
He set the clean tray down and gave her a toothy grin, his mouth ringed in tomato sauce. “Feel better. No wonder you fight hard. You have dragon blood in your veins.”
Her jaw slackened. “You told him?”
“I needed to connect the dots.” He got up and wrapped his arms around her, breathing her in. “Are you still ready to kick some ass?”
Tegan pulled back with a hint of a smile. “Let me get dressed.”
While Tegan changed in the bathroom, Gabe tried not to second-guess his next move. He slept well, his mind was alert, his body strong and ready. But taking Tegan with him to the Eden Club was a huge risk.
Leaving her behind when demons were searching for her didn’t seem like an option, either.
All his options were basically shit. The best he could hope for was the least shitty.
Tegan’s black leggings were nonrestrictive and perfect for combat. She opted for some flat-soled boots to give her kicks some added impact. Her black tank hugged her body and covered her scar, while the sheer violet top made her feel a little sexy.
Nothing wrong with a shot of confidence.
She came out and Gabe grinned, his eyes sliding up her body. “You look amazing. Sure you want to go to the Eden Club?”
Tegan nodded. “Yep. With any luck they’ll never suspect I’m there to take them down.”
Lago hopped up on the counter. “Bad idea to go to the demons.”
“Better than waiting for them to surprise us.” She grabbed a coat, already pondering which weapons would fit best inside the inner pockets. “This way we’ll be on the offensive.”
The demon flapped his wings and took off through the kitchen window. He quickly vanished into the dark.
Gabe took Tegan’s hand. “This could be the worst decision I’ve ever made. You have the right to try to talk me out of it.”
Acid burned in her stomach as she stared up into his eyes. “This battle is coming either way. For once, we’ll have surprise on our side. We’ll cover each other, and send a few demons back to hell.”
Gabe surprised her with a kiss that curled her toes. Her lips parted, and his tongue swept in to caress hers. She moaned into him, sliding her hands up his chest, enjoying the way his body responded to her touch, his muscles contracting tight. Her warrior. And she’d be fighting right beside him.
He lightened the kiss, his lips brushing hers long and slow until he rested his forehead against hers. She stared into his eyes, memorizing this precious moment of peace.
Gabe’s voice was a low, husky whisper, flushing her body with heat. “I need to tell you something before we go.”
She kissed him again, her lips lingering against his before she answered. “All right.”
He ran his rough fingers along her jaw. “The more I’m near you, the more terrified I get that I’ll lose you.” He cleared his throat. “But you’re always watching my back. What I’m trying to say is…if we make it through tonight, I don’t want this partnership to be over.”
Tegan’s heart pounded. The time she’d spent with Gabe had brought her back to life. Before him she’d existed, but she didn’t live. Not really. She didn’t want to date around when she’d already found someone who made her feel this way.
She prayed her voice wouldn’t squeak. “I don’t want it to be over, either.”
The corner of his mouth crept up into a knee-weakening crooked grin. “Then we should definitely plan on living through tonight.”
She nodded, starting to smile. “That was my plan all along.”
“I love the way you think…” His words died away as his lips claimed hers. He wrapped her in his arms, and she tangled her fingers in the back of his hair. He broke the kiss and whispered, “I love
you
, Tegan.”
Warmth washed through her, her heart racing as she stared up into his eyes, her gaze locked on his. “I love you, too.”
He lifted her off the ground, his lips claiming hers. When he set her back down she was breathless, struggling to hold back tears. Suddenly she could see a future in front of her. A happy future. She just needed to live to see it.
“Let’s kick some demon ass.”
He grinned, nipping at her bottom lip before pulling away to grab his coat. “You’re so hot when you talk slayer.”
Chapter Seventeen
Gabe parked in a hotel parking structure about a block away from their destination. The Eden Club was on the outer edge of downtown San Diego, south of the convention center and Petco Park. Although the doors remained closed, the beat of the bass vibrated in Gabe’s chest. The word
Eden
glowed in green neon letters above the black double doors. A tall bodybuilder stood watch out front. The security guard kept consulting his clipboard like new names might appear at any second.
A few months ago, Gabe infiltrated the club to gather information during another case, but this was a different occasion entirely. His coat hung heavy on his shoulders, weighted down by a dagger in the inside pocket, a small battle-axe hanging from a loop inside the lining, and a spiked flail rested between his shoulder blades. His other pocket held a Baggie with a chloroform-soaked rag.
He walked toward the club, holding Tegan’s hand. “You sure you’re ready for this?”
“You’d have to use that
chloroform
on me to keep me out.”
He shook his head, but his gaze never left the bouncer. “That’s reserved for our pal out front.”
“And you’re sure it’ll work on him?”
“Yeah, he’s a half demon, so he still needs oxygen. It’ll knock him out.” He glanced her way. “Lago heard them talking about the Hingo demon when he was here, but that’s no guarantee he’ll be inside, so be on the lookout. If he’s there, then he’s our main target. If not, we’ll pressure the minions for information.”
“I’ll be ready for him this time.” She tightened her hold on his hand. “If we take him out of the game, how do we handle all the others under him?”
“They don’t organize well without a leader. We divide and conquer.”
She lifted her chin a notch, and he resisted the urge to take one last kiss from her lips. He had every intention of surviving and getting plenty of time to love this woman properly.
“If he’s in there, I’ll find him.” Tegan picked up her pace and crossed the street to the club. No one was milling around the entrance, so this was their chance.
Gabe followed behind her and slid one hand into his pocket, opening the Baggie inside. His fingertips brushed the moist rag. He gripped it and approached from the side while Tegan checked the clipboard with the large bodyguard.
“Are you sure I’m not on the list? Lago invited me.” She caught Gabe’s eye over the bouncer’s shoulder. “You know him, right?”
The security guard’s voice was a low rumble. “He was thrown out recently.”
“Maybe that’s why my name is gone.”
Gabe reached around from behind the guard to place the wet rag over his nose and mouth. The guard struggled, trying to pull Gabe’s hand off his face. Tegan landed a solid punch to his abdomen, knocking his breath out in a
whoosh
. Instinctively, he drew in a deep breath, and the
chloroform
sent him to sleep.
Gabe settled him on the ground beside the door and tucked the rag back into his front pocket. Tegan reached for the door handle. Gabe held his breath for a second, wishing one last time for another way to keep her out of this, keep her safe. But there wasn’t one, so he gave her the signal, nodding. She opened the door, and they stepped into the shadowed club.
The music blared five decibels louder inside. Verbal communication would be tough. He held her hand as she wandered across the dance floor toward the bar. It didn’t take long for the demons to notice him.
A burly Drog demon stepped into Gabe’s path. “We don’t serve slayers here.”
“Didn’t come in for that anyway.” He rolled his shoulders, drinking in the swell of adrenaline entering his bloodstream.
“One step closer, and you’re dead, asshole.”
He glanced over his shoulder at Tegan. Her back pressed against his. A horned Presco demon glared at Tegan. “You need any help?”
“Nope, just watch my back. I’ve got yours.”
Gabe stared up at the Drog. The ripe-scented creature had at least a foot of height over Gabe. His legs must’ve been severed at one time. They were a size or two too big for his body. “I’m not here for trouble. We’re looking for someone.”
The four demons at the bar were on their feet now, watching them. Another demon came in from the back door, nostrils flaring, and two more came around the billiard table for a closer look. Tegan kept her shoulders squared against Gabe’s back. Suddenly her katana sword, canister of Morton Salt, and candle lighter didn’t seem like nearly enough to protect her.
Lago disappeared down the hallway—at least it looked like Lago—but even if he stood with them, she and Gabe were still outnumbered. If the demons decided to attack all at once, they’d be screwed. In addition to the ox-faced demon staring her down and the demon behind the bar, another group of three smaller demons was clustered in the corner.
Ox-face took a slow lick across his sharp teeth. “Been a long time since I tasted human flesh.”
She drew the short sword from the sheath under her coat. “That’s not going to change tonight.”
He threw back his head in a fit of laughter.
Shit.
Over her shoulder she mumbled to Gabe. “Sorry to interrupt, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to kill ox-face here before he eats me.”
Gabe’s negotiations with his demon took an instant turn for the worst. The
whoosh
of the flail blew the back of her hair, and a wet, hollow crack sounded. Gabe called to her. “Got your salt?”
She grabbed the little blue canister from her pocket and opened the spout. The ox-faced demon rushed her, horns first. Tegan shouted, “To your right!”
Gabe spun with her. The bovine thing stumbled past them and fell onto the now-unconscious Drog demon. Gabe shot her a wink, and she shook the salt. “Will this kill it?”
“No, but it’ll slow him down. Then take his head.”
While the horned demon struggled to his feet, Tegan poured the salt into her other palm. A familiar glow caught her eyes then, and the container slipped from her grip.
“Gabe. It’s him.” She backed up, but Gabe wasn’t behind her.
The demon stepped out of the dark hallway, his eyes still glowing gold. “The girl is mine.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Suddenly Gabe was at her side. His voice sank to a visceral growl. “
That’s
the Hingo who attacked you?”
She nodded slowly and wet her lips as she slid her fingers inside her coat, brushing the tip of the candle lighter, reassuring herself she was ready to finish the bastard. They’d poke holes in his slimy skin and then set him on fire. She was ready. “That’s him.”
Gabe bolted from her side. He swung the flail, hitting her attacker in the ribs. In spite of the thumping music, the sound of bones cracking echoed in her ears.
Out of the corner of her eye, the ox-head thing was on his feet and rushing toward her. She threw the handful of salt into his eyes and hit him in the abdomen with a side kick that sent him smashing into the bar. Behind her, the big smelly Drog stirred.
Shit.
Gabe should have had her back. This was
not
the plan.
She spun around, stabbing the Drog in the gut. Yellow goo flowed from the wound, the stench stinging her nostrils. Not a mortal blow but enough to weaken him a notch.
She raced toward Gabe. The next swing from his flail hit the demon in the leg, but the Hingo caught the spiked end before Gabe could pull back for another go.
The demon tossed the weapon to the bartender, licking his thin, bloody lips. He shouted over the music. “The girl is mine.”
“She’s anything but yours.” Gabe slid his battle-axe out from his coat and stalked the demon.
Tegan gripped the hilt of her katana and ran to help Gabe, but his ax swings were wild and erratic. He traded punches with the demon before taking a couple swipes with the ax as if it were an afterthought.
Had Gabe lost it? What was he doing?
Tegan tried to get closer. Someone needed to keep the other demons from getting involved, but Gabe’s crazed attack made it impossible for her to get a good defensive position.
The front door opened and more bodies entered the club. Unlike her horned friend, these men and women appeared to be human.
Except for the glowing, yellow eyes.
Tegan’s pulse jumped to superspeed. “Gabe. We’ve got more trouble.”
She thanked whatever gods might be listening that he’d heard her voice. For a second, she had his attention. He glanced at the new visitors. “Shit. His army.”
The Hingo demon backed away with a slick smile. “Welcome, my children.”
Tegan’s hands ached from her tight grip on the sword. “Do we have a plan?”
Nothing.
She averted her gaze. “Gabe?”
The back door flew open. Tegan turned just as Gabe chased after the Hingo demon. She moved to follow, but the demon bartender slid in front of the exit.
She raised her sword. “If you don’t get out of my way, I’ll go right through you.”
The demon crossed his arms over his chest and growled. “Try.”
…
Gabe pursued the demon down the alley, tackling him to the ground. He landed punches to its face, over and over, until demon blood burned his hands, oozing from the sick creature’s nose and mouth. He wasn’t ready to kill him yet. He wanted him to hurt, to ache, to yearn for death like Gabe had for the past four years. Since the night he’d fought this same Hingo demon while Laura died.
The demon hissed and covered his face with one arm, lunging forward with his jaws. His sharp teeth sank into Gabe’s forearm, the pain shocking him out of his cloud of vengeance. He rocked back, grabbing the wound, and the demon wriggled free, coughing up blood.
Gabe stumbled away, retrieving his abandoned battle-ax.
“Tell me, slayer.” He tipped his head toward the door to the club. “Was saving her four years ago worth Laura’s life?” The demon’s gold eyes glowed in the dim light of the alley.
Anger narrowed Gabe’s line of vision, blocking the pain from the wound in his arm. He choked up on the battle-axe handle and moved in closer to the demon. “Don’t ever say her name, you bastard.”
“Laura was nothing.” The demon wiped his mouth on his shirtsleeve. “This girl carries the blood of the red dragon in her veins. You made the right choice saving her and leaving Laura behind to die.” He licked his lips. “My minions told me she screamed for you while they fed on her flesh.”
Gabe threw the ax, sinking the blade deep into the Hingo demon’s abdomen. The demon’s shirt darkened with blood as his legs wobbled. He stumbled, leaning against the wall of the Eden Club.
Gabe followed, reaching into his coat for the lighter to ignite the bastard and send him back to hell.
The lighter. Tegan had it.
Tegan.
Gabe spun on his heel. Holy shit, he’d been so consumed with rage he’d left her alone in the club.
“You won’t save her this time, slayer.” The demon tugged at the ax handle. “Her blood will open the gates of hell for me. The dragon awaits his freedom.”
Gabe didn’t hear the rest of the demon’s monologue. He ran for the door just as it flew open. Tegan stumbled into his arms. Demon blood stained her entire torso. One eye was swollen and human blood, bright crimson, dripped from her fingertips. The bartender demon’s headless body crumpled into a huge doorstop behind her.
“You’re wounded.”
“He scratched my arm. I’ll be fine.” She scanned the alley behind him. “Where the hell is he?” she shouted.
Before Gabe could answer, Tegan sprang from his arms, running toward the Hingo demon. Gabe chased after her and caught her elbow, stopping her a couple yards from her target.
“Wait. Don’t run off half-cocked. We need to—”
“Half-cocked?” Her eyes narrowed. “You’re one to talk! You ran off after this asshole and left me behind! You were supposed to be covering my back, or did you forget?”
The truth of her words wounded him, but it barely scratched the surface of the putrid well of guilt the Hingo demon had opened up.
When Tegan spied her attacker inside the club, he’d been ready to exact justice, but his thirst for revenge magnified when he recognized the face of the demon.
He’d never seen the face of the woman he’d saved the night Laura died. He’d thrown the demon across the alley, and when he’d turned to check on the victim she had already scrambled to her feet, racing down the dark alley. He never saw the girl again, but judging by how fast she got out of there he figured he’d stopped the demon before he feasted on her. He’d continued fighting the bastard, but without a lighter to jam into the puncture wounds, he couldn’t finish him.
But Tegan had been the victim, and she’d escaped that night and survived. He’d been saving Tegan’s life while Laura lost hers.
The sick truth stole his ability to think. He could only act.
“You have every right to be pissed, but if you light him up now, we’ll never figure out how he found you.” He gripped her arm tight enough to leave a mark while he waited for his words to sink in.
She jerked her head toward the demon, breaking eye contact with him.
“Think about it, Tegan. Demons can’t use magic. Short of a magic spell, how could he have known you carry the dragon’s blood? You didn’t even know. If we don’t find out how he found you, another demon could come after you again.”