Night Terrors

Since the beginning of time, an elite group of human warriors called Wardens protected mankind from all supernatural threats. Born into this destiny, a Warden’s duties passed from father to son…until the supernaturals made peace and the Wardens were no longer needed. Since then, knowledge of their existence has faded into myth and legend. Recently, the peace has been broken as civil wars and infighting fragment the supernatural species and the Wardens are needed again. One Warden, Rev, could not be more unprepared for what lies ahead. In an instant, he goes from college student to literally fighting for his life as he’s forced to enter a dark world he wants no part of. To make matters worse, his stubborn, by-the-book mentor, Jess, has little patience for a Warden who’s inexperienced and bumbling at best. Just as Rev thinks things couldn’t be worse, he realizes he’s falling for his hard-ass mentor. Will Jess return the feelings? Or will Rev be dealing with a broken heart while trying to save the world?

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Night Terrors Copyright © 2011 Stephani Hecht ISBN: 978-1-77111-015-0 Cover art by Martine Jardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: www.eXtasybooks.com

Night Terrors Night Wardens One By Stephani Hecht

Prologue

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hey were coming and Fiona could do nothing to stop them. More importantly, there was very little she could do to save her child. A child who could one day be the very thing that saved all of humanity. Perhaps she was overreacting a bit, after all, her son, Rev, was one of several Wardens. Yet, something told Fiona that her lineage was the one that the prophesy spoke of. She just had to make sure that said lineage survived the night. Clutching the longsword in her hand, she debated her options, which were pitiful and few— stay and fight, or run and save Rev. Normally running would never enter her mind she may just be a civilian, she was married to a Warden and they never retreated. Especially not from a band of feral vampires who didn’t know their ass from their fangs. But Rev was just twelve and he wasn’t ready to fight. In a few years, he may be able to at least defend himself, but as of 1

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yet, he had only learned the most rudiment of skills. The air within their single-story ranch home was rich with the scent of blood. Fiona’s stomach lurched, not because she was squeamish, but because the blood came from her husband who lay gutted several feet away in the living room, the grotesque display in direct contrast to the country cottage décor in the room. Several shadows moved outside, and her heart lurched with dread. That could only mean that more vampires had come to join the three who were already lurking around her darkened home. A slight quickening of breath to her right let her know that Rev came to the same conclusion, otherwise the twelve year old made no other sound. Years of training had instilled in him the ability to keep quiet, even after having watched his father being ripped to shreds. Fiona knew they had to make a run for it before the vampires trapped them in the house. Her brother-in-law lived several houses down and if she could get to him, he and his sons could help her fight off the vampires. As it was, she was vastly outnumbered. She couldn’t even call for help since the vampires cut both her phone and electrical lines. She used her free hand to flash a few gestures to Rev, a signal known only to their family. In 2

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short, it meant it’s time to get moving. No matter what happens to me, don’t stop running. Yelling out a battle cry, she launched herself from behind the counter and swung her sword around in a neat arch, decapitating the vampire closest to her. At the same time, Rev shot off the gun he’d been given as a present on his last birthday. His aim was a bit off, but he still managed to hit a vampire in the shoulder, slowing it down. That allowed Fiona time to bring her sword around, and she cleanly sliced off the head of the second vampire. That only left one inside the house, but she didn’t waste any time on it. “Move!” she yelled to Rev, her voice rough with emotion. How she hated having to leave Ted behind, but knew he wouldn’t want her risking themselves over a corpse. Instead, she rushed Rev to the front of the house and peeked outside at the car. Several vampires blocked her path. Her stomach dropped as she quickly counted—ten. There is no way that a mere human such as herself could stand a chance against so many. Then she glanced down at her son and realized something. So long as Rev lived, that was all that mattered. As his mother, she was more than willing to sacrifice herself. The expression on her face must have said as much because tears welled 3

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up in Rev’s brown eyes. “Please, don’t. We can fight them.” She reached down with her free hand and brushed back his mop of dark hair, her hand leaving behind a smear of blood on his forehead. “Get in the car. The keys are in the visor. I want you to drive to Uncle Stew’s and tell him what’s happening here.” Rev shook his head. “By the time he gets back, it will be too late. I don’t want to leave you, too.” She gripped him by the shoulder. “Rev, you are a Warden and your needs come last. It doesn’t matter what you want. All that is important is that you live to keep on fighting.” When he started to argue again, she slapped him across the face. While the move broke her heart, she knew she was desperate to get him to obey her. If he ended up hating her for it, then so be it. So long as he lived. The fact that a child as young as Rev was handling a gun, much less driving a car, never entered the equation. Like his father, he was a Warden and he’d been destined from birth to be different than all others. He only let out one more sniff before he nodded. “Yes, Mother. I promise not to let you down.” She kissed his cheek. The one that now carried the angry, red handprint left from her slap. “Know 4

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that I will always love you.” No sooner had she spoke those words, then the final vampire from inside attacked. Fiona quickly dispatched it before she opened the front door and all but shoved Rev toward the car. He paused only long enough to whisper, “I love you, too, Mama. I’ll never forget you.” True to his vow, he ran, never looking back again. The vampires who had been lying in wait outside attacked, but Fiona fought them off, positioning herself so that she shielded Rev with her body. Swinging her sword madly, she barely registered when she connected with flesh because there was always another fresh aggressor coming at her. When she heard the door slam and the engine start, she let out sob of relief. A vampire jumped on her, its fangs sinking deeply into her throat. She yelled as pain shot through her body. Another vampire jumped her, this one biting into her chest. A third joined in, its fangs sinking into her shoulder. As they brought her down to the ground, she caught a glimpse of the car pulling away. A smile crossed over her face, even as the last of her blood was drained from her body and she was no more.

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Chapter One

P

resent Day

Rev Becker tapped his pencil against the open page of his Latin book, his mind completely focused on the most significant person in the room. Unfortunately, said person wasn’t the professor who was currently going into hour two of what looked to be a marathon lecture. Not that Rev needed to listen. His parents had always made sure he had the finest tutors while growing up. Even going so far as to dictate in their will that even after their death, the lessons continue. As a result, this class was remedial at best for him. So no, it wasn’t Professor Bivins who was occupying Rev’s brain. It was the asshole, better known as Rick Parsons, who was making it impossible for Rev to focus. Not that he had a crush on the nozzle…far from it. Rev would rather have a drink with a vampire and a steak with a werewolf than deal with the 6

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human college freshman. And dealing with him was something Rev had to do on a constant basis because, like it or not, Rick had decided to make Rev’s life a living hell. In fact, in all of his eighteen years of life, Rev was hard pressed to think of any other human who he despised more than Rick and this said a lot considering what jerks Rev’s cousins could be at times. As if sensing Rev’s thoughts, Rick turned, his always-wet looking lips forming into a mocking pucker. Rev froze, hate spiraling so hard through his body, it felt like a bolt of electricity. God, what he would give to be able to put the jerk in his place. But if Rev dared lift a finger toward a normal human, trouble would be on him faster than an heiress on a sale at Barneys. That still didn’t mean that Rev couldn’t daydream about his plans of maiming the asshat. It even gave him a bit of joy in the bleakness that’d become his life. In fact, he became so caught up in his blood fantasies that he didn’t realize the lecture had ended until all the other students got up and began to file out of the theater-like lecture room. Rev would have loved to linger so he didn’t have to face the unenviable encounter with Rick, but he knew that it would be useless. If anything, Ricky was one patient bastard and he’d wait however long it took Rev to leave the building. 7

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So he gathered up his books and laptop and shoved them into his bag. As he walked by, Rick stuck his foot out and tried to trip Rev. Since Rev was always in a constant state of alertness, he managed to sidestep the size twelve Nike, but he totally missed the spit wad Rick’s friend shot his way. Rev cringed as the slobbery wad of paper connected with his cheek. He wiped it away, biting his bottom lip to hold in the torrent of angry words that threatened to burst through. Honestly, who in the hell still used spit wads in college? “Hey, Rev, where are you going in such a hurry?” Rick goaded. Rev ignored him and kept moving. Damn, he wished he’d never allowed his uncle to talk him into going away to school. But nooooo, Stew had insisted that Rev go out and learn how to socialize with normal people. Well, if Rick and his minions were normal, then Rev was much happier living in the Land of Misfit Sociopaths. Just as soon as that thought occurred to him, Rev pushed it aside as a heavy dose of guilt hit him. The whole reason he was now in the civilian world was because it was his mother’s dying wish. So Rev had no business whining about it, even if he only did the complaining inside his head. Besides, Rick and his band of assholes aside, 8

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things were better on this side of the fence. For one thing, Rev no longer had to endure the daily training sessions that went on for hours and left him bruised. Plus, he could forget, if for only a little while, that there really were monsters hiding in closets and under beds. Pushing his way outside, Rev wasn’t surprised when Rick and his lackeys followed. Hoisting his backpack further on his shoulder, he quickened his steps in hopes of losing them. No such luck. No matter how fast he moved, they seemed to remain a few steps behind him. Anger boiled in him and Rev completely forgot about being inconspicuous. Spinning around, he snarled, “Why can’t you leave me the fuck alone?” Anya, one of Ricky’s biggest supporters, separated herself from the rest of the group and slowly approached Rev. A long-haired blonde who had more boobs than brains, she knew she was damn good looking. She wasn’t afraid to use it for her advantage either. Too bad for the bitch, her charms had little effect on Rev. That still didn’t stop her from moving in close and slithering her body around him, much like a boa would trap a frightened rabbit. Reaching down, she roughly cupped Rev’s cock. A tsking noise leaving her throat. “Poor baby, can’t get it up. Is it because you’re scared? Or impotent? Or maybe it’s boys that you like?” 9

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Rev could have shoved her away. He could have reached down and grabbed her hand, then put her in a wrist lock hard enough to make tears form in her malicious blue eyes. In the end, he did neither, since it’d never been in him to harm anybody weaker than him. Even if said person was a bitch with a bite more vicious than a hellhound. “Maybe it’s just you I don’t find attractive,” Rev replied tightly. That earned his cock another squeeze, this one more painful than before. Luckily, all of Rev’s training kicked in and he was able to work past the pain. “What in the hell is you guys’ problem?” he asked. “I thought that you would have left this kind of behavior back in high school.” “We just don’t like freaks like you,” Rick snapped. Rev barely kept his disgust hidden. Really, what had he done to make himself come off as different? Then, just as quickly as that question popped into his head, so did the answer. Just about everything he’d done made him look odd. Raised by Guardians and fellow Wardens, he’d only recently begun to truly mingle with civilians. As a result, he was quickly finding out how unconventional some of his habits and traits were. For example, who knew that so many people 10

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would have an issue with him carrying around a bag of salt and wolfsbane? It’s not like he flashed it around on purpose. One day his backpack had broken and the items came tumbling out along with a silver stake, a vial of holy water, some sage and a white candle. After that incident, everybody had labeled him weird. Anya gave him another squeeze, bringing him back into the present. Her red lips curled up in a sneer, showing off one slightly chipped front tooth. Guess Daddy hadn’t had a chance to send his little princess to the dentist to get that imperfection fixed. “Look, why don’t you guys just leave me alone and let me go back to my dorm?” Rev reasoned. At least there he’d only have to put up with his roommate, Ari. Since Ari was another Warden, that was the only place where Rev felt safe, even if Ari was a bit of a moody, little basket case. “I suggest you take your hands off my man before I rip your eyeballs out and eat them for lunch,” a low voice purred. Turning his head, Rev was relieved to see Naamah, which just showed how fucked up his world was, considering she was a succubus. As always, she was a beautiful as ever. Her long, curly raven hair with red highlights contrasted stunningly to her porcelain skin and dark, soulless eyes—ones that on closer inspection 11

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had catlike elongated pupils. A fact she covered up with sunglasses or lies about special effect contacts. She had the body of a seductress, but the voice of an angel. This was kind of fitting since she was once an angel before she’d fallen and become a demon. She also happened to be one of his closest allies, which, given that he was gay, was the perfect irony. Turning her gaze toward Anya, Naamah curled her lips up into a sneer that came dangerously close to showing off her fangs. “I believe I gave you an order, Blondie. Let go of Rev.” Rick stepped closer, no doubt thinking one female didn’t offer a threat. “What’s it to you? Just so you know, Freak here is a fag.” Naamah let out a low snarl. “You call him that name one more time and I’ll rip your guts out and play with them like a set of TinkerToys.” “You don’t like me calling him a freak?” “No, I don’t like you calling him a fag. It’s a disgusting term used by clueless assholes who I usually wouldn’t bother talking with. But, since you dared to touch Rev, I have no choice but to put up with your presence.” Rick sneered. “Why don’t you let him fight for himself? Or is he too much of a wimp to fight his own battles?” Naamah let out a peal of laughter, one hand 12

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going up to cover her mouth. “Trust me, you’d much rather have to battle me than Rev. If he had permission, he could finish you off before you even had a chance to take in a breath.” Rick and his buddies found that comment so funny, they doubled over in laughter. Naamah just cocked a brow and waited for them to finish before she said, “This is your final warning. You so much as breathe on Rev again and I’m letting him loose on your asses.” With those parting words, she grabbed Rev by the arm and led him away. They walked for several moments in silence before Rev broke it. “Not that I’m not happy to see you, but what in the hell are you doing here?” “Checking up on you. I could sense that you were unhappy.” He glanced down at her red leather bodysuit, which fit her like a second skin, and matching fuck-me boots. “You don’t exactly blend in here.” She wrinkled her nose. “Baby, I fit in everywhere.” Rev laughed. “So, you came all this way, just because you knew I was feeling a bit down?” “Maybe I missed you,” she admitted. Rick and his buddies walked by, their loud voices cutting through what had been a nice, fall day. Rev tensed, but the group continued, obviously done torturing him for the day. Naamah 13

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studied them, her eyes glinting dangerously. “Do you want me to suck them dry for you?” “Like you said, they’re not worth it,” Rev replied. She glanced back at him, her face softening. “Poor Rev. You haven’t felt like you belonged since you got here.” That was so true, but damned if Rev would admit it. He gave an indifferent shrug. “It’s what’s meant to be.” “Just because you’re a Warden doesn’t mean you can’t have happiness and someplace to belong.” “You saw what happened to my parents when they tried to be normal. It doesn’t work for us.” “So instead you hang out with succubi and werewolves. What kind of life is that for a young college boy?” Rev sighed as he sat down on a bench next to a fountain. “That’s just it. I still don’t understand why I’m going to college in the first place. It’s not like I’m going to become a doctor or lawyer. I was born a Warden and that’s never going to change. My life is always going to be devoted to training and waiting for the day when maybe—just maybe, my kind is needed once more, so I don’t get why I need to pretend otherwise.” “You’re here because it was your mother’s dying wish. She left the edict in her will,” Naamah 14

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said. “I don’t need you to point out the obvious,” Rev snapped. “I’m not. I’m just simply reminding you of the reason why you are here instead of out hunting like the Guardians are doing right now.” Rev started, his stomach doing a strange flip. “Out hunting? Don’t you mean back at the compound training?” She gave a sad shake of her head, her odd eyes never leaving his face. “No. Things have become more unstable in the paranormal world and the Wardens are once again going to be called upon. In fact, that’s the real reason I came to see you today. The evil that the leading paranormal entities once controlled is now loose and those who never wanted peace are out to seek revenge. More specifically on the Wardens. So all of you are in grave danger.”

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Chapter Two

R

ev allowed that dire prediction to linger in the air for a moment before he gave a short laugh. “Why would anybody want to bother with a Novice Warden like me? I’m just a nobody.” “No, you’re not. Your lineage alone makes you a target. Not only that, but everybody knows what the Oracle foretold at your birth.” “Stupid Oracle never could keep her damn mouth shut,” Rev grumbled. “Well, that is her job, you know, to tell others what she sees in the future.” “Maybe, but she could have been a bit more discreet about it. She sure as hell shouldn’t have started a tumblr account about her prophesies.” “She protected it so only paranormals and Wardens can see it,” Naamah pointed out. Rev snorted. “Yeah, and that just happens to be the very people who will be coming and gunning for me. Well, not the Wardens, but the paranormal creatures sure as hell will be.” He jerked his head in the direction of his dorm. “Come on, we need to 16

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tell Ari all this. He’s just going to be giddy with excitement.” “Was that supposed to be sarcastic?” she asked as she fell in step next to him, her high-heeled boots clicking against the pavement. “Yes, it most certainly was.” “Cool, then I find the comment amusing,” she replied in a deadpanned voice. Rev rolled his eyes. Even after knowing her for years, some of Naamah’s reactions still floored him. They went inside and found Ari just where Rev knew they would—sitting in the center of his bed, his nose practically plastered to the screen of his laptop. A blond who was a couple years older and the same age and build as Rev, Ari always seemed to have a wary vibe around him. Which wasn’t surprising given the guy’s past. Ari still had to wear high-collared shirts to hide the vicious scars on his neck. A souvenir from spending a couple of years as a blood slave. While the Warden never spoke of his experience, some of the things he screamed while in the midst of his nightmares let Rev know it hadn’t been a trip to Disney World. Ari lifted his head and gave them the barest of smiles in greeting. “Is it time for dinner?” Rev exchanged glances with Naamah. “No, we just had breakfast a couple of hours ago. 17

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Remember?” Ari shrugged. “I guess I just got so caught up in this research that I lost track of time.” “Is it for a class?” Rev asked as he closed the door. When he delivered the bad news, he wanted to make sure that there was no chance of any civilians overhearing. Ari gave a slight shake of his head. “No, I was scouring the internet and I found something interesting.” “What?” Rev felt his stomach sinking. Going by the troubled expression in his friend’s blue eyes, it couldn’t be good. “It seems that a bingo hall in Linden was attacked. All the people inside were killed.” “Oh, my God. How horrible.” Rev sank down on his bed, Naamah settling down next to him. “That’s not the worst part. Whoever did it, ate all the bingo chips, too. Now the hall is going to have to buy new ones before they can have any more games.” Rev paused, his jaw briefly dropping open. Yeah, that was Ari for you. Only in his world would playing chips matter more than elderly ladies. It saddened Rev beyond belief since he knew Ari from before he’d been captured. At one time, Ari had been so loving and caring. It was as if the vamps had sucked out all of Ari’s empathy 18

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along with his blood. “Do they know who did it?” Rev asked. “No, but get this.” Rev glanced up, a triumphant grin playing on his face. “The news reports all say the place was covered in some kind of weird looking brown slime.” “It has to be slug demons,” Rev surmised. “But how is that possible? I thought Lucifer kept them under tight wraps.” Slug demons weren’t known for being able to control their urges or how to be discreet. Since not even Satan wanted the general population to know the true extent of the supernatural society, he’d locked up the slug demons centuries ago. “Hell isn’t any different than the rest of the paranormal world and right now there is a huge power struggle going on there, too,” Naamah cut in. “How bad is it?” Rev demanded. “You know how they always predicted that there would be a beast so great that it could take over Heaven and Hell?” “Sure, but I thought that was just a myth.” “We did, too, until it really happened. Now the little shit has taken over Hell and started to let loose the worst-of-the-worst.” Naamah made a small sound of disgust. “I still didn’t think that even he would stoop so low as to work with slug demons though.” 19

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Rev didn’t even bother to ask her to explain that one. Anybody with even the most rudimentary knowledge of the paranormal world knew that slug demons were considered to be low on the ladder of demon hierarchy. While the things may be as strong as shit, they were also as dumb as a poodle on crack. “Slug demons may not seem like much to us, but they’d still be able to rip apart the strongest civilian,” Ari cut in. His attention returned to the computer and he began to clack away at the keyboard, his fingers moving so fast they were a near blur. “So, if there is such a danger, why hasn’t the Warden council called us back in, yet?” Rev asked. “No offense to you, Naamah, but why in hell are we hearing about this from you instead of them?” Naamah’s right fang worried her bottom lip. “Because they think that the safest place for you two is here for the time being. Your uncle doesn’t want to involve you unless necessary because of your mother, and as for Ari…” When she trailed off, Ari picked up, “They don’t know how stable I’ll be in a fight. They’re afraid I’ll freeze up or freak out.” “Yeah,” she admitted, regret filling her dark eyes. Anger surged through Rev on his friend’s behalf. Okay, so maybe Ari was a bit off at times, 20

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but who in hell wouldn’t be, given all he’d been through? In Rev’s opinion they were all lucky that Ari wasn’t slobbering all over himself and rocking back and forth in a fetal position. “So why are you here warning us now?” Rev pressed. “Because while the council doesn’t want you to enter this fight yet—” “They’re not the only ones. I’m so through with their shit,” Rev cut in. Naamah continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “I have a feeling that the demons are going to come after you. While you may only be Novices and not active, your Warden powers are going to draw them in.” “Are you sure about that? If that was the case, then issues or not, the council themselves would drag us in,” Ari argued. Naamah tilted her head to the side as she seemed to be considering her words carefully. “Let’s just say that some of the council members tend to let their personal feelings affect their better judgment.” Rev shook his head. Slug demons or not, there was no way in hell he was going back to the life of a Warden. When he’d come of age and his mother’s will had freed him from that life, Rev had never been happier. Sure, he may be considered a freak in the civilian world, but it sure 21

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as shit beat going back to a life of gore and fear. Maybe, he hadn’t been exactly happy at college, but surely there was some far-off island where he could slip into obscurity or something after he graduated. Anything was better than ending up jaded like Ari, or worse, dead like his parents. “I’m not going anywhere,” Rev replied firmly. A wave of relief went through him when he saw Ari’s nod of agreement. Naamah threw her hands up in disgust. “Why not? What is so wonderful here that you don’t want to leave it?” She wrinkled her nose at the small, overly cluttered dorm room. She even went so far as to pick up one wadded up sock and sniff it, a small gagging sound coming from her as she tossed it to the side. Next, she walked up to Rev’s massive collection of Lord of the Rings posters. “Baby, I know you love the movies, but this is taking things too far. It just shows that you need the kind of discipline and structure that the life of the compound will give you.” “That’s not part of my future anymore.” She turned to him, her eyes narrowing in a knowing manner. “Some simple words in a will can’t take away what’s in your blood. You were destined to be a Warden from the moment you took your first breath. As much as your mother may have wanted to, nothing can ever change 22

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that.” A shiver of dread traveled down Rev’s spine, because a nagging part of him realized she was right. For no matter how hard he and Ari tried, this really wasn’t their world nor would it ever be. After all, hadn’t he had the same thought himself just moments earlier, while sitting in Latin class? Then he thought about his mother, all she sacrificed for him, and Rev shook his head. “Maybe you’re right, but I at least owe it to her to try.” “I don’t suppose that I can convince you guys to let me stay here for a while? At least until I know for certain that you’re not in danger,” Naamah suggested. “Sorry, we’re not allowed to have overnight visitors in our rooms,” Ari said. Naamah rolled her eyes. “Come on, don’t they know you’re both gay? The only thing that is in danger of happening is us getting in a fight over some cute frat guy.” “Speaking of which, keep your fangs to yourself when you’re on campus,” Rev ordered. “The last thing we need is to have to clean up your mess if you get carried away and suck some human dry.” “At least he’d die happy.” Naamah gave a fangflashing grin. Rev couldn’t argue that one, since it was a well23

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documented fact that a succubus bite was considered one of the strongest aphrodisiacs known to exist. Not even a vampire bite could compare. She let out a huff as she got up and made her way to the door. “Fine, since you won’t let me stay around and play, I’m going to find some nice paranormal bar.” “Nice paranormal bar?” Ari grunted. “Does such a thing exist?” “No, but at least I’ll be able to find a lovely, warm, willing donor. He’ll even fuck me after I’m done drinking from him.” With those parting words of sweetness, she waved and left. Ari and Rev sat in silence for a few moments before Rev asked, “Do you think she was serious?” “About finding a fuck buddy? Uh, yeah, she is a succubus after all.” Rev waved a hand. “Not that, about the slug demons showing up here?” Ari rolled his eyes before returning his attention to his computer. “Please, why in the hell would they want to bother with a couple of Novice Wardens? We are so under their radar it’s not even worth worrying about.” Okay, maybe Ari did have a point there. That still didn’t relieve that little tingle of worry that was working the back of Rev’s neck. He knew that 24

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he for one wouldn’t be sleeping soundly until the problem of the slug demons was taken care of. **** Jess rubbed away a bit of slug demon slime from his cheek as he strode through the Warden compound. While he received a few hellos and other various greetings, he was too pissed off to return any of them. Not that he was angry at the slug demons. Sure, they were a damn inconvenience, and messy big ass fuckers, but Jess just saw them as part of the job. No, he directed his anger at the leader of the Wardens, Stew Becker. Seriously, who in the hell named their kid Stew? Or maybe the question should be who in the hell named a kid, destined to be a Warden, Stew? The name just didn’t seem to fit in a world of monsters, horror and gore. It seemed more like something a TV salesman would go by. Jess pushed his way into the main meeting room, gagging as the stench of sage and myrrh hit him like a fist in a face. Waving a hand, he asked, “What are you trying to do? Smoke us all out?” Stew looked up from under the bill of his Tiger’s baseball hat. While he had the same dark eyes and 25

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hair as his nephew and sons, Stew looked way older than his years. As if all the crap he’d seen weighed so heavily on his soul, it made him constantly fatigued. “I thought you liked the scent of this stuff,” Stew said. “Yeah, in small doses. It smells like you’re burning a truckload in here.” Jess let out a cough as he plopped down in a chair. Like the rest of the place, the piece of furniture was tattered and several years old. Jess found himself longing for his apartment. While the place may be small, at least the furnishings were made in this decade. Plus, it was smoke-free. “Some empusa tried to infiltrate the place, so we’re setting up every protection spell we can think of,” Stew explained. That bit of news both shocked and unsettled Jess. “Since when have empusa been in this area? I thought the vampires drove them out a while ago. Last time I checked, Detroit was the last place any of those bitches wanted to be.” “Well, now the vampires are too busy fighting each other to notice anything else, so some of the mice have come back to play.” Stew pulled out a silver flask and took a deep swig. Even with the stench of the myrrh and sage, Jess still caught a whiff of cheap whiskey. A discreet glance at the clock showed that it was 26

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only one in the afternoon, too. It seemed that the stress was making Stew drink more than usual, which said a lot. As it was, the guy had already drank more than the entire cast of the Bad Girls Club combined. “How many empusa were there?” Jess asked. Great, just what they needed. A bunch of bloodthirsty bitches to add to the already out-ofcontrol slug demon problem. Now he suddenly felt much older than his twenty-five years. “Not too many. They are still too afraid of the vampires…well, the Drone Vampires to be specific. Even with the war going on, only a few of the empusa are brave enough to show their faces again. A couple of Novices were able to take out most of them, but we’re still being cautious. So you may want to make sure to add some more protective guards around your apartment, too.” “Why? I’m just a Guardian. Better yet, I’m a Guardian without a Warden under my training. So I’m just an afterthought to most beings.” “Actually, that’s one of the reasons I called you here. I have a Warden who is in need of a Guardian and I think you’ll be perfect for the job.” Jess scrambled his mind to think of an available Warden, but came up with a short list of sadly lacking candidates. His stomach clenched in dread as he asked, “Who?” “My nephew, Rev.” 27

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Oh God, no. Anybody but that little brat. “I thought that he’d left this life to be a civilian.” Stew grimaced. “True, that was his mother’s wish, but I don’t see how it’s going to be possible.” “What changed your mind?” “I had a talk with Naamah.” “Not to be rude, sir, but what in the hell does some succubus have to do with this?” “She made a very valid point. With the way things are going, it’s only natural that the Wardens are going to have to start getting their hands dirty again. That means that they’re going to be in danger of being attacked by supernaturals, whether the Warden in question is actively in the fight or not.” Jess felt his stomach sink at the implication of Stew’s words. “Why don’t you just cut the crap? We both know that Rev is going to be in more danger than anybody because of the damn Oracle’s prediction.” He waited for Stew to deny it, but in the end, the older man nodded. “I had hoped that if I sent him off to college and cut him from the world, not only would I be fulfilling my sister-in-law’s wishes, but I would prevent the prophesy from coming true.” “No offense, but that was stupid. You know once the Oracle speaks, there’s no changing it,” Jess snapped. 28

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A slow smile covered Stew’s face. “I’m glad you said that because she was actually the one who paired you with Rev.” Fuck. Damn. Shit. Now there was no way in hell Jess could refuse. He searched for any scrap of memory about Rev, but all he could come up with was a scrawny, nerdy kid who was so clumsy he was a danger more than a help on the battlefield. “What did I ever do to piss the Oracle off that much?” It wasn’t until Stew let out a low growl that Jess remembered just how much the man doted over his nephew. Jess mumbled out an apology while he squirmed around in his chair. While he might be pretty tough, and could take on a lot of Wardens, not even he was crazy enough to want to tangle with Stew. “So when is Rev supposed to be coming back?” Jess asked. “That’s just it. I’ve tried his cell several times and he’s not answering.” Stew frowned. Alarm shot through Jess. “How about the Warden he’s rooming with?” “We can’t reach Ari either. Which is odd, since they both know better than to turn their phones off. I thought about calling somebody from the dorm, but I don’t want to involve civilians unless it’s absolutely necessary. Since the college is only a half hour drive away, I’m going to send my sons 29

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out to pick up Ari and Rev.” Jess barely repressed a grimace at the thought of Brad and Adam. While most everyone respected the brothers since they were Stew’s sons, the guys did have the tendency to fuck things up from time-to-time. In Jess’s opinion, they both needed a strong Guardian to take them under control, but he wasn’t stupid enough to make that suggestion to Stew. As far as the guy was concerned, his boys could do no wrong. “You should have never let them go off to college in the first place,” Jess growled. “We all know how dangerous it is for Novice Wardens.” No doubt Stew had assumed it would be okay because the Wardens were no longer active, but since things had recently changed, he should have immediately assigned Guardians to both the youths. Instead, he’d left them exposed and vulnerable. It was one of the many examples of Stew’s lack of leadership skills. “You know Rev’s mother—” “That’s enough of that bullshit. While it’s nice that you wanted to honor her wishes, you should have known from the start that it couldn’t happen. Rev is a Warden and some words on a legal paper are never going to change that. You let your sentiments get in the way and now we have two Novices in danger.” Stew paled. “We don’t know for sure that 30

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they’re in trouble.” Jess leaned forward and pressed his hands on the desk. “Yes, we do. You knew the instant you couldn’t reach them. You’re just too weak to admit that you made a mistake.” “How dare you question my leadership skills.” “According to you, I am Rev’s Guardian, so as far as his wellbeing goes, I have every fucking right to challenge any decision made on his behalf.” Jess stood up and headed for the door. “Where are you going?” Stew demanded. Jess barely refrained from rolling his eyes. “I’m going to find your sons and get Rev back here, like you told me to. I only hope we’re not already too late.”

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Chapter Three

R

ev sensed them even before the smell hit him, which said a lot for his skills, considering the stench the slug demons gave off. It was a mixture of swamp goo mixed in with sewer sludge. Slowly blinking his eyes a few times so his vision could adjust to the darkness, he quietly rolled out of bed. He could barely hear Ari doing the same thing from across the small room. They crept over to the end of Rev’s bed. Opening up what looked like an everyday normal footlocker, Rev revealed a vast array of weapons that appeared so deadly they would make Leatherface drool in envy. Pulling out his weapons of choice, a Glock and a shortsword, he scooted to the side. Ari moved in, snagging up a couple of guns and a set of sai, which didn’t surprise Rev since Ari liked to get up close and personal with his kills. Shit, if he could, the guy would reach in and grab out the enemy’s heart with his bare hands. They nodded to each other and got into 32

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position on either side of the room just as the door opened to reveal a pair of slug demons. At least, Rev assumed they were slug demons, since up until that moment, he’d only seen pictures of them. Even that didn’t prepare him for the sheer grossness that now stood in his room. The things were over seven feet tall and looked like somebody had taken a vat of Silly Putty and rolled it in a pile of rotting flesh, then left it out in the sun to stew for several hours. The things didn’t even have a mouth, nose, or ears. There were just slits in those areas. They did have eyes and those were the freakiest things of all about the demons. They were large and all white, reminding Rev of the old Little Orphan Annie comics. The similarity made him want to laugh and shiver in disgust at the same time. One of them stopped and let out a sound that was equal parts sniff and snort. “I smell Novices in here.” Rev had to bite back a laugh when he spotted Ari mouthing, Fee, Fi, Foe Fum. It did kind of sound like the giant from the old Jack and the Beanstalk tale. All that was missing was a goose and its golden egg. Then Rev heard the sounds of doors opening and screams rending the silence throughout the dormitory. He knew it was time to act. Novices or 33

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not, there was no way he and Ari could sit by and let helpless civilians be attacked. Even if one of them just might happen to be that asshat Rick. Giving a slight nod to Ari, they both surged forward as one. Rev used his sword to slice through the slug demon’s throat. At least he tried to, but the skin proved to be thick and rubbery. So all he managed to do was partially decapitate it. Its head now hung at an odd angle, those creepy eyes staring at nothing as the beast croaked, “Naughty Warden. Now it must die.” “In your fucking dreams,” Rev breathed as he brought his sword around again. This time he managed to lose the head, the body part falling to the ground with a sickening thud. Just to be safe, he kicked the head away, the corpse falling out into the hallway. Behind him, he could hear the death cries of the other demon as Ari finished it off. They rushed out into the hallway to find all hell had broken loose and then some. Several more slug demons were there and they were attacking the civilians. Already the walls were coated with blood and numerous bodies lay on the ground. “Those fuckers are here pissing in our sandbox,” Ari growled as he spun the sai around. One of the demons charged, Rev quickly brought up his Glock, jammed in under the creature’s chin and fired. The demon fell down to 34

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join the other carnage covering the floor. At the same moment, Ari took out his guns, his aim perfect as ever. “Holy shit,” a voice to Rev’s right breathed. Rev glanced over to see Rick standing there, his eyes wide with shock and his skin so pale he could have passed for a ghoul. “Go back to your room and lock yourself in,” Rev ordered. Of course, the idiot didn’t listen. Rick just continued to stand there like a scared rabbit under the eye of its prey. That wouldn’t be too far from the truth if one of the slug demons got to him. A demon cried out as it ran toward Rick. Well, damn it all, Rev was going to have to save the asshole. And didn’t that just suck? Tucking his Glock into the pocket of his pajamas, Rev tightened his grip on his shortsword. Sighing in resignation, Rev brought up his blade. Unfortunately for him, this was one of the few slug demons who actually knew how to fight. It quickly sidestepped Rev’s blade, then swiped out with a set of wicked looking claws. If Rev had been a normal human, the slug demon would have eviscerated him, but since Rev was a Warden, he managed to avoid the blow, at the same time bringing his sword up again. The pair of them battled for several moments, both dodging and exchanging blows. A sheen of 35

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sweat broke out over Rev’s body, making his Star Wars PJs stick to his body. His arms began to hurt from wielding the sword. He silently cursed himself for slacking off on his training. Then the slug demon paused. It was only for half a breath, but it was the opening Rev needed. Letting out a battle cry, he swung the sword in a sideways arch. This time he made sure to do it hard enough to decapitate the thing on the first try. Brown, slimy blood sprayed everywhere as the headless corpse fell to the ground. A ton of the goo hit Rev in the face. His stomach rolled as some of the crap ended up in his mouth. It was still worth it when he heard Rick wrenching behind him. Just as Ari finished off the last one, Rick managed to gasp out, “What in the hell were those things?” “Something that would have eaten you whole and slowly let you dissolve in its stomach,” Ari replied as he used some frat boy’s shirt to wipe off his sai. Rick gulped. “Is that some kind of sick joke?” “I wish it was, but it’s the God’s honest truth. Slug demons have always been the most disgusting things,” Ari said in a bored tone. He turned to Rev. “Are you ready? I’m willing to bet that our ride is already waiting for us outside.” Giving his goo-covered face one more wipe, 36

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Rev nodded and they walked out of the building without even so much as a backward glance. Since they knew Guardians would be coming back to clean out their rooms, they didn’t even stop long enough to pack a bag. As expected, when they walked outside, a black van was waiting for them, the engine running. Rev’s two cousins, Brad and Adam, were waiting, their usual smirks in place. Like every Novice Wardens in active training, they wore all black, from their jeans to the long-sleeved tees that were loose enough to hide weapons. Then Rev’s heart sputtered, almost missing a step as he spotted a third person standing by the van. What in the hell was Jess doing there and why in the hell did he have to still look so damn good? For years, Jess had played front and center in most of Rev’s jackoff fantasies. With a body made for battle, blond hair that was cut in perfect, sharp military style, and blue, piercing eyes that seemed to miss nothing, Jess was everything that Rev liked in a guy and then some. There was just one tiny problem…Jess didn’t make it a secret that he didn’t hold a high opinion of Rev. Just one withering look from Jess turned off Rev’s desire quicker than a dozen cold showers ever could. A flickering glance from Jess had Rev gazing 37

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down at his own body and he nearly let out a groan of mortification. He just had to pick tonight to wear his Luke Skywalker jammies. Fuckity, fuck, fuck! Could things get any worse? “It took you five minutes to kill only a handful of slug demons?” Jess questioned with a disapproving rise of his right brow. Yes, they could get worse. Rev’s mouth grew dry and he had to swallow a few times to work up enough saliva to talk. Ari, that little shit, had chosen to lapse into another one of his morose silences, totally leaving Rev alone to flounder for an excuse. “There were over a half dozen of them. Plus, there were civilians around. We didn’t want any of them to get hurt in the crossfire or anything.” Jess moved forward and jerked the sword from Rev’s grasp. “It’s obvious that we have a lot of work ahead of us.” It took Rev a few minutes for his mind to lock in on the word we. “What are you talking about?” Brad gave a snarky smile, then had the audacity to chuckle. “The Oracle has just assigned Jess as your new Guardian.” A small sound of distress passed through Rev’s lips at this bit of news. Surely not even the Oracle could be that vindictive. While Rev had a crush on Jess, that didn’t mean he wanted to be the guy’s Warden. Jess’s brutal training sessions were well38

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known and feared by seasoned Guardians and Novice Wardens alike. “Are you okay?” Adam asked. While he could be just as much as a troublemaker as Brad, Adam often took on the role as the older mentor, too. More than once it’d been he who bandaged Rev’s boo-boos while they’d been young. “I have to drop out of school, don’t I?” Rev asked, deciding to ignore the Jess issue for the time being. “Yeah, I don’t think they’re going to be able to overlook that whole dorm attack and destroy incident,” Adam replied in a soothing tone one would use with an injured or scared animal. “In fact, we should probably get the hell out of here before the police arrive,” Brad tilted his head to the now-deserted road. Going by the chorus of sirens coming their way, those roads wouldn’t be remaining clear for very much longer. “What about the demon bodies we left inside?” Rev asked, even as he let his cousins usher him to the van. “We have our own connections in law enforcement and government. They’ll help us keep things quiet,” Jess replied. He nudged Rev to the center seat of the van, then followed him in, completely crowding Rev’s 39

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personal space. “What about the students who saw everything?” Rev continued to argue. Jess let out a sigh that clearly said that all of Rev’s questions were aggravating. “We have a witch on our payroll. She’ll use a spell to mask their memories.” Rev frowned. “Are you sure it’s safe? We don’t want to fry their brains or something.” “Do you really care if they scramble Rick’s cranium?” Ari asked as he climbed into the back row of seats. Oh, now he decides to speak up! “Who’s Rick?” Adam asked. “Just some civilian who made it a hobby to push me around,” Rev grumbled, a heat covering his face. “And you let him?” Jess demanded. Outraged, Rev turned to him. “What else was I supposed to do? We’re not allowed to harm civilians, not to mention he always made sure he had plenty of his friends with him whenever he confronted me.” “It shouldn’t have mattered if he had a couple dozen civilians with him. Any Warden worth his salt could take them out without any trouble.” Rev couldn’t believe that he was actually having to defend his actions. “I could have handled myself if I had to.” 40

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“Just like with the slug demons?” God, what in the hell had Rev ever seen in this asshole? “We took them all out, so what’s your beef?” “It took you over five minutes to neutralize the demons. That’s four minutes too long.” “Do you have short-term memory issues? We already went through this once. We had to be careful not to harm any of the civilians. They’d left their dorm rooms and were all over the place.” “You didn’t want to harm the students?” God, this guy was either dense or hard of hearing. Rev let out an aggravated sigh. “Yes.” “Even though, according to you, they made your life at school less than pleasant?” “Yeah, just because somebody is a jerk, doesn’t mean I should let them die.” Jess studied him for several moments, the man’s handsome face completely unreadable. Finally, when Rev felt as if he were ready to snap from the tension, Jess gave a curt nod. “There may be hope for you after all.” Rev realized he’d passed some sort of test, though for the life of him, he couldn’t understand what it might be. Was it just because he didn’t allow Rick to get gobbled up by the slug demons? Because if so, then it didn’t seem much of a test to Rev. Any person, Warden or civilian would have done the same thing. 41

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“If I had my way, I would have let the things eviscerate Rick,” Ari snapped from the rear seat. Okay, so maybe most people would have done that. “Ari really doesn’t mean that,” Rev told Jess. “Yes, I do. The asshole deserved that and then some for what he did to you.” Rev turned in his seat to glare at his friend. Anger burned in Ari’s gaze, though Rev knew it wasn’t directed at him. “It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle,” Rev assured him. Adam slowly reached out and pried the sai from Ari’s fingers. Rev tensed, worried how Ari would react since he’d always been very touchy feely with his weapons. Surprisingly though, Ari easily relinquished them. He even sat still as Adam wiped a bit of slug demon blood from his face. Jess tapped Rev on the shoulder to regain his attention. “As soon as we get to the compound, I want you to go directly to the main training room.” Rev blinked a few times in confusion. “Why?” “It’s time to start your training.” “It’s three in the morning. I’m covered in slime and blood, and I have a major headache. Can’t this wait until the morning?” Jess’s eyes narrowed, showing he wasn’t moved 42

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by Rev’s plight. “I have two words for you, kid— tough and shit. You will meet me there and you’ll give me a good session. None of this half-ass crap I’ve seen you do with the other Guardians.” The petulant child in Rev surged forward. “And if I refuse?” “Then I’ll drag your ass there and beat some submission into it.” Oh fuck, that shouldn’t have turned Rev on, but damn if it did. So much so, he had to shift his legs to hide his growing erection. When a knowing grin slid over Jess’s face, Rev wanted to throw himself from the moving vehicle. “No, not that kind of way. When I punish you, I can promise you’re not going to like it.” A shiver danced down Rev’s spine and he wasn’t sure if it was from desire or fear. He did know one thing for certain. Now that Jess was his Guardian, Rev’s life was never going to be the same again.

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Chapter Four

D

amn it, did the kid have to look so irresistible? No matter how hard he tried, Jess couldn’t help but notice the arousing picture Rev presented. From his mop of dark hair that was slicked back with sweat, to the way his brown eyes glinted when angry. Even the way he shivered slightly in those damn Star Wars pajamas looked desirable. So much so that it was all Jess could do to stop himself from pulling Rev into his arms so he could warm up his Warden in more ways than one. While Jess found plenty to fault in the way Rev handled the demons, there was plenty of potential in the kid, too. The way he’d easily moved as he wielded the blade would forever be burned into Jess’s memory. Rev had been born to be a warrior and the way he fought showed it. Sometimes he’d moved so fast that even Jess had trouble following his movements and, as a Guardian, he’d been trained to be able to analyze every detail no matter how fast or minute they might be. 44

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A bit of slime clung to Rev’s cheek. The grossness almost obscene because of the way it marked up the creamy flesh underneath. Jess wanted to reach out and wipe it away, much like Adam had with Ari. But Jess had never been one for sappiness and he’d be damned if Rev was going to make him start now. No matter how alluring the boy might be. Reaching in the pocket of his black duster, Jess pulled out a tissue and handed it to Rev. “Take care of yourself. You look like a mess.” Rev blinked up prettily at him in confusion, before that sexy flash of anger came over his eyes. Snatching the tissue away, Rev began to wipe at his face in short, angry moves. Jess scrambled to recall the last time he’d actually seen Rev in person. Had it been two or three years? Whatever the length of time, it was painfully obvious that Rev had done some major growing up in that period and he’d filled out perfectly. The real kicker was that Jess could tell that Rev returned the attraction. If the quickening of his breath hadn’t been clue enough, the erection pressing against the fly of his sleep pants was a dead giveaway. A flare of excitement went through Jess at the thought, but he quickly stomped it down. Rule number one was Guardians and Wardens were 45

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never to get too attached to each other. Even strong friendships were discouraged. In a field where more died than lived, it never paid to form any attachments at all. Rev’s father was proof enough of that. While he’d at least been smart enough to fall in love with a civilian, he’d still grown way too attached to her and in the end that had been his undoing. While a normal Warden would have fought for his own life, Rev’s father had fought to protect his wife and child—and that had made him weak. Fighting for the child had been acceptable since Rev was a future Warden. But the council had always frowned on a Warden needlessly giving up his life for love. Sure, that might seem harsh as hell, but that was the way things had always been and Jess didn’t see them changing anytime soon. Since Brad was driving, they arrived at the compound in record time. From the outside, it looked like a private exercise facility and in a way, it was. That is if one were to overlook the huge, electrified fence, guards and warding symbols etched on the side of the building. It was early yet, so most of the parking lot remained deserted. Brad pulled into his assigned spot and they all got out. The air was just cool enough to bite into Jess’s skin and he tried not to frown when he noted that Rev didn’t wear any shoes or socks. Damn, he had to be freezing, yet he 46

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hadn’t uttered a word of complaint. Ari on the other hand wore boots. Heck, now that Jess took his attention away from Rev to notice anything else, he realized that Ari was fully dressed, too, in a pair of jeans and long-sleeved black t-shirt. It was plain and held no lettering or pictures, in direct contrast to Rev’s pajamas that had Star Wars characters plastered all over it. “Why are you dressed?” Jess asked Ari. While Ari might be a Warden, that still didn’t mean that his actions weren’t a tad suspicious, and, since he was directly connected to Rev, that made his odd behavior Jess’s business. Already Jess found himself becoming a bit protective of Rev. But that was only because he was the brat’s Guardian…honest it was. “Ari always goes to bed that way. When he was captured, he was asleep at the time and during his first month of captivity, he had to survive with no shoes and only a pair of sweatpants. So, now he wants to be ready at all times for the worst,” Rev answered for him. Jess blanched. He’d been part of the crew who’d eventually rescued Ari from the pit the vampires had kept him in. If he lived to be a hundred, Jess would never be able to forget some of the smells and sights from that hellhole. To know that Ari had spent two years there only made things more stomach churning. 47

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Jess felt like a jerk for even questioning Ari’s attire. Of course, the kid still had issues. It’d only been a few months since he’d been free. While he’d argued with Stew over letting the kid go off to college, Jess now saw that Rev was good for Ari. Not only did he seem protective over his fellow Novice, but Rev seemed actually capable of calming the demons inside Ari. It made Jess wonder just how close the two were. A spike of jealousy shot through him at the thought of anybody else claiming Rev’s soft lips. Or somebody else hearing the Warden’s cries of passion. To know how it felt as Rev shuddered underneath them as he found his release. Once again Jess mentally bitch-slapped himself for thinking that way about his Warden and instead pressed his thumb against the lock on the door. It scanned his print before a loud click sounded. Jess pulled open the heavy steel door and ushered everybody inside. “Grab some extra workout clothes from the locker room and meet me in ten. Make sure you take a shower first. You reek of slug demon,” Jess ordered. When Rev tensed, Jess knew he’d once again come off as brash and too harsh. He almost apologized, but pulled it back at the last moment. With what was coming their way, Rev had to be prepared and being coddled wouldn’t do him any 48

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good. Rev nodded, then left, Ari on his heels. Jess watched them go, knowing that once they were out of earshot Adam or Brad would have something to say. Sure enough, as soon as the locker room door closed, Adam turned on him. “Do you have to be such an asshole to him? He’s been through a lot.” “Yes, and he’s going to be going through a lot more. If we handle him with kid gloves he won’t be hard enough to handle it.” Adam shook his head. “He’s just a Novice. He has plenty of time to get ready for the field.” “No, he doesn’t. With all the supernatural civil wars going on, I just received word that the Oracle is coming to initiate all the Novices. By this time tomorrow, you will all be full-fledged Wardens.” Adam paled. “There’s no way some of the Novices are ready for that. I’m not just talking about Ari and Rev either.” There were ten Novices of various ages and degree levels, but Adam did have a point. They were all a long way from being battle ready. That was going to have to change. “Too bad, we’re just going to have to up their training and make sure they’re ready. We also need to call them in and get them closer to the compound.” Brad threw up his hands. “That’s not going to 49

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be easy. Some of them left the state or are in college like Ari and Rev.” “They should have never been allowed to leave in the first place,” Jess growled. “Tradition has always allowed for them to leave for a few years so they can learn to live among civilians. Otherwise, we’d just become some kind of cloistered cult or something.” “Normally I would agree with you, but times have changed. Those slug demons weren’t there by accident. Somebody sent them…somebody who is targeting Novices. I don’t think Ari and Rev are going to be the only ones attacked.” That finally seemed to make the situation sink in to the brothers. They exchanged looks of horror before Adam nodded. “Okay, I’ll go to the main office and begin making calls.” Brad added, “I’ll try to contact the Oracle and see if she knows anything more. Shit, what are we going to do? Half of these kids haven’t even been officially assigned a Guardian yet. That usually doesn’t happen until their twentieth birthday. Adam and I don’t even have one.” “Yet Rev got his and he’s only eighteen. That’s proof right there that things are changing,” Jess pointed out. Brad ran his hand through his slightly longer hair. Jess noticed just how much he looked like Rev, although Brad had a rougher edge to him 50

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despite his kidding nature. Jess much preferred Rev’s innocence. After Brad left, Jess busied himself by getting out the sparring equipment. Just as it’d reached the nine-minute mark, Rev walked in. He’d showered as ordered, the front of his wet hair flopping a bit over his eyes. He’d also ditched the ridiculous pajamas and now wore a black sweat suit that appeared to be at least two sizes too big. It hung on his thin frame, making him look even younger. Holding his hands to the side, Rev asked, “Okay, I’m here. What do you want me to do?” Oh boy, if that wasn’t a loaded question. Since Jess didn’t dare answer it the way he wanted to, he just nodded to a pair of sparring gloves. “Get those on.” He expected Rev to balk, but the Novice went over and put them on. He looked around for a few minutes before cocking a brow. “Where’s the rest of the protective equipment?” “We’re not using it,” Jess replied, steeling himself for the outraged reaction he’d no doubt be receiving. “Why not? Are we sparring or do you have some other training exercise in mind?” “We’ll be sparring.” “But without the equipment, one of us could get hurt,” Rev protested, his voice pitched with 51

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confusion. “Oh, we’ll both get hurt for sure.” Rev’s mouth parted in shock. “Do you have some kind of sadistic streak or something?” “No, I’m just realistic. We don’t have much time to get you into top fighting form. If it hurts when you make a mistake in training, then you’ll be more likely to learn not to make that error again.” “Didn’t you ever hear of the whole wax-onwax-off way of teaching? That seemed to work so well for Ralph Macchio.” Jess restrained himself from throttling his Novice…barely. “How about we try being realistic here?” “Hey, I am. That technique worked perfectly in Karate Kid. He won both the trophy and the girl in the end.” It dawned on Jess that his job was going to be so much harder than he’d realized. He took a deep breath and slowly counted to ten. When that didn’t work, he kept counting. It wasn’t until he reached fifty that he was calm enough to talk again. “This isn’t some movie. This is real life and if I send you out there unprepared, you’re going to die. Do you have any clue how dangerous the life of a Warden is?” All the good humor fled Rev’s face as his eyes 52

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grew stormy with rage. “Yeah, the day some vampires crashed into my home and sucked my parents dry clued me into that fact. Just because I don’t go around with a dark cloud over my head like Ari, doesn’t mean I don’t realize how much this life sucks.” The venom coming from Rev felt so strong, Jess almost took a step back. A wave of guilt hit him as he realized that he’d completely forgotten what had happened to Rev’s parents. Maybe Rev wasn’t the only one who had some learning to do as far as the new Guardian-Warden relationship went. “I’m sorry. I forgot about what happened to your parents and how that must have affected you,” Jess said in a softer tone. Rev blinked a few times, as if the last thing he’d expected was an apology. “Does that mean we get to wear some protective gear then?” Rev ventured. Jess gave off what he knew was a cold smile. “Hell, no. You still have a lot of work to do in order to be up to my standards and pain is the best motivator. Now let’s get to work.” They went to the center of the mat. Rev rolled his shoulders a few times as his gaze swept up and down Jess’s body, no doubt looking for any weaknesses. “You should know that I’ve been sparring with my uncle and cousins for years now,” Rev 53

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warned. “Never reveal too much information to your opponents. I’ve also sparred with all three of them and I know the bad habits that they share when fighting. So, I can now safely assume you carry them, too.” “How so?” Rev demanded. Jess moved in quick, using his foot to sweep out Rev’s left leg. The Novice fell to the mat with a loud thump. It pleased Jess to see that Rev only stayed supine for a half a breath before springing back to his feet. “Lesson one, make sure to balance your weight evenly on both feet. I don’t know how many times I’ve tried to beat that tip into Adam and Brad’s head.” Rev winced in pain, even as he corrected his stance. “Okay, got it.” Not wasting any more time, Jess attacked. At first, Rev went into defense mode, just working his best to block the flurry of kicks and punches coming his way. While he managed to ward off a good number of them, just as many got through. Before long, blood trickled from his nose and he sported a fat lip. Come on, kid, get pissed and fight back. I know you can do it. Jess wanted to yell the words aloud, but knew that it was important that Rev find the fire on his own. 54

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Just as Jess was about to give up, the sexy glint of anger flared in Rev’s eyes. Letting out a growl, he began to fight back. He moved so fast and with such precision, that a normal human wouldn’t have lasted a half minute. It was only because of the enhanced skills that came with being a Guardian that Jess was able to hold his own. Even then, he soon sported his own bloody nose and what he felt for sure would soon be a shiner on his right eye. Then Rev got in a really hard punch to Jess’s ribs. Jess let out a grunt as he dropped to the ground, a snapping sound filling the air. Rev’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, shit! Are you okay?” He bent over to examine Jess closer. Jess reached out and gave Rev a jab to the throat. It wasn’t hard enough to hurt or do any real damage, but going by the way Rev gasped in shock, it still got the message across. “And that is lesson two, never show pity for your enemy,” Jess declared, his voice coming out in short pants due to pain. Just as quick, Rev’s foot shot out and he wasn’t so gentle. His foot connected sharply with Jess’s already injured ribs. Pain shot through Jess and he fell to the side, a slight groan slipping past his lips. Shooting him a dirty look, Rev shot back, “Lesson number three, never underestimate your 55

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Warden.” Rev then turned and stormed off in what would have been a very dramatic exit before he tripped over his own feet and almost fell into the wall. Recovering quickly, Rev called back, “I meant to do that.” Still gasping from pain, Jess managed to reply, “Go find a cot and catch a few hours of sleep. We’re leaving early for an assignment.” “Where to?” “Slug demons don’t just show up. Somebody summoned them here and we need to find out who they are. I have a good lead and we’re following it.” “You mean I get to spend the whole day with you? Oh, how exciting for me,” Rev replied back with such heavy sarcasm it was a wonder the building didn’t sag under the weight of it. Damn it. Even though Jess was in pain and Rev had shown just how lacking his skills were, plus the fact the kid had an attitude a mile wide, Jess had never been more turned on. Wiping the blood away from under his nose, Jess smiled. He was going to have a good time breaking that bratty streak in Rev. Like it or not, the kid was going to become a good Warden, even if it took every bit of Jess’s Guardian skills to make sure it happened.

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Chapter Five

R

ev felt like he’d just closed his eyes when a loud rap on the door woke him up. “It’s time to get moving. I want to see your ass out by the main meeting hall in less than five minutes,” Jess called from the other side of the wood. Giving a mock salute that couldn’t be seen, Rev replied, “Yes, sir.” “Make sure you wear your Warden gear, too. I want the person we’re going to see to know who she’s dealing with.” That comment shocked Rev most of all. In all of his life, he’d never seen a Warden wear the official uniform. Since the supernaturals had found peace and been doing a good job of policing themselves, the Wardens had been put into an informal kind of retirement. Sure, they still trained their young, but that had really been the extent of it. Looked like Naamah’s prediction about things changing was valid after all. Opening the bag that somebody had delivered 57

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the night before, Rev found the long, dark, hooded cloak and all-black clothing. The pants were made of thick leather, with several loops and pockets for holding or hiding weapons. The shirt was long sleeved, the arms reinforced with leather padding to protect him if he had to ward off blows. Putting the items on, he then laced up the tall, military style boots before putting on the finishing touch, a small clasp that held the official emblem of the Wardens, an intricate silver triquetra, with a ruby in the center. The red color of the stone represented the bloodshed from past Wardens who’d made the ultimate sacrifice. A pile of weapons, ranging from a gun to blades and then more exotic things like grave dirt and salt, lay in the bag. Rev grabbed them all, tucking them into the various hiding places in his pants. The only weapons that remained were a set of blades with straps for his wrists and forearms, lingered at the bottom of the bad, he put those on as well, retracting the blades so his long sleeves hid them. As he left his room and walked through the compound, a sense of pride went through him. Despite all his misgivings and the desire to meet his mother’s wishes, Rev knew this was what he was meant to do…no, it was what he was destined to do. It wasn’t lost on him that he was the first 58

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Warden in the past couple of decades to be wearing the outfit. Just like he would be the first to finally be stepping into the role they were born to play. He wondered what his father would think if he had lived to see this moment. Would he be proud of the warrior his son was becoming? Or saddened that he would be going into danger? As he stepped into the main meeting room, he almost dropped in shock when he found the Oracle waiting for him, along with Stew and Jess. Rev prided himself that his steps didn’t falter as he walked up and bowed down on one knee before her. Even with his nerves nearly choking him up, he was taken aback by her beauty. With long, curly blonde hair that hung nearly to her waist and huge, blue eyes, she looked so pure and angelic, it made Rev feel dirty in comparison. Even the flowing gown she wore was white and unblemished, the fabric seeming so soft that it would tear if Rev dared to touch it. Placing a hand on his shoulder, the Oracle spoke, “You never wanted this life.” Since Rev knew it would be useless to lie to her—she was all-knowing—he nodded, “No disrespect to my fellow Wardens. I just don’t feel as if I’m good enough to fight what lies ahead of us.” She let out a soft laugh, her voice so melodic it 59

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gave Rev goose bumps. “You have always been ready. From the day you were born, this is your destiny.” “So people keep saying it. I simply can’t believe it. I’m the furthest thing from a warrior.” She ran her fingers through his hair, the gesture reminding him a bit of his mother’s caress. “You have a warrior’s spirit. I felt it from the moment you first took a breath. It’s time you know the whole truth.” Rev felt his chest grow tight with apprehension. “What is that, Oracle?” “Our future depends solely on you and the new generation of Wardens.” “How is that possible? I thought that there were only ten Novices. That’s too small of a number to do any good.” She grew somber as her fingers continued to play with his hair. “Yet, you’re all we have left. Since the Wardens were no longer needed, they have faded into memory and our numbers have dwindled. Now they are needed more than ever and they are at our weakest. You and the others must stand up and fight or else all of humanity will be lost.” Gee, lady. Thanks! Nothing like laying some major pressure on me. It wasn’t until she gave him a narrow-eyed gaze that Rev remembered she could read minds. 60

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Gulping, he forced a contrite expression on his face, “Sorry.” “It’s okay to have doubts and fears. I would worry if you didn’t.” She smiled down at him. “Trust in your Guardian. Jess will be the one who guides you when you are at your lowest.” Rev glanced over at Jess, lust shooting through him at the site of his sexy-as-fuck Guardian. Even with a blackened eye and swollen lip, Jess had to be the hottest thing in Michigan and all the surrounding states. Gods, what he wouldn’t do to have just one bite of that forbidden apple. A muffled laugh snapped Rev out of his licentious musings. He jerked his head toward the Oracle, horror filling him when he caught the amused glint in her eyes. Damn that mindreading trick. It was going to be his undoing. “Probably, but it does entertain me,” she replied aloud. Tapping him on the shoulder, she said, “Now arise, Rev. No longer a Novice, you are a fullfledged Warden.” Rev almost fell back to his knees as shock shot through him. “I’m not done with my training.” “It doesn’t matter. We are out of time and you must make yourself ready. The evil will not wait while you sit around and build up your courage.” “Well, shit. That just sucks,” Rev grumbled. Several gasps filled the room as the others 61

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looked at him in horror for speaking to the Oracle in such a disrespectful manner. She on the other hand, seemed to find the comment funny. She covered her mouth with her fingers as her musical laughter filled the air. “I knew I made the right choice when I paired you up with Jess,” she said. “Why? So he could straighten me out?” “Well, that, but also so you can get the stick out of his ass. Seriously, that guy needs to learn to loosen up a bit. We already face enough doom and gloom as it is without him bringing in his own brand of it.” Rev couldn’t hold back the burst of laughter. She joined in and soon they were both cracking up so hard they had tears in their eyes. It wasn’t exactly how Rev imagined a Warden initiation would have gone down, but he wasn’t complaining since this version was way more fun. Once they sobered, Jess let out a sigh. “Are we finished here? Rev and I have a lot of ground to cover today.” “See what I mean?” the Oracle asked in a loud stage whisper. Rev flashed her a grin before he turned to Jess. “Yeah, I’m ready. I can grab something to eat on the road on our way out.” “I already took care of that.” Jess tossed Rev an energy bar and a bottle of 62

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water. Rev deftly caught both items before he nodded goodbye to the Oracle and followed Jess out. Once they were out of earshot, Rev said, “She wasn’t bad at all. In fact, she’s the type of person I wouldn’t mind hanging out with under normal circumstances.” “You’re lucky she likes you. I’ve seen her kill a Guardian with just one look.” Rev paused, bar midway to his mouth. “You’re just shitting me. There is no way she could ever do that.” “Yeah, she could and she did. Granted, the guy deserved it.” “What did he do?” “He was the one who led the vampires to Ari.” Disgust surged through Rev, making him lose his appetite. “You mean to tell me that a Guardian betrayed Ari?” “Not just any Guardian…it was Ari’s assigned one.” “How could he do that to his Novice?” “The same reason why many people do fucked up things—the vampires offered up a lot of money. Warden blood is at a premium on their black market because they know you guys are stronger and more viral than humans. That’s one of the reasons why we hid your identities so carefully before we let you go to college. We even sent somebody to protect and watch over you.” 63

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“Who?” Rev asked, before the answer suddenly came to him. “Naamah. You guys sent her to spy on us.” “No, we sent her to protect you and make a report back to us if there was anybody stalking you.” Hurt, his appetite suddenly fled. Rev tossed his bar into the nearest garbage bin. “And here I thought she really liked me and was my friend. All along it was some lie.” Jess let out a sigh and for a moment Rev thought he’d once again aggravated his Guardian, until he noted the way Jess’s gaze softened. “She is your friend. You should hear the way she goes on and on about you. I swear if you weren’t gay and she wasn’t a succubus she’d have married you months ago.” “Really?” Rev asked, too upset to be worried about the fact that his sexuality was obviously a well-known fact. “Yes, so don’t be mad at her. She may have started out as your assigned protector, but in the end she truly ended up being your friend.” “You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?” Rev knew he was pouting a bit, but damn it, he was hurt. Naamah had been one of the very few individuals he’d trust and he couldn’t help but feel a bit betrayed. 64

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“You should know by now that I won’t say or do anything to coddle you or ease your tender feelings. So, yeah, I’m telling you the truth.” Jess pulled out another energy bar and thrust it into Rev’s hands. “Now eat, we have a long day ahead of us.” Somewhat mollified, Rev took the bar and ripped it open. Taking a bite, he winced at the dry, grainy texture. “Dude, would it kill you to get something that didn’t taste like one of my old textbooks?” Jess gave him a stone-faced look. “I’ll make sure to buy you some Fruit Roll-Ups next time.” “Oh, thanks! Strawberry is my favorite. I like the Fruit by the Foot, but if you can’t find it, any other kind will do.” The Guardian pinched the bridge of his nose and slowly began to count. Something he seemed to do a lot when they were around each other. At least this time it only took him until the count of thirty before he calmed down. Leading Rev to one of the many black vans, Jess climbed in behind the wheel. That didn’t surprise Rev any. He just didn’t see Jess handing over the keys to anybody. He seemed like a complete control freak and that, no doubt, carried over to driving duty. Rev got in and buckled up, still munching on his gross-as-crap meal. He even tried keeping the 65

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bites in his mouth for a while in hopes of softening up the bark-like texture, but even that didn’t help. He was half-tempted to toss it out the window, but he knew that would only earn him a fresh bar and then he’d have to start all over again from the beginning. At least, with this one he had it halfway eaten. So his torture was partly over. “Where are we going?” Rev asked between bites. “To meet Grandma Agnes.” Jess never took his eyes off the road as he made that declaration. Rev shook his head slowly. “Did you just say Grandma?” “Yes, but don’t let her age fool you. She’s a damn powerful witch.” “What does that have to do with slug demons?” “You really have a lot to learn, don’t you?” Jess’s voice dripped with disapproval. For some reason, knowing he let down his Guardian hurt Rev way more than it should. His stomach clenched as he forced the bite in his mouth down his throat. “I’m sorry,” he finally managed. “I guess I’ll just have to assume you don’t know anything and begin your instruction from the beginning. I should have known that anyway. Stew and his sons may be damn good when it comes to battle skills, but they all suck when it comes to knowledge of paranormal lore and 66

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creatures.” Rev couldn’t argue with that since Jess did have a very valid point. He couldn’t think of one time when he’d seen his uncle or cousins willingly crack open a book. Jess took a deep breath, then began, “Slug demons got their name because of their appearance and for being lazy. They would just as soon hang out in caves in Hell and only come out to feed.” “So why are they free and running around Detroit?” Rev asked. “I’m getting to that if you’ll only be patient and stop interrupting me.” “Sorry, please continue.” “Somebody had to have summoned the slug demons. The only thing is, it would have to be somebody with some damn powerful magic. Not just any witch or warlock has the ability to control demons, even low ranking ones like slug demons.” “But why would anybody want to let those things loose on the city and why would they send them to attack me and Ari?” “I don’t know why anybody would be stupid enough to let the demons loose. As for them going after you and Ari, I’m not sure if that was on the witch’s orders. As Wardens, you guys are a beacon for any paranormal creatures. It’s one of 67

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the reasons I told your uncle that you and Ari shouldn’t have been allowed to live so far away from the compound.” “But up until just a few minutes ago, there weren’t any active Wardens,” Rev pointed out, feeling compelled to defend his uncle. “Just because you weren’t active didn’t mean that you weren’t deemed a threat to any violent paranormal. They can sense your power much the same way a shark detects blood in the water. Plus, remember how badly the vampire wanted Ari? That’s proof enough that the creatures don’t care if you’re active or not. You still have power and they still want it.” “That just sucks.” Jess finally took his eyes off the road long enough to give Rev a grim look. “It’s only going to get worse now, too. Since the Oracle initiated you, your power is at its strongest. So many paranormals are going to be gunning for you that we may as well paint a neon, flashing bulls-eye on your ass.” Well, if that didn’t make Rev feel better… Cue sarcasm. “How about the others? Are they going to be initiated, too?” Jess nodded. “Even as we speak, Ari is going through his ceremony.” “I don’t think he’s ready for it. He still has 68

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nightmares from what happened to him,” Rev argued. “Anger and hate can be pretty strong motivators and the kid has both of those in spades. I think Ari is going to do much better than you think.” “I wonder who his Guardian is going to be?” “Rumor has it, Adam wanted the position.” Well, if the shocking news didn’t just keep a’coming. “How is that possible? Adam is a Warden. I didn’t think you could be both.” “You can’t. The Oracle will refuse him and give Ari a proper assignment.” “Who do you think it will be?” Rev asked. He only hoped his friend got somebody who was understanding and a little more lenient than Jess. Not that Rev hated his Guardian or anything, far from it. He just thought that Ari needed a softer touch. “One can never be certain with the Oracle, but my best guess would be Marty.” “Oh, that’s a relief. She’ll be good for him.” Marty was only a bit older than them, but from what Rev heard, she knew her stuff inside out, plus she actually seemed to have some compassion. A trait most Guardians seemed to lack. Now, the only question that remained was, 69

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would he and Jess be a good pairing. Sure, the Oracle had told Rev to trust the man and, to a certain extent, he did. The only problem was how in the hell was Rev going to handle the ever growing attraction he felt for his Guardian? Worse yet, what would Jess do if he found out? For all Rev knew, the guy wasn’t gay and would be most likely angered or uncomfortable, neither of which boded well for their partnership. Turning to the window, he let out a long sigh. It was already looking as if he was in for a long day.

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Chapter Six shifted in his seat in attempt to relieve some Jess of the pressure in his pants as he shot another sideways glance at Rev. Damn, if he’d thought the brat looked good before, in full Warden regalia he was damn hot and then some. The uniform was custom-made so it molded to his body perfectly. While Rev was a bit shorter and on the thinner side, he also had the build of a fighter. His muscles were compact and coiled as if he were on constant alert of attack. Too bad for Jess, he wanted to be the one who did the attacking—right before he kissed Rev breathless, then fucked him until they were both senseless. Unfortunately, Jess could do neither. So instead, he found himself taking deep breaths in a desperate attempt to calm down his libido. The last thing he wanted was to show up at Agnes’s home sporting an erection. Knowing his luck, she would think it was for her and jump him. When they pulled into the driveway of a twostory colonial, Rev frowned. “She lives here?” 71

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“What were you expecting, a gingerbread house or haunted mansion?” “Well…kind of. This looks like the home of a retired school librarian or something.” Jess turned off the engine and pocketed the keys. “Actually, that’s exactly what she used to do for a living.” Rev shot him a dubious glance. “You’re shitting me?” “Nope, she worked for the local school district for over thirty years.” “Is she a good witch or a bad witch?” Rev asked, mimicking Glinda from the Wizard of Oz almost perfectly. Jess had to bite back a smile. “She is most definitely a bad witch.” “Sheesh…they let anybody work with children these days. You would have thought the school would do a background check. Or at least have a policy in place that nasty witches aren’t welcome.” The amused glint in Rev’s eyes finally broke through Jess’s shields and he smiled. “Maybe they should make that a required question on all job applications.” “It would make our jobs easier.” Rev peered up at the house, his dark gaze assessing every inch. “Oops, looks like we’ve been spotted. I saw the window curtains at the top right corner window’s curtains fluttering.” 72

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“Well, then let’s not keep her waiting.” They got out and went up to the front door, moving somewhat cautiously in case she had any shielding spells up. She must have felt secure enough in her home, or dismantled them, because they didn’t run across any. As Jess knocked on the door, Rev wrinkled his nose. “Do you smell that?” Jess inhaled, but all he detected was the crisp scent from the fall leaves. “No.” “It smells like something is rotten.” A shiver went through Rev. “It kind of reminds me of the slug demons from last night, but it’s a little different.” Shit, did that mean that Agnes had demons in her home? If so, then Rev and Jess just might have walked into a world of trouble. But it was too late, and they couldn’t turn back now. Jess would just have to trust in their skills and hope for the best. The door opened to reveal an old lady who was so sweet looking, she put Betty White to shame. Stooped over a walker, she wore a flowered dress and white cardigan sweater that had wads of Kleenex stuffed up the long sleeves. Her gray hair was almost blue and styled in tight curls. A huge smile crossed over her face, showing off her ill-fitting dentures. “Ah, so the Wardens are once more.” Since Rev was dressed in full regalia, Jess didn’t 73

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offer an answer to that comment, instead saying, “May we come in? We have an issue that has arisen and we hoped that somebody who is so wise in the ways of magic could help us.” Jess knew he was laying it on a bit thick, but it never hurt to be polite. At least in the beginning. If things turned sour, then he would have plenty of time to show off his grumpy side. Agnes let them in, but her gaze remained fixated on Rev. “I knew this time would be coming soon. I just hoped that I’d live long enough to see it. The Wardens are once more. No longer are they relegated to the shadows.” While Agnes talked as if she were happy as a clam on ecstasy, the worried glint in her eyes spoke otherwise. She gestured to her living room. “Please, go grab a seat and get comfortable while I make us some tea.” They went in and perched themselves on an ancient couch that was covered in a pattern that was so loud it hurt Jess’s eyes. He glanced over, silently ordering the Warden not to fire off one of his smartass comments. Rev merely cocked a brow, then shifted, the plastic covering crinkling under his weight. “The reek is worse in here,” Rev whispered. “It’s just because it’s a witch’s home. They have all kinds of herbs and oils all over the place. That’s probably what you’re smelling.” 74

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Rev shook his head. “No, I know the scent that stuff gives off and this isn’t it. Don’t you smell it?” Jess inhaled deeply, but all he detected was the scent of spices and tea. “No, I think you’re just nervous because this is your first mission.” While he nodded, the dubious look in Rev’s eyes screamed he remained unconvinced. Agnes returned, a tray of tea and cookies in her hands, she put them down on the table before she sat in the chair opposite of them. Giving them the sweetest of smiles, she asked, “Now what can I do to help you boys out?” “I have to pee!” Rev blurted in a loud voice. Agnes blinked in confusion, while Jess gave an inward groan. Just when he thought the brat had himself under control, he had to go and prove Jess wrong. Rev blushed, “Sorry, I just had a ton of coffee this morning and it went right through me. I always did have a tiny bladder. It’s my curse in life.” It was on the tip of Jess’s tongue to point out that Rev hadn’t drank any coffee, but a pointed look from Rev stopped him short. Agnes recovered and flashed that smile. “Sure, dear. It’s the first door on the left once you get upstairs.” Rev tilted his head to the side in a sign of respect. “Thank you so much, ma’am. I promise to be quick.” 75

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“Make sure to wash your hands when you’re finished,” she called after him as he walked away. Rev paused at the doorway and grinned. “I promise. I’ll even use soap.” Jess used the distraction to wave his hand over the tray. On his index finger, he wore a special ring that had a red stone in the middle. It was gift from a former warlock lover of his and the ruby would glow if it detected poison. When it remained dark, he let out a sigh of relief since the cookies did look pretty good. Even if they did appear to be lemon. Agnes looked back over at him, then poured him some tea in a delicate looking porcelain cup. “Would you like some cream or sugar?” “Both, please.” She added the requested items before handing over the cup. Jess took a drink, a slow moan of approval passing through his lips. This sure as hell beat the crap that passed for coffee in the compound’s break room. “So what can I do for you, Guardian?” Agnes asked. Jess took another sip before answering, “I don’t know if you’re aware or not, but there have been some slug demon attacks.” She made a small sound of distress, one wrinkled hand going to her chest. “Slug demons! How vile.” 76

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“Yes, and they’ve killed some innocent civilians, so you can understand that we need to stop them as soon as possible.” “Of course. But I don’t see how I can help you.” “Only a strong witch such as yourself can summon slug demons,” Jess pointed out, feeling somewhat bad for accusing such a sweet, old lady. He looked up the stairs, frowning as he wondered what in the hell was taking Rev so long. Just how long did it take to piss? At this rate, the kid was going for a world record. “Surely you don’t think I could have something to do with that,” Agnes gasped, her eyes watering just a bit. A thump sounded from upstairs, the sound so loud it made the pictures on the wall shake. Heart hammering, because he just knew that it was Rev’s doing, Jess kept his face straight as he pretended he hadn’t heard it. His confusion grew when Agnes didn’t react to the sound either. Perhaps her hearing was going or something. After all, she did look old and that said something for witches since they lived for hundreds of years. “Of course we don’t think it was you,” Jess assured. “But, we both know that you’re powerful enough to conjure up the spell. Since there are very few in the area with that kind of magical ability, we have to question everybody.” 77

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A sharp curse filled the air, followed by a growl and then the sound of glass shattering. Jess’s heart froze as he looked through the huge bay window behind Agnes and saw Rev falling from the second floor. A moment later a dark, large fourlegged shape followed him. Yet, Jess and Agnes continued to act as if nothing odd was happening. There was no doubt in Jess’s mind anymore that she was aware of the commotion going on in her front yard. She may be hard of hearing, but she seemed perfectly capable of holding a conversation, which meant wasn’t totally deaf. “Can you think of any other witches or warlocks who might be responsible for summoning the slug demons?” Jess asked as he took a bite of cookie. Damn, it was just as good as the tea. He glanced back out of the window in time to see Rev stand, the blades strapped to his wrists extended as he fought off a…hellhound? Now, why in the hell did Agnes have one of those in her house? Agnes tapped a finger against her chin as she appeared to be thinking the question over. “It could be my husband, Walter.” The hellhound leapt up, its furless black body seeming to loom over Rev before it attacked and brought him down. “Is Walter home?” 78

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A muffled gunshot filled the air, followed by a long, high-pitched howl. Rev staggered back to his feet, black blood covering his face. His lip curled into a snarl before he said something that Jess couldn’t hear, but going by the way the Warden’s lips moved, it was either fucker or ducker. Knowing his Warden, it was the former. Agnes still was playing dumb. “I don’t know what hole that idiot is hiding out in. I kicked the cheating bastard out a few weeks ago.” The hound lunged up again, Rev’s eyes widened in shock before he was dragged back to the ground, his cry of surprise so loud that it carried over into the living room. “You have no idea where I can find Walter?” Jess asked. While he felt some concern over Rev, he knew that his Warden would eventually be able to take out the hellhound. The things may be vicious and stubborn as hell, but Rev did have more than enough skill to bring it down. Agnes frowned, anger flashing over her face. Gone was the sweet old lady and in its place was the expression of a woman scorned. “No, I have no idea where the bastard is and I say good riddance. Maybe, we’ll get lucky and the slug demons will turn on him.” Rev staggered to his feet again, his blades dripping with fresh blood. 79

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“Do you know the name of the tramp he cheated on you with?” Jess asked, thinking that maybe if he acted like he shared her outrage, she would be more accommodating. “How should I know? All I’m certain of is that she was some kind of demon hussy because he reeked of her when he came home. As soon as I smelled him, I kicked his ass out.” Even as Jess nodded to her, he watched as Rev pulled out his Glock and slid in a magazine that was made with bullets infused with holy water. Giving the demon a snarky smile, he shot twice. The beast screamed once and then fell silent. That finally got granny’s attention. She sprang to the window and yelled, “Oh, no!” Running much faster than she should be able to for her age, she dashed outside, Jess hot on her heels. He almost tripped in shock when he finally got a good look at the now dead hellhound. It had to be the biggest one he’d ever seen. The ugliest, too, even though its red eyes no longer glowed, they still seemed to bug out from its almost skeletal black face. Long claws adorned each paw and its rat-like tail had a wicked looking barb on the end. “What did you do to Fluffy?” Agnes shrieked. “Fluffy?” Rev echoed, his face etched with disgust. There was also a fair amount of blood on his 80

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face, but a quick glance told Jess it was black, so none of it was Rev’s. In fact, aside from the bruises he no doubt earned from the fall, he looked unharmed. He didn’t even carry any visible wounds from their sparring yesterday since Wardens healed quickly. Jess on the other hand, was still sporting a set of sore ribs. The only reason he could move at all was because his warlock friend had been able to partially mend his bones. “You killed my puppy!” Agnes wailed, her eyes flashing with anger. “No, he killed your hellhound. A creature that is illegal for anyone to own,” Jess pointed out sternly. Agnes raised her hands in Jess’s direction, magical energy crackling on her palms. Moving so quickly it was just a blur, Rev raised the Glock and fired again. This time the bullet kicking into the grass, inches from Agnes’s feet. She yelped as she dropped her hands. “Nobody…and I mean nobody threatens my Guardian,” Rev snarled, for the first time sounding like the warrior he was born to be. Turning to Jess, Rev asked, “Did you get the information we needed?” Still noting that Rev held the gun at ready and aimed at Agnes, Jess nodded. “Yes.” “Good, then we can go back to the compound. I 81

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want to soak in a long hot bath so I can get all this crap off me.” “We don’t have time for that. You’re going to have to make do with a quick wipe down in Agnes’s sink.” When Rev looked dangerously close to pouting, Jess added, “I promise that I’ll drive through whatever greasy, fast-food joint you want. No more energy bars.” Rev lowered the gun. “Fine, but I get to Supersize the meal and you better not bitch once about how bad it is for me.” With those final words, he spun on his heel and stormed inside the house. Jess glanced down first at the dead hound, then back at Agnes who was weeping over her dead pet. “Do you realize how many people you endangered by keeping this thing?” “I made sure Fluffy only hurt bad people.” When Jess just cocked his brow and didn’t say anything else, Agnes wrung her hands together. “Okay, maybe I let him snack on an occasional salesman or two, but who doesn’t want to punish those bastards from time-to-time?” “You do know I have to report this to the nearest coven leader?” Jess said. From what he could recall that would be Ethan, a half-vampire, half-warlock. While he seemed to be a good and compassionate leader, somehow Jess didn’t see him overlooking an offense this 82

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grave. “Oh, dear,” Agnes breathed. Oh, dear indeed. Things just kept getting more and more complicated.

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Chapter Seven

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ev bit into his burger and groaned in pure bliss. It was greasy, slathered in catsup and covered in cheese. In other words, it was sheer perfection. Jess shot him a look of disgust from the driver’s seat. “How can you eat that crap?” “Remember, you’re not allowed to bitch about it,” Rev singsonged before he took another huge bite. “I’m not bitching, I’m just asking a question?” Rev shook his head. “Have you ever even tried one?” Jess wrinkled his nose. “God, no.” “Let me guess, you’re a vegan or something.” “No, I just watch what goes into my body.” Rev sighed. Damn, didn’t the guy ever loosen up? Holding up the burger, he urged, “Come on. Try a nibble. I’ll bet you love it.” Jess batted his hand away. “Get that thing away from me. My arteries are going to get clogged just from smelling that thing.” 84

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Horror filled Rev. “Oh, sweet Oracle. You’re a health nut.” For Rev, that thought was more terrifying than having to take on a hundred hellhounds. He’d rather face them and a band of ghouls than go without his Big Macs, plus don’t even get him started on the McRib. Whenever they promoted that particular item, it was as if Christmas had come early for Rev. He shoved a big handful of fries into his mouth. The salty goodness washed away the last of the bad feelings left from the fight. “Now that your mouth is full and you can’t talk back, I have a question for you,” Jess said. Going by the serious tone of his voice, Rev wasn’t going to like the direction the conversation was taking. Since he couldn’t very well argue, he just nodded as he chewed vigorously in an attempt to get the fries down. “How was it you ended up in the front yard with the hellhound?” Rev carefully thought over that answer as he finished chewing. “It was your fault for not trusting me.” “What are you talking about?” “The Oracle said I should trust you, so the same should hold true in reverse.” “Why should I trust you when we just met?” Rev couldn’t believe that it was actually he who 85

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had to spell this out. Wasn’t it supposed to be the Guardians who were giving the lessons? “You should trust me because the Oracle put us together. We were fated to be partners, so that means I could never turn on you. Just like you could never betray me. Look, I know that I’m not what you want in a Warden. I mess up sometimes and I have a lot to learn fighting-wise. Plus, I’m a nerd who loves Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. But for some reason fate decide that we should work together and, if we fight it, one of us is going to end up hurt or worse.” It shocked Rev to his toes when Jess appeared to actually be thinking that over. After a few moments, the Guardian nodded, “Okay, you have a point there. I’ll try not to be so distrustful of your judgment in the future.” It wasn’t exactly the glowing endorsement that Rev wanted, but it was a start, so he decided to take it. He continued to eat until Jess asked, “So, how did you meet up with the hellhound?” “Well, I knew right away from the smell that something was wrong. I made up the excuse of having to go to the bathroom so I could explore a bit. I followed the rank smell and it didn’t take me long to find the little, hairless bastard.” “Where was he?” “Locked up in her bedroom.” “And you just had to open the door to see it for 86

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yourself?” Rev shrugged. “Sure, not only did I have to make certain, but I’ve never seen one before.” When Jess gave him an incredulous look, Rev shrugged again. “Hey, I was curious. So sue me. It’s a trait all Wardens have.” “Let me guess, as soon as you opened the door, the hound was on you.” “Yeah,” Rev nodded enthusiastically, “the damn thing didn’t even growl a warning or anything. It just jumped me quicker than a go-go boy in desperate need of tips.” If Rev hadn’t known better, he would have sworn that he saw a hint of a smile playing on Jess’s lips. “So, I take it you met Randy from the Flamingo then?” Rev perked up, a shot of desire shooting through his battered and weary body. “You’ve been there before?” “Plenty of times before I found out that I had better things to do than spend my time at gay clubs.” “Please, don’t tell me that you’re bi and decided to go for women instead.” Rev knew he was flirting, but he couldn’t help himself. What gay man in his right mind would be able to resist the sex-on-a-stick guy sitting next to him? Better yet, Jess was smart, too, which made him all the more irresistible. 87

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“If that’s your subtle way of asking if I’m gay and single, then it’s yes to both.” “Oh.” Rev grinned, a flush of happiness went through him. “That still doesn’t affect our relationship though. It has to remain strictly platonic between us.” Disappointment crashed through Rev, making his chest grow tight. “Am I that unattractive?” Jess took his gaze away from the road to shoot Rev an incredulous look. “Are you kidding me? You have done nothing but tempt me from the second I saw you in those ridiculous pajamas. You are the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen and I would love nothing more than to fuck you stupid.” Wow, once Jess opened up, he didn’t hold back. Lust pooled in Rev’s gut before moving down to his cock. “Then why can’t we have some fun?” “It’s against regulation for any Warden to get too close to anybody, especially his Guardian.” “What are you talking about? My father loved my mother more than anything.” “And that was his downfall. It made him lose focus on his destiny and he died because of it.” That hurt….bad, but Rev decided to let it pass for the moment. “If Wardens aren’t allowed to get close, then how are they supposed to produce the next generation? I may be a complete stranger to the whole breeding thing, but doesn’t a guy have 88

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to get up close and personal to get a chick pregnant?” “The women were always a surrogate of sorts. Even in ancient times, they knew better than to become attached to a Warden.” “So the Wardens just dropped their seeds and took off,” Rev grunted. “That seems like a pretty dicky thing to do.” “It used to be considered a great honor to bear a future Warden. The women were treated as royalty and cared for. They never wanted for anything.” “Except maybe a loving relationship.” Rev shook his head in disgust. “So, where does this leave me? I hate to break it to you guys, but there is no way in hell I can get it up for a girl.” “We’ll have to figure out a way. The Warden tradition passes only from father-to-son. If you don’t produce a child, our numbers will dwindle even more.” Rev wrinkled his nose. “Then you better find a turkey baster or something, because that’s the only way it’s going to happen.” “Do you have to be so crude?” Rev shifted in a bit closer. “Okay, let me ask you this? Would you be able to sleep with a woman?” After a few moments, Jess let out a sigh. “No, I couldn’t. I’ll talk to the Oracle and see if there are 89

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other ways around this. Maybe you don’t have to naturally conceive the child for it to work.” Feeling brave because he’d managed to prove Jess wrong on two occasions, Rev reached out and lightly brushed a finger down the Guardian’s cheek. “Does that mean you’ll relent and have some fun with me? I promise not to get too attached to you. We can just be fuck buddies.” The last part was a bold-face lie, since Rev was pretty certain he was already way too fond of the Guardian, but Jess didn’t have to know that. When Jess didn’t bat his hand away, Rev felt a heady sense of victory. He even leaned in closer so he could blow into Jess’s ear. “Nobody will ever have to know. It can be our little secret.” “Are you always this forward?” Jess demanded. It pleased Rev when he detected the slightest tremor in the man’s voice. Blowing in his ear again, Rev said, “Only when I see something I want.” “And how often does that happen?” “Often enough, to know that I won’t stop until I get what I want.” In truth, Rev had very little experience. Aside from a few hook-ups and a couple times with Ari, he hadn’t been that adventurous. He sure as hell hadn’t ever been as flirtatious as he was being with Jess, but there was something in the 90

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Guardian that just made Rev feel reckless. Jess finally put a hand at the center of Rev’s chest and gently pushed him away. “Back down, tiger. Nothing is going to happen between us.” Rev settled back in his seat and fell silent. That wasn’t because he agreed with the Guardian. Far from it. If Rev had his way, he’d have Jess in his bed, sooner rather than later. He just had to find a way to persuade the stubborn man to break the rules. Hiding a smile, Rev realized he had the best weapon of all at his disposal—Naamah. As a succubus, she would know exactly what Rev would have to do to make Jess fall for him. Poor Jess wouldn’t know what hit him. Jess pulled up in front of an abandoned theater in the heart of the city. That surprised Rev. Not because that once-opulent establishment was left to rot and was unused as there were plenty of unwanted, neglected houses and buildings in Detroit. Most of them still displayed what had once been great architecture, too. It was just now hidden under layers of graffiti and other forms of vandalism. Rev frowned. “What are we doing here?” “My intel tells me that a lamia named Bathsheba is holed up here.” A start of shock made Rev jump. “A lamia is here in the city and nobody has taken her out 91

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yet?” “This city is ground zero for most of the civil wars going on between the paranormals, so right now she’s the least of their worries.” “But we’re going to take her out, right? I mean don’t they suck the souls from the elderly and children?” “You bet your sweet ass we’re taking her out, but not until she answers a few questions for us.” “Like what?” Rev peered into the building, but couldn’t detect any activity inside. “Agnes claims that her husband is having an affair with some slutty demoness. Now what would a female demon want from some old geezer?” Rev gasped as he realized what Jess was hinting at. “Oh, shit! You’re right! An elderly man who is full of magic would be all the more alluring to her. Damn it, she must be sucking him dry. Do you think she’s using him to lure the slug demons in?” “Oh, no. I know without a doubt it’s Agnes. She summoned them to kill Bathsheba. The only thing that Agnes didn’t count on was the fact that it’s damn near impossible to control slug demons once you summon them. Plus, not even they are stupid enough to try to take on a lamia.” “Then why are we here?” Jess gave a grim look. “Because as a Guardian and Warden, we can’t let her live. She’s a threat to 92

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every civilian in the city and we can’t allow that to continue.” Rev nodded with understanding, although he didn’t relish the task ahead of them. Lamia were one of the hardest demons to kill. “Wow, nothing like throwing me into the fire on my first day.” “If I didn’t think you were ready for it, I never would have brought you here.” “Awww…” Rev mockingly batted his eyes. “So you do like me after all.” “Don’t get too cocky. The only reason I think you’ll do okay is because I’ll be there backing you up.” “Oh.” Rev sat back, properly chastised. “I do have one question though. If you know Agnes is responsible for the slug demons, why didn’t we kill her along with her ugly ass dog?” “Because we need her to lead us to the slug demon lair. Plus, I don’t want the lamia to know we are on to this little love triangle. We’re going to need the element of surprise to take her out.” Rev took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. He still ached from his sparring session with Jess and the bitch-slap fest with Fluffy, but he knew turning back wasn’t an option. Whether or not he’d wanted it, this was his life now. “Okay, let’s go get the lamia.”

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Chapter Eight

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kay, no doubt about it, lamia were ten times freakier than slug demons. Rev clutched his short sword tighter as he eyed up the woman…snake…hybrid…whatever the fuck one called it. As for him, he was going to go with gross as shit. Her top half wouldn’t be so bad. Sure, she was topless and while he’d never been attracted to breasts, he could admire a good pair. Which she had. But that’s all she had going for her. The rest of her body was covered in shimmery blue and green scales that seemed to shift color as she moved. Her hair was a mass of black dreadlocks, which looked as if it’d never been washed, and she wore a ragged, black skirt that was ripped up the sides. The gaps showed off a set of horribly deformed legs that looked almost like Popeye meets Shrek. They were greener than the rest of her body and so beefy, the muscles were more like lumps of flesh than anything else. Even her eyes were a freak-fest. Slanted with 94

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bright green irises and the pupils were elongated. When she smiled, she showed off a set of fangs that were dripping venom. She jerked in shock as Rev and Jess barged in. Glancing down at an elderly man, who lay unmoving at her feet, she said, “Boys, hasn’t anybody told you it’s not nice to come uninvited to dinner?” She gave the body at her feet a hard kick and when the man didn’t move, Rev realized that poor, demented Grandma Agnes was now a widow. Well, at least she could bury her hubby with Fluffy. Maybe it was nerves or something, but that thought seemed so funny that a short burst of laughter escaped his lips before he could stop it. Bathsheba shot him a scathing glare. “You think this is funny, Warden?” “Actually, yeah.” Crossing her arms over her bare chest, she asked, “What exactly amuses you?” “Besides your horrible lack of fashion sense, the fact that you actually think your hair looks good that way,” Rev shot back. He hoped that if he pissed her off enough, she’d lose control and fight recklessly. Going by the set of muscles under her sad excuse of a skirt, he was going to need every advantage he could get. She tilted her head toward Jess. “Guardian, are 95

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you going to let your Warden get away with talking that way?” Jess shrugged as if he could give a damn. “I keep trying to beat the brat out of him, but so far he’s proven to be as stubborn as hell. Kids these days, what can you do with them?” She smiled wider, showing off her fangs. “You could always just suck him dry and leave the husk for the scavengers?” “True, but the uniform is custom fitted just for him and since we already went to the expense of having the outfit made, it would be a shame to waste all that money,” Jess replied in a deadpan voice. Rev used that moment of distraction to whip out his Glock. Not missing a beat, he fired, the bullet hitting her directly between the eyes. She let out a shriek as she fell down, her body landing on the ground with a heavy thud. “Well, that was anti-climactic,” Rev sighed. When Jess just gave him that cock-eyed look, Rev groaned. “Oh, shit. It’s not over, is it?” As if answering his cue, the lamia leapt back to her feet and attacked Rev, her fangs bared and ready to strike. Rev moved back, but this time he wasn’t quick enough and she caught him around the middle of the waist. They fell to the dusty, debris-ridden ground in a tangle of limbs, claws and curses. Recovering, 96

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Rev managed to wedge his feet between them. Kicking out, he thrust her away from him. Her body slammed into the opposite wall, and a large crack was left in what had once been and intricately painted canvas. “I’m going to kill you for that. You just ruined my favorite picture.” Rev grimaced when he noted it was a depiction of a little girl running through a field of daisies. Given that this chick preyed on children, the image made him want to shiver. “Are you pissed off enough yet to finish this?” Jess asked in a bored tone. “Hell, yeah,” Rev replied. He reached under his cloak and pulled out a longsword. While he rarely used it, he still handled the weapon with ease. The lamia shrieked and surged forward again. At the same moment, Rev brought up his sword and leveled it so it was pointed at her chest. Her eyes widened in horror, but it was already too late. Her body impaled itself on his sword, the blade piercing her heart. “So rude,” she proclaimed, her words gurgling around the puddle of blood already pouring from her mouth. “I’ll make sure my Guardian spanks me for being such a naughty boy,” Rev cooed. He kicked the body away, pulling his sword 97

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free. The lamia fell on the ground next to poor Walter, and this time the bitch didn’t get back up. Using the ugly ass skirt to clean his blade, Rev asked, “So, can I go home and take my bath now?” Jess sighed before he did that counting thing again. This time he got to forty before he seemed ready to talk again. “Fine, but we’re still having a training session tonight. Make sure you’re not late either.” Rev sank back into the tub and let out a satisfied groan as the hot water eased some of the aches in his muscles. He inhaled deeply, letting the fragrant cherry bubble bath erase the memory of some of the foul stenches he’d dealt with that day. While he tried to keep his mind clear and relaxed, he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about Jess and their earlier encounter in the car. Now that Rev knew the Guardian returned his attraction, he felt more frustrated than ever. Why in the hell did they have that stupid rule that Wardens weren’t allowed to form attachments and why in the hell was Jess so determined to follow it? That stupid rule had to be centuries old and was so antiqued. It only made sense that it should be updated to fit with the new times. Or at least that’s what Rev hoped would happen. 98

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He briefly considered making a plea to the Oracle, but quickly dismissed it. Not only did he have no idea of how to reach her, but he didn’t know if she would even listen to the opinion of a newly initiated Warden. He scooped up a handful of bubbles and idly blew them as he wondered just how in the hell he was going to fix his situation. Even before he’d gone away, he’d been halfway in love with Jess, and now that Rev was almost constantly in the man’s presence, his attraction had only grown stronger. The door burst open. Rev yelped as he ducked under the bubbles to hide as much of his bits as he could. When he saw that it was Naamah, he let out an aggravated grunt. “Did you ever hear of knocking?” he asked. She shrugged a shoulder before perching herself on the edge of the tub. “Please…like you have anything I haven’t seen before.” “Do you remember that talk we had about boundaries? This,” he waved a hand back and forth between them, “is a perfect example of that.” “You really need to loosen up a bit. What’s up with you? You’re usually not this tense.” Rev thought about holding in his little secret, but then recalled his little plan on getting her help. “It’s Jess.” Her eyebrows shot up knowingly. “I thought 99

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that he may become a problem the moment I heard he was going to be your Guardian.” “He’s not mean or anything,” Rev quickly defended. “It’s just…” “You want to jump aboard and ride him like the Matterhorn?” Rev paused, horror filling him. “Am I that obvious?” “Well, yes, but you also need to remember I’m a succubus and I can sense arousal. And, baby, whenever you’re near him, you reek of it.” She moved in to deliver her next zinger. “News flash—he smells of it, too. That man wants you something bad.” Knowing that didn’t make Rev feel any better. It only solidified how dismal the situation really was. “Yeah, he admitted he has feelings for me.” “Then why so glum, drum?” “Because he refuses to do anything about it. Because of our Warden-Guardian situation, plus the whole rule that says Wardens aren’t supposed to develop any attachments.” She let out a laugh. “That’s the biggest piece of bullshit I’ve ever heard. I hate to break it to them, but you have done nothing but develop attachments. You have your friendship with me and Ari. You’re close to your cousins and most days you even like your uncle.” Rev pressed his lips together as he mulled that 100

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one over. Naamah actually did have a very valid point. “Okay, so how do I convince Jess that it’s okay for us to be together?” “He’s going to be a tough cookie to crack. He’s so by the rules that he actually slows down for yellow lights.” “I was thinking about asking you for some tips. You know, on how to seduce a guy…” he suggested. When she burst out laughing, it did little to bolster his already battered ego. “You don’t need to make fun of me,” he grumbled. She waved a hand. “I’m sorry, sweetie. It’s just you’re the least seductive person I know.” “Hey! I can be sexy if I want to.” “No, you can be cute. Which is the exact opposite.” “Great,” Rev groaned as he sank deeper in the bubbles. “So, what do you suggest I do?” “Just keep being yourself. That’s what Jess likes about you.” Rev felt all his hopes do a crash dive. “Yeah, because that’s been working like gangbusters so far. Sometimes I feel like he wants me and then in the next moment it’s as if he can’t even stand to be in the same room as me.” She reached out and ruffled his hair. “You need a good stress reliever. I’d offer to give you a blow101

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job, but somehow I don’t think you’d take me up on the offer. So, why don’t you go to the training room and dance out your stress? That’s always worked for you in the past.” Rev shot her a dubious look. “I don’t think so. Somebody could see me.” “Don’t worry about that. The place is deserted because everybody is out looking for leads on the slug demons.” When he continued to hesitate, she sang, “They have a great sound system in there.” Oh, there was no way he could resist that temptation and she damn well knew it. Smiling, he nodded. “Okay, I have a little time before my next training session. I may as well have some fun.” What could possibly go wrong?

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Chapter Nine ran back to his apartment for quick shower Jess and meal before returning to the compound. As soon as he entered the building, Naamah descended on him. “You’ll never believe what Rev is doing.” she announced. Tension coiled through Jess as he thought of all the ways his Warden could find trouble. And that list was damn long. Sure, they may be in the safety of the compound, but Rev could find trouble in a packed church during the middle of a Sunday service. “What did he do this time?” Jess asked, steeling himself for the answer. Naamah just shook her head before she muttered, “He really is a naughty Warden. You should do something about that.” She then walked away from him without revealing anything more. Frustrated, Jess yelled, “That’s not news to me. Are you going to tell me what he’s up to or not?” 103

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“He’s in the training room,” she called back, her voice suspiciously laced with amusement. Jess watched her go, his mind whirling with confusion, before he decided that if he was going to find any answers he would have to go to the damn training room to find them out for himself. With a heavy sigh, he walked at a brisk pace through the compound. He heard the music before he saw Rev. The song was something by Britney Spears. Jess couldn’t be for certain since he wasn’t a huge fan, but he thought it was Till the World Ends. Although to be fair to him, it was even harder to figure out since Rev was singing along—badly. Actually, badly would be a kind term. The kid was butchering the song. He was beyond tone deaf and he was so pitchy that Randy Jackson would weep with grief. Then Jess rounded the corner, peered into the room and suddenly didn’t give a damn about the bad singing. Hell, a whole choir of zombies could start chiming in and he wouldn’t have cared. All that he could focus on was how damn good Rev looked at the moment. The Warden didn’t have a clue that he had an audience so he danced with abandon. His body rocked perfectly to the beat, his ass shaking so provocatively under his black workout pants that Jess found himself nearly panting in desire. 104

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When Rev did this shimmy move, his pelvis thrusting in a perfect imitation of fucking, Jess had to grip the doorframe to steady himself. Shit, the moves the kid was throwing off were so alluring, they should be illegal. Rev let out a particularly ear-shattering note as he spun around—and froze, his eyes widening in shock as he spotted Jess standing there. Time seemed to freeze as they both stared at each other. The arousal building so strongly that it almost felt palpable. Jess knew he should turn away. That he should leave. Or that he should at least stop himself from groaning in desire. In the end, he was helpless to do any of those things. Rev moved first, slowly walking toward Jess. The dark desire stamped in the Warden’s eyes spoke of his intent, but Jess still found himself unable to pull away. Once he was close enough, Rev reached up, cupped the back of Jess’s head and brought the Guardian’s head down. Their lips met in the sweetest, but most earthshattering of kisses. Desire rolled over Jess in waves as he felt the pressure of Rev’s warm, soft lips. Jess only resisted a moment, before he groaned in surrender. Wrapping his arms around Rev, he brought the younger man in closer, crushing their bodies together. Rev was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, but Jess could also feel the Warden’s erection pressing 105

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against him. Rev didn’t seem embarrassed about it—quite the opposite. He fisted his free hand in the front of Jess’s shirt and rocked forward, grinding their cocks together. Jess growled, the alpha in him needing to dominate and control. Moving one hand, he threaded it through Rev’s hair and tugged, forcing him to tilt his head further back. Once Rev complied, Jess thrust his tongue inside, the spicy taste of the man exploding over Jess’s senses. Then Rev let out the sweetest of sighs and it was all Jess could do not to tear the man’s clothes off and fuck him into the mat. Then, just as his fingers were inching toward the hem of Rev’s shirt to do just that, all of Jess’s common sense came flooding back. Uttering a curse, he abruptly broke off the kiss and backed up. Rev let out a soft sound of confusion, stumbling forward a couple of steps before he caught his balance. His eyes were still filled with lust, but there was also a fair amount of bewilderment there. “Did I do something wrong?” Rev asked in a small voice. Damn, but didn’t it feel like a punch in the gut to hear the hurt in the Warden’s question. Rubbing a finger over his still tingling lips, Jess shook his head. “If there is anybody at fault here, 106

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it’s me.” Rev nipped at his bottom lip. “Why? I was the one who started it.” “And I had no business finishing it.” “Well, technically nothing was finished since we both have our clothes still on.” While Rev’s comment came out as teasing, the pain still lingered in those chocolate brown eyes of his. “We can’t do this,” Jess said, taking another couple of steps back. “Why not? I don’t care about some stupid old rules. In fact, they don’t even matter anymore since I already care for you. A lot, in fact.” No! No! No! This couldn’t be happening. If Rev continued with this conversation, then Jess would have no choice but to go to the Oracle and request that Rev be assigned another Guardian. That would mean they would never be able to spend any more time together and Jess didn’t even want to contemplate that thought. A world without Rev would be so bleak and meaningless. “Don’t say anything more,” Jess whispered raggedly. The crestfallen expression in Rev’s face nearly destroyed Jess. He wanted nothing more than to take Rev into his arms and assure him that everything would be okay. That they would find some way to be together. But since none of that 107

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could ever be true, Jess did the worst thing of all— he turned coward. Spinning around, he walked out of the room without another word. **** Rev curled up in a tight ball on his bed inside his new apartment and tried hard to work up the energy to get his ass up and moving. He knew he really needed to get to the compound and log some training time in, but he just didn’t have it in him to face anybody at the moment. A timid knock sounded on the door, before Ari’s voice called, “I’m getting ready to leave. Are you coming?” “No, I don’t feel so hot,” Rev replied, burying his head into his pillow. There was a long pause and he could almost hear Ari’s disapproval. “You missed the last three days. If you keep this up, your uncle is going to hand you your ass.” Like Rev really gave a crap. Since he’d fucked up and thrown himself at Jess, his damn life had taken a nosedive into sucksville. Not only had Jess been avoiding him like the plague, but Rev had been feeling like an idiot. Why had he ever thought that somebody as smart, strong, hot, levelheaded and amazing as Jess would be interested in some Comic-Con reject 108

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dork like him? Rev pulled up the covers and grabbed the remote, turning on an old episode of Star Trek. Maybe some Tribbles could take his mind off his own problems for a while. The episode had just finished before another knock sounded, this one louder and more insistent. Before Rev could tell whoever it was to go the fuck away, the door opened and Naamah stormed in. “What in the hell is your problem?” she demanded. “I…” Rev trailed off as he got a good look at her outfit. “Why are you dressed up as a slutty version of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz?” “Because it’s Halloween tonight.” He frowned as he tried to figure out just how many days he’d been pouting away in his new bedroom. “It is?” She gave a sad shake of her head as she sank down on the bed next to him. “Wow, this is worse than I even thought. Why don’t you tell bestie Naamah what happened.” So Rev revealed the whole incident, not leaving out any detail, no matter how embarrassing it was. When he finished, she gave another shake of her head. “I blame myself for this.” He frowned in confusion. “Why?” “Because I should never have left something 109

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this important up to you and Jess. No offense, but sometimes, even put together, you two don’t have a clue. I guess this means we’re going to have to do things my way.” Oh, boy. Rev didn’t like the way that sounded. “What exactly are you planning on doing?” A sharp-toothed smile was his only warning before she descended on him, her fangs extended and at the ready. Pinning him to the bed, she cooed, “Don’t worry, baby. It’ll only hurt for a second.” She struck, her fangs sinking into his neck. Rev screamed as agony shot through his body—a few moments later, however, the most extreme arousal he’d ever felt in his life slammed into him. It hurt. It screamed for relief. It was a need that had to be met immediately. Rev’s only problem was the sole person who could fulfill that need was not only miles away…he wanted nothing to do with Rev. He clawed at the bed, his hips thrusting up but meeting only air. Blinking groggily at Naamah, he watched as she wiped a bit of remaining blood from her lips. His blood! “What did you just do to me?” he panted, his dick growing so hard that it began to hurt. She grinned. “Trust me, once Jess sees you this way, he’ll have no choice but to help you out.” Damn it, Rev had wanted Jess, but not this way. 110

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It seemed so wrong and tainted. Yet at the same time, Rev knew that if Jess didn’t get here and give him some relief soon, he was going to be in trouble. While one couldn’t die from blue balls, they could go crazy from not fulfilling the arousal brought on by a succubus bite. Rolling his head against the pillow as another wave of painful lust roared through his body, Rev panted, “Jess. I need Jess.” He only hoped that his Guardian arrived in time.

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Chapter Ten cursed under his breath as he rushed up the Jess steps leading to the small apartment Rev and Ari recently moved into. Ever since he’d gotten the short but urgent call from Naamah, his heart hadn’t ceased hammering, all he could think of were the words she’d spoke, Rev is in trouble. He needs you now. Hurry, there isn’t much time. Since he had a key, he let himself in, bellowing, “Rev! Where are you?” “He’s in here and you better hurry. The situation is really getting quite…uh, out of hand?” Naamah called back. Jess rushed in, only to come to a skidding halt at the sight that awaited him. Rev lay in the bed, his pants open just enough to free his cock. He stroked his erection in quick, frantic strokes as a series of frustrated whimpers slipped past his lips. Sweat glistened over his body and his cheeks were flushed with arousal. As soon as Jess’s gaze honed in on to the twin 112

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set of pin pricks marring Rev’s neck, anger surged through him. Turning to Namaah, he snarled, “What in the fuck were you thinking?” She shrugged, completely unconcerned by his outburst, “Just that—fucking. It’s about time you two got it on and since neither one of you were getting your heads out of your asses long enough to make it happen, I decided I needed to do something to push things along.” “So, injecting him with an aphrodisiac is your idea of helping?” At that moment, Rev cried out as his cock erupted, streams of semen covering his hand. He breathed a sigh of relief that was cut short when he remained erect, “Fuck, not again. It just won’t let up.” The pain in Rev’s voice cut into Jess like a blade. He glared back at her. “I can’t do this. It’s not right.” She shrugged. “Fine, I’ll just go get somebody else to help Rev. I’m sure Ari or one of the other Wardens or Guardians would be more than happy.” Before he could stop it, a possessive growl burst from his chest. “Nobody else is allowed touch him.” She cocked a brow. “Well, somebody better do something. We can’t have Rev hurting.” Damn it, but she was right. Jess took one more 113

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look at the pain etched on Rev’s sweet face and knew there was no way he could leave his baby suffering. Giving Naamah one last glare, he snapped, “Get out. We’ll discuss what you did later.” She had the gall to smile and give him a lightfingered wave before she sauntered out. It wasn’t until he heard the front door shut that Jess moved toward the bed. Rev glanced up, his eyes so wild that the pupils were nearly blown. “I’m so sorry, I never asked her to do this. She just jumped me.” Pulling off his clothes, Jess replied, “I know.” “Shit, I’ve dreamed about being with you for years and I never thought it would be like this. I feel like I’m forcing you.” It drew Jess aback to know that Rev had been attracted to him for so long. It touched him in so many ways that he felt the last bit of his reservations dissolve. Stripping down the rest of the way, he said, “You’re not forcing me to do anything I don’t want. I promise.” Rev whimpered, “I hurt so bad.” “I know you do. I’m going to make you feel better.” And Jess began to do just that, dipping his head down to swirl his tongue around the head of Rev’s cock, before taking him all the way in. Since the man had already come numerous times, the shaft 114

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was slick with cum, the salty taste eliciting a moan of approval from Jess. Shit, he’d dreamed of this moment since he’d first seen Rev in those damn jammies and it was already living up to be better than he’d dared dream. Since Rev was already on edge, it only took a few moments before he came, his hips bucking as he shot off into Jess’s mouth. Jess drew back just enough so he could swallow down the offering. By the time he’d licked Rev clean, the Warden was already hard again. Jess carefully stripped Rev, before asking, “Where are the condoms and lube?” Rev pointed wildly to the nightstand, and Jess opened the top drawer. He had to rustle around, pushing aside an e-reader, some Manga books and various weapons before he found a small bottle of lubricant and an unopened box of condoms. Trying not to feel so smug over the fact that Rev had not been playing around recently with anybody else, Jess took out a condom, then slicked his fingers up with the lube. By now Rev was writhing around, whimpers breaking out between his lips. “Please, I need you inside me.” “Soon,” Jess crooned as he slid one finger in Rev. Damn, Rev was tight. So much so that Jess almost came on the spot just from thinking about 115

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how it would feel to have the Warden wrapped around him. He still forced himself to be patient, carefully stretching Rev with the first finger, then a second, before adding a third. By that time, Rev was reduced to begging and yelling out snarled curses. “Just fuck me already,” Rev snapped. Jess gave his hip a slight slap. “Remember, you are still under my rule.” Even after that reminder, Jess grabbed the condom and quickly slid it on, adding some more lube as an extra measure. Only then did he line the tip up to Rev’s opening and thrust in. “Yes, oh Goddess yes!” Rev yelled, his hands going up to claw at Jess’s shoulders. Jess so wanted to take it slow so he could enjoy every inch of his Warden, but that damn succubus venom wouldn’t allow for it. Rev was soon bucking under him, frustrated whines bursting past his chapped lips. “More. Oh, damn, I need more,” Rev sobbed. So Jess grabbed Rev by the hips for leverage and started to hammer into him. At the same time, Rev clutched tighter onto Jess’s shoulders. They were probably both going to be sporting some pretty interesting bruises, but at that point, who in the hell cared? “Gonna come,” Rev moaned. Jess felt the hot splash of semen between their 116

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stomachs as Rev found his release. Jess slammed into him a few more times before he shouted Rev’s name and filled the condom, Rev’s tight ass milking every drop from Jess. Jess collapsed on top of Rev, both of them panting for breath. “Just so you know, I’m nowhere near done,” Rev whispered. “Yeah, I was afraid of that,” Jess said as he chuckled. Jess woke up several hours later to the sensation of a hot mouth surrounding his cock. He moaned sleepily as it somehow miraculously managed to harden yet again. Given the fact that they spent most of the previous day doing nothing but fucking, he would have thought it impossible to get it up for at least another week. Yet as Rev peered up, those brown eyes seemed to melt Jess’s soul and he somehow found himself getting aroused again. Then as he looked closer, he noticed something else, Rev’s eyes were clear and no longer feverish from the succubus venom. As if sensing his thoughts, Rev pulled off Jess’s cock and said, “Please, I know that we won’t be able to do this again after today. I just want to have one time where it’s just us wanting each other because of our true feelings and not because of some aphrodisiac.” 117

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How could Jess refuse a plea like that? He nodded his consent and Rev grabbed a condom, slipping it over Jess’s erection. He added some lube before blushingly confessing, “You don’t need to stretch me out. I kind of took care of that in the shower a few minutes ago.” “Fuck.” Jess groaned at the image. Rev straddled Jess’s hips, grabbing his cock. Then Rev slowly impaled himself on Jess. They both let out a groan. Pleasure spiraled through Jess from the sweet sensation of Rev’s ass squeezing him and from the erotic vision his Warden made. His body was so lithe and beautiful as he began to slowly ride Jess. The muscles under Rev’s pale skin rippled perfectly. His eyes were closed, his lips parted in passion. I have so fallen for you and I don’t think I’ll be able to give you up. Rules or not, you are a part of me. Jess wanted to yell those words, but he kept them in for fear of ruining the moment. Rev continued to ride him at a slow pace, and Jess savored every moment of it. He reached out and grabbed Rev’s cock, lazily stroking him in time to Rev’s movements. But even at that leisure pace, it still ended too soon. The way Rev sucked in a hitched breath let Jess know his man had reached the edge. So he gave Rev’s cock one last hard tug that sent the 118

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Warden over to his orgasm. Rev let out a hoarse cry as he came, his spunk covering Jess’s hand. The sight was enough to throw Jess over the edge and he joined his lover in shared bliss. Once they’d recovered, he expected Rev to snuggle in. So when he rolled to his side and presented his back to Jess, it was confusing. Frowning, Jess asked, “Do you regret what happened between us?” Not turning around, Rev whispered, “No, it was the best thing that ever happened.” “Then why are you acting this way?” “Because I know that you’re about to give me the Wardens-can’t-form-attachments speech and I don’t want to hear it. I know it may be true and I’m willing to abide by the damn rules, but that doesn’t mean I have to watch as you walk away from my bed the only time I ever got to share it with you.” Jess’s heart shattered into a million pieces and he realized then that there was no way he’d ever be able to give Rev up. It wasn’t just because the sex had been great either. It was because Jess was finally willing to admit that Rev meant so much to him that he’d rather be dead than live without his lover. Reaching over, he tugged on Rev’s shoulder until the Warden finally relented and turned over. Cupping Rev’s cheek, Jess pressed a soft kiss to his 119

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lips. “This isn’t going to be our last time. Far from it. If I have my way, we’re never going to be apart again.” Rev’s bottom lip trembled. “But what about the laws forbidding it? I don’t want them to separate us.” “I’m going to the Oracle right now. I’m going to plead our case to her and hope that she has mercy on us and allows us to be together.” “What if she refuses?” “Then we’ll leave and go someplace where they’ll never be able to find us,” Jess promised. He only prayed that such a place existed, because last time he checked, the Oracle was still all-knowing and how in the hell do you hide from somebody like that?

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Chapter Eleven the Oracle’s attention wasn’t such a Getting simple matter. After all, it wasn’t like she just showed up at Stew’s office all the time. The only time Jess had seen her outside her natural environment had been several days ago at the initiation ceremony. That meant that Jess had to summon her. No easy feat. He found a local grove of apple trees and scattered some salt into a sacred circle. Next he lit four candles, each one symbolic of a different element, Earth, Air, Water and Fire. He then burned some sage to cleanse the area and slowly began to chant. When he finished the spell and she didn’t show, he didn’t let that daunt him. It wasn’t until he repeated it a second, then a third time that he began to worry. When he reached the fifth time, he started to feel a tad ticked. He could sense her listening, so why didn’t she show up already? Great! Just what I need! Some chick who’s too stubborn to come when I need her. What kind of Oracle 121

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is she anyway? “I heard that,” a strong feminine voice snapped. Looking up, he saw the Oracle, standing a few feet away from him. Her eyes fired with anger as she put one hand on her hip. Oh, crap! This couldn’t be good. Rule number one was never, ever, ever piss off the Oracle and Jess had managed to do just that. When he needed her more than ever, too. **** A loud pounding on his door jerked Rev awake, jumping upright, he called, “Jess, is that you?” Adam’s head ducked inside, “No, it’s me. We need to get moving. You have five to get dressed and get outside. Make sure it’s your Warden wear, too.” Years of training kicked in and Rev got up and began to pull on his clothes. “What’s going on?” “We finally know where Granny Batty Pants has been keeping the slug demons and we’re moving in now.” “I can’t go. Jess isn’t here,” Rev argued. His stomach did a flip at the mere thought of going into battle without his Guardian by his side. Adam shook his head. “You have no choice. He went AWOL. He’s not at his place and he’s not answering his phone. You wouldn’t happen to 122

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know where he might be?” Rev paused, his arm halfway through his shirt. “Uh…no?” With a cock of his head, Adam’s glare bore into Rev. “Yeah, real convincing there, skippy. Since we don’t have time for me to grill you about that now, we’ll talk when we get back.” A tiny measure of relief went through Rev as he realized he could put at least that worry out of mind. Now he just had to take on a powerful witch, dispatch all her strong-as-shit demons and make it back in one piece. All without the guidance of his Guardian. Sure, no problem. Piece of cake. Easy peasy. So why in the hell did Rev feel like he wanted to vomit? **** Jess dropped to one knee and bowed his head so deep, his forehead scraped against the ground. “I am so sorry, Oracle. Please, forgive my disrespect.” For one horror-filled moment, he thought she’d off him right there, but she finally gave the barest of smiles. “You are so lucky you were always one of my favorites.” Giving a dismissive wave of her hand, she sat down on a boulder that was just within the circle. 123

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Crossing her legs, she gave him an expectant look. “So, what do you want?” Jess paused, trying desperately to figure on how to best word his plea. On the drive up, he’d practiced his speech a dozen times. Now that he was actually in front of her and ready to give it, all the words seemed to elude him. She laughed. “Here, why don’t I help? You and Rev have fallen in love and not in the normal Guardian-Warden way, but the oh-baby-do-mebecause-I-can’t-live-without-you way. But you know that it’s forbidden because of the ancient laws that not only forbid Guardians from getting frisky with their charges, but the one that says Wardens are not to form any attachments.” When Jess just stared stupidly at her, she rolled her eyes. “All knowing. Remember?” Jess finally found his voice. “So, you already know everything?” “Yes, including what you and Rev spent most of yesterday doing.” She shot him a sharp look. “Now the only question remaining is, what are we going to do about it?” **** Rev’s heart hammered as he and his fellow Wardens quietly approached the abandoned theater. The fact that it was the very same theater 124

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where he and Jess had killed the lamia wasn’t lost on Rev and he couldn’t help but feel a bit apprehensive. All along they’d been playing to Agnes’s tune and they’d never realized it. When her slug demons had failed to take out Bathsheba, she’d sent in the next best thing, an unwitting Warden. The fact that Rev had been used for an assassination by manipulation pissed him off beyond belief. Not that the lamia hadn’t needed to be taken care of, but damn it, not on some scorned Granny’s whim. They all crept silently inside the building. Since it was a known fact that slug demons spent most of their time sleeping, the Wardens hoped that by coming at such an early hour, they’d catch all the lumpy bastards asleep and unaware. As soon as they stepped inside and all the lights flashed on, Rev knew they were in trouble. His spine tingled with fear as he found not only dozens of slug demons standing at the ready, but Agnes. Gone was the sweet, old lady from the other day and in her place was the wicked witch from all the scary fairy tales. Her scraggly hair was even tucked under a black hat and she wore matching long, flowing robes. “Do you honestly think you could take on somebody as powerful as me?” She let out a 125

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cackle. “You Wardens are weak and not ready. I’m going to be able to kill you all without breaking a sweat.” Grabbing his longsword, Rev let out a growl. “We’ll just have to see about that.” That’s when…pardon the pun…all frigging hell broke loose. **** Jess’s heart lurched in fear as he stared up at the Oracle. He then realized that he and Rev might already be in a world of trouble for what they’d done. Desperate to at least save Rev from punishment, Jess stammered, “It wasn’t his fault. He was out of control and in need. I should have found a way to resist him. So if anybody is going to be in trouble, it’s me.” She gave another wave of her hand. “Damn it, don’t be so dense. How can you think I would be mad about this?” Jess blinked in surprise. “You’re not?” “No, I’ve known since the moment you and Rev breathed your first breaths that you two were destined to be together and not just as Warden and Guardian.” “But what about all those laws?” Jess asked, even as hope blossomed in his chest. 126

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She gave another dismissive wave of her hand. “Please, what fun is it being the Oracle if I can’t change the rules from time to time?” Jess let out a huge breath, his body soaring with joy. “So, does that mean that Rev and I can be together?” “Baby, I’ll officiate your marriage ceremony myself.” She pressed her lips together thoughtfully. “Of course, that’s still not legal in Michigan. I think I may just have to do something about that dumb ass law, too.” With a laugh of happiness, Jess bowed once more. “Thank you. I will never forget the honor you have given me.” A frown covered her face as she cocked her head to the side. “We may have to save the celebration for later. I sense the Wardens are in grave danger.” Jess’s stomach dropped. “What’s happening?” “They are fighting Agnes and her slug demons. What’s worse, the Wardens are getting their asses handed to them.” Jess sprang to his feet. “I have to get to my car and get there to help them?” “Or we could just travel Oracle style.” With a smile, she snapped her fingers and in a flash, they were smack dab in the middle of chaos. **** 127

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Rev slammed into the wall, a groan of pain slipping from his lips, right before Ari flew through the air and crashed into the spot right next to him. They both crumpled into undignified lumps on the dirty ground. Sitting up, Rev rubbed the burn spot in the center of his chest where Agnes’s magic bolt had hit him. Ari sat up, doing the same thing. “Well, this Ari-and-Rev-take-out-Agnes-whilethe-rest-of-the-gang-kill-the-slug-demons plan is working splendidly,” Ari said with heavy sarcasm. Rev was just about to fire off a No shit, Sherlock, when a bright, blinding white light filled the room. It glowed for few seconds, before it dissipated to show the Oracle and…Jess? The Oracle glared at Agnes. “Oh, you have so pissed me off. Nobody hurts my Wardens and gets away with it.” Agnes paled, but didn’t back off. “What are you going to do about it?” Giving off a smile so malicious it sent a trickle of fear down Rev’s spine, the Oracle replied, “Plenty, and you’re going to hate every second of it.” The two women then began to exchange magical blows, bright orbs of red and white magic flying around the room. In the meantime, the slug 128

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demons continued to attack. When Rev noticed that Jess was unarmed, his heart froze with fear. Fighting his way toward his Guardian, Rev finally reached his side. Reaching under his cloak, he handed various weapons to Jess. “I’m so glad to see you,” Rev breathed. In response, Jess reached out and pulled Rev in for a brief kiss. As they pulled apart, Rev gasped. “That’s really not keeping things discreet.” “We don’t have to anymore.” Before Rev could ask what Jess meant by that, a pair of slug demons descended. Rev and Jess both began to fight. It wasn’t easy. Already, Rev’s body screamed in pain from being overused since the battle had been going on so long. He pushed past the agony and finally dispatched one of the slug demons. Just as the creature fell, he caught Ari’s eye. His fellow Warden stood on the opposite side of the room, but they knew each other well enough that Rev recognized that Ari’s expression gave off a silent command. Rev nodded his understanding before they both charged Agnes. Rev came toward her front, while Ari attacked from behind. Agnes was so busy fighting the Oracle she didn’t notice the attack coming until it was too late. Ari brought his sword up in a high arch. At the same time, Rev slid to his knees and struck 129

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low. Their blades hit at the same time, slicing into Agnes and going all the way through. Blood sprayed the area before the witch fell to the ground. Or rather, the three pieces of her fell to the ground. The Oracle stamped her foot. “Way to steal my thunder, boys. I so had her taken care of.” Ari went down to one knee, his blood-soaked sword still clutched in his hand. “But, Oracle. It’s our duty to protect you.” She gave him a playful swat on the head. “Okay, I forgive you this time, but only because you’re so cute when you’re not being grumpy.” After that it was only a few more minutes before the rest of the Wardens finished off the remaining slug demons. As soon as all of the enemy lay dead, Rev rushed over to Jess. The Guardian opened his arms and Rev didn’t hesitate. He threw himself into Jess’s embrace and crushed their lips together. Several shocked gasps filled the air. “Oh stop it, all of you,” the Oracle chided. “Those two are perfect for each other and we all know it.” “But the rules say otherwise,” Stew protested. The Oracle rolled her eyes. “Oh, Stew, stuff it already. I have spoken. Rev and Jess are to be allowed to be together in all ways and if anybody 130

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tries to say otherwise, then they’ll have me to deal with.” Rev turned to her, his heart filling with pure joy. “You mean that?” Smiling, she came up and gently cupped his cheek. “My poor Rev. You have been through so much pain and loss. Know that I felt it every time you hurt and it grieved me so. It’s about time you found some happiness. I know Jess is it for you. So, I want you two to go back to your apartment and get your freak on.” Rev laughed, so happy that he could have taken on twenty million slug demons. “Has anybody told you that you’re the best Oracle ever?” She pursed her lips. “Not lately. Now go, be happy. Just make sure not to forget your duties. The dark times are only starting for the Wardens. This battle was just the first step in our long dark journey and we’re going to need all our strength in the battle ahead.” The room grew somber as the implication of her words sank in. Then Jess wrapped his arms around Rev and the Warden realized something. So long as he had Jess by his side, he could face anything. Turning his head to look up at Jess, Rev said, “I love you.” Jess smiled tenderly at him. “And I have loved you from the moment I was born. You are my 131

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destiny, Rev, and now that I have you, I’m never letting go.” Rev snuggled in deeper. “I can live with that plan.” Yes, the war would be hard, it would suck at times, but Rev knew their love for one another would always carry them through.

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About the Author Stephani Hecht is a happily married mother of two. Born and raised in Michigan, she loves all things about the state, from the frigid winters to the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. Go Wings! You can usually find her snuggled up to her laptop, creating her next book or gorging on caffeine at her favorite coffee shop.