Page 33 of Falling for Ash
“Alright. Later, then,” she said, and he could tell she was having a hard time walking away too.
Ash kissed her again, eyes open so he could watch the sweet expression on her face. Fuck, he already cared too much. He forced himself to gently set her away from him.
Demons were born of fire and brimstone, but they were nothing if not passionate. Of course, passion could take on many forms. He’d never expected love to be one of them, and yet, that was the only word that came to mind when he held this precious woman in his arms.
“Yes,” he replied. “I will see you later, Gabriella.”
She waved goodbye before closing the door, her blue eyes watching him through the thick glass panes. He nodded his head, urging her to retreat lest he stand there all day, and finally, she turned away with a small smile and a faint blush staining her cheeks. He waited until he could no longer see her before turning to answer the incessant call of one of his legates.
Ironically, there was a portal far closer to Gabriella’s home than he’d previously known. Within ten minutes, he was back in the Underworld, and in rare form. The Daemonium Guard was one of the most elite units in the Underworld. Some would argue they were the best of the best.
He entered their command center, his black eyes zeroing in on the one who dared summon him. The fucker was looking back at him, as if he had not earned the respect he demanded from his lessors.
Ash snarled, his horns, tail, and wings in full effect. He felt his magic call to the fire of the pit and felt it circling him, causing those in the room to give him a wide berth. Okay, so he was cranky. BFD. These fuckers had to be hard and ready for anything in their line of work.
They were no good to the Underworld if they scurried like cockroaches at their leaders’ wrath. He would dismiss them readily if they did. He needed his legions tough, brutal, and fierce. Theirs was not a task for the soft and ill prepared. Ash’s ruthlessness for stupidity and laziness was renowned.
Those in attendance stopped what they were doing the second he’d appeared. Standing at attention, they froze in place, each of them perfect warriors with skills honed to defend, protect, and keep the Underworld from those things evil and other that would dare try to seize what Lucifer had claimed for himself.
Being appointed General of the Daemonium Guard was an honor and a very grave duty. Ash took his responsibilities seriously. He only employed the best, most fearsome Demons and residents of Purgatory for the job. Which was why he was so fucking pissed at them. With a mighty snarl, he entered the room.
“What is so terrible that my hand chosen legates cannot contain it without calling me like an injured babe calling for his mother?”
“My liege,” the legate in question, a Demon named Heinrich, finally looked down, averting his gaze in that same respectful manner that was his due.
“Apologies, my liege, but I thought you needed to see this,” he mumbled, holding out his tablet.
It seemed everyone was online these days. Even in the Underworld. Just another modern annoyance, in his opinion. Okay, fine, so he enjoyed the ability to monitor his legions from his office without relying on some seer to report to him.
Ash growled deep and low, still annoyed at the Demon’s gall in summoning him. Only the sound of someone chuckling from inside his own office stopped him in his tracks.
It seemed Lucifer himself was in residence. Fabulous. Like Ash needed more interruptions. He glanced down at the proffered tablet and frowned. Fuck. This was serious. A large number of the soulless were gathering at the same southern border he was worried about earlier.
“Send legions eight and fifteen on the double. And make sure Vanth is updated. The number of soulless has tripled in the past forty-eight hours with no one’s notice! Unacceptable! I want reports, now. I want to know who missed this, and I want the legate in front of me on the double!” he roared.
“Yes, my liege,” grunted the Demon as Ash handed him back his tablet.
Without sparing another glance at the men in the room, he headed for his office door. Inside was Lucifer, larger than life, sitting at his desk, with his feet on the otherwise polished surface.
Fucker.
“Ah! There you are! Well?”
“Well, what?” Ash asked as his wings, horns, and tail receded.
“How was speed dating?”
“How did you even know I went?” He tried changing the subject, but the Lord of the Underworld was not stupid.
“Would my most loyal Demon disobey an order? Come on, spill!” Lucifer’s grin was wicked as he slammed a fist on the table.
Seemed he was not going anywhere without news, so Ash sat down and crossed his legs. He brushed some lint from his coat, knowing that Lucifer was damn near to blowing a gasket.
“I met someone,” Ash announced before his boss could erupt like a bloody volcano in his workspace.
“So, you admit, I was right? Ha! Tell me, old man. Who is she? Where is she? Does she live here or up top?”
He exhaled, rolling his shoulders, and trying to put a damper on the excitement he felt. He did not want to appear overeager, but there was no denying he cared for her. So, he told Lucifer about Gabriella, noting the man’s excitement that he too was fated to a Werewolf.
