Page 76 of To Crave Darkly
“I know.”
There was one thing I didn’t understand. “How can you be here? I thought you couldn’t manifest on the mortal plane.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before cupping my cheek fondly. This was the first time we’d actually met in person and he was so much more impressive in real life. It was almost like the dreams had muted his magnificence and, now that he was standing before me, his grace and beauty shone down on me with the light of a thousand stars.
“It’s all because of you. You consumed so much power that I could access it through our bond. It’s you who is keeping me here.” His thumb trailed across my cheek as he spoke and the bond between us throbbed with unsatisfied need. Orion’s nostrils flared as he smiled down at me. His gaze zeroed in on my mouth and then his hand wrapped round the back of my neck before he pulled me in for a kiss. Our lips melded together like they were made for each other. I could taste his desperation in the way he kissed me. This wasn’t a slow exploratory kiss; it was a bruising, punishing kiss that stole my breath and made my knees week.
His hands slid into my hair as he pulled my body to his. My scythe fell to the floor, forgotten in my hunger to have him. I could feel every inch of his lean muscles as he crushed my body to his. He fisted a hand in my hair, yanking my head backwards so he could trace his mouth down my neck. His teeth scraped the sensitive flesh, and he kissed me hard enough to leave a bruise. I moaned.
I wanted more but this wasn’t the time or the place. Shit, I was surrounded by dead bodies and carnage. Hardly the nicest of places for a make out session. And I still needed to find out what had happened to my team.
“Orion, wait,” I said breathlessly.
He pulled back to look at me, desire blazing hungrily in his eyes. “Lori…”
“Orion, we need to–”
Something dropped out of the sky and landed a few feet away. It was Cassian, back in human form, and he was shouting something and running towards me but I couldn’t make out what he was saying.
Orion snarled at the interruption. “Your friends really are persistent.”
“What do you mean?” I asked taking a step backwards. I didn’t like the way that his face had contorted into anger.
“They couldn’t leave you alone for one minute,” he snapped. My heart lurched and fear churned in my stomach. Gone was the man who had gazed tenderly down at me. Rage burned through our bond and I felt his anger as if it was my own.
“Lori!” Alec shouted. He was closer than Cassian and I could hear his words clearly. “Get away from him!”
I looked back to Orion, and my stomach dropped at the malicious grin that spread across his face. I had never seen anything so evil. The mouth that had so lovingly kissed me earlier was now twisted into something so malevolent that I felt sick.
Alec was only a few feet away now and I saw fear in his eyes.Realfear. Who was this man before me that inspired such fear? I thought I knew who he was. I had grown so used to the face that shared my dreams, but I had only ever seen the veneer he wanted me to see. What I was looking at now wasn’t an alluring promise of pleasure and carnal desire – I was looking deep into the eyes of Hell.
I knew who he was. I knew his name and I’d given myself to him freely.
“Lucifer.”
He laughed. It was a cold, empty sounding thing that made me shiver. “You clever little thing. I knew I had chosen well.”
“Let her go.” Alec called. He and Cassian now stood either side of me. Where was Jasper? Fenris? Saskia? They had to be OK.
“I don’t think so,” Orion, no, Lucifer crooned. I wasn’t going to be able to get used to that.
Alec took another step closer, but Lucifer held his hand up. Alec’s body flinched, and he stopped dead in his tracks, pinned by some unseen force. I could see Alec’s muscles straining under the force that kept his body frozen. Lucifer tutted as he turned his attention to Alec. “Not another step now. That’s a good boy.”
Alec seethed at his words. “Let her go, Lucifer.”
“Never,” Lucifer whispered. The single word may have been said quietly, but the claim he had made over me was loud and clear. I was his.
“Cassian, do something,” Alec shouted between clenched teeth, clearly trying to break free from his invisible restraints. But Cassian just stood silently watching the scene unfold. He did nothing and I hated him for it.
“I’ll make you pay for this,” Alec fumed.
“You really are like a dog with a bone,” Lucifer drawled.
Alec snarled. “If you lay one hand on Lori, I’ll–”
“What? Kill me?” Lucifer interrupted, a short laugh clipping the end of his words. “Not if I kill you first. I’m going to borrow this for a moment,” he said as he pulled the dagger from my waist band with his free hand. I realised too late what he meant to do. Time froze as the dagger left Lucifer’s long elegant fingers.
“No!” I broke into a run, evading Lucifer’s grasp. I knew I wouldn’t make it in time. “Alec!” My cry was lost in the thunder of my heartbeat. The rush of my blood filled my ears.
