12. Azazel

Chapter twelve

Azazel

The Need to Protect

O ver the following weeks, I continued to watch over Rai from the shadows. Although I said I'd leave him to suffer, I couldn't just ignore him, even after he told me that he didn't need me. Since leaving the Guild, he'd only come in contact with the lowest level of demons. Those pitiful weapons of his were a joke. I had seen donkeys less stubborn than Rai. I'd make him see that he should accept our fate as I had already done. I mean, for fuck's sake, he'd had practically his whole life to prepare for this moment. What were they teaching or not teaching Rai in that damn Guild?

Rai hunted again that night. He looked sleek and sexy as he rode down the freeway on his Ducati. I bet that motor felt good revving between his legs, at least, that was how it felt to me when I traveled by motorcycle. I teleported along his route, masking my aura so he couldn't sense me. I wondered if he even knew higher-level demons could do that. It was a secret we tried to keep hidden from his celestial kind. An hour later, he was stalking the seedy part of the city looking for demons to destroy.

He was young, you could tell. Seasoned Guardians didn't hunt for demons, that was the Guards' job. And when a Guard came upon a demon situation that was above their pay grade, the Guardian of their territory was notified. In my opinion, they were lofty beings. If a Guardian did happen upon a demon, they would eliminate them, but demons did try to avoid them and Guards. Rai, you could smell his youthful exuberance a mile away. His need to feel useful. He was being reckless, in my opinion. Which was why he should be taking my guidance instead of ignoring me.

After following him for two hours, he found his prey, three demons who'd been up to no good as demons tended to be. The pregnant woman they were attacking scrambled to her feet and ran away the moment her demonic attackers were distracted by Rai's sudden appearance. Well, I liked when you didn't have to tell humans to run for their own safety.

Closely, I watched the fight, monitoring Rai's fighting ability. He was agile and quick, and there was a savage beauty to his skill. He fought with a ruthlessness that I admired. He took a few blows, but wasn't slowed down by them in the least. When he was finished with the demons, he ran away. I watched him get smaller the farther he ran down the street back to his motorcycle. I then smirked as one of the demons he'd been fighting rose after playing possum. I knew he was still alive, which was why I had lingered. Rai's weapons were no match for that mid-level demon. I knew all demon levels by their aura, how brightly it glowed, and this demon was only a few souls away from a promotion.

I teleported in front of him and he jumped.

"A Knight!" he gasped, his black eyes wide with fear as he should be.

"It was smart of you to play dead," I complimented.

"Are... are you he?" the demon asked.

"He?" I questioned with an arch of my eyebrow.

"A—Azazel."

I smiled.

"Please... please don't kill me. I'm one of you," the demon pleaded.

"Ah, I see that my reputation has preceded me," I taunted.

"You're the Guardian's Champion... did he send you back to finish the job?" the demon asked.

I scoffed because if Rai was smart, he could have commanded me to take out the trash for him. It would have been my pleasure. I enjoyed killing. "Why were you attacking that woman?" I asked instead of answering him.

The demon was trembling now. "I'll never tell you!"

If I cared, I could make him, but I didn't. Mischief was always a demon's game and killing that woman was just what demons did. "Very well," I said, then conjured my sword, it was a lethal-looking masterpiece. Onyx blade with a wicked silver hilt that had intricately designed, sharpened edges. It was the type of sword that struck fear into the hearts of my enemies. I smiled when he registered that this was his end. He tried to run, but I teleported in front of him and ran him through with my blade, finishing what Rai had started.

The demon gurgled, black blood bubbling up from his mouth. Our eyes connected and I saw his anger at my betrayal of our kind in his gaze. I didn't care, demons had turned their backs on me first. I smiled as his body began to burn and then break apart in flaming cinders that turned to ash. I drew my sword back into my body, then teleported to find Rai.

***

I found him with a man. Apparently, he'd set this date up beforehand and the man was eager to be with him. That pissed me off. Not sure why? Rai was an adult now, free to be with other humans, but I didn't like it. I hated how the man climbed on the back of Rai's bike and wrapped his arms around Rai's muscular waist. I hated how he was smiling and I wanted to rip the human apart.

I shouldn't have followed them, but I couldn't not follow Rai. And he drove the man back to his home. I took a perch on the rooftop of the building across the street from Rai's building where I had a great view of his condo. He had floor-to-ceiling windows throughout, but some of the windows had shading built into the glass. I was able to see them enter through a few windows, Rai kissing the man as he led him to his bedroom. I leaned forward, hands on the railing as I peered into Rai's bedroom windows. The two of them shed their clothes and the man pushed Rai on the bed, then began to pull Rai's underwear off. That was when the windows darkened and I couldn't see anything else.

Damn it!

I supposed his home was voice command activated. Did he know I was watching or was he just modest that way? In any case, I was robbed of a show I didn't even want to see. Rai was gorgeous and charismatic, of course, men and women would want him. But from what I'd learned, he only seemed to be interested in men. Perfect for me. But of course, being a demon with the ability to shape-change, I could be anyone Rai wanted.

Wait, why the hell was I even thinking about being with Rai like that? Was that what I wanted? Sure, getting him into my bed would be a victory–a pleasurable one, but was that the only reason? I snarled at the thought. Rai was a foolish human and he should be grateful I was watching over him. Still, I waited until I knew the man had left, and then I teleported to Rai's home, standing outside his front door. I decided to take the guise of his best friend, Marcel, then I rang the doorbell.

Rai answered after three rings with a bathrobe on. "What's up?"

I smiled. "Just thought I'd come by to hang out with you. It's been a while." I looked past his shoulder into his home. "Are you going to let me in or leave me out here?"

I didn't need to be invited in. I just wanted to see if Rai was convinced I was Marcel or not.

Rai looked me up and down, his gaze scrutinizing, and I wondered if he discovered who I was. "Sure, come in."

I walked past him and he closed the door. Before I could take another step, my hair was yanked back and I was slammed against the door. Rai grabbed my chin in a strong grip. It didn't hurt me, but I could tell he was stronger than any human male.

"Show your true self, demon," Rai snarled.

Something about the way he asserted himself turned me on, I couldn't deny it. I mean, I'd be silly to try considering how hard my cock was at that moment. I laughed and then transformed back into my natural state. "You're good."

"I don't like these games, Azazel," Rai said.

"I just wanted to see if you could sense me," I said, then looked around his home. It was perfect for him, because he was so posh himself. I could tell that he loved the modern luxuries. Some Guardians didn't care for such finery. Choosing to live with only the necessities. Others, well, you wouldn't find them wearing anything but designer clothes. They may be ordained by God in some way, but had human weaknesses.

Rai smirked then. "I knew you were watching me fuck that guy."

I lowered my gaze. "You couldn't have known I was there."

Rai raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I felt your presence the moment he went for my underwear."

That's why he darkened the windows. Did I, at that moment of weakness, let my shield down? Fuck.

"Yeah, you wanted to watch me fuck that guy, didn't you?"

"Don't be ridiculous," I said.

Rai chuckled and pressed himself against me. "You're hard, Azazel. I bet you wanted it to be your ass I slid my cock into, didn't you? Is that why you tried to sneak into my home?"

"You don't have the balls to fuck me, Rai." I shoved him back, there was no nausea, because the intent to harm wasn't there. I swallowed hard because my arousal was spiking.

"Don't pretend to be Marcel again," Rai commanded.

"Fine."

"Good. Now get the fuck out of my home."

"I came to tell you that your little demon hunt tonight wasn't as successful as you thought it was," I said.

He frowned and that jawline of his was magnificent. "What do you mean?"

"One of the demons you thought you'd killed played you for the fool you are. When you left, he rose and would have gotten away had I not been there." I walked over to him as he looked off to the side, obviously thinking back to that moment to trace his steps, searching for where he went wrong. "Your weapons are shit when it comes to powerful demons, Rai. Stop pushing me away." I looked down to see that his cock had tented the robe he was wearing. His manhandling of me got him aroused as well. I reached down and brushed a finger over the hardness and he trembled.

"Stop it!" He took several steps back.

"You can't go on like this, Rai," I said in all seriousness.

He turned. "You can see yourself out. Next time, I'll make sure to cut off their heads."

"You nee—"

"I don't need you. Now go!" he snapped.

"Stubborn fool," I snarled, then teleported home. I wanted to ignore him. If he claimed he didn't need me, fine. Fuck him! But... I knew I couldn't let him go out there without any backup. I wasn't even sure why I felt that way, I just did.

I still had to protect him.