Chapter 6

Six

Gideon stood in the hallway outside Cassius' fourth floor private studio second-guessing himself. Cassius seemed sure when he'd asked Gideon to do the spell, and in a fit of overconfidence, he'd agreed. The minutes had ticked by, and his anxiety rose. He hadn't wanted the demons underfoot in the first place. Leaving them there was begging for a demonic attack. Where else could they lock the demons away that wouldn't put others into danger?

Cassius' way made the most sense of any of the options.

Ifhe could do it.

The door to the studio opened, and Luca's purple mop appeared, the color drawing his eye. He smiled. "What're you doing standing out here? Don't you want to come in and approve the setup?"

Gideon stared at Luca, silent.

Luca tilted his head to the side and appraised Gideon a couple of seconds before he reached back and closed Cassius' door. He leaned against the wall beside Gideon, silent, too.

"Cas has asked a lot from you."

"He has," Gideon agreed.

"But no more than he thinks you're capable of."

Gideon sighed. "He has more faith in my talents than I do at the moment."

"You could've said no." Luca narrowed his eyes. "Cassius would never force your hand. Right?"

"Of course he didn't force my hand."

Luca grew silent again. Gideon's heartbeat thumped in his ears, his stomach in knots.

"It's not too late to say no. Those fuckers are still in their cage downstairs, and that's where they can stay for now."

"We're at risk with them here. If I can do something about that, I will."

Luca shook his head. "We can find another way."

"There is no other way, Luca."

"If you're not capable of doing this, then there's no point in trying it."

"I never said I wasn't capable," Gideon spat, turning to face Luca. "I am capable of this! I've trapped demons in death loops where they revisit their worst agony over and over again. I've rewound memories of an entire building, wiping it away like it never happened, a power almost as strong as time twisting, and rewrote what everyone had seen. I wiped the memory of a demigoddess and went toe-to-toe with Hecate herself. I am powerful enough for this."

Luca didn't say anything. The corners of his mouth curled up. "I know you are. I just wanted you to hear yourself say it. Maybe then you'd believe."

Gideon glared at Luca, but it soon turned into a smile. "Bastard. Work me up and now I can't kick your ass."

"You can kick theirs," Luca said. "One by one."

"Yeah," Gideon said, gently punching Luca in the arm. "Let me see what you and Cassius have been up to."

Gideon opened the door and glanced around. Cassius had moved his tattoo chair out. Where it once stood was a massive iron chair with manacles welded onto arms and legs. Under the chair a massive protective ward was painted on the floor to contain the demon long enough for Gideon to place his spell. Gideon walked over it, a ripple of heavy magic running through him. He eyed the runes engraved into the iron, tracing his fingers over them. They glowed when he touched them, emanating more magic.

He tested the shackles and pushed against the heavy chair, making sure it was bound to the floor. "I bet that was fun to get up here."

"Cassius managed it himself before I got here," Luca said. He frowned. "I figured it would take at least three of us."

"I've noticed a change in him since we fought the demons," Gideon said. "What's changed?"

Luca shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. "Dunno. I've noticed it, too. Where that power's coming from is anyone's guess."

"Have you heard any news on his third? Could it be that?"

"The last time I heard anything was when Cassius and I cured him. The minute he woke up and got one look at Cassius, he freaked out and ran in terror."

"Well, he had just been cursed by demons and nearly died. You should be thankful Colby didn't run out of here screaming, too."

"Oh, he tried," Luca said, grinning. "We convinced him otherwise."

Cassius swept into the room, quickly followed by Eli, Oz, Oracio, and Phoenix. He eyed Gideon. "Does this meet your approval?"

Gideon gave it one more glance. Everything appeared in order, just as he'd requested. "Yeah. How are we transporting them up here? We can't allow them to get away once out."

"Members of the coven are waiting to help in the chamber below. I'll open a portal under one of the creature's feet and a portal immediately above the chair. The demon will hopefully fall directly into the chair. Eli, Oz, Race, and Nix will bind him, each of them taking an arm or leg."

"And if he doesn't fall directly into the chair?" Gideon asked.

"The ward on the floor will contain him. The four of them can force it into the chair and bind it. Once the four of us downstairs reseal the magic protecting the cell, I'll be up. Wait for me to return before you begin."

"Aye-aye, Captain," Gideon said.

Cassius moved closer, lowering his voice. "You're truly ready for this? We can give you a day or two to work on the spell."

"I've got it," Gideon said. "The sooner we start, the sooner this will be over."

Cassius searched his face a moment before nodding. "Okay. I'll send a spark through the portal seconds before the demon drops. Be ready."

He disappeared, again without a portal. Luca met his gaze before he spun away from the chair.

Gideon centered himself, taking a couple of deep breaths. I can do this. I am powerful. Bad boys love me. Demons fear me.

He turned back, just as the portal opened above the chair. All of them tensed, hands up, coiling magic. A spark signaled and a demon dropped onto the chair with an umfph. The four big, burly witches rushed closer and slammed the evil creature's hands and feet into the iron bonds before it could even realize what had happened.

The four backed away and the demon roared, pulling at the cuffs. "What're you doing? You can't hold me back! I'll slay you all!" He ripped at the cuffs, managing to free one of his wrists with a tug.

Luca and Oz shot spells at the same time, locking the iron back together. Nix marked wards in the air, the bright colors shimmering before sailing toward the locks and sinking into them. The demon thrashed, attempting to free himself. The scent of brimstone filled the studio, nearly gagging Gideon. Oracio sent up a forcefield around the demon—and suddenly the room was nearly silent.

The demon continued screaming silently, his words never passing the barrier. Gideon sighed. "Thank you, Race. My eardrums were ready to rupture from that thing."

"It should help with the smell, too."

Cassius appeared beside Gideon and scanned the room. "Good. It worked."

"If worked meant that he freed one of his hands and we had to use battle magic, along with a few hexes placed on the locks, then yes, it worked," Phoenix said grimly.

"That'swhat we were here for," Eli snapped. "To keep him contained. And he is."

"I think only Luca and I should remain in here while Gideon's doing his thing. Most of the coven is waiting outside in the hall, ready to jump in if things go sideways," Cassius said. He turned to Gideon. "Gideon needs as few distractions as possible."

Gideon nodded.

"We'll be just outside," Eli said, rubbing the outside of Gideon's bicep. "You've got this."

"I do," Gideon said, lifting his chin. He'd will it into reality if it was the last thing he did. Problem was, it just might be the last thing he did. As soon as the four had exited and the door closed, Gideon eyed Luca and Cassius. The doubts again whispered through his mind.

He blocked them out, focused on his breathing, and then stepped closer. He coiled magic into his palm before drawing his spell on the air. While they typically worked with tattoo gun, ink, and flesh, he wouldn't get that close to the demon. He'd draw it and cast it forward, marking the beast that way. Hot pink wards glowed before his eyes, the spell growing in intensity as his finger moved. When it was done, he waved a hand, sending it through the forcefield. It landed on the demon's chest, slowly sinking in.

Gideon closed his eyes and slipped into the demon's mind, the last place he ever wanted to be. When he reopened them, a roaring sound grew in volume. It was hot, intensely hot, and he realized he might be inside a cavern of sorts. A speck of light glimmered in the distance. He walked toward it, nearly tripping several times over stalagmites or bumping into stalactites in the darkness. Finally, he reached the opening to the cavern and he almost wished he hadn't. The heat was worse, his skin tightening. The smell of brimstone was enough to gag him.

He was on some kind of cliffside. Moving to the edge, he caught a glimpse of a river of lava below. And then he saw the billions upon billions being tormented by demons on the other side of the river. The roar he heard—it was the screams of the damned coalescing into one ghastly sound. There was no end to it. An orgy of pain and terror went on for miles.

Gideon stumbled back to the cavern's entrance and vomited. As he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, he saw two dark figures growing closer. He slipped into the opening, far enough back to be in the shadows.

The pair stopped not far from where he'd just stood at the edge. One was a gargantuan, red, horned devil, reminding him of that movie with Tom Cruise and the unicorn. The other looked human, dressed in Grecian-type robes and breastplate.

"You've disappointed me for the last time, Rugamok," the human-looking one said, his voice deep, sending a shiver down Gideon's spine. "I give you easy task after easy task, and all you can do is fail. I'm of half a mind to toss you into the pit to be tortured as well."

"Samael, I beg you, please do not. I will fix what I've done. I vow to you I will."

Samael? As in Satan himself?Gideon scanned the demon closer. Samael was one of the seven Kings of Hell. Technically, Lucifer was also a King, but had long ago crowned himself Emperor. The Morning Star was the only one with more power in the Underworld than Samael.

Samael was also thought to be the father of witches, but Gideon wasn't sure he believed it.

"And just how do you plan to repair this mishap in a long line of them? If your answer pleases me, perhaps I'll allow you the attempt."

Gideon had heard of Lucifer's beauty but was surprised to see Samael was quite striking, too, if he was honest with himself. Samael looked a bit like the statue of David, with coal black hair and golden eyes. He wore a short, black toga, displaying muscled legs and arms. The cartoonish red devil with horns and a pitchfork were nowhere near the mark, but then Gideon should've assumed that. Samael had been an archangel before he'd been cast down to the abyss, just as Lucifer and several of the other Kings had been. Of the nine choirs of angels, the lowest tier, the Third Triad—Principalities, Archangels, and Angels—had been created to interact and serve humanity. Humans valued beauty, so the Third Triad had been formed perfectly, with beautiful human faces and strong bodies.

"I… I…" the one named Rugamok sputtered. "I need time to plan, Your Majesty. Can you please show mercy?"

"Mercy?" Samael laughed loudly, hands on its hips, face held toward heaven. When it lowered its gaze back down, it smiled, its face even more beautiful. "You ask me for mercy?"

"I do, Your M?—"

Before Rugamok could finish speaking, Samael kicked it in the center of its chest, sending it spiraling down. Only it wasn't Rugamok.

It was Gideon.He fell through the hot air, the heat growing as he neared the lava flow. He screamed, but no sound came from his lips. The second he hit the lava, he burned all over, the pain all-consuming, yet he didn't die. He boiled alive, agonizing second after agonizing second. After being fished from the lava by a demon, Gideon was placed on a rack, hands bound, before he was stretched, arm and leg joints tearing apart. He screamed, his voice mixing with a billion others. When his arms and legs tore from their sockets, he nearly passed out—only to be kept aware as he was made whole again, his arms and legs intact.

"Ready for another?" the demon beside him asked, smiling.

Gideon closed his eyes tight in the few seconds of peace he'd be afforded before more pain hit. These are his memories, not mine.

His. Not mine.

He repeated it over and over again in his mind, reminding himself that those were not his memories. His. Not mine.

When the pain never came, he opened his eyes. Gideon stood back in that dark cavern, shaking. He collapsed to his knees, the rocks stabbing into him, and sobbed.

His… not mine.

Gideon forced himself to his feet, using the nearest stalagmite to help him rise. Once on his feet, he coiled magic into his palm, the deep pink light illuminating the cavern around him. The light grew as Gideon's power did. He closed his eyes, pulling the memory he stood inside into his hand. In the next, he saw more savagery, more terror, but he reminded himself again that the images were not his. He pulled the memory into his hand, twisting his magic around it. One after the other, Gideon intwined with his magic, sucking them into the web of his charm.

With each new memory the cloud of magic before him grew. Hours passed. Maybe even days. A week? Time no longer existed where he was. All he knew was it dragged on mercilessly, draining him of strength. Memory by memory, he captured them all until there was only blackness around him. The ball of light lifted from Gideon's hand and spun, the speed growing every second. Faster it rotated, the breeze blowing through Gideon's long hair, picking up speed until the strands whipped against his face.

As it accelerated more, the ball tightened in mass. The large sphere compressed, little by little, until it was the size of an egg. Gideon reached out for the small orb, collecting it in one palm. He used the tip of his finger to draw a ward over the egg to seal it tight, imprisoning the demon within.

Once firmly in his grasp, Gideon reached out beyond the darkness, seeking the human who'd been trapped. He sensed him hidden deep, hiding away in fear. Gideon ran toward the sensation until he found another cavern. Hesitating, Gideon paused at the entrance, but he knew the human was inside. He lifted his free hand, using magic to illuminate his way through the rocks until huddled near the back he found the human lying on the ground in the fetal position. Likely where the demon had shoved him when he'd taken over.

Gideon reached down and pressed his hand over the human's forehead and fell into his memories. A Christmas with his children and wife, seated around the tree opening presents. A birthday party for his youngest son. The birth of his daughter. One by one, Gideon walked through those scenes until he found the one where the demon had attacked.

He coiled more magic and destroyed the memories of that day and any the man recalled from his captivity. Spinning, he once again saw the human on the ground, only he rose, slowly, and wobbled on his feet.

"Swallow it," Gideon said.

The man frowned, opening his mouth to question. Gideon shoved the orb into the man's mouth and forced it down his throat.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to the man as he held a hand firm over the man's mouth. "It's the only way."

When the man stilled, Gideon lifted his hand away. "Keep it locked away as it locked you."

The human nodded, though Gideon knew he'd have no memory of the interaction, only deep, deep in his subconscious. The man disappeared and Gideon reached out to home, Cassius' studio, where the human now sat bound to an iron chair. He closed his eyes and willed himself to return.

He opened his eyes, smoke rising off his body as he crouched on the floor of Cassius' studio, an unconscious man in the iron chair.

Gideon collapsed, utterly depleted. Cassius and Luca raced to his side, kneeling.

"How long was I gone?" Gideon asked.

"Gone? You were here the entire time, casting your spell," Luca said, brushing ash off Gideon. "What is all this?"

"Ash… from Hell," Cassius said capturing Gideon's gaze. "You were there?"

Gideon nodded. "How long did the spell take me?"

"A few minutes," Cassius said.

Gideon scoffed. "Minutes? Try days."

Cassius brushed Gideon's hair back, concern on his face. He lifted a hand, growing a magic orb in his palm. Once it was as large as a basketball, he shoved it against Gideon's chest. The magic spread through his limbs, recharging some of his power.

Luca did the same, offering another boost. "Better?"

Gideon's magic might be, but the things he'd seen? He sensed they'd haunt him for the rest of his life. And he'd only begun.

One demon… eleven left.

"Is it done?" Cassius asked.

"It's done," Gideon whispered. He cast a glance at the human. "He won't remember any of it. The demon taking him, nothing. We need to take him outside and leave him somewhere he'll be safe to awaken, or else he'll have questions of us."

Cassius rose and opened the door, murmuring something behind it. Phoenix and Oz entered and uncuffed the human, their gazes drifting to him when they were done. Both rose and Phoenix lifted the man over one shoulder before carrying him out.

When they were gone, Luca rose and offered Gideon a hand. He took it and stood, wobbling and falling against Luca.

"I'll take you to your apartment," Luca murmured. "Let you get some sleep."

"Wait," Cassius said, turning to face Gideon. "Are you okay?"

If he said no, Cassius would refuse to allow him to finish what he'd started, and maybe the witch should. If one had wiped him out and sent him to the edge of madness, what would happen the second time? "I will be," he lied. "I just need to rest a day. Maybe two."

Cassius held his gaze, something about it saying he didn't believe Gideon. Yet he nodded. "Take three. Sleep it off." He eyed Luca. "Can you stay with him for a while? Make sure there are no aftereffects?"

"He doesn't need to do that," Gideon argued.

"Of course," Luca said to Cassius, ignoring him.

"Good. I'll send someone up to replace you in a couple of hours. We can work out a plan so he's not alone," Cassius said.

Gideon groaned. "Do I not have a say?"

"You were in Hell," Cassius said. "You don't walk out of there unchanged. You might…"

"What?" Gideon asked.

Cassius sighed. "You shouldn't be alone."

"I don't need babysitters," Gideon said. "I want to be alone."

No one needed to see him break down, and he suspected it was coming. In that moment, he longed for there to be someone waiting for him at home. Someone to hold him close when he lost it.

Someone he could be vulnerable with.

"Tough," Cassius spat. "If you were there, you may have opened a conduit."

"Our building has wards," Gideon snapped, growing angry. "Protecting us from that."

"Stop being obstinate when all I want to do is protect you!" Cassius roared.

"I gave you what you wanted! Let me have this," Gideon roared back. He trembled, emotion threatening to take him then and there. "I deserve that much."

Cassius stared a moment, anger and worry coalescing on his face. He wanted to fight back, Gideon could see it, but there was no way he could handle visitors in his home that night.

Cassius sighed, shaking his head. "Fine." He lifted a hand and made a mark on Gideon's forehead. "If I sense a portal opening within you, I'll be alerted. Then I'm coming, whether you want me there or not."

"In that case, you are welcome to come," Gideon muttered. He looked up at Luca. "Take me home. Please."

Luca looked between him and Cassius before shaking his head and leading Gideon forward. Outside, in the hall, the faces of his coven stared in silent anticipation and dread.

"It is done," Cassius announced behind him. "Gideon has trapped the demon."

"For how long?" Phoenix asked.

"I don't know," Gideon murmured as he and Luca passed.

Hands caressed him gently as they walked the hallway, his coven members sharing bits of their power with him. Payment for what he'd just done to protect them. He appreciated it, but it was only a drop in a very empty bucket. When he nearly collapsed in the elevator, Luca lifted him. Gideon was half asleep when Luca laid him in his bed. When the nightmares came, as he knew they might, he woke in a pool of sweat, screaming.

His apartment door flung open, and Luca ran inside. He stopped near the bed and searched Gideon. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just a nightmare." Gideon scrubbed his face with both hands. "Were you guarding my door?"

"You refused to have anyone in here, but you have no rights to our shared hallway. I can sit out there all I like."

"Go to your family, Luca. I'm fine."

Luca stood silent in the half-light coming from the adjoining bathroom.

Gideon glanced at his phone, lying on his nightstand. "Three a.m.? Luca! Go. Home."

"I'll be out in the hallway if you need me," Luca said, turning toward the door.

"Luca!" Gideon laid there, growling. "You can stay. On the couch."

Luca eyed the couch. "Gid, I'm seven feet tall. I'll sleep on the floor."

"There's enough room on the bed."

One of Luca's brows rose.

"Don't flatter yourself. Your head by my feet. How's that?"

Luca kicked off his shoes and dug his phone from his pocket before shooting off a text. He tossed his phone beside Gideon's and lay on top of the covers, his head on the pillow, facing Gideon.

"I said you lay the other way around."

"Talk to me," Luca murmured. "What happened to you tonight?"

A shiver raced down Gideon's spine. "I'd rather not talk about it."

Luca eyed him a few seconds. "I don't think you should do this again. It's too much to ask of you."

"It's the only way," Gideon said.

"There's always another way."

"This time, there isn't. We can't keep them here. We can't let them go, not without me doing this. We can't kill them and send them back to Hell without killing the host. Until somebody finds a better solution, this is all we have. Cassius knows it, or else he wouldn't have asked me."

"He asked too much this time."

"After all he's done for us, Luc?"

Luca sighed. "Well, I won't allow you to stay alone after. I've already warned Ash and Colby I would be watching over you until this was through."

"One night. Tomorrow, you're gone."

"Maybe," Luca said. "Go to sleep."

Gideon growled, rolling over on his other side, his back to Luca. Soon, he heard the even breathing that signaled Luca had drifted off. Gideon lay there for hours, unable to sleep again. He watched the room brighten, little by little, as the sun rose and chased away the night.

When Luca awoke, he feigned sleep.

Luca sat up and leaned over, likely checking on him. Gideon faked waking and stretched. "Morning."

"No more nightmares?"

"None," Gideon lied.

Luca examined his face, unsure.

"None," Gideon repeated. "I'm fine."

"Okay," Luca climbed out of bed. "I need to check in at home and then I've got a client in about an hour. I'll ask Race to come up and check in on you in a little while."

"Unnecessary."

"Appease me," Luca said. "Just for a little while, until we know there's no lasting ill effects."

Gideon forced a smile. "The only ill effects I sense are for a big plate of barbeque and some of that Hellfire Havoc hot sauce of Graham's. All that fire and brimstone worked up an appetite."

Luca chuckled, frowning. "You have fun with that. I'll check in between clients and then come over when I'm done."

"You don't have to."

"Either the bed or the hallway. One way or another, I'll be here."

Gideon cackled. "Maybe I won't be."

Luca frowned.

"Sex magic? It's usually the best means of refilling an empty tank. I might take the train into Boston tonight and see if I can't find a big boy with a big schlong to rearrange my insides."

Luca scoffed, turning back to the door. "I'll check in between clients."

"Whatever,"Gideon called out.

As soon as the door closed, he slipped from the bed and raced to the door. Once the lock he rarely used was engaged, he peeled his clothes off and then the sheets on the bed. He could still scent the brimstone on him, and he'd transferred it to his bedding. He shoved them all into the trash chute before spinning and drawing wards in the air to cleanse his space, nearly collapsing on the bed from his use of the magic he scarcely had left.

When it was done, he stumbled to the bathroom and turned on the shower as hot as he could take it and made it a bit hotter than that. He slipped under the water, rinsing off the reminders of Hell. He scrubbed his skin raw, covering every inch, and then washed his hair three times. When he was done, he stood there under the spray and the tears came.

He broke apart, shattering as he slid down the tiled wall until he sat on his bare ass. He sat like that for at least an hour, until the water turned cold enough to snap him out of it. Turning off the spray, he climbed out, shivering, and glanced at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.

While he didn't look any different, he felt different.

Hopefully the next one's easier.

He knew it wouldn't be.

One down… eleven to go.

Chicano Park

Barrio Logan, San Diego

While Gideon was in Hell…

Joaquin pulledhis pickup into one of the lots a few blocks from the park and turned off the engine. One of three streetlights was the only one still working. It illuminated the lot, but not well. Darkness hung heavily around them, giving the night a ghastly vibe. Luckily, Joaquin's eyesight was better at night than in the day. He glanced at Esau in the passenger seat, noting his mate was asleep. Joaquin leaned back and watched the slow, even rise and fall of Esau's chest.

His mate was exhausted. Esau had said as much but had he listened? Sure, he'd offered to not go out, but the second Esau had said they should, he'd stopped protesting and focused on the opportunity the meeting might present. His sense of vengeance was too habitually single-minded. Too often he forgot Esau was also a human, as well. He didn't have the same strength, speed, stamina, and healing powers a shifter did. Did he simply forget or did he not want to be reminded how fragile his human was?

Esau appeared strong and he fought like a beast, so it was easy to forget—but if a mistake happened, it was the end. There was no quick healing or shifter toughness. What am I doing? I'm his mate. I'm supposed to protect him. Joaquin watched Esau sleep in the low light. He could see the dark circles and the fatigue in his mate's face.

He restarted the truck, ready to leave.

Esau slid, sitting taller in the seat as Joaquin backed out. "Where are you going?"

"You're tired. We should just go home and forget this."

"We're already here," Esau said, glancing around. "And it's an opportunity we can't pass up on."

"Tired people make mistakes. In this, mistakes equal death." Joaquin shook his head, shifting into Drive. "I won't allow you to be hurt. We go home and regroup."

Esau stilled his hand. "Keeno…"

"I won't lose you, Esau. I've allowed my need for vengeance to blind me to too much. No more."

"We're not fighting tonight. Intel. That's it. We listen in on their meeting and we get the hell out." Esau smiled. "I'm good."

"You're not," Joaquin shot back.

Esau slid closer. "I am. I got a nap in. Let's go listen, and then we can go home."

Joaquin stared at his mate, unsure.

"All we're doing is listening," Esau repeated. "I'm fine."

Joaquin slid the car back into the parking spot. He turned the engine off a second time. "How about this? You stay here. Behind the wheel, in case we need to get out of there in a hurry."

"You're not going out there alone."

"I'm the shifter here. I can take care of myself."

"No. We both know you'll end up fighting if I'm not there to stop you," Esau said. "I'm going."

"Nope," Joaquin said, restarting the engine.

Esau reached over, turned the engine off, and pulled the keys from the ignition. He slipped out of the car before Joaquin could get the keys back.

"Esau!"

Esau leaned against the glass and said, "Ready?"

Joaquin met his mate's gaze, worry filling him. Esau was everything he wanted and more—handsome, intelligent, funny, with a fire burning deep. He'd lost enough in his lifetime. He wasn't losing more.

Esau moved around the truck and opened the driver's door. "Surveillance only. No fighting. I'm good."

Joaquin didn't move.

"Come on, mi gato guapo. Let's surveil."

He sensed he'd not get Esau back into the truck, so he climbed out. He stopped when he was toe-to-toe with his mate. He searched Esau's hazel eyes, seeking signs of the fire the man always had burning, and smiled when he found it. He sensed hunger there, too. He speared a hand into his mate's short light brown locks and tugged Esau's lips to his.

The kiss was searing, felt from the top of his head to the tips of his toes—and everywhere in between. Esau's skin against his always set off an inferno of need. Need pulsed in every beat of his heart.

The thrill of the hunt always got him going. After they snooped around, Joaquin would take Esau home and fuck him senseless. They'd both sleep well that night.

"Let's go find us a demon," Esau said, grabbing his hand.

They walked the few blocks to Chicano Park. It was a green space under the Coronado Bridge, all pillars and underpasses. But the Chicano residents of the neighborhood had turned it into something special. It was harder to see the colorful murals painted over the pillars in the dark, but for Joaquin, he could see the spaces filled with incredible, vibrant artwork celebrating the residents of the area. Every surface was covered with bright color.

By day, the park was gorgeous, filled with families and fun.

By night, it became perilous. Gang activity and other criminal elements often used the park for nefarious means. Add demons into that mix? It spelled trouble. He'd told Esau no fighting, but he wasn't sure they'd be able to get out of there without one. He and Esau stuck to the shadows, no words expressed between them. They'd hunted long enough that one look spoke volumes. Rounding a corner, they saw the large black Lincoln SUV like the one the demon had been in the day before. He urged them closer to get a better look before ducking behind one of the concrete pillars.

Two distant forms lingered near the Lincoln, dark shadows to most, but with his feline sight, Joaquin saw everything. As he ducked behind a large shrub, he scanned the pair. Outwardly, nothing seemed too unusual, if you thought two men hanging out in a park late at night wasn't unusual.

Another large SUV came roaring around the corner and stopped near the other. At least eight beings filed out like it was a clown car. While he'd been scrutinizing the new arrivals, the original two had transformed into ten. Where they'd come from, he wasn't sure. If they'd been in the periphery, he would've seen them.

Teleport?

Maybe.

But that meant they might be dealing with powerful demons, not the run-of-the-mill legions from Hell. The Trivial Spirits—the Hellspawn, Lilim, Cambions, and the like—didn't have the power to teleport from place to place when on Earth except when the body they possessed was killed. That was a one-way ticket back to Hell.

Those were the guys they usually faced, not the Rulers of Hell.

"That's a bigger crowd than I was expecting," Esau murmured.

Twenty-to-one odds. He'd fought as many before, easily. Although, it wouldn't be so easy if they weren't low-level demons. He glanced at Esau. "How many are demons?"

He might be the shifter with feline night vision, but Esau was the one with the sight. Close enough, Joaquin could scent evil, but Esau came in clutch at a distance. Demon eyes blazed red and shifters shone silver to Esau. Other otherworldly beings had different colors, too numerous to remember.

"Some I can only see from the back, so I can't be for sure—but I'd guess at least half. One has weird eyes… a baby poop green glow," Esau whispered. "I've never seen that shade before. There are humans in the mix, too."

"You stay here," he told Esau. "I'm getting closer."

"Keeno,"Esau said.

"What?"

"There's little cover from here to there. You're going to get spotted."

Joaquin puffed out his chest. "You underestimate me."

Esau shook his head, jaw tightening. "You said no fighting."

"You're not fighting."

Esau's head whipped in his direction. His mate glared, nostrils flaring.

Joaquin lifted his hands in surrender. "I'm not planning on starting anything. We're too far away to hear anything—if I can get a little closer, we might get some info we can put to use."

Esau sighed. "Fine… but remember their senses are nearly as good as yours. If they hear you, a fight's coming. If you think I'm going to stand back and let you fight that crowd alone, you've got another think coming."

Joaquin paused, a moment's hesitation. Esau was exhausted, yet the opportunity the demons were presenting him was too delicious to pass up. If they were higher in Lucifer's court, they might be privy to big plans. "You forget who you're talking to. Stalking my prey in silence is what I do best." He kicked off one shoe.

"You can't shift in the middle of the city," Esau whispered hotly.

"I'll sink into the shadows better as a big, black cat than I will a big, brown man."

Esau snagged the shoe and held his hand out. "Pass ‘em over. No way I'm going to talk you out of this, so I'll play clothes rack and pray you don't get yourself killed."

Joaquin smiled, peeling his shirt off as the other shoe went. He handed over his clothing, piece by piece, until he reached his briefs. He glanced around, hesitant. Being nude in the woods was one thing. In the middle of San Diego? Even if it was dark and near empty, he knew there was a chance someone might see.

"Shit or get off the pot," Esau whispered.

Joaquin met his mate's gaze before slipping off his briefs and handing them over. "Take care of those. I'll be tying your hands with them later tonight."

Esau's eyes darkened, and need immediately slammed into Joaquin.

"Save that thought, babe," Joaquin murmured before shifting.

He hit the ground running, four paws better than two feet for the job. Slinking into the shadows, he inched closer to his prey—until he could just make out their conversation. He couldn't tell exactly who was speaking, but it was enough.

"… two more carloads coming up this week. We'll need to get them up to speed and on the ground as quickly as possible. We lost five two nights ago."

"Add that in to the ten we lost the week before."

A third voice chimed in, a deep, gravely one that sent chills down Joaquin's spine. "How many have we lost in total?"

"I don't know… perhaps seventy, sire."

Sire? That must be the demon leading them. Joaquin smiled inwardly at the tally. He knew most of those were likely their body count. It had been forever since they'd run into another hunter in the area, so he'd lay claim. The Hellmouth had once drawn hunters to the city like flies, but as time passed without seeing significant change, a lot of hunters had moved deeper into Mexico closer to the source. As far as he knew, he and Esau were the only ones who hunted San Diego regularly.

"Seventy? Damn it," their sire roared. "Do you know how long it'll take to replace that number? If we bring up too many Hellspawn at a time, Lucifer might figure out what we're up to. We don't need him catching wind of this."

Crossing Lucifer? Interesting. What are you planning?

Sire growled. "How many hunters is it?"

"Two," another voice answered.

"Two?Two hunters took out seventy of our Hellspawn? Are you fucking kidding me?"

"They've rooted out every damned lair we've set up so far, often within days. One within hours. Few have gotten away. What I do know is it's a cat shifter and a human. They must have a witch working with them to find us so quickly."

Joaquin fought a smile.

"It's time to hunt the demon hunters. We need to find them," their sire said.

"I might have a lead. I was at that scene and a human gave me a look—like he knew what I was."

Joaquin froze. It was the CBP demon cop speaking, he was sure of it.

CBP Demon continued. "He demanded my name, more than once, but I ignored him. I wasn't about to give him that power. Something about him… I sensed magic. He wasn't a witch, but he was something. Later, as I was leaving, I found a tracker in my vehicle. I tossed it out far from the den. It smelled of him."

Panic clenched at Joaquin's chest. Air was harder to draw in. He glanced over one shoulder at where Esau hid, true fear clutching his heart.

"You think he's the human half of your hunters?"

"Perhaps. I'll find out soon enough," CBP Demon said.

Their leader scoffed. "One shifter and one human killed seventy of ours."

"You say that as if you're pleased they've killed so many of our demons, Buer."

Buer.The name was vaguely familiar to Joaquin. He'd have to dig. After he got Esau to safety.

The one named Buer chuckled, the sound pure evil. "Pleased? No… but impressed all the same. One pair took down seventy. It begs the question: are our Hellspawn up to this task if they're no match for one shifter and his human?"

"From the few who've escaped his jaws, they claim the jaguar's a fierce fighter. He's all black and silent as a shadow. He leaps out of nowhere and is gone just as fast. The human, I don't know how he's made it this far other than the shifter's likely protecting him."

"Well, their days of killing our kind need to be over. Send the Assassins to finish them off," Buer murmured. "They never miss."

Rage filled Joaquin. The beast within roared, ready to take the demons down before they had a chance to put in the order for a hit. He glanced over his shoulder again, Esau giving him pause. His mate wasn't in any shape to fight. If Joaquin raced in there and attempted to take down twenty higher beings single-handedly, he wasn't sure he'd manage to kill them all before he went down. What he did know was that Esau would jump into the melee to help and likely wind up dead.

He wasn't losing his mate that night.

Even if he and Esau won the battle, it wasn't as if the demons would be gone for good. They could still send out the assassination order from Hell.

Their only recourse was to run, find safer ground, and then regroup. They couldn't kill what they couldn't find.

Joaquin dug his claws into the ground, his jaw clamped tight. He wanted to rip their necks out and send them all straight back to Hell. Yet he backed away, slithering through the shadows as quickly as he dared. As soon as he returned to Esau, he shifted back and snagged his pants, tugging them on.

"We're getting the fuck out of here now," he whispered lowly. Snatching his shoes, he urged Esau forward. He didn't bother putting his shoes on, walking half naked through Chicano Park in the dark.

"What's going on?"

Joaquin glanced over one shoulder; thankful they were upwind. Not all demons had a strong sense of smell, but best not to tempt fate. "I'll tell you in the truck."

Once they were far enough away, he grabbed Esau's elbow and began to sprint. He half dragged Esau the first few steps, but his mate was quick and caught up. Upon reaching the truck, he went to the passenger door. "You drive."

They slid inside, Esau fired the engine, and it roared to life. He gunned it out of the parking lot and stomped the gas on the way out. "What the fuck is going on, Keeno? Are we being chased?"

He dragged his shoes on as they tore down the street "Chased now? No. Hunted? Maybe."

Esau's gaze flipped to his before twisting back to the road. "Spill."

"They know, Esau. About you and me." He dragged his shirt over his head. "They mentioned the jaguar and the human who's been killing their kind. Some high-ranking demon named Buer called for a hit on us. They're planning to send the Assassins, whoever they are, claiming they never miss."

Esau was silent beside him as he directed the truck up onto the freeway. Another mile passed in silence before he spoke. "I'm almost afraid to go home. What if they're tracking us already? We could be walking into a trap."

Joaquin turned to study Esau's profile, terror chilling his blood. "I don't know if they know where we live, but it's likely only a matter of time. CBP Demon sensed you spotted him and said the tag smelled of you."

"Fuck."

"We have the boobytraps set on all the windows and doors. Circle the block first and we'll see if any have been set off. If they have, we leave. If not…"

"What? What do we do, Keeno? We're just two—if they know who we are, where we are, they could send legions against us."

"I'm not sure they would," Joaquin said. "They mentioned they were carefully bringing up small numbers of demons, so Lucifer wouldn't figure out what they were doing."

"What are they doing?"

"I didn't overhear any plans. Whatever it is, Lucifer has not signed off on it. That's all I got."

Esau twisted his hands on the wheel, the leather squeaking under his clutch. "You know… finding demon nests and clearing them out was one thing. Taking on legions and assassins is another."

"Maybe we go find a hotel to stay in for the night?" Joaquin suggested. "Far from home. We can go back tomorrow in the daylight when there's less chances they'll be creeping around, pack our bags, and get the fuck out of town."

"And go where?"

"I don't know," Joaquin said. "Anywhere but here."

Esau nodded, fear etched in his frown.

Joaquin reached over and squeezed Esau's arm. "You know I'll protect you, right?"

Esau nodded, body stiff.

"Have I ever let anyone hurt you?"

Esau released a pent-up breath, his body relaxing more than Joaquin could. "Never."

Joaquin brushed back some of Esau's hair. "Perhaps the only person that hurt you was me. I didn't see how hard I'd pushed you. I wish we'd never come out tonight."

"I'm glad we did." Esau glanced his way. "You likely saved our lives." He turned back to the freeway. "We wouldn't have known they had us in their sights. Now we do and we can take measures to protect ourselves. Hopefully."

"We'll find a way out of this. We always do." Joaquin closed his eyes a second, sending up a prayer to anyone who might be listening. While he knew Heaven must exist if demons did, the hell if he'd ever seen any signs of it. If angels wanted to prove their existence, that night was the time for it.

Not that he expected any help.

They'd never lifted a finger before.