

Lucian's Soul

Book One

HAZEL GOWER
Contents

Copyright © 2016 Hazel Gower

Message from the Author

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

EPILOGUE

Acknowledgments

Other Books by Hazel Gower

Contact the Author

About Hazel Gower
Copyright © 2016 Hazel Gower

Lucian's Soul, by Hazel Gower

All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the author or publisher constitutes unlawful piracy and theft of the author's intellectual property. If you would like to use the material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained from the author.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead, are coincidental.

Cover by Jess Buffett Graphic Designs

Message from the Author

This book is set in Australia. In Australia the legal age to drink, vote, get married and so on is eighteen. The characters speak Australian English, so if you see the word 'arse' instead of 'ass' it is because that's how we say it in Australia where the book is set. If you find a word you haven't heard before, look it up or message me I'd be happy to talk to you.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy my book.

Hazel Gower
Dedication

This book is to my cheeky son, Hayden. You're my perfect little devil and you make me laugh at least once a day. Mummy loves you.

To my amazing fans, you're support means the world to me, thank you.
Prologue

What you think is a demon is actually an angel. Humanity has mixed them up since the beginning of time.

Angels are not what humans think they are. They are jealous and nasty creatures who care for no one but their own species.

Demons, on the other hand, thrive on saving humans and shifters from the horrors they inflict on the world and themselves.

The two species never get along, as demons fight to help humans and shifters while angels try to bring about their execution.

Lucifer himself spends his time helping humans and shifters. He and his five brothers are gifted with immortality, but there is only so long one can walk the earth alone. The king of demons and his brothers' hearts grow weary and their power and passion for saving the human and shifter races and the world they live in fades.

They say when the angels are close to achieving their goal and Lucifer barely cares anymore, the tides will turn and love will cure all. Lucifer will find his soul mate. The mate will unconditionally love him, and not only will she give him new life, but she will make him stronger, deadlier, and more powerful than anyone could imagine.
Chapter One

Tessa pressed the elevator button and waited as it went to the top floor. She had twenty minutes to drop the assessment sheet at the CEO's desk, then get her bag and run to the bus stop to get the bus, otherwise she'd have to wait another hour for a bus to her neighborhood. It was eight o'clock and she'd been at work since a quarter to nine, and had been awake since seven this morning. Right now she was tired and hungry. She thanked God it was Friday and she had two days off. She intended to spend those days relaxing and sleeping.

On days like this, when it was so cold she was surprised it wasn't cold enough to snow, Tessa would give anything to afford a car. She wished she could relive her teenage years. She had apologized to her parents for running off with her ex-boyfriend six years ago. They had forgiven her and even paid for her secretary courses as she couldn't get a loan because she was in so much debt. Ben had deserted her as soon as the creditors came knocking at the door. No one knew where he was, and Tessa was now stuck paying for all the things they'd bought. Tessa sold everything and came crawling back to her parents at twenty with a massive amount of debt and shame.

Tessa had worked two jobs for a year to pay off as much debt as she could. She cut down to one job when her parents paid for the secretary course. She worked hard and got the best grades, so her parents also paid for little side courses to better her chances at a good job. Tessa was grateful to her parents, and she promised, once she finished paying off her first lot of debts she would pay her parents back.

Four months ago, Tessa joined Devils, Inc. as a secretary for one of the higher bosses. It was supposed to be a dream job. The pay was high and it had been advertised as a nine to five. That had been a lie. Tessa found out why the pay was so high—because her boss Greg was a grade A arsehole who fobbed his work off onto her. Tessa couldn't afford to lose her job or quit. This job was helping her pay her debts a lot quicker.

The company was part of the Fortune 500. The owner and CEO of Devil's, Inc.—Lucian Samson, bad boy billionaire—was known for turning any venture he was a part of into a success. Tessa knew if she could last two years and pay off her debts, she would be able to get a job anywhere. All she would have to say was she had worked at Devil's, Inc. and left on good terms.

Tessa glanced at her watch and groaned. She had less than fifteen minutes to place the file on Lucian Samson's desk, then get back to her bag and leave for the bus stop. She hurried along the corridor toward the big office doors in sight.

Almost running to the door, she gripped the assessment tighter and barged through the big doors, thinking no one else would be here at this time. Tessa paused and gasped at the sight before her. Lucian Samson stood naked with three women fawning over him. A redhead sucked his cock and two blondes were moaning and kissing his sculptured body.

At her gasp, Lucian's glowing blue eyes shot from the redhead to stare at her. A wicked grin came over his face before he sniffed the air and growled. In an instant, his whole demeanor changed. His relaxed stance turned rigid and his cheeky grin vanished, replaced by a serious one.

Oh, God, she needed to get out of here. Backing up, she muttered, "I'm so sorry. I...well...um... I... didn't see anything." Tessa was terrified as she swore Lucian grew from his already impressive six-foot something to seven or eight. His jet-black hair lengthened and seemed to grow, his skin turned a dark shade of red, and his eyes went from blue to black.

"Mate. My mate. Come to me now." Lucian's voice was deep and it sent a shiver of pleasure straight through her. What the hell was wrong with her? The guy in front of her was scary, not something to get turned on by. Crap, Tessa needed to get out of here, like now.

Backing out of the room, she slammed the door shut and ran for the elevator. The door opened and she pressed her work floor so she could get her bag and get the hell out of there.

Sighing in relief when the door closed, the elevator went down and as soon as the doors opened on her work floor she ran to her desk, dropped the assessment she'd been gripping like a lifeline, then gathered her bag. She took a couple of deep, calming breaths, giggling as she remembered what she thought she saw. Tessa needed sleep. She was so tired she was seeing things. Tessa hoped she wasn't fired for her rude behavior. Looking around her, she checked everything was turned off before she went back to the elevator and took it to the ground floor. Once there she nodded to Fred, the security guy, and walked as fast as she could to the bus stop.

At the bus stop Tessa laughed. She had the best imagination, imagining a man growing and turning bright red. God, she needed food and sleep. There was no way, what she saw Lucian Samson do was real. She was grateful it was Friday—she would have two days to catch up on some much needed rest.

* * * *

Lucian pushed the bitches off him, eager to go after his mate. The three women wouldn't let him go. They wanted to satisfy the alpha Demon, the one and only Lucifer, ruler of the underworld.

Ha, they have no idea they already live in my kingdom.

They had tried to seduce him individually, but other than a quick fuck, he wasn't interested. Lately Lucian was bored, sick of fucking the same type of woman over and over. He knew it wasn't going to go anywhere with any of them. Lucian couldn't have children unless he and his demon accepted the woman and she was their mate. He'd been searching for her so many years he'd not only lost count, but he'd given the fuck up.

This didn't stop women from trying to get him to mate with them. Lucian knew he was a hot commodity. He was the legendary Lucifer and he lived lavishly, had more money than anyone in the world, and owned many properties all over, the biggest being a large acreage where he currently lived. His house was grand and he liked his cars and motor bikes. Toys, his mother would have called them.

Stacey kept throwing herself at him, blocking him from going after his mate. His demon snarled and Lucian let him free. Lucian's bat like wings unfurled as the scent of his mate invaded his heightened senses. His demon roared as the scent of their mate lessened. Lucian hadn't been able to stop the change coming over him when he saw her. He'd looked into her big, doe brown eyes and her chestnut hair falling out of its bun and knew he was a goner.

"Lucifer, let the human go. Stay and play with us," Tiffney moaned.

Lifting Stacey off him, he threw her across the room and growled at Tiffney. "Get out of my way. Get out of my sight. I don't want any of you anymore." Lucian felt ill at the thought of their touch right now.

Furious that his mate was getting away and he'd wasted precious time on the bitches before him, he stormed past the cowering women, not caring about his nakedness—just eager to find his mate. When he couldn't find her he let out a deafening roar. Lucian let the change come over him and let his demon have free reign. Tomorrow he would begin the search for his mate. She worked in the building and he would find her, even if he had to interrogate every one of his employees.

Closing his eyes, he brought up the image of his mate. Her hair was a light chestnut brown, the strands that had fallen from her tight bun long and wavy. Her skin was creamy porcelain white. Her eyes were big brown pools that showed every emotion. Her body had him drooling and eager to find her. She had a Coke bottle body shape, full up the top coming in and flaring out again. She was roughly five-six, maybe seven. She was perfect for Lucian and he couldn't wait to find her and learn more.

* * * *

When she'd arrived at work on Monday after her much needed restful weekend, Greg had been furious with her and threatened to let her go that day. She had begged for her job and told him she would do better, but didn't tell him she hadn't dropped the assessment off because she walked in on Lucian with three women. Greg had caved, but only because he'd been praised for doing great work. Tessa was an idiot and Greg was a dick, but if he took credit for her work again she was going to bury him alive.

The week seemed to just get worse. A lot of employees were on edge and snappy; supposedly Lucian Samson was on the warpath. Looking at the computer screen in front of her, the image blurred and she saw herself kicking Greg's arse into the snow. Tessa groaned because she knew she could never hurt anyone, fuckwit or not. She reminded herself tonight was Friday and she had two days to relax again. At least, she hoped she could relax. Ever since she'd seen Lucian and heard his deep sexy voice, Tessa hadn't been getting much sleep. Her dreams were filled with fantasies that had Tessa waking with want and need. Lucian holding her in his embrace as he worshipped her body. Lucian sweeping her off her feet and making slow, sensual love to her. Lucian rubbing suntan oil on her and being her personal cabana man. She tried satisfying herself with her vibrator, her finger, anything, but nothing worked.

Since she wasn't sleeping, Tessa had come to work early all week so she wouldn't have to stay back again like last Friday. Today she hadn't been as lucky. Glancing out the frost-covered window, Tessa turned back to the screen to check the time—seven-fifteen. Great, she had stayed over two hours, longer than what she would be paid for again. Cursing Greg for the millionth time, she sighed and started double-checking her work so she could save it and turn off the computer. Rubbing her eyes, she blinked as everything went black.

"No, no, no. Please don't do this to me. God, Jesus, anybody who is listening, I will do anything if you turn the power back on so I haven't lost a thing." She banged her head on the desk, closing her eyes and praying when she opened them it would all be a bad dream, or the power would have come back on. Slowly straightening up and opening her eyes, she moaned as pitch black met her. "I'm cursed." She stood and gazed out the window, looking to see if the streetlights were out.

"I wouldn't say you were cursed. I know cursed people and you aren't one of them."

Tessa screamed and jumped from her seat as a masculine voice she knew well from her dreams spoke.

Turning to Lucian Samson, the star in all her fantasies this last week, Tessa prayed he hadn't heard her ranting to herself. Thanks to the frost glistening on the sills and the moonlight through the window behind her, she could see him. Not that Tessa needed to see him, as his image was permanently entrenched in her brain. She'd looked him up when she'd gotten home last weekend and found that he was six-four with bright sky blue eyes and a perfect muscular body encased in olive brown skin. He was her ideal dream man and way out of her league.

Clearing her suddenly dry throat, she whispered, "Mr. Samson, I didn't know anyone else was here."

Lucian strolled into her boss's office and she took several steps backward until she felt her back hit the window. "Call me Lucian. Mr. Samson makes me sound old, and I don't want you to think of me as old."

She bit her lip to hold in the groan that almost slipped at his proximity. Mmm, if he only knew she saw him as many things, but old was not one of them. Images of last night's fantasy, where he was her naked cabana man applying suntan lotion to her body, flashed before her eyes.

When the images stopped, she stared into lust-filled blue eyes only a breath away from her. "I've been watching you. Why did you run from me when I told you to stay the other night?"

Tessa froze as his hand came up and slowly traced her lips, then trailed down her body in a leisurely caress. What did he mean when he'd told her to stay the other night? Surely, he wasn't talking about last Friday when she walked in on him with three women?

"You're mine. I can't get you off my mind. I've waited centuries for you. I've been watching you all day, and every time you bend over my mind and...other things go into overdrive."

Tessa let out a gasp at his words. "I'm dreaming." She had to be, there was no way Lucian Samson was coming onto her. "Shit, I've fallen asleep over the computer."

Lucian chuckled. "No, Tessa, you most definitely are not."

A squeak of surprise left her as hands inched up, loosening her shirt, and his lips came down on hers. His mouth ravaged hers and her body came alive. His hands glided over her body and his touch left burning trails of fire. Tessa had never felt anything like this before. She needed this to stop. She needed to get away. This was her boss's boss. This was Lucian Samson, bad boy billionaire. This was the Lucian she'd seen last Friday with three women.

Mustering all her strength, Tessa pushed at Lucian's chest and tore her mouth from his. "I have no idea what you're talking about. It couldn't be when I barged in on you with three women."

Snarling, Lucian let her go. She heard the snarky lilt to her voice and knew she had to get out of there before she lost her job, if she hadn't already. Tessa was amazed at how she was acting toward a man she barely knew.

"Don't. You can't leave. I won't let you." Lucian's voice sounded harsh and gravelly.

Gulping, Tessa moved further away from Lucian. "I can leave. You have to let me." Reaching under the desk and keeping her gaze as much as possible on Lucian, she got her bag.

"Let me make love to you."

Wait? What? He can't be serious? She stared up into his beautiful face. "No."

"Yes."

"Um...No."

His eyes narrowed in clear frustration and disbelief. She studied him as a flash of pain and vulnerability passed over his face, making him look softer, more approachable. "Please."

Oh, God, how was she going to resist? His face looked like that of an angel. His pleading eyes were pulling on her heart and she wondered how many people he had ever said please to. She bet she could count them on one hand. He may be the best looking man she'd ever seen, he may star in every one of her dreams and make her body burn, but she needed to stay strong.

"We can't do that. Not only are you my boss, but I can't have sex with you because I don't know you. That's just a starter, what if the condom breaks? What if you have a disease, or what if I get pregnant? I'm not on the Pill. This is a bad idea. I'm sure there are plenty of other women who would gladly have you."

"You can't leave me." He sounded broken and desperate.

The need in his voice almost made her stay. He pouted and she groaned.

"I have no diseases, and as for getting pregnant..."A wicked glint came into his eyes and he grinned as he stalked her. " I'm technically sterile. The only woman who can fall pregnant with my child is my mate." His eyes darkened until she swore they turned black. "You can't leave me. You're mine. I will have you."

Shaking her head at what she thought she was seeing, she gave a snort. Ah yes, she could leave, and she wasn't falling for his caveman act. "Look, Mr. Samson, I don't know what's going on, but I'm really sorry about the other night. I have told no one and I won't. I really need this job and I don't want to upset you. I think it's best if I leave." Backing up until Lucian was out of her sight, she turned and fled before she gave in to her crazy craving for the man.

* * * *

Fuck!

Tessa was running. His demon wasn't reacting very well to their mate leaving them. He'd learnt yesterday afternoon who his mate was when he got to the floor she worked on, and he could smell her. Lucian had come in on her bending over a cabinet, putting a file away. Greg, her boss, had stopped him from introducing himself. He was a pup that Lucian employed to keep in the good graces of the Werewolf Council, just in case he ever needed them. Greg was one of the councilmen's sons.

"Do you need anything from Tessa, sir? She is only a human and is willing to do anything to keep this job, so if she has—"

"She hasn't done anything. If you touch a hair on her head, councilman's son or not, I'll kill you."

The pup had turned white and nodded. Lucian narrowed his eyes on him. "I want her to stay back tomorrow night." The pup nodded and Lucian had stormed off.

He'd found out everything he could about Tessa. Her full name was Tessa Jackson, she was twenty-four and lived in a granny flat at her parents'. She had left her parents as soon as she turned eighteen and racked up a huge amount of debt with a boy named Ben Nixs. Tessa came back to her parents at age twenty and had spent the last four years working to pay off her debts. She loved children and helped at Vision Australia in her spare time, doing the fun days and being a camp leader on their weekend trips. That had been all his private investigator had been able to dig up on her. She made friends easily and was close to a group of women who worked and volunteered at Vision Australia. He was keen to learn more and get to know her.

The further Tessa ran from him, taking away her sugary sweet scent, the more he let his demon take over. Inhaling deeply, he slowly let it out and chased after his mate. Lucian caught her before she reached the elevator and stairs exit. His picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, and pressed the elevator button.

Tessa fought, kicking at his chest and punching his shoulders. "Put me down. Put me down this instant! You have no right to manhandle me like this."

He chuckled as she used all her might to fight him. His mate was a little hellcat. "Kitten, I have every right to take you like this." He'd waited centuries to find the one woman he and his demon would accept. The elevator opened and he pressed the top floor button. When the doors closed he placed her on the ground, his arms around her waist. "Tessa Jackson, you're mine. I have waited many, many years for you. I'm not giving you up now that I have you."

Startled, big brown eyes stared up at him. Lucian leaned down and met her lips with his own. For a moment she didn't respond. He gathered her closer to him and deepened the kiss. His hands yanked open her shirt and slid up her soft, smooth stomach to cup and caress her breasts.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Moving his hands down to her waist, Lucian picked her up and walked to his office. He was going to claim his mate, take her home, and look after her. He was going to make her love him and care for him, and give him everything he craved from a mate.

Lucian placed his fighting mate on the table and hiked up her skirt. Spreading her legs as she cursed at him, he settled down between them, burying his face into her heat and nuzzling the prize he was eager to taste. His fangs lengthened and Lucian ripped Tessa's pantyhose and moved her underwear to the side. Spreading her pussy lips, he licked from bottom to top, sucking in her clit. Tessa lost her fight and froze. Lucian let his fangs scrape each side of her clit.

Tessa gasped and arched into his touch. "Oh. My. God. What are you doing to me? What have you done?"

He didn't answer. He knew he was devious by using the mating pull to make her his. He lapped at her pussy as he sank one long, thick digit into her core and pumped it in and out.

"Mmm, feels so good." She panted out as he added another finger and picked up speed.

Lucian kept his demon in place. Tessa wasn't ready to see his demon fully released and the power they wielded. He needed to know she would stay once she knew what he was, and the war he fought. Lucian was going to do everything he could to make her stay with him, even become the demon his people were known to be. He licked, lapped, and sucked her in, loving her sugary sweet taste. Lucian felt her legs tighten around him, and the fingers he buried inside her felt her muscles contract around them.

"Lucian, Lucian, Lucian," Tessa chanted as she fell apart and her orgasm came over her. His fangs sank into either side of her clit and he drank her blood and come, the mix giving him a high like never before.

Lucian knew what he had to do. Centuries of instinct kicked in as his strength tripled to a level he'd never experienced before. Closing off his entry points, he eased away and quickly shed his clothing, then gathered Tessa back to him. Pulling her closer to the edge of the desk, he lined his cock up with its home as he spread her legs further, then pushed into her core. Tessa moaned and clenched around him as he moved further into her. She leaned back against the table, her elbows helping to support her. She wrapped her legs around him, driving him deeper. She moaned and pushed her body to meet his.

Concentrating on keeping his demon contained, he closed his eyes, unable to watch her arch her back and pant at his touch. Her smell and the look of ecstasy on her face was pure torture, and messing with his renowned stamina. He gripped her hips and drove into her over and over. Lucian felt like he was in Heaven, home.

Tessa moaned and it sent thrills of power through him. Lucian argued with his demon to stay hidden as the pleasure swamped over him. He thrust into her faster and relinquished in the sweet scent that surrounded him, telling him after centuries of loneliness he'd found his mate. The tides would turn and he would get happiness.

Opening his eyes when he knew he'd won the fight with his demon, Lucian saw that Tessa now sat up, looking at his face. She pushed back at him as he retreated and slid back home.

"What are you doing to me? It's never been like this before. I feel like I'm going to explode." Tessa's voice was coming out in pants as she helped his movements, pushing herself down so he went deeper each time.

His hands fell from her waist and Lucian reached up and stroked her cheek. "You're special. You're mine, Tessa." Needing to mark her so all knew what she was to him, he leaned down and kissed her neck from bottom to top until he rested his lips over the juncture where her shoulder met her neck. He pumped into her with a purpose. She was going to come and squeeze the life out of his cock. He was going to come deep inside her, planting his seed. Tessa would be his mate. Letting his fangs lengthen, he pounded into her and pierced her shoulder. He drank from her as she convulsed around him, her pussy quivering and gripping him like a vice that had him pulling on her blood harder and letting himself go. He felt his wings unfurl and they closed around them, blocking out the moonlit night.

Lucian was happy the endorphins from his fangs would make her drowsy until he finished the mating bond by giving her his blood. He licked her wound enough so it would leave a mate scar. Staring down at Tessa, her head thrown back and her big brown eyes glazed over in bliss, he lengthened a sharp fingernail and sliced where his shoulder met his neck, then lifted her up to where his blood dripped. Still in a daze, he opened her mouth and held her to him. Lucian knew when his sweet taste hit her mouth—she groaned and leaned closer to him, pulling in his blood. He held her onto him until he knew she wouldn't fight.

His cock hardened again as her moans around his flesh brought his need roaring back. Using his wings, he moved to sit on his chair and positioned her legs so she straddled him. This time he let the demon out to help claim her. Lucian knew she could handle his demon now she'd had his blood. He grew and his wings hardened. Tessa's pulls became deeper and her nails dug into his shoulders as he moved within her. Her pussy kept going off with mini orgasms, thanks to his blood heating her and making her body burn so high that all he had to do was stoke the inferno.

Holding onto her waist, he lifted her only to slam her back down and ground himself against her. With her nails digging deeper and her pulls getting stronger, he struck, biting deeper this time. Together they came as they both bit—him to remark her, her as she shattered around him.

Tessa's core squeezed the life out of him until he didn't know, for the first time in his life, if he had anything left to give. Spent, Lucian grinned as his blood-drunk mate fell back against his wings, her euphoria evident.

Taking in a deep breath, he sighed with contentment as he smelt the change in Tessa. She smelt mated. She smelt of him. She mumbled incoherently, her eyes barely fluttering open as he eased out of her. Not bothering with clothes, he went to his balcony and opened it, still cradling her in his wings. Switching her to his arms, he fluttered his wings and stepped up over the edge. Holding his precious bundle tighter, Lucian took in a deep breath of the fresh night air then stepped off the balcony and flew into the night.
Chapter Two

Tessa stretched her sore muscles and pulled the covers tighter around her. Her bed was soft and warm and she really didn't want to get up. All she wanted to do this weekend was sleep.

She squeezed her eyes shut as her vivid dream from last night came back to her. Tessa body heated and the aching need resurface. Rubbing her thighs together, she frowned at their stickiness. Assessing the rest of her body, she moaned when her tender core made itself known. Snapping her eyes open, she bolted up right in bed and gazed around as her surroundings came into view.

"This isn't my room."

The room was huge with sky blue walls with ornate borders, high ceilings, and central heating. A lavish, dark wooden dresser and mirror took up one wall, with a door and a bookshelf on the other side. The huge bed matched the dresser, bookshelves, and bedside tables. Everything looked expensive.

Tessa didn't remember coming to someone's house, let alone putting herself to bed. The last thing she remembered was...

Holy crap, what have I done?

It wasn't a dream. Easing out of bed, she squealed at her nakedness. Grabbing the quilt, she wrapped it around herself and looked around for her clothes or something else to wear. Her mind kept going over what she thought she'd seen. She remembered drinking a sweet fruit drink. It had tasted wonderful, like nothing she'd ever had.

Everything was hazy, but the more she thought about last night the more it came back to her. Oh, God, she'd had sex with Lucian Samson. No, no, no, she'd had unprotected sex with Lucian Samson. Crap, she wasn't on the Pill. What would she do if she got pregnant? What if she'd caught a disease? She vaguely remembered Lucian telling her he was disease free and sterile.

Opening a side door, she saw a massive bathroom with a spa bath and huge shower. Letting go of the quilt, she washed her face and did her morning business before covering herself again. Tessa debated if she should shower or wait until she got home and could get properly clean and relax in fresh clothes. Sighing, she walked to the opposite door. Bingo, a closet filled with suits and shoes. Reaching up, she got a shirt off the rack and put it on—it came to her knees, she swam in it. Doing one last search for her clothes, she exited the room.

The hall was long. Black tiles with cream walls greeted her. Tessa could see stairs on her right and walked toward them. Paintings of places graced the walls and a couple depicted fights between what looked like angels and demons.

The house was quiet, and when she reached the bottom of the stairs she saw a huge open plan kitchen, dining room, and family room. Tessa needed to find Lucian, or at least a phone so she could call a taxi and leave.

Wandering around the mammoth house towards what she thought of as the front, she heard voices.

"I've found my mate. Gather Michael and Jacob, it's time. I need to up the guards. I want my best. I don't trust the angels. They grow bold of late."

"I will fetch them myself, Lucifer."

"Good, Seth. I need you to find them and bring them home ASAP. Stay safe, brother."

Tessa waited until she didn't hear the voices and stepped around the corner. She jumped as Lucian's voice startled her. "You can come out of hiding now, Tessa. Seth has gone, although he was eager to meet you."

Straightening her shoulders, she stepped into his view. "I wasn't hiding. I was waiting for you to be done talking to your friend...er, brother?"

Lucian grinned at her, his dark hair falling just over his bright blue eyes as he strolled to her and gathered her into his embrace. She held herself stiff and unsure against him. "Seth is my youngest brother."

Tessa nodded, unsure of what Lucian wanted her to say. "How many brothers do you have?"

"Five. I am the oldest."

Wow, six brothers. His poor mother. "Um...I didn't know that. They must stay out of the public light." Tessa definitely hadn't heard about Lucian having brothers. It was strange.

Lucian shrugged. "Over the years we have gone our separate ways, it's safer. All of them, bar Seth, live in different countries."

"Oh, okay." Tessa wasn't sure what else she should say. His hands on her skin were like fire; her whole body came alive from the slightest touch from him. She needed to get away before she missed her chance. She'd already crossed a major no-no, sleeping with the big boss. She felt like an idiot. She needed this job so bad and she'd stuffed it up sleeping with Lucian. Maybe if she left and pretended this never happened he'd let her keep her job. "I, argh..."

His lips came down to hers and he brushed them back and forth, sending delicious tingles coursing through her. "I was just going to come up and check on you. Would you like me to order breakfast for you?"

Wriggling in his embrace, Tessa tested to see if she could get out of his hold, but he held her firm. "Um...ah...I came to find you to ask if you'd take me ho..." He shook his head and his eyes narrowed. "Well... You see I want to leave. Er... I mean...can I use your phone to call a taxi so I can go home?"

"No."

Shocked at his abrupt no, she stared up into his blue eyes that swirled with black. Captivated, Tessa watched as a storm began to brew in them. Her inner radar was going off, telling her she needed to get away from Lucian. Something wasn't right. She expected a billionaire playboy to be eccentric, but she thought he'd be eager to get rid of her. Lucian Samson wasn't known for keeping women or having the same woman more than once.

"What do you mean by no? I have to go home. I don't normally sleep with men I don't know. Actually, I never do what I did last night. I don't know you, Lucian. You're not my type. Well, I don't know if I have a type. I've only ever been with one other person and he wasn't very good." She pushed at his chest to get out of his hold, but he wouldn't let her go. His arms and body were like steel. "Lucian, last night was...unbelievable, but it's time for me to go home. I can't stay here. I don—"

"Yes, you can. You're mine, Tessa. You're special. I want you."

Okay, Tessa needed to get away. Lucian was intense. The sex she'd had may have been amazing, and the way her body reacted to him was scary, but his possessive and strange ways now were freaking her out. She needed to get away. "I need to go home and get some clean clothes. I'm hungry, too, but I need clothes to go anywhere to eat. Where are my clothes?"

Lucian released her and held her hand. "Come. I'll take you home to get some clothes and then we can get some food."

"That sounds great." Right now she'd say anything to leave. Tessa needed time alone to think. Something was going on. As much as she would like to think Lucian all of a sudden wanted her and thought they had something, Tessa knew better. Men like Lucian didn't go for women like her. Tessa didn't think she was ugly—she just wasn't hot playboy billionaire girlfriend material.

* * * *

Lucian ducked his head as they walked into Tessa's little granny flat. The flat was about the size of his bedroom and bathroom combined. The bathroom had a shower, a sink, and toilet, and there was barely room to move. The kitchenette, one small bench and sink with a tiny fridge, sat in one corner with her bed on the opposite side of the room. A wooden painted folding divider separated the room. A TV sat next to her bed with a tattered two-seater sofa.

Tessa rummaged through drawers against the wall and then went to a small closet and grabbed some clothes. She clutched her items to her chest. "Um... thanks again for dropping me home. You can let yourself out. I'll er...see you Monday?"

"No." Ha, his little mate thought she was escaping him. No way was he letting his mate stay here another night. "You will get changed, then gather a bag and some of your things. I'll buy you some more clothes later. You're coming back with me."

"Excuse me?" Her mouth gaped opened and her eyes widened.

Advancing on her, he tilted her head up so she gazed into his eyes. He wanted her to know he meant business. "You're staying with me from now on. Grab the things you want. Anything else you need I will buy for you. Be quick now. I think this place is making me claustrophobic." He let her go.

"You're crazy," she whispered. Tessa blinked and shook her head.

"Do you need help to get changed?" He chuckled when she backed up and, if at all possible, her eyes got bigger.

"N...n...no," she stuttered. "Give me a moment and I'll be back."

Lucian watched as she scurried to her tiny bathroom. While she hid in the bathroom he snooped. In the fridge sat milk, butter, cheese and yogurt. The cupboards had two-minute noodles and bread, bowls, plates and some containers. The two draws held utensils. He sighed, her kitchen contained the bare minimum. He walked the couple of steps to her closet, opening it to find three pairs of shoes, two dresses and four skirts, six blouses and five t-shirts with three pairs of jeans. Lucian shook his head and walked to the draws, surprised to find a large draw filled with fancy bras and underwear. Another draw held two flannelette PJs and three tracksuit pants with five old, big shirts. The bottom draw held papers and knickknacks.

Going over to the sofa, he sank into it. Holy crap, that was it—she was not coming back to this place...ever. It was a death trap. Standing, he marched to the bathroom door and opened it. Tessa sat on the toilet with the seat down, her arms hugging her legs. "No more hiding. Get up and pack or I will do it for you."

Her gaze narrowed on him and she slowly stood. "You are not the boss of me. You may be my boss at work, but here you're just plain old Lucian Samson. I barely know you. I am not yours to push around. I'm not your girlfriend. I'm not anything to you, so leave me alone. I'm not coming with you. I'm staying right here until you go."

His demon raced to the surface and took charge. Lucian let him because right now he was on the same page, getting their mate out of this shitty little flat. Stalking to his woman, he picked her up, placed her over his shoulder, and walked out of the tiny dwelling. Palming her arse as she squirmed under him, he smacked her. "To you I am never plain old Lucian Samson. I am your mate, your boyfriend, and soon to be husband. I will keep you safe and make sure you have everything you need. You are everything to me. You, my little kitten, are mine. I will never leave you. I have waited centuries for you. You will stay with me from now on."

"Oh my God, you're crazy." She whacked his back and screamed, "Help, help! A crazy man is taking me. Call the police. Help!"

Smacking her arse again, he placed her in front of his car. Cupping her face, he stroked her soft cheek. "Give me a chance. I want to give you everything. You deserve to be treated like a princess. I promise I'm serious about us."

Her eyes scanned his face and she let out a puff of air. "I can't believe I'm about to say this but...fine, you get a chance. If things get weirder or you break my heart I will run and I swear you will never see me again. Got it?"

He let a grin slowly claim his face and he nodded. "Sure, kitten. Anything for you." He winked at her.

"You are dangerous." She got in the passenger seat and he went around to the driver's side, opened the door, and got in.

"More than you know, but I'm never dangerous to you."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "We'll see."

* * * *

Lucian wouldn't let her pay for anything. They now stood at the counter with a pile of sexy underwear.

"I am not letting you pay for my underwear. For Christ's sake, Lucian, you have already bought me a bunch of clothes that cost more than what I make in a year. You haven't taken no for an answer. I told you I didn't need shoes and you still dragged me into a shoe store and guessed my size and bought me three pairs." She shoved him away. "Now I am going to buy my own friggin' underwear."

Lucian raised his eyebrow and a smirk spread over his devilishly handsome face. "Sure, kitten, you can pay." He almost purred, and didn't that sound just spike her growing anger? "How are you going to pay? You didn't bring your wallet with you."

Glancing down at her jeans and tank top, she groaned when she realized she didn't have her bloody bag. It was all Lucian's fault—he'd thrown her over his shoulder and didn't let her get her things. Lucian laughed and handed his black credit card over to the smiling saleslady.

"If this gorgeous man wanted to buy me all these things, I'd gladly let him," the saleslady said.

Lucian's eyes lit up and his smirk turned into a grin. "Hear that, kitten? I think you should take a page out of the nice lady's book."

Growling in frustration, she glared at Lucian and stormed out of the store. Tessa knew she should be more grateful, but she'd learned the hard way that nothing ever came for free. Lucian may be all nice and loving now, but she didn't know how long that would last and she didn't want to be in debt to anyone else. Lucian kept spouting stuff about her being his and so on, but she knew his reputation. She'd walked in on him with three women.

Lucian chased after her with the bags. "Let me call someone to get these bags and we'll go have something to eat." Lucian seemed oblivious to her frustration and anger.

She grabbed the bags from him and walked towards the food court. "I can hold the bags. You don't need someone to come and get three bags full of underwear. Come on, let's eat."

At the food court, she ordered their food, grinning when he paid and stared at the food. "Did you just order for me?"

Biting her lip to hold back the smile, she shrugged. "Yep." She chose their seats and placed the shopping bags beside her.

He set his food in front of him and grumbled, "I'm the man. I should choose the food for you."

"You're so controlling." She rolled her eyes at his sulking. "I can choose my own food just like I can buy my own clothes, shoes, and underwear."

He stared at her like she had just done the inconceivable and bested him. Smiling at him, she picked up her utensils and ate.

When he was done and she had a couple of bites left, he sighed. "You're nothing like any of the woman I know. You're the first woman who doesn't want to spend my money. The first woman who has genuinely wanted to pay for things."

Wiping her mouth with a napkin, she gazed at Lucian. His mouth was set in a fine line and his forehead wrinkled. He looked at her like she was an unknown entity and had no idea what she was.

"Lucian, I learnt years ago that money doesn't grow on trees. You have to work to get money. I know the value of working to buy a top that I fell in love with. I learnt that nothing in life is free. What you have done for me today was nice and I thank you, but I don't want to be in debt to you."

"You will never be in debt to me. I have plenty of money and I want you to have the best."

Tessa put her hand up to stop him from saying any more. "That's nice of you, but I'm sure you worked hard to get where you are now, and I am happy with what I have. I don't need expensive clothes and shoes. You don't need to buy all these things to be with me. I don't want or need to be bought. I will be happy just to spend time with you. To get to know you, and you me." She smiled at him. "What are you doing tomorrow? I say we should go to the beach and maybe hire a movie, buy some popcorn, and sit back and relax. What do you say?" Tessa held her breath, hoping that he was willing to spend the day doing what she'd asked.

Lucian ran his fingers through his thick hair. "I'm busy tomorrow taking my woman to the beach and getting popcorn so we can watch a movie."

Letting her breath out, she reached across the table and held his hand. "I'm looking forward to it. Are you finished? You ready to go?"

He let go of her hand and stood. She joined him, gathering the bags. He grabbed some of the bags from her and with his other hand held hers. Together they walked to the exit.

* * * *

Lucian wasn't a beach person. He hated the feel of grainy sand on his feet and between his toes. He didn't like how it got into every crease and crevice. The beach wasn't a place where he could wear his usual attire of a suit, tie, and leather boots. Yesterday, Tessa wanted to go to the beach, he'd had to call his assistant when they arrived home to get him the appropriate clothes for the occasion. Demons did not do beaches.

He now walked hand in hand with Tessa, the sand squelching against his feet as she told him about all the beaches she'd been to. "I make sure if I go to any coastal town that I visit every beach. When I was younger my parents were the same. I spent every holiday at a new beach. You'd be surprised to find that every beach is vastly different—from the sand and dunes, to the sea shells and rock pools. Yeppoon in Queensland is a great example, its beaches seem hidden in coves and there is a lot of grass. Great Keppel Island has fine sand and the beaches go almost all the way around it. From Yeppoon Beach you can see the island, but from the island you can't see Yeppoon. Caves Beach in NSW is separated by caves and rock pools. In Darwin Mindil the beach is very rocky and the sand is harder—bigger shells.

"I love coming to the beach in the early morning or afternoon and just sitting and listening to the soothing sounds of the waves crashing to shore. Watching as the water retreats and comes back again in another wave to fight the sand. I've always thought that beaches and the sea bring us together. I mean, at least once in your life you stand on a beach and look out into the vast ocean and wonder how far to the nearest island, or how far to the next country. You look for life." Tessa stopped and sat down, patting the sand beside her. "Have you been to many beaches?" Tessa stared at him and he glared at the sand next to her before he groaned and sat down.

"I have seen many beaches, but until you just explained how you see them I saw them as another way to separate us, a way to show us how different we are. That distance between places makes us different."

Tessa grabbed his hand in hers and squeezed. "I don't think every country is so different from the other. We all want the basic things—food, water, shelter, and love. We all live on Earth, we all need those vital things to survive. Landscapes are vastly different all over the world but most have beaches."

He watched her, captivated as she talked about something she loved. Her whole face was bright, her mouth curled up in a content smile, and her eyes were alight with happiness. Tessa looked stunning. "Here is a fact I learned, there are six hundred and eighty-two beaches in the whole world." She seemed to vibrate as she eased up on her knees. "My dream is to see as many beaches in my lifetime as I can. At every one I can remember being at I have sat and looked out to sea. My goal is to do that with each one I continue to see."

For once in his long life, Lucian felt excited. He could give Tessa her wish. With her now mated to him, she would live longer and he had the money to take her anywhere she wanted to go. Angels be damned. Right now, as he looked at his mate, he didn't even care that the sand was seeping into unknown places, because he knew he would need to get used to it. Seeing the joy on Tessa's face was worth living with sand following them wherever they went.

Tessa snuggled into him and turned to watch the water. Wrapping his arm around her, he did the same. This time when the waves hit the shore he thought that on six hundred and eighty-one beaches the waves were doing the same...fighting the shore. Angel and demons. Humans with each other. Animals with the weaker species. It seemed that everything was in a fight for life.
Chapter Three

Being at the beach with Lucian had been nice. Lucian wasn't one to talk. He was the one who asked questions—tonight, though, Tessa would do the asking. They had bought a movie to watch and Lucian was now putting it on. Tessa had microwaved some popcorn and waited for Lucian. The screen lit up and Lucian sat next to her. She snuggled into him and shoved some popcorn into her mouth.

"So, at dinner you found out my favorite color is purple, the shade that lights up the sky when the day fights the night. That I'm a dog person over cats, and I always wanted a chocolate Labrador. I am an only child and my mother had me late in life. It's my excuse for not being able to talk to them. I have only ever been sexually active with one other man. That I was stupid and left with that guy and racked up a bunch of debt, and it took me some time to realize my mistake and grow up. You also learned that I love chocolate, dancing, and am not a fan of horror films, but I haven't learnt anything about you beside your favorite color being red, like a blazing fire. That you have five brothers, which is just crazy, and I think I only found out about your brothers because you were talking to one of them. I'd love to know other things, like how long have you owned Devil's, Inc.?"

Tessa felt Lucian's body stiffen against her. He paused for a long time, like he was thinking about his answer. "You would say I have owned it from the beginning of time. I would say half my life."

She shoved more popcorn in her mouth to stop her frustrated moan. Lucian had answered, but not properly. Fine, she'd ask him about something else. "Are your parents still alive? If so do you see them?"

Again, he seemed to take forever to answer. "My parents died long ago."

"What do you do when you're not at work? You know I read or go to the beach and I also help out with Vision Australia."

"I keep in shape. I go to fundraisers and, before you, I spent time with women showing them the pleasures of life."

Holy crap, getting information was like trying to get blood out of a stone. The poor man sounded like he had no life. "Surely you must do other things. What about socializing with friends? You have brothers, do you socialize with them?"

Lucian started stroking her hair. "I socialize with friends. I haven't seen most of my brothers in a while. The movie is about to start. Let's talk later."

Tessa sighed and wiggled herself further against him. She knew later there would be no talking.

* * * *

The movie was about to finish and Lucian wasn't ready for more questions, not now. He needed to be sure Tessa loved him and would stay no matter what she saw or learned from him.

As the credits came up he untangled himself from her and turned everything off before reaching down and picking Tessa up, cradling her in his arms. She snuggled into him straight away. "Are we going somewhere to talk?" Her voice was sultry. She knew where they were going there would be no talking—screaming, moaning and groaning, yes, but no talking.

Lucian picked up speed and didn't say anything until he laid her on their bed. He made quick work of taking off their clothes before he climbed on the bed and hovered over her. "Talk is overrated." His lips met hers and he let his fingers explore, committing every inch of her to his memory. Her round face with kissable lips, to her large breasts and lush, womanly body with its wide hips, thick thighs, and perfect pussy made just for him.

He tasted her mouth as his fingers played with her pussy lips before he devilled into her core, seeking warmth. She arched up to meet his touch and her breasts rubbed his chest. Tingles of heat rushed around his body and settled in his now hard erection. She moved to help control his movements as he pumped his fingers in and out.

His demon, that'd been quiet all day, roared inside his head, eager to be let free so he could play with their mate. Lucian tried to reason with him but he wanted out. He hadn't been out to feed or to fight in the last couple of nights, and he was eager for action.

Easing himself down his mate's body, he settled between her thighs and leaned forward, letting his demon feast on Tessa. She gave loud pleasure-filled screams and he buried his face close to her and licked, sucked, and nibbled. Her hands came to rest on his head and her fingers raked through his hair and gripped it tight.

"Lucian, oh Lucian," she moaned over and over. Her voice spurred him on and he sucked in her clit, then dug his tongue into her core. His teeth lengthened and he gently scraped the sensitive sides of her nub. Tessa bucked against him and her grip on his hair tightened. "Right there, yes there."

His pumped his fingers into her pussy, deeper and faster. He let his teeth glide slowly over her clit before gathering it into his mouth and biting down on either side, drinking. Tessa's whole body shook and she pulled at his hair as she yelled her release. Drinking her blood and come, his body grew and he fought to keep himself in check. A high came over him, knowing he satisfied his mate.

Growling, he swiftly detached and flipped Tessa over, hiding his transforming body. Draping himself over her, he let his wings out and pushed her down onto the bed before driving his cock home. Her muscles squeezed around him from the orgasm she'd just had and he grunted at the tight fit. Wanting to be deeper, he lifted her up so her back was against his chest as he kneeled. Spreading his legs, he let his wings balance them as he moved his hands around to play with her bouncing globes as he fucked her.

Lifting her body, he propelled back in and tweaked her nipples, basking in her cries for more. Tessa bounced back on his cock. Leaning down, he ran his sharp teeth over her neck and nibbled on her ear. Tessa was now panting for breath and gripping the bed headboard like a lifeline. Wanting more control, he fluttered them away so she had no anchor bar him. Her hands came to rest on his and he moved one down to play with her puffy clit, still tender from his bite.

"No, please. I can't take anymore." She tried to hold his fingers as they massaged her nub.

Leaning over so her face buried in the pillows, he drove into her. For a moment, he sat up and watched as he retreated and sank back into her. Fuck, it was hot seeing his dick covered in her come and buried deep into her over and over.

"Oh, God, I'm going to come," Tessa groaned.

He wasn't ready to come yet. He knew when she came around his cock he would erupt. "No. You will not come. You will come when I tell you." Tessa shook her head and he palmed her arse. She mewled against him and he felt her clench. "No." With his open palm he smacked her arse. The clenching stopped and he did it again. This time her cheek turned pink and her muscles tensed. He placed two smacks on her other cheek, making them both shimmer with a tinge of red. By the fourth smack to her arse Tessa was moaning and her muscles squeezing.

Shit. He wasn't going to last. Moving back over her, he nuzzled her neck and thrust into her faster and faster, his body climbing her for his release. When he was on the edge ready to jump, he bit her neck and sucked in her essence as he exploded. Her whole body quivered under him and her pussy clamped around his cock and spasmed, milking him of everything he had. Tessa screamed his name and he felt her body as it turned to liquid.

Putting his wings away and coming back to himself, he gently moved to the side so they could spoon and cuddle each other. Tessa sighed and hugged his hands to her as he brought them around her.

"That was so good. I can't move. You've turned me into a puddle of goo," she mumbled.

Brushing a kiss to her head, he closed his eyes. "With you it is always amazing. I'm so lucky to have found you, Tessa. You're mine." He kissed her head again and listened as her heart rate slowed and she drifted off to sleep. Feeling happy and content, he let sleep claim him.

* * * *

The weekend had been unreal. Tessa had never had so much sex in her life. Lucian asked her everything about herself but avoided any questions about him, giving only vague answers. He always turned the conversation back to her.

They spent this morning arguing and she didn't get info out of him then, either. "I need to go home, Lucian. I have my work clothes there and it'll be better if I get myself to work. I don't want the office talking."

"No."

"What do you mean, no?"

"No, you'll not be going back to that tiny thing you call home. You can wear the clothes I bought you and come to work with me. I want you close where I can see you, and I don't care what people say at my office."

"I can't do that. I care what they say and I need to work. I need the money. I have debts to pay."

"I'll pay your debts and you don't need to work. I will provide for you. You're mine. I don't want you to work. I need to see you to know you're safe."

"There is no way you're paying my debts. I was stupid enough to get into to debt. I want to get myself out. They're my responsibility. And I can keep myself safe. I've survived all my life without you, I think I can last eight or so hours at work." She stormed away, only to be picked up and thrown over Lucian's shoulder.

So now Tessa sat in his black Lamborghini as he drove them to work. Lucian drove fast, brooding next to her. "I'm not the type of woman who is happy to have everything handed to her, or have a man do everything for her and expect her to wait around for him. That's not me, Lucian. I've had an awesome weekend, but I've only just met you. I want to get to know you before we take this relationship, or whatever it is, further. Let's go on some more dates. I have a Vision Australia park day this Saturday and you're welcome to come with me, but how about we go to the movies or out on a picnic? Rolling blading, ice-skating...crap, I don't know, anything on any of the other days this week."

"We went out on the weekend."

Tessa rolled her eyes. Yeah, they'd gone out. Saturday they'd gone to her little flat and ended up leaving with nothing, then they'd gone shopping and he'd spent an obscene amount of money on her. The rest of Saturday, they lazed around, having sex. Sunday they had gone to the beach for a couple of hours, but again come home and had an amazing night filled with sex. This morning she found out Lucian had a cook. The chef had Saturdays and Sundays off, or so she'd been told. The guy she'd seen didn't look like a cook—he was tall and beefy, but everything was muscle. He reminded Tessa of a body builder or bodyguard. His food was okay, but not the quality from a chef she thought would be in Lucian's employment.

"We left the property twice. Otherwise we spent most of our weekend fucking." Nibbling on her lips, she felt her cheeks heat. "Oh, I forgot the movie. We stopped long enough to watch that." She turned to face him as he focused on driving. "Look, I think we need to go slower. I know your reputation. Everyone knows your reputation. I think we should take this day by day if you're serious."

Lucian's knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering well. "Okay, we'll go slower...for now."

* * * *

Taking things slower, her arse. It had been almost five days since Lucian told her they'd take their relationship slower, and if this was slow Tessa would hate to think what fast was. Tonight Lucian was taking her out to a new restaurant.

This morning she'd tried to have another discussion about taking it slow and going somewhere beside work and his house. Lucian had dodged the subject until she'd told him she was staying at her flat tonight. He'd changed his tune then, telling her he was taking her to dinner tonight and to the movies this weekend.

Tessa wondered if Lucian was embarrassed to be seen with her. Maybe that was the reason why he didn't take her anywhere. But, that theory didn't work because he dropped her off right at her desk every morning and picked her up every afternoon, kissing her in front of everyone.

Greg had been super nice to her, and for once actually did his own work and not fobbed it off on her. Come to think of it, everyone was nicer to her. She knew why, and it worried her because she knew when Lucian got sick of her it would go back to what it was or probably worse.

Tessa wasn't fooling herself that Lucian would keep her. He was way out of her league, and he had a reputation of never keeping a woman. He was the playboy billionaire.

* * * *

He was a demon, for Christ's sake, and right now he was in the park watching his mate laugh and play games with a bunch of blind and vision-impaired children. Last night he'd taken Tessa out to the exclusive restaurant Life Eats. It was the first time in a good century he'd been in a restaurant alone with just one woman. Even more, with a human. He didn't like Tessa out in such an open space. He worried an angel or one of his many other enemies would target her. The shifters helped him with protecting her when he or his demons couldn't.

A little boy stepped up to him, his head to the side. "Hi, I'm Zane. I see you."

Lucian looked at the boy for a moment. The kid kept cocking his head and blinking. The boy was studying him like he had no idea what Lucian was. Weird. What the fuck was Lucian supposed to do or say? He wasn't a kid person. Seth was the last child he'd been around, and that was a good century or so ago. "Argh...I er...I see you, too, kid...Zane."

Turning his focus back on Tessa, Lucian ignored Zane and hoped he went away. Children were trouble, and anywhere kids were it seemed to follow.

"No. You don't understand. I see, see you. You're the color of hot. Can you fly with those?"

What! Shooting his gaze back to Zane, he really studied him. The kid was about six, maybe seven years old, with bright red hair and freckles. His skin was white like porcelain and he looked skinny, but healthy. Quickly looking around, Lucian let his demon out enough to take stock of the child before them and breathed in. Lucian smiled when he took only a couple of sins. Ah, a good boy. Lucian gazed down, noticing Zane's hand gripped hold of the reins linked to a yellow Labrador. Fuck, the kid was blind. What was going on?

Standing up, he stared down at the boy, hoping to intimidate him. Lucian hadn't been around faulty children or adults before. He'd never seen the need for them. Back in the old days, if it was known from birth a child wasn't perfect or what they considered perfect, most species—especially the humans—killed them. This was the first time in all his centuries he'd willingly spent time with a faulty being. Lucian was curious. "Are you the only one who can see me? Has another pointed me out?"

Zane shrugged. "We can all see you, I think. I know everyone I've asked said they can. It's why you're by yourself. We're all scared you're like the color of the cold ones. Jenny, who used to be able to see, said they were white."

Holy shit, they'd seen angels.

"The white ones killed our friends. My Mum said that I'm imagining things and that Billy and Rachael were accidents, but I know. We are being watched. We are all scared and no one will believe us. I told the others that Miss Jackson was nice and wouldn't ever bring anyone who could hurt us. Jenny said to leave you alone. She said that Miss Jackson probably can't see, see you like we do. I don't think you're bad like the white ones, though, because Frodo likes you. He hasn't growled at you once. None of the dogs have. They all growl when the white ones are around."

Zane kept talking, but Lucian was on high alert now. Yanking out his phone, he called Sullivan, the new country's alpha wolf.

"Lucian, long time."

"Protection is needed. The angels have targets and I want to know why. Be at my house tonight."
Chapter Four

No more taking it slow. Lucian needed Tessa to know what was going on, that things that went bump in the night existed. He needed to feed and deal with the angels. Most of all, Lucian needed her to be safe.

Sullivan had come around last night once Tessa had fallen asleep and they'd discussed the blind kid and what he'd told Lucian. Lucian became more worried when Sullivan told him the troubles with angels seemed to be popping up everywhere.

Lucian now sat at his desk as one of his closest and oldest friends, Xore, sat before him. He was a dragon shifter, one of the last on Earth.

"I can protect her, Lucifer, it would be my honor." Xore grinned at him. "I hear you have Blake as your chef?"

"He came up with that. The idiot centaur was caught by Tessa in the kitchen and that's what he thought up when she asked who he was." Lucian rolled his eyes. "I don't think she buys it since his cooking sucks."

Xore chuckled before his face turned back to his smirk. "I hear you're calling some of your brothers in?"

"Yeah, Michael and Jacob. Seth is bringing them back. Seth wanted me to call Balthazar in, but he is the next strongest. I can't risk him. If anything happens to me he will need to lead."

Xore nodded. "You know if Balthazar finds out he'll be pissed."

Running his fingers through his hair, Lucian sighed in frustration. "He can get in line. I'm still not bringing him here until my mate at least knows what I am and what we are to each other. She needs to accept us and be willing to be my other half."

Xore laughed. "Ha, you haven't told her. Women don't like secrets, especially human women. Good luck with that."

Glaring at his friend, Lucian closed his eyes and hoped Tessa would accept him and the new world she was now a part of.

* * * *

Tessa was furious. She'd gone to pay some extra money off her debts, because with Lucian driving her to and from work and him paying for food she'd saved a nice stash of money. She'd tried to give it to Lucian, but he wouldn't take it. Tessa had even left money in places Lucian would see it, but she'd find it back in her bag. Giving up, she decided to put the money on her debts.

He'd paid everything. She had no more debt, not even on her credit card. How dare he? Tessa had told Lucian she didn't want his money, that she had to pay her debts herself. Had he not listened to a word she'd told him?

That was it, tonight she was going home. She would get the message through to Lucian that she wanted to pay him back and that she was slowing down their relationship. Lucian needed to learn to listen.

Storming into the building, she bashed the elevator button and tapped her foot, waiting for it to open. When the elevator doors opened, she pushed her way in, not caring about the people trying to get out. Once in, Tessa hit the top floor button and crossed her arms, seething.

As the door closed and the elevator stopped on different floors, letting the people out, she told herself to be strong. Don't let him change the subject or touch you. When he touched her it lead to him fucking her, and sex meant no answers. Lucian didn't know how angry she was at him for what he did. Tessa repeated this over and over, hoping it worked, because when it came to Lucian she let him get away with anything.

Tessa had so many questions she wanted answers to. Things with Lucian kept getting stranger and stranger, but he had some kind of hold over her. A hold that not even Ben had had on her.

The elevator dinged and she looked around. She was the only one left on the elevator. The doors opened and, taking a deep breath, she marched down to Lucian's office, determined to tell him off and get some answers. She wasn't going to be his sex toy anymore, because now that she thought about it, that's what she felt like.

She slowed her pace when she saw Lucian's secretary wasn't at her desk and Tessa could hear voices.

"Lucifer, you have to feed. When was the last time you drank?" It wasn't a female voice Tessa heard, but a male's.

"Over a week or so ago, when I mated with Tessa. I can't take any now. She'll know."

"For fuck's sake, Lucifer, you can't go that long without feeding. What if the enemy found you? I only arrived today and even I can see how hungry you are. Your demon's going to come out and attack some unsuspecting person if you don't do something. Look, feed from me. I've been sinning a bunch lately."

"I'll eat your sin, but I can't fucking drink from you. Not only does were blood taste like shit, I'm mated now and drinking from anyone beside Tessa makes me feel sick."

Tessa was dying to see what was going and who Lucian was talking to. Carefully, she opened the door and peeked inside. She blinked, thinking her eyes were deceiving her when she saw Lucian bright red—taller, thicker, with wide bat-like wings flapping behind him. His mouth was open and long white fangs sprouted from it. Tessa shook, terrified as she saw Lucian floating above a massive redheaded man. She gasped as she noticed Lucian sucking black gunk from the guy. Lucian's skin glowed, and before her eyes he looked younger and healthier.

What the fuck was going on? She had to get away. Stumbling as she gathered what little strength she had, Tessa ran for her life, never looking back.

* * * *

Lucian played the scene over and over in his mind. The gasp, the realization that they'd been caught when he was at his most vulnerable. He had tried to stop his feeding when the sugary scent finally reached him, but he'd been too long without feeding and he couldn't stop until he'd drained every last sin from Xore.

When he fed he couldn't use his heightened senses, so he didn't smell or sense Tessa. Sin eating was worse than drinking. He could go longer without drinking blood. Sin eating was the best food and he needed to do it once every couple of days at least. He was lucky he was so old; younger demons had to feed every day, sometimes twice.

By the time he'd pushed Xore away he knew Tessa was gone. He went straight home, hoping she'd gone back there. When she wasn't at her flat he knew she'd run. Lucian went across the yard and knocked on Tessa's parents' door. After a good ten minutes, a lady in her late sixties answered.

"Hello."

"Hi, ma'am. I'm Lucian Samson. I've been seeing your daughter the last couple of weeks, and we just had our first misunderstanding and she ran. I've tried her flat and she isn't there and I've had my security search and they haven't found her, either. I was wondering if you've seen or heard from her?"

The woman studied him for a while before she answered. "Lucian, I'm Mary. I spoke to Tessa not long ago and she told me she was going away for a while. She didn't tell me where she was going or when she'd be back. Tessa can look after herself. She's run off before, but has always come back." Mary narrowed her eyes. "She'll come back when she's ready." With that, she closed the door.

He could tell they knew nothing else. He'd tap their phone just in case, though.

He called Xore and updated him on what had happened, and that he couldn't find Tessa. Xore met him at her flat and together they searched far and wide.

Lucian's heart broke, and his whole world seemed to crash around him. He felt like he had been given the sun and the moon, then had them snatched from his grasp.

A week passed with no word from Tessa, and he and Xore couldn't find her. Lucian did something dangerous, he organized a secret meeting with Finn, the world's leading shifter tracker, and his team. Most shifters were on his side, but unless Lucian knew the shifters he didn't trust them. He was desperate for his sunlight and happiness back. Xore wouldn't leave him and he knew the dragon was worried for Lucian's life. Lucian knew without him, humanity lost one of their biggest and oldest saviors.

Finn strolled towards him. He was meeting them at the beach where Lucian and Tessa had first gone. "Thanks for meeting me somewhere other than your work. The team and I are sure that we're being watched. I wanted somewhere—"

Finn was cut off as ten sets of gold and white wings blocked his view, and Gabriel gave a chilling laugh. "Have you lost something or someone, Lucifer?"

After centuries of learning to control his reactions, he knew Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael still saw his anger. They were onto something.

Giving a careless shrug, Lucian had to make sure the angels didn't find out about Tessa. Gabriel never usually showed up anywhere near Lucian, because Gabriel knew Lucian was stronger than him in every way, and Gabriel was eager to keep his head. It was why he'd bought so many angels with him. Uriel and Raphael were his strongest warriors but no match for him, but together with Gabriel, Lucian would be in big trouble. Lucian would bet his last dollar that Gabriel thought he would show up tonight alone to see Finn.

"I see you brought the reptile to help protect you." Gabriel's words confirmed it, as he shot a disgusted look at Xore.

Xore chuckled and winked. "Gabriel, it's been a while. I see that left wing is still healing. Uriel, I see the arm has regenerated back. Raphael, that black mark along your neck really becomes you."

Lucian grinned as Raphael snarled and went for Xore, only to be stopped by Gabriel. "Your friends are a bit upset with Xore, Gabriel. I suggest you leave now before you all find yourself without your heads."

As much as Lucian wanted to kill the angels, he knew right now the fight wouldn't be a fair one. Not with ten angels against the three of them. Lucian was strong, but not enough to take three or more angels on at once and they wouldn't fight fair.

Gabriel studied him for a moment and Lucian made sure no emotions showed. "You know, Lucian, you are fighting a losing battle. The humans are killing themselves off. The shifters aren't much better. They are plundering this paradise given to them and you help them. They are cattle, food."

Lucian had heard this a million times before. Gabriel never changed his tune. He slaughtered many humans, corrupted, and ruined trillions of others.

"Go, Gabriel, and take your lackeys before I change my mind and Xore and I remove your heads from your bodies."

The ten angels lifted themselves up and flew away. Gabriel stopped just within hearing distance. "Next time you will not be so lucky, Lucian. I would keep a hold of everything you have tightly because you never know when the end will come."

Clenching his fist, Lucian narrowed his eyes on Gabriel and realized that he had to give up his search for Tessa. He couldn't risk any of the angels getting their hands on her.

Finn stood still, taking in everything. When Gabriel and his lackeys were safely out of range, Lucian sighed and nodded to Xore, who eased away to contact Seth and Lucian's other brothers.

"Do you want to know?" Lucian asked Finn.

"I have never been followed before." He groaned and ran his fingers threw his hair. "You do not know how badly I want to tell you...no, I don't want to know a thing and walk away right now. The problem is I'm not that type of person. I heard what he said. I thought angels stayed out of everything?"

"Ha, I thought you were the world's leading tracker of shifters. Don't they tell you who the enemy is?"

Finn's eyes widened. "I'm on a need-to-know basis. Aren't they supposed to be the good guys? Well, better than you?"

"I have no idea why people made them into the good guys when they want to wipe you all out."

Finn nodded. "I would like to ask your permission if I could get the rest of my team here to hear this. I have a feeling I won't be able to repeat this and give it justice."

Lucian knew Finn's team was one of the best. It was why he'd hired them. Allies were good. "Fine. But first, I want you to stop the case I have asked you to do." Lucian couldn't risk Gabriel getting Tessa.

Finn looked unsure for a moment, but must have seen something in Lucian before he narrowed his eyes and grunted. "Okay. Whatever you say, boss." 
Chapter Five

Three months later

Tessa stared at the building and gently stroked her stomach." Are you sure we should go in there? I can look after you without him. I'm sure I remember him saying he was sterile, so he probably won't believe me anyway."

Warmth surrounded her, and she sighed as it confirmed one of the main reasons Tessa needed to talk to her baby's daddy. Her baby had powers—it warned her of danger and wrapped her in love and warmth when she needed it. Sometimes she would swear it talked to her. Whispered things to her like mother, safe, love. Lately the words had been mother, love, safe...father?

Tessa was scared. She looked a lot more than three months pregnant. She hadn't gone to the doctor to get check-ups, terrified they'd find something unusual with her baby. Would it have wings like its father? Would it be massive and bright red, and have fangs or something else weird?

Tessa loved her baby and didn't want anything to happen to it, and she didn't want it to be a lab experiment. So she'd finally gathered up enough courage to see Lucian. She'd used a fake name just in case she chickened out, or if he didn't want to see her.

Slowly walking into Devil's Inc., she choked on a cough as the name sank in. Oh, God. Was that what Lucian was?

A beautiful redheaded man sat behind the front reception desk. He had big green eyes that homed in on her as she entered. He looked her up and down and paused at her stomach. Clearing her dry throat, she went to him with her head held high and her arms protectively around her baby belly. "Hi. I have an appointment with Lucian Samson at ten AM."

The man's eyes never left her stomach as she spoke. When she finished he typed into the computer. "Miss Bluebell?" He raised his eyebrow and a smirk spread over his face. The look almost took her breath away. Dimples on each side of his cheek deepened as his perfect white teeth showed.

She groaned when she heard the lame made-up name she'd given. She really should have come up with something better, like Smith or Black. "Yes. That's me."

His lips curled in the corners. "Go right on up."

Tessa nodded, turned, and walked to the elevators. She got in and pressed the top button, only to try and get out when the doors started shutting. Holy shit! She remembered that guy. That was the man she'd seen with Lucian months ago. As the doors shut, she heard him say, "He's been expecting you for a while."

The further the elevator went up the happier her baby got. Tessa could feel it radiating out. "I'm sorry, bubba, I can't do this." She pressed the button so she could get off at the next floor when she started to feel sad. Letting her hand drop, she cradled her belly and stood still as the door opened. When she didn't—couldn't—move, the door slid shut and continued to their destination, opening on the top level. Tessa stood frozen for a moment. Warmth, love, and devotion settled over her and she groaned, moving into the foyer.

Taking a deep breath, she walked towards Lucian's office. A young woman sat behind a desk before the big doors. Tessa hadn't seen her before, she wasn't the same woman Lucian had months ago. The young woman looked up as Tessa came to stand in front of her. Her eyes narrowed and Tessa felt her baby shrink back.

Straightening her shoulders, she forced a smile on her face as she looked at the woman. "I have an appointment at ten AM with Lucian Samson."

The woman didn't even glace at her screen. "I'm sorry to inform you, but Mr. Samson's appointments for today have been cancelled. If you go down to the front reception Xore will reschedule you."

Tessa knew if she left now she'd never have the courage or strength to come back again. "Tell him Tessa Jackson is here to see him."

The woman's eyes widened, her skin turned a deathly white, and her fingers flew over the keys. Tessa backed up as a weird look came into the woman's eyes. "Don't leave," the woman yelled. "Please don't leave."

Before Tessa had taken two steps back, the doors to Lucian's office banged open and a hulking, angry-looking six-foot-something Lucian came stalking towards her. Oh, shit. Tessa was in big trouble. Wrapping her arms around her baby to keep it safe, she looked around for an escape.

Turning, she ran, praying she reached the elevators, but she didn't even get to press the buttons before Lucian came upon her. Black, bat-like wings came around her and she trembled in his embrace. "Please don't hurt me. I will do anything. Please, please, be careful of my stomach."

Lucian visibly flinched back, shock and hurt clear on his face. "I would never hurt you." His hands cupped her face and his thumb gently stroked her cheek before gliding down her body. As they got close to her belly, Tessa batted them away. This had been a bad idea. Tessa needed to get away.

"Don't even think about it, Tessa. I searched for you for three months and hoped you'd come home. The first week I thought you'd come back. I thought I'd bonded with you enough." Lucian rested his forehead against hers. "Don't ever leave me again. I need you." His mouth came crashing down on hers and his hands scanned her body like he was making sure everything was how he remembered. "I'm not letting you go, now or ever again. I've missed you so fucking much." He held both her hands in one of his, using his other hand to stroke her baby bump. "You wouldn't have come if he hadn't begged you to see his daddy?"

Struggling in his grasp, she freed her hands and pushed at him. "Her daddy told me he was sterile. I tried to tell her that he was a lying arsehole. But...she won't listen."

Lucian chuckled. "Sorry, honey, but there are no female demons. I also said I could only get my mate pregnant and you, Tessa, are my mate."

Tessa gasped, even though she knew with the black bat-like wings and the increase in height and width, turning bright red and sucking of blackness out of people, that he was something otherworldly. Having it confirmed the father of your child was a demon was a lot to take in. What did that mean for her baby?

She pushed against his chest and when that didn't work she tried looking over and then under the leather-like wings. Giving up, she huffed. "Can you put those down? Can we go to a café or something to talk?"

Like magic, his wings slowly rescinded like they were folding into his back. She watched, amazed and a little scared for her future. Would she be chasing around a flying baby?

Lucian moved his hands to hers and brought them up to his mouth, kissing her knuckles. "Sure, anything for you." He looked behind her. "Cancel all my appointments until I tell you otherwise, Brenna."

"Yes, sir."

"I will not be back today and I'm unsure about tomorrow. If Seth calls tell him to reach me at home later."

"Yes, Mr. Samson."

Lucian turned back to her and held her left hand tightly. A safe, calming feeling washed over and she basked in it. Tessa had missed the gorgeous man in front of her, how he made her feel, and what his touch alone could do to her. He walked them into his office and opened a door behind his desk, where she saw a hidden elevator. Lucian pressed the button, never letting her go of her hand. The doors opened straight away, they walked in, and he pressed for the ground floor. The door closed and the elevator started to go down. The elevator seemed a lot smaller with Lucian in it. Lucian pressed the stop button and the elevator jerked to a stop.

"What the hell did you do that for?" She pushed at him and fought to get to the button to start their descent, but he blocked the controls.

"I did it so we could talk. You can't run here. I need you to listen. I need you." The pleading in his voice stopped her fight and she gazed up, having her first good look at him. Lucian looked terrible, his skin was a ghostly white and his eyes had purple circles under them. He'd lost weight, and his blue eyes, which were always bright, were dull and lifeless. Lucian's hair was longer and his all-round appearance was miserable.

Reaching up, she stroked his cheek. "Oh, Lucian, what happened?" He looked a ragged mess. So different from the man...ah, being she remembered. Tessa should be scared of him after what she saw and how he was even acting now, but as she looked at him with his loose clothes, almost translucent skin and sad eyes, she knew she needed to hear him out and give him a chance.

Lucian leaned into her touch, closing his eyes. "You happened."

She flinched at his words. Surly she wasn't the cause of why he looked the way he did. "I don't understand."

"For you to understand, I need to tell it all." He opened his eyes. "We, I, am not the bad one. Well, not what you humans made me out to be." His fingers stroked her stomach. "I have never understood why humans think that angels are good guys, when they're the ones trying to wipe out humanity. Angels are jealous of everything you humans and shifters have. Like the ability to breed with anyone. Well, only you humans have that, but the shifters breed like rabbits. You receive all emotions and have them through your whole life, and that you love and trust so easily is a gift angels and many other beings weren't given. Demons don't keep our emotions. At about fifty we start losing them; when we drink and feed or when we fuck we experience emotions. It's how we remember what they feel like, but other than that we don't have them again until we mate. The fact that you were given this planet and seem intent on destroying it, doesn't help your case. The angels and some other paranormal beings believe we should cull you and take over the world."

"Will my baby be like you?"

"Yes."

Tessa let her hand fall and circled her stomach, hugging it. "How are the angels jealous of what we have if they have no emotions?"

Lucian's hands came to rest on the swell of her stomach. "All supernatural species are different. While demons lose our emotions, so do angels to a certain extent. Angels feel strong emotions—love, hate, anger, and jealousy. They are the strongest emotions. Angels feed on emotions like demon's feed off sin. The difference is, angels drain humans."

"But wouldn't that be good if we all didn't have those emotions?"

Lucian shook his head. "No, kitten. While it may be okay for a small amount of time to live without hate, anger, and jealousy, we couldn't live without love. Love is the emotion that trumps all others." He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. "Do you love our child?"

Tessa nodded. She'd loved the baby from the moment she knew about it. She may have been worried what it would be, but she'd always loved it. Tessa didn't hate Lucian for getting her pregnant or even for what she saw; she'd been scared and upset and even a little angry. Now Tessa was with Lucian, she knew she should never have left. Even though she'd only spent a small amount of time with Lucian, she could have fallen for him so easily.

"Imagine not loving him. How would you feel about that?"

Tessa backed away and stared up at him. She'd be devastated if what she felt now for her child was taken away. "I love my baby. I don't even want to think about what you just said."

Lucian hugged her. "Angels have found a way to change men into one of them. It's risky, but they don't care if the man dies in the process. They have also brought some of the darker paranormal species over to their side, convincing them we shouldn't have to share this planet with lesser beings." He kissed her head and held her tighter. "Demons and angels have fought from the beginning of time over the same thing...humans. Once the world got bigger, they added shifters to that battle too. It is said we were cast out from our homeland and placed here on Earth. Both our species drink blood and we eat emotion. Angels were originally only able to drink blood and eat the hatred and anger, but as their own hatred and anger evolved, they started to eat more of the stronger emotions, craving the power. A millennium ago a powerful seer predicted that the angels would bring about their own Armageddon, getting rid of all creatures that oppose them and finally having the Earth to themselves if—and this is why you and my child you carry are so important—Lucifer, the king of the demons, finds his mate. This mate will unconditionally love Lucifer and not only bring him new life, but she will make him stronger, deadlier, and more powerful than anyone could imagine, helping to turn the tide in humanity's favor."

Tessa stared up, shocked at his words. "Oh, my God. This is so unreal. How can I bring a child into what you just told me?" She blinked as the last couple of sentences kicked in. "Holy crap, no way. You are not Lucifer. I am not...that's a lot of pressure." She backed away from him until she hit the elevator wall. It was impossible. Stories of the devil had been around since the beginning of time.

"Do not worry. I will let nothing happen to you and my family. I am powerful in my own right. Yes, I am Lucifer, the same as my father, who was one of the original demons placed on Earth. But, unlike him, I am immortal. I'm leader and protector of humanity. It is said that once I find my mate the tables will start turning in our favor."

Tessa's mind was spinning. If she hadn't seen him turn into a demon before her very eyes she wouldn't believe him. "You're the king? Are all your men demons? What do you mean by the tables will turn?"

"Yes, I am the king. All my fighters are men. Xore is who you saw me with and he is a dragon shifter and one of my closest friends."

The small elevator was heating up and Tessa was starting to sweat. Exhaustion washed over her. "Can we go now? I promise I won't run. I have more questions and I'm tired of running."

Lucian studied her for a moment before he pressed the button that got the elevator moving again. Her mind felt like it was going to explode with all the information she'd just learned. The elevator doors opened and she saw they were in the car park. Lucian's Lamborghini sat before her. They walked to the car and Lucian...er, Lucifer, opened her door. Tessa got in and rested her head on the seat. She was so tired. All the information she'd learnt and the worry she'd felt about coming to Lucian had her feeling drained, like she'd been holding herself together for too long. Now, she let it all go.

Lucifer got into the driver's side and started the car. Relaxing into the seat, she closed her eyes, sighing as a feeling of safeness washed over her. The worry she'd had for three months diminished.

* * * *

Lucian couldn't believe Tessa returned, as he'd lost hope she'd come back to him. He had called off the trackers but kept searching for her. Lucian knew Tessa had called her parents—he'd tapped their phones—but she never told them where she was and she always used a pay phone and called for less than a couple of minutes. He'd put as much recourses as he dared, but hadn't found her. Lucian had been terrified Gabriel or one of his followers would find her and kill her.

In anger, he'd upped his battles, never having time off. He'd become the demon the humans feared. He couldn't drink from anyone but his mate, so he drained people of their sins, and killed angels and anyone stupid enough to align themselves with them.

Xore felt guilty for spilling his secret and getting Lucian caught. Xore wouldn't leave his side. The only reason the idiot wasn't with him when Tessa showed up was because he was manning the entry reception. He'd phoned and told Lucian that his mate was coming up to see him and not to attack her and drain her. Lucian rolled his eyes, like he could ever hurt Tessa. She may have run, but she didn't know what he was or what she was doing to him when she ran.

He drove towards his estate, glancing over to see her eyes closed. She was close to falling asleep. "I'm going to take you home, kitten."

"Mmm, home sounds good. I'm tired. The baby and I are ready for a nap."

Lucian felt his heart almost burst out of his chest at the mention of his son. He could tell how much Tessa loved their baby. Lucian fell in love with her right then. With her fearing the worst about him and thinking he was something out of ancient lore, she loved their child unconditionally, even when he showed the signs of being just like his father.

Lucian wished he'd told Tessa what he was at the beginning. He wished he'd given her a reason more than great sex to stick around. "I'm sorry I never told you any of this. I was trying to get you to like me before I threw this all on you. I acted arrogantly, assuming you would do as I want and not question me."

Tessa's hand came across and patted his legs. "Yep, you did. I'm tired now. I can ask questions when I see you again."

Lucian didn't know what she meant by see him again. He wasn't letting Tessa out of his sight, and if he had to leave she'd have only the best of guards. 
Chapter Six

Tessa vaguely remembered being carried, stripped of her shoes, socks, and clothes, before being laid on a bed and her head hit a soft pillow. Lucian had talked her to sleep. She was so exhausted from being scared of Lucian's transformation, then finding out she was pregnant and worrying about her baby, that when she was safe and knew things could work she let the exhaustion take over and slept deeply for the first time in months.

Slowing opening her eyes to the pitch-black room, Tessa sighed when she saw it wasn't her little flat at her parents'. She was at Lucian's house, in his bedroom. "I wonder where your daddy is?" She glanced beside her and rubbed her baby bump. She knew Lucian had lain with her last night. Tessa wasn't sure if Lucian had slept or just lay on or in the bed with her. Did demons sleep? That was something she'd have to ask, along with what she should call him now. Did she call him Lucifer or Lucian?

Stretching her rested body, her stomach growled and she covered it with her hands. "Let me go to the bathroom and then I'll go hunt us up some breakfast. What do you feel like this morning?"

"What does he like to eat?" Lucian's voice had her squealing in fright and falling off the bed. Quick as lightening, before she hit the ground, Lucian's wing broke her fall. He lifted her up and gathered her to him.

"I didn't know you were in the room."

His lips brushed over hers and she couldn't resist melting into him. "I wasn't. I heard you talking and came up."

"Oh." It dawned on her he'd said he heard her when he wasn't in the room. "Wow. How well can you hear?"

"Very good. I can hear anything you say in this house and probably if I strained close outside. The only time I can't sense or hear you is when I'm feeding or drinking, when I'm at my most vulnerable. It's why you snuck up on me when I first met you and when you saw me feeding off Xore."

Tessa nodded and wanted to know more, but she was dying for the bathroom. She crossed her legs and groaned. "I really want to talk and know more, but since I've become pregnant I can't hold on. I swear the baby dances on my bladder."

Lucian didn't say anything, but walked her to the bathroom. Letting go of her hand, he backed out and shut the door. She sat on the toilet and her brain swam with question after question she wanted to ask Lucian.

Once done, she got up and washed her hands. Splashing water on her face, she cleaned herself and then opened the door to see Lucian waiting for her with a t-shirt in his hand. Grabbing it, she slipped it over her naked body. "I have so many questions, but I'm hungry for food first. What is the time?"

"I'll answer any question you ask." He reached for her hands and held them tight as they left the room, walked down the hall and the stairs. "It's late afternoon, just after three."

"Oh my God, I haven't slept more than four or five hours since I left you. I've just slept over thirteen hours. I'm so sorry Mummy hasn't fed you," she whispered as she rubbed her tummy. Tessa looked up at Lucian as they walked down the hall toward the kitchen. "I'm always hungry. All I do is eat. I haven't gone that long without food since finding out I was pregnant. Do you think she is okay?"

"Yes. He is fine." They walked hand in hand into the kitchen. Tessa was surprised to see the guy that had been sitting behind the bottom floor reception desk at Devil's Inc.

"Lucifer helped me feed your baby last night. That's why you slept so long," the redheaded man said. He winked at her as she stared at him. "Hi, Lucifer's mate. I'm Xore." He held his hand out and Tessa slowly went to place her hand in his when Lucian snatched it away.

"Don't touch my mate." Lucian snarled at Xore, who chuckled. Lucian moved them to opposite ends of the breakfast table and settled her on his lap.

She narrowed her eyes on Xore, eager to get an answer. "What do you mean, you and Lucian fed my baby last night? I don't remember eating." Lucian's hands rubbed her stomach and she felt a calm come over her at his touch.

A wicked grin took over Xore's face. His green eyes sparkled and his dimples popped, making him utterly gorgeous. "Did Lucifer tell you what he is?"

It was strange hearing Lucian being called Lucifer—to her he would always be Lucian. It would take some time getting used to his other name. "He told me he was a demon and that what he did to you when I walked in on you and ran is called 'sin eating.' He explained about angels and that I'm his mate."

"Think about it. Your baby is like his daddy. What do you think it wanted to eat?"

She gasped and jumped off Lucian, who'd sat quietly underneath her. Tessa cradled her stomach and shot death stares at the two men before her. "You didn't. How?"

Lucian stood and she backed away from him. "Tessa, they were hungry."

She blinked a couple of times and thought for a moment she'd misheard him. All of a sudden, she couldn't breathe. Backing up, she bent over and took deep gasps of air in before she straightened and moaned. "They. What do you mean by they? And what the hell are you saying when you say they were hungry? Surely you can't mean they somehow ate sin?"

Lucian's eyes turned black as he stalked her. "Yes, they ate sin. Xore stood in front of your stomach and I told them what to do." He captured her to him, wrapping her in his embrace. His hands cupped her face and his thumb stroked her cheek. "You're a miracle in more ways than one. You carry more than one child. You've made history. There's never been demon twins. I have booked us a doctor's appointment tomorrow before lunch." His hands slid down her body to rest over her stomach. "You need to eat more," his eyes trailed over her, "of everything."

Tessa didn't like hearing she needed more of everything, and before she could ask what Lucian meant by everything, Xore came and stood behind her. Lucian rubbed her belly and kissed her lips. When his mouth left hers, he had her panting for breath and her body burning with need. Lucian was lethal to her.

"Tessa, my love, I'm going to do something right now and I need you not to freak out but cooperate. I need to drink. I haven't drank since you left me. I can't drink from anyone else and it has to be straight from the vein. I have tried bagged blood but it doesn't work."

Tessa felt her eyes widen. Lucian had told her he drank blood but she hadn't really thought about it. "Are you going to drink from me?"

Lucian shook his head. "I would love to. You taste sweeter than sugar. I can't drink from you, though. You are too weak right now for me to use. Even when you are better I won't be able to drink the amount I need with you pregnant. The problem is my fangs won't come out so I can't drink, because they want you. I have to trick them." Lucian picked her up, wrapping her legs around him. "I need you to do something for the babies and yourself."

Tessa looked up into his dark as night eyes, not liking where this conversation was going. "What?"

"I need you to drink from me. When you're attached, my fangs will drop and I'll drink from Xore."

Tessa shook her head. "No way. I can't drink your blood."

He closed his eyes and held her closer. "You already have." His eyes snapped open as she whacked his chest and tried to get down, but Xore blocked her way.

"Let me go, Lucian." She thrashed in his arms and kicked to get out of his hold. The safe feeling vanished even though she felt her babies trying to calm her. Betrayal and anger consumed her as she struggled in Lucian's embrace. How dare he give her blood without her permission? How dare he force her now? She fought with everything she had, furious that she had been lulled into this false security.

"You're right, she's a fighter. I see why you call her kitten." Xore grunted behind her.

Tessa screamed as Lucian's fingers turn into sharp claws. He sliced at his neck. "I'm sorry, kitten," he whispered before his other hand forced her mouth down to the gushing red liquid. She kept her mouth shut and wouldn't drink. Lucian whispered apologies and then she felt his finger force her mouth open and press her to him. The first taste of sweetness had her gagging, but then she got a bigger mouthful. Once the flavor exploded into her mouth, she took deep gulps. "That's it, Tessa." Lucian's moan had her drinking deeper. The more she drank the more she remembered the taste. Lucian had given this to her every time they'd made love for the first week, then he'd stopped. What Lucian said to Xore all those months ago, when she'd come upon them made a little sense now.

"Argh, were blood. Fuck, that shit tastes worse than I ever remembered." Lucian's words barely registered.

Tessa couldn't stop. Lucian tasted so good, better than any chocolate or beverage. Her body was on fire and if she was willing to let go and stop drinking, she'd beg him to fuck her.

She rubbed herself against him and felt his cock through his pants. She moaned against his neck and pulled on the sweet-tasting juice.

All of a sudden, Xore's presence from behind her was gone and Lucian walked to the bench, her legs still wrapped around him. She felt the shirt he gave her rip. His hands left her body and she heard more ripping. Tessa moved her feet down, his now naked body against her own.

"Fuck, kitten, that feels so good." His fingers entered her pussy and he groaned, "You're soaking."

He lined his cock up and she gripped him tighter, taking a deep pull of his blood as he pushed his way home. The blood was giving her a high she couldn't stop from flowing through her. Lucian's cock pumped in and out of her. She basked in his onslaught, her body begging her for more as the heat in her rose higher and higher.

Lucian unhooked her mouth from him and she groaned at the loss of the sweetest drink. He tilted her chin and took her mouth to his own, ravishing her the same way his cock was doing to her pussy. Tessa hung on to him as her body got ready to explode. Letting her mouth go, he arched her back and leaned down to suck on her breasts. She felt his teeth sink in and she screamed in ecstasy as her orgasm shattered through her. The punchers left little rivulets of blood sliding down. Lucian licked them and closed the holes.

His dick pounded into her, still not finished and demanding more from her. She didn't know if she could give it. Tessa already felt like she was in a state of euphoria. His teeth scraped up and down her neck and shot shards of pleasure straight to her core. Tessa didn't think she could come again. She was wrong—he slammed into her and drove down, biting her neck. She came apart and Tessa swore she was on cloud nine. Her body went lax, fighting for breath. Lucian moved within her one more time before he roared his own release.

"Damn, I needed that. I've missed you, Tessa. Promise me you won't leave again. I'll talk to you and tell you anything you want. Just promise me you won't run. Please, kitten."

His plea got to her and she felt like she lived in Heaven. "I promise, no more running. But we are going to have a talk about you taking over."

He sighed. "I'm sorry. You needed to drink and I knew you would do it no other way."

Tessa couldn't even reply she was love drunk. Her body felt light as a cloud floating in Heaven. Tessa had no idea how Lucian moved, but he gently picked her up, cradling her in his arms and walked in the direction of the stairs and their room.

"Xore put some food in our room for you."

Huh, she hadn't heard Xore say anything when he left, but she hadn't been focused on him.

"I have a feeling after how much you drank from me you won't be needing it, though." Lucian kissed her forehead and then her lips. "As much as I hate the shit, I was lucky I drank shifter blood because you needed to drink. Shifter blood may taste like crap, but it makes you stronger and fills me up quicker." When he laid her on the bed she could barely keep her eyes open. "You're blood and sex drunk."

"Mmm." In the back of Tessa's mind, she knew she was going to be pissed at what Lucian had made her do, but right now, she didn't care as he got into bed and gathered her to him.

"I'm never letting you go again. You're so special and I'm so lucky. I love you, Tessa." The last words were faint but she was sure that what she heard as she snuggled in and let sleep claim her.

* * * *

Tessa woke more refreshed than ever. Then her mind flashed to images of yesterday and her anger started to rise. Lucian wasn't in bed. She knew she'd fallen asleep with him. Stretching, she got out of bed, did her morning business, and took an extra-long shower.

"Your daddy is in big trouble. This time, when I see him, he'd better answer my questions and not waylay me." She rubbed her stomach and walked to the walk-in wardrobe. Clothes that Lucian had bought her many months ago still hung next to his, and Tessa fingered the expensive garments. Picking out the largest item, she tried putting it on, groaning when the top wouldn't even go over her enormous breasts. Since getting pregnant her breasts had tripled in size. Giving up on the nice clothes, she tried the draws hoping she could find some stretchy pants that could sit under her belly. Her underwear was still in the top draw and she grabbed some panties, not bothering with a bra—knowing it wouldn't fit. Going to the third draw, she found some black yoga stretch pants and put them on. She didn't bother with the shirts since they wouldn't fit either. She took one of Lucian's plain blue shirts and put it on.

Dressed, she headed downstairs in search of Lucian. The house seemed quiet, but with the house so big, a bunch of people could be in it and she'd never know. "Lucian!" she called at the top of her lungs. Tessa remembered Lucian telling her he had excellent hearing, so she figured if she yelled once he would know she was looking for him.

She made her way to the kitchen, finding it empty. Going to the fridge, she gathered milk, butter, and vegemite. Tessa put the items down on the kitchen bench and smiled when she opened the cupboard to see her hot chocolate. Getting it down with a mug, she made herself a hot chocolate and got bread out to make a vegemite sandwich. Gathering her food and drink, she sat at the table.

As she ate, Tessa looked around her, surprised Lucian hadn't come to her. Swallowing her mouthful, she called him again. "Lucian! Lucian, are you here?"

A man she hadn't seen before came from down the hall. He looked almost like Lucian's clone. He was tall with the same jet-black hair, but his was a short buzz cut and his eyes were a dark green—they pierced her to her core. Aside from his hair and eyes and a couple of day's stubble, this man looked identical to Lucian. Holy crap. Tessa gulped as she gazed down and noticed he wore no shirt, only shorts. His body was covered in sweat and wow...what a body. He was all muscle-sculpted perfection. The man before her was gorgeous.

"Um...er...Hi," she mumbled, unable to stop staring at his six-pack abs as they flexed. He walked closer to her.

"Lucifer isn't here."

She shook her head and looked up at him. As soon as her gaze caught his she was struck by his eyes that swirled with black.

"He should be home anytime now." His gaze seemed to hold her in a hostile force. "I'm Balthazar." He took her hand, shaking it with an almost painful grip.

"I'm...um...Tessa. Tessa Jackson."

"I know who you are." Balthazar placed his hands gently on her stomach and she gasped as a black mass came from Balthazar and flowed to her stomach.

Shaking her head, she screamed at the sight before her. What the hell was happening? Backing up, she batted Balthazar away but he just followed, almost floating along with her. Holy shit, she'd seen this before. It had replayed over and over in her head while she'd been away. This was what Lucian had been doing to Xore.

Tessa stopped screaming and watched, horrified, as the black mass came from Balthazar and seeped into her. Taking a calming breath, Tessa listened to her body. Hunger and happiness washed over her. The babies were hungry and eating like their father did. Gazing up at Balthazar, she looked to see if this was hurting him in any way. He didn't look to be in pain. Actually, he didn't have much of an expression. His mouth was open and his eyes glazed over, but it was hard to tell if he was being hurt by what her children were doing to him.

The black mass slowly stopped and Balthazar came gently to the ground. Contentment flowed through her and the hungry feeling was gone.

"They were starved for too long." His eyes narrowed on her and she could see the anger on his face. "You did not look after them. They will feed a lot to catch up from you starving them."

Shocked at the way Balthazar was talking to her, it took Tessa a moment to gather her wits and respond. "Who the hell are you to speak to me like that? I didn't know what Lucian was and I didn't have a clue that they would need to eat sin." She straightened to her five-six height and poked Balthazar in the chest. "You don't know me. You can't even begin to imagine what I would do for these babies. For that matter, you are nobody to me. I don't have to listen to your rude talk. You're a wanker." Jabbing him with her finger one last time, she moved around him and stormed towards the front door. She didn't care where she was going to go, but she needed a grand exit. With the front door in sight, Tessa charged to the exit, not caring that she had no shoes on.

She walked outside, smiling up at the shining sun before gazing around at the forest that surrounded the house. Tessa wandered down the driveway. She had no idea of her destination; she had to get away from that jerk. What a wanker. There was no way she was staying in the house with someone who spoke to her like that.

Strolling down the long, winding driveway, Tessa knew she was being childish running out like she had, but her anger was strong. Over the last couple of months, she'd learned that she would never put up with being treated like shit again, or take crap from anyone. She found her backbone and wasn't getting rid of it.

At the end of the drive was a huge black gate. The gate had been open every other time she'd seen it. She touched it, feeling a zap before taking a step back. She walked along the gate, looking for a way to open it. Tessa soon figured out it was a code lock. Great, how was she supposed to get out? Looking around her, she saw the high fence with barbed wire at the top. She studied the box at the side of the gate, hoping it may have a button to open without typing in a code.

Rubbing her stomach, she sighed. "Do you think if I pressed the intercom I'd get the code to leave this joint?" Tessa knew she wouldn't. "Let's see if there are any weak points in this fence. A walk will be good, too." If anyone could see her talking to herself she would look a little crazy, but she didn't care. Tessa liked talking to her babies.

Careful of her bare feet, she walked along the fence line. Tessa had forgotten how big the grounds were—after half an hour of walking her feet ached from rocks, sticks, and bindies. Walking to a large jacaranda tree, she tripped on the roots and fell, twisting her ankle. Groaning in pain, she hobbled to the base of the tree and sat down. Her throbbing ankle swelled, and she wished she'd never left the house. Massaging her sore feet, she winced when her ankle made itself known. Moaning as the ache settled in, Tessa closed her eyes, hoping that if she rested for a while she would feel better or at least have some energy to hobble back to the house.

* * * *

Lucian hadn't wanted to leave Tessa, but the faulty humans needed help. The angels were becoming bolder and had killed another of Zane's friends along with the two shifters who had been protecting the blind woman. Today, though, Lucian and Xore had fought a horde of angels, wraiths, and ogres as they attacked the humans and their shifter protectors at what the humans called, 'a fun day out'.

The only reason Lucian left was because his brother Balthazar, who was supposed to be somewhere safe and away from everything, had come to the compound. Balthazar was the best person, next to him, to look after Tessa and the babies. Lucian knew Balthazar would die first than let anything happen to his mate or nephews, so he'd gone to go kill some angels, wraiths, and ogres.

His house had been spelled for Angels, supernatural creatures, and any unknown shifter or human to not remember it.

It had been hard to leave Tessa—even in his own home with Balthazar—but if he didn't leave her side for a couple of hours now, he'd never do it. Lucian had watched her sleep for hours, committing every piece of her to memory. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he was proud of Tessa for sticking up for herself and leaving when she thought she was in danger, staying away for so long and keeping herself and their babies safe. Not many people were as resourceful as Tessa, not as stupid and independent either. Lucian liked that Tessa had a backbone, she'd need one to be mated to him, and he knew he wasn't an easy being to live with. Lucian was confident that she would stay with him, that she would support him and help the fight.

Lucian hoped that Seth found Michael and Jacob soon, because they could use help from stronger demons. The shifters, if they worked in large groups, could take down an angel, but demon on angel was better. Lucian had ten demons close by, and they joined the fight. The angels had been exterminating demons and Lucian had been losing all hope. The angels were fighting for their lives because they'd heard the prophecy of him finding his mate had come true. Lucian could feel his demons gathering together to come to him.

Feeling their strength, he flew home with Xore beside him, landing on the house's rooftop garden. Folding his wings back, he went through the open French sliding doors and walked down the stairs in search of Tessa.

After entering the bedroom and not finding her there, he took a deep breath and scented her. Growling when he could only smell faint traces, he went to Balthazar in the gym.

Balthazar didn't even glance up from lifting weights.

"Where is she?" he snarled at his brother.

"Out."

"What!"

"She went for a walk."

Where?"

"Around." Balthazar shrugged and Lucian could feel his temper at breaking point.

After dealing with what the angels had just done, Lucian was not in the mood for Balthazar and his short answers. Picking him up, Lucian pulled him close. "I left you here to look after and protect my mate and offspring. Where the fuck are they?" He shook Balthazar and let the demon of lore come out and play. He showed his brother why he was the oldest and the strongest. Throwing Balthazar against the wall, he picked him up and pounded him with his fists. He got pissed off even more when Balthazar didn't bother to fight back. Lucian's canines lengthened and he ripped holes in him, knowing the rejuvenation would be painful. The little prick had disobeyed his king, his leader, his brother.

"Lucifer!" Xore pulled him off a beaten, barely living Balthazar. "What are you doing? Balthazar is one of us. Shit, he's your own God damn brother. You've almost killed him."

A red haze clouded Lucian's vision as he turned to Xore. "He let Tessa go out. Alone." His voice was a husky snarl.

Xore's eyes widened and he looked at Balthazar. "What the fuck were you thinking? I realize you only arrived a couple of days ago, but crap, man, even humans around here know how important Tessa is and what she means to him. For your sake I hope she doesn't have a scratch on her because I don't think I'd be able to stop Lucifer from killing you if she did."

"We had a disagreement," Balthazar wheezed out. "She wasn't looking after the children. They were starving. She had starved them with her selfishness. When she didn't like what I said to her she ran outside like a child, throwing a tantrum."

Lucian dropped Balthazar before he'd finished talking and was on his way outside. Spreading his wings, he rose up and took deep breaths, searching for his mate's scent. Finding it, he flew to the fence line where a huge jacaranda tree sat. Landing on the grass, he saw Tessa curled in a ball asleep at the base of the tree. Quietly, he moved closer and knelt beside her, frowning when he saw her bare feet covered in scratches, blood, and her left ankle swollen.

Gently picking Tessa up, he gathered her to him. She sighed, "Lucian," and snuggled against him. Lifting his wings, he took flight back to the house.

Xore stood by the rooftop entry, groaning at the sight of her. "Lucifer, remember she is safe. Tessa didn't even leave the sanctuary. I'm sure Balthazar knew she couldn't get out. He was here when Merlin cast the spell for the house and grounds."

"Out of my way, Xore," he growled.

Xore crossed his arms over his chest and spread his legs. "I can't. Not until you tell me you'll let Balthazar live. He is young and—"

"He is over a thousand years old!" he shouted. "He is next in line for the throne. You know we, I, have waited many centuries for this woman in my arms." Closing his eyes, Lucian held Tessa tighter and breathed in her sugary smell. Opening his eyes, he looked at his closest friend and confidant. "Xore, I'm tired. I'm weary of the fight. Before I had this gift in my arms I'd given up hope. I let the stories of what humanity think I am, become real. Tessa has given me hope. A family. She has given me a reason to fight again. I feel, I love, I hate. I have my emotions back. Understand now that I have all that, I will do anything to keep it all safe. I mean anything."

Smooth, soft fingers stroked his cheek. "Oh, Lucian. I am so sorry. I never should have run."

Lucian gazed down into warm brown eyes as they stared up at him. His heart swelled at the loving look on Tessa's face.

"I didn't realize you were awake."

"Xore's deep voice woke me."

"Argh, don't say that. You'll get me in trouble."

Lucian glared at Xore, who raised his hands up in surrender.

"Lucian, it's fine. Be nice to your friend. Put me down."

"No." He wasn't putting her down. The way he felt, he wasn't sure when he would let her go.

"No, what? That you won't put me down? Or you won't be nice to your friend?"

"Both...er, the first one."

Tessa rolled her eyes. "Xore, move please. I want Lucian to put me down and I have a feeling he won't until we are at least inside."

Xore gave Tessa his most charming smile, stepped inside the house, and stood to the side. Lucian snarled at his friend as he walked past him. At the base of the stairs stood Balthazar looking battered and bruised. His head was bowed and his eyes downcast.

Tessa gasped at the sight of Balthazar. "What the hell happened to him?"

Guilt swamped him for a moment, then Tessa winced as she tried to get down and it vanished. "He didn't do the task that was set for him and he was punished."

Tessa pushed at his chest and wriggled to get out of his hold. Lucian wasn't letting her go no matter how much she pushed. "What the hell do you mean, punished?" she mumbled from his chest. "Punished by whom and why? Surely you don't mean you? Aren't you the good guys?"

Xore laughed. "Oh, we are the good guys, but Lucifer isn't a saint, far from it. Lucifer is not someone you want to cross...ever. He may care for you humans, but he is the big boss and sometimes to keep the masses safe you sacrifice the smaller amount. Lucifer expects from his people, even his brother, one hundred percent or—"

"That is enough, Xore." Lucian could see Tessa's eyes getting wider and her face draining of color the more Xore spoke. Lucian knew when he'd told her about everything he had sugarcoated it, even his own image.

He stared down at Tessa as she swiveled and stared at Xore before her gaze rested on Balthazar. "He may be an arsehole, but I don't believe Balthazar deserved this." She pointed to him. "A kick in the balls from me, yes, but this..." She shook her head.

Balthazar held a surprised look for a moment before it turned back to stone. Xore chuckled. "Shit, Lucifer, she is perfect for you."

"I see I am lucky to get the punishment I got and not worse. I forget you humans are more fragile than us." Balthazar's eyes trailed Tessa's body. "In every way." He shook his head. "So breakable. You may have the grifts from mating Lucian, but being large and pregnant will weaken you, too. I will remember that not only are you fragile, but so are your emotions."

As Balthazar spoke even Lucian knew Balthazar was losing any sympathy Tessa had for him with each word spewed. By the time Balthazar finished, Tessa was stiff in his arms. Lucian glanced down and saw she gave a nasty glare to Balthazar. "Okay, Lucian, let's go. My sympathy for him just vanished. He's a jackarse."

Smiling, he took his mate to the lounge room.
Chapter Seven

Lucien sat on the sofa and placed her across his lap. Tessa gazed up at him and debated if she should try moving, but she knew he wouldn't let her go and she thought it best to save her energy to get what she really wanted if she really admitted it to herself, she liked being close to Lucian.

"So...are you ready to answer some of my many questions?"

"Yes."

It took her a moment to think of the first one. "How much sin do the babies need to feed on now?"

Lucian sighed. "At least every day."

"What! I've been starving them for months?" Her guilt ate at her. "Shit. What about blood? How much should I be drinking?"

He didn't say anything for a while, just studied her. He reached up and gently stroked her cheek. "You didn't know."

"Crap. Tell me."

"Every day, too. It's because they are growing so quickly. Demon babies only take six months instead of nine."

"Oh, God. No wonder Balthazar was angry with me. I'm surprised you're not." Tessa felt sick thinking about what she'd done to her children. Hugging her stomach, she whispered, "I'm so sorry. I love you and am so sorry." She couldn't stop the tears and a sob escaped. "Have I harmed them?" She gazed up at Lucian through her tears.

Lucian wiped her tears away and pressed a kiss to each cheek. "While you slept I booked into a doctor. From what I can tell they are fine. You seem to have a strong connection to them. Don't worry, they are fine."

Tessa buried her head into his chest and let him comfort her. When she gathered herself she hiccupped out, "Where have you been?"

His hands rubbed up and down her bare arms in a soothing motion. "I was out protecting those faulty humans you like."

"What? What do you mean faulty?"

"The ones that have broken eyes. Although, Zane said he can see me, my demons, and angels."

"You mean the Vision Australia people?"

"Yeah, them. The angels are really targeting them and trying to wipe them out."

Turning so she straddled his lap, she stared up at him. "You went and helped the vision people?" Her heart melted as he nodded.

"I don't know why the angels want them dead. They are faulty and harmless." Lucian's brows furred in deep thought.

Tessa wondered why anyone would want blind people dead. Then she remembered what Lucian said, they could see demons and Angels. "Can any humans figure out what you are? I didn't know."

"No, we blend in so we don't scare people, and it's easier to feed. No one can..." He trailed off and his face lit up. "My smart mate, of course, why didn't I see it? The faulty humans are detectors. They are like a built-in warning system."

Tessa didn't like Lucian calling the blind and vision impaired faulty, but she knew he didn't mean it in a mean way. "I always knew they were special."

Lucian kissed her head. "They are. It explains why the angels want them all dead. I'll save them. I like Zane, he's a good kid."

"Thank you, Lucian." Tessa loved him. The fact he took care of her friends while she'd been gone and saw the value in them, had her knowing for a fact that she loved Lucifer the devil.

* * * *

On Monday, Lucian took Tessa to the OB-GYN. They looked at the babies and measured everything. The doctor was a shifter, so he knew about the accelerated gestation. Lucian tried to prove to Tessa that the babies were boys but they wouldn't cooperate and show what they were.

"Can I at least do something like, oh I don't know... organize your files, takes notes, anything?" Tessa glared at him with her arms crossed over her chest. The last four days had been beyond boring. "I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I can't lay or sit on this couch in your office and read anymore. I'm bored out of my mind. Thank God it's Friday. Please tell me you're not working. I swear if I stay cooped up with you or those three babysitters you have for me I will kill you."

After the incident with Balthazar, he'd made sure she was never alone and when he wasn't around, she had at least three guards. Not that he let her leave the office or house.

"I won't work the weekend."

"Yay!" She stood up and strolled to the desk, placing herself over his lap. She gazed up at him and he should have known she was up to something. "Let's go out for dinner tonight." She trailed her fingers up and down his chest. This wasn't the Tessa he remembered or knew. "I going kinda stir crazy. Please." She batted her eyelashes and brushed her lips over his.

Lucian felt his whole body start to burn as her touch sent a fiery need within him. His mate was playing with fire. Deciding to test his newfound sex kitten, he stood and sat Tessa on his desk. "What will you give me if I take you out?" He almost laughed out loud when her eyes snapped up to his and he heard her teeth grind.

She must really have had enough. They had spent all week cooped up either at home or at his office—well, Tess had. He'd left to go fighting when she fell asleep for a couple of hours. He didn't need the required eight hours sleep like humans did, after a couple of hours he could go days without it.

"Come on, Lucian. I know you're worried about me, but you can't keep me locked up forever. I promise I won't run or even cry for help." She gazed at him with pleading eyes. "You've grown on me." She smirked and inched to the end of the desk, wrapping her legs around his waist.

Trailing his hands down her back, Lucian found the edge of her shirt and yanked it up and over her head, throwing it to the floor. A black frilly maternity bra covered her heaving breasts and her tiny baby belly was hard and round. His cock strained in his pants at the sight of her. Bringing his hands back up, he brought them around and one held her waist, inching her forward as the other trailed the pads of his fingers over her cleavage.

Lucian leaned down and whispered against her ear, "Is that all?"

Tessa's chest rose and fell faster and her breathing quickened, her sugar smell intoxicating. Her thighs flexed around his waist. "You've turned me into a sex crazed woman," she panted. "Any time you touch m..." Tessa's voice trailed off as he nibbled on her earlobe. Her hands came up and around his neck, clinging to him.

Lucian preened at the way his mate responded to him. His demon gave him a satisfied nudge, wanting to play. Easing away from Tessa, he used all his strength to untangle and step away from her.

"Fine. Let's go out to dinner. I'd love to finish this, but we need to get home and organized for a dinner date." He sighed and tried not to grin at the thunderous expression on Tessa's face.

"Don't you dare, Lucifer." He was shocked she used his original name. "Don't you dare leave me in this state. I swear I—"

Lucian cut her off by plastering his mouth to hers. He and his demon went crazy at the use of his name on her lips. Tearing at the remainder of her clothes, then yanking and ripping his own off, he meshed their bodies together so her legs and arms surrounded him. He leaned her back and pulled her to the edge, rubbing his cock back and forth over her pussy.

Tessa clawed at him for more and he obliged. He let out his wings and they circled around her, leaving his hands free to explore. Cupping a breast with one and sliding the other down to tease and play with her nub, he nibbled on her lips. His canines came out and he disconnected from her mouth, nibbled his way down and back up her neck.

Tessa bucked in his embrace and begged for more. "Oh, Lucian, I'm so close. More. Please give me more."

Knowing how close she was to coming this time, he slid his dick in between her folds and sank into her. She let out a deep, pleasure-filled moan. Moving his hands down and around to squeeze her arse, he pulled out and thrust home as her nails dug into his skin. She let out a scream as her release washed over her, her muscles tight around his throbbing cock.

Bringing his wings up, he held her closer to him as he drove into her over and over again. Tessa flung her head back, resting it on his leathery wing. Her fingers raked up and down his abs in time with each driving thrust. Her moans and groans became so loud they blocked out any other noises his super hearing could detect.

Resting his head in the crook of her shoulder, he licked her skin before sucking on it. Her pussy quivered around him at his action and he sucked deeper this time, letting his canines sink in. She screamed in ecstasy as she came again, holding his dick in a vicelike grip as she pulsed around it. Letting himself go, he detached from her neck and roared his release.

He stood panting and she rested in his wings a moment, basking in their bliss. Sex had never felt as good as it did with Tessa. She pulled him down on top of her. "That was amazing," she murmured against him. "It's always fantastic with you." She stroked his back lovingly. "Okay, so you might have more than just grown on me. I missed you when I ran. I missed how you let me talk to you even though you didn't say much back. I knew you were listening and you took everything in I said. I missed you holding me until I fell asleep. I missed you making sure I didn't go without the simplest things like breakfast. I may have only known you for a couple of weeks but Lucian, Lucifer, you made a massive impression on me."

He gazed down at the woman he loved and his heart swelled at her words. Gently caressing her cheeks, he winked at her. "Fine. We'll go out to dinner and a movie tomorrow. Then Sunday we can find one of those beaches you haven't seen."

Her smile took his breath away and she plastered her lips over his. "Thank you."

She didn't have to thank him. Lucian knew then that she needed her freedom. He trusted her not to run again. Plus, he thought as he took her lips again, she'll have at least three guards.
Chapter Eight

The movie, about superheroes, had been good. Lucian had groaned and moaned at some of the scenes and Tessa heard Balthazar and Xore, who sat behind them, do the same. Tessa didn't mind, though, she thought they were funny. She was sure the other patrons didn't feel the same, but she knew none dared come up to the three menacing men.

They now sat in the back of a fancy restaurant, Xore and Balthazar trying to act like they weren't listening to her and Lucian's conversation.

"Can you give me a job? Maybe I could have my old one back. I'm bored out of my mind sitting in your office, Lucian."

"You don't have to come to the office, you can stay at home. Balthazar and Xore can stay there with you." The two in question groaned and Lucian shot them a shut up look.

Shaking her head, she smiled at Lucian. "I want to work. I need money."

"No, you don't. I have more than I'll ever use even if I do live forever."

Narrowing her eyes, Tessa gritted out, "I told you I'm not that type of woman. I don't want to live off your money."

Lucian growled just as his phone rang. He threw it to his brother. "You are my mate. It is not my money anymore, it is our money. I do—"

"Lucifer, Seth is out front with Michael and Jacob," Balthazar interrupted.

If looks could kill the one Lucian shot at Balthazar would have. "Why the fuck are you telling me? Go get them."

Balthazar didn't seem fazed by Lucian's anger when he got up and walked towards the entrance of the restaurant. Tessa watched as Balthazar opened the door and stepped out for a moment, coming back in with three men who all looked just like Lucian but with slight differences. Demon genes must be strong.

The four men walked to them and Lucian stood, embracing the three men. "It's good to see you. Come, I'll introduce my mate."

Lucian came back to her and gathered Tessa up, standing her in front of him. "Seth, Michael, and Jacob, I'd like you to meet Tessa, my mate.

One of his brothers—Jacob she thought—held out his hand but retracted it as soon as Lucian growled.

"Well, well, what do we have here? A family reunion. I think we are missing one," said another man. The newcomer, standing close with a bunch of guys behind him, shrugged. "No matter. We'll find him and wipe you all out."

Lucian's arms around her tightened within seconds, she couldn't see anything because his brothers stood in front and to her side, blocking her view.

"Gabriel, I'll give you a warning. Leave now before my brothers and I kill you and your followers." She felt Lucian's voice vibrate with his anger.

Tessa gasped in shock when she peeked through her guards and saw a white angel. He was beautiful, all blond and glowing.

"I'll leave, Lucifer, when you show me what has caused this joyous family reunion." The angel smirked.

"What do you care, Gabriel? Are you scared the prophecy is true?"

"Seth," Lucian growled at the brother to her left who'd taunted Gabriel.

Gabriel's beautiful face turned into an ugly mask of horror and anger. He fluttered his feathered wings up and that's when Tessa got her first real look at the angel. Gabriel's grey eyes widened until they were pure white, and a look of utter hatred came over his features before they turned to shock when they saw her stomach. He let out a roar that shook the ground.

Lucian, Xore, and his brothers all changed. She now had five massive demons in front of her and a ginormous red dragon at her back. Holy shit. Tessa couldn't help but stare at Xore—he was a dragon, but her gaze kept going to the big red demons surrounding her. Tessa thought she should be scared, but all she felt was safe and loved.

Gabriel roared again, "I'll kill her and those things growing inside her. Don't get comfortable."

Then, as quickly as it all happened, it was over. Gabriel and his group left.

"Do you want us to go after them?" Seth asked Lucian.

"No. I want you to stay. Protect Tessa. She is more important than killing them." They all nodded and changed back to men. "Until I have more to fight, I want you with us to protect Tessa. Nothing can happen to her or our babies. Yes, you heard she is having twins." His three brothers looked shocked, but all nodded their agreement.

Tessa's head was swimming with all she'd just seen and heard. "Those things want to wipe out humanity? He wants to kill me and my babies?"

Lucian gathered her to him, kissing her forehead and both cheeks before resting his lips on hers. "Yes, but I promise I won't let anyone or anything hurt you or my young. I love you."

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she believed every word he said and knew he wouldn't let anything happen to her or their children. "I love you, too. Now let's eat. Your babies are starving."

* * * *

They'd spent the morning at a beach two hours away, one Tessa hadn't been to, and were now going to visit the faulty humans. Tessa was eager to see them. She was worried about them and he wanted to show her they were safe.

Something wasn't right, and his demon rose to the surface. Earlier Lucian had put all the faulty people in a large compound. He hoped by doing it this way all the shifters watching them could work together to protect and kill any angel that came at them. Shifters worked better in packs. Leaving the faulty humans separated made them easy pickings for the angels. The angels were killing them one by one. So he brought them all together with their shifter protectors.

He got out of the car and Tessa went to follow. "Stay in the car, kitten."

Screams and the sound of fighting met his ears. Balthazar, Seth, Jacob, and Michael got out of the other car. Darting a look at them, he transformed into his demon form. "Call back up. Balthazar, stay with Tessa and this time make sure you protect her with your life or you won't have one," he growled. Turning back to the compound, he saw Tessa staying at him wide eyes. "I told you to stay in the car."

Lucian watched as Tessa cleared her throat several times before she rolled her shoulders back. "I'm coming with you. I can help."

"No. Ther—"

"They know me. I promise I'll stay out of the way." Before he could argue with her again, she turned from him and walked to the compound.

In demon form, Balthazar wacked him on the back of the head. "I like her."

Hurrying to catch up with her, he and his brothers circled her as they walked to the door. Four angels came swooping down from the roof. With Tessa close, his strength and power seemed off the charts. Conjuring his swords, he threw one at a coming angel's head and stopped it before it got any closer. The angel fell to the ground, and as he passed Lucian cut the head off. His brothers easily disposed of the other angels.

Before they entered the compound he turned to Tessa, handing her one of his swords. "I hope you never have to use this." Tessa nodded and grunted as he let the sword go and she got the full weight of it.

Turing back around, Lucian opened the doors. They saw a bloodbath when they entered. The shifters watching the faulty humans were being slaughtered by angels. The dogs that watched out for the humans were fighting to keep a group of children safe.

"Oh, my God," Tessa muttered behind him. She touched his back. "The children. Lucifer, get me to the children."

He circled his wings around her, using them as a shield as he fought his way through the angels to get to the cowering children. When it was safe enough he unfurled his wings, letting Tessa help them. Lucian planted himself in front of Tessa and the children.

Lucian couldn't believe Gabriel had not only come himself but brought so many angels to kill a group of humans, most of them children. Gabriel must really have lost it. Why would he risk so many angels for this? Seeing the prophecy coming true must have spurred him to fight harder. No matter, he was now in a losing battle.

* * * *

Tessa gripped the heavy sword as she crouched down to the children. "It's okay. The good guys are here now."

Zane threw himself into her arms and she dropped the heavy sword, wrapping her arms around him. "I knew Lucian would come. I told them he wouldn't let the bad white wings get us. He's my hero."

Her heart constricted at the trust and certainty in Zane's voice. "You're right, Lucian will save us all." Tessa let go of Zane, picked up the sword, and pushed him behind her to join the others.

The sight broke Tessa's heart; there were bodies strewn everywhere, angels in masses. The demons and remaining shifters were outnumbered, and as she looked around more angels seemed to appear.

Lucian fought eight angels from getting to her. He was swift and brutal, using his wings claws and his sword. Glancing around, Tessa saw the angel Gabriel from last night inching toward them, his gaze focused straight on her. She searched for help but no one was free or able.

Terrified, she raised the sword. Gabriel eased himself just out of her reach and grinned, showing his canines dripping with blood. He raised his once white wings stained with blood and pointed a claw at her stomach. "Die. They will die," he roared before he charged at her.

Bracing herself, Tessa dug deep for all her strength. No one threated her babies. All of a sudden, she started floating and a black mass floated from Gabriel to her stomach. She looked up to see the horror on Gabriel's face. Oh, my God. Her babies were eating Gabriel's sins. While Gabriel was distracted, she brought the sword up and shoved it forward into a surprised Gabriel. The sickening sound of the sword digging into Gabriel's chest almost had her vomiting, but she stayed strong for her children, Lucian, and everyone who counted on her. The black fog stopped and Tessa screamed as she pulled the sword out and, using everything she had, swung it up and across Gabriel's throat.

"No one threatens my children!" she yelled.

When Gabriel's head and body fell to the ground the world around her seemed to pause. She looked up in time to see Xore and a bunch of demons and shifters swarm into the compound. Turning to her right, she saw an enraged Lucifer flying to her as a pissed angel came towards her. Raising the heavy sword again, she braced for impact but nothing happened. Lucian made it to her before the other angel. Exhaustion started to set in as the adrenalin wore off. She watched Lucian dispose of anything that came close to her, he was like a crazed, mad demon.

It wasn't until Xore and Balthazar come towards Lucifer in human form with their arms raised that Tessa dropped the sword and slid to the ground.

"Lucifer, you need to calm down. They're all dead," Xore said.

"Brother, stop growling. We aren't going to hurt her." Balthazar took a stepped towards her but Lucifer roared.

"Lucifer, Tessa is safe," Xore said, trying to get to her, but Lucifer wouldn't let him.

Groaning, she dragged herself closer to Lucifer. "I'm okay." He didn't even look at her. Sighing, she tried a softer approach. "Lucifer, come back to me now."

This time Lucifer turned and transformed into Lucian. He gathered her into his arms as his brothers and friends gaped at Tessa.

"Holy shit. She just commanded the king," Seth muttered.

Tessa gazed over her shoulder and pointed to the children. "Balthazar, Xore, check and help the children." Knowing they would do it, she turned back and snuggled into Lucian's embrace. "Let's go home. I'm tired and your brothers can handle this."

Lucian didn't say anything besides grunt. She took that as a yes and closed her eyes.

* * * *

They came home and he stripped her and himself before getting in the shower. Lucian helped clean her and then fell asleep in each other's arms.

Later Lucian woke, watching Tessa sleep for hours. He wouldn't leave her, what she'd done had been amazing, unbelievable. She had killed the king of the angels. She'd protected their children. Capturing her mouth to his, he couldn't wait any longer. He needed to make love to her. His hands ran up and down her naked skin, loving how soft she was. Her eyes snapped open and she deepened the kiss.

Tearing his mouth from hers, he panted, "Kitten, you were amazing." He trailed kisses down her neck, nipping and nibbling.

"Lucian, I need you."

"I need you, too. You were so sexy protecting our children."

He reached her breasts and sucked one in before repeating with the other. Lucian's hands glided over her body and rested between her thighs. He dipped a finger into her wet pussy. "Ah, kitten, you're soaking." He circled one of her nipples with his tongue and she moaned.

"I've been against you and anytime I touch you my body becomes alive with need."

Lucian swapped back and forth between her breasts, circling them before he gently sucked in the tip of each one. He kissed his way down her body, resting between her legs. The first swipe of his tongue had her thighs shaking in anticipation. He nestled in closer and moved his lips back and forth over her clit before snaking his tongue out to lick her nub. She bucked against him and he sucked her nub, in letting his canines out to scrape along it.

Her breathing came out in gasps, which urged him on. She spread her legs further apart and he sunk his tongue into her wet core as his finger pumped in and out. He sucked her clit in and felt her quiver. He added another digit and he pumped them in and out of her faster. Tessa moved with his motion, searching for the high she knew only he could give her. His teeth scraped over her nub and he scissored his fingers. She ground against him and he sank his teeth into her as she screamed her orgasm.

"Lucian!" She screamed and gripped his hair as bliss fell over her.

Lucian licked and nibbled his way back up her body and lined the tip of his cock up to her pussy, rubbing it back and forth for a moment before pushing his way home. "I love you, Tessa." Buried to the hilt, he rested his forehead on hers. "It feels like forever since I've been inside you. I forgot how much you feel like what I imagine Heaven is."

Lucian took her lips to his own as he eased out. She wrapped her hands around his back and tore her mouth from his. "I love you, Lucian," she moaned before plastering her lips back to his. He thrust back into her before he pulled out again. Her nails dug into him as he propelled into her over and over, giving her the powerful man she needed. She started to slide back on the bed so he braced them by letting out his wings. Lifting her legs, she tried helping to meet him each time he drove into her. Easing his mouth from her, she arched up into him and he leaned down and sucked on one pebbled nipple.

Tessa moaned and he swapped to the other nipple. Oh, Lucian, that feels amazing."

Tessa's pussy started to contract around him and he gritted his teeth as he pounded into her. Sinking his teeth into the tender flesh around her nipple, he took a small sip of her sweet, sugary blood.

"Lucian, Lucian!" Tessa screamed as she came. Her core gripped him tight, pulsating around his dick.

Unable to hold back any longer, he carefully detached from her breast, licking his entry points. He lengthened his fingernail and cut the skin above his heart. "Drink, my love."

Tessa took what he offered and at the first pull he let go, roaring his release. The feeling of euphoria settled over him and he felt like the luckiest being in the universe. He had found his mate. She was beyond brave, had added to his family, and loved him. "I love you, Tessa Jackson. Would you do me the honor of becoming Tessa Samson?"

Tessa took one last sip then licked his cut and eased away so she could gaze up at him. "Yes. Yes, I love you, Lucian. My Lucifer. My mate. My king. I will be yours for forever."
EPILOGUE

The angels who lived were in hiding since she'd killed Gabriel, their leader and king. Tessa tried to feel guilt or shame, but she would never regret it. No one threated her children and lived.

She sat in the soft recliner, a baby on each breast, and stared down at her little ange...er, devils. They were beautiful, perfect in every way. They looked just like their father—all jet-black little tufts of hair, big baby blues and full pink lips. They were going to be stunning women.

Tessa couldn't help grinning as she thought about the look of horror on Lucian's face when they were delivered and he was wrong, they weren't little boys but girls.

Xore hadn't helped matters when he'd come in only minutes after their birth and declared them gorgeous. He'd slapped Lucian on the back. "I don't envy you, buddy, teenage years and adulthood is gonna suck. I wonder if being Lucifer will scare all the boys away."

Poor Lucian had turned a deathly white as he gazed down at the girls and growled, "There will be no live boys near my girls."

Xore had just laughed and winked at her before he came over to the girls and leaned down, whispering, "Don't worry. Uncle Xore will make sure you get to have fun." Lucian had thrown Xore out of the room.

Teagan and Sofia already had their daddy wrapped around their tiny fingers. They so much as made a sound and he had them in his arms, offering them the world.

The twins were now two weeks old, and they hadn't taken the babies out of the house. Lucian was worried they would bite someone, and Tessa hated to admit he was right. Teagan and Sofia bit and tried to drink the blood of everyone who had held them, bar hers. She thought it was funny especially when they bit Balthazar. It was odd, like they knew not to drink Mummy's blood. They drank milk from her, but didn't bite her. Tessa had been worried they would at first, but Lucian assured her they knew who she was and what they could and couldn't do to her.

Their uncles adored them and weren't much better than Lucian with how they treated them. Tessa worried that when they got older they would really be the meaning of the human term devil as they'd get away with anything.

"Morning, kitten. How are my two little devils?" Lucian came into the nursery and pressed his lips to hers before kissing the twins foreheads.

"Good. Hungry. What have you been up to this morning?"

"I've been putting the finishing touches on the new foundation that will help the fault... er, vision-impaired and blind people."

Smiling up at her husband, Tessa felt her heart swell with love. Lucian was amazing. She was so lucky to have him. She'd been blessed. "You're amazing, you know that, right?"

Lucian leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. "I love you, too. Let me take these two and you can go have a rest."

She was the luckiest woman in world. As she smiled up at Lucian, Tessa knew she wouldn't change him or her life for anything. 
Acknowledgments

I have a couple of important people to thank. Without them, this book wouldn't be what it is.

My kids for being neglected whilst mummy wrote this. My hubby who became a single dad.

Jess Buffet, thanks for not only the amazing cover work but for being my best friend and listening to me go on and on about my books.

Lastly, a huge shout-out to all my readers, you're awesome.

Other Books by Hazel Gower

Self-Published

Gordon's Dawn

Her Big Bad Mistake

A Mate's Escape

All I Want For Christmas

Caveman Instincts

Stephan

Richard

Carl

The MacLeod Clan

The Laird's Future Bride

Peacekeepers

Her Keepers

~ ~ ~

Published with Beachwalk Press

Armageddon Mates

Kane's Mate

Rane's Mate

Ava's Mate

Arden's Mate

The Protectors

Volume 1

Finding Love

Winning Her Love

Earning Her Love

~ ~ ~

Published with Liquid Silver Books

The Price of Fame

~ ~ ~

Published with Evernight Publishing

The Bears

Theirs

Ours

Hers

The Inteli

Savior

Sin City Shifters

Sasha's Lion

Jezebel's Lion

Merpeople

A Merman of her Own

A Merman Uncovered

Mount View Treaty

Claimed By Her Panthers

(Co-authored with Jess Buffett)

Stand Alone Books

Always and Forever

Letters to her Soldier

Dillon

~ ~ ~
Contact the Author

I would love to hear from you!

Website: www.hazelgower.com

Email: hazel.gower@yahoo.com.au

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HazelGowerAuthor

Twitter: @HazelGower1
About Hazel Gower

A mother of four energetic children, when Hazel isn't chasing after them, she's sitting at her computer writing hot, sexy, romances with Alpha men and women who always get their man.

The little amount of spare time she has Hazel likes to read any romance books she can get her greedy hands on.

Hazel would love to hear from any of her readers, so feel free to send her an email and like her on Facebook.
