Magic and Alphas: A Paranormal Romance Collection, page 11
Mayhap my prejudices suit me just fine.
This one time, Michael would give Tony the benefit of the doubt, that with souls of their own, the Princes had the capacity to be upstanding and kind of heart. But Michael knew if anything were to happen to Tony, the Prince of Lust would spend the rest of his days suffering in the bowels of the Underworld and Michael would be the one to send him there.
* * *
Michael’s eyes opened to darkness, inexplicably roused from a deep sleep. Something wasn’t right, yet Michael couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. It was more of a feeling, a sixth sense that niggled at his consciousness. Cautiously, Michael pushed up in bed and studied his surroundings to discover not a thing in his modest dwelling out of place or unusual. Exhausted, even after spending a week on his back recuperating from a broken and singed wing, Michael shuffled to lie back down. He curled on his side. That’s when, out of the corner of his eye, Michael caught movement in a shadowed corner of the room.
He sat back up and watched as the air in the corner took on a strange shimmer. Michael’s mind scrambled to sort through centuries of experience yet no matter how far back Michael went he failed to come up with a reason for this bizarre occurrence. Straining his eyes until they ached and his head throbbed, Michael still couldn’t make sense of the rippling waves that distorted the appearance of the wall of stacked stone and the empty space in front of it. Frustrated at being unable to focus on anything tangible, the effort akin to trying to get his arms around an unseen fog, Michael rubbed his temples.
Any warrior worth their salt would have leapt to his feet and unsheathed their weapon. The Sword of Protection hung nearby, on a hook next to his bed. Yet Michael did nothing. Instead, he found himself rooted to the spot, unable to tear his gaze away from the corner. As the odd shimmer thickened and began to take on a solid form, Michael found it strange he felt no fear. No urgent need to defend himself. Sensed no impending threat and no danger. Exactly the opposite he knew he should respond to such an event.
As he stared, unblinking, out of nowhere a streak of fiery heat crashed over his Earthly body. With a sharp gasp, Michael’s insides exploded in a shower of sparks. The intense heat built rapidly, quickly cresting to a peak to burst into a raging inferno. Fire rippled down Michael’s spine, the flames scorching every inch of his being whilst awakening long-dormant nerve endings. A long, deep moan tore from Michael’s throat as the conflagration consumed him from head to toe, igniting and overwhelming desire the likes of which Michael never knew possible. His flaccid cock swelled and stiffened and his flat nipples tightened into hard buds. Even the hairs on Michael’s arms and legs reacted and stood on end. It was as if dozens of sensual hands simultaneously caressed every part of his being. They skimmed over sensitive skin, moving down, down, down until they wrapped around his stiff member and squeezed. Michael grit his teeth, threw his head back, and swallowed a shout.
With sweat beaded on his brow, Michael squinted into the dark room, only to flinch when he discovered he wasn’t alone. By the Fates! A few feet away, in the very corner where moments ago the strange shimmer appeared, stood a female. And not just any female, his female. The stunning one with the copper hair and delicate freckles. The one Michael dreamt about at the infirmary.
Only… this was no dream. Or at least he thought not. Michael touched his torso to make sure he was tangible and not asleep. I feel awake, and the female appeared to be very real to Michael. Very real and very desirable.
“Who are you?” Michael asked the young beauty. To his shame, Michael couldn’t stop his gaze from dropping to the female’s small, pert breasts, the outline of erect nipples evident behind the silky material of her robes. Responding instinctually, Michael swept his tongue across lips before forcing his eyes back to the gorgeous beauty’s face. He was an angel, aye, but also a male in human form, and therefore, fallible to his body’s needs.
Michael’s question was rewarded with a small smile before the female shyly ducked her head. By the Great Kingdom of the Fates. She was stunning.
“Greetings. My name is Honor.”
Michael’s muscles tensed and he gnashed his teeth as the hard length between his legs reacted favorably to the female’s soft, melodic voice and stiffened further. “I-I am Michael.” It was near impossible to speak, as Michael was busy attempting to control the flames of lust that were near to boiling over.
Honor raised her eyes and blushed. The sight was so endearing, both innocent and oh so wickedly seductive at the same time, that Michael could only gape. The female giggled and his cursed cock throbbed painfully. “I know who you are.”
She knows who I am?
“If you know me, then tell me why you are here, Honor. I am certain if we had met, I would remember you, yet I do not.” Michael fisted his hands in his quilt to keep from tossing the blasted thing aside and gripping his shaft, exposing his nudity to this sweet, demure temptress.
Honor drifted closer, her golden brown gaze never leaving his. Michael swallowed loudly as she approached. His Earthly body urged him to take her in hand, touch every single inch of her stunning figure, but his mind held fast and he managed to maintain a shred of dignity. Barely. Honor stopped at Michael’s bedside. He was rendered immobile when she was the one to move first. Her small hand reached out and cupped Michael’s jaw.
“By the saints,” he whispered. His eyelids grew heavy and the heat inside him flared and sparked. Honor’s touch set off a roaring inferno, the all-consuming flames centered around Michael’s aching groin. Mouth dry, Michael had to swallow again to moisten his throat before speaking. “I-I have never felt this… this hunger,” he admitted between quick, short breaths. Heedless to proper decorum in the presence of a female, Michael slid a hand under the quilt and fisted his desperate member. Pleasure like nothing he’d ever felt shocked his senses and Michael’s entire body jerked on the bed, his eyes practically rolling back in his head. “W-what are you doing to me?”
Honor, a creature more exquisite than anything Michael laid eyes on in his very long existence, had him completely ensnared in her web. As she danced her fingertips over his chin and slid them down to trace the taut tendons of his throat, Michael took care to hold perfectly still, only he lost focus when her innocent yet erotic touch brushed over a peaked nipple and caused Michael’s breath to hitch. A fresh wave of lust tore a rumbling, desperate sound from his chest.
Michael closed his eyes and tried to shake off this increasingly mounting desire only to find he couldn’t bear to not look at her. He opened his eyes to study Honor’s gorgeous, heart-shaped face. A sweet smile curled the corners of her luscious, red lips and her eyes glittered with lust. Michael swore his pulse skipped when her fingers trailed over his bare skin and stopped at the center of his chest, where Honor rested the flat of her palm directly over his hammering heart.
“I am in here,” Honor said, that lovely musical voice once again sending Michael’s blood racing through his veins, molten heat pumping to every part of his being.
Michael lowered his chin to stare at the place they connected. His eyes widened as Honor’s palm began to glow the most beautiful shade of lilac Michael had ever seen. A pulse of electricity probed at Michael’s own blue sphere of energy, his life force, his very soul. Michael turned his vision inward to watch as his bright blue flared and grew in both strength and brilliance. When long tendrils of lilac entered Michael, and the glowing threads made their way toward his source of life, he panicked. Without thought to the fact he was both naked and aroused, Michael leapt from the bed and staggered away from the bewitching female. One hand thrust out in front of him, the other clutching protectively over his life force, Michael warned the female—Honor—away.
“Don’t…” Michael struggled to breathe. “Stay where you are.”
Stunning or not, whatever this female tried to do could only be evil. Michael would not be tempted by her seductive touch and gorgeous face despite how much it hurt.
Mercy, she must be a succubus, sent from the Underworld to seduce my body and corrupt my soul.
Michael’s will was strong. He would not give in to temptation, no matter how amazing the sensations that made his skin tingle and his manhood come alive.
“I don’t know what you think you are doing here, but you shall not have my soul,” he snarled as his courage returned. Michael removed his hand from his chest and stretched it toward the Sword of Light. The weapon was just out of reach, but Michael was confident he could get it before the succubus could attack. Besides, a mere succubus was no match for an Archangel.
The female tilted her head, studying him curiously. She smiled and the breathtaking sight was so damn tempting, Michael had to take another step back and flatten his back against the frigid stones of the wall to keep from pulling her into a tight embrace. He opened his mouth to warn the succubus away once more when the strangest thing happened. Honor’s chest began to glow the very same lilac as the tendrils that attempted to steal his essence. He blinked and realized the light was Honor’s life force. Her energy. Her soul.
But succubi don’t have souls.
Michael’s hands fell to his sides. “You… what are you?”
Still smiling, Honor looked right into Michael’s eyes, into his soul, and said, “I am yours.”
Then, she was gone.
Chapter 7
Honor was in love. Glorious, wondrous, amazing love. A few nights ago, she woke from the most vivid dream. She was in Michael’s modest home, watching the striking male sleep as usual. Only in the dream, Michael woke and despite being against the rules Watchers abided by, Honor revealed herself to him, unwilling to go any longer without Michael seeing her true form.
Once she exposed her existence, Honor found herself impossibly drawn to Michael, an inexplicable, overwhelming need to be close. So close, in fact, in her dream she reached out and touched the huge, powerful Archangel. With only a thin quilt drawn across his lap, Honor was able to see Michael’s impressive body and blushed at the sight of his arousal, visible beneath the covers. Muscular and tan, Michael’s chest was a work of art second only to his face. A face so handsome it could make females weep.
In truth, Honor couldn’t imagine being so bold as to touch Michael like this especially knowing he was unclothed. But in her dreams, Honor had no such inhibitions. She found no reason to hide her desperate need to be with Michael. And by be with him, she meant be with him, sexually. As a human, Honor was timid and shy. The Honor from her dreams was brave and forthcoming, unabashedly taking what she wanted.
Mercy, Honor wished she were even a fraction as daring whilst awake.
Honor closed her eyes and recalled how real Michael’s skin felt as she touched him in her dream. She remembered how her fingers tingled as she traced every dip, how hard Michael’s muscles were as she dragged her fingertips over his broad chest. The male was pure perfection, and she loved every minute of her bold exploration.
Honor couldn’t explain the way her life force reacted to Michael’s in the dream, but that was fine. It wasn’t real and besides, it felt amazing, and that was all that mattered to Honor. As her lilac and Michael’s royal blue sparked and pulsed, every inch of Honor’s body lit ablaze. Desire zipped through her bloodstream in a way she hadn’t believed possible. In fact, the dream was so vivid, so real, Honor woke in her bed to find herself physically aroused. The discovery was both humiliating and wickedly rousing.
Sadly, it was but a dream. The love she developed for Michael would never be reciprocated. Dispiriting as it was, Honor was bound to Watching Michael from afar, keeping her existence a secret until she completed her task. Then Honor would receive a new assignment and likely never see the Archangel again. The very thought made her heart shatter to pieces.
“Hello.”
“Oh!” Honor cried out at the unexpected greeting. She spun to find Bastien, the Watcher, chuckling at her expense. “I don’t find you amusing in the least,” she huffed. “You startled me.” Bastien’s response was to sit next to Honor, his shoulder brushing against hers, and give her a saucy wink. Honor rolled her eyes at Bastien’s antics. “You are very irritating.”
“I try,” Bastien responded cheerfully, the male still grinning as if he were simply delighted to be there.
“Donovan isn’t here,” Honor pointed out rather rudely. She leveled a glare at the Watcher to emphasize her point. “So you can leave.”
Pleased with herself for putting the nosy Bastien in his place, Honor closed her eyes and tilted her head back. She was determined to enjoy her small break, having found a fallen log to perch upon as the bright sun warmed her skin. The Guard once more gathered in their dark, damp chamber. Since Honor could hear everything discussed within its walls from her seat outside, she decided to take full advantage of such a glorious day. Honor listened to the proceedings from her log, situated mere yards from the stone edifice.
“I know he isn’t,” Bastien said. “Donovan is off with the Psi Mage, searching for Pestilence.”
Annoyed at having her peace disrupted, Honor sat straight and glared at Bastien. “Then why are you here?”
Bastien shrugged. “I’m bored?” Honor frowned and shook her head. “Lonely?” Bastien asked as he dramatically batted his eyelashes.
“You’ve gone mad.” Smothering a giggle, Honor found the young Watcher humorous, though she would never admit it. Bastien would certainly use the knowledge against her, of that Honor was positive.
“Okay, fine. You got me. Perchance I missed you.” Bastien teased, that impish smirk of his curling his lips.
Honor huffed and twisted her mouth into a scowl so she wouldn’t laugh. “I don’t believe you for a single second.”
“Hmmm.” Bastien glanced up at the cloudless blue sky. After a moment, he tapped the side of his mouth as if thinking before giving Honor a wicked grin. “Mayhap I know you treasure my impeccable conversational skills and didn’t want to leave you wanting?”
“Ha. Try again.”
“Hmph. You’re no fun.” Honor glared again, this time truly struggling to hide her amusement. The male sighed loudly before his expression turned serious. “As you will. In truth, I am here because I must needs be sure you have no questions.”
“Questions? For what reason have I to ask questions?”
Honor had Watched Michael for a good part of a month and became quite adept at her task. She didn’t require assistance and had no questions. In truth, she did not dare interfere with fate again. Mayhap Honor neglected to tell Gabriel that Michael possibly saw her at the infirmary and held her wrist, but to what end would such a confession bring? No one need know of the incident. Moreover, it was nothing. Michael believed the event a dream, so no it did no harm, save the damage it did to her own soul as Honor could not help but replay in her head over and over the electricity of Michael’s touch.
Bastien scrutinized Honor carefully. She held no notion as to what Bastien wanted from her, and remained silent. Eventually, Bastien’s playful smile returned and thank the Fates, he broke eye contact. “All right. I accept you at your word, Honor Ward. You are well and good.” Bastien stood and dusted off the seat of his trousers.
“Pardon? That’s it? You materialize here, frighten me out of my wits, examine my face as if I’m a mystery you must needs solve, and now you take your leave? Did I leave anything out?” Bastien either didn’t catch Honor’s heavy sarcasm or chose to ignore it.
He nodded. “Unless… you have questions?” Bastien faced Honor, his serious visage back. It was as if Bastien expected Honor to query him, only she had no idea as to what she was supposed to ask. Honor brushed it off and attributed his behavior as yet another of the strange Watcher’s eccentricities and gave him her agenda for the day.
“I’m waiting for Michael to move on the next Horseman. They have yet to locate one since the incident with Death…” Honor shuddered at the memory of Michael lying broken on the ground. “Though Michael has consulted with the Master of Practitioners several more times. As you know, Donovan is accompanying the Psi Mage to the region whence the Master foresaw the opening of the next seal by Pestilence. At the moment, I fear there isn’t much to be done.” A thought occurred to Honor and she narrowed her eyes at Bastien, who looked calm as could be. She didn’t know him well, but was positive Bastien was merely putting up an innocent front. It must be a front, because Honor had no doubt the clever Watcher was anything but innocent. “But then, you should know this already. You are tasked with Watching the Angel of Protection, Donovan Byrne, are you not?” Honor noted the slight twitch of Bastien’s eyes, and flare of his nostrils. Subtle reactions that confirmed at least part of Bastien’s story a falsity. “Pray thee,” Honor said slowly, dragging out the two words. “Why is it you are here with me rather than Watching over Donovan and his travels with the Psi Mage?”
Whatever flashes of deceit Honor perceived in Bastien’s eyes were gone, his honesty and sincerity returned.
Oh, he’s good. Very good.
“Actually, I was on my way to join Donovan, but decided to inquire as to how you were doing before I left. I can see you have no difficulties with your task, so I’ll take my leave. Until next time.” Bastien gave Honor a little bow and the evasive Watcher dematerialized before she could get in another word.
Honor didn’t know what to make of Bastien. She knew not whether the Watcher was sincere in his offer of help, or if he had ulterior motives. Motives Honor had no way of deciphering. Either way, abandoning his own assignment to pop in and out of her life was, if nothing else, bizarre.
“Good. Everyone knows what to do.” Michael’s voice brought Honor out of her musings. To her horror, she realized the meeting was over and she heard none of it.
