him the first incubus and giving him this world to rule over.
Since then he'd been on a mission to prove he could be loyal to something or someone. Watching the god spit out all his rejects, turning them into demons, and leaving them without any means to understand their new state, Cain had taken it upon himself to protect them and make sure they had a good life. Inside his dimension, they'd created their own hedonistic paradise - their own sanctuary.
As far as Cain was concerned, it was better than heaven, which was a point of pride for him. But the soured relationship that had started it all still wasn't completely healed.
"Lucien... Abel..."
Luc rounded on him. "Don't call me that. If you think reminding me of that time makes any of this better..."
"It was so long ago, can't we just move on?"
"We could have moved on, until you fucked with Anna."
"The curse was her fault!" Cain growled in frustration, then took a breath. "I know I have no right to ask for either of your help. I know none of this is your fight, but I care about my people. Jane is one of mine now. Her problems are our problems."
"I said I'd help. I just don't want you to think this means I'm finished being mad. Anna is terrified of you."
Cain shrugged. "I don't trust her. She's a witch."
"Was a witch."
"Whatever. I still don't trust her."
They were getting close to the camp of werewolves now, and Luc stopped walking. "And how will that turn out for her?"
"I'm not going to hurt her."
"You do and we are done. I don't care if you're the leader or what power you have to lock me up. Are we clear?"
"Crystal," Cain said.
They started walking again, and as they got closer, his eyes narrowed at the new and unexpected addition.
Tam smiled brightly at him. "Hi Cain, long time, no kicking your ass. I've missed it."
The growl rumbled out from deep within his chest. It was the only warning he was giving her. So she'd thrown that one energy ball at him. Big deal. Anybody could be caught off guard once. He still wasn't sure why he'd just left after that. He could have retaliated with fire, but he'd wanted out of that house.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"She can help us," Jane said. "She's a strong witch. If we're getting my pup back, we need a strong witch."
Tam moved closer to Luc, lowering her voice. "I need to do a small spell with you."
"No," Cain said.
She shot him a dirty look. "I wasn't talking to you."
"What do you need?" Luc asked, ignoring his brother.
"I want to make Anna solid temporarily. I need to be able to do what you do with her. If we're going to be able to chant and shield you guys while you fight, I'll need her solid."
"How are you going to do that?" He sounded intrigued.
Cain wanted to throttle him. This was why Luc got trapped in houses.
"I'm going to borrow a tiny part of your essence so the bond thinks I'm you."
"I forbid it," Cain said.
"Okay," Luc said, "whatever you need."
Tam shot Cain an annoyed look, and just for that, he sent her a naughty image of the two of them together: both naked in his tent, him taking her from behind, his hand wrapping around her throat in a darkly possessive manner. He was betting with her focus split so many different ways, she wasn't shielding from demon mojo right now. He bet right.
Her face flushed, and she grabbed onto Luc's arm to steady herself. Cain felt how hot the suggestion made her, and in spite of himself, in spite of the illusory nature of the whole thing, for a moment, he did want her. Until she fought through the hypnosis and produced a glowing ball of purple energy.
Cain sailed backward several yards and landed on his ass. If he hadn't been so wrapped up in the fantasy himself, he would have remembered to go noncorporeal.
"Don't ever do that again," Tam said. There was another energy ball ready in her hand. He'd never met a witch who could regroup that fast. It shouldn't be possible.
He stood, glowering at her as he brushed himself off. That was it. He didn't have time to break out the fire power now, but when this was over, he was killing her. This was the second time she'd dropped him like a baby demon.
"Whoa," Jane said, impressed.
Cain glared at her. It wasn't