me?”
“Really considering it, yeah.”
“Why?” The demon Mordecai tilted his head a little. “Because you’re jealous? Or because I’m evil?”
“Why can’t it be both?”
Mordecai laughed, showing his sharp upper and lower canines. He pushed away from the wall and stretched. “He’s a funny one, angel. You never told me he was witty.”
Eddie glanced over to Bella and felt his heart lodge his throat as she took a step down the aisle, white sheer lace dress flowing behind her and…white wings blooming from her back. They shimmered into existence, and he realized the illusion was to hide them, not to have them. The feathers were tipped in the fairest sky blue, like her eyes, and she was…so beautiful.
“You want her,” Mordecai whispered. Eddie jolted, not having realized the demon had come so close. Mordecai wrapped a clawed hand around his gun and slowly lowered it. “You could have her. You’ll die. But you could bury yourself in that wet heat you’ve dreamed about for so long. Kiss her, love her, take her. Feed her life with your own and die happy.”
Eddie moaned low in his throat. He was so tempted. His eyes traced back to Bella, his manhood throbbing in need. Calling out. Yes! Yes, it’s worth it. You’re going to die anyway. Better to die like this, with her, inside her.
Mordecai’s lips were close to his ear, hot breath washing over his skin. It sent a thrill through him that was perverse, wicked and…wonderful. The image of kissing the incubus flashed through his mind, and he wondered what the ring on his lower lip would feel like. “You could have us both if you wanted. You won’t live through it—but you’ll die inside her. Just like Alfonzo would have if the Master had not stopped her.”
“No!” Eddie reeled back, staggering away from the embrace of the incubus. He nearly dropped his gun. He clenched it tightly with both hands but didn’t raise it. “No. Stop it. Stop. I don’t—I don’t want this.”
“Your stiff sinew says otherwise.” Mordecai pointed at the bulge Eddie knew he was sporting. “It’s not a big one, but I’m still tempted all the same. Bella wouldn’t let me have a single lick of the other one. She covets her kills already.” He grinned.
“You…He didn’t. Alfonzo didn’t…”
“He did.” Bella was there now, standing a few feet away, angelic wings a mockery of what he knew she really was. Or perhaps, just perhaps, all that he knew of what demons and angels were meant to be was all a lie. Maybe there was no line between them after all. “Alfonzo fucked me, Eddie. He did it because he’s always wanted to. We can’t make people do anything they don’t already want. He saved me, then put himself inside of me, and gave life to our child. He would have happily died in me, but the Master had other plans for him.”
“You killed Elizabeth.” Mordecai growled. “I liked her. She was fun. I don’t like it when my toys are taken away.” The demon stepped toward him threateningly, but Bella put a hand on his arm, and Eddie watched as the incubus instantly caved, the tension melting from his posture as he turned to his…to Bella.
The way they looked as they embraced—demon and angel—brought tears to Eddie’s eyes. Tears of anger. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be! It was wrong! What they were saying—it was wrong. Eddie pulled his other revolver from his holster and raised them both, one pointed at each. “I should kill you both. I should kill you!” He hated how his voice cracked. How it sounded so overwrought and broken. He knew he was crying, and he didn’t care.
Mordecai moved to stand in front of Bella, shielding her with his body. Blazing purple eyes met his. And Eddie saw only desperation. Sadness.
And love.
Demons couldn’t love.
Couldn’t they?
“Kill us both, then, if you think you can. There is no ‘saving’ her. No ‘cure’ or psalm or prayer that can reverse what has been done. You will have to destroy all three of us, if you seek to kill the one.” Mordecai’s voice lowered and he bared his teeth. “I will protect my family to the death.”
That word struck him to his soul. Family.
He was meant to be her family. Not this creature. But that wasn’t how life turned out. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right. But it didn’t matter what was right or wrong. It only came down to one thing—love. And she didn’t love him.