Sneak Peek of Darkblood Prison: Demon Dark Lord
Prologue
Talon
I glared at Lucifer from across the grand desk, my fingernails boring into the polished mahogany. My dragon skimmed the surface, fiery rage gnawing at my insides. I was about a second away from losing it, from bursting free of my human body and giving way to the beast. The prince of hell met my dark gaze with a cheeky smirk. He stretched out his long legs and propped them up on the edge of the warden’s desk.
“She’s not going,” I growled, my voice more animal than man. I’d just gotten Azara back, and there was no way I was losing her again. Not to the devil and certainly not to the Underworld.
Azara reached over and squeezed my knee, and my focus swerved from the intimidating male to the feel of her skin against mine. Her mere touch quelled the fierce beast lurking just under my flesh. I inhaled deeply and shoved him back, prying my fingers from the mahogany and placing them over her hand.
After a quick glance at the intimate gesture, Lucifer fixed his piercing irises to mine once more. “You really don’t have a say in the matter, dragon.”
“No, but I do.” Azara released me and placed her palms on the desk, leaning forward to meet her grandfather’s satisfied grin. “I have zero desire to claim the throne of the sixth realm of the Underworld—or any realm to be perfectly honest.”
Lucifer’s jaw clenched, and he straightened in the high-backed chair. “Sometimes what we desire plays no part in what destiny has chosen for us.”
“That’s crap, Luci, and you know it. Maybe Thax’s oracle was right and I would be his downfall, but that’s where I draw the line. I’ve got my own demons to worry about without having to rein in an entire realm of them.”
He lifted a dark brow and steepled his fingers, inclining forward. “Last I’d heard, you were joining the SIA. As an agent, wouldn’t part of your duties involve keeping the humans safe? If you believe Delacroix’s coup won’t cause an uproar in the Underworld then you haven’t been paying close enough attention. I’m merely here to deliver a warning… and a solution.”
“We’ll take our chances, Lucifer.” I stood, hoping the man would get the hint this discussion was over before my dragon tossed his ass out in a blazing inferno.
Lucifer rose slowly, exhaling a dramatic breath. “Dear Azara, I hope that you’ll reconsider what we’ve spoken of today. As my favorite granddaughter, I hoped, no dreamed, we could rule side by side.”
“Thanks, but no thanks, Luci. I want to do my time and get the hell out of here. World domination isn’t exactly on my to-do list.”
I couldn’t help my lips tipping into a grin. Gods, she was gorgeous when she stood up to the devil. Slowly but surely the old Azara was coming back. Despite everything she’d done, I’d never truly given up on her. I couldn’t, no matter how hard I’d tried. Maybe it was remnants of the blood bond we’d shared or maybe it was something else, but Azara had an iron grip on my heart and nothing would break its hold.
Lucifer held his arms open, and a beaming smile curled his lips. “How about a hug for your old gramps, my stubborn girl?”
Azara tensed beside me, but her body soon relaxed as Lucifer inched closer and drew her into his arms. The hard set of her jaw melted into a smile as she buried her face in his designer suit. Lucifer was a sneaky bastard, but from what I’d heard he’d always been there for his “favorite” granddaughter. I wondered if Azara’s memories of him were beginning to return. I wanted her to get her life back more than anything, but I also feared for the dark times of her imprisonment with Thax to resurface.
My fingers curled into a tight fist, and my talons ripped into my palm. Dammit. I spun away from Azara and Lucifer and drew in a deep breath, calming the rage. Thax may have lost his throne, but he still needed to pay for what he did to her. When I did find him, I’d let my dragon have his way with the traitorous dark lord. The beast rumbled under the surface. I’d flay his skin with one talon, bearing him open for all to see then I’d roast his hide and scatter his ashes over the Underworld. No one hurt what was mine.
“Ta-ta, dragon.” Lucifer’s voice jerked me from my dark inner musings, and I glanced up in time to see the king of the Underworld disappear in a murky mist.
Azara curled into my side, wrapping her arm around my waist. I swiveled her around so her body was flush against my chest and pressed her closer. Before Lucifer’s untimely arrival, we had been close to rekindling an old flame. Now being with her, physically, was all I could think about despite my “just friends” declaration. My dragon—I wanted her so badly it consumed my every waking thought.
A pang of fear raced across my insides, jabbing me in the chest. What if I lost her again? The ever-present voice taunted me, the lingering doubt was the only reason I’d insisted on waiting to get close again.
“Talon?” Azara’s voice snapped me back to the present, to the soft body pressed against mine.
“Hmm?” I dipped my head and brushed my lips over her forehead. It was so easy to fall into old habits. Being with Azara felt more natural than shifting.
“Are you okay?” Her eyes met mine, golden flecks sparkling through the darkness.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“What are you thinking about then?” Her mouth puckered into a cute pout, and I ground my teeth to keep myself from capturing her lips. Losing my focus, losing myself in Azara could make her vulnerable and I wouldn’t risk that. Not until I knew she was safe.
I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck and tilted it up to meet her inquisitive gaze. “I was thinking about how sexy you’d look in a dark lord get up.”
A laugh burst from her lips, her eyes twinkling with amusement. After everything she’d been through the past few months, I didn’t need to burden her with my dark musings. Surely, there’d be plenty more of that to come.
The laughter eventually died down, and her face grew somber. She tightened her hold around my waist and glanced up at me. “Seriously though, do you think what Luci said was true? Are humans going to be in danger with Delacroix in Thax’s throne?”
I shrugged, hoping to keep my expression neutral. “I don’t know, but it’s not your responsibility, Azara. The SIA can step in if things in the Underworld get out of hand. All that matters now is that Thax is gone, and you’re safe.”
A grin melted across her lips, and my heart stirred. “So does that mean we don’t have to stick to the ‘just friends’ rule anymore? If I’m not in danger, my safety shouldn’t have to be your primary focus anymore, right?”
I cupped her cheeks and leaned in, my mouth inexplicably drawn to hers despite my best efforts. “Your safety will always be my number one priority, Azara.”
She inched closer, and her tantalizing scent of gardenias swept across my senses. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t get closer right?”
She pressed her body harder against mine, and my lower half ached. I was sure she could feel my desire as she rubbed against me, challenging me, taunting me. It wasn’t a fair fight. I wanted her so badly, missed her for so long… I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold out.