Chapter Twenty-Four

When Sasha had left Archer’s place, she figured she had plenty of time until meeting with Razor, so she’d popped back home to take a shower. Finally, she was able to wash away the lingering stench of the Pit from Valtu and the residual gunpowder from the explosions at Archer’s. She’d gotten dressed again in comfortable jeans and a loose shirt, but before she’d been able to do so much as sit down to relax, an orphan had knocked on her door, a boy of about seven years old. She’d never seen him before. He was starving, and had been reduced to begging for food.

Like Castor and others, Sasha provided a sort of protection for all the kids who wandered the streets, were homeless, or just had no other options. Some kids had a family, but living in Sector Three, that didn’t always mean something. Unlike Castor, she didn’t just offer protection from gangs. Sasha kept tons of food and clothes in her apartment for anyone in need. Sure, her place was small and a mess, but she could shelter kids if they needed it.

Some kids came for the company, and the older ones especially came for advice, or someone they could talk to without any judgment. Sasha was a neutral party, not a gang leader, or any other power role. They never had to be careful with their opinions around her. When they stopped by, she dropped everything for them, and they knew that.

Her chance at being a mother had been taken from her once. She’d never allow someone to take away her chance to help these kids.

The boy who’d landed on her doorstep had stayed for a while, but as soon as she received Razor’s text and told him she had to be somewhere, he’d politely thanked her and left without a fuss. She made sure kids were taken care of when they were under her roof, but that wasn’t enough. As her thoughts drifted to poor little Hailie, she clenched her fists in anger—and determination.

Which brought her back to Razor’s text, and telling him what had happened at the old school. There were still about twenty minutes until Razor was expecting her, but she didn’t have the patience to wait. She disappeared and was in the Night House a moment later. The crowd was starting to pick up already, and she had to find some creative ways to move around couples who weren’t waiting until the late hours to start the sex parties. Near the staircase, three women had taken over a pool table Sasha had never personally seen function in an actual game of pool. Their moans followed her up to the second floor.

Up on the VIP level, the blacklight was turned on, and the pole shows had already started. Though she didn’t frequent the club, Sasha knew how highly people spoke of the talent and strength of the dancers hired by Night. Since she had time to spare, Sasha paused to lean against the railing, gaze sweeping over two poles close together. Two women were dancing in sync, one on each pole. They moved as one, often linking arms or legs, and when they pulled off a move where they used each other’s strength to switch poles, Sasha gasped along with the crowd. She was curious about the rumor that Night himself got up on stage once a week, but it was always random, and no one ever knew which day he’d pick. Sasha had never seen any of his shows, but she’d bet it was something to see.

When the song changed, Sasha clapped and continued to the elevator, assuming she would meet Razor in his private room upstairs. When she stood in front of the door she knew to be his room, she lifted her hand to knock. But she couldn’t pass up this opportunity to at least playfully annoy him by coming in unannounced. With a smile, she instead turned the knob to find the door unlocked.

Pushing the door open, she was first welcomed in by the familiar, sweet smell of the herb Razor smoked. The sight of a shirtless Razor pacing with one of his hand-rolled cigarillos at his lips was her second welcome.

“Honey, I’m home,” she called.

When Razor turned to face her, with flared nostrils and dark eyes, she froze where she stood. Not that she was afraid. No, she was merely captivated by how his gaze seemed to soak her in like he was using her as a lifeboat.

“Hey, you okay?” she asked hesitantly when he didn’t respond.

“Come here,” he finally said, his voice husky.

Unable to deny him that, she moved forward until she stood inches in front of him. On his exhale, smoke curled from his lips to caress her skin. The heady scent made her feel like time had ceased to exist.

She meant to ask if everything was all right. She meant to launch into a summary of what she’d found at the school. But there was something going on in his mind, and she wanted to get rid of whatever latest stress was eating away at him. Razor was puffing away at the smoke like it was the cure to all that ailed him. She found her hand lifting until her fingers curled around the cigarillo, and when she took it from him, he frowned, but didn’t resist.

She looked down at the smoke she held between her thumb and index finger. “What do you put in here?” The question had been bugging her for years, but she’d been too prideful to ask before. Then he would have known that she was curious about him. “The way you smoke them, it’s like they hold the key to the universe.”

“Blood Root. The plants only grow in the Pit, nowhere else in the Underworld. That’s what all these vines on me are.” He motioned to the blue vines running over his torso and arms. He was watching her curiously as he did so, making no move to take the smoke back from her. “Is that your way of saying I have a problem?”

“No. I think it’s incredibly hot, and I’ve never had a thing for smoking. It smells so good. I’ve actually started to smell this in my dreams.” She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Being in this new, tenuous relationship with him was throwing her off. Instead of having to think of what to say next, she went with her impulse.

Bringing the cigarillo to her lips, she took a small, experimental drag. Despite the sweet smell, she still expected the awful taste she remembered from the odd cigarette she’d smoked in the past. But the sweet, earthy flavor danced on her tongue, caressed her throat, and settled her nerves almost immediately. “Well, shit,” she breathed, looking at Razor in wonder.

She had almost no warning, except that she was beginning to get very good at reading his cues. He closed the small distance between them, his hand curling around the side of her neck as his lips claimed hers. She opened up to him with a soft moan, her arms going around his neck as she rubbed against him helplessly. Their tongues danced and it was only when she needed a breath that she had the strength to pull away.

He was looking at her like he would devour her, and she knew that she’d enjoy every second of it. But she made herself put a hand on his chest and push him back. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong is you’re wearing too many clothes and we’re still here, talking.”

Sasha smiled. She knew this tactic very well. It was, after all, a favorite of hers. “And you look like you’re using me to escape whatever is going on in your mind.”

Shaking his head, he seemed to come back to himself. He gave a soft growl and took the smoke back from her, stabbing it into an ashtray until it went out. “I feel helpless. Like all these centuries we’ve thought we had everything under control. Maybe we did, I don’t know. I thought we were keeping our borders secure, the city safe, and citizens happy. Now I think somewhere along the way, we got too comfortable. The hits just keep on coming, and I’m afraid we won’t be able to defend our land when things get really fucked.”

She gave him a sympathetic smile. “I can’t even imagine what you and your brothers must be feeling right now. But I know that you have all of us to back you up, and we’re stronger together. So you need to stop thinking about this fight as being only yours. You’ll give yourself gray hair.” She touched her palm to his chest again. “Now sit down, and pull on your big-boy panties, because I’ve got some more shit to tell you.”

“I don’t wear panties,” he growled playfully, swatting at her ass when she moved to take a seat.

“Good, I prefer the easy access.”

The mood changed when they sat and he saw how serious she was now. “I was looking for Castor in the abandoned school he likes to hang around with his gang, and I saw a Zimma Demon there instead.”

Razor groaned. “Tell me you’re just fucking with me.”

“Not this time, no. I’m almost certain this Demon—her name is Valtu—is creating the tainted drugs.” She fished out the baggie she’d taken from the school and held it out for him to take. “You can have it tested to make sure, but I’m pretty positive. If it walks like a duck and all that. And Raz, she’s really powerful. No one summoned her. She’s here on her own.”

“Fuck.” His jaw clenched. “Is that just a guess?”

Clearing her throat, she attempted a smile. “No. She told me herself.”

He inhaled deeply, holding his breath for a few seconds before releasing it. “You neglected to inform me when you texted me that you had a conversation with a fucking Zimma Demon. I was dealing with a drugged up Fairy and you were face to face with a Zimma. Awesome.” Razor rubbed his temples. “Zimmas aren’t anything to take lightly. My brothers and I have history with them. When we took over, they refused to acknowledge our rule, so we sent their asses packing back to the Underworld. By just being affiliated with us, you could have been used against us. Worse, she could have tortured or killed you for fun.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Sasha rolled her eyes. “I’m a big girl, Razor. I know how to play my part. I told her I don’t have a side in this battle. I don’t think she really believed me, but she didn’t kill me, so there’s that. I’m not underestimating her. When she opened the door, I could feel the Pit. She has an open portal in the middle of Shadow Realm. Who could do that? And how powerful would they have to be?”

He scrubbed a hand over his scalp, shaking his head. “Very. As in, only Erummon’s most trusted could even have the hope of pulling a stunt like that. Erummon doesn’t allow portals into Hell unless they’re his…” He paused, then groaned. “Fuck me…now it makes sense. Motherfucker…”

Sasha leaned forward, the intensity in Razor’s eyes making her stomach flutter with nerves. “What makes sense?”

His gaze was distant, as if his brain were working a thousand miles per hour.

“Razor,” she called, louder this time.

He blinked, focusing on her again. And then he was standing up, holding up the baggie. “I need to get this to Sin.” He pulled out his phone and dialed, his eyes never leaving Sasha’s face. “Sin,” he said a moment later. “Send one of your minions up to my rooms.” He then gave his brother a short summary of Sasha’s little visit to the school and her new friend.

After a pause while Sin spoke on the other end, Razor’s jaw clenched. “Yeah, I know. I told her that, Sin. You think I didn’t want to? Fuck you. You try telling her that.” And then he ended the call.

“What was that about?”

“Sin’s just worried about your safety.”

“Gods, you all need to stop worrying so much. I’m fine. Sure, I was freaking out for a bit there at the end, but I think she needs something from me. She clearly didn’t buy much of what I said, but here I am—”

“Sasha.” Her name fell from his lips like a prayer and a curse rolled into one, and she didn’t even care that he’d cut her off. She’d been rambling anyway. Then he was stepping closer, his hands cupping her face oh-so-tenderly. Sasha wanted to weep. This was all so new to her, but so very welcome. She couldn’t even recall the last time she’d allowed someone the touching rights she’d already given Razor. She’d been so hard on him that she probably didn’t deserve his gentleness, but she needed it and was selfish, so she’d take it.

Tilting her head up, she watched emotions pass over his features, changing too often for her to get a read on any of them.

“Is that all you have to tell me about Valtu? Anything else we need to discuss about the case?”

Sasha shook her head, words failing her at the look on Razor’s face.

“Good. Because I need to be inside you now, pretty girl. I know you would have kicked ass, but knowing that you faced a Zimma…” He inhaled sharply. “Goddess, I just need to feel you for a while. I know this, us, is all new and that we have shit to talk about. But please…I need you.” He murmured the words against her lips, and she could still taste the sweet smoke on his breath.

She leaned into his touch and kissed him fully, sweeping her tongue past his lips, their tongues twisting together in a dance they knew the steps to.

Something in her shifted, and her reaction was instinctual. “Yes. I need you too. Help me let go. Use me, Razor.” She shivered at her own words. Hoping that, once again, he would understand.

In the blink of an eye, she felt the wall pressing against her back, and she hadn’t even known they’d moved. She tugged at her shirt, needing him closer, but Razor grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head, captured in one of his hands. She moaned, her nipples hardening as her breasts pressed against his chest.

He nipped at her bottom lip, the sting of pain a welcome sensation. “Thank you.” He breathed the words with something like reverence. But those two little words told Sasha everything she needed to know. He knew what she was offering, what it cost her to ask him for it, and he accepted it. Treasured it, even.

“Now, please,” she whispered. Her hips undulated beneath his, both of them groaning at the friction.

“No,” he said firmly. The rush of heat to her pussy from that one word should have been embarrassing. His hand moved down and gripped her hip to hold her still. “That’s not how this will go. I’ll have you when I’m ready. Right now, I want to explore you. So be a good girl and get on my bed.” He used the hand on her hip to tug her forward sharply so her pelvis pressed against his hard dick.

She whimpered, realizing she was begging him just as easily and eagerly as she had begged in her fantasies of him. And she could now admit that there had been many over the years. She was completely without shame this time.

He released her wrists, and then she was moving, following his order and getting on the bed.

He crawled over her body until his face came into view right over hers. Sasha pulled her shirt up and over her head while his hands deftly worked on her jeans. They’d had desperation before, but it was somehow different this time. They weren’t just desperate for sex; they were desperate for each other. To be skin to skin, as close as two people could get.

Once they were both completely naked, he ran his hands over her entire body, taking in every inch of her with awe. His head lowered then, dropping sweet kisses on her sternum, down to her pubic bone. He hadn’t even paused at the numerous silvery lines under her bellybutton. It made something in her chest warm and tighten.

Some of her past lovers had, at the very least, asked about the stretch marks when they’d encountered them. She wasn’t ashamed. In fact, she loved and cherished them. Besides her memories, they were all she had left of her babies. But that Razor had kissed all of her without hesitating over them… Any walls left in her turned to dust.

He spent long minutes exploring her vulva, caressing her inner thighs, and licking every inch of skin between knee and bellybutton. Then he made the trip back up, kissing her scars again, and her breath hitched.

He kissed her lips gently, shifting to his back on the bed. He tugged for her to sit on top of him. “I want the best view for this.”

“Will you let me taste you first? I want to explore you, too.”

At his wicked smile, she lowered her head, kissing down his chest. His skin was warm, silky, and she paid special attention to his various scars and the ink of his tattoos as she worked her way down. Muscles in his belly tightened as her tongue languidly traced the ink of the guns on his pelvis.

She felt and heard his impatient growl at the same time. “Fuck, I don’t want to come this way.”

“Shhh.” Her hands slid to his thighs as her lips moved down along the faint peppering of hair down his navel. “I’m worshipping you. Like I should have a long time ago.”

If she were being honest, she’d wanted to do this from the moment she’d seen him. She wanted to take everything from this man that he was willing to give to her.

“Pretty girl, you don’t—fuuuuuck.”

She silenced him quickly by taking his cock into her mouth, one hand gripping the thick base. Her tongue swirled over his head, then danced down the vein along the underside of his cock. A tremor passed through him, his thigh flexing and twitching underneath her other palm. She closed her eyes in sublime pleasure, learning the warm, salty taste of him, and the branding heat of his arousal. If he let her, she would happily do this all day. It was a heady rush of power, knowing that she—fuckup that she was—was capable of bringing such pure pleasure to him.

His fingers speared through her curls, and his grip was firm as he guided her head, never forcing her. He let her suck him for longer than she expected, but then he pulled hard enough to send a delightful sting across her scalp, and she was finally forced to lift her head. His cock left her mouth with a little pop.

“Come here.” His voice was huskier, rougher. Sasha shivered.

Before she could even move, though, he gripped her upper arms and dragged her up his body. At the same time, he moved them both on their sides, his lips meeting hers for another devastating kiss. He lifted her leg and moved it over his hip, the position opening her. He rubbed his cock through her wetness and she moaned. Even though she’d been in far more exposing positions, she felt emotionally vulnerable this time. As he pulled away from the kiss to breathe, their gazes locked. When he slowly pushed into her, they shared a breath.

The thought flittered in the back of her mind that, once again, they’d forgotten to use a condom, but it didn’t really concern her. It wasn’t like she could get pregnant again, and Others, unlike humans, couldn’t carry sexual diseases.

Plus, the feel of him bare and sliding in as deep into her as possible was simply too fucking perfect. Like he was meant to be there.

“Razor,” she gasped.

He gripped her thigh firmly, starting to thrust slowly. “Yes, pretty girl?” he gritted out, the slow pace clearly trying his infamous control.

“Please, Razor. More. Everything.”

“Anything you want, Sasha,” he said, looking straight into her soul. “Anything.” He flipped them so she was on top again, and pulled her thighs over his hips. His cock slammed up into her then, balls deep, and she threw her head back in pleasure. In the tenderness, there was a bite of pain as his fingers squeezed her thigh, and another bite of pain a minute later when his palm landed heavily and solidly on her ass.

Her pussy clenched around him in response, making him groan hoarsely. He said something in the language she’d heard him use before, Vruk she thought it was called, but whether he was cursing her or muttering nonsense, she didn’t care. Everything in this moment was exactly what she wanted, what she needed. And it felt right.

...

Razor pulled Sasha’s face to his and kissed her with the same urgent movement of his hips. Goddess, he could have lost her today. He’d witnessed firsthand what high-ranking Zimma Demons were capable of, and knowing one had been within touching distance of Sasha…

His grip on her tightened and he buried his face in her neck, inhaling her scent. He thanked every deity, Goddess, and god who was listening that Sasha was okay, that she was here in his arms and giving him something he’d never dared to dream he’d have. He understood that she wasn’t just giving him her body, but her trust as well. The knowledge filled him with not only pleasure, but gratitude, too. Because this was possibly the greatest gift she could have ever given him.

To some extent, Razor had already known that Sasha’s body responded to his more dominant nature, but hearing the words come out of her mouth—her body softening for him—gave him goose bumps. He wanted her to know just how precious she and her submission were to him.

He realized he was saying something to her, soft words, and then a beat later recognized he had been speaking Vruk again. Holy Hellfire, he hadn’t used it as much since leaving the Underworld as he had in the last few weeks, and never to anyone but his brothers. Now praises and endearments she didn’t even understand were falling from his mouth. He suspected what Erummon had said about Sasha being his mate was true. And it freaked him the fuck out, but it would explain so much. Mainly, why only Sasha seemed to bring out his baser-self—a growling, protective, and possessive beast. Which would also explain why his first language had been slipping out so much lately. Since that talk with his father, Razor had had to take control of his beast. Locked it away in a cage and wrapped it in chains. Because Erummon had planted that seed, and just thinking about Sasha being his…

The beast rattled the cage.

Fuck. He thrust sharply up into her, shutting his eyes in bliss at the small keening sound that fell from her lips.

“Rau gra, shal mih,” he told her in Vruk. So good, pretty girl. Had any other woman’s noises gotten him this turned on before? He couldn’t even recall anyone else at this point.

“You’re so warm, Sasha,” he said, going back to Empyrean. He caressed a hand up her back and cupped her nape. She moaned a little when he squeezed and tugged her closer, kissing her.

“Harder, please.” She gasped and squeezed his dick inside her when he obliged.

“Oh, fuck. I’ve never felt such perfection, pretty girl.” He emphasized the words by grinding his cock deep inside her.

“Oh Goddess…” she moaned.

“Shhhhh.” His hand gently squeezed her nape again as he kept fucking into her at a steady rhythm.

She shivered in his arms. “Razor…fuck.” Her incoherent words made him grin cockily against her mouth. He loved knowing he could satisfy her.

“I can’t hold it anymore, I’m gonna come,” Sasha warned, her voice quivering.

He cupped her ass cheeks, one in each hand, pulling them roughly apart as he fucked furiously into her. His middle finger slinked forward, rubbing the entrance hidden between.

“Oh gods,” Sasha cried out. Razor leaned up and sucked a dark nipple into his mouth, finger still rubbing circles around her asshole.

“No, wait. I want to feel you come first.” Her gaze locked on his. “I need it. Please.”

The words almost undid him. “Whatever you want, pretty girl.”

He released one of her ass cheeks—keeping his other hand and finger right where they were—and moved his hand up to her neck, lightly gripping the slender column and bringing their mouths together.

She started moving again, grinding and bucking on him. Groaning, he pressed an open-mouthed kiss to her throat. “I’m going to come inside you.”

“Oh, fuck. Yes, please…yes,” she keened. The deep throaty moan, full body shudder, and fluttering pussy had him growling against her breast, his hips slapping noisily against her bottom. The best fucking sound in the world.

He groaned deeply, his dick twitching inside her as his orgasm hit. He gave short thrusts and spilled into her. She followed him a second later, crying out while he continued pumping into her through the spasms.

Squeezing her tighter to him, needing to feel her as close to him as possible, Razor suddenly caught himself licking a path from her shoulder to her jaw.

He paused. The urge to lick a woman after sex had never before made an appearance. But his reservations quickly vanished as the pleasure of tasting Sasha’s orgasm on her skin and the feel of her warm pussy washed over him. The moment filled with peace and closeness, like nothing he’d ever experienced before. He couldn’t get enough of it.

There was no doubt in his mind now. Sasha was his.

Yes, she’s yours. Only yours. Your mate, his beast purred.

Yes, she was. But Razor wasn’t going to tell her that just yet. It wasn’t as if anything was settled. He and his beast might recognize her as his, but that still left Sasha with the final say. It was clear that the mating rules applied to the Hellhounds; a full mating could only take place if his mate consciously made the choice to accept his claim. Sasha had only just taken the first steps and said yes to exploring the chemistry between them. Telling her she had been created to be the perfect match to everything that was Razor might be coming on a little too strong.

He laughed to himself. A little?

After several more minutes of letting herself be petted, Sasha finally stirred. Her head lifted, a small, lazy smile on her lips.

“Hi,” she said, her voice low and husky. It made him come to life again inside her.

“Hey,” he replied, pushing her hair back from her sweaty forehead as he returned her smile. He shifted her so she was lying next to him, cradled against his side, her head resting on his shoulder. They stayed like that for a long time, no words needed.

“I lied. There’s more about Valtu,” she finally said.

He tensed, knowing he wasn’t going to like what she had to say.

Sasha sighed, sitting up on her side as she reclined on one arm, like a queen on her fainting couch. Beautiful. Sasha’s hair was messy, her eyes bright, and her breast bare. Razor decided to remain where he was, the view too fucking gorgeous to disturb. The best part, though, was looking up at her while inhaling the scent they’d made together.

“Go on.”

“I think she knew about us.”

“What do you mean?” Razor sat up. Her eyes flicked to his cock, and he would have grinned if the conversation weren’t so vital.

“When she asked about whose side I was on, she also asked if I was still buddy-buddy with you. I told her we could barely stand each other. I don’t think she believed that.”

“No, of course she didn’t,” he confirmed, distractedly getting out of bed, his suspicions growing. Valtu wouldn’t have believed Sasha for many reasons, but the most obvious one was that she’d probably been able to smell Razor all over Sasha. Not just “I’ve been hanging out with him,” but more like, “he’s been inside me.”

Valtu also clearly had alliances in the streets since she was all nonchalantly hanging out in the dealers’ favorite playground.

He turned back to Sasha. He never talked about Erummon to anyone. There were rumors and stories about what had gone down with their father, but only his closest friends knew the story of their life in the Underworld, and then their exile. Sasha had opened up to him today. She deserved to know the entire situation.

“My father was here.”

Sasha’s eyes widened, and she stood up. “Holy shit. What did he want? And how the hell did he cross the Veil?”

His chest warmed with contentment at how good it felt to be with her like this, dealing with all this shit together. “He killed the guards.”

“Bastard.”

“He was waiting for me at my house when I got there after the drunken Fairy incident.” He told her about his strange and ridiculous meeting with his father, leaving out the part about Erummon’s opinion on Razor’s choice for a mate.

“So, what’s the deal with your dad? I mean, I’ve heard the gossip and a few ‘funny’ anecdotes from Night.” Sasha made a face. Razor shook his head. Only Night could turn the horror stories of their lives in the Underworld into a joke. “But,” she said gently, “if you don’t mind me asking, what did happen?”

He pushed back the revulsion he felt at having to recount this tale. But he couldn’t kill this moment by closing up. He suspected this had been a big step for Sasha. She’d given, he’d taken, and now it was his turn to give her something back.

“As with everything, there are always slivers of truth in gossip,” he started. “For years, Erummon had been unsuccessful in creating his perfect…children. As far as I know, he bred with many species of Others during the experimentation stage. But none of the offspring survived to adulthood.” He swallowed a lump of grief. He hadn’t known any of his father’s progeny before them, but he still hurt for them. “In his stupid attempt to create the perfect children, Erummon used any type of magic he could steal, buy, or threaten from any Witch he could get his hands on. At least that’s what he tried to convince everyone of. In reality, he wasn’t looking for heirs; he was looking to create his perfect slaves and killing machines. Ones he could mold to his liking and benefit. So anyway, all this powerful, volatile magic that he took, he poured into the females he was attempting to breed with. Sometimes even into the embryos already in the womb.”

“Goddess,” Sasha breathed, horror in her eyes.

“So, when he got the bright idea that his favorite Hellhound pets were the perfect specimen—loyal, deadly, mindless killing beasts—he decided that was his next experiment. He found a way to take some of their DNA into himself. Lots of magic and power went into it, probably causing lots of deaths and natural disasters because you can’t use that type of magic without any backlash. But of course, Erummon gave no fucks. Fast forward several years, when the portal opened all those centuries ago, right after the Great Fires. Humans were trying to escape the death of their world, so while Others wanted to leave the Underworld, humans wanted to find a new home. Erummon’s evil brain saw the opportunity and let them stay. There’s probably a whole history book on his experimenting phase.” Razor scratched his stubble. “Interbreeding began, and then Erummon found his perfect human spawning machine: my mother.” Razor shook his head. “I never met her, but I know she was kept prisoner for many months before he was successful. She gave birth to the four of us, and no one knows what became of her after that night.”

Sasha had remained quiet, letting him say as much or as little as he wished. He was thankful for that. He hated to have to tell her the next part, but his gut told him this was an important moment in their relationship, and he was going to listen.

“Erummon finally had his perfect sons. Part Hellhound, part Demon, and part human. We looked and walked on two feet like men, but with the powers and abilities of an Other. Powers never seen before. We could shift at will into a larger, more dangerous version of the Hellhounds that ran wild in the Underworld. But unlike them, we were trainable. To Erummon’s delight, we also inherited the power of Hellfire like the royal Demon breeds Erummon descended from. The downside, to Erummon’s frustration, was that our use of Hellfire wasn’t unlimited. If we use it once, it takes days, sometimes even weeks, to recharge.”

He paused, leaning back against the doorframe and watching Sasha as he began the next part. “Our education began early. Edge was the first to be inducted into Erummon’s elite guard. But Edge wasn’t to be just any regular guard. He was to become Erummon’s personal assassin. He did. And he was the best. No one saw him coming. He was death on two legs, Sasha. No one dared look him in the eyes. Or touch him, for that matter.” He looked at her pointedly, hoping she’d get his meaning without having to say it out loud. “No one. Male or female.”

“Oh,” his Reaper said after a moment, her eyes taking on a sad shine.

“Night was meant to rule, you know.” He smiled at that. “As if that wasn’t obvious, huh? He was taught the way of royalty. Torture, pissing on the peasants, warfare, negotiation…you know, the usual tyrant stuff. There are things Night still hasn’t forgiven himself for doing, even after all these centuries.”

“And you? Who were you supposed to be?” Sasha asked.

“I was the disposable one. I was Edge’s backup. If he, for whatever reason, couldn’t perform, I had to be ready to step in or finish his kill if he was too…damaged. That was it. That was my purpose in life. So while Edge was fine, I was sitting in Hellhound form at Erummon’s feet. Chained to his throne.”

“Razor…” Her voice was soft.

“Don’t feel bad for me, pretty girl.” He reached out and caressed her cheek. “I was invisible for most of my life there, but Edge was the one who took the brunt of it all. He did things for Erummon that would make any other man vomit for weeks. And he did it without even flinching. For years, Edge killed anyone who Erummon deemed unworthy of breathing. No questions asked. It should have…” He cut himself off. He was supposed to be giving her facts, not his feelings on the subject.

“Do you blame yourself?”

Her question caught him off guard. He looked up. “Yes.”

She nodded, her gaze moving over his face as if he’d just confirmed something for her.

He moved on, unwilling to go more into detail. “My shit doesn’t even compare to any of theirs. And then Sin…” He shook his head.

“Why didn’t Edge fight Erummon? Why didn’t any of you? If Edge had become that good of an assassin, why not turn it on your father?” She asked the question with simple curiosity, not judging them for the choices they’d had to make.

“We were pups, pretty girl. It was the only way we knew. And when we got old enough to know better, we rebelled. We defied Erummon at every turn.” He paused to run a hand over his hair. He laughed mirthlessly. “That’s when the real fun began.” He pulled out a smoke. “You mind if I smoke?”

“Now that I know how it helps, go for it.”

He lit up and took a few drags. Sasha didn’t rush him, just watched him patiently, her gaze darting over his face.

When he was ready to speak again, he said, “While Edge might have been willing to sacrifice himself to save Night and me, he wouldn’t risk Sin. None of us would. He was the runt. Everyone says he was so small when he was born. We took care of each other from day one. Erummon didn’t give two fucks about hiring a nanny or a caretaker. We only had each other.”

“Gods, what did you do?” Her eyes were wide, shiny with emotion.

“What we had to.” Razor paused. “When we were no older than fifty—that would probably be around fifteen in human years—Erummon took Sin. He was still the smallest of us all.” He swallowed another lump of grief and anger. “In Erummon’s eyes, Sin would always be the weakest, most useless of his sons. So he sold him, Sasha. Erummon sold him, and we couldn’t stop it.”

“What do you mean, sold?” Her voice was shaky, as if she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

“That isn’t my story to tell.” Razor took another drag. “But suffice it to say, our stay in the Underworld after that was probably a five-star resort compared to Sin’s new life.”

They were both quiet for a while. “Your dad is a total dick,” Sasha finally said, and her words were just what Razor needed to get rid of the feelings his past always brought him. She sat cross-legged on the bed while Razor puffed away at his smoke. The position left her pussy exposed to his gaze. Razor didn’t think she noticed him looking, or even felt odd to be having this conversation while they were both still nude. Another thing that made him feel fucking incredible. Sasha felt comfortable with him, and that was another step in the right direction.

All the bad feelings were shoved to the back of his mind, and he took pleasure in the meaning behind Sasha’s actions today.

“That he is,” he agreed, then added, “I think Valtu is the advisor Erummon spoke about.” He put out the cigarillo in the ashtray, ready to move the conversation back on topic and away from the past.

“I think you’re right.” Sasha nodded, and Razor was grateful that she hadn’t asked any more about Erummon and his amazing fathering skills. “What are we going to do?”

She’d used we, which told him that Sasha had started to see working with him as a team effort, not the inconvenience it had been before. Razor’s cock grew hard again, and he had the sudden urge to show her just how much it meant to him.

Prowling to her, Razor’s body vibrated with the desire and overwhelming need to be close to her again. Sasha’s breath hitched when her gaze landed on his erection, and she licked her lips. He moved until he towered over her and pushed her back with a palm on her chest until she was on her back.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice breathy.

“I’ve had a great view of your pussy for the last fifteen minutes. Right now, all I’m going to do is eat it until I’ll be able to taste you on my tongue for days.”

He moved to bury his face in her pussy, but she stopped him by saying, “Razor, look at me.”

At her tone, he looked up. Her eyes were solemn and beautiful.

She cupped his cheeks. “You are not invisible to me. You never were. I was just too angry at the world to let myself stop and admire the view.”

He swallowed raw emotion as he kissed her.

An hour later, once they were both showered and dressed, Razor called Night, who informed them that all the enforcers would be coming in that night for a meeting. They could tell everyone there what had been going on and what Sasha had uncovered.

“So if Valtu is behind the drugs that cause the shifting Vampires, why kidnap young girls, and where are the girls who are still unaccounted for? What about the souls? How do they tie in?” she asked when they finally left.

Razor’s phone beeped with an incoming text. He glanced at it. “I don’t know the answers to any of that, but we’re going to find out.” He pocketed his phone. “A friend of mine just saw Castor,” he informed her, his fangs dropping as if anticipating biting into Castor’s jugular.

And then, as if he needed any more reason to constantly walk around with a boner, Sasha smiled up at him, all evil and sexy.

“Fucking fabulous,” she practically purred. “Let’s go have a chat with him.”

He thought his heart might have skipped a beat.