Consumed

By Tigris Eden

As a woman in a man’s world, firefighter Abrihet has always had to push just a little bit harder, prove just a little bit more. But her special gifts don’t make that any easier. Fire isn’t something she fights, it’s something she controls. And that’s a secret that she doesn’t want getting out. However, when a routine rescue goes south quickly, and Abrihet is literally pulled from the flames into hell, she has no choice but to accept the hand she’s been dealt.
As the heir to the throne of Wraith, Fire Demon Bael was raised to hate Nefas—half-demon, half-human hybrids. But when he’s sent to watch and pass judgment on the daughter of one of his Enforcers, he finds something wholly unexpected. She’s not an abomination. Actually, she might just be his salvation. The challenge will be getting her to accept him and his ways, because as the heir, his world is darker than most. 
Despite the odds stacked against them and the unusual circumstances of their meeting, Bael and Abrihet must learn to trust each other and work together. If they don’t, it could mean death for one or both of them. Luckily, their connection is strong, and attraction burns bright. But is the light they share something they can use to fight those who oppose them, or will it consume them both?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kats Kreative Ideas
• Release date: Sep 24, 2019

Tigris Eden

USA Today Bestselling Author, Tigris is a military brat who's done her fair share of traveling, thanks to her Army father. She's married to the infamous LL and has three boys. She currently resides in Houston and is actively seeking a book-buddy for the end of the world. You can find Tigris on Twitter, Facebook, and at her website. Twitter: @Tigris_Eden Facebook: www.facebook.com/TigrisEdenAuthor/ Website: www.tigriseden.com

Book preview

18

Prologue

The light of your true one will only shine brightly for you. She will be half of Terra and half of Wraith. She will usher in your awakening.

Those were the words from his Telling that stuck out. That was what Bael remembered.

He was going to Terra. For the first time in over three hundred years. He couldn’t stand humans, but it seemed that one of his Enforcers had decided to take up with one. A female who’d given birth to a half-breed, a Nefas. Nefas were an abomination. The thought of what Herba had said to him all those years ago, sat forefront in his mind. His light would be Nefas. But it couldn’t be Feur’s daughter. It can’t be that easy.

The last half-breed had been responsible for the Big Burn in 1910, killing hundreds of humans—not to mention a handful of Enforcers. All because of a little boy. A child who couldn’t control his temper. It had been a female Enforcer, who’d left Wraith to go and be with a human. The outcome, she’d birthed a male Nefas who was uncontrollable. As a result, hundreds of people were killed.

There had been many other fires throughout history. Boston and then London. Two for London. There was also Rome. That had been an interesting one. Chicago in 1871, and San Francisco in 1906. There were a host of other memorable ones, but Bael wasn’t in the mood to be nostalgic.

He detested the thought of being the one required to go and clean up the newest mess, namely, a little slip of a girl name Abrihet. Her mother of Ethiopian descent chose an apt name for the half-breed. Abrihet meant, she shines. And shine she did. Like a bright fucking homing beacon for demons. There was a reason Fire Demons didn’t live on Terra. If someone were to learn their true names, they could be controlled. And in the wrong hands, that control would be all kinds of fucked. For all involved.

Bael paced the confines of his quarters as he listened while his second-in-command gave him the information he needed to infiltrate and then dispatch the unwanted half-breed.

She lives in what the humans call an apartment complex. Her half-brother pays her bills.

I am to become her neighbor, then?

Yes, but we’ve given you better credentials. The owner of the building suddenly fell to his death from a twenty-story roof in New York. You are now the owner of the apartment complex, called Sunnydale. It was his time, so I took it for the boon it was. Nasty thing, those falls.

Sunnydale. What a joke.

What floor is she on?

Bottom unit, directly across from yours.

Anything I should be aware of?

Not really, Ranore replied.

What name am I going by?

Bael, Ranore said as if that were the obvious choice.

Seriously? We’re using my given name? It wasn’t his true demon name, but it was damn close.

These are different times. Humans are more accepting of names such as yours. Even mine. Ranore chuckled to himself as he flipped through the pages of intel on Abrihet.

They don’t use their given surnames anymore?

He’d kept up with what was going on topside. Had to. But he didn’t remember ever hearing about a human who went by one name. Unless it was Prince, or the artist formerly known as Prince. Who wasn’t human at all but a Suren, or male Siren.

No, they do. You just won’t. Consider it my way of making you part of the ‘in’ crowd.

Beal’s hands fisted tightly at his sides. Ranore was young, and the younger Fire Demons enjoyed Terra. Some of them even ventured outside the confines of Wraith for what they called a democation. Or demon vacation.

Just give me the girl’s file. I’ll take care of the rest.

Ranore took a step back, shaking his head. "I know you’re the boss’s son, and that you’re taking a true interest in this particular case because of Feur, but keep in mind, we only kill those who pose a threat. New rule. The one you came up with after that fiasco in Running Springs. Remember…observe. If she proves to be a hazard, then you detach her soul from her body and bring her here to Wraith to live as a Pastlife."

He knew the rules. Was well versed in them. But Feur had been aware, too, and still he’d fallen for a human. To fire demons love meant weakness. Bael had never fallen under anyone’s so-called spell. He’d fathered a few hundred demons and demonesses in his time, but they were all purebred. Which was why it pained him that a demon he considered more brother than friend would procreate with a human. But in the back of his mind, he remembered his Telling. Wondered if the old woman who lived in the forest was crazed. It was possible her sight held no truth and she’d given him a false Telling.

Where is Feur?

He’s headed to the blood bath.

Still, he’s going?

Yes, he says he will continue to go until the mother is returned to him.

It would never happen. She lived in an asylum.

It had been close to thirty human years since Feur had seen Adanech, but he still felt a pull towards her. She’d been the one to summon him all those years ago. Unknowingly, was the excuse she’d given when confronted. But Bael felt she’d known exactly what she was doing—summoning Feur because of her dead husband. She’d been seeking retribution for his death at the hands of a rival village. Adanech had prayed to everyone and anything, eventually whispering Feur’s true name. It had bonded them together, pulling him into what Feur called the happiest moments of his entire existence. Now, the male went to blood baths. A place of torture, where the attendees were whipped or beaten until they could no longer stand. They would simply sink into their own blood.

I’ll have a talk with him before I leave.

I’ll see that he receives you properly, Bael.

Ranore handed over the file holding Feur’s offspring’s information and left him to study the females’ habits. There were no pictures of her. Just a description, in detail. Along with notations about her place of work, family, and friends.

Chapter 1

Fire licked up the sides of the wall. The flames had long since destroyed most of what was left of the building. The smoke would cloud anyone’s ability to see. But not Abrihet’s. She remained un-affected. Even in the uniform she was forced to wear and the helmet shield covering her face, her vision was perfect. Playing along was the only way the others would keep from guessing her secret. Fire had no effect on her. Never had. The protective gear she wore made things more difficult to navigate as sweat dropped into her eyes. She could hear the screams. Each one distinct and different. There were at least three more people in the building. Abrihet was going to get in a shit-ton of trouble for going in after them without backup. Her captain had already warned her on more than one occasion about putting herself in harm’s way. He thought she was just trying to be one of the guys. It was the furthest thing from the truth.

She wasn’t trying to prove anything. Though, if she could take the suit off without bringing attention to herself, she would. She needed to get to the three innocent people trapped behind a door that was red-hot in the building currently going up in flames.

Abrihet knew she was different. It was hard to miss. When she’d realized fire had no effect on her, she’d tested it out in stages. She was resistant to even the hottest of flames. Her skin didn’t melt on contact, and there were times the flames themselves spoke to her. But, tonight, all she could hear were the cries of the three people trapped behind the door. None of the other guys had been able to get up through the hole that was created in the ceiling that led to the second floor. It left