Hellion Unleashed: Nox: Demoness, #2

By J.C. Diem

Now that Raum has finally found his match, he will have to do whatever it takes to convince Ember to become bound to him. The demoness won't be easy to win over. Especially after the unfortunate incident when he'd tortured her. The Demon Guild Master isn't going to give up on what he wants. He's determined to make Ember his, so they can face the Immortal Triumvirate together.

 

Ember trusts Raum about as far as she can throw him. Deep down, she knows she can't take the rulers of Nox on alone. The Immortal Triumvirate need to be eradicated and the rebels have the best chance of pulling it off. That doesn't mean she's going to make things easy for the demon lord. He'll have to prove he's trustworthy first, which will be difficult for him to achieve.

 

Halloween is only a few months away now. If Raum doesn't manage to convince Ember to become his mate, the rebels' plans will fail. Another triumvirate is also scheming to rule Nox. Guild Master Onvier, Nilanthy and their demonic third, Azazel, are slowly growing in power. The rebels now have two trinities to fight if they wish to save the City of Night from its perilous fate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seize The Night Agency
• Release date: Jun 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201067496

Book preview

Chapter One

RAUM WATCHED EMBER boldly strut away from his quarters. He flicked the door shut with his tail when she was out of his sight. He looked around at the destruction he’d caused and huffed out a sigh. His dining table and chairs had been smashed in his rush to stop her from leaving. His leather couch and armchairs were in a similar condition.

Changing back into his human form, he sauntered over to the sideboard where the alcohol was stored. It had somehow managed to avoid being trampled in his pursuit of the demoness. The magic of Nox restored his furniture to its previous condition as he poured himself a snifter of brandy.

He took a seat on an armchair to stare into the crackling fire to brood about what had just happened. Even in summer, the catacombs were cold and dismal. The black rock his sanctum was made of made it very obvious he lived in a cave. No matter how high he rose in the City of Night, he would always be relegated to living in the bowels of Nox. This would still be his home even if he could somehow find a way to prevent the city from being destroyed after the Immortal Triumvirate had been overthrown. He couldn’t exactly trust any of his minions to take charge of the demons so he could live in a mansion above the ground.

Raum shook his head to dispel his pointless fantasies. He blamed it on wearing his human form too often. Pretending to be civilized was making him forget who and what he was. He belonged down here in the dark depths of the earth. Apart from the temperature, hell had been very similar to this. The main difference was that he was the ruler of his kind here. He liked being in charge and he wasn’t about to relinquish his position to anyone.

His thoughts strayed back to Ember. She was the key to him cementing his position as a true ruler of Nox. Once their power was bound, he would become far stronger than he already was. While he doubted he could take Lucifer on, he would be more than powerful enough to rule this city.

If only it were that simple, he murmured, keeping his voice down so his guards couldn’t hear him.

The hellion both intrigued and frustrated him. He didn’t care that she was possibly the most wretchedly ugly hell spawn in the Demon District. Their kind didn’t treasure beauty like other species did. All they cared about was dominating others and exerting their will to get what they wanted.

Beleth had been a prime example of the true nature of demonkind. He’d caged Ember and had tortured her for three decades. She was permanently scarred and irreparably damaged from his ministrations, yet her will was still strong. Beleth hadn’t broken her and she’d bravely stalked Raum with the intention of killing him when she’d gained her freedom.

She almost succeeded, he reminded himself ruefully and placed his hand on his chest where her talons had punched through his heart. The naughty little minx had believed she’d bested him, but he was harder to kill than she’d realized. Instead of being grateful that he’d ordered his lackeys not to harm her, she’d been furious. Ember didn’t want his protection, but that was too damn bad. She was his, or she soon would be. No other creature would ever lay their hands on her again.

He sipped his brandy while musing about exactly how he was going to convince Ember to join his cause. He’d vowed he would never hurt her again and he’d meant it. When he’d had her pinned beneath him, he hadn’t felt the usual surge of triumph. He’d felt something very different. It was something he’d never felt while he’d been in his demon form before. Usually, coupling between demons was fast, violent and ended with one or both of them getting hurt.

His instincts to render the demoness helpless and take what he wanted from her hadn’t risen. Instead, he’d tried to seduce her as if they were both human. Raum had sensed Ember’s initial fear and resignation of her fate. Then he’d sensed her confusion when he hadn’t satiated his desires on her. He’d been firm, but gentle and she’d responded to him despite herself.

A smug grin appeared on Raum’s face and he knew he could win the hellion over eventually. He could be very persuasive when he needed to be. His grin soured when he remembered Halloween was only four months away now. The worst part was that Ember now knew he needed her and how important she was to his cause. The minx was aware that she held all the power. Bonding with him had to be her decision, so he was going to have to continue his gambit to seduce her.

I believe I’m up to the challenge, he said as he levered himself to his feet. Sitting around and brooding wasn’t going to get him anywhere. The night was still young and he had errands to run. He didn’t have any meetings scheduled, so he had some free time on his hands. He made his way to an exit that deposited him near some boutiques in the City Square. It was time to fill the empty side of his closet, which meant he was going to be spending the next few hours shopping.

When Raum stepped through the door of a boutique, the fairy behind the counter went pale. She clutched the countertop before she could swoon. How may I help you, Guild Master? she asked in a frightened voice. She was strong enough to still have wings, but they were dull rather than sparkling with fairy dust. Her dress was pale green to match her hair. Her gown was covered in tiny gold stars that she must have painstakingly stitched onto the fabric. Magic was too precious to be squandered on creating clothing.

The demon turned to take in the beautiful gowns that were on display. They were exactly what he’d pictured Ember wearing and he smiled charmingly. I require an extensive wardrobe for a lady friend, he told her.

Gathering her courage, the fairy nodded cautiously. I’m sure I have what you need, my lord. She reached beneath the counter for a notepad and pencil. Do you have this lady’s measurements?

Raum looked at her blankly for a second. She stands about this tall, he said, holding his hand up a couple of inches beneath his chin. She has full breasts, a tiny waist and curvy hips.

He smiled a little as he pictured Ember, but the fae woman rolled her eyes. That’s a good start, but I’m going to need more precise information than that, my lord, she said. May I draw the image of her from your mind?

Raum narrowed his eyes mistrustfully as the tiny fae creature rounded the counter and drew a wand out of her pocket. If you must, he said reluctantly.

Picture your lady friend and I’ll extract the image, she said.

Drawing on the memory of the first time he’d seen Ember in her human form, the demon lord did as he’d been instructed. The fairy touched her wand to his temple and he felt a tiny spell go into action. She drew the thought from his mind and a life-size image of Ember appeared between them. He took a step back to admire her in all of her naked glory. Will that suffice? he asked.

The fairy nodded and put her wand back in her pocket. It’s perfect, my lord, she replied and began to sketch her absent client. Within minutes, she’d measured the image’s size and had drawn a perfect replica of her. That should do it, she said and dispelled the image with a wave of her hand. What sort of clothing does your lady friend require? she asked.

Gowns, of course, Raum replied, gesturing at the beautiful dresses that were on display. She will also require lingerie and other types of clothing one wears for less formal occasions, he added vaguely.

The fairy nodded, showing a hint of pity at his utter cluelessness. Leave it to me, Guild Master, she said. I’ll arrange for the other clothing to be made by my colleagues. We should have an entire wardrobe ready for you in a couple of weeks.

Will it take that long? he asked in disappointment.

If we could use magic, we could have it done tonight, she said apologetically. We have to sew by hand now, so we’ve employed skilled witches to do most of the work.

I see, the demon lord said. I will compensate you and your workers for your efforts when you are done. She nodded absently, flicking over to a new page to begin taking notes. They would most likely request high quality food and other items to be sent to the boutiques, then hand them out to their workers. The barter system was one of the few things that still ran well in Nox.

His shopping expedition hadn’t taken anywhere near as long as he’d thought it would, so Raum headed to the Demon Guildhall. He passed Azazel’s door on the way to his office on the top floor. Even from a distance, he felt the increased strength that emanated from his second in charge. His good mood evaporated at the reminder that betrayal was both imminent and inevitable.

Chapter Two

EMBER FELT A HEADY sense of power unlike anything she’d ever experienced before as she strode away from Raum’s quarters. She heard his door close and some of her tension seeped away. She’d half expected him to race after her and torture her into submission. The Guild Master had vowed he would never hurt her again, but demons lied as easily as they breathed. Once he got what he wanted from her, she would become useless to him again. Right now, she held all the cards. Unfortunately, she didn’t know what to do with them.

Glowing eyes watched her speculatively as she made her way through the tunnels. Everyone knew who she was now, thanks to her distinctive gold eyes. She figured her eyes were a strange color due to being a half-breed. Whatever the reason was for the anomaly, they made her stand out far too much.

The demoness veered away from her intended destination of her lair. Instead, she took one of the main tunnels that led to the surface. Whispers followed in her wake, echoing around in the passageways made of dense gray rock. She also heard scuttling sounds and squeaking noises. Rats had infiltrated the Demon District and had spread throughout the catacombs. Their eyes didn’t glow in the dark, but they appeared to be able to see anyway.

Ember reached the main exit and joined the line of demons who were heading to work at the Demon Guildhall. The guard saw her, opened his mouth to ask her where she thought she was going, then snapped it shut again when she arched her hairless brows at him. Only guildmembers, scouts and a select few of their kind were allowed to leave their District. Since Raum had declared her to be off limits, he wasn’t brave enough to try to stop her. Have a pleasant evening, my lady, he said sarcastically and gave her a small bow.

The demoness curled her lip at the sand-colored minion. His skin was dry and flakes drifted to the ground when he scratched his scabrous belly. As thin and malnourished as the rest of their kind, his ribs were far too prominent. Two tiny horns jutted from his forehead and his face looked like a scrunched up piece of old leather.

I will, she said haughtily as she swept past him. As soon as Ember exited from the catacombs, she took to the air. She circled around the city for a while before flying back to the square. She landed on her favorite roosting spot on the roof of the Immortal Triumvirate’s headquarters. Rain drummed down on her, but she stoically ignored it. Being wet was preferable to being imprisoned in a cramped silver cage.

Ember hunched her shoulders and drew her wings around herself protectively as she thought about the three decades she’d spent as Beleth’s slave. Her former master had been too stupid to come up with truly inventive ways to hurt her. He’d relied on silver nets, his fists and using her body for his own enjoyment. Raum would be an entirely different type of master to serve. He could use his innate demonic essence to burn her from the inside.

Shuddering a little at the memory of the evil essence that had made her feel like her insides were on fire, she couldn’t see how she could possibly trust the demon lord. Madam Quilla had told her she would never be a victim again if she forged an alliance with the ruler of the catacombs, but Ember was dubious. When she was around Raum, his power was overwhelming and it made it hard for her to think. Only when she was distant from him could she think clearly.

After a couple of hours, she saw Raum take a seat behind his desk in his office. He looked even smugger than usual when he turned his chair to smirk out through the window. He was vain, so she figured he was probably looking at his own reflection.

Ember snickered quietly, but she had to admit he had a right to feel vain. He was charismatic and handsome in both his human and demon forms. While she was apparently beautiful as a human, she was a nightmare made flesh in her demon guise. As for her werewolf form, it seemed fairly standard. She hadn’t spent much time mingling with normal shifters to know for sure. The rogues had accepted her and treated her like their alpha, which was still puzzling to her.

The hell spawn’s thoughts shifted to the Immortal Triumvirate. Both Madam Quilla and Raum had told her that they were to blame for her miserable life. Ember’s hatred had previously been focused on her masters. After Beleth had been assassinated and she’d freed herself from her cage, she’d switched her hatred to Raum. She could see that killing him wouldn’t get her the revenge she craved. Only when the Immortal Triumvirate were gone would she truly be free.

Raum had told her that they had mutual enemies in their leaders. He suggested that they should work together to take them down. Ember was too wary of betrayal to agree to his plan. Instead, she decided to scope out the alpha werewolf, master vampire and fairy lord on her own. She’d heard rumors that the trio were even more malicious than her kind tended to be, but she needed to see the proof for herself.

Now that she had a plan in mind, Ember settled down to keep watch for her new enemies. She had an excellent vantage point from her high perch. Two hours before dawn, she saw Lord Graham and Lord Kreaton emerge from the building. Carriages were waiting for them at the curb. The hellion decided to follow the shifter to his house first. She’d barely spent any time in the Vampire District and felt more comfortable in the Shifter District.

As the shifter’s carriage headed eastward, Ember stepped off the roof. She plummeted for a few yards before spreading her wings out. She glided after the black vehicle, making sure to remain above the buildings where she was camouflaged against the night sky.

The skeleton drove Lord Graham to a mansion in the wealthiest area of the Shifter District. His house was four stories tall and was surrounded by a large yard with lots of trees. An image of a lone werewolf was etched onto his front door, but she could hear other people moving around inside the house when she settled on the roof.

Lord Graham slammed his door shut, then stomped up to a room on the second floor. One of his servants knocked tentatively on the door. What? the alpha shifter barked in a surly tone.

Do you require anything, my lord? the minion asked. Ember couldn’t see him, but he sounded terrified.

No, Lord Graham said, then contradicted himself a moment later. Bring one of the women to my bedchamber, he ordered.

Yes, my lord, the servant said, then hurried away.

Ember didn’t like the sounds of that. She hunched against the rain as she listened to the werewolf climb up the stairs to a room on the fourth floor. She silently crossed to the other side of the house and peered down to see a balcony just below her. The French doors were shut, so she flew down and landed on the balcony. She heard a door open on the ground floor, then a chorus of pleading female voices begged to be released. Their voices echoed, which meant they were probably being held in the basement.

Lord Graham heard them as well and chuckled darkly. I’m never letting you go, he murmured. No one else knows about my secret harem, he added smugly.

A tiny gap in the curtains allowed Ember to see a distraught shifter being dragged into the room by a servant. He thrust her inside, then closed the door. Please, don’t hurt me, the naked werewolf begged with tears streaming down her face. She was covered in barely healed bites and scratches.

Shut up! the alpha snarled as he began to disrobe. I can’t stand it when you bitches whine. This is what you were made for, now lie face down on the bed before I tear your tongue from your head!

Cold rage flared inside the demoness when his victim obeyed his order. She didn’t stick around to watch what he did to her. She’d been in that position too many times herself to want to witness it happening to someone else. Ember had just received all the proof she needed that Lord Graham was indeed just as evil as any of her demonic kin. Now she just needed to verify that his two allies were just as bad as he was.

Chapter Three

LORD GRAHAM HAD THE unsettling feeling that he was being watched as he entered his mansion. It ceased when he entered the building. He stomped up to a sitting room on the second floor and poured himself some whiskey. Alcohol didn’t affect shifters like it did fae creatures. He was in no danger of turning into an alcoholic like his fae ally had become. He gulped down the liquor, then spun around when his butler knocked on the door. What? he snarled. His servant opened the door and asked him if he needed anything. No, he replied, then changed his mind. Bring one of the women to my bedchamber, he ordered. A good screw might be exactly what he needed to take the edge off his tension.

Only his staff were aware that he had a harem of a dozen shifters locked up in cells in his basement. They were allowed to bathe in cold water nightly. His sense of smell might have been destroyed