Bonus Chapter 9 — Samael and Galena (Mikhail’s parents)

“I told you the thing was a piece of rubbish.” My best mate, Azazel, mutters when the vehicle’s engine fails for the millionth time today. We’ve been working on rebuilding this vehicle for months, and the bloody thing won’t start.

Reaching for a towel, I wipe the oil from my hands. “You need to stop being so negative, mate. It will start. We just need to continue working. Rome wasn’t built in a bloody day, you git.”

Azazel quirks a cynical brow. “Alright, I’ll trust you, but I’m not going to the auto shop for that distributor cap. It’s your bleeding turn.”

I roll my eyes. “Do not worry your pretty little head, you arse, I’ll go to the shop.”

Azazel chuckles as he hands me a lager. “And while you’re enjoying yourself, I will be in my comfortable bed getting some much-needed kip,” Azazel emphasizes his weariness by yawning loudly and stretching his arms over his head.

Without a word, I toss the soiled towel at his face and laugh as he blusters about. “Ha, ha, very funny, you wanker?” He grouses as he tosses the towel into the ground.

“You should have seen the expression on your face, mate. You looked like a fish flopping about.”

He throws me the finger as he exits the garage.

Shaking my head, I continue to chuckle as I make my way out into the warm New Orleans sidewalk. Azazel and I moved here over fifty years ago to open a pub, but we’ve discussed moving back west recently. It’s not a good idea to stay in one place when you don’t age. We also miss the milder California weather. It shouldn’t be too difficult to move back since Azazel owns several night clubs and pubs across the country.

As I near one of the local body shops, I stop in place. Almost as if something is blocking my descent. A female cry, followed by grunts, reaches my ears from a nearby alcove.

My body stiffens as another cry resounds across the empty street. Every cell in my body ignites with fire, and my demon claws to come out. As a former demon lord, my powers are a lot stronger than a regular demon's. Even Azazel isn’t a match for my powers. However, I gave up my position because, well, I hated hell, and I didn’t like ruling other demons. Thankfully, my brother was more than happy to take the crown from my hands, and I’m able to live a more mundane life. Unfortunately, for my brother, he wasn’t strong enough to rule for longer than a decade before he was assassinated by one of his predecessors. My brother, Carael, was quite the brutal dictator, and we didn’t get along, so it was no loss for me. Azazel is more of a brother than Carael ever was. Azazel and I have been best mates for centuries and have always had each other’s backs. We are also very similar in temperament, if not in looks. Where Azazel has golden hair, skin, and eyes, I have dark ebony hair, eyes, and pale skin. However, we’re both tall and broad-shouldered with very attractive features.

The cry resounds again, which awakens my still body. Before I know it, I’m rushing through the streets until I reach the alcove. Two hellhounds are holding down an angel. I can’t see her face, but her beautiful hair, gentle female scent, and curvaceous body lure me like a moth to a flame. My anger surmounts as I watch one of the hell hounds pull back his fist to strike her. However, he doesn’t make it far before I grab him by the wrist, break it and toss him against a nearby wall. The other hellhound’s blood-red eyes gleam with hatred as he prepares to pounce, but before he can, I grip him by the neck and rip his head off his body. As I said, I was a former demon lord, so I’m extremely strong.

The other hellhound recovers quickly and rushes me, tackling me to the ground. As he extends his razor-sharp claws to my throat, I punch him in the ribs and chin, then use my knees to push him off. Before he can rise, I straddle him, and using my powerful claws, stab him in the chest, grip his heart, and rip it out of the open wound.

Blood gushes everywhere, making the demon in me growl with satisfaction.

Once I see that both creatures are dead, I turn to the female. She’s slumped against a nearby wall, her long chestnut hair falls to her waist, and her olive skin gleams beneath the dim like. Moving closer, I try to make myself look less threatening, which is difficult to do considering my black jeans, t-shirt and face is covered in blood, and that my eyes are glowing, and my fangs, claws are out.

“Are you alright, angel?”

My breath catches as I get my first look at her exquisite face. Her lashes are long, covering her honey-colored eyes. She has perfectly arched brows, delicate cheekbones, and pouty pink lips. My heart stutters, and my body heats with desire. Her face flushes as she appraises my appearance. “I’m…, I’m fine. They just tried to steal my purse and shook me a little.” She mumbles in the most intoxicatingly feminine voice.

She shyly rises to her feet and adjusts her dress. The off the shoulder sweater dress clings to her body like a second skin, and her hair is tousled. Her gait is awkward as she tries to remain on her feet, which tells me that she’s hurt. I try to help her, but she backs away, frightened, which I will admit wounds me a bit. Of course, being that prideful demon that I am, I stiffen my spine and wipe any expression off my face. “Well, you’re welcome,” I mutter derisively before I turn around and walk away. If my body screams for me to turn around, I ignore it.

“Wait!” She calls out.

Jaw clenched, I turn and face her. Her eyes look a bit wounded, which makes me feel a bit unsettled. I don’t understand why I’m feeling this way about a woman who I just met.

I swear that every time she takes a step, my heart quickens. It’s only when we are nearly facing each other that I realize I hadn’t taken a breath.

“You’re…you’re a demon.” She mumbles steadily.

I tilt my head arrogantly and nod. “And you’re an angel.”

She bites her lower lip, making me stifle a moan at how enticing it is.

“I…thank you. I’m Galena.”

I wordlessly repeat her name as I roll it around my tongue. “I’m Samael.” I manage to reply through the roaring in my ears.

“I’ve never met a demon.” She mutters shyly. “I didn’t expect for you to look so—”

“Amazingly attractive…charming.” I finish for her with a cocky smile.

As expected, my banter quickly puts her at ease because her shoulders relax, and the lines around her pert lips soften. “So conceited,” she replies firmly.

I shrug my broad shoulders and stand straighter, showing off my physical qualities like a peacock. “I’m not conceited, I’m aware.”

She giggles again but quickly loses her smile as if she just thought of something. Her eyes become hooded a moment later as she takes a step back to create some distance. I can see that something is bothering her. As I take in the carnage around us, I become cognizant that I forgot that I’m mooning over a beautiful woman while two dead bodies rot around us.

“Let me help you home.” I offer in a gentlemanly fashion.

Her eyes widen with horror, and her complexion pales at my words. “No! I can’t!”

Once again, her outburst strikes me like an arrow in the heart. We live in a very biased world where demons are looked down upon. “Don’t want to be seen with a demon, eh?” I sneer. “After all, we’re just filthy, heartless creatures.”

Tears blur her eyes as she opens her lips to respond, but I don’t give her the opportunity. It’s not the first time I’ve been reviled for what I am, and it won’t be the last. I just don’t understand why her rejection hurts.

Turning swiftly, I stride out the alcove doors and into the streets. I’m several yards away when I feel a tiny hand wrap around my forearm. The demon in me instantly reacts to her closeness, his aggression accelerating as I turn swiftly, grab her forearms, and back her up into a nearby wall. Our breathing is labored as we come face to face, and our bodies touch. My demon senses instantly home in on her scent of arousal and the sound of her rapidly beating heart. She wants me. “I can sense your arousal, little angel?”

She opens her lips, but no words come out as her eyes focus on my lips. I gaze down at her glistening lips with a groan and lean close until our lips are nearly touching. “Do you want a taste of me, luv? Do you want this demon to ravish your sweet angelic body?”

Her body strains to get closer as she tentatively closes her lips against mine. The kiss is beyond anything I’ve ever felt. The way her little tongue dances with mine and her taste is the closest to heaven that I’ll ever be. Somehow our bodies become entwined. Her dress rides up as she wraps her legs around my waist, and her arms slide around my neck. The feel of her nimble fingers sifting through my hair is blissful as she grinds her body against mine.

You can hear the sounds of our heavy breathing and clothes rustling as we strive to get closer.

The sound of a car horn in the distance brings me back to reality. Chest heaving, I reluctantly break the kiss. Galena looks as stunned and aroused as I do as she disentangles her limbs from mine. “I’ve never done that before.” She whispers huskily.

My brow furrows with confusion. “You’ve never kissed a stranger?”

Her cheeks color. “N-no…I…I’ve never been…” she drifts off and looks down at her feet.

However, she doesn’t need to finish her sentence. Pleasure and a sense of pride spread through me when I realize that she has never been kissed.

“If it’s any consolation, that was incredibly pleasurable,” I mutter with a cocky grin.

At my words, her lips tilt into a smile. I hadn’t noticed earlier, but she has a dimple.

“It’s not because you’re a demon!” she blurts out with embarrassment.

I arch a brow at her. “Truly?”

Her fingers nervously sift through several strands of her hair as she shifts from foot to foot. “I don’t care that you’re a demon. It’s just my brother will be angry if he saw us together.”

My eyes narrow at her frightened tone. “Would he hurt you?”

She looks away without a response, which is answer enough.

“What if I said that I want to make love to you? Would you come home with me?”

Her eyes widen like saucers at my daring tone. Believe it or not, I’ve never done this before. However, there’s something about her that makes me act so out of character. All I know is that I want her more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life.

At the thought, my heart flips in my chest, and my symptoms become clearer. But it cannot be. There’s no way that I’m mated to an angel. It’s not possible! Brow furrowed, I take a step back and nearly stumble when my body begins to scream for me to get closer.

“Yes.” She mumbles gently. “I will come home with you.”

Euphoria courses through my veins as each word echoes through my eardrums. I extend my hand out to her in offer. “Let’s go.”

Her tiny hand fits perfectly in mine.

She seems nervous but also determined, which lifts my spirits.

It’s only when I get to my home that my thoughts clear enough for me to realize the extent of my decision. If I make love to her, our bond will be cemented. I wonder if she understands that we’re mates. By the innocent way she looks around my apartment, I’d say she’s unaware.

“Do you know about, mates, angel?” I ask steadily.

Galena nods. “Yeah, it’s when angels dream of their other half.”

My brow furrows. If she knows this, then she must have dreamt of me. However, since I’m a demon and she’s an angel, I’m in unknown territory.”

Swallowing deeply, I try to form a response that won’t scare her away. “Have you already dreamt of your mate?”

Galena frowns. “I kind of did, but I could never see his face. I just see a crown surrounded by fire.”

The blood drains from my head, and my eyes daze. She just described my mating tattoo.

Without a word, I lift my t-shirt and show her the tattoo near my right rib. “Like this?”

All of the air whooshes out of her chest, and her expression changes to one of my shock. “Wait…” she points to the tattoo with trepidation. “But you’re a demon, and I’m…”

I nod my head. A feeling of dread spreads across my mind as I consider the repercussions of our mating. I want to rage at someone for the unfairness of our world. Matings between angels and demons are death sentences. That I know of, it has never happened before, but the Council is clear in their stance. Yet, as I gaze into my mate’s eyes, I can’t find the will to care. She’s mine. We are meant to be together. How can that be wrong?

“Listen, Galena, I don’t know how this is possible, but I don’t care. I want you. I’ve been waiting for you for a very, very, long time. The question is, are you going to reject me?”

Galena shakes her head. “I know that I should, but I don’t want to. Everything inside of me tells me that this is right. You should know, though, that my family will never accept you. My brother works for the Council, and it won’t matter that I’m his sister; he will fight to execute us.”

I consider her words. “Then we will need to leave. We can go somewhere far from your family. I’ll have to tell my best mate, Azazel before we go. I’ll miss him, but I can’t let you go.”

Without another word, Galena steps into my arms and wraps her arms around my waist. “I don’t want you to leave everything you love for me.”

My arms tighten around her resolutely. “I know that we just met, Galena, but you are the one thing I cannot live without.”

It’s strange how every word I say is true. If you’d have asked me days ago whether I believed in love at first sight or if I’d do anything for my mate, I’d have hesitated to answer. However, as I stand here holding my mate in my arms, I realize that I’d do anything for her. My instincts all point to this woman being the ticket to all of my happiness.

“Samael?” She mutters.

“Yes?” I ask.

“Is it weird that I’m scared, but I want to do it anyway because it feels right?” She asks with a note of uncertainty.

I shake my head. “No, it’s not weird because I feel the same way.”

Pulling her away gently, I look into her eyes. “I know that we just met, but I can’t imagine life without you, angel,” I mutter as I lift my hand and caress her temple, tucking several strands of hair behind her ear. “I also get the feeling that we’re heading for a great adventure.”

She smiles in reply. “I feel the same way.”

We spend the night getting to know each other and planning our future. As the sun dawns on the horizon, I prepare to say goodbye to my best friend and start my life with my mate.

Galena and I don’t know what the future holds, but what we do know is that we’ll face it together.