Free First And Last by Stacey Kennedy

liked the curves of a woman’s body because she opted for this form. She wore it well.
     
    Azar stepped up beside me. “Are these who you choose, Lady Nexi?”
     
    First, I gave myself a little jolt of healing. That was exhausting. One mind was an easy read, but hundreds drained the system.
     
    Feeling better, I glanced back at Kyden. “You agree?”
     
    He smiled and gave a simple nod. “I trust in you.”
     
    I addressed Azar. “Yes, these are the ones we choose.”
     
    “Very well,” he responded. “Now, the witches and warlocks will present themselves.”
     
    Quite quickly, more than a hundred gathered in front of me and I groaned. “Oh, dear Lord.”
     
    Haven giggled, and a rush of amusement filtered through our soul-sister bond. I glanced back at her to see a hand over her face as she shook in laughter. Oh, this was so not funny. I shot her a dirty look that she caught as she dropped her hand but only intensified her amusement.
     
    I ignored her, glanced back at the group of witches and warlocks and got right down to business.
     
    A half an hour later, the warlock hunt got us nowhere. Half of them would have destroyed me if they were capable or given the chance, which they weren’t, so there was no rise for concern there. The witches had a similar resolve. They would never support or give aid to a White Witch.
     
    Why they offered to guard me made no sense at all. Since they had no interest in actually helping me if the time came—maybe it was a sense of duty. They had to side with me because there was no other choice, but if they had the power, I’d be eating dirt six feet under.
     
    The only consolation was Tyde and Quinney—Supreme Demons as Misa called them. In terms that I could understand, she explained that they are the highest-ranked demons in the Underworld.
     
    As the auditorium began to clear out, Misa came up next to me and smiled. “Good choices.”
     
    “Well, they were the only ones who had any shred of good in them. It wasn’t really a hard choice,” I replied.
     
    Her smile grew. “Like I said, perfect choices then.”
     
    I liked at Misa. It took a while for me to get over the fact that she was a demon, but now, I could see her as nothing else but a friend. Funny, to admit that, but there it was. I only let my mind ponder that thought for a moment, before I said, “So, are we done here?”
     
    “You are,” Azar answered. “Lady Nexi and Lord Kyden, may I present to you your Guard.” He waved out to Tyde and Quinney.
     
    They bowed.
     
    “Oh for Christ sake’s, how many times do I have to say it,” I snapped. “Stop doing that. And by the way,” I looked to both Tyde and Quinney, and included Misa in the glare. “No one needs to protect me. Got it?”
     
    Each of them exchanged a confused glance, then looked back to me. “You don’t want us to protect you?” Tyde asked, his tone incredulous.
     
    “You heard it right! If I’m out on assignment, none of you better show up and kill for me. I’ll be so entirely pissed.” I gave my foot a stomp to show just how much I meant it. “And you do not want to see me angry.”
     
    They all bowed respectfully, even though I had just told them to stop their ridiculous behavior. When was anyone going to listen to me?
     
    Little flickers of pride and love drifted over me. I glanced back at the source. “Well said.” Kyden smiled.
     
    Without hesitation, I flung myself at him. He caught me in his arms easily.
     
    “Take me to your bed, my Lord.”
     

 

     
     

Chapter Six
     
     
    A couple of uneventful nights passed.
     
    I was glad that life seemed to be return to normal. Well, my kind of normal, that is.
     
    What made me even happier was the Council had agreed to send Kyden and I out on an assignment in New York City. “Who knew going to kill a guy would be such a breath of fresh air,” I said to Haven as we descended upon a home that was well away from the busy part of town. Middle class house