Free Hellfire by Kate Douglas

though
none as dark as you. Some of our men have crossed into Earth’s dimension to
consort with human women, but our fertility rate is so low, I never dreamed
there might be children of such matings. Who’s to say what woman that ancient
Lemurian fell for. ” He laughed as he carefully slipped
HellFire back inside the scabbard and set it on the little table by the window.
“HellFire said you’re descended from royalty. I knew you were special the
moment I saw you. I just didn’t know how special.”
    He turned around and pulled
Ginny into his arms, but he didn’t kiss her. No, he merely pressed his forehead
to hers and stared deep into her eyes. “It explains why I couldn’t use my
compulsion on you. It doesn’t work at all against Lemurians.”
    “I don’t believe it.” But she
did. Deep inside, she knew the sword was telling the truth. Maybe that’s why
she’d never wanted to leave the little town of Evergreen, so close beside Mount
Shasta. She’d felt drawn to the volcano. Always knew she wanted to live close
by, even though she’d never believed any of that mystical stuff that people
always talked about.
    Maybe she should have been
listening a little closer.
    “What were your parents like?”
    She blinked and stared at
Alton. Shook her head. “I don’t know. I was adopted.
All I know about my mother is that she was an unwed teenager from Sacramento. I
was adopted by a couple in Evergreen when I was a
newborn, but they were a lot older. They’ve both been gone for a few years
now.”
    “Then Markus isn’t really your
cousin? Your Aunt Betty…?”
    “Nope. Adopted family. Aunt Betty was my adoptive mom’s baby
sister. No blood line to me at all.”
    Alton scooted back against the
headboard, dragging Ginny with him. He held her in his arms as if she weighed
nothing at all, and she had to admit, she liked the way it felt to be cuddled
by a man as big and powerful as he was.
    “So,” she asked, “now what?”
    “I wonder if you were targeted? Tom the cat, the coyote. Do demons recognize you as Lemurian? See you as an ancient enemy?”
    She shivered, thankful for
Alton’s embrace but not at all happy about his suggestion. “I hope not. I’d
rather think it was coincidental if you don’t mind.”
    He chuckled softly. “If you like. Now we sleep, if we can. Then we pack up our
stuff and get any supplies we might need, go to the clinic early, and check on
the animals. Then we go to Bell Rock, hike to the top, and step through the
portal into the mountain. Once we’re inside, we’ll take the gateway into
Lemuria and hope HellFire knows exactly what he’s talking about.”
    Ginny tilted her head and, for
some unexplainable reason, kissed his cheek. “You’re saying you’ll believe a
snarky sword?”
    Alton laughed. “He is snarky,
isn’t he? I don’t understand why. Dax’s sword is very polite, and Eddy’s is
definitely a very brave and calm female, which is really weird, if the
sentience in our swords comes from the souls of fallen warriors. Lemurian women
don’t fight. As far as I know, only one woman may have ever seen battle, and
her story is more likely legend rather than fact.” He shrugged. “For whatever
reason, Eddy and Dax have polite, even friendly swords.”
    “But you got snark?” She
cuddled close.
    “I got snark.”

Chapter Four
     
    Ginny didn’t realize they’d
fallen asleep until she awoke hours later. She went from sound asleep to wide
awake in a heartbeat, immediately aware she was cuddled next to Alton with her
cheek pressed against his chest. The room was dark, and they were lying down
instead of sitting up against the headboard.
    Alton was warm and their skin
damp with perspiration where they touched. She was struck with the intimacy,
the fact she’d actually fallen asleep beside him on the bed. She was still
dressed, but all he had on were his knit boxers, which left a whole lot of
Alton exposed.
    He slept soundly with one hand
resting on her hip and she