Free Duncan's Descent by Marie Harte

the blood elves, not when Asael got his hands on the angelic traitors in the Abyss.
    â€œShe is Sapphira…daughter of Charmeine.”
    Asael swore. “I warned Duncan to steer clear of that one. The mother must be out for blood. Can we get word to my son?”
    â€œI’m afraid not. He and the angel are fairly joined at the hip,” Zelec huffed. “I’ve tried several times, but he won’t hear me around her. It’s as if she’s blocking any communications I’ve tried.”
    Asael frowned. Very few demons in the Ethereal had telepathic abilities. Zelec was a rare power, and one Asael actually trusted. If Zelec couldn’t get through to Duncan, there was a problem indeed.
    â€œVery well, Zelec. Bring me Eve.”
    Zelec smiled, an honest grin out of the demon most citizens of hell fought to steer clear of. “As you wish.” Asael knew how fond Zelec was of his daughter, and of the damned dragon she’d mated just a few days ago. He watched Zelec disappear and wished he weren’t so busy. He’d find his son himself if he could, but even Asael reported to another. And displeasing Morax wasn’t even a question.
    When Eve and Ranton, her dragon mate, appeared moments later, Asael calmly told her what needed to be done. Worried for Duncan, she quickly agreed to bring him back. And with Ranton at her side, the angelic terms of Duncan’s penance could easily be broken. They left and Asael smiled, pleased again to have a dragon for a son-in-law. Unable to control the dragons, the Ethereals left them alone. But Ranton loved Eve, would do anything for her, in fact, as would the new dragon king. And Asael was clever enough to keep that in mind should Eve fail to bring Duncan back.
    He returned to his work a contented demon. “Oh, and Zelec.”
    â€œYes, my lord?” Zelec turned from the doorway through which he was about to exit.
    â€œHave our contacts keep an eye on Charmeine. She gives me pause.”
    â€œAye. She worries me as well.” Zelec nodded as he saw his way out. “And that’s why you never dally with the upper realm,” he muttered, loud enough to be heard. “Especially not with a Virtue.”
    Asael guffawed at his affront and continued to gather the names Morax had ordered. Keeping Duncan out of trouble posed a greater task than it had been to keep Eve safe. But at least James was proving more cooperative. Asael frowned, realizing he hadn’t heard from James in days.
    â€œZelec,” he bellowed.
    Zelec quickly returned to the stone doorway. “My lord?”
    â€œCheck on—”
    â€œJames while I’m at it. Done.” Zelec disappeared and Asael sighed, pleased he hadn’t fried his trusted servant. “So hard to get good help these days.”
    The hands stroking Sapphira’s thighs grew bolder as she moaned her pleasure into her pillow. He pushed her legs apart, and then she felt an intrusion, something thick filling her channel as pressure prodded her clit with sparks of pleasure. On her belly, Sapphira lifted her head and blinked into the hazy light of morning, her desire growing as Duncan covered her with his large body, his shaft taking her with a subtle tension of ownership that should have worried her but didn’t.
    His thrusts deepened, his jolting presence within her quickening her womb as she spiraled higher toward her own climax. But Duncan shuddered and came before she could join him, much to her disappointment.
    â€œNo, not yet,” he rasped and withdrew, only to prod her slightly higher. He lifted her pelvis, putting her on her hands and knees, and knelt between her thighs. “Now that the urge isn’t so fierce, I can take what’s mine without hurting you…much.”
    Anxiety flared, fear and more than a hint of arousal, which shocked her anew. “Duncan?”
    He laughed, the deep chuckle both menacing and sexy. “The angels don’t