All The Wrong Signs

Blaze’s POV

I sat watching my little witch sleeping far longer than I had intended. Even asleep, it didn’t appear that she was ever fully relaxed. Her face still wore a frown, and I wondered what tormented her.

Besides myself, of course.

Was I the reason behind the frown lines she wore almost permanently?

Getting up out of my chair, I shook my head. I couldn’t get distracted by this little wanna be witch. I was almost at the door when I heard her gasp. Quickly turning around, I saw her clutching the bedsheets in her hands.

Shaking my head, I let out a long sigh. “You really should know how to keep bad dreams at bay, little witch.”

As I walked forward, I had to remember that she was different from any of the witches or mages I had known before I was imprisoned. She was just a beginner who had dabbled in the occult and accidentally summoned something she had no clue about.

Leaning down, I placed my mouth beside her ear and mumbled in a language that even if she had been awake to hear, she wouldn’t understand. It was a language that was long dead that I had been afforded the knowledge of because of my strong bloodline.

Almost instantly, Riley’s body relaxed. Her grip on the sheets eased. And the frown on her fae disappeared. Turning once again, I knew I needed to leave so that I could return before she woke.

Riley was still too unsure of what to do with me to realize that she could simply tell me to leave and I would have no choice to go until she summoned me back. Her friend had flat out told her that fact, but it was like she chose not to hear what she was saying. Riley held all the power over me, and she didn’t even know it. She and she alone held the power to send me back to my prison.

I couldn’t let that happen.

Maybe I needed to go easier on her. I had been teasing her for my amusement. It was pretty clear she was not a fan of me at the moment. I had no doubt if she really thought about it, she would send my ass right pack to where I came from.

I had reached her once. Could I do it again? In order to ever call me back, she would have to know my name. Could I trust her with it?

I trusted no one.

Shaking my head, I headed to the front door. I had things to do, and if I wanted to return before sunrise, I needed to leave now. Finding Kyler wasn’t as easy as I assumed it would be. The man lived off grid. He was like a ghost. Lucky for me, however, that the Wumbert name was still around.

Orik had made sure I had no clue about the location of my prison. I wasn’t even sure what country it was in. It could be under the goddamn ocean for all I knew.

I wondered if Kyler would have noticed I was gone by now? He liked to disappear, sometimes for months, when I pissed him off.

Rumors would soon spread in the demon realm that I was released, but only a few would be able to remember me. I needed that damn seal broken so I could take my rightful seat in my kingdom.

Thankfully, demons didn’t have to always use vehicles like the humans did. We could use portals to take us from one spot to another. The moment I walked outside of Riley’d door, I entered another home, clear in another realm.

Another demon stood with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. “Where the hell have you been?”

“It’s not like I’m bound to two fucking humans or anything, my dear sister.”

Petra shook her head but didn’t say anything as she turned back to her bar, pouring both of us a drink. She had been the first person I had reached out to. One I knew would remember me if for nothing else, because we had the same blood running through our veins.

My younger sister had been nothing more than a young girl when I had gone missing. If she had been older, stronger, perhaps she would have been able to track me. No one else in my family cared, too greedy with the power that a missing me would provide them.

“I’ve been scouring over everything I can get my hands on. Orik lived in Ireland. His home is nothing more than dust now, nothing remains of his time there, but I’m certain he wouldn’t have had you too far from him. The cliffs are probably our best bet.”

Nodding at her, I tried to remember if I had ever heard the ocean from my confinement. It was likely they had buried me so deep underground that the rock that surrounded had muffled any sound.

“It shouldn’t be that hard to find,” Petra started before I cut her off.

“Orik wasn’t stupid Petra. It will be cloaked, but I should be able to pick up on some small fragment of magic.”

Taking a long drink, Petra sighed. “We have to find Kyler. If he still has the book, this will all be for nothing.”

“I’ve thought about that myself,” I admitted. “But I don’t think the fool would know how to unlock it.” The one good thing about the ancient books was only a few could read them and even fewer knew the spell to unlock the secrets within.

“All he has to do is have a computer decode it,” Petra said, shaking her head. “You really need to get with the times. I knew you were slow, but…”

“Slow?” I question. “And how the fuck do you figure that?”

Petra laughed. “You were always untouchable. Until you weren’t, Blaze.” She looked down, swirling her drink. “I don’t know if you care or not, but mother never forgot you. She never let me forget you, either.”

I opened my mouth to say something smartassed about why the hell had she not yet found me, but I knew how difficult living with mother could be. Our mother wasn’t the affectionate type. No, she was a tyrant, only caring about wealth and power.

Talking a sip of my liquor, I winced at the taste. God, how I had missed demons’ brew. The golden amber drink had a kick like nothing you could find in the human realm.

“It probably reminded her too much of my father,” I finally said.

Petra looked over at me but didn’t speak. We had different fathers. Hell, I didn’t even know if my mother knew for sure who her father was. My father had never stuck around for long. He and my mother didn’t have the best relationship. They had been together because each brought something to the table.

Power.

My father gave me my angel blood, my mother came from a long line of powerful demons. It was the best of both worlds. I had no doubt if my father was still alive that he would have found me. My mother probably never looked.

“How’s your human problem going?” Petra asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“I’m pretty sure she hates me,” I said, laughing as I realized I was acting a lot like my mother in annoying the shit out of her.

“Blaze, you need her,” Petra said, eyeing me.

Looking up at my sister, I downed the remainder of my drink. “She doesn’t even know how to send me back,” I admitted to her. “Least of all how to break our bond.” I tilted my head, “although she said something about rubbing it off with something called a brillo pad.”

Petra laughed. The first honest to goodness laugh I had heard since I just appeared at her door. “Have you lost your touch, old man?” she joked. “The ladies used to love you. You could have been an incubus.”

I frowned. “I don’t like humans, remember? They are nothing but playthings for our amusement.”

“So is that what you are doing with this little human while you wait to find Kyler? Amuse yourself?”

She wasn’t totally off basis, although I knew the kind of amusement she had in mind. “She tried to sage me out. I doubt she is going to hop into bed with me.”

“Have you asked?” Petra’s eyes twinkled in merriment, reminding me of days far past.

When I cut my eyes at her, she laughed. “I’ve missed you, brother.”

“Still as annoying as ever.” I mumbled grouchily, even though I wasn’t the least bit upset with her.

Shrugging, she turned, filling her glass back up. I shook my head, “why didn’t you take my pace on the thrown?”

She sighed, “I was too young, according to mother. Besides that, it didn’t feel right. I knew you were still alive.”

Our cousin Gregar now sat at my place on the throne, but the minute I was free, I’d remind him who I was. Blood outweighed all, and I trumped them all.

“Our time will come again.” I assured my sister.

“He could have gotten involved. It’s not like you are just a run-of-the-mill demon. His blood runs through your veins. You are his fucking descendant.”

I shook my head. Petra believed Lucifer owned me some type of loyalty for being his blood. “He only steps in when he has to. A missing heir is nothing for him to worry about while there are others standing around waiting to take their place.”

Petra made a face. “Who wants a fucking throne, anyway? I don’t want to be responsible for anyone but my motherfucking self. Fuck that shit. You can have it if you want it.”

That was the thing. I wanted it. I wanted to reign as my father had before me. I wanted to be a part of something greater in my life.

Looking up at the clock on the wall, I cussed. “Shit Petra. I have to go. Riley will be awake soon.” I gave her my best glare, “remember do not tell anyone I’ve been here. See what else you can find on Kyler’s relatives. One has to know where the hell he is.”

Petra nodded, walking forward and hugging me. “Take care, brother.” As I turned to walk away, she stood watching as I walked to her door, opening it, preparing to walk into the portal I had conjured up. “Don’t fuck your witch until she promises to help you.”

I held up my finger, flipping her off, but couldn’t help the smile on my face as her laughter sounded around me. I could use a distraction, but I had a feeling Riley would more likely stab me with a knife if I tried to even lay a finger on her, let alone stick my dick in her.