Taken by Sin

“Yes.”

“Do you want to get up?”

She snuggled against him. “No. I’m fine here with you.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “I’ll keep the demons away.”

“I believe you could.” She yawned, trying to fight sleep, but failing. “Your white light could do that.”

“Huh?”

She was drifting, barely able to keep her eyelids open. “That white light I saw around you when we were making love. It was so … beautiful.”

Dalton listened to Isabelle’s rhythmic breathing. She was asleep, had passed out almost immediately after uttering the words that had sent him into a cold sweat.

White light surrounding him.

Shit.

He was afraid something like that would happen, but he hadn’t known for sure. Not until he’d given all of himself to Isabelle, something he hadn’t intended on doing, but couldn’t seem to control.

What happened between Isabelle and him was more than just physical. He hadn’t counted on his emotional reaction, the involvement of his soul in their joining. He knew he asked her for everything, but at the same time he gave her all he had, all he was.

Huge mistake. What was he thinking?

He wasn’t. That was his problem, what he was afraid would happen if he made love to Isabelle. He had suspected after the first time that being with Isabelle would bring out a flood of intense emotions.

But he hadn’t counted on this.

Maybe she’d forget what she saw, or chalk it up to some sexual out-of-body experience brought about by a great orgasm.

Yeah, right. He wasn’t that good. Which meant he’d better come up with a plausible explanation, because chances were she’d ask.

No, he sure hadn’t helped himself tonight. All he’d done was remind himself of the darkness inside him, always lurking, the mistakes he could make with her future by making the wrong decision.

Had this been the wrong decision? He might have caused irreparable damage-to both of them. Because he’d allowed himself to care about her, and he couldn’t do that.

Not with what was surely coming down the road.

The Realm staff had strapped the demon into a chair, making it sit upright. It was well bound, so no matter how strong it was, no way was it going to get free.

They were also going to try to talk to the demon in a freakin’ freezing room, which meant they were all geared up in parkas, gloves, and thermal underclothes.

Mandy couldn’t feel her toes and fingers. Her nose was as red as Rudolph’s and thank God for lip balm.

She paced, blowing into her gloved hands, watching a white trail of cold smoke filter out through her nearly frozen lips.

Yeah, plenty frigid in here. Demon dude wasn’t going to be able to dematerialize. Now all they had to do was wait for it to wake up. The scientists had injected it with just enough of the warming agent to bring about consciousness, but not enough to thaw it so it could turn into mist.

The demon-or should they refer to it as James? — was beginning to stir, eyelids twitching, mouth opening in a grimace.

Good. Mandy hoped it was in pain.

In an instant its eyes shot open, zooming in on her. She grinned and leaned in.

“Have a nice nap, James?”

It struggled against the restraints.

“There’s no point in fighting,” Michael said, moving alongside Mandy. “You’re secure.”

Fully awake and aware now, at first it feigned fear. “I don’t understand. Why are you holding me?”

“You can knock off the poor captured human act,” Mandy said. “We know what you are.”

And still, it continued the performance. “Where’s my wife? If you’ve hurt her, I’ll kill you.”

Mandy rolled her eyes. “They need to give you guys better acting lessons, because you suck at this.”

“We know you’re not human,” Michael said, “so knock off the bullshit. You’re not James McAdams, at least not the James McAdams you used to be.”

The fear left the demon’s face and it smirked. “You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

Mandy snorted. She couldn’t wait for the chance to go one-on-one with this piece of shit. Her silver-tipped dagger was nice and cold strapped to her thigh. She’d love to plunge it in this bastard’s excuse for a heart. But with it tied down like that there’d be no fun in stabbing it. She wanted it free and coming at her so the fight would be fair.

“Why don’t you tell us what we’re dealing with,” Michael said, his voice calm. He was even smiling.

“You think your cold room and these bindings can hold me?”

Michael crossed his arms. “Are you saying they can’t?”

James lifted its chin. “Of course not.”

“Then go ahead, dematerialize into mist or break the restraints.”

The demon shot Michael a look of pure malice. “You’re testing me, have me hooked up to wires or something. I’m not giving away my secrets.”

“You can’t get out of the freakin’ chair. Do you think we’re stupid?” Mandy smirked at the demon’s attempt at superiority.

“Yes, I think you’re stupid. All humans are.”

Mandy cupped the knife at her thigh. Michael’s hand covered hers and patted it gently.

She so couldn’t wait for this fight.

Michael cocked his head to the side. “You look human to me.”

“That’s the idea.”

“What’s the idea?”

James opened its mouth to speak, then shook its head. “I’ve got nothing to say.”

It wanted to brag. Mandy knew it. It wanted to show them how “advanced” it was to the rest of them.

Michael backed away, leaned against the frozen wall, looked bored, as if he didn’t care. “We can just leave you here until you rot.”

The demon said nothing.

“They won’t care whether you die or not. You’re only one of many to them. If they lose you, they’ll just make another.”

Mandy noticed Michael didn’t say who “they” were. But James knew. The Sons of Darkness.

“What did they offer you to give up your humanity?” Michael asked. “To give up your life?”

“Immortality, asshole. They want smart, good-looking humans. In return, we get to live forever, and we get all these cool skills.”

“Like shifting into mist, for example,” Michael offered.

The demon nodded. “Exactly.”

“Is that it?” Mandy asked, already picking up from Michael that they were playing the Good Cop, Bad Cop game. “That’s the best you’ve got? Shifting into mist? Because I’ve gotta tell you, that’s not much.”

“Better than what you’ve got, bitch.”

She didn’t rise to the bait this time. Oh, but it took a lot of effort. She’d really like to wipe that smart-ass smirk off the demon’s face.

“She has a point,” Michael said, keeping his voice low and even. “Disappearing is a nice act, but surely there has to be more benefit for what you’re asked to do.”

“Superhuman strength, immunity to all disease. No need to eat, or sleep, though we do need to feed.”

This guy was a wealth of information. The Sons of Darkness were going to have to work on the discretion thing. This demon was so full of itself it just had to brag.

“You said you didn’t need to eat, but you need to feed.” Michael made a show of studying his nails, as if he