Taken by Sin

underneath her, then drove inside her with a harsh thrust. She welcomed him with a cry of delight, bracing her palms on his chest and lifting off him, only to crash down against him, impaling her sex on his shaft. Now it was her time to claim him, to show him that he belonged to her in the way that her body gripped his, forming to him, accommodating him, welcoming him with a surge of wetness and heat that belonged to Dalton alone.

“Yes,” he murmured against her neck as her breasts brushed his chest. “Damn, yes.”

She lifted her butt and then ground against him in a slow undulation of utter pleasure, feeling him twitch and tremble inside her. She held him tight to her, squeezing her legs together, possessing him completely.

Then he stilled, and she lifted her head, their faces so close they exchanged panting breath. She watched his eyes darken as he pushed inside her, hard and relentless. His smile was wicked, his eyes nothing but passion now. She gripped his shoulders and rode him, watched him, felt him lose it, and went with him, tears filling her eyes as she climaxed, rocking against him while his arms flew around her and held her so tight she couldn’t breathe. She fell against his chest and let the beauty of this moment wash over her, knowing that it would always be like this, grateful that they had been given the chance to love each other for as long as they could.

Later, they showered together and Dalton made love to her again, this time gently, washing her first and then taking her up against the wall of the shower. Easy, slow, watching each other the entire time. It was painfully tender and her heart swelled with so much emotion she felt like she’d burst with it.

Then he turned the shower off, dried her gently and carried her to bed.

She smiled as he snuggled up behind her and pulled the sheet over them both.

It would be like this every day. And for the first time in a long time, she fell instantly asleep, no longer plagued by the demons of her dreams, no longer worried by the ticking clock. They had all the time in the world now.

“What is it going to take to win against the Realm of Light? Must we always be made to look like fools?”

Aron slammed his fist down on the stone table to make his point.

Tase stood and nodded, trying to keep his own anger in check. It wouldn’t do at all for the Master to see him lose control. “I hadn’t expected the Archangel to intervene. That’s not according to the rules, if you ask me.” The Master didn’t interfere. Though Tase complaining about it would do no good. What was done was done. He had lost both Dalton and Isabelle. Now it was time to regroup and move on.

“So what are we going to do about it?”

Tase’s flames shot out toward Aron, but he quickly reined them in. “Do? We’re going to do nothing. In our grand plan, Isabelle and Dalton were soldiers. Just like the others we’re recruiting. We have more important things to do, to focus on.”

“The humans.”

Tase nodded at Kal. “They are more important. Our minions.”

“That goes very well.”

“Yes, it does.” Tase was happy at the progress. So was the Master. “Do not concern yourselves with small losses.” Tase smiled.

Losing Dalton was no small loss, Tase.

The Sons of Darkness cowered before the appearance of the Dark Master. Tase, as leader, stepped forward and bowed his head.

“Of course it wasn’t, my Lord. I meant no disrespect.”

Your mission was to bring both Dalton and Isabelle to us. You failed.

“Momentarily. I can bring them yet.”

You failed. They are lost to us. I do not tolerate failure.

Tase sensed his brothers taking a step back, then another, distancing themselves from him.

It would appear we need a new leader.

Tase swallowed. “Master, if I could-”

You could not, Tase. No one leads who does not succeed. Be gone.

Tase steeled himself for what was to come, but one could never be prepared for obliteration. It came with fury, with violence, with pain that could not be measured. Death would be easier than this torment, this hell that he would have to endure for eternity. He screamed as he was eviscerated, burned in flames hotter than even he could stand, and yet would continue to live, to suffer forever.

Kal had wished and hoped for this moment when he could take over. But now, cowering under the dark visage of the Master, even he feared, knowing Tase’s fate in the dark pit.

The Master looked down on his remaining Sons.

I need a volunteer to take over as leader. Who believes he can do better than he who came before?

This was Kal’s moment to shine or to die.

He took a step forward.

“I’ll reign as leader, my Master.”

See that you do a better job than your predecessor. We have yet to win in this battle.

Kal nodded and the Master disappeared.

Kal turned to his brothers, who bowed their heads in respect for their new leader.

“Now that I’m in charge, a few things will change. Some of our new ideas have worked; many haven’t. The Realm of Light and the side of good has won too many battles. The Master, as you know, is very displeased.”

He moved to the front of the table where Tase and those who came before him had sat. This time, it was Kal who took his rightful place as head of the Sons of Darkness.

“It is time for a new start. New ideas, new plans for the future. We will win next time, my brothers. This, I promise you.”

A new day had begun.

The next morning was a mix of chaos and utter happiness. Isabelle and Dalton walked through the back door of Georgie’s house hand in hand. Nearly everyone was crowded in the kitchen drinking coffee, and when they saw Dalton, there was joy and many hugs were exchanged.

Isabelle was elated. So was everyone else, from a rejoicing Georgie all the way to a smiling Michael, who couldn’t believe everything had worked out so well. Though he wasn’t quite as convinced that all would be well with the Sons of Darkness. Once the shock wore off and Dalton explained what the Archangel had done, the hunters reconvened at the table and drank coffee together.

“I doubt the Sons of Darkness will take the loss of both of you quite so easily,” Michael said.

“You think there’ll be repercussions?” Derek asked.

“They’re not good losers,” Dalton said. “I think there probably will be.”

Michael nodded. “I don’t expect we’ll see anything right away, but it’s in our best interests-and in the best interest of Georgie and her family’s safety-to pack up and get out of here as soon as possible.”

“Agreed,” Dalton said. “What about my position with the Realm?”

“All things considered,” Michael said, “the Realm needs good hunters. Providing you want to still fight with us, I’ll clear you with the Realm. I’ll explain everything, and I think they’ll understand your motivations. Besides, everything worked out at the end.”

Mandy laid her head on Dalton’s shoulder and offered up a tentative smile. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

Dalton hugged her close, then turned his gaze back to Michael. “I’d appreciate that. I would like to continue to fight, though Isabelle is with me now, and she and I haven’t really talked about-”

Isabelle laid her hand over his. “This is what you do, what you love to do,” she said. “Besides, my sister is in this now. You both are my family. Where else would I want to be?”

Angelique sat on Isabelle’s other side and grasped her hand. “It would be nice for us all to be a family, for us to stay together. I’m glad you’re with us.”

“Me, too,” Isabelle said. She squeezed Dalton’s hand and gazed up at him with eyes so filled with love he