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Clarissa grabbed her backpack and followed him frowning, she wondered. ‘When did he become the leader of this expedition.’ She tried to match the landscape to the visions she had. “Hey Gramps, maybe I should lead since I actually saw the traps being laid. I’m sorry, are you too macho to follow a woman?”

  He did not appreciate her tone but decided to let it slide as they had more pressing matters. Mel stopped and turned towards her with a smirk. “Well then, who am I to stop you?” He waved his hand in a sweeping motion. “After you, Milady.”

  Clarissa skirted past him, chin held high. The ancient power he emitted was sometimes overwhelming and it did not help he was sexy as hell. She would not let him know how he affected her. “Try and keep pace. I cannot be waiting for you all night, you know.” Hoisting her backpack tighter around her, the wolf took off at a light jog. She only stopped occasionally to machete her way past some vines. They had traveled quite a distance when the sun started to rise. She halted suddenly looking around. She remembered the vision she had. “Pits in three hundred meters.”

  He scanned the area. “Tell me, Ms. Expert, how would you get past this little hurdle hmm?”

  “Here I thought you were the all knowledgeable one.” She looked forward again and pondered. “Ever watch Tarzan cartoons?” Clarissa used her guardian powers of conjuring. She flashed in a grappling hook with a long rope before she turned to him. “I suggest you move back a touch more. I would hate to hurt you.” Moving up closer, she used her telekinesis to move the brush aside revealing the extremely large pit. Swinging the hook, Clarissa let the rope expand slowly as she spun it, eye-balling her target before she released the grapple. The hook grabbed onto the large limb, twirling around it. She pulled on rope with all her strength to make sure it was tight enough as she smirked at him. “Do try and keep up.”

  Hoisting herself, she swung over the hidden pit, landing safely on the other side before flinging the rope to him. Mel chuckled as he admired her skills and feisty demeanor. “Very impressive, love, but there is one thing you need to remember about us old people. We are lazy.” He held both hands in front of him and moved them slightly up. As his hands raised, the ground started to tremble and the pit began to fill up from the bottom.

  Her mouth dropped in surprise as she had sensed he was powerful but Damn! When the ground was level, he walked over the area with a smug expression as he whistled a cheery tune. When he passed her, the demon enforcer winked. He then disappeared through the underbrush.

  Here she was being arrogant to someone who could wipe the floor with her in one hand, blow his nose with the other and think nothing of either. She swallowed. Oh well, she was not about to change. Clarissa had a duty to fulfill and her sarcasm and bitterness were all she had left in this world. Mel would just have to deal or strike her dead. Turning quickly, she flashed the grapple hook and rope away. ‘If nothing else, I will let him fix the next trap first before I do anything.’

  Azamel focused intently on the surroundings, paid attention to each creak, rustle and scrape, while she followed behind, silent, keeping close and as alert he was. As he stepped over a fallen branch, a very faint click reached his ears. “Get down!”

  Chapter Two

  Mel grabbed her arm pulling her to the ground. At the same time he conjured a shield around them. A massive board had sprung from the earth. Hundreds of poisoned spikes repelled in all directions, hoping to find its target in soft flesh. He protected her with his body, tucked her head against his chest with one hand while the other kept the shield in place.

  She could feel the power he generated, heard the spikes hit the invisible wall at a blinding speed, a fierce staccato against the force field. Her body pressed under him, his scent assailed her. She closed her eyes as she breathed his intoxicating aroma in deeply.

  When at last the assault ended, Mel dropped the barrier and lifted his head. He looked her over to see if she was harmed, only to notice how soft her body had felt beneath his. He was surprised how delicious her fragrance was in his nostrils. His hands quickly roamed her body, checked her for wounds and his touch sent an unexpected heat through both of them. ‘What the hell was wrong with this picture? This was neither the time nor the place and probably not the person he should be getting all hot and bothered over.’ He cleared his throat and moved to get up.

  Clarissa rolled out from under him, quickly stood and surveyed the damage. “I did not see this one in my vision. Thank you,” she grumbled softly. She shook slightly as she looked at him. “Are you hurt? I would just pat you down as well but would hate for you to think I was making a move on you or something that would make you want to kill me.” Without waiting for an answer, she started to walk down the path, her focus on the landmarks. She needed to calm her nerves from being so close to his body and the effect he seemed to suddenly have on her, even momentarily.

  Azamel frowned slightly as he watched her walk ahead. ‘What the hell? She must have felt that, no way she didn’t. The little wolf is not as immune to me as she pretends to be.’ What bothered him more, he was not unaffected by her either. He rubbed his hand over his face and took off after her. He kept silent as he thought about what just happened.

  Clarissa stopped again as she turned towards him. She decided to give in a little. ultimately, he did just save her life. “I know of at least one more trap. I cannot guarantee that is all of them, because I did not see the last one. I would suggest we move a bit further before we rest a bit. There is a clearing up ahead. About a mile and it is by a lake, so fresh water.”

  “Lead the way then.” He materialized a pair of sunglasses as he continued to follow her.

  Clarissa walked with her mind on recent events. Never in her life could she remember when just the touch of someone enticed her body’s response like his. She had never been interested in men and yet, this man, this one being touched her innocently, carelessly and set her aflame. As they entered the clearing, she headed for the lake. The water shimmered in the light. She bent down and filled her canteen before she removed her backpack. She then removed her clothing to reveal a bikini underneath her garments. Diving into the water, she let the coolness disperse the heat of her physique.

  Mel followed her and watched as she stripped down to the smallest excuse for a covering he had ever seen. The demon ground his teeth as he turned away from the tempting picture she made. She was nothing like he initially thought and he hated being surprised. The ability to read people had been his defense for centuries. As judge and executioner of demon kind, he never allowed himself to get close to anyone. they were a means to an end, peons to help him reach an objective. Azamel walked over to a boulder and sat down, lighting a cigarette to give his hands something to do. He opened his senses to his surroundings, trying to trace the escaped demon. Feeling Xon’s essence, he sent him a mental projection. ‘I am coming for you Xon. I see you, I feel you. You can try to hide but if you think that stone will protect you, you are very wrong. I will find you and I will pry it out of your dead, rotting flesh.’

  He turned his head and watched as she swam around, her body gliding through the water, a true temptress. He felt his body grow hard with desire. Getting up, thoroughly pissed at himself for allowing her even a little under his skin, Mel spoke more gruff than intended.

  “We need to get going, Xon is on the move.”

  Clarissa looked up at him and sighed. She had needed to center herself again, yet all thoughts were how his scent invaded and enflamed her whole body. How his form felt while he protected her. He considered her a childish burden, a nuisance, yet he affected her so strongly and in ways the young wolf never imagined.

  She made her way to the shore, the water dripping in soft cascades down her body. She materialized a towel and scrubbed her hair dry. “I do not care that he is on the move, you stink thanks to those Wendigos. It’s an offense to my wolf sensitivities. Either clean up or head out on your own.”

  Ignoring him and his condescending attitude, Clarissa turned around. She grabbed her
backpack, flashing on a fresh clean outfit and a comb for her hair. She then sat on the ground to comb it.

  Thoroughly aggravated at her effect on him and her insults, Azamel shook with the urge to blast her. Normally he would have but he needed her to find the stone and Xon. He magically removed his clothes and stalked towards the lake, unconcerned about his nakedness. His body’s reaction to the little wolf was a complication that he did not anticipate and it pissed him off. Mel dove into the cold water hoping to get some clarity. After he swam a few laps, he got out, flashed dry and into new clothing. As he walked, his weapons materialized into clips and holsters. He continued towards the path before he stopped and turned towards her. “Are you coming?”

  She flashed in front of him. “As soon as you start moving your ass outta my way. Or do you plan on finding all the traps with your big feet again?”

  Azamel looked her up and down with a sneer. “Since you are in front of me, I would love to know how I can be in your way. We are wasting valuable time, time that fucker will use against us. As I see it, we have three options: we can stand here, argue and sling one liners at each other or we can get moving and find that gem.”

  Clarissa shook her head as she spun around and started moving down the path. “That’s only two. Glad to know you can count.”

  Azamel muttered under his breath, “That is because you really don’t want to know the third.” He followed quietly.

  Clarissa called back, “I heard that.” She knew he was behind her and his scent still played havoc with her body. To focus, she dug her nails into her palms. She needed to reach their goal. It was imperative. It was her duty, albeit one she wished she had known about, been trained for. Although she realized her mother had not thought her ready and tried to protect her childhood. ‘You only get to be carefree and young once in your life. Enjoy it.’ Her family thought they had time to train and prepare her for her role as the Gem of Power’s guardian. Who had ever suspected that their lives would be destroyed in one moment of horror when her entire family was killed? Who would have guessed the dagger she took to protect herself was actually a family heirloom which held her destiny? This and because she was the only female of the line who survived, the duty fell to her to become the next protector, ready or not?

  As Clarissa hiked through the woods, memories flooded her as she remembered the first vision she ever had. The day she discovered that she needed to do something, even though she had no idea what that was. Alone in her apartment, she picked up the dagger and promptly collapsed on the floor, convulsing slightly while in the throes of her first trance. In the revelation, her deceased mother called her home. She dreaded going, even though she knew she had to. Painfully aware that she had put off her return and thereby facing the tragedy that had ended her peaceful existence, she made the journey to the place of her birth. She knew she needed to burn the dead, burn the house, salt the earth so to speak. Her heart clenched at the recollection, twisted agonizingly inside her chest at the anamnesis of her family’s remains, people she spent every day of her life with until forced by her brothers to run in order to spare her own.

  When Clarissa returned to the family ranch just outside of a small village, she fell to her knees in despair. It was hard to see the devastation she had left behind hurriedly. How the memories assailed her as she walked from room to room. While shuffling through the home another vision struck and aided her understanding of why she had been called home. It was much clearer. In her parent’s bedroom, she was shown the conversations that her father and mother had about training Clarissa for her destiny. About how she was still so young and should have full control of her powers before they told her of her family duty. ‘If only I had overheard those conversations. If only I had a chance to be trained appropriately and properly. If only. If only wishes were ponies, right?’

  It took every ounce of willpower she had to gather the bodies of her family and say her goodbyes. After she obtained a few personal belongings from her childhood home, mementos of her parents, brothers and sisters, she set the building ablaze with all inside.

  Unknowingly, she gasped aloud as the retrospection assailed her senses. She stopped suddenly, letting the agony wash through her. The anguish she thought was buried deep within her soul until but a moment ago.

  Azamel frowned as her thoughts whispered through his mind. Suddenly, a lot of things made more sense. The responsibility she carried was heavy for someone as young as she was, yet her commitment and dedication unique for someone her age. He was so deep in thought he did not notice her stop and walked right into her. He grabbed her in his arms to keep them both from falling.

  She felt his arms encircle her but the pain of her memories was great and his touch was just a reminder of what she could never have as a result of her obligation. “Sorry. Next time I will put on my brake lights.” She looked around. “I thought another trap was nearby. I just wanted to get my bearings. We have a ways to go before the next one yet.”

  He nodded. Her agony and despair reached out to him and reluctantly Mel felt sympathy stir within his depths. Shaking his head slightly, he berated himself for daring to feel, to care. ‘I am the Executioner, not some pussy to be affected by a sop story. For all I know she is aware of my ability and is using it to weaken me. Through the centuries many females have tried to tame me but this sure is rich.’

  Clarissa sighed softly and put her hand up to alert him she was about to halt again. “Trap ahead. I am not sure what the danger is. I do not know what he did, I just recognize the area.”

  Mel scanned the area. He felt a pulsing energy coming from the ground but could not pinpoint it. “Move slowly and keep your eyes open.”

  She flashed in a walking stick and used it to help guide her as she moved forward pausing in between stops. “Can’t tell anything more specific, Mr. Almighty? No fixing whatever the problem is?” Her stick hit the edge of what looked like solid ground. It sank instead and she was thrown off balance.

  Azamel grabbed her arm and pulled her to safety. “Quicksand.” He took a small boulder and threw it on the ground about ten feet ahead of them. It was swiftly swallowed. Mel bent down and placed his hand flat on the ground. He let his powers flow into the earth, firming to form a hard crust in front of them. As he stood up, he turned to her with a frown. “You know? I get it. You are pissed at the responsibility you carry, pissed at whoever slaughtered your family, pissed at me for needing me. I get it. I have done nothing but help you but frankly I am getting fed up with your fucking attitude. You want to lash out? Lash out at the people that deserve it, not those that were not there nor had anything to do with what happened to you or your family. I never claimed to be anything I am not. You however are a fucking hypocrite. You want my help, you need my help yet you use any and all opportunities to insult me. You distrust me and belittle the effort I am making to help you. You know what? Fuck you! I have bigger demons to find and much more important things to do than put up with your fucked up issues. See you later, sweetheart!” He stalked off.

  She stood still as he stormed away. Astounded at his words, Clarissa almost felt violated that he knew so much about her. She had been snarky towards him but that was her defense. He managed to get under her skin and she could not have that, no matter how delectable he looked or how his touch set her body on fire. She slowly followed him, keeping a good distance back. The guardian was unaware of any other traps and they needed to get to the stone before the demon did.

  Rage clouded his vision but he kept walking until a faint sound behind him reached his ears. Against his better judgment he stopped and turned around. The gem called out, rang in her head, alarms that screeched, whined and forced her to her knees. She held her hands over her ears even though the sound was strictly internal, whimpering from the pain. Blinding light flashed between her eyes and Clarissa knew she failed her duty. Mel rushed over and knelt beside her, his anger momentarily forgotten. He took her head between his hands and forced her to look at him. Flashing his glasses a
way he spoke in a harsh tone, “Clarissa! Look at me! Look! Focus on me! Breathe through it!”

  She felt hands on her, pulling her, loud words that did not make sense. Her cheeks were slowly becoming wet with tears of pain. She moaned a bit more but then noticed a pair of light baby blue eyes that seemed to pierce her soul and break through the sounds that reverberated within her skull. His words were finally becoming clear and her breathing settled as the cacophony slowly died. She focused on him, getting lost in his eyes as her breathing remained slightly ragged but for entirely different reasons. After a moment or two, she cleared her throat lightly. “Am. Okay. I think. He has the hidden part of the stone. You were right. I have failed.”

  Azamel lifted her chin, a feeling of awkwardness surround them. “Xon found it. he won the battle but not the war. Look at me! He still needs the other part. That means he will be coming to find you. He will be exposed and we will get it back. When he surfaces, he will die.” Mel used his thumbs to gently wipe the tears off her cheek.

  “How do you know so much about the stone? Only a small few know it is in more than one piece.” Her wet lashes caressed her cheeks as she blinked, her breath caught with his tenderness. Again she got lost in those baby blues.

  Azamel mentally cursed himself for letting that slip. His mind scrambled as he tried to think of a suitable reply that would placate her and repair the fragile trust they had between them. Thinking that this was probably the stupidest thing he had ever done in his endlessly long life, he leaned forward and took her mouth in a hard kiss. The intention was to distract her from her train of thought. However, the moment their lips met, everything changed. Her soft sigh as he pressed his tongue against hers jolted his body and mind. Keeping his hands in her hair, he deepened the kiss feasting on her soft mouth with a hunger that burned through his entire being.

  He tasted as divine as she had tried so desperately to not imagine. His scent lifted her to the heights of intoxication. She found herself breathless in milliseconds from his passionate hunger. It seemed to call out to her with as much desire as hers wanted to respond to. She could feel all her womanly parts tingle in response to his closeness as she was lost in the moment. She did not care if he was using her or not to gain the stone for himself. Right now, she wanted this point in time to last, although she knew it was impossible and yet he held her so tight she could not break free, even if she wanted to.