Hellhound Born (Kasadya #3) (2 page)

And the nail to the coffin was slammed straight down without even a chance of stopping.

It was like coming home and smelling the flowers of my mother, familiar and welcoming. I grew in size, taller and taller. I felt the horns on my head as they throbbed in pain. I felt more throbbing in my wings and bones. I heard the ripping of material, but didn’t feel any cool air on my flesh. Finally, as my vision went to red, I felt the roar fully develop in my lungs and released it. It was the last thing I heard, the sound of a monster being born.

***

The moment had come. In front of me I watched, yet again in silence, a beautiful creature being born. And I knew that she would be the most perfect
born
. With a last look at the others to ensure that they were prepared and ready for what needed to be done, I returned my eyes to her. She grew in size, past any other
born
I had ever seen. Raphael explained that everything would be new and more powerful with her. Her first shift to divinity had been completed. She would be the first of a new breed of Fallen.

My mate. How long have I watched her from afar, wishing I could show her how much she meant to me? But I knew that she didn’t feel the same, and that she needed time to adjust in this world. Her roar echoed through the quite morning. Birds scattered from the trees with fear of the
born
she had become. I watched as her bones pierced through the skin of her wings. She didn’t even flinch with pain.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, the roar ended and in front of me stood the biggest Hellhound
born
I have ever engaged. This was going to be difficult. With her added strength she would be ten times more lethal than any who had come before her. I now understood why Michael and the others wanted to assist with her
born
. This was going to be messy.

“Is she supposed to be that big?” Maia asked from the back stepping backwards as Kasadya turned to look at her.

“Yes, with her divinity the first phase is completed, the transformation of her body. The next few phases will only focus on strength and abilities. What you see here, dear Maia, is a new Arch Fallen.” Michael explained to her.

I withdrew my swords and steadied myself on my feet. She would move fast, just like my Kasadya, and attack swiftly.

“Get ready,” I signaled the others and we prepared for her first move.

Her eyes scanned the circle and surroundings. Finally she stopped, her eyes fixed on me. This was it. She stormed forward with immense speed, which matched that of vampires. With mere inches to spare, I stepped away as she moved past me.

“I need to bring her down. I need her attention,” I instructed the others.

Michael was the first to attack. The Archangel of War, he was created just for this. A step from her, he leaped into the air and slammed a fist into her side. The impact was a success and she bent forward with it. I moved fast and swiped at her feet, but she was faster and with an effortless blow, I was flying through the air. I landed hard and had to recompose myself. She was powerful, that I would not deny.

Getting up, I saw that the Archangels had engaged her all at the same time. Arch against Arch was a magnificent sight to see. Each blow echoed into the trees. The ground shook with force as some of them were punched and brought back to it. Kasadya was magnificent. With her first shift at Maia's, I was captured by her beauty, and today was no different. I watched as she grabbed Raphael’s wing and almost ripped it off completely. Unlike the other
born’s,
I could see so much intelligence in her eyes. Transfixed with her effortless fighting, I stood and watched my mate.

I remembered the day I looked into her eyes, and was shocked with the feelings coursing through me. For centuries, I had kept them in control and hidden. Just meeting her eyes, almost undid me in that moment. And she insured that on many occasions my control were pushed to the limit. Our Sire had gifted me well. She was the only one that would meet my strength, and at the same time, challenge it. I moved again but instead of harming her further, I dropped my swords and jumped for her head. With great effort, I wrapped my arms around her throat and held on for dear life. Her size was a great challenge.

“Bring her down!” I yelled to the others, as I tried to move to her ears to start the process of reaching my Kasadya inside the beast.

“Kasadya come back!” I yelled at her.

For a brief second she stopped, that was all that we needed. Vulcan and Ariel both went for her left leg, tackling her to disrupt her balance and bring her down, Michael and Raphael jumped on her to add more weight. Finally, Thonyn and Jophiel took out her other leg and we all crashed to the ground.

“Hold her!” I instructed again.

Quickly, I moved from behind her to her front and wrapped my legs around her huge neck. She roared with frustration and tried to bite me. Finding it amusing, I smiled as I grabbed her horns and slammed her face to the ground, now she was trapped. Blood red eyes fixed on mine and I saw the anger inside the beast. And with it I still saw my Kasadya, there at the back watching, as of yet unable to control this side of her.

“Will you do it already?!” Thonyn yelled from somewhere.

“Indeed.” I replied smiling.

I knew they were struggling with her. Focusing, I poured my feelings into her. It was still strange and foreign, all of these feelings around her, and I was not sure how she would receive them. I opened up to her; I wanted her to feel what I could not tell her. That I admired her. That I am proud of her, regardless of her flaws. That she was magnificent in my eyes. But most of all, and I feared for this, I wanted her to feel my love for her. The moment I had her in my arms and felt her mouth against mine, I knew that I loved this stubborn girl with everything inside me. For her I, would slay all evil, and would travel to hell to ensure her safety.

When I saw her with those demons, I was enraged with her. When her eyes met mine, I thought that she would run to me and let me save her. Instead, she walked on as if I was nothing to her. But I stood there and watched her leave; I would never force her to be with me. That was the day Kasadya Levourne brought me to my knees. Never had I felt such heartache. I informed the council of my finding and shifted home, broken. And that was how my brother found me, on my knees unable to form a single word.

“Come back to me.” I whispered to her, one hand releasing a horn so I could caress her cheek.

She tried to pull away but could not.

“I watched you from afar, my beautiful Kasadya, and wanted you to find me on your own,” I continued.

 With the last word I saw a speck of blue in her iris, realizing that my Kasadya had heard me. I smiled, knowing that this battle would be my victory.

“Such beauty laced with such strength and power, a great gift you are to me.” I soothed again.

“Come back to me and I will keep you safe, cherished forever,” I promised my mate and let her feel my love for her.

She sucked in a breath and I knew it was over.

Again I whispered to her, “I will never abandon you again, for you I would fight the world and beyond.”

With what seemed to be relieved sigh, red eyes started to retreat and were slowly replaced with yellow. Releasing our hold, the others retreated away from us. At last, yellow eyes were replaced with sparkling blue a color I came to admire. Bright blue, with a dark ring around the pupil. Perfection suited for perfection. Now in her human form, I released my hold and moved away from her. I didn’t want her to feel suffocated or overpowered. I had learned that during our time together. Kasadya needed space to move and make decisions. Unfortunately the decisions were not the best at times.

Maia started to attend to the other injured. All of them knew that we needed as much space as possible, now more than ever. She would be confused and knowing her, she will also feel vulnerable. Stepping away and standing a few feet from her, my heart started to beat at a fast pace. This was also a very important moment for us, for me. Would she accept me or hate me? Never have I feared anything before, now I held my breath and watched as her blue eyes fixed on me again. I prayed that I would not fail her, and that maybe I would find the heaven I had been seeking all this time.

Chapter 2

Dazed and confused my thoughts returned to me.

That was something to remember
.

 
I could see, feel and experience everything, yet I was unable to utter a word or move a muscle. My Hellhound had completely taken over, filled with such rage that even I cringed. I now understand why
born’s
could not be controlled; such rage was pure destruction and nothing else. Lifting my head I found Chax standing a few paces from me. I drew in a breath, feeling what he felt was shocking.

Even my hellhound was confused with the feelings coursing through us. It was strange, yet undeniably nerve racking. I was breathing hard, trying to put everything together. His feelings were chaotic at first, but soon it changed to something I have never felt before. A wonderful feeling, I would only admit to myself. Love. I felt his love.

Who knew that was possible. I mean Chax DeLuca?!?!

Feeling the color rush through my face, I looked away from him and towards the others. Everyone stood at a distance and was covered in bruises and blood. My breath hitched when I saw Raphael's wing hanging limply.

“Oh crap, I am
so
sorry.” I attempted to get up, but my legs wouldn’t work.

Looking down, I saw that they were slashed open and bleeding heavily.

Crap! Not good.

 “No apology needed Kasadya. It was an honor to meet your
born
. I haven’t had such a good fight in centuries,” Michael said, walking over to me with a huge grin on his face.

I really don’t see the humor in that.

Maia rushed over, placing her hands on my legs.

 “Christ Kas, that was magnificent!” She beamed at me.

Shocked, I looked at her.

Am I the only one approaching the point of hysteria
?

Confused, with my mouth gaping open, my eyes traveled back to Chax, who still stood there, not saying or doing anything.

Apparently I am not
.

“There, just a few hours and all will be good again,” Maia finished patting my leg.

I watched her get up and go over to Vulcan who was grinning madly at me.

“What now?” I asked trying to figure out what would happen next.

Ariel walked over and offered me her hand. With mine shaking, I reached up and clasped her hand as she pulled me to my feet and steadied me.

“Now you and Chax will get something to eat and get some rest. We will return tomorrow to start our quest,” she explained.

Now that scared the crap out of me.

Alone with Chax, after all that? Hell no!

“I think-” I tried to speak but Michael cut me off.

“Time is needed for many things Kas. Rest and heal, tomorrow your journey will become even more dangerous.”

And with that they all shifted out leaving me with a still non-responsive Chax.

Feeling suddenly vulnerable, I hugged myself and tried to look anywhere but at him. In truth, I was trying not to freak out and run away.

Crap! I wasn’t prepared for this.

Battles I can handle, but this was epic and I just wasn’t ready for “serious”.

“Are you OK?” he finally asked, but rather feeling relieved my heart started racing.

Crap, crap, and double crap
!

I shrugged, unable to form one stupid word.

Will he like... want to do something?
I suddenly thought and my stomach turned upside down.

The next I knew, I was puking all over the grass.

I heard him approach and lifted my hand to stop him. Fear slammed into me and my body began to shake.

Oh damn! This is not what I had expecting at all
.

My mind raced through the memories of our times together. I was mentally giving myself a few slaps.

 
How the hell could you miss that important little piece of info?
I mean hello, it was like everywhere!
I scolded myself.

Hell! I could be so stupid sometimes.

“You have nothing to fear Kasadya. I will not harm you,” he spoke from behind me.

Oh for heaven’s sake, just get it over with!
You still have some kick-ass moves to try and knock him out.

I turned around and faced him. He stood away from me, a thousand years of patience written all over his face.

Damn! Can't he even try to look unnerved or something?

“OK so... um, are we, like, mated?” I struggled to ask. I didn’t feel anything.

Hell! Except for the strange feelings I caught once or twice, I wouldn’t say something “happened”. He looked away and started walking to the cottage we had come from.

 “No. Another ritual is needed. We are merely bonded in spirit but not in soul,” he dished out and walked away.

OK. That sounds better, in a weird kind of way.

I watched him go into the house and stood there for a while. For the first time in my life I felt lost. I had no idea how to react or what to do.