I kneel by the fireplace with Carmen separating me from Selene, Juny, Gerry, Cleo and then Wynter.

At first the girls were separately sending their disapproving glares my way, but before long, I could see where their line of sight was truly focused on the imminent danger.

Their horny and thirsty beasts.

I watch Darc, Solomon, Horace, Fane and Ash all drinking from full goblets of bright silver blood. Wynter was an endless supplier for them, her blood always regenerating.

Hearing the dark murmurs being passed around, it seems the demons are trying to work out some king of swap as they all stand after dinner to face their main meal.

"I want Silvia and Selene," Onyx commands first, walking toward us, "Darc, teach Carmen some manners."

"My pleasure, I love sluts," Darc growls, while smirking at his angel, "Wynter... Carmen... you're ours."

As this is decided, there is a low rumble coming from the fireplace.

We all watch, to see a dark shadow evolving, and a black arm reaching out of the fire, a shadow arm... some kind of... oh.

"Anubis," Cleo interrupts us all, gasping and almost whimpering with his hand offered toward her out of the fire. Of course it's Anubis.

His black shadow hand, sparkling gold with ancient mythical magic, reaches out his blades to the quivering fairy.

Without another word, she flies into the fire and into Anubis' realm.

One less.

Fuck.

Gerry and Juny turn to Arma, Amon and Oni, as Juny sing-songs, "We choose our finest Sentinels."

"Shut up, sweetheart," Oni turns his large wolf head, his fangs gleaming, "Both of you will serve Sardonix and his priests... and us."

"Eleven, that is hardly fair. We need Selene," Gerry snaps, "We want to be together."

"Selene is mine," Onyx has decided, grinning at Gerry and Juny's distress, "Go serve my sons in silence."

"Let's take them out into the freezing snow," Arma drawls the suggestion, making all the younger Lycans grin. Their body heat itself will melt any ice, but still Gerry and Juny look terrified.

"In fact, you Lunas can have a head start," Sardonix drawls, walking to the doors, smacking them both open, "Run, witches. You have a minute."

Gerry and Juny share panicked glances, then they stand up and awkwardly pass all the Lycans, shifted and drooling for them.

They suddenly pick up their dresses and sprint out into what looks like a blizzard.

Sardonix's Hell pack and the Sentinels slowly follow them out the door, eager to chase them into nature.

Sloan marches over, slams the cold doors shut and charms the humans manning the door outside to abandon their post and forget everything they just saw.

Great. Fuck.

Less another two.

Now I'm stuck in the hall with a single Luna witch, a pure angel and my best friend, facing a pack of eight Lycans and five Vampires.

How the hell were we going to balance this –?

"I stand united with my friends," Wynter swipes up Selene's hand and then Carmen's palm, squeezing them tight. Carmen grabs mine. We're a chain of four. I don't know what Wynter is doing but I let her lead this, as she looks toward Onyx, and then her vampires, "I envoke Lucifer."

My eyes widen.

Well that escalated quickly.

"Is that wise," Selene whispers, her husky voice broken as she glances at Wynter nervously, "Is it because you think one cock is better than five?"

"No, I just want to put a wedge between the Lycan King and the King of Hell," Wynter says it straight to Onyx's face, "You will obey your Lord."

Onyx can't believe Wynter's attitude, but even so, he stays silent.

For a moment the whole room feels... almost cold within. I notice with eerie darkening of the sky, that the snow outside seems to slow in the wind, until it's almost come to a sudden stop.

One blink from my eyes, and the room has changed again.

The vampires have merged.

Lucifer stands in their place, easily 8ft to match Onyx, his wings match the breadth of the whole pack.

"My Angel Queen, isn't wrong," Lucifer smiles with abnormally large fangs, "...but you can trust me... hound..." he smiles at Onyx, "I want to taste your Queen, first... then you can have her. But of course, a trade is a trade, so... have you ever licked the pussy of a celestial virgin who can't sin? Try her. Go on. She's god's gift to us all."

"What about me?" Selene asks, in a husky whisper.

"Come here," Onyx scolds her with bared teeth, "You serve me, you bitch."

Selene looks at Wynter, who looks at her.

After an awkward moment they start to walk toward Onyx and his pack. Carmen grabs my hand, and tugs me immediately toward the beyond intimidating Lucifer.

Fuck.

She was keen.

I follow her, looking toward Onyx for reassurance.

The pack is already smashing stuff off the table, clearing it for the angel and witch.

Onyx glances at me and he says nothing but his expression says it all.

He's thinking about me but he trusts me to hold my own.

Time to meet the devil – no, not Phantasy – but the most cunning and untrustworthy Fallen Archangel. No fucking pressure.

Two crazy whores walk his way.

What could go wrong?

Well.

Carmen makes her move. Boldly.

As we are meters away from the Fallen Archangel with the largest shadow wings I've ever seen, spread out like a seductive display of power... Carmen acts like it's a damn celebrity photo shoot, while time has casually stopped all around.

Carmen slips her arm around his torso, leans into his gigantic front, smiling up into his burning inferno for eyes, the very being that created Lycans.

I guess I should be thankful?

As I stand in front of Satan with arms crossed over my chest, he looks down at Carmen's exposed neck and she complies so easily while half hugging the devil.

Carmen arcs her neck wide.

I watch with morbid fascination as Lucifer happily bites into her neck and drinks her blood.

Being on the outside witnessing this exchange, I can see it from a subjective standpoint.

Lucifer bites into her neck so fucking hard, it's a little disturbing.

He drinks from Carmen's neck, clamping down harder still, holding her closer and causing a very deep breath to be knocked out of her lungs.

I take a moment to look at Onyx and his pack.

I won't lie.

I feel panic.

Onyx's pack have undressed both Wynter and Selene, and while they're bent over the table, they all lick between their legs. A simple exchange they all enjoy, receiving pleasure.

Strangely, Onyx stands right back, his eyes haven't left mine. He feels me.

He stands straight with his arms crossed as well, mimicking me.

There's nothing stronger in the entire universe than a soulmate-bond.

Lucifer's voice kisses my mind, but it's beyond unwelcome.

I keep staring at Onyx.

The devil wanted to see me succumb, after Carmen, to go against the bond I had.

With a Fallen Archangel present, instead of insanity, it's one of the only times I think so clearly. Did I want this? Hell no.

I find my body feeling repulsed from Lucifer like a magnet, I keep shuffling back away from him, while my eyes start to water as I can't keep my gaze off of Onyx.

Would you like to feel free of it, dog queen? Lucifer lightly teases me with my greatest fear in the entire world.

I had never heard anything so terrifying or disturbing in all my life.

Be free of Onyx?

NO! I never want that.

I sprint for the exit.

I run right past Lucifer's wings, toward the edge of the walls, then I grab the double doors.

I slam one open and I run out into the snow.

Why are you so scared, Silvia, I've done nothing but talk, Lucifer is barely holding in his easy laughter. He sounds so calm and controlled and casual at the same time, I can't stand his voice. It's too final.

I hate him.

I know Carmen finds him attractive.

But Lucifer represents ultimate chaos – and I did not want to lose what I cherished more than anything in the world.

My only consolation? I know Onyx will chase me down.

That's what I want.

I run deeper into the snow, aiming to run back to the apartment, only thinking of him. My mate. My Lycan.

Bitch, I am the one who tied the bonds between you, Lucifer keeps teasing me, you can thank me later, slut pup. Just know this, if you ever run from me again, when I have requested you, I won't show mercy twice. This time you are relieved for you are the only mortal here. Weakest link. Run, pathetic little thing. You're no true Queen... you're just a harlot, nothing else, your worth is fleeting and always dying. You'll live and crumble when we are all eternal. Accept your uselessness, Silvia. A mortals' doom is your undoing.

Jesus.

Fucking.

Christ.

I hate Lucifer.

He was fond of angels, supernatural, ethereal and marked witches... but mortals? We were able to choose between good and evil.

I might lean toward Onyx and demonic delights, but I was still free to choose, even Onyx knew that.

I beg Onyx with my soul to come to me.

I don't fret for long.

I feel his heat approaching. I don't get far in the snow when Onyx's large arms scoop me up out of the snow. Onyx lifts me off my feet, spinning me around, he then asks me, "Are you okay?"

"I just want to go back to my room, with you," I tell him, terrified and freezing.

Onyx reads my eyes, and leans down to snarl into my ear, "I'll never let anything happen to you, bitch. Why are you scared –"

"Lucifer is stronger –"

"He plays games, he'll influence you to jump, Silvia, just listen to your heart," Onyx shakes his head at me, "You should have enjoyed him like the ultimate slut who was so clueless – don't ever show terror to your greatest adversary. Ever. I thought I taught you better, whore. What happened to my Lycan Queen?"

"I am still just a mortal, Onyx," I remind him, tears streaming down my face, "And I love you."

Onyx bares all his teeth, displeased by my weakness, however...

My tears he doesn't let ruin my cheeks, he licks them all up, while I reach for his torso, he brings me in close and I hug him so tight.

I don't want to lose him.

Or us.

Tonight seals my decision.

Wynter was onto something.

We needed to expel doom from this world, satisfy Lucifer – gosh, did that sneaky angel summon him to scare me into agreeing to her plan?

I was the most reluctant for it...

...well, not anymore.

That smart bitch.

She achieved the impossible.

I almost shit myself I was so fucking scared of the worst archangel in universal history.

She was showing me what could happen and what I should fight against.

Wynter's perfect advantage? Lucifer's lover and therefore his weakness.

Me, well, I was just the devil's food.

I didn't want him to taste me.

However, luckily I had Onyx.

He was my armour.