Harlee POV
"Like 'spend time' spend time or SPEND TIME spend time?" I raised my eyebrows at Zeev incredulously. Zeev snarled, baring his teeth.
"Ash is an Incubus, and has.. needs.." Zeev forced the words out. "So far as you are willing to go." Zeev's face was contorted and the snarling was an undercurrent to every word, growing louder the whole time.
"Thank you, my brother!" Ash burst through the bedroom door. I covered my chest and Zeev growled.
"OUT!" He roared so loud my ears rang. Ash backed out of the room with a grumble and shut the door.
"Harlee, let me show you.. what this feeling is like for us.. How much we NEED you." Zeev placed a gentle hand on my face and I felt him draw me through the link into his mind. He opened up the part of himself he rarely shared with me, the Demon side. His Heart, his Core. I saw our Bond through his eyes. Most Contracts ended with the Demon consuming the human's soul, but a Bond was different. It was an eternal stalemate that kept the Demon and human in a constant power struggle. The human was the Master, the Demon the slave. But the Demon always desired the soul, and the soul was constantly being Corrupted by the Demon. Zeev was utterly devoted to me, yes, but there was a part of him that was just...
"Hungry." I said softly.
"Always hungry. For you. In any shape or form. But I'm sworn to protect you, so I can't hurt you. But this.." Zeev gripped my hips. "This is one way I can have you, enjoy you, get close to you, consume you." Zeev grimaced. "Without it doing you any harm." His voice softened. "I know that it's manipulative but.."
"Zeev, you've been feeding from me like this for a while, what makes you think I'm being manipulated?" I laughed. Zeev blinked, looking at me a little stunned.
"Well I guess that's one way to look at it." Zeev remarked and I grinned. I stood up and walked to the closet, pulling on a large shirt and underwear.
"Just, go get Ash." I said, kissing Zeev on the forehead.
"What for?" He muttered "Ash's probably right outside this door." I sat on the edge of the bed and watched Zeev dress. The thing Zeev didn't understand was, I was just as hungry for him as he was for me. I bit my lip as the muscles of his back rippled and there was a low growl.
"Harlee.. It's all.. coming through the link.." Zeev snarled, yanking his shirt over his head and then turning to look at me like he wanted to pounce. I opened my thighs a little invitingly and he growled louder. "You are turning into a monstrous little seductress." Zeev snarled, coming closer. There was a sudden ringing in my ears and I slapped my hands over them. Ash came tumbling in the door.
"Mistress!" Ash yelled, but I could barely hear anything as a glow in the corner of the room solidified into Sands.
Zeev POV
Sands almost fell into my arms. He came running towards us, stumbling and panting.
"They're coming!" He gasped, gripping my arms with wild eyes. "Any minute. Get somewhere safe. NOW!" My eyes darted to Ash, whose expression hardened. Ash nodded once and disappeared.
"Can you travel?" I asked Sands.
"Let me catch.. my breath." He panted.
"No time. Harlee-to me!" I yelled and Harlee obeyed without thought, leaping from the bed and running across the room to me in an instant. The moment her body collided with mine I moved us all to the deserted playground where Josh kept his Sword. Ash was already there.
"Harlee!" Josh called, scrambling across the playground to her. "Are you ok? Oh my God another Arch Angel??"
"You're an Arch Angel?" Harlee asked incredulously. Sands gave her a wan smile, he had recovered his breath and was staring beyond us now.
"Here they come." He said in a low voice.
Harlee POV
I felt Zeev's hands clamp down over my ears and heard his voice in my head.
'I'm going to momentarily disable your senses Harlee. Please stay calm, I'm right here.' I placed my hands on top of his and nodded that I understood, then everything went completely dark and silent, even my skin lost sensation. I was aware of myself breathing and had a moment of panic as I suddenly felt untethered, like I would float away. Zeev felt my panic and started to feed me scattered images of what was going on to help keep me grounded. Ash had done the same to Josh. It looked like a tornado had struck around us. No, worse than a tornado. I could see the blood pouring from Josh's nose, ears and eyes. Ash had Josh's face held to the side to protect it, but it still wasn't helping. Ash's own face was scrunched up against the onslaught. Another flash as Sands stepped forward and the wind seemed to lessen. He turned to look at Zeev and there seemed to be a brief argument. I could feel Zeev's pain through the link, and then Zeev released me and I tried to open my eyes, and truly panicked when I realized I couldn't, because they were already open, but my eyes and lids were gone.
Zeev POV
Sands brushed a hand across Harlee's forehead. Her injuries healed in an instant and she blinked back tears that were threatening to fall. She looked at me and swiftly grabbed me in a hug tight enough to bruise as Sands moved on to Josh to heal him as well. When Sands turned back, Harlee grabbed him too and thanked him, which made him freeze. Then she gripped Josh and Ash before turning with her hands clasping mine and Ash's to face the threat in front of us. Through our link, I felt her tremble, but she allowed no fear to show on her face. I squeezed her hand. That's my girl. Ash looked at her with pity and grim determination.
"Is this it?" A voice spoke. I flinched as I recognized it. "A raggedy band of a half souled partially Corrupted Abomination of a human, her Corrupted Bonded Incubus, a Bonded Fallen and a human Mage who has a Contract with the Fallen. Though I am surprised to see you here, brother." Sands stiffened as an Angel walked forward towards us.
"Is this truly what all the fuss was about? How ridiculous-and a waste of my efforts." The Angel turned his back. "Just handle it." He waved a hand at the twenty-five or so Angels behind him. As one they readied their weapons.
"Brother wait." Sands walked forward.
"Why?" The Angel snapped, turning abruptly. "Your loyalty has blinded you. I'm surprised this incident hasn't caused you to Fall. You may want to check." He snarled.
"Brother-this issue is now out of our hands." Sands said calmly.
"Why do you say that?" Snarled the Angel.
"Look closer at the girl. There is a Nephilim involved now." Sands replied with a small smile. "This matter is now beyond both of us."
"No!" The Angel barked, striding forward to look at Harlee. Harlee flinched, but refused to back away. I squeezed her hand again.
"Then I will destroy her myself!" The Angel roared, drawing a long Sword and swinging it towards Harlee. Sands caught the blade with his bare hand. A drop of blood splashed to the earth and everyone seemed to hold their breath.
Harlee POV
I stared at the Sword just feet above my head, held back by only Sands' hand. I watched the ruby drop of blood fall slowly to the ground and be absorbed by the bare dirt. A single blade of grass popped out of the soil. I stared at it in amazement until I heard my name called.
"Harlee." Sands said gently. I looked up at him. "I would like to offer you my protection, my servitude, my aid. In essence, I would like to offer you a Contract." Sands murmured. I felt Zeev and Ash stiffen, and even Josh gasped.
"You shall surely Fall for this!" Roared the Angel holding the Sword.
"Perhaps." Sands replied quietly.
'Zeev what does this mean?' I shot quickly through our link.
'Sands is trying to even the playing field between us. Otherwise we will be obliterated.' Zeev replied. He sent me information on the Angel we were facing. One who had been responsible for casting the Demons into Hell. I felt my heart fall.
'Will he Fall?' I asked sadly.
'Most likely.' Zeev sounded like he should be crying.
'We don't have a choice do we?' I didn't wait for his reply.
"I'm so sorry Sands," The Angel with the Sword looked triumphant "but I accept your offer." Sands looked over his shoulder at me with a sad smile. His eyes glowed and I felt a heat shoot through me. Zeev and Ash yelped, letting go of me swiftly. A simple silver chain wound around my left wrist, duplicated on Sands'. He touched it lightly and I felt the power shoot between us. This time I was the one who yelped.
"Harlee, are you ok?" Zeev asked.
"Uh yeah-Sands is really strong." I explained, panting. Zeev grinned.
"I never told you what he was a messenger of." Zeev's grin turned wicked as he looked back at the other Angels. "He's a Messenger of Death. That's why he gets more free reign than the rest of us." His grin widened. I shivered.