Chapter 11

As the song came to an end, Thea suddenly found herself with a new partner. Looking up at the handsome man with black hair, exotic black eyes, olive skin and more muscles than was fair, she smiled. “This is so much better, Dnirya!”

Damian returned her smile as he held her in his arms. They said nothing more as they danced, knowing that soon enough they would talk. As Damian held her, he marvelled at what a fool he’d been for letting her run from him for so long. Holding her, he realized just how much he’d missed. He’d missed how she smelled of vanilla and roses that added to her exotic beauty, how small but how strong she was in his arms, but most of all, he’d missed her smile. No one smiled at him the way she did.

As Thea continued to look at him she once again marvelled at how incredibly handsome he was. Towering over most guys, he exuded a sexiness that made women weak in the knees. His human persona, Damian Prince, was regularly drooled over on the world's sexiest men lists. His Daemoni persona commanded respect and allegiance from Legions of Daemoni which gave him an air of strength and power.

All of those things only scratched the surface. She loved him desperately, all of him, from how brilliant he was to how kind and gentle he could be, to how fierce and deadly he was. She loved the mischievousness he kept hidden. She even loved how frustrated he could get with her while secretly loving it.

As a slow number started to play, she wrapped her arms around him tightly and whispered to him, “I missed you so very much, Dnirya. Don’t ever let me leave you again!”

“Never!” he answered as he placed a kiss on her temple. “Never again!”

Over at Thea’s table, Keyx wore a puzzled look on his face as he asked, “Who is Thea dancing with now?”

As Marcus returned to the table he looked up towards the floor as he snagged a bite of food. His eyes immediately widening, he started coughing.

Kira started to laugh as she patted him on his back. “That would be Prince Damian of Ikisat, or as he’s known in human circles, Damian Prince.”

“Shit! When was the last time you saw him here at Mythos? Something must be up to just appear and not make a show of it with his entourage of huge guardians,” Marcus commented thoughtfully.

“Damian makes Marcus nervous,” Kira laughed. “He tends to make a lot of people nervous, actually. Except for Thea.”

“You only like him because he broke Innara’s possession,” Marcus grumbled.

“There is that...” Kira mused. “He also introduced me to you,” she added as she kissed his cheek.

“Well, he’s not all bad,” Marcus relented, causing Keyx to chuckle. “In truth, he’s never given us a reason to think he’s anything but on our side. It’s just the ole being raised Catholic and him being a Daemoni prince that does it.”

“Have either of you ever seen his Daemoni form?”

They both nodded. “Gave me nightmares for a week,” Marcus admitted.

“It’s what you’d expect for a Daemoni prince. I’ve seen much worse though so it doesn’t bother me. Thea’s Daemoni form on the other hand... well, Nihasia scares the crap out of me.”

Marcus turned to Kira in surprise, “You’ve seen Nihasia? I’ve only heard of her being released once.”

“The infamous destroying a realm of hell time. Nihasia has been released a couple of other times since then but usually it was kept pretty quiet because it didn’t involve anyone except Thea’s inner circle,” she explained.

“There was also the very first time she was ever released, before that infamous time. Do you remember hearing about how she and Averic dated and it ended after she and Damian had a huge blowout? The aftermath of the blowout involved Nihasia.”

Turning to Keyx she explained, “See, Thea has known Damian all her life, being betrothed to him by her parents before she was born. At one point she began to resent the arrangement. She didn’t understand Damian’s feelings really, so she took her frustration out on him.

“She started to date other guys and one guy in particular started to get serious. Damian has always loved her, although when she was younger it was in a platonic protector way. It wasn’t until she was older that his feelings started to change. When she started to go out with Averic, he flipped out, she flipped out... MAJOR explosive fight. That sheer raw emotion released Nihasia for the first time.”

“When did you see Nihasia in person?” Keyx asked.

“Nihasia showed up after Thea’s last training complications,” Kira shuddered. “Fortunately, Damian was expecting that appearance so the appearance was very brief.”

Watching Damian and Thea smile and dance, Marcus asked, “Do you think they’ll ever figure it all out and decide to make it official?”

“Yeah, they both got it bad for each other. It’ll happen, hopefully sooner rather than later.”

“So when Nihasia is freed how do you put the genie back in the bottle?” Keyx asked.

Kira shrugged. “That usually involves Damian, Darius, or Damian’s sister Galena. If Nihasia is free, humans need to stay clear. We’ve been lucky that we’ve been able to avoid her feeding on any human souls that aren't already in the Dark Realms but boy does she want to.

“The nature of her father’s curse was that should she ever feed on a living human soul, the curse would pass to her. As Theanna, that is never a danger. As Nihasia, that is very much a risk. Should that transfer happen, well that would be VERY, VERY bad.”

“So lesson to be learned, should you ever encounter Nihasia, run like hell and call Darius!” Marcus stated flatly.

“Yup!” Kira smiled. “Pretty much.”

A little bit later, after they’d danced through several songs, Damian asked as he started to lead Thea towards the VIP section, “Who is the new human? He likes you.”

“He’s Marcus’ new investigator from one of our offices in Greece. I'm part Succubus, of course he likes me just a little. That doesn't mean anything, you know that. Besides, I’m sure I really just fascinate him with all my drama.”

“Drama is what we do best, my Zoqa,” Damian smirked. “I'm sorry I stupidly thought summoning you was the right way to reconnect. I guess you could say I haven't been myself.”

“No, I'm sorry. I could have responded better myself,” Thea apologized as they sat down. “Dnirya, I'm so sorry for the things I said to you before I left. They were cruel and simply untrue. You’ve always done everything in your power to protect me. My heart was broken and I lashed out,” she said as she kept her eyes downcast as they filled with tears.

Gently making her look at him, Damian caressed her cheek. “I should’ve known, should’ve been more prepared. We were both heartbroken. I shouldn't have stayed away for so long. I... I... I felt as if I didn’t deserve you, that you would be happier and safer without me.”

“Oh Damian, no. You have my heart, I could never be whole without you by my side. Please know that,” Thea exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I missed you so much.”

“As did I, Zoqa, as did I. There’s so much more I want to say but Innara is causing trouble once again,” Damian told her as he held her close.

Thea nodded. “We know. There was a Saalah incident in Greece that Keyx, the new guy, connected to her. Darius also thinks she’s behind all of your troubles that have been keeping you so busy.”

“As do I.”

“Also, one of the Lycan Seers received a prophecy regarding me.”

“What did she say?”

“Protect the learned one with powerfully mixed blood, who can connect with days of old, for she is the one they need to succeed. She is the one they need to release the evil one.”

Damian’s eyes turned blood red as he listened. “I was afraid of that. I’d heard whispers of Innara plotting Mordecai’s return. They need the blood of a family member to open the gate. The only ones remaining are you, Darius and their mother. Whom would you go for?”

“That’s why they’re causing you issues, to keep you busy so that you aren’t around to protect me.”

“Indeed. Come with me to Ikisat.”

“Being there brings Nihasia closer to the surface. Nihasia would free Mordecai just to watch the fireworks after.”

“I just want you safe and to be honest, close to me,” Damian said as he caressed her lips.

“I know. Do you have to return right away? Can you spend some more time here... with me? I miss you so very much.”

As Damian nodded she smiled happily and stood up. Taking his hand in hers, she pulled him up saying, “Come meet the new guy.”

“He likes you,” Damian repeated, a bit unhappily.

Thea simply rolled her eyes at him as she led him across the dance floor. “Try to not clear out Mythos by flashing Red. I really rather not have Liam and Lilith pissed at me again.”

“Fine,” Damian sighed.

As they approached the table where Kira, Marcus and Keyx sat, Kira started to giggle as the guys became nervous. “Damian, it’s been too long!” she smiled as she stood up and hugged him.

“Kira, so beautiful! I see you are still with this one. A pity,” Damian charmed as he kissed her cheek.

"You obviously know Marcus, but this is Keyx Sarris. Keyx, this is my love, Damian, Prince of Ikisat,” Thea introduced as she kept a tight grip on Damian’s hand.

Damian looked Keyx up and down. After determining he wasn’t much of a threat, he smiled, flashing his fangs, as he said, “It’s nice to meet you. I hope you are a better investigator than the last one that was sent around.”

“Likewise,” Keyx replied with a tight smile as he shook Damian’s free hand.

“You didn’t like Kevin because he was looking into whether or not you were behaving without me,” Thea teased him.

“He was also a putz,” Damian grumbled.

“He is indeed,” Marcus chuckled. “Darius decided he would do better at a remote office.”

Just then, Sam came up to them and wearing a strained look on his face, whispered into Damian’s ear.

Damian replied with a tight nod. As Sam left, Damian turned to Thea and said, “Zoqa, I must return to Ikisat.”

Pulling him aside she asked softly, “Is everything alright?”

“Someone tried to release one of the gates. We have to make sure there are no escapes. I’m sorry. I wanted to stay longer,” he said as he fixed an errant piece of her hair.

Thea replied, “It’s ok. Please stay safe.” Placing a kiss to his cheek, she smiled as Damian wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “Come back to me as soon as you can, Dnirya.”

“I will. We must talk some more soon. There’s much that needs to be said.”

Thea nodded, wishing he were staying longer.

“Summon me, Zoqa, at the first sign of trouble,” Damian ordered as he cupped both cheeks with his hands and looked into her eyes. “I love you, always!”

“I love you so much, my Dnirya.” Thea whispered as Damian vanished, his eyes never leaving her.

Plastering a smile on her face she didn’t feel, she turned back to her table and was about to see who wanted to play a round of pool when Liam appeared in front of her. Scowling at him when he didn’t say anything she asked, “What?”

“I was debating if it would be deadly for me to tease you and bring out a real smile.”

“Very deadly.”

“That’s what the smart voice said.”

“It must be a rather small voice. You don’t listen to it very much.”

“It’s no fun. You ok?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Thea asked.

“We both know why. He didn’t stay very long,” Liam prodded.

“Trouble in Ikisat. Remind me to bitch slap my grandmother the next time I have the displeasure of
seeing her.”

“Will do. Come on, little bit. Let’s find out if the new guy is any good at poker,” Liam suggested with a smile as he took her hand and pulled her back to their table.