Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
“HOW MANY DEMONS HAVE YOU SLAUGHTERED, TAYLA?”
Eidolon watched her, his eyes still glowing gold. Even when he was threatening her, he was hypnotic. Tayla watched right back, slowly becoming aware of how his body pressed down on hers, one thigh between her legs. His muscular chest crushed her breasts, and her scrub top had ridden up so the crisp cotton of his shirt rasped against her stomach.
“How many humans have you killed?” she asked.
One dark eyebrow arched. “None.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Because I’m a demon. So I must kill humans for sport.”
“Pretty much.”
“Your ignorance is disgusting.”
“Everything about you is disgusting.”
“I could remind you—”
“Don’t.”
The gold faded out of Eidolon’s eyes, replaced by dark desire that sucked Tayla in like a whirlpool she couldn’t fight.
This book is dedicated to every single person who came to the aid of my family after Hurricane Katrina . . . you were instrumental in getting me back on my feet and writing again. Without you, this book would not have been possible. I will never be able to thank you often enough or well enough, but know that I will not forget.
To my parents, who never stopped encouraging me, who supported my dream from the beginning. I love you very much.
To my husband, Bryan, and my son Brennan, who put up with countless nights of hearing, “You’re on your own for dinner,” while I was under deadline. You mean the world to me.
To Roberta Brown, for being an incredible agent and having faith in my writing, and Melanie Murray for being patient, helpful, and enthusiastic about this project.
To HelenKay Dimon, Alison Kent, Lynn Viehl . . . you know why.
To my fellow Gnippers, who have been rooting me on for years.
Last but not least, to Karen Boss and Dee Knight, who took time out of their busy schedules to provide last-minute reads and the best advice ever, and Stephanie Tyler, Jaci Burton, and Lara Adrian, for more than I have room to list.
Glossary
The Aegis —Society of human warriors dedicated to protecting the world from evil. See: Guardians, Regent, Sigil.
Council —All demon species and breeds are governed by a Council that makes laws and metes out punishment for individual members of their species or breed.
Dresdiin —The demon equivalent of angels.
Guardians —Warriors for The Aegis, trained in combat techniques, weapons, magic. Upon induction into The Aegis, all Guardians are presented with an enchanted piece of jewelry bearing the Aegis shield, which, among other things, allows for night vision and the ability to see through demon invisibility enchantment.
Harrowgate —Vertical portals, invisible to humans, which demons use to travel between locations on Earth and Sheoul.
Infadre —A female of any demon species who has been impregnated by a Seminus demon.
Maleconcieo —Highest level of ruling demon boards, served by a representative from each species Council. The U.N. of the demon world.
Orgesu —A demon sex slave, often taken from breeds bred specifically for the purpose of providing sex.
Regent —Head of a local Aegis cell.
S’genesis —Final maturation cycle for Seminus demons. Occurs at one hundred years of age. A post-s’genesis male is capable of procreation and possesses the ability to shapeshift into the male of any demon species.
Sheoul —Demon realm. Located deep in the bowels of the earth, accessible only by Harrowgates.
Sigil —Board of twelve humans known as Elders, who serve as the supreme leaders of The Aegis. Based in Berlin, they oversee all Aegis cells worldwide.
Ter’taceo —Demons who can pass as human, either because their species is naturally human in appearance, or because they can shapeshift into human form.
Classification of Demons, as listed by Baradoc, Umber demon, using the demon breed, Seminus, as an example:
Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Demon
Family: Sexual Demon
Genus: Terrestrial
Species: Incubus
Breed: Seminus
One
The demon is a prince of the air and can transform himself into several shapes, delude our senses for a time; but his power is determined, he may terrify us but not hurt.
—Robert Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy
Had Eidolon been anywhere but the hospital, he would have killed the guy pleading for his life before him.
As it was, he’d have to save the bastard.
“Sometimes, being a doctor blows,” he muttered, and jabbed the demon in a human suit with a syringe full of hemoxacin.
The patient screamed as the needle passed through mangled thigh tissue, releasing blood sterilization medication into the wound.
“You didn’t numb him first?”