Devil's Mark (The Reckless Damned, #1)

by Lark Taylor

my brother, Harlow,

my brother, Mori.

Other than our height, which matched at six foot three, nothing visibly marked us as brothers. My black hair was kept short and styled.

They were still piecing themselves together after what we’d been through. Mori lost himself in alcohol and work, while Harlow protected himself by never taking anyone or anything too seriously. Then there was Dagon. The less said about him, the better.

Fortunately, exposure to sin was almost as good as taking a walk along the fiery banks of the river Styx. And you know the one thing Earth wasn’t short of? Sinners.

Let me tell you a secret. Demons are selfish. We will always choose the path that leads to the greatest personal happiness.

I swear I wasn’t always like this. I used to be fun. I used to be cute. Now, I was just grateful to get through another day alive and in one piece.

Time had proven how fast humans got over heartbreak. Not like demons. Our love was rare but all-consuming. When we fell in love and marked another as our own, that was it for us.

Loving another would make me weak. It would be another being for me to protect, another person my enemies could take advantage of.

My body was tensed, ready to fight or flee. My instincts subconsciously picked up on something I was missing. It didn’t feel like danger but like change. Something was about to happen. Something huge. And I had no idea what it was.

Scanning the club to see what had my instincts lighting up, my eyes fell on a person, and everything else ceased to exist.

Catching Mori’s eye over the top of the man’s head, I asserted my authority by mouthing the universally recognised code of siblings—even demonic ones. Dibs.

I curled my lips into my most charming smile and reached out to dust a touch over his forearm. Power zapped between us the second my skin connected with his. What the fuck was that? As he turned, I swear time slowed down. His eyes lifted to meet mine, and everything stopped.

Before I could think about getting another bartender’s attention, someone touched my arm, and everything went quiet.

“Like what you see?”

“Maybe. It depends if you know what to do with it.”

I was obsessed. And that was a dangerous place for a demon to be.

Satan, he was gorgeous.

“Yes, this is my bookshop. I live above it. Do you like it?” “Like it?” he breathed, his eyes darting everywhere. “I love it. It’s like you peeked inside my daydreams and created my perfect place.”

And demons? We love a loophole.

Demons were very possessive when we found something we wanted. And I wanted Oscar more and more with every second that ticked by.

Calling on my ancient well of power, I leaned forward and placed my lips on Oscar’s forehead. Marking him as mine.

Beneath all the pomp and circumstance, angels were just demons who lived more boring lives.

“But you don’t even know me. I could be a horrible person.” I cracked a grin. “You’d be in good company with me then.”

That’s the good thing about demons. Your darkness cannot contend with mine.”

“Oh, sweetheart, if you ever learn how deeply you affect me, the whole world will be in trouble.”

I stared at him. “I can’t decide if that’s hot or deranged.” He shot me a wink as he tied a towel around his waist. “Always both, sweetheart.”

“Sweetheart, those words in your brain aren’t yours.”

Closing my book, Always, a fabulous brother’s best friend story by Loren Leigh, I gave a satisfied sigh.

“Is the scythe necessary?” I squeaked as he secured it in a hook over his back. “Nope,” he said cheerfully. “But it goes with the image, don’t you think?” It was official. Happy Mori was fucking disturbing.

“Right, time for emotions is over,” Harlow said,

A flash of hope bloomed in Dimitri’s eyes. And was immediately extinguished as Dagon swung back one massive fist and punched him in the face.

“Oscar is more than capable of killing you,” Cal said conversationally, continuing to crush the bones in Joe’s neck. “But why would he, when he has me to do it for him?”