Demon's Reign (Updating Every Sat & Sun)

five

"I don't think all that is necessary." Adorna chuckles as Sauda walks with her hands on the butt of her guns.

"Don't you have anything better to do, First Sergeant?" Sauda snaps.

"Better than protecting you just in case anyone else tries to kill you, Captain?" Adorna asks. "Yes. Make sure you don't kill Kang Dae and start a political war with the Demon Prince in Korea. You know he's beloved there."

Kang Dae was someone who had a lot to do with whom Sauda grew up to be. Someone who she hasn't seen in nine years. She has no clue why she wasn't over him and why her heart is pounding so hard. Is it because she was excited or feeling guilty? Where is Raum, and how would he feel if he knew Kang Dae was here?

"Getting to see you flustered like this is just a plus," Adorna laughs.

Adorna is right. She is flustered. The second she got that text, her head was running at its own pace. She immediately put on most of her ACUs, though she usually never wears it except on specific assignments. For added security, she dons her double shoulder gun holster, adding both guns and her favorite fixed blade knives.

Sauda is sure that if her father sent Kang Dae to her, he wouldn't be trying to kill her, but what if he held a grudge? She stopped talking to him because Raum requested it, and in her bonded, lust-crazed state, she agreed. Even after they broke up, she never reached back out to Kang Dae, afraid of what he would say to her.

Sauda leads the way to the front desk where the receptionist sits with an enormous smile, staring at a guest. He turns, locking eyes with the woman that he's known for her entire life.

"Uncle Balaam," Sauda greets him.

The smile withers off of his face as he looks at her and then Adorna. "You haven't called me that in years," he says, forcing a smile back on. "Since you were sixteen."

Balaam is his first recorded name in the bible, one he only allowed those closest to him to use. As an important person in hell, he was centuries old, originally human until his cursed death. He was there when Sauda first visited her father in hell when she was three. Andras' second in command, and liaison between Ethiopia and Korea during their peace blood contract. They became close, and he was like an uncle to her, until they became even closer and he was Kang Dae. For humans, having that relationship with someone you called Uncle was predatory and taboo. For Demons, once someone was of age, it was normal for anyone that wasn't blood. You could fall in love with some demon you knew for a long time, even if some of that time was while you were a minor or not. As long as you were of age, you were fair game. They were devils, after all.

"Adorna," Kang Dae nods.

"Can I call you Uncle Balaam too," She laughs.

Kang Dae just ignores her and looks back at Sauda and looks her up and down. "I was right. I thought you worked for the military and not a security company."

The door to the building opens, and the bell at the top of the door rings. Sauda nods towards the elevator as the receptionist greets the client that walked in. All three are silent until the doors of the elevator close them in and they begin their descent.

"We're a secret operation, Kang Dae, so we're fronted by an actual private security company. We have admin, unarmed, and armed guards on our payroll," Sauda says.

"So we'd appreciate it if you didn't say those things topside," Adorna adds.

Kang Dae nods and looks straight ahead. Sauda can't keep her eyes off of his reflection in the elevator. Unlike when she first saw Raum a year ago, Kang Dae hasn't changed at all. He looks like she always remembered. His muscular body takes up a whole portion of the elevator. His tight shirt showcases every muscle and Sauda can't stop herself from taking in the view. Kang Dae is sexy and manly with his sharp thick jaw, and it reminds Sauda how much she likes that.

She loved Raum; they were bonded, but he was more handsome than sexy, with his tall, lithe frame. He could even be cute sometimes. Not Kang Dae. No one would ever call him cute. The Demon females even had a nickname for him. The "Sexy Bandit".

The elevator lands and Sauda and Adorna turn around, Kang Dae follows their lead, and the rear door slides open.

One soldier stands near the doors at the end of the small hallway and another sits at a desk until he sees Sauda.

"Boss—Captain," He says, jumping to attention. His dark, short hair is cut low into a fade, and his light brown skin is clear and glowing. Sauda can smell him. He isn't human though the other one is.

"At ease." Sauda walks up to the desk, smiling, genuinely happy with what she smells. "Shifter?"

"Yes ma'am," he smiles back. Kettlewell, his name tape reads.

"Are you from the same pack as our Lieutenant?" Sauda asks.

"Yes, ma'am. We're cousins," he smiles.

Sauda nods and turns to the other soldier. One she knew well. His hair is also dark, though not cut as close and long on top. His blue eyes are vibrant against his tan skin. He is the epitome of the American white cis male, with the family wealth to back it up. Specialist Smith was one of the first humans that joined their unit. "I heard you just got promoted. Congratulations Specialist."

"Thank you, Captain," he says.

Sauda turns to Kang Dae and points to a booklet on the desk in front of him. "Sign in." The booklet is almost bare since it was only for guests and everyone else got in using their access cards.

"You should see him run," Adorna brags, bringing Sauda's attention back to the Specialist. "The fastest human here and he can keep up with some preternaturals. That's why he's partnered with private Kettlewell."

"I'm the slowest shifter in my pack, Major, so that's not saying much for Specialist Smith," Private Kettlewell jokes.

"He also damn near has the respect of every single person on site," Adorna adds.

"And a few of their panties," the Private whispers.

Specialist Smith's entire face turns red.

"A natural-born leader," Sauda laughs. "I'll be looking forward to the progress of your career."

"Thank you, Captain. First Sergeant," he smiles.

Kang Dae finishes and they walk through the doors to a busy floor of soldiers working in and out of offices. Every person they pass by stops to say hi to Adorna and Sauda until they arrive at another elevator.

"Everyone is waiting in the conference room," Adorna says.

Kang Dae is silent as they climb on and start going up. Sauda looks at him to see him looking at her and smiling.

"You're starting to act like your Dad. You have your own little nation of loyal followers," he says.

"It's not like that," Sauda says.

"Sure," Kang Dae smiles, "you look just like their beloved leader to me."

"I'm their leader, yes, and I'm trying to be an excellent one, but I'm not even the most superior one here. They treat the Major the same way. It's not like in Hell with a ruler. It doesn't work that way. It's the military. YOu show respect to every superior."

"Ah," He says, still smiling.

"Ten minutes and you're already getting on my nerves."

They walk into the conference room, and everyone has their eyes on them. Malik and Ashleigh sit on one side while Dix and Jordan sit across from them. At the end of the table is a screen with Major Maddox on a video call, calling them from his plane.