Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
That wouldn’t stop a demon from getting into the car, but Bain didn’t have time to explain that. He used his shoulder to ram open the driver’s door. It had gotten stuck when the other car hit them.
He got it open just as the first demon reached them. The creature slammed his fist into Bain’s stomach so hard his lungs locked up. He gasped and managed to dodge the next punch only to run into another demon who grinned as he displayed a set of long claws. This one had massive horns coming from the sides of his head, and he surprised Bain when he spoke in a malevolent, gravelly hiss.
“Just give us the human and we’ll let you leave.”
“Over my dead body,” Bain growled. He wouldn’t be able to fight them all in this form, and he didn’t have time to strip, so he shifted into his snake form, ripping his clothes.
These demons clearly knew not to look a basilisk in the eyes; they kept their gazes averted as they attacked. But only two took him on and fear gripped him as the other two went to the other side of the car.
But he was bigger and eons stronger, and he grabbed one of them and forced him to meet his gaze. Killing the wendigo had been the right thing to do since those creatures were nothing more than killing machines. Demons, even this rather violent species, were different. They even had a Cambion demon working at Protective Solutions. Plus, he felt Clive wouldn’t want him to kill, so he only mesmerized the creature, who dropped to the ground and blinked dazedly at the grass around his face.
The other was smarter, and he used his claws, swiping at Bain over and over. Bain easily dodged most, and the ones he didn’t failed to pierce his hide. Growling, he brought his tail around and knocked the demon off his feet, then jumped on top of him and grabbed his cheeks so the thing was forced to meet his mesmerizing stare.
As soon as it collapsed, he raced around the front of the car, only to see Clive trying to fight his way free of the other two.
“Let me go!” Clive yelled as he kicked one foot out.
The demon laughed at the silly move but scowled when Clive managed to swiftly drop and scramble free. Clive jumped to his feet but before he could get away, one of them drew back his fist and slammed it into Clive’s face. Blood sprayed from his nose and he cried out.
Fury raced through Bain, and he lost it. Rage thundered through every muscle in his body. The world around him ceased to exist as he turned completely inward to pull up the darkest part of himself. He went feral.
He roared, grabbed the demon, and ripped his arm off. He threw the arm into the woods, then sent his own claws into the demon’s chest—right into the heart. He kept digging as blood sprayed his hide, digging until the heart stopped beating. He dropped the body, turned to the last demon and lifted him by the throat, planning to take off his head. He hauled his free arm back.
“Bain!” Clive grabbed his arm.
He looked down at his mate and saw the absolute horror on his face. But he also saw all the smeared blood on his cheeks, which just infuriated him even more. He tightened his hand around the demon’s throat as he choked and his lips turned white.
“Let it go!”
He looked at Clive again. Really looked at him, taking in that horror, and shame speared into his chest. He aimed his gaze into the demon’s eyes, then dropped him and stumbled back, his tail whipping around in agitation. Clive was staring at the demon he’d ripped apart, his mouth open in shock. There was blood everywhere and the demon’s chest lay flayed open to expose his ripped heart. He saw the view from Clive’s perspective and his own heart just stopped.
It was the first time in Bain’s life that he truly felt like a monster.
When he moved toward Clive, the man flinched. That reaction gutted Bain and he paused, not knowing what to say. He stayed quiet as he got Clive back into the car. He remained in his snake form to pry open the driver’s side door, then shifted. His clothes were ruined, and he couldn’t take Clive into the city naked, so he turned the car back toward the safe house. Luckily, it still drove fine, though most of the side was dented all to hell.
Clive stayed quiet, too. Probably still in shock after watching him rip somebody apart. Clive’s blood, his poor broken nose—he’d have to take him to the hospital to have it set before they met with Xavier’s contact at the FBI. As it was, they’d have to reschedule since they wouldn’t be able to make this morning’s meeting. But then he shook his head. Alaric was still at the safe house, and he had the power to heal. Bain wasn’t thinking straight.