Page 31 of Viper

It wasn’t something humans would understand. They sought safety and security, for the most part. They typically didn’t put their lives at risk for the thrill. Demons were different. Hell-born demons even more so.

Viper planted his feet. “They obviously guessed we’re responsible for the deaths of their brethren, just as we’danticipated.” They would have traced their brethren back to the camp; would have noticed the scattering of ashes and the telling scorch marks on the ground and trees. “This was their way of striking back at us.”

“Dice will track them. He always finds his target.”

He did, but there was no saying how long it would take. Strix knew how to hide, and they wouldn’t taunt the club the way they were doing unless they were confident that their colony was well-hidden.

“Her body was in a bad state,” Omen went on. “It was covered in bruises. The strix beat her, but most of the damage seems to have been done postmortem. It’s as if they took out their fury on her in lieu of us.” He scratched his jaw. “I take it you want the body to be burned like the last one.”

Viper nodded. “It’s the only real way to get rid of the evidence.”

Jester materialized a few feet away from Omen. His brow furrowed as he absorbed the dark tension in the office. “Everything all right?”

“One of the missing humans was left behind the clubhouse.” Viper further elaborated, bringing him up to speed.

Jester’s jaw hardened. “Figured it’d happen. Fucking strix need wiping out. Like wasps. I hate them as well.”

“Is there any creature you don’t hate?” Omen asked, genuinely curious.

Jester thought about it for a second. “No.” He cut his gaze back to Viper. “I don’t know if my news is going to improve your mood or not, but … Ella walked through the door a minute ago.”

Viper felt his entire body go still. Ella was here, on what was essentially his territory?

His inner entity grinned, its anger rapidly replaced by anticipation. It wanted to see her. Smell her. Touch her.

Bite her.

Viper ground his teeth so hard it was surprising that no molars cracked. Her coming here … That wasn’t supposed to happen. Not yet. Not until the danger had passed and she’d be here at his invitation.

Turning to the security monitors hanging on the wall behind his desk, he studied each one in search of her.

“Did she ask for Viper?” Omen asked.

“No,” replied Jester. “She’s just meandering around with her sister.”

Omen hummed. “They’re probably here to hook up.”

Yeah, that wasn’t gonna happen. Not a chance would he allow another man to touch his woman.

It was right then that Viper spotted her on camera. She was shouldering her way through the throngs of people on the lower level with her sister at her back, glancing around curiously. And she looked fucking edible in a little black dress that was more of a shirt.

Viper looked at Jester. “Tell the boys on the ground floor to put the word out that she’s not to be touched.”

Jester nodded, his gaze then going inward as he telepathically reached out.

Satisfied, Viper turned back to the security monitor.

“Wonder why she’d come here of all places to hook up with someone,” Omen pondered, sidling up to Viper. “It’s not her usual scene.”

No, it wasn’t, from what Viper had observed of her habits. She didn’t go clubbing often. She seemed to prefer low-key bars and dives. Yet, there she was.

He stared at her image on the screen.You shouldn’t have come here, baby.She couldn’t waltz into his metaphorical den like this. Couldn’t put herself in his path. He only had so much restraint.

“You gonna go talk to her?” asked Omen.

Viper turned away from the monitors. “You already know the answer to that question.” While he was determined that she wouldn’t get pulled into his world just yet, he wasn’t going to hang back in his office and act like she wasn’t here.

Plus, he wouldn’t have to worry that any strix would see him near her here. None would dare come inside the club.

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