Page 92 of Angel Betrayed

The hound’s head began to lower. Subservience. Acknowledgment that she was its master.

Well, damn.

Seline glanced at Sam. “I don’t think it’s so bad. Just a big dog, really.”

Bullshit. Sam reached out to touch Seline’s shoulder. In an instant, the “big dog” lunged up and slammed its claws into Sam’s chest.

“No!” Seline’s snapped order.

The hound froze.

“Tell the beast to go to hell,” Sam said. He wished he understood how to send a hound back, but that was one power beyond him.

“Go to hell,” Seline told the hound instantly.

The hound didn’t vanish. In fact, the beast appeared to be getting bigger. Possibly stronger. Not good.

When they weren’t in hell, the hounds survived by drinking blood and fear. They weren’t some cute freaking pets. They were monster minions for the devil.

But Seline was petting the thing now.

Sam risked a fast glance around the club. The stragglers were rushing for the door. Smart. But even as those people pushed out, two familiar figures hurried forward.

Keenan and his vampire.

Keenan took one look at the hound and froze. He grabbed Nicole and tried to push her behind his back.

Fuck.

Too late. Over the centuries, hounds had developed a particular taste for vampire blood.

Seline’s hound whipped around and leapt into the air. The floor shook as the beast hurtled toward its new treat.

“No!” Seline’s shout, but this time, the beast didn’t slow. Claws swiped out and cut into Keenan’s chest, but the Fallen didn’t move.

“Run, Nicole,” he choked out, “run!”

Wrong advice. The hounds liked the chase. Keenan should know that.

Keenan grabbed the hound’s paws. Sam rushed to help him, with Seline right by his side.

With a howl, the hound shook off Keenan, and Sam saw that Nicole hadn’t run away. She started kicking and clawing at the beast. Her fangs were out, and she was screaming for the hound to get away from her fallen angel.

Before Sam could reach her, the hound tackled her and the beast’s teeth went for her throat.

Nicole stopped screaming, but the whole room vibrated with the sudden wild rush of fury that Sam knew came from Keenan.

Sam and Keenan grabbed the hound. They dragged it off Nicole even as the hound snapped and bit.

Then Seline was there. Her hands locked around the hound’s body. “Leave her alone! Leave them all alone!” Fury hardened her words. “Just get away from us. Go back to hell!”

The hound whined. Its head lowered.

Then the beast vanished in a blur of smoke.

About fucking time.

Chapter Thirteen

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