Page 29 of The Devil's Dilemma

“Devil? You’re no more of a devil than I am.”

“You’d be surprised.”

He glowered, his jaw clenched.

“Let Freddie go. He’s done nothing. None of this was his fault. He’s always looked up to Joel and done whatever he said.”

Freddie no longer served a purpose, and Conrad could wipe his memory. He’d have no recollection of tonight at all, unlike Austin. I wasn’t letting Freddie go because he’d asked but because I had no need of him.

Austin was a different matter, and while I couldn’t be sure he’d keep his mouth shut, it didn’t matter. No one had ever got the better of me.

Many had tried and failed. This Nick would be no exception.

No, Austin was a riddle I wanted to solve, and wiping his memory wasn’t an option. How had he won so frequently? What was it that made him special? All these things I needed to learn.

Something inside him called to me, and that hadn’t happened in a long time.

As much as his release wouldn’t cause me any issues, a voice inside me said I needed him, needed to keep him close, and I intended to do just that.

We said no more, but all the while, I felt his gaze on me and even as I tried to settle into my work, it was impossible. My skin prickled, my palms were sweating, and every sinew in my body was taut. I was on edge.

No one ever had me feeling this way before.

It was weird, though. His insistence that he was human didn’t sit right with me. I was usually able to sense a human or a vampire or a shifter. Their make-up was unique; none were like the other. Austin was none of those things, nor was he human, no matter what he said.

When I said Austin was an enigma, I wasn’t lying. I couldn’t get a read on him. He had no defining indicators. Everything was wrong with him.

Yet why did he feel so right?

The door swung open, and Conrad entered.

“All done?”

“Yes, boss. Left him where he’d be found. What do you want to do with him?” He pointed at Freddie.

Freddie widened his eyes, no doubt thinking he was due for the same fate. I had some compassion when I wanted to.

“Do what you usually do and return him.”

“Don’t kill him,” Austin said. “He’s done nothing to you. Not that Joel had either.”

“We’ll wipe his memory and return him. He’ll have no recollection of tonight. Not of me or Conrad, nor what happened to Joel.”

“You’re a bastard.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“What are you going to do with me? You have to let me go.”

“I don’t have to do anything, and especially not because you said so. I have use for you.”

“What the fuck do you want me for? I can’t do anything.”

“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong. You can do so much, and I intend to find out your limits.”

Freddie’s whimpers drew my attention away from Austin. Conrad wouldn’t wipe his mind here. He’d probably need the help of another due to what he’d seen and how long it had been since Joel’s death.

The sooner he could wipe it, the more success he’d have, but it had been a few hours.

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