Page 74 of The Devil's Dilemma

“What do you mean,he’s disappeared?” I should have known Austin would pull a stunt like this. Why on earth I’d trusted him, I had no idea. I thought he’d be safe with Conrad, but he’d given him the slip.

Lucky or cocky? I didn’t know, and it didn’t matter, but when I got my hands on him…

“I’m sorry, boss. One minute he was there. The next he’d gone. His friend Amber had an accident in the kitchen. I couldn’t leave her lying on the floor.”

“You know he planned that.” Gullible didn’t cover it.

“I know that now, yes.”

I sighed. “Where’s he gone?”

“No clue, but he can’t have gone far. He told his grandpa he wouldn’t be long.”

“He was in on it too?”

“No, I don’t think so. I’m sure of it.”

“You let a twenty-something part angel get the drop on you, a five-hundred-year-old immortal.”

“Well, when you put it like that…”

“I’ll be right there. Then we’ll go find him. I only hope he hasn’t got himself into any trouble.”

But the moment I’d rounded the corner, my poor dark heart almost stopped seeing Austin surrounded by at least fifty men and not all of them human.

He stood ready to flee, but I knew he wouldn’t get far before being taken out by at least one of them. They were quicker, stronger, more agile than him, and he’d not last a second, let alone five.

A burning fury filled me, and it was all I could do to hang back and not run in, ripping heads of everyone, leaving carnage in my wake.

My chest swelled as I inhaled, smelling fear and anxiety. Some from Austin, but most from the men invited by Nick, men intent on killing Austin.

I refused to let that happen, but if one of them touched him, the pent-up wrath and anger that had simmered beneath the surface for years would be unleashed.

Whether he was my mate or not, the pull I felt when he was near was all-consuming, and I knew it was my duty to protect him at all costs.

I pushed up my sleeves and nodded at Conrad. I’d tucked Austin between us, keeping him as safe as possible.

The men advanced, some with weapons aimed, others raising their bare hands, relying on brute force.

Nick stood off to the side, a trembling Freddie next to him.

He hadn’t deserved the beating he’d received. Another reason to exact my revenge.

I’d killed Joel swiftly. This time I wouldn’t be so lenient.

A human approached, a knife in his hand. He tossed it from one to the other, his stance offensive, a cocky grin on his face.

I sighed. This was going to be way too easy.

I grabbed his throat and lifted him off the floor, his eyes bulging. Austin gasped behind me, and for one moment, I lost concentration.

The guy swiped with the knife, catching me on the cheek.

Huh, that didn’t normally happen. I dabbed my face and came away with a smear of blood on my fingertips.

Austin was a distraction I didn’t need, but how else could I keep him safe from the horde of men that appeared to have grown?

Taking them down was easy. One clap of my hands and I could disable them all, but a lesson needed to be taught. One I was happy to teach.

---