Page 61 of Land of Monsters

Dzsinn cocked his gun and put it in his cloak pocket, bringing me back to reality.

“Thought you said you trusted these guys.” I lifted a brow.

“I trust them not to snitch on us.” He climbed out of the jeep. “Keep your guard up.” He took off for the back door.

Ash helped me out of the car, his hand taking mine, a bolt of energy running up my arm and making me gasp.

He pulled away like I held a disease, his brows furrowing, his eyes avoiding me.

“Stay close,” he muttered.

Pulling his jacket tighter around me, the bottom just brushing the tops of my thighs, I padded after him, feeling so powerful and vulnerable at the same time.

Usually, it took me days to recuperate after using my magic, but his energy was a live wire, bringing me to life. On the downside, it opened me up to him and let me feel him, his every mood.

He was livid.

We stepped into the smoky, dark room, my spine stiffening. Men and women, mainly fae, lounged around the seedy bar, smoking and drinking. Violence was a blink away from exploding in the den. The windows were barred and blocked off from the outside, and the inside was crumbling and reeked of stale smoke and alcohol. The place was filled with bikers. A gang.

This should’ve made me feel at home. My father and uncles were part of a notorious gang back in the day, the RODs (Riders of Darkness). But with them, I was protected. They would murder anyone who looked at me wrong. Here, I was an intruder. And gangs never took to strangers.

“Dzsinn.” A stunning, dark-haired woman stood up, prowling to him, her sexuality out on display, her lips a bright red, her eyes a strange navy color.

Demon.

“It’s been a while.” Her English was heavy with a Romanian accent.

“Daciana.” Dzsinn tipped his head to her, but her attention already fluttered back to me and Ash.

“You brought me gifts.” Her eyes raked down both of us.

“I’m calling in a favor you owe me.” Dzsinn spoke evenly, but I saw his hand slip into his cloak pocket, where his gun was. “We need a place to hide for a few days. Just until things cool down.”

“I’m sorry.” Her dark eyebrows lifted. “Did you bring trouble tomydoor? To a place I’ve welcomed you in with open arms?”

“You owe me.” Dzsinn’s vocals tightened. “I’m here to claim it.”

Her navy eyes flashed black, her lip snarling at his command, but it quickly died away, a fake smile forcing her mouth to move. “Of course, Dzsinn, any wish of yours,” she jeered, pushing past him to us. “These still better be my gifts.You know me and my boys like new toys to play with. And they came wrapped exactly how I like them. In barely anything.”

Oh shit. This was the last thing we needed to deal with right now.

Every head turned our way, most landing on me, my bare legs making me feel completely naked.

A growl rose from Ash, his body stepping in front of mine, his shoulders rolling forward.

“If you fucking touch her—”

“Ash.” Dzsinn shook his head, pushing him back into me.

Ash gripped my thighs, shielding me, a snarl on his lips while he scanned the room. A threat. A promise.

“Ash!” Dzsinn warned again to no avail. The room rumbled with aggression, and Ash tipped the scale. Some of the bikers rose from their seats.

“Ash,” I whispered in his ear, my hands moving down his arms, tangling my fingers with his at my thighs, squeezing them. “Calm down.”

His fingers squeezed mine back, clasping like he needed me to hold on. My thumb brushed the back of his hand, and his shoulders relaxed. He took a deep breath, but he didn’t let me go, gripping me even tighter to his body.

“Your present is outside.” Dzsinn turned to her, nodding toward the parking lot. “You’ll have to get new brakes and strip it of military emblems, but otherwise the jeep should come in handy when doing larger runs across the border.”

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