Page 43 of Demon Found

“Give. Me. One. More. Excuse.”

The vampire screams in pain and backs away, smoke rising from the charred skin of his forehead.

“Ithoughtyou wouldn’t want to. You pick on those weaker than you, don’t you, puta? I’ll be following up on this later. Prepare to be the hunted, Hunter.”

Turning, I stride off toward the portal, ignoring the muffled squeaking from the nymph under my arm. Didn’t anyone teach this girl how to defend herself? She’s as likely to get out of my grip as a jinn is to get into heaven. What if Lottie was this weak? A flood of acid hits the back of my throat at the thought.

Cuelebre’s door is oak and iron, and it booms under my fist, echoing down the hallway. Hebetterbe here.

“Open up, Farrell. I have something for you.”

The door crashes open, nearly coming off its hinges, and the wave of heat that blasts out singes my skin. Turning quickly, I shield Naeve from the worst of it.

“What do you want, scum?” He pauses, registering the body in my arms. “What have you done?”

His pupils change to slits and his roar shakes the walls. I only stop him flying at me by holding Naeve between us.

“Keeping her safe. She was spiked.”

Farrell blinks slowly, his eyes bleeding back to normal as his rage turns to confusion.Do all wyverns have slitted pupils? Weird.

“You need to sort your man Zephyr’s shit out. He’s a disgrace.”

Farrell slams his open palm into the doorframe and sets it alight. “Zephyr didn’t do this.” The fire spits and cracks, taking hold quickly, climbing toward the ceiling.

Seeing the ever-controlled Cuelebre riled is giving me an amazing sense of peace. Calmly I press my forefinger to the doorframe, dousing it in water.

“He may as well have, puta. He was too high to save her. Ask Hewie.” I can’t help but stir trouble, see how far I can push him. He’s Cuelebre for Hades’s sake. “Hesaidshe needs to relax, that a fuck would do her good despite being spiked. He condoned a rapist.”

Dread sweeps across Farrell’s face, telling me everything I need to know. He doesn’t doubt me. Not even me, his enemy. That idiota angel is going to kill himself on SupeZ, or one of his allegiances. Thank the hells he’s not my problem.

I dump Naeve into Farrell’s arms and march away. I don’t need a thank you, not from him. I definitely don’t need any of my Maveriks seeing me here.

Chapter Twenty-two: Lorelei

IsteppedawayfromNaeve for two minutes. Hewie promised to watch her. She was in my line of sight, dammit. Until the tidal wave erupted and took out the band and half the freaking crowd.

No one batted an eyelid. They’re all just grabbing more drinks, waiting until the band dries off. Like it’s a normal damn occurrence to be half drowned on a dry-ass autumn night. These people are nuts. Where the hell is Naeve?

“Val, I can’t see her. She was plastered.”

“Here, have a Fiery Fury?” Val hands me a glass. “I have to be on stage in thirty. Wait, who can’t you see?”

“Naeve. Are you deaf, dammit?”

“You didn’t say who you were having a freak out over.” Val slams back her drink, grimacing. “She’ll be fine.”

“You don’t understand. That creep Hunter was drooling all over her and she was wasted. Shit, I should have taken her home.”

“Hunter’s an asshole. But seriously, she’ll be fine. Boss man carried her away.”

“Boss man? Who? Where’d she go?” Gripping both of Val’s shoulders, I give her a shake.

“Relax, Lorelei. Chano swooped in and carted her off.”

“Chano? As in Maverik? Shit. He could be taking advantage of her right now. Where did they go?”

Val’s grin flickers. “That’s fucking rude. He won’t assault her. He’s not like that. He might set her on fire if she’s a bitch . . . but I doubt Naeve knows how to be a bitch.”

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