Page 74 of Demon Found

I wink at Lorelei and bolt for the door.I can’t hurt anyone in my allegiance. I can’t.No matter how much I want to.

My feet smack down hard on the paths winding between the ancient buildings, and a bead of sweat trickles down between my shoulder blades, my demon driving me on harder, faster. I need away from people. I need the peace of the woods. A minute to settle the beast inside me.

I reach deeper, pushing harder still, my demon reveling in the burn of my muscles. Before I can slip between the cool trees, I spot Seth.

Farrell’s promise was empty, but he’s not the only one with access to the Virrey. Seth will talk. He hurt Lorelei. Now I get to return the favor.

“Seth, a word.”

He glances up, his pathetic demon rings swirling. “What do you want, Maverik?”

“Answers, for Lorelei.”

He swallows hard, backing up slowly, eyes darting around like the little weasel he is. Yeah, no one around to help you out right now puta. You’re all mine.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

I slam him backward against a tree, fisting his shirt, my forearm pressing into his windpipe.

“Start talking.”

He struggles against my grip. Arrogant little shit. I heave him off the ground, leaving his legs dangling. His eyes take on a deliciously panicked look and his face turns a beautiful shade of red.

Leaning in nice and close, I let one horn pop out slowly, followed by the second. He stills completely before nodding once. Lowering him until his toes barely touch the ground, I shift my weight enough to allow him to breathe. And talk.

“Why do you care? Lorelei is nothing to you.”

“She’s mine. Now talk.”She’s everything. Before I can slam him backward again, his eyes widen.

“You . . . you think she’s your mate? Your Aeternum? Oh, that’s a good one. The great Maverik and a harpy.”

I lean on his throat again, and his squeaky laughter cuts off. This time I wait until he’s purple before I relax enough to allow him a ragged breath.

“You think,” he wheezes, “you think she’s yours? Idiot. She’s already betrayed you.”

His glee sets off warning bells. Heknowssomething. Something he’s fucking delighted about.

“Betrayed me? Talk before I make you disappear.”

“Remember Linx? One of your own, how could you forget?”

My shoulders relax. “She didn’t kill him, stop trying to feed me bullshit.” He’s got nothing, he’s playing for time.

“She didn’t.” Seth agrees so easily the hairs on my arms stand on end. “But she was standing by my side when I did. Didn’t tell you that, did she?”

With a snarl, I slam him backward again, his head ricocheting off the trunk. His teeth clack with the force, and a trickle of blood flows down his chin. Before I can end him, he manages to speak.

“You kill me, this recording goes straight to my boss and the PIG” He brandishes his tablet. “That’s a little trick I learned from Linx.”

Shit. I drop him, and his knees give way, landing him face-first in the dirt. With an indignant growl he pulls himself upright, spitting dirt on the ground.

“My stepsister is a traitorous little whore. Remember that.”

I snarl again and he scrambles away.

“Kill me and this goes to the PIG. They won’t care that I’m dead, but they’d love an excuse to take down the Maverik heir. Stay out my way from now on, asshole.”

He drags himself away, casting uncertain glances over his shoulder, but I don’t move. I can’t.

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