Her heart thundered against her ribs as she rose to her feet.

Less than five minutes after they were ambushed inside the warehouse, the fight was over.

She jumped down from the container, walked over to where Tarang loomed threateningly over the man who’d survived his attack, and kicked his gun out of reach.

Cortes dropped lightly to the ground and followed the sound of groaning into the main area of the warehouse. The only other survivor swore when the sorcerer stepped on the hand he was using to weakly lift a gun. Cortes leveled the muzzle of his firearm at the enemy’s skull, his expression icy.

Popo landed on his shoulder with a threatening squawk.

Motion near the entrance caught Delphine’s eye as she joined the sorcerer. She swung her gun around in a double-handed grip, her aim rock steady.

“Woah!” TheBlack Devilsguard who’d entered the building froze and raised his hands defensively.

Delphine relaxed a fraction. It was the driver she’d been talking with.

She holstered her weapon as the rest of Vlad’s men appeared.

“You got rid of the van?”

The guard grimaced. “We did. But they’re all dead.”

“We got a couple of survivors.” Delphine looked down at the tiger who’d appeared beside her. “Although I’m not sure how long the guy he took down will last.”

Tarang made a pleased sound and rubbed against her leg.

Delphine’s scalp prickled. “Where’s your master?”

The familiar huffed, his tail drooping a little.

Delphine twisted on her heels, her chest tight with dread. “Vlad?!”

“I’m here,” the incubus said from somewhere atop the container.

Relief loosened the knot in her belly. “Why aren’t you coming down?”

Cortes looked equally puzzled as he joined her, theBlack Devilstaking charge of the attacker he’d pinned down.

“I have a situation.”

Concern quickened Delphine’s pulse once more. She took a couple of steps forward. “Are you hurt?!”

There was a moment’s hesitation.

“Don’t laugh,” Vlad warned.

Delphine and Cortes exchanged a confused frown.

A heavy sigh came from the top of the container. “I got shot in the ass.”

Delphine blinked. She bit her lip hard.

Cortes’s face crumpled. He twisted on his heels, his shoulders quaking as he tried to muffle his snorts.

A couple of theBlack Devilsmen made choked sounds.

“I can hear you guys laughing!” Vlad snarled.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN