Page 76 of Coerced

“Spin took Maddy for a lesson on detecting Diabolical trails.” He motioned to the metal pot. “You done with this?”

“Yeah.”

“Gemma and the others went with them.” He dumped the rest of the water on the embers. “Just you and me to take down the tents.”

“Huh.” The good side of my mouth quirked up. “They left you alone with the monster? They must not like you very much.”

Instead of answering, he stood and went to work and, after a second, I followed. My mind emptied as I concentrated on making sure the tents were packed up right, and it was only much, much later I realized what Rome had done for me that morning. At the time, though, I was only conscious of being almost calm by the time we finished.

At least, I was until Gigi ’ported in.

“We walked into the trap!” she shouted. “Hurry!”

#

Rome

Kerry took off in a storm of blue sparks, and I rolled my eyes. He had a watcher right here to teleport him, and he ran? Didn’t he have any common sense?

It wouldn’t have been a good idea to touch him right now,replied my own common sense.

“Let’s go.” I held out my hand.

“But what about K—”

“Powered up like he was, he might beat us there. Especially if we stand here talking instead of—”

Gigi grabbed my hand and we popped into a clearing of yellowed grass and shrubby weeds where our group stood in a loose triangle with Spin at the apex. The logical part of me noted it was not the best formation, but possibly the only alternative when no warrior was present.

The rest of my attention was riveted on the woman across the field.

From her silky black hair to her dusky skin, she had the kind of allure that would have started wars in ancient days. Her long gray coat was belted tight around her small waist and its huge fur collar should have made her look ridiculous, but it only enhanced the delicate bones of her face. She was every poets’ vision of loveliness, and the Diabolical stench that rolled off of her nearly made me gag.

Out of sheer instinct, I avoided her eyes and looked at the two monstrosities flanking her. One had been a hyena and the other a male mandrill that had to weigh sixty or seventy pounds. Both pawed at the ground with crazed eyes and, for some reason, I found them far less dangerous than the woman holding their leashes.

Right then, Kerry pounded up to me. Wow. He reallyhadalmost beaten us there.

“Why aren’t the others doing anything?” Gigi gestured at our friends.

“She’s a succubus,” Kerry explained. “They probably looked into her eyes. Once the fight starts, she’ll be distracted enough to release them.”

“Looks like we found what killed that human hiker,” I muttered.

“Yeah. I’d bet on the monkey thing,” he said.

“It’s a mandrill. I think you’re right.”

“What are they?” Gigi’s upper lip curled as she watched them.

“Monstrosities.” I called up my blades, then rolled my shoulders to loosen up. “Lesser demons and devils fused with animals. They follow no orders and are of little use other than as chaos soldiers and distractions.”

“I hate when they use animals.” Kerry spat on the ground. “At least they ain’t dogs.”

“At least they’re notbears,” I retorted. “Orlions.”

“It isn’t about size, dummy. I can kill a bear or a lion, but I like dogs.” He manifested his katana. “You wanna take her and I’ll get the animals, or the other way around?”

“Which of you is the miracle worker?” the woman demanded in a throaty voice.

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