Page 25 of The Satyr's Guilt
Thorn’s shoulder-length brown hair was stillwet. Obviously, he was fresh from a shower. Claw marks marred hisjaw, an injury from before his Awakening. His bright golden iriseswith black pupils were common enough for wolf shifters, but deadlycold on the Firebrand. All in all, the vibe screameddon’t fuckwith me.
“Did I disturb your workout?” Kole asked.Not that he gave a shit. When he wanted a meeting, it happened.
“No. I’d finished. I washed off, though.Figured I’d smell better.”
“Thanks. Hope you dried off well. Nothingworse than the odor of wet dog.”
Thorn grinned, shaking his hair like asoaked canine, sending water droplets flying. Probably just toirritate Kole. Everything got under his skin today. An irritatedanimus demon who could call hellfire was not good.
Galena popped in behind Thorn. “Hey, Wolfy.Getchur hunking ass outta the doorway.” She shoved him aside.
“I thought you liked my ass.”
“Love it.” She pinched a glute. “Tight.Perfect.”
“Thanks. It’s all those cheek crunches.” Theshifter selected a wall to lean against, his bulky arms crossingover his chest. Well-worn cowboy boots fitted out his feet. Noshitkickers for Thorn. Rumor said he owned a Western hat but savedit for when he rode horses at his recently purchased Montana ranch.Kole heard the place was as big as a small country.
Throwing herself into a chair, Galenapropped combat boots on her boss’s desk. With her endless legs cladin ripped jeans and her belly-revealing muscle shirt, she was agreat-looking female. And a fierce fighter. She made big malesscream aunt. After which, she broke their arms for grins andgiggles.
“Who we waiting for?” she asked.
Kole stacked papers off to the side of hisdesk. “Ram. Hey, Bounty…”
“The satyr will be stomping into your officein a sec. He just closed the locker room door.”
Ram’s deep voice filtered in from Bounty’soffice. “Gorgeous. You look scrumptious as always.”
“I know. It makes you hard, doesn’t it?You’ll have to do me some other day. Commander Cranky awaits.”
Ram entered laughing but wiped the cheer offhis face when he confronted Kole’s frown.
“Fantastic! You have time to flirt with mysecretary.”
“Executive assistant,” yelled Bounty.
Ram shrugged before he aided Thorn inkeeping the wall upright.
“We’ve got problems. If we don’t solve themsoon, our nuts will be in a grinder.” Kole’s gaze flipped toGalena. “You know what I mean.”
“No balls here, but I feel your pain,Comm.”
“Glad to hear it. You and Thorn fill us inon New Orleans. It’s looking like a worse shitstorm thanusual.”
Galena bobbed her head. “Wolfy and hispartner Rod were first on the scene the other night. Bloody mess.Thorn’s dumbass boots got splattered with the shit.” She paused towatch the shifter polish the toe of one on his pant leg. “A deadincubus looked as if two wildings used him for a wishbone.” Shewaved a hand at Thorn to carry on the dialogue.
“Word. The dead male got off a panic call tohis home while he was being attacked. He didn’t conversate muchbefore his phone died. It was found at the scene, by the way,smashed to perdition. Dad called Firebrand central. Then the actiongot passed to Rod and me. Galena’s right. Somebody did a goodslasher routine on him after a bullet to the brain. We took photos.Director Alarik sent his brainiacs to examine the locale. Afterwhich, the cleaners got busy. We’ll know more when we get the labreport.”
“Ram, you’re up. Talk.” Kole slammed hiselbows onto his desk.
“Tyr and I had a fun time. A female demon,Hannya, was injured but not badly. She and her boneheaded breedlover traipsed into New Orleans for a little fun, having stolen theparental jumper. On the return trip, they were pounced on by threehuman males.”
“Humans for sure?” Thorn fiddled with hisbolo tie.
“Yeah. After grilling bonehead and date, Irode through the Whorl. On the other end, the Earthers werewaiting, guns firing. When I cloaked, they scurried away like rats.Tyr joined me for the after-chase.”
“So they’re locked in the Cubes?” Galenasnorted, probably having heard the story.
Ram smirked. “No, but you see, they ran intoa movie theatre. Since my favorite flick was on the big screen, Tyrand I got some buttered popcorn and flopped into seats to watch theending. What the fuck, Galena. Fire me. We lost them on the crowdedstreets. The city’s crazy during Mardi Gras.”
