Page 1 of Blood Bound (Blood Mafia 3)

Chapter One

Demi

“I didn’t kill him,” I say, tapping my foot. “The fucker wouldn’t let up about taking me. I threatened him, but I didn’t kill him. I’ve been with the vampires the entire time.”

I stare at the wolf, imploring her to believe me. She doesn’t intimidate me. I’ve been with scarier monsters than her. Regardless of how scary she ranks on the zero to Mateo scale, I want her to believe me. I didn’t kill Blaze. The last time I saw him he was scowling at me from the concrete. His hand held his neck together. I left him with a warning.

I didn’t leave him dead.

Iris moves her wise gaze to Mateo. “Is this true?”

Why is it she’d believe the vampire over me? I’m more worthy of trust than the blood sucker, right? I’m a hunter after all. Or perhaps that is precisely why she’s asking him. Maybe she truly believes I’d be so ruthless as to kill Blaze unprovoked.

Mateo nods. “She hasn’t left my sight.”

Iris narrows her eyes. “So you killed him with her.”

“No.” Mateo’s shoulders tense. He’s starting to get mad.

Hell, so am I.

I growl at the wolf—who by the way, does indeed smell like a dog—because while I’ve learned to contain most of my insane reactions, there are some limits to my control. Apparently, a wolf blaming me of murder crosses that shaky threshold.

Grayson snorts softly at Iris’s reaction.

The wolf bares her teeth at me in answer. “The price for Blaze’s death is her life.”

Mateo shakes his head. “Demi didn’t kill him.”

Iris snarls. “Your lies taste like wilted violets. Kill her before I do.”

Kill me?

Excuse the fuck out of me but how did we get from suspecting Blaze is dead to killing me? Where’s the body? Is she really going to push this? I don’t think Iris knows who she’s messing with. I won’t let her stand there and threaten me based on a suspicion.

If I kill her, that’ll solve all of my problems.

No, no. Demi, you cannot kill a wolf elder.

I scowl at the unwelcome voice of reason and the wolf sneers at me, taking it to mean I’m glaring at her.

Mateo gives me a searching look. He’s not concealing his worry. He’s looking at me like I’m a bottle rocket about to explode in his face. I ball my hands into fists. I’m not so out of control that I’d kill a wolf elder.

You sure about that?

Stupid fucking voice. Red bleeds into my vision and my skin starts to itch. I need to hunt. The threat from these wolves is unsettling my delicate hunter sensibilities.

“Demi,” Colt warns.

Even he suspects the worst of me. I won’t kill Iris, but who’s to say I can’t kill one of the other wolves?

The wolves prowl forward, emitting low vibrations from their chests as though they feel a ripple of threat in the air. They’re not wrong.

The cars streaming by don’t seem to notice the gathering of supernatural creatures nor the tension simmering between us. I haven’t seen any pedestrians, which means if I do decide to attack someone, I won’t have to worry about bystanders.

This might be the perfect time to hit Iris… maybe a slap or two.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mateo flash. I bring my eyebrows together.

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