Page 37 of Mesmerised

“I’d like that.” His eyes had gone misty.

I cocked my head to one side in question.

“See?” he whispered. “The Fates definitely picked the right partners if we both love ice cream.”

“You could be right,” I whispered back.

When we reached the top of the stairs, I noted two other cars had joined the first one. I stiffened. Antoine noticed the change in me instantly. My eyes were fixed on the cars at the far side of the pull-in.

“What is it?” he hissed, as he looked around in search of danger.

“Those cars… I can’t explain it, but something’s not right.”

My senses were on full alert now. A compulsion to walk to the cars hit me full-on. My legs moved that way of their own volition.

“Hey.” Antoine caught me by the arm. “Stay back. It could be dangerous.”

“Maybe, but I have a need to check it out.”

“Donna, I don’t like this. You’re only partly protected by my venom. There could be lesser demons or familiars in them.”

“Can we get away from them?” Chills and gooseflesh covered my skin.

“If we leave now. I think it’s time we headed back.” His eyes had gone dark. A warrior ready to do battle. “I could fight whatever’s in the vehicles, but that would leave you unprotected.”

“I’m not sure if this means anything, but I caught a weird smell as we turned onto the coast road.” My eyes narrowed, still fixed on the car.

“What sort of smell?”

I shrugged. “A bit like rotten eggs. I thought maybe it was just coming in off the sea.”

“Fuck. That means demons.” He reached for his phone.

“What are you doing? Shouldn’t we get going?”

He grabbed my hand, headed for the bike, and swore loudly. The tyres had been slashed. My fear started to escalate. I heard the car doors slam shut. Eight people—well, they looked like people—strode towards us.

I gripped Antoine’s hand. “Can we fly away?”

He grimaced, shaking his head. “There are demons with them. They can chase us.”

He punched a number into his phone.

“What are you doing?”

He pushed me behind him. “Calling reinforcements.”

My stomach hit the floor as the rotten egg stench grew more pronounced the closer they came to us. They were growling and hissing. Jesus, what was going to happen to us?

ChapterThirteen

Antoine

This was going to be complete carnage if we didn’t get help. I could protect Donna for so long, but there were eight of them. The familiars would be easy to put down, but with four lesser demons too… that was going to take a little more work. And I still had to keep my mate safe. For the first time in my long life, I felt the bitter sting of fear.

I called Luca. He answered on the second ring.

“What’s up? Having trouble with your woman?”

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