Page 66 of Ruin

Connor placed a hand over my stomach, holding me back. “Let them go in first.” He nodded to the waiting men and wolves. I snarled at him, but before I’d even completed my sound of defiance, he was standing over me, his palms planted firmly against the wall on either side of my head. His eyes flashed dangerously. “You aremineto keep safe. And it has taken all my willpower to allow you to be by my side, knowing you are hunted by Satan himself. Listen to me, so that I can keep you safe, or I will drag you kicking and screaming from this place if I have to.”

My indignation left me, and my whole body leaned towards him. I kissed him softly, hoping he could feel my understanding. Despite his power and strength, I felt just the same way about his safety. But an alpha like him, a king of his kind, wouldn’t accept that protection from me. “I will.” I nodded to the door and gave him a crooked smile and a cheeky wink. “But let’s go kill us some demons, huh? You can make me kick and scream later.”

He gave me his bad boy grin, grabbed my hand and pushed me behind his bulk as we entered. The men were waiting for us. Kawan’s eyes glowed in the flickering lights; lights that soon went out. Alex had reached the generator room. I prayed to the Mother to keep him safe.

Kawan padded ahead, leading the men through the dark corridors of the prison. We were all shifters, so seeing in the dark was possible as we crept over debris and stepped around dead and decaying bodies. The stench was horrendous, and my stomach heaved.

I squealed as something crashed down through the ceiling tiles. Eight big Weres landed among us, blocking escape from any direction. One landed behind me. I grinned over my shoulder, hung my bow in its holder and cracked my neck. Calling fire to my arms and hands, I stepped forward.

Connor roared and leapt in front of me.

“Hey!” I yelled, pissed that he’d stolen my kill.

He just turned his huge head back towards me and snarled, baring the biggest fangs I’d ever seen.Okaaay…It seemed Connor and Prime had embraced his Hell-beast and fae side, and rolled them into one terrifying creature. And I wasnotgoing to argue with him. His reflective red eyes flashed with bright blue and remained narrowed on me. He added a deeper growl. I rolled my eyes. “Fine!” I stepped back and let him take on the Were, though I kept my fire swirling around my hands.

Behind me snarls, growls and the pop of silenced weapons sounded. I glanced over my shoulder. Kawan and the others had overpowered the Werewolves, one of the men with a sword decapitating them. Grimacing, I turned away from the gruesome sight and back to Connor. He stalked forward one step at a time. My brows dipped. The Were just stood frozen, ensnared in Connor’s predatory, burning gaze, not even trying to move. The Were’s eyes widened, and he dropped his gaze just as a sharp pungent scent hit me.

Fear.

Mea growled and Fire surged through me. Everyone behind us stilled and watched this formidable and dangerous creature approach the demon possessed werewolf. Connor had subdued it with nothing more than a look. He emitted a deep snarl and bared his fangs, drool dripping from his jaws. Goosebumps shivered over my skin. Connor would never hurt me, neither would Prime, but I wasn’t sure how much of Connor’s humanity was in the King of Weres right now.

I am still here…

I gasped at the voice in my head. It was Connor, with the deep growling quality of the King.But this demon does not deserve my humanity or mercy. The only way to free these trapped souls without the Halo is to kill the demon and send it back to its master in Hell while I compel the shifter and human souls to find their afterlife.

Connor slowly straightened his muscular and frightening body. Darkness swirled around him, following his every move.

The werewolf trembled as Connor loomed over him. At least eight feet tall, his head brushed the ceiling, his body swollen with unyielding muscle under a fine covering of ebony fur. Ensnaring his prey with his gaze, he growled and leaned forward. The Were dropped to its knees. It didn’t take a genius to know Connor controlled the Were’s movements. The demon might have taken control after the Were had died, but the shifter inside still responded without question to the superior power of its king.

Connor grabbed either side of the Were’s head.“I set you free. Go back to the Mother...”He growled out, his voice demonic and low. I could hear the shock in the gasps from the others. No other shifter could speak that clearly in a half-shift, but I think we were all realising Connor was no longer just Prime, but far, far more. The sickening snap of bone made me flinch, but he was right, there was no choice. Even if we had the man-power to take prisoners, we couldn’t use the Halo, not without ending up in Hell, and there was no way I’d lose Connor to that place ever again.

After lowering the body gently to the ground, Connor changed back, clothes and weapons intact. He stalked over to me and I was as ensnared by his beautiful sunset spangled blue eyes as that damned Were had been. I gulped at the raw power I felt caressing my skin. He looked down at the fire still burning around me and took hold of my hand in his before lifting his other and running his finger down my cheek. Without a word he took my mouth in a swift and hungry kiss. A low growl rumbled up through his chest. “Don’t put yourself at risk when I’m here to protect you.”

My mouth dropped open at his soft yet demanding words. Without giving me a chance to utter a suitably snippy response, he turned me around and pushed me gently towards the others. To a man, they all had a look of awe on their faces as their king strode past them and towards his brother. He glared at three male shifters. “You three bring up the rear. Nothing gets near her. Do you understand?” His eyes flared red, and they dropped their gazes, quick to respond.

“Yes, Sir,” they all barked simultaneously.

I rolled my eyes, but my gaze went straight back to my lover’s impressive behind as he stalked forward, strength in every movement of his body. Heat flashed through my body and I threw off my thick, goose down coat. A waste, but I couldn’t fight in it. I blew air over my hot cheeks. Surely, it had never been this hot in this place before?

“You're here to shut that rift to Hell, Firecracker,” Connor threw over his shoulder, waiting for me to catch up to him, like he couldn’t stand to be too far away from me. “That doesn’t mean putting yourself at risk beforehand, not if you don’t need to.” It was hard to be angry with him when he engulfed my small hand in his, and brought it to his lips, kissing it. I just nodded my head mutely. He was going to be so angry with me when I executed my plan, but there was no way I was going to stand back and let everyone fight for me.

“Good. Move out.” At his order the others moved forward through the dark.

Connor released my hand but murmured, “Stay close to me, love. I’ll destroy anything that seeks to harm you.”

Swallowing hard, I met Kawan’s wolf eyes. My brother, because that’s what he was now that Connor had claimed me as his mate, shook his head and huffed before turning and trotting away in front. Yeah, he was right, there was no point in trying to argue with this hyper protective version of Connor. I was his mate as much as he was mine. Opening my mind to my mate I sensed his determination and focus to succeed, but also the underlying fear and love he carried for me. He glanced back again, and his gentle smile, which was so in contrast to his hard outer demeanor, knocked the breath from my lungs. He was stunning, especially in the midst of a damn battle, with his clothes moulded to his muscles and that defined ass…

A huge explosion rocked the reinforced concrete building and I slammed my hand against the wall to keep my balance as dust fell from the ceiling. I shook my head. Where in the hell did my head just go? Damn it, this was not the time to get distracted by my sexy-as-fuck mate.

The rumble stopped. I breathed a sigh of relief, thankful the building hadn’t collapsed on our heads. Stone and the small force he had with him, including Jed and his men, were supposed to hunt down the other prisoners, as well as the women and babies. Connor didn’t trust Jed and refused to have him with us.

After I fell over yet another rotting corpse, I swore under my breath. “Bugger this!” The ball of flame I pulled up lit the corridor with a kaleidoscope of coloured flames.

Connor glanced back at me.

I shrugged. “What? They know we’re here. No point in tripping and breaking an ankle, now is there?”

Connor smirked. “None whatsoever.”

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