Page 42 of Orion: Galaxy Huntress

Oh, hell, no. I did not like this woman. Did not care for her.

My heart made a disappointed hiss.

Dammit, I was a demon. Didn’t know the first thing about caring for someone. Selfish was my game. Deceitful bastard, my middle name. I was not in the middle of some mid-life crisis where I got all soft over a woman to the point I acted selfless.

Fuck. But I had. I’d sent out my men to find Orion, and they’d reported her location. Except I didn’t have the courage to come free her. Ace did, though. He was the hero in this story. I was just the good little demon that did what Dad said.

“Where’s the woman you kidnapped?” Ace growled, doing his best Liam Neeson, and I raised an eyebrow, impressed at his effort.

The vampire pulled the door behind her, leaving it slightly ajar as he came to step outside like he was about to whoop our asses. Time to leave. My second attempt was also thwarted as Ace thumped a hand over my shoulder, keeping me in place.

“The star is ours now,” the pale waif of a creature hissed, stressing her sharp fangs. “She belongs to our master.”

“She’s a free fucking agent and you’re gonna release her right now or suffer the consequences.” Way to go, Ace. I was glad he was the mouthpiece. Smooth talking came easy when swindling but not when threatening.

Pity it didn’t sway the vampire who moved at him with incredible speed. The shifter caught the creature by the throat, squeezing harder than he ever had with me, then staked her in the chest. Fire crawled over her body, and he released her before she burned him. Ash piled at our feet, and he kicked at it.

“That was easy.” I wanted to slap my head at Ace’s speech. He sounded like one of those comedy duos from the sixties. Only this wasn’t a comedy. This was a deathedy. Death for us both. The shifter shoved the door open. “After you.”

Of course, he’d make me go first. Squeezing my suddenly bursting bladder, I readied my stakes and my dark magick. At the first sign of trouble, I was out of here. Gone. Having a drink at the bar, Orion forgotten.

“Your hands are obviously better,” I muttered, taking the lead.

The thought of leaving kitten to the mercy of the vampires crushed my heart. Damned Hell Kitty had gotten under my skin like no other. Crept into my heart like a damn virus with the way she threatened to gut me. Feisty little minx still owed me some kinky knife play. All in good time, though. When I rescued her. Fuck. Had I just said that? My mind was all over the place. Scared and encouraging me to bolt. Still scared but sticking around to save her.

Damnit to hell, I think I’m going to do this.

I nudged the door open with my boot and entered. No point in announcing myself. Dark magick gave me a quick layout of the place. Dining room at the front, with cozy fireplace to call on some hellfire if required. Avoid the adjacent kitchen with the fire extinguisher. Didn’t need that to quell the old flames. Hall with plenty of wood to go up in smoke if necessary. Vamps hated fire. Speaking of vamps, ten or so lounged out back, playing cards, fucking, or drinking from their slave fang bangers. Nerves roiled in my belly. At any second they’d be upon us, drinking down my demon blood like it was crack, and it’d be bye bye for old Vicey.

I turned around for the third time, bumping into Ace, who grabbed my shoulders, twisted me back, and shoved me forward.

Fucking mutt wouldn’t let me leave. I was stuck here now. Might as well make the best of it while it lasted before we died. I performed the last of my check, noting the

basement downstairs. Bingo! I didn’t make a sound, just pointed to the staircase. We quickly made our way downstairs, finding a strikingly handsome vampire with shoulder-length dark hair blocking our way into Orion’s locked cell.

Ace growled at him. “Let her the fuck out if you want to live.”

The vampire was out of the cell, his hand around Ace’s throat, the wolf pinned to the wall before I could get my next inhale. “You shouldn’t have come here.” His eyes burned red with warning.

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