Page 56 of The Firebrand
Then the blocking spell he had used on the attackers shimmered and fell. They had spread too far apart for Rein to maintain it.
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Jaxdirected the warlock and two demons to take the Firebrand. Braelyn was his. He angled his head to study the female. Terror seeped from her pores. Feeding from her lifeforce, laced with fear, would be delicious. He worked to the left. Right. He laughed, watching her bounce from side to side as she followed his moves.
Playtime over, Jax advanced for the easy take-down, locking onto her wrist. Instead of pulling away as expected, she leaned toward him, flexing her elbow, jamming it downward. Then she launched her arm upward. His hold broke.
What the hell?
When he powered toward her again, he gripped her throat in his left hand. She spun, bringing both forearms crashing into his arm. Then she jabbed an elbow into his esophagus. Coughing, he released her neck, doubling over. Another unexpected action.
Spike-heeled boots should have impeded the human’s maneuverability, but she was fast, agile. Had she trained in the military?
When he charged again, she waved her hands, a wild distraction. While he chuckled at her antics, her foot snapped out to connect with his nuts.
Oomph. Sonofabitch.
His balls were on fire. Clutching his genitals, he stumbled away, wanting to curl up in a fetal position.
When he straightened, she reached out with her leg to pop a high sidekick to his jaw. He staggered onto his heels. Before he caught his balance, she spun and punched a boot to his nads again. This time, he fell to the ground, cradling his groin.
Fucking bitch.
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Notwaiting for his three attackers to charge, Rein first launched himself at the warlock to prevent him from casting a spell. He swiveled the male around, locking a forearm to his neck while stabbing him in the chest. The mage, no challenge for a Firebrand-trained vampire mix, ate dirt before he could wiggle a finger.
Quick work.
The two demons backed up as if reassessing his strength. Crouching, Rein swung a foot out to knock bigger dickwad onto the ground. With lightning speed, he pounded a fist into the fucker’s nose until it broke. When his fangs dropped, he resisted the urge to feed. Instead, he planted his palms on the attacker’s temples and twisted.Pop.The body crumpled. When he tossed the head aside, it rolled, blood splattering like a Jackson Pollock.
He glanced at Braelyn.
Doin’ okay.
The second demon did a one-eighty, beating feet.Easy prey.Rein flashed to him, driving a blade through his heart. For good luck, he slashed through the guy’s neck, catching a strong whiff of the male’s scent.
His scent. I recognize it.
Freeing his knife with a firm yank, he wiped demon gore onto his pants.
Three down. The incubutt to go.
Braelyn was holding her own, but the incubus had her on the ground in a hammerlock.Odd. The male wasn’t trying to kill her.Why?He was feeding, his fingers a light touch on her back.
Rein clutched both of Jax’s shoulders, digging his thumbs into nerves. He propelled him off Braelyn and into a wall.
“Ready to pick on someone your own size, Jaxson?” Rein’s fangs punched out, a roar thundering from deep within him.
Fear sparked in the male’s eyes as he squared off, taking a wide stance. When Jax approached, a grin spread across the idiot’s face.
Rein allowed the incubus to fist the neck of his T-shirt to rip it open. Jax rested a hand on the Firebrand’s bared chest, directly over his heart.
Nothing. Nada.
“What’s wrong? Can’t you drain my lifeforce?” Rein pinpointed the male with a cold, glacial stare.
Jax cocked his head, retreated a step, paled.
