Page 121 of The Firebrand
Rein eyeballed Brae, who watched from her cell, still seated, her eyes expressionless but fixed on his actions.
Inhaling the scent, Rein stared at the blood on the cement floor, the mangled body of the sloth demon, and his blade. He swiped the knife across his shirt to wipe off the gore.
Dax and Jezzi passed him in the corridor, dragging three wounded guards. Chay paced behind them, shrugging when he saw Rein. “The others decided they’d rather die than face interrogation or the justices. Too bad, but it was fun while it lasted. By the way, there are a bunch more cells filled with humans. Big operation.”
With the stockade clear of guards, Rein stood in front of Brae’s cell, wiping blood from his hands. “You’re too quiet.”
She was still cross-legged on the concrete, watching the show. “Maybe I’m having a nervous breakdown.”
“I doubt it.”
“You’re right. Open the damn door.”
When he spelled the lock, Brae unfolded from the floor. After he whipped off his shirt to slip it over her head, she surprised him by throwing her arms around his neck.
“Thanks.”
“You never have to thank me, Brae.”
With her clutched to his side, they walked into the center area.
Jezzi contained the captured guards in D-chip bonds while the remaining Firebrands dealt with the Earthers in the cages.
Chay had wrapped a bare-footed Brandon in a wool blanket. The kid was chatting with Kole when Braelyn and Rein joined them. “Seventeen,” he responded when asked his age.
“What was going on here, son?” the commander asked as he eyed the shaky teenager.
“The best I can figure? Human trafficking. I saw a video on it in government class.”
“That confirms Ulfur’s statement. Can we have some water over here?” Kole shouted.
With a nod, Brandon accepted a bottle from Tyr. “This place sucks big time. Rapists paid to get into the cells. Some prisoners, like Emily,” the teen pointed to the body Ram cradled in his arms, “died. Sometimes, I heard guards say so-and-so’s been bought. Next thing, they’re dragged out.”
“Go sit on the bench over there.” Kole motioned for Jezzi to walk with the teenager to a seat.
Brandon flashed her a sexy, high school quarterback grin as she steadied him with a hand on his elbow.
“I’m too old for you, kid.” The panther shifter cleared the air immediately. “But you’ll break other hearts for sure.”
“Say, what kind of creatures are you guys?”
Not answering the question, Kole yelled, “Do we have anybody else who is coherent enough to talk?”
Brandon spun around. “Oh, one more thing. Funny thing. They tested our blood. Were they checking for diseases?”
Kole squeezed his chin between a thumb and index finger. “That makes no sense.”
Ram gentled Emily’s corpse onto the concrete floor, took off his shirt, and covered her naked, ravaged body. Kat, a witch with necromancy skills, knelt beside the satyr, taking up Emily’s palm. She closed her eyes to access the human’s recent memories.
Kat patted the female’s hand, noting the ragged, torn nails. She returned it to rest beside her body. Sighing, the witch said, “She was a fighter. Pretty girl. We’ll make sure she gets cleaned up and properly buried.”
“Fucking dicks. How could they treat human females this way when they’re so fragile? It’s sick.” Ram shook his head, taking a step back.
Kat threw an arm over his shoulder. “Come on, stud. Let’s go see who else we can help.”
Braelyn pulled away from Rein’s firm hold, faltering briefly as she stared at Emily. He stood shoulder-to-shoulder alongside her in case she needed the support.
Resting her head on Rein’s upper arm, she said, “A man who spoke with a drawl, Kur, I think, took money from two guys who did this, Commander Kole.”
