Page 16 of The Firebrand
Rein rocketed up, happy to get out of the small office before Kole started lobbing fire orbs at his balls.
The commander trailed Rein to the sitting area where Braelyn looked up when the door opened.
He parked himself against the wall while Kole stationed himself in the doorframe, his shoulders so epic the guy had to turn sideways. He cocked his head, studying the human, her eyes wide, gaze plastered on the animus demon. Probably because he was so fucking big. Or scary.
“She’s a pretty thing,” said Kole.
“She’s okay.” Rein was lying, but if he said it enough times, he could believe it.
“Now what? Just how much of our realm are you going to let her see? We can’t kill humans except in exigent circumstances. Has she threatened you?” Kole scrubbed an angry fist across his head. “No, that’s crazy. Ignore me. What an f-ing problem.” Sparks shot between his fingers. He clenched his fists to contain the flames.
Kole’s pause was Rein’s opportunity to disappear. “Whatever. I’ll leave her with you.” He pushed away from the wall, about to walk.
“Whoa,freron.” Kole held Rein in place with a beefy hand on his arm. “I know one thing. Until you find a solution to the memory problem, you stick to her like Gorilla Glue. You found her. You keep her. Another thing, you better keep her safe. Not so much as a hair ruffled. I got a good look at the female, and she’s gonna leave Scath in the same healthy state she arrived. Do you read me?”
Rein glared at his commander.
“No blood sucking, no warlock spells, no charming her pants off.”
“I’m not known for my charm.”
The animus demon’s arms crossed over his chest. “Keep it that way, ’cause she’s yours to protect.”
“Fuck no!” Fangs bared, Rein spun toward Kole.
“What did you say? Did you just drop your pearly whites on me?”
Before Rein could react, Kole grabbed his shoulders and slammed him into the wall so hard it cracked.The commander’s fingers flared, tendrils of sparks flying everywhere. “I know I didn’t hear a ‘fuck no,’ because nobody countermands my orders.” Demon fire threatened to turn him into crispy vampire bacon. “Listen to me carefully. Then do what I say. Handle it!”
A deep, feral growl arose from Rein’s chest. Every inch of his uncontrolled, savage nature prepped to challenge Kole, to take him down. His muscles coiled, he licked his fangs, and his gaze locked on the commander’s neck. This could be the real one-on-one he had wondered about, and he was feeling aW, a big win.
“Well?” Kole’s fiery amber eyes focused on Rein. “Go on. Just try me.”
But the loyal Scion Firebrand retracted his sharp canines, relaxed his muscles, leashed his anger. Kole was right. The human was his responsibility. “I’ll deal with the problem.”
Kole banged Rein’s head against the wall one last time, probably for emphasis, before he contained the sparks flaring from his hands. He glanced at Braelyn, who had hunkered down into the couch, mouth open and a stare fixed on the two Firebrands. “Now see, you scared the little female. Handle it.”
Rein brushed ashes from his shirt. “Damn, Kole. This was a fav. You burned holes in it.”
“The order stands.” The demon did not apologize for his outburst or the holes as he stalked toward his office.
“I’ll drop her in the Cubes. She can sit in a cell,” said Rein to Kole’s back.
“A cell in the Cubes? Gaffers as babysitters? Not a human. Like glue, Rein.” The commander hadn’t bothered to turn around.
“Okay. I’ll take her by Alarik’s. He can find a safe place.”
“Whatever. Just remember, she’s yours no matter where you stash her. You hear me,freron? Now, get the hell out of here before I get pissed.”
Rein slammed the door so hard the glass almost shattered. Braelyn jumped. Nobody else in the building would pay attention to a little noise. Interpersonal relations were always dicey among the Scion Firebrands. Tempers and fighting were SOP. Kole’s hands-on discipline was SOP. Because face it, every day the demon had to deal with a bunch of asshole hotheads with too much testosterone. That included the female warriors.
Rein stomped up to Braelyn, his boots snappish like his temper. He flicked his right hand.There! That should brighten Kole’s dreary life. I just made her safe and sound.
Braelyn flinched, rubbing her arms as if an icy chill traveled through her, the sure sign of a spell. He’d fed his mage when he’d drawn energy from her to cast it. And her energy tasted damn good, probably as succulent as her blood.
“I have to pick up a bag in the locker room. I’ll be back. Keep sitting. Don’t move.” Rein couldn’t contain the snarl.
“Yes, sir. Your very wish is my command.” As Braelyn popped up off the couch despite Rein’s order to stay seated, she saluted by giving him the bird.
