Page 105 of The Demon's Fire
“Right.” Skyler white-knuckled the lamp. She surprised him by lifting onto her toes to kiss him, her tongue sweeping inside his mouth. When she released him, she offered a wicked smile. “There’s more where that came from.” She turned, eyed the ground, and walked toward the dark.
Kole rubbed a palm over his mouth still warm from her delicious lips while he strode to the edge of the opening. He couldn’t see anything, but he was certain the demon call to battle had sounded. He’d wait and watch.
ChapterTwenty-Five
Dermottfaced Mount Exile, jittery. The female was there. He would get his due before he earned the money for her capture.
Once his crew had packed up, broken camp, and sounded the battle horn, Mowart pointed uphill. “They’re that way. I trailed Kole until he disappeared behind a waterfall. I’m guessin’ a cave’s there. Doubt he’s still alive. The gagans did a number on him even though he downed the six of them. With the poison racing through him, it will have been a slow death. If he’s still standing, he won’t have any fight left. We can snatch the female easily.”
Dermott called the demons to his side. “You heard Mowart. We go up the mountain. Kill the bastard Kole if he’s still breathing. The female’s mine first. After I’m done with her, we turn her in for the pay.”
He gestured to Uwrick, who hung back to focus on maintaining his spell. “Follow us about halfway up the mountain to make sure you keep interrupting their signals.”
With the sun barely lighting the dawn sky, Dermott’s band began their ascent. They reached the river. Eventually, as the terrain grew steeper and rockier, they climbed steadily upward, their toughened hands clutching protruding stone while they secured footholds in the crevices.
His claws erupting from his fingertips in anticipation, Dermott led the pack. Filled with rage since the outcome of the Genesis Rite, he envisioned a blade in Kole’s chest and the human female beneath his body as he finally got what he had been denied.
****
Reinpeeked over Brak’s shoulder while the young carnal demon, propped on one knee, touched the ashes of the fire. “Still warm.”
Jez changed to her two-legged form, comfortable with her nudity like all shifters. “Look. Midway up the mountain. I make them to be demons.”
Rein tested his D-chip. “Not working now. Double-time it to the small meadow ahead. Obviously, we’re close. Ram, give an assist to Hason. Kid, hitch onto me.”
“Your commander couldn’t have found a hide-out easier to get to?” asked Nico. Everyone glared at him before they charged up the mountain. “What? Cause I’m the new guy and human to boot, I shouldn’t have an opinion?”
Sabine punched his arm before she raced off, Nico on her ass.
Rein snarled, wondering if the guy pissed him off because he had kissed Braelyn.Nah.He was just a sonofabitch, meaning he should fit in fine with the Firebrands. “Come on, Knox, I’ll help you hoof it faster.”
When the Firebrands reached the small meadow, they were breathing hard. Hason and Knox were also panting. Kudos to Nico. He was in great shape for a human. “Feel anything yet, kid?” asked Rein.
The young warlock pushed out a palm as if he were tasting the air. His body started to quiver. “Y-Y-Yes. A spell is being used nearby.”
“You’re on deck, Hason.” Finally, something was about to happen. The search and wait were the worst.
No longer winded and without waving a hand, breaking a sweat, or lifting an eyebrow, the ancient Hason raised a proud chin. “Do whatever you must. Your devices will work now. The mage is Uwrick. I negated his magic. And do not worry, I will restrain his abilities until you secure him. He will be unable to break through my forcefield.”
“Kid, can you pinpoint the mage’s location?” asked Rein.
“Yes. T-T-That way.” Knox pointed a shaky finger toward a boulder just ahead.
When Brock and Tyr pounded uphill toward the rock, a male ran out from behind his hidey-hole, waving his hands wildly, trying to draw the attention of the demons. But they were far away and not looking to the rear.
“I’ve got him,” Brak shouted, launching his humongous body into space, tackling Uwrick.
After rubbing the warlock’s face into the ground a few times, Brak grabbed the male’s neck and hoisted him onto his feet. When the Firebrand touched his chip, he encased Uwrick in a clear shield, his body rigid, his arms pinned to his sides. The mage’s powers were as contained as he was in the portable jail cell.
Brak chuckled. “Gotcha, you warlicky asshole. Now don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back.”
The carnal demon Firebrand joined hisfrerons, who were climbing at a fast pace, closing in on the demons ahead of them.
****
Daxleaned against the wall in the Ministry of Well Being’s medical facility while the healer tested blood samples from the two humans he had rescued. Commander Jarek had called for an assist, and Rein had sent him for the task. Dax questioned whether he was the best Firebrand for the assignment, but the vamp mix had just glared. Dax shrugged and said, “Your call.”
A bludfrenzied vamp had shackled the first human beneath his home. The slaver tried to stop the Scion Firebrand from entering his house, but Dax grabbed him by the throat, lifting him until his feet dangled off the floor. With his other hand placed to the side of the head, he broke the guy’s neck. Feeling no remorse, Dax drew his jungle bolo from a back sheath and decapitated the male. He kicked the body aside.
