Page 58 of The Demon's Fire
Unable to help a little show, he flexed his bicep, making the feathers quiver.
Margo scooted beside him and grabbed his shirt hem, pulling it over his head in a smooth, quick movement.
Chay assisted by raising his arms in the air. If the female wanted him naked, he was down with it.
Margo’s fingers traced the brand, her touch causing his muscles to twitch. “It’s beautiful. What’s it for?”
“It’s a Phoenix.”
“Duh. I’m aware. What’s it stand for?”
“The Scio … um … my unit.”
“Your unit. Are you in the military?
“Sort of.”
“Your answers aren’t going to cut it with me, handsome. Three people at my door claim to be from the Cleveland Clinic and are making a house call to get more blood. Bull. You tell me you are lab techs. Sure. You and miss beauty-queen, bodybuilder, all-legs girl. You take a knife away from me faster than I can say … hell. Really fast. Then your healer knocks me out with a touch. Bull. Bull. Mucho bull. Stinky and neck high. You’re not here to rape me. You’re not here to kill me, and I don’t have anything of value to steal. So, let’s have it.”
“I can’t tell you.” Chay angled his head, taking in her peaches-and-cream complexion, freckles, and green eyes. “I want to, Red.” His hand drifted to her thick hair. He rolled strands of it between his fingers. “And I like it when you touch me. I think you kinda like it, too.” His mouth moved close enough to feel the heat from her breath.
Margo planted her palms on his chest, pushing. “Okay, now you’re just pissing me off. Put it in reverse, buddy. You’re not getting a kiss from me.”
“I think I am.” Chay grinned. Despite what she said, her lips parted in invitation. He swept a lazy tongue across them, tasting, savoring, licking. Chay latched onto her red curls, fisting her hair, arching her neck. He swung a heavy leg over her thighs.
Before he could go hard and fast for the kiss, he snapped his gaze toward the door. A loud crash sounded as four large males slammed into the living room.
Chay jumped off the couch and leaped over the back. He beelined for a drawer in the kitchen. With a couple of the biggest knives in his hand, he sprinted to a now-standing Margo, shoving her behind him, shielding her with his body. He sidestepped them away from the attackers.
“Stay with me, hold on. Go in reverse when I do.” All business now, Chay cussed under his breath, wondering what he and Galena were thinking when they had decided to leave their weapons on Scath so as to keep the human comfortable.
Barking dumb idea.
Chay faced the Aeternals. A pride demon broke from the group to come forward while the other three spread out. Chay kept stepping away with Margo, her fists clasped tight to the waistband of his jeans.
The four invaders advanced, but Chay paid particular attention to the approaching demon. “Stop right there. I’m Scion Firebrand Chay. You are in violation of the Temple of Justice. Any attack will result in your deaths.”
“Fuck the Temple and fuck you,” said the demon.
Chay dodged left when the male lashed out with a blinding laser-like light intended to cut him in half. In avoiding the assault, Chay forced Margo to keep step with him. With unerring ylve aim, he threw the butcher knife at an angle. The force of it severed the male’s head.
As a second demon and the incubus came at Chay, the fourth member of the happy group, a warlock, cast a spell. With it, he pried Margo away.
Chay took his eyes off the two attackers in front of him to fling the last blade into the warlock’s heart before the male could flick his wrist a second time.
With the ylve Firebrand’s attention momentarily diverted, the sloth demon did what those assholes do best. The guy clawed him. Chay’s legs collapsed. His knees hit the rug. He struggled against the lethargy. But each time he staggered to his feet, the guy sliced him again, giving him another dose of the sleepies. Finally, he crumbled, unable to rise, paralyzed.
With his pupils, Chay tracked the incubus who grabbed Margo. He tore open her shirt, his palm hovering over her heart. “I can kill her, Firebrand. You know I can take this female’s lifeforce if I press my hand to her bare skin.”
While his body regained strength, Chay looked around the room, spying at least four ways to escape. If it had been just him, he could flee. But he refused to desert a defenseless Margo. He turned cold, gray eyes on the incubus.
Options. They didn’t seem inspired to kill her outright. They wanted her alive. So, he had to stay alive to protect her.
Chay forced himself onto his knees, still weak, nearly upchucking. “She’s ylve-struck. Obsessed. If I leave her side, she’ll die. She needs me.” His eyes pinched together as he stared at Margo. He hoped his look said it all.
Please figure out what the fuck ylve-struck means. Then act accordingly.
Margo wrinkled her forehead, hesitating, shaking her head negligibly. She glanced at the remaining attackers before returning her gaze to Chay. Her brows arched. “Chay.” She reached out a hand, straining to break the incubus’s hold, whimpering. “I love him. Let me go to him, please.”
