Page 60 of The Satyr's Guilt
After following the trail for hours, Dariusknelt on the forest floor, examining a disturbance in the leaves.“The slave has stopped bleeding. She’s sloppy about covering hertracks, though.”
Jarek stood with his hands onhis hips, looking uphill. “She’s headed into the mountains where itwill get cold. It’s unlikely she is familiar with the area. Shitdoesn’t look good for her.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ram strode into Kole’s outeroffice as cocky as ever. He almost tripped over his own boots whenhe saw Denim on the couch chatting with Bounty. Galena perched onthe edge of the executive assistant’s desk. The females went allhush-hush at his entrance. He smiled, figuring they were talkingabout how hot and fearsome he was.
Sure.
Face facts. On a good day, the human couldhardly tolerate him despite his ability to arouse her. Thoughsatyrs could sexually excite anyone, they couldn’t make the personlike them.
Maybe that was why he was attracted to her.She was a challenge. But she was human. For him, it was a dealbreaker. So why did he keep ogling her tantalizing breasts,luscious lips, and hot pussy while he imagined her all wet andwaiting for him?
He shook his head, shattering the eroticthoughts while he burst into Kole’s office. “You summoned,Comm?”
“Yeah. I did. Now take a fucking seat.”
“Someone’s in a good mood today. Does ithave anything to do with the Alliance agent warming her pretty assin Bounty’s office?”
“It has everything to do with her.” Heshoved a rough hand through his close-cropped hair.
Ram paused for a moment, creases formingbetween his brows. “Wait a minute. I’ve been on my best behavior.”He scratched his ear. “Yep. Absolutely best. I even let her help mechase those suped-up humans. What’s she saying now?”
“This isn’t about you, satyr. Tuck yourguilty conscience into your pants.” When fire shot from one ofKole’s fingers, scorching a piece of paper on the desk, thecommander shrugged, letting the shit ash.
Animus demons were always one firecrackeraway from lighting up the sky on the Fourth of July. Ram scootedhis chair back before his ass was collateral damage, ignited like aRoman candle.
“She pulled an Abello on me.”
Ram’s eyes darted left to right as heconsidered Kole’s statement. “You mean she wants to be aFirebrand?” He shot to his feet. “Hell no.”
“Sit down. I’m with ya, but she won’t moveinto the stronghold unless I take her in like that other asswipeex-agent made me do.”
“Why would she move in here?” Ram set hisbutt into the chair again, but a crease still puzzled hisforehead.
“Right. You don’t know. She’s a Blood Covendescendant. My fucking stronghold’s starting to fill up with thedamn witches and warlocks. Don’t tell Skyler what I said.”
The satyr Firebrand nodded. “Still doesn’texplain my presence. Wait a minute. She’s not fully human?”
“No. She’s not. Why the fuck are yousmiling?” Kole’s palm scrubbed across his jaw. “Anyway, you’re herpartner, but things just got real. I want you training her.Needless to say, nothing … and I mean nothing … happens to her inthe field. You have my permission to throw your body in front ofher every time. Assign her a bodyguard when she leaves thestronghold unless she’s with you.”
Ram ricocheted from happy to hell-no in aninstant. “Hold up, Comm. She gets all huffy if I even open a doorfor her. I can’t win.”
“Do I look like I care?” He yelled loudlyfor Bounty. “Send in the baby witch. And put a call in toSkyler.”
Bounty rested against the door jamb. “You’vereached out to her every hour. She’s pregnant not sick. You’redriving her crazy.”
****
With barely a flick of hishand, Cerberus changed his appearance. Whenever he met with hisvampire general, he donned a disguise. No one recognized him. Thetime would come, though, when all would acknowledge him andtremble.
He waited for Lort on an island in HarrowSwamp in the demon region of Knife’s Edge, surrounded by the putridsmell of rotting vegetation, cypress trees whose limbs pitched intothe murky depths, and poisonous snakes who slithered throughstagnant water.
When the vampire joined him, the insects,birds, and other creatures ceased their racket.
Though Lort was not a big male, he wastaller than six feet with lean, solid muscles. His straightdishwater-blond hair rested on his shoulders. The grim line of hislips and brown eyes ringed with red marked him as a dangerousAeternal.
He was what Cerberus needed to build hisarmy. It was Lort’s specialty. Once the Firebrands succumbed to hismight, other Aeternals would fall in line.
