Page 94 of The Satyr's Guilt
As he was carried off, he caught Hassem’seye, knowing in an instant he had been betrayed. Hassem told thesemen about the djinn’s most guarded secret. Their greatestweakness.
Pitchblende robbed a djinn of his speed, hisstrength, his endurance, and even his healing powers. Hassem didthe unthinkable. He shared the secret with an enemy. In doing so,he caused not only Jarek to be captured but also others of hiskind.
The men who seized him along with threeother djinn must have each been carrying the black stone which wasfeared by all his race.
This action would not go unavenged. Jarekpromised himself retribution while he lay helpless on the litter,his hands and feet tied, his strength stolen.
He recalled the ancientsaying, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig twograves.” He would. One for his enemy’s head. The other for hisbody. Hassem would be wise to begin running now.
****
“Yeah?” Kole barked, never pleasant wheninterrupted.
Glancing behind her as if a ghost were onher ass, Bounty pushed through his office door, closing it. Shewalked to the credenza where she turned on the radio.
Frazzled.
It was a new look for his secretary, orexecutive assistant.
Whatever the hell she calls herself thisweek.
“Cadmon’s out there with a sire and hismate,” she whispered in his ear. “They’re upset. The male is Viktorthe Lawgiver.”
“Sounds like a shitstorm of fun. Send themin. I’m expecting them.”
Bounty turned off the radio before she swungthe door wide. “Please come in. The commander will see younow.”
Kole got the chills when she sounded soprofessional. It was rare, always surprising him.
Cadmon, who wore the formal uniformidentifying him as high commander of the Scion Firebrands, led thevampire parents into the office.
Fuck.
Kole stood to clasp Cadmon’s forearm, handto elbow in the traditional Firebrand greeting.“Freron.”
Cadmon returned the gesture. “Meet Dania,Viktor’s mate. I believe you already know our esteemedlawgiver.”
Kole dipped his chin.
“They are parents of Varik, a male only outof his Awakening by a year.”
The vampire Awakening was more barbaric thanthe coming-of-age ceremony for the other breeds. Since Varik hadgone through it, despite being young, he was an adult breed, ableto handle most situations with the usual skills of his kind.
Kole shook hands with Viktor but did notoffer to do so with Dania. Vampires had nasty tempers when youtouched skin to their mates. Instead, he waved his hand towardchairs. “Sit.”
Cadmon directed the parents to the two seatsin front of Kole’s desk, sliding another up for himself.
“Their son is missing.” The ylve highcommander did not share his breed’s belief in small talk. Though hewas now a brilliant diplomat, he had been an inspired militarytactician. His strategies and exploits on the battlefield were partof every young Firebrand’s training, one being the V-shaped-wedgeattack. He was also credited with creating the first longbow.
Kole was an impatient animus demon, short onpleasantries. He wanted to shout,“So what? I’m a commanderof Scion Firebrands, not a goddamn missing persons’ private dick.”Wisely, the words did not leave his lips.
“Yes?” He leaned onto his forearms, tappinghis fingers together to prevent setting off sparks. Only Skylercould bring him back if he lost control, and she wasn’t here.
Though Cadmon seemed to sense Kole’stemperament, he proceeded. “They suspect he and a female friendwent to New Orleans.”
Kole’s brows raised. Now he was attentive.“Why do you suspect this?”
Viktor answered. “Dania and I were youngonce. Fortunately, we never got into any serious scrapes. Myoffspring, however, is a trouble magnet. Also, a portal jumper ismissing.”
