Prologue
River
What in Hell do a bunch of Demons for hire want my firefly? I haven’t even had a proper chance to talk to her about everything else that happened to her. I planned to spend time with her later, but that won’t happen now. I only voice part of my thoughts, though.
“They are low-level Demons for hire, which opens the question of who hired them” I don’t look at my brother, but I know he’s listening.
“My current worry is that higher-ups are hiding! The one who gave the demand was a level eight, so there must be a higher involved,” Saint states, his head on a constant swivel. Between us, Ember snorts, seeming to relax when she notices something; Saint seems to tense more, but I don’t know if it’s the same thing or just her reaction.
“You both need your eyes tested; these aren’t merely for hire. Look at the crest on their uniforms. The demander had an army ranking on his arm.” As Ember finishes scolding us, I hear the Hounds arrive.
“Declan, Layton, River with me; no one else follows!” Ember kisses Saint on the cheek.
“Bring Mika at my signal”, I glance at Ren; he’s holding Bray back and speaking low; he trusts her and us to sort this; he gives me a nod, and then his eyes move back to our mate as I follow her onto the dock on our side of the lake.
It’s a little unnerving how our steps sync without us trying. The thunk, thunk of our steps on the wooden dock are in unison, like a march. The water seems calmer than normal that even the creatures that live inside it almost seem like they’re holding their breaths, another glance at Ember and she may be petite but she is walking with a confidence that I can imagine would make any Alphas nuts hide in his arsehole, you would expect a slight shake to her hand or a hesitation to her step but there is nothing.
I zone out until I hear Declan choke on air, Layton’s head whips to her so quick I fear he nearly tumbles into the Lake…
Did she really just ask a Demon if he’s scared of her?
CHAPTER ONE
Ember
I don’t look at anyone but Saint as I impart my observation, give my request and then stride to the end of the dock; Declan is behind me, Layton to my left and River to my right. I see River’s hand twitch, and I brush it with mine, trying to tell him to trust me.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, Sparkplug. Have you seen their tags?” Layton grumbles next to me.
“Of course, I saw them. Lay, please trust me like I’m trusting you three to have my back” I nearly snap back, but I pull a deep breath through my nose to keep my voice calm; I see River straighten at my words; he and Saint look so much alike they could be twins minus where Saints hair is white blonde, River’ hair is so Black it blends with the shadows, River also doesn’t hold himself with the same smug arrogance that Saint does. I reach the end of the dock, and my ‘guards’ stand two paces behind me.
“I know you’re there. You never send your troops without one of you being around”, I state loud and clear. I’m not yelling as their hearing is better than any supe I know; I smirk when nothing moves.
“Too scared to come out and talk to me, Laurent?” The troops tense at my challenge, and they shift with the familiarity of my voice,
“Ember, what the fuck, sister?”I ignore Declan’s annoyance with me as I hear footsteps on the other dock; about halfway, ice footprints form on the dock; by the time the steps reach the end, a 7ft trim man stops; at first glance, you would think he’s Greek from the olive skin and dark hair but the more you look,the more it’s obvious he’s otherworldly, his eyes look like fire and ice are battling to take over, he has a permanent smirk on his face it’s then you realise the olive toned skin and dark hair is a glamour to hide his true form, his skin is ice fresh that contrasts his fiery hair, which is similar colors to mine, reds, oranges and a bit of warm brown. Still, unlike mine, if you piss him off, he turns into hellfire; he’s muscular with a body literally made for, and by, sin. As he fully appears at the end of the dock, I am no longer scared, and my relaxed nature puts the others on edge.
“Laurent, it’s been a while”, I hear my brother choke on air again. I have a hunch that Declan is struggling with how to be with me. I know I’m not what they expected, not that they have said anything.
“How long? Do you have any idea who the fuck that is?” Declan demands, in a whisper-shout.
“I met him in the Den ten years ago, and either his left or right hand in the tank seven years ago. I never remember which is which”, I say with a shrug. I don’t think his two closest friends know which is which, and knowing them, they swap randomly to confuse and test the troops.
“And yes, I know who he is, probably better than you do” Before Declan has the chance to speak again, Laurent speaks,
“You look well, little flame. I didn’t know you had moved to a pack. It is unlike you,” he's speaking Latin, so Declan is grumbling, but River quickly translates, not that I think that will help.
“I got hurt, and my blood family found me. It seems SJ lied, and they did want me all these years” I see his eyes ignite with my words, and the ice on the floor evaporates.
“Why are you here, Laurent? Who asked you to hurt my family?” he seems to think his response, his words slow as he starts to speak.
“I was hired to retrieve a stolen mate; I thought these disputes had ended years ago, but the payment was any female offspring from the union, and you know how I feel about those offers!” I don’t need to hear the anger in his voice to know how this is going to go.
“Yeah, I know how you feel about that” I turn and lift the back of my shirt to show my scar.
“Saint”, I whisper; by the time I turn to face Laurent, my dad and Saint have joined us.
“I am who you were sent to collect; I received the scar when someone tried to rape me!” I knew it would happen, so I don’t react, but my five companions do. There are a few shouts from those not on the dock as Laurent blinks in front of me, his hands cradling my cheeks, his hair aflame; Layton puts his arm between me and the enraged Prince as he’s the only one that won’t be burnt by the hellfire, as calm and clear as I can with my face squished.
