So, his sire had already spoken to her.
“I’m surprised at your turnabout, Aba,” he said coldly, “considering you wanted me to stay away from her.”
“I know.” Aba held his stare, not budging on his stance. “She makes you happy.”
“Happiness is an illusion, a fool’s dream, until reality kicks you in the balls, bringing you back.” Now he had a fucking demon to kill. “I have to go.”
He tipped backward, falling into the portal…
And landed in darkness, on the hard gravelly ground, the familiar immense heat of Ys surrounding him. Jagged rocks and several worn-down boulders littered the arid lands outside the city. He straightened and flashed for the town’s pleasure dens since Derrodus owned them, scouring everyone for the fucker. Pangur had said he was in his place of business.
But through every den he prowled, he came out empty.
Hours later, Nate stalked along a narrow street, came to a door in the rockface, shoved it open, and flashed downstairs into yet another busy pleasure cavern. The smell of sex, the pounding, moans, and grunts had him clenching his teeth.
“Sicari, you finally came,” a slender demoness breathed, gliding over to him in a transparent tunic, belted at her hips, dark hair falling to her waist.
He ignored her, a familiar growl catching his attention. Nate strode around the enormous stalagmite toward the sound, and there he found his prey, half-naked, pants half-mast, pounding into a demon male bent over a waist-high bondage bench with his legs spread and tied down. A moaning female was on another, secured likewise, ass red from being paddled.
Nate strode over and yanked him away.
“I will gut you!” Derrodus snarled and pivoted. “You?” he growled, baring his bloodied fangs at Nate, eyes flashing red. “You can fuck off. I’m trying out my new merchandise—”
Nate grabbed him by the neck and flashed outside. “Did you think I wouldn’t come for you after the shit you pulled?”
Snarling, Derrodus broke free, shoved his cock into his pants, zipped up, and laughed. “This is about the female? You’re a pathetic fool, always going after what is never yours. My sire’s acceptance, now a Guardian—”
Nate punched him in the face. “Let’s get down to it, then. You always wanted a piece of me, I’m here.”
“You think you can take me out?” Derrodus snarled, swiping his bleeding mouth. The air churned, and several demons appeared, clad in green and black apparel. Guards of Azgor. “My sire will think you lost your mind to the madness and bloodlust that inhabits you, and took on his guards. Kill him!”
Swords drawn, the guards circled Nate cautiously. It showed they had some sense.
But none of these assholes knew he possessed a dangerous symbiont. Everyone thought it was his demonic side that made him go crazy. Only Aba knew the truth, and later, Azgor, andhecertainly didn’t want anyone else to know what his prized fighter truly was.
Itching for the fight, Nate waited, hands hanging loosely at his sides. His beast stirred in excitement, sensing gore and death looming.
They attacked, diving for him. Nate leaped over their heads, the razor-sharp edges of their elongated claws missing his face by mere inches. He landed on the other side, talons exploding free. “Enjoy your next few minutes of life,” he flung at Derrodus.
If the bastard knew what the colored stones on his back truly were—not jewels like most demons decked themselves with—Derrodus would have undoubtedly ordered the guards to dig them out.
Yeah, killing him was that easy for someone in the know. Except, they’d have to get close to him. Not so easy.
A guard rushed him, swinging an axe. Nate evaded the strike, his own blow raking the demon across the chest. Blood flowed. He spun, another swipe of his hand, and he severed the carotid. He snatched the demon’s weapon and swung it, beheading him.
Swift and fast, he fought the remaining four. Heads fell as he took out the last of his would-be killers. And pivoted to his target, talons dripping blood.
“No!” Derrodus screeched, flinging out his hand and releasing a hellfire bolt. Nate ducked. The thing shot past him, slamming into the building, granite, mortar, and rubble raining to the ground.
Letsss me free,the beast growled.
Not happening!A shaft of pain splintered his head in reprisal, blinding him—a sudden blast of agony wrenching through his body. Nate staggered back, a burn on his lower ab spreading like a virus.
What the fuck?He pressed a hand to his side.
“My sire’s prized fighter.” Derrodus laughed, inciting the crowd gathering there, and the ruckus grew. The ass circled him like a gutless vulture.
At the slick wetness on his palm, Nate cursed. The prick had stabbed him while he fought his inner beast.
