Darker (Alexa O'Brien Huntress Book 6) - By Trina M. Lee Page 0,2
near the entry.
Brook stepped into view, oblivious to the people shoving past him in their haste to escape. Some mysterious illusion hid the demon’s black wings from sight. His eyes were void of any emotion. Brook was lower on the demon hierarchy but still no one to be messed with lightly. I’d been brushing up on my demonology since Lilah had decided I was a problem that she needed to eliminate.
“Back off blood suckers,” the demon barked. “That’s enough brainless destruction. Don’t we have something for Ms. O’Brien?”
“Whatever it is, I’m sure I don’t want it.” What I wanted was to kick Lilah’s ass for sending him, but she had been lying low since our last encounter.
“Why, of course you want it. It does belong to you after all.” Brook gestured to a vampire who came forward with a box big enough to hold many things. I knew I didn’t want to see what was in there.
The vampire placed the box on the bar, never once taking his eyes from me as he backed away. I couldn’t resist. I focused on him and unleashed my energy. His head exploded first, his body quick to follow. The sense of satisfaction that followed was short lived.
“Disposable,” Brook said with a shrug. “That’s why she sent them. We came to deliver a message. This is my queen’s territory, wolf. You’re nothing. Not even worthy of the power you have. Lilah needs something from you. She wants to make sure you know she’s going to get it.”
With the help of Shya, a demon I truly loathed, I’d played a part in binding Lilah’s power. She was a demon cursed into the form of a vampire. I’d stripped her vampire power, leaving her vulnerable enough for Shya to bind her.
Clearly, it had worked. She was relatively powerless, or so it would seem since she had sent another here in her place. Unfortunately, to break that curse, Lilah needed my blood. So, here we were.
“Get out of my club.” I held Brook’s solid black gaze, refusing to be intimidated.
“And, miss you opening your gift? Now that would just be rude of me.” He gestured to the box sitting untouched on the bar. “Lilah owes you a little payback for that damn binding stunt you pulled with Shya.”
I considered reaching out to Arys through our mental connection, then decided against it. Things were tense, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I strode to the bar, keeping Brook in my sight. The stench hit me immediately. Death.
I didn’t pause, didn’t so much as hesitate with his eyes upon me. I tore open the box, knowing what I’d find before I looked inside. I just didn’t know whom.
Double take. Then another. This couldn’t be real.
Staring up at me with vacant dead eyes and a look of frozen horror etched permanently on his face, was the severed head of my fellow pack wolf, Zak.
Brook oozed satisfaction. “Consider this a warning. You have something she needs. All you have to do is provide it. Or, this won’t be the last wolf.”
He took advantage of my stunned silence. Slipping away with Lilah’s remaining minions in tow, he left me there staring down at what used to be one of my wolves. Hot, angry tears filled my eyes. I clenched my teeth, gripping the side of the box with clawed fingertips.
I’d taken enough shit from manipulative vampires and demons. The time had come to cut the puppet strings that held me. I wasn’t like them, wasn’t one of them. As a creature of the light, I intended to hold tightly to that. Lilah thought she could play me, but she didn’t know me. She had no idea what I was capable of doing. In many ways, neither did I.
We were both going to find out.
Chapter Two
“Close the doors for the night. Don’t let anybody else in.” I gazed around at the mess.
At least half a dozen bodies littered the floor. They had all been taking a risk by coming to The Wicked Kiss. Still, not one of them deserved this. Lilah had her goons kill them for no other reason than to hurt me. Same with Zak. It had worked.
It did hurt to see that these people were dead because someone wanted to take a shot at me. Lilah needed me alive. What better way to stick it to me than to start picking off those around me?
Justin approached with anger sparkling in his eyes. Tall, dark skinned and built like a football player,