Dark and Deadly - Lynn Hagen Page 0,31

eyes glowed darker, revealing his rage. Ryan’s heart was about to give out, beat right through his chest at what Warren had just done. He’d never been so paralyzed, so afraid before as he thought of the damage the demon could’ve done if he’d struck his mark.

Warren was human, fragile, small, and fuck, under any other circumstance, Ryan would’ve enjoyed unleashing Warren’s wrath. But not against Macaw. What the hell had gotten into Warren’s head? Where had all that bravery come from?

Macaw charged forward, knocking into one of the kitchen chairs and leaving it in splinters. Ryan pulled Warren all the way into the living room, the wolf hot on his heels.

“That’s the demon,” he said to Warren. “Don’t you ever go up against him again.”

Warren paled. “That guy’s a demon? I thought he was just some asshole breaking in.”

“He is.” Ryan made it to the front door, but Macaw was gaining fast. Ryan could run at his inhuman speed, but he would be leaving Ash behind, and no fucking way was he going to do that.

So Ryan threw his head back and shouted, “Phoenyx!”

Macaw stopped dead in his tracks. He looked around the room, his size eating up the space. Ryan wished he’d thought about calling the demon warrior when Macaw had attacked them on their way back to the clinic. But he’d been too pissed at the idea of Ash cheating on them and hadn’t had a clear mind.

Macaw’s grin was malicious as he turned back to them. “Help isn’t coming.”

He grabbed for the wolf and caught him by the tail. Ash snarled and bit at the demon’s hand, but damn, that was a beefy hand, and Macaw easily punched Ash away.

The wolf went down, whimpering as he lay there on the floor. White-hot anger filled Ryan to see Ash lying there injured. The wolf shook his head, got to his feet, but staggered as he walked into the wall.

Macaw had knocked the sense out of Ash. Warren started toward Ash, but Ryan pulled him back. He didn’t need his pregnant mate in arm’s reach of the demon. Warren wouldn’t survive a blow the way Ash had.

“He’s hurt!” Warren struggled in Ryan’s arms. “I need to get to him.”

“Let him go,” Macaw taunted. “Let him come at me again.”

Where the hell was Phoenyx? They’d been working together to track Macaw down so the demon warrior could put Macaw back in Hell where he’d escaped from. Phoenyx should’ve known that Ryan wouldn’t call out his name for any other reason.

Warren’s heat was beside Ryan, thumping against Ryan’s body to remind him that he was there. His face was scrunched up, twisted in a mask of fierce protectiveness. It was good to know that Warren didn’t faint every time he was under stress, but now wasn’t the time for his bravery.

Ryan jabbed a finger at the demon, his patience gone. “I didn’t do anything to you. I don’t even know why you’re after me.”

“No?” Macaw let out a deep, booming laugh. “You’re a fucking liar. We had a deal, and you reneged. You went to the demon warriors and lied on me. And for that, you’re gonna pay with your life.”

“You made a deal with a demon?” Warren’s brows were in his blond hairline. “Why would you do that?”

Even Ash looked their way at Macaw’s accusations. Ryan should’ve kept his mouth shut. He shouldn’t have said one goddamn word, because now Warren and Ash would demand to know what was between Ryan and Macaw.

Shame. That was what it had boiled down to. Ash was right to think Ryan a screw-up. That was all he’d ever been, and his dealings in the dark were now coming to light, baring his retched soul in front of the two men who meant the world to him.

Two men that Ryan didn’t want to lose.

“Go ahead.” Macaw crossed his thick arms. “Tell them about our deal, bloodsucker. When Ryan didn’t answer, Macaw grinned. “Tell them how you—”

“Don’t!” Ryan vibrated with rage and drowned in humiliation. A storm brewed inside him as he glared at Macaw. It was the past, before he’d meet Warren and Ash. Something that probably would’ve been forgotten about if Phoenyx hadn’t cornered Ryan after Ryan had…

After getting the demon warrior involved, Macaw had become relentless, tracking Ryan down with a vengeance.

“What is he talking about?” Warren asked. “How you did what?”

No. Ryan wasn’t going to do this. He wasn’t going to let the demon shatter his world. He’d fight tooth and