Page 17 of King’s Kismet

“No, mate,” I whispered to him.

Sinking my bare feet into the grass just off the concrete edging around the pool, I called on the earth to help me. I needed to know everything that was going on out there. The plant-life was more than happy to answer me, showing exactly what I needed. Not in pictures or words, but in feelings and direction.

“They’re down. Atlas is on the west side of the property. Helios is near the garage on the east side.”

“Do you feel anything else?” Sloane’s question was nearly inaudible, and I couldn’t be sure if I heard her right.

I knew what the trees were saying, though.

“Someone’s here, Sweetheart,” I told her, keeping my voice as low as possible. “We need to move inside.”

I grabbed her hand, tugging her with me as I took a step backwards.

Novak was really listening now, using his sensitive hearing to pick up any minuscule noise. Even something as quiet as a distant heartbeat could be heard if the vampire tried hard enough.

His eyes surveyed our surroundings with keen interest. I pitied whoever was out there for a split second. All of us were fiercely protective and mean as cornered lions when we needed to be, but Novak was a savage when he hit the end of his fuse. His bloodlust fueled him once he reached the limit of his anger.

Thankfully, that fuse was miles long and not quickly triggered.

Before he got more than two steps towards the door, he stopped suddenly. His mouth moved, but no sound came out.

Then Sloane’s voice slid into my mind. “There. Ten o’clock.”

The three of us turned as naturally as we could, angling to view the woods while appearing to look at each other. Sloane twisted her body to the right, and Novak faced her.

Several things happened all at once, making time stand still.

Sloane’s body jerked hard, and blood started pouring from her right thigh and left shoulder.

Rage battled with fear inside me.

We heard the whistling sound of a silencer.

Sloane looked at me with unfocused eyes.

“Call… Jack,” she breathed before a bullet embedded itself in her forehead.

Her body folded in on itself, and Novak swiftly caught her, sinking to the ground with her in his arms. He was in shock.

My rage won the fight over fear, and I looked down at Sloane with a single whispered confession.

“Fuck. Not again.”

Impulse Buys

My fingers slid across my phone screen too rapidly for the letters to keep up with the email I was writing. I was down the stairs and in the living room before I could hit send.

But once I tapped that little blue arrow, I smiled at my guys.

“You remember those two demons I let live in Hell, right?” I asked no one in particular.

“No,” Briggs grouched as my guys shook their heads. “You’ll have to be more specific. I can think of around a dozen you’ve left alive on the few occasions we’ve all been in Hell.”

I rolled my eyes at them. “It was Hyde’s birthday. My demon killed their friend outside of that shady bar in Hell where we were looking for Satan? She left a dick on my nightstand...”

“What about it?” Palmer inquired, his lip curled in disgust.

“No, not the dick,” I clarified. “The demons.”