Call of the Siren(78)

She said a quick prayer for Lina and Dagan, that they would be safe, before refocusing her thoughts on Keegan. He and the others had decided to fly in circles around the state, simply to ensure they weren’t followed back here. While she understood and appreciated that, the greater part of her just wanted her husband back in her arms.

“They should be back soon,” said Reiver, the other panther shifter on staff, as he stalked into the living room from the narrow corridor that housed the steel door of their entrance.

“I hope so.” Brynn didn’t know how much longer she could wait. While she understood the reasons why she couldn’t go with the others—well, the one extremely important reason that currently slumbered in her arms—it still physically hurt to think of her family in danger and her not being able to help. Granted, she wasn’t a strong fighter like Maya and she hadn’t been infused with a selection of powers like Amara had inadvertently been during her enslavement. But she had the power of the Book of the Dead within her. The ability to command an army of zombies was nothing to snooze at.

It also wasn’t much help to the others here, in a damp, dark cave hidden at the base of a mountain.

A shuffle of footsteps sounded from the rocky corridor that housed their makeshift bedrooms. A moment later, Amara padded into the room, clad in a pair of black pajama bottoms with red lips imprinted on them and a matching black tank top. Her gorgeous black hair hung in loose waves to her waist, but it wasn’t her natural succubus allure that stood out right now. It was the utter anxiety written all over her face.

“They’re not back yet?”

Brynn shook her head. “No.”

“Damn.” Amara absently lifted one of her nails to her mouth, worrying at the tip. “I’m going to kill Ronin when he gets here.”

Brynn couldn’t fault her for that. They both knew perfectly well how much Ronin would sacrifice to ensure Lina’s safety. He’d give his life for hers if it came down to it. Although they could understand why, that still didn’t make things any easier to deal with.

Before either of them could say anything else, both Bram and Reiver stiffened and let out deep, hair-raising growls.

Instinctively tightening her hold on Aegin, Brynn sat up straight.

“What is it?” Amara cried out, whirling toward the two men.

The ten men who Bram and Reiver had brought with them and who currently lined the entrance corridor—demons, shifters, and even a couple of gargoyles—began to let out warning shouts that Brynn couldn’t quite make out. Their tone was unmistakable, however. Something was going down.

“Get to the back of the cave,” Reiver growled as he started toward the corridor.

Heedless of their instructions, Amara moved to follow Reiver and Bram.

Brynn’s heart clenched and needles pricked her spine. She rose and squeezed Aegin tight to her body, but she’d made it no more than two steps when a loud boom ricocheted through the cave, creating a sonic wave that momentarily deafened her. She went flying back, making hard contact with the couch. Luckily, Aegin remained tight in her grasp. He awoke, however, letting out a muffled cry that wrenched her heart.

When she tried to move, she found herself paralyzed.

Oh my God.

What was happening?

“Wha…?” Breathing hard, she blinked in an effort to dispel some of the smoky haze clouding her vision.

A shuffle and a muffled groan rent the sudden silence. After what seemed like forever, the smoke cleared enough for her to note the bodies lining the corridor. Rather, the bits and pieces. Whatever the boom had been, it appeared to have torn apart the men guarding the entrance.

Oh, shit. No.

She let out a whimper.

Bram, Reiver, and Amara’s bodies were laid out on the floor in front of her. Unlike the bodies stacked up in the corridor, they were in one piece. They were also completely immobile.

Jesus Christ.

Were they also dead or merely unconscious, or perhaps paralyzed like her?

The shuffle sounded out again, and a moment later, a booted foot stepped over the pile of body parts in the corridor. A man came into view.

For one moment she couldn’t place him. But then the features registered. The cruelly handsome face, the angled cheekbones.

An older version of Keegan.

Oh God.

“No.” Her voice came out a whisper. Even moving her mouth to form the words was a struggle.

She’d met him before, a year ago, but even if she hadn’t, she’d still be able to recognize him as Mammon. Stark fear broke her body into a cold, hard sweat. He’d found them, and more than anyone in this room, she knew what the demon was capable of.

Mammon’s gaze rooted through the bodies on the floor then shifted around the room until it locked with hers. A genial smile crept to his lips. “Hello, dear. My, but it’s been awhile. Too long, I’d venture to say.”