Beast of Fire -- a Demon Hunting Sexy Romance Read Free

no idea why Kresley thought it was too late to return to the ranch. It wasn’t too late. But it would be if he touched her again. He didn’t know if Kresley knew of their mating bond; he hoped she did not. Had he not known of their connection before now, touching her had delivered absolute certainty, delivered a rush of desire laced with danger. Because he could destroy her with that passion, with his desire to mark her as his. For that mark could link her future to his – – to the hell the silver bracelets around his wrists bound him to, as a slave to the Guardians of hell’s snake pits.  
    Claim her. Make her yours. Lucan heard the voices in his head, knew the words were from the Demons that possessed him, knew those Demons wanted Kresley. They wanted him to claim her so they would also own her; they wanted him to mark her as his mate.  
      “Go back to the ranch, Kresley,” he ordered, continuing to back away from her, telling himself to turn and run far from this place, fighting the burn to go to her, to pull her close. “They will protect you there. No Demon will find you there.” Especially not me, he silently added.  
    “Lucan,” she whispered, stepping closer, that fiery red hair, veiled by the alley's dim light, cascading along her petite shoulders. But he could still see its vibrant shade in his mind; in fact, he could see better than he had seen in a year, could see beyond the dark. It had to be another trick of the Guardians, a way to mess with his mind, a way to play with his head. He couldn’t let them succeed.  
    “Stay away from me, Kresley,” he hissed between his teeth, his tone harsh by design. “I don’t want you here.   Not now. Not ever.”  
    “I can’t leave you here. I can’t let you sacrifice yourself. I won’t–"
    He sliced a hand through the air, letting anger fill him. And he was angry.   “You will. It’s done.” His chest tightened with guilt as he pressed onward, knowing he was lashing out, but promising himself it was for her own good. “Don’t make it all for nothing because you were foolish enough to put yourself at risk. Go back where you belong.” He didn’t give himself time to see the hurt in her expression; he couldn’t bear it.  
    Lucan turned and started running. But she followed. He could hear her screaming his name, hear her boots behind him on the pavement. She’d never keep up, though. Not with his supernatural speed.  
    He was leaving her behind, but probably not for long. Her pursuit was proof she’d keep coming, keep looking. Didn’t she understand? The Guardians wanted her; they’d tried to claim her through his mating bond with her. His life was hell. He wouldn’t let hers be, too.  
    He had to do something to stop her once and for all. Something to send her back to the ranch and make sure she stayed there. He knew what he had to do–it was something he dreaded. And he didn’t dare form the action into words in his mind, knowing the Guardians read his thoughts. He’d learned to manipulate his mind to keep certain        things out of their reach. He knew he’d pay a price for doing it, too, and pay with pain. But then, hell was his life. What was a little pain to go along with it?  
    With that thought in his mind, Lucan continued pushing himself forward, taking one corner and then the next in long, determined strides. He knew the second he’d lost Kresley, the moment she was gone. Missed not one step to hesitation as he traveled the mile it took him to enter a deserted subway long ago retired, and then enter a side tunnel. Another mile and the thrum of a hard-rock band filtered through the air, but he kept his mind carefully blank, careful that he acknowledged nothing around him beyond a minute brush of awareness, careful it did not penetrate the deep recesses of his mind where the Guardians could extract information.    
    Lucan's steps quickened as he grew closer to "Sabboth," the Underworld bar owned by a Demon