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

running for, not her own. Lucan had spoken the truth, a truth she herself had whispered to herself a million times over. He had given up so very much for her. And it wasn’t right. Not then. Not now. She would fix this, would set him free, but she couldn’t do it by chasing him. He was too fast, too determined to escape her intentions.  
    In a matter of seconds, Lucan left her standing in that long alley, alone, lost, but not defeated. He wanted her to go back to the Ranch, a place she would never return. But he would return. Lucan was going back where he belonged—back to the Knights. She’d take his place in hell or die trying.  
    ***
    Two hours later, Kresley exited yet another dingy motel, with no luck finding Lucan. It was three in the morning, and his painfully harsh departure still replayed in her head with torturous repetition. She’d scoured the streets, checked inside bars and dingy motels near the bars, and everywhere else she could think of, and had come up empty-handed.  
    She shoved her hair out of her face and started down the sidewalk toward her own hotel feeling defeated and tired. As much as she hated admitting it, the time for rest and food had come. She could only hope a new day would bring fresh perspective.  
    Kresley kept her pace slow, still hopeful she might catch sight of Lucan, her mind weary with worry and fatigue. A few blocks from her hotel, a warning tingled along her nerve endings. She hesitated as she approached another alley, and stopped at the edge.  
    Fire sprouted from the air a few feet away, drawing the rough outline of a man; in the next moment, a man appeared. Only, this was no man. This was a Beast, a Demon, and not just any Demon. Astoundingly handsome, with long, blond hair, and perfectly chiseled features, he wore black leather and stood well over six foot four. An evil energy crackled off of him, a contrast to his male beauty; Kresley’s skin crawled with his presence.  
    “Adrian,” she whispered, having heard enough about the leader of the Darkland Beasts to know this was him. Fighting the instinct to step backwards, Kresley held her stance, reminding herself that he was forbidden by the powers of the universe from hurting a human. Those who followed him could, but he himself couldn’t touch her. A comforting thought for all of about one minute. He was a Demon, and they weren’t too keen on following rules. But the danger didn’t matter because Adrian controlled the Guardians. Adrian could free Lucan.  
    “I want Lucan back,” she stated with determination.  
    Adrian's sensual mouth lifted in a smile, his Demon eyes flashing red. “Not much on formalities are you, little one?”  
    She’d heard the stories of his ability to seduce a woman with his voice and eyes. But it wouldn’t work on her. Not with her ability to sense his true self. He disgusted her. The depth of his evil shook her.  
    Kresley stiffened, drawing her spine straight, putting on an air of fearlessness she didn’t feel, daring to ignore his words. “You want something from me or you wouldn’t be here. I want Lucan. I’m willing to deal.”
    He quirked a brow. “Are you sure about that?"
    Prepared to deal, yes. Nervous because Adrian had come to her? Yes, again. Why had he come? “What do you want from me?”  
    His eyes flared with heat. “What are you offering?”
    “Name the price,” she whispered, her stomach rolling with the many possibilities that might follow. Aware she was offering more than she should.  
    Satisfaction flared in his eyes a moment before he disappeared in an outline of fire, reappearing behind her. Somehow, she remained still, unmoving, but she was shaking on the inside. Terrified that Adrian, leader of the Beasts, was within an inch of her. And she knew he was taunting her with the promise of his rancid touch; his breath rushed along her neck, his big body flanking her with deliberate intimidation. “Would you give me your soul?”
    She sucked in a