Fearless Read Free

to
protect the children from their fears made real. They’re given blessed weapons,
magical sight, and superior strength and dexterity. They’re rumored to be
fierce beauties.” He eyed her with a smirk. “There’s truth in that one. It’s
also said that since they are fearless, they die young because they lack the
wisdom to know when to retreat.”
    “You never run away.” Abby huffed with a shake of her head.
Trying to compliment her and call her stupid at the same time. He was the
idiot. So he knew a few things, but he didn’t know her. She was smart. Yet she
refused to run away when there was a child’s life at stake.
    “Exactly.” Demetrius looked smug. “Lucky you have me with
you now.”
    Yeah, lucky you . Tawa snorted.
    Abby turned right and headed up the driveway to her second
stop of the night. For the longest time, she only fought once or twice a week.
Then this last year, the number of monsters had rapidly increased. She’d been
unsuccessfully trying to find out why. Even with Tawa’s guidance, the answers
eluded her.
    “You want to see one of the Fearless in action? Here’s your
chance. Just make sure you don’t get in my way.” Abby went around to the back
of the house and scanned the second floor windows. Thick shadows rimmed one in
particular. Making sure Tawa was secure, she then climbed onto the roof above
the porch and crept to the window. She paused to peer into the dark room
through the slats of the blind, and his warm breath near her cheek caused her
to jump a bit.
    “Nasty beast in there.” Demetrius attempted to remove the
screen. “Best let me go first.”
    “And you best not set off the alarm.” Abby pushed him aside
and touched the sides of the window. Her hands glowed, and the tiny light
blinking on the top inside corner went out. She slid the window up and slipped
into the girl’s room to dispatch the monster in the closet.
     
    *
     
    “You scared that girl more than the
monster.” Abby wiped her face with an old towel from her car’s trunk. When he
held out his hand for one, she ignored the blood splattered fae.
    “I did not. She saw how handsome and heroic I am and
swooned.” When she was done, Demetrius snatched the towel from her. The black
blood was like jelly, but the stench didn’t whet the appetite in the least.
    “You barreled in through her window and growled like an
animal just as I had the monster. The girl screamed and fainted.” Abby opened
the driver’s side door and unhooked Tawa from her belt. She tossed the hippo
into the backseat. “I told you to stay outside and watch.”
    Hey ! I don’t care if you’re mad at that brute, but
be a little gentler with me . Tawa complained.
    “The beast was going to suck you dry. If I hadn’t helped—”
Demetrius threw the towel back into the trunk and slammed it shut.
    “It was not! I could’ve tied its proboscis in knots, but I
was going for the quick, clean kill. You’re the one that made it messy.” Abby
sat in the driver’s seat and jammed the keys into the ignition. This night had
gone to hell. First a pack of monsters in the attic. She’d never seen so many
together. They were usually solitary creatures. Then this damn annoying fae had
attached himself to her and gotten in the way of what would have been an easy
kill. The mess from the fight was extensive, but all evidence of the monster in
the closet would be gone as soon as the sun rose. The little girl would
remember, but her memory would fade with time.
    Unfortunately Abby’s would not.
    Demetrius stood beside the car with his arms folded. The
moonlight highlighted and complimented his profile. Even covered in filth, he
still managed to look hot. Abby yanked her door closed and cursed herself for
noticing.
    “Well?” Abby glared at him.
    “Well what?” He snipped back.
    “I’m going home now.” She couldn’t believe she was waiting
for him.
    Neither can I . Tawa huffed.
    “Where do you live? I’ll meet you there.” Demetrius