Beyond the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #6)(31)

“And maybe you should answer my question before I rip out your throat.”

“Jesus Christ, what the hell’s up with your eyes?”

Muttering a curse, Salvatore was crossing the parking lot. What was wrong with the stupid cur?

The first rule in the demon world was to always avoid the attention of mortals. Those who flaunted that particular law would soon find themselves dead. Or worse, hauled before the Oracles. The ruling Commission could devise punishments that would make death seem like a holiday.

Flowing forward with blinding speed, Salvatore clubbed the cur on the back of the head, calmly stepping over his unconscious form as it tumbled to the cement.

“Forgive me for intruding, but you looked like you could use some help,” he drawled.

The human licked his lips, his eyes wide and hands shaking. “Who are you?”

“The man who apparently just saved you from having your throat ripped out.”

With a shudder the man glanced down at the unconscious cur. “There’s something not right with him.”

“Drugs.”

“I never heard of a drug turning a man’s eyes red before.”

“A new designer drug from St. Louis,” Salvatore smoothly lied.

The man frowned, but accepted Salvatore’s ridiculous claim. “You know him?”

“My partner and I have been tracking him since he escaped from the authorities two days ago.”

“You’re a cop?”

“Close enough.”

Proving he wasn’t a full-fledged idiot, the human ran a suspicious gaze over Salvatore’s hard features and lethal golden eyes. Not even casual clothes could hide his feral nature.

“Where’s your badge?”

Salvatore shrugged. “I’m not here to interfere in your business, I’m just looking for my partner. The blonde this man was asking about.”

The man took a wary step backwards. “The blonde?”

“Yes. Have you seen her?”

“I don’t want to get involved…”

Reaching into his pocket, Salvatore pulled out the roll of money he’d stolen the night before.

“I can make it worth your while.” He peeled off a few bills, tossing them at the man’s feet. “Where did she go?”

Careful to keep an eye on Salvatore, the human bent down to snatch the money and shove it into his pocket.

“I saw a blonde running up Main Street.”

“On foot?”

“Yeah.”

“How long ago?”

“Not more than fifteen minutes.”

“She was alone?”

The man straightened, shoving the money in his pocket. “As far as I could tell.”

With a dip of his head, Salvatore headed toward the street. “Grazie.”

“Hey, what about this guy on the ground?”

Salvatore’s pace never slowed. “Not my problem.”

“You can’t just leave him here.”

“Actually, I can, although I will offer you a word of warning.” Reaching the stone wall that marked the edge of the parking lot, Salvatore easily vaulted over it to land on the sidewalk. “You don’t want to be nearby when he wakes up.”

“Hey…”

The human continued to yell meaningless words, but Salvatore was already jogging down the street, forced to keep his pace frustratingly slow to peer in the passing shops.

Cristo. He’d been an idiot to let Harley keep the amulet. It was practically an invitation for the headstrong Were to bolt, knowing he couldn’t track her scent. Of course, on the upside, no one else could track her either, he reminded himself. And considering the number of enemies on his trail, that made the amulet a treasure beyond price.

No, if he had a brain in his head he would have let her keep the amulet and instead tied her to the bed.

Salvatore shuddered. Even after hours of sating his rampant desire, his blood still heated and his body hardened at the mere thought of the aggravating woman.

Not surprising.

He’d enjoyed talented lovers over the years, but what happened between him and Harley hadn’t been just sex.

It had been a stunning explosion of sensations that had bound him irrevocably to his mate. And he didn’t even have the sense to regret the realization that his life was forever altered.

In fact, his only regret was that Harley was obviously not ready to accept their mating.

Reaching the edge of the town, Salvatore took a moment to consider his options. There was always the possibility that Harley had decided to return to Caine. She had to know the cur would be willing to forgive her anything if she agreed to stay with him. There was also the possibility that she’d stolen a car and was even now speeding ever farther away.

His instinct, however, told him that she was still near.

Entering the woods that sprawled north of the town, Salvatore cautiously threaded his way through the thick undergrowth. In the distance he could hear the call of birds and the rustle of small game, but a heavy silence cloaked around him. Not unusual. Animals could sense his predatory nature. It was, instead, the prickle of energy that warned a Were was near.

“Harley?”

Alarm trickled down his spine as the scent of rotting meat filled the air. Whoever was out there, it wasn’t Harley.

Swiftly tugging off his clothes, Salvatore prepared to shift. Under normal circumstances there wasn’t a Were born who could challenge him. Unfortunately, his unclaimed mating bond made him vulnerable.