Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(59)

Bear chuckled. “You’re fooling yourself, demon.”

There was a better than slim chance that Bear would let Nick be killed and then just go happily on with his life. Nick restrategized his plan in case Bear turned against him. He wanted to trust Simone’s brother to have his back, but he just didn’t know the guy.

The air changed, thickening and warming. Nick peered down at the sea, trying to find the difference in the night. Magic and veils whispered on the air currents. A chill clacked down his back, and his fangs elongated.

“We’re almost there. Get ready for a fast landing.” Bear pointed his reptilian face toward the waves, and all of his muscles bunched.

Nick tensed, trying to see anything but water. He shoved his fangs up tight. “I can’t find the land.”

“Unless you’re a dragon, you can’t see it until you’re on it.” Bear descended rapidly, and the ocean came closer. Suddenly, they impacted something hard, and Bear dropped Nick.

The air flew from Nick’s lungs. He tucked in his head and extremities, sliding across a smooth surface. He rolled several times and crashed into a stone wall, shoulders first.

The earth stopped moving. He blinked and then slowly opened his eyes fully, glancing around. Pain ripped through his back and down one leg, and he took a quick inventory, shoving healing cells into place. Bruised and ripped but not broken. Good enough.

He shoved to his feet and wavered.

The dragon stared at him. Its eyes morphed from black to brown, and he shifted into a grizzly bear. The air shimmered and popped, and soon Bear was back to human form, standing against a white railing overlooking a cliff. He heaved in huge gulps of air, and his entire body shuddered with the movement. “Clothes,” he groaned.

Nick reached into his pack and tossed Bear a pair of jeans that had once probably been blue and a T-shirt blacker than the night. Bear quickly dressed. “Are you all right?” Nick whispered.

Bear held his stomach and then nodded. “Yes.”

Oh, something was wrong, but Nick would have to figure it out later. “All right.”

“Are you ready?” Bear rumbled.

Just as Nick nodded, bright lights illuminated the entire balcony.

He stiffened.

Several men moved out of the shadows and the building, all holding weapons. Then another man, tall with blondish-brown hair and dressed impeccably, strode out.

Bear sighed. “Desmond.”

“Beauregard. We spotted you several miles out, and your landing was the loudest we’ve had in centuries.” Desmond nodded regally toward Nick. “You must be Nicholai Veis.”

“I must be,” Nick murmured, edging his leg back in case he needed to go for the gun in his boot.

“I wouldn’t,” Desmond said smoothly, casually sliding his hands into the pockets of his perfectly pressed pants. “There are about twenty barrels on you right now, and even if you were able to somehow dismantle all of them, I have Simone under guard and gun, as well. You move the wrong way, and I’ll have her shot and beheaded.”

The blood in Nick’s veins froze, and energy popped through his mind. “Threatening Simone was a bad idea, dragon.” It was only fair to warn the bastard, and allowing his voice to go demon hoarse worked for him.

Another man walked out, this one with hair darker than night. “Bear, what the holy f*ck? Are you trying to kill yourself?”

Bear nodded, and his upper lip curled. “Nick, this is my brother, Flynn.”

How odd that Bear, of all people, had a half-brother who was a dragon. A real dragon. Nick studied the guy, probing deep for any sense that he was family or ally. He tried to move into the dragon’s brain, but shields stronger than any metal created kept him out.

Damn dragons. They really could block mind attacks. On to plan B, then.

Flynn edged himself between Desmond and Bear, his hard gaze on his brother. “Why the hell are you here?” he asked, fire flashing in his black eyes.

“To get Simone,” Bear said easily. “Fetch her, and we’ll be on our way.”

Desmond laughed, the sound throaty and rich. “I’ve always liked your humor, and now you’ve made it so easy for us to carry out your sentence. I appreciate it.”

Flynn growled low. “I’d like to revisit the sentence. Bear was acting in self-defense, I’m sure, and now that Simone is here, we can have another hearing, get to the bottom of this. We didn’t have the benefit of talking to her last time.”

Desmond shook his head. “The laws are the laws, and the sentence has been declared.” He looked soberly at Bear. “I’m sorry, but you need to say your good-byes tonight. We will allow you some time with your sister.”

Ah, shit. Nick stepped forward. “Bear didn’t kill Roman. I did.”

“Liar,” Desmond said, his gaze narrowing.

“It’s true. Ask Simone.” Nick gestured toward Bear. “He was tossed out a window, I came in, and I battled to protect Simone. I ran a sword through Roman, and then I sliced off his head.”

Flynn looked from Nick to Bear and then back again.

Nick waited patiently. If dragons were half as powerful as demons, they could smell a lie and discern the truth.

Finally, Desmond frowned and studied Bear. “I never had an inkling that you weren’t being truthful before.”