Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(66)

Bear shrugged. “I would’ve killed Roman myself in a few years, anyway. The guy was a prick.”

“He was an excellent ruler,” Desmond shouted, his face turning red.

Simone took a step back in case she needed to throw fire to protect Bear.

He mirrored her movement. “If you say so. All I remember is people being scared to death of the guy. And he hit a lot.”

Desmond growled. “That’s because you’re a moron.”

“Think so?” Bear asked silkily.

“Yes.” Desmond apparently missed the threat that had just surfaced in his cousin.

Simone did not. She tensed in preparation for a fight.

Desmond reached inside his jacket and drew out a green gun. “I know Flynn wants to slice you open, but I’d rather just shoot you in the head.”

Bear growled. “Now, that’s just not nice, cousin.”

“Last time,” Desmond said. “Tell me what your plan with the demon is, or I start with the kneecaps and work my way up to your brain.”

Simone gathered the fire inside her and prepared to strike.





Chapter 25


Nick unfolded the cell phone that Bear had passed him before escorting Simone to dinner. He peered at the face. Seriously. Where had Bear found the ancient device? Who still used phones that actually folded? Taking a deep breath, wondering whether his emotions had taken over for his logic, he stood close to the glass wall and quickly dialed the number.

“What?” Zane Kyllwood growled into the phone.

“Zane? It’s Nick.” Maybe the older phone actually worked better in these crappy conditions than a new one, but there was still a crackling along the line.

“Nick? Where the hell are you?”

Nick shut his eyes and tried to focus. “I need you to send help, but I’ll understand if you refuse.” What the hell was he doing, asking Zane to risk himself and the demon nation? But it was for Simone, so he didn’t have a choice. If he was on the other end advising Zane, he’d tell him to say hell no.

Static echoed for several moments. “I said, tell me where you are.”

They were losing the connection, damn it. “I’m going to type in coordinates to the best of my knowledge, but they could be off. We’re on an island in the middle of the Northern Atlantic Sea that isn’t noticeable until you’re actually on it.” Man, this was a terrible idea.

“The f*cking witches have a secret island?” Zane barked.

“No.” Nick cleared his throat. “Dragons.”

Static and silence. Then Zane, “Dragons.”

“Yep. Simone and Bear are half dragon—long story—but the dragons are going to try to kill me tomorrow. Simone is here and I need to get her away.” Nick leaned against the chilled glass. “Send a demon who can teleport to get her.”

“Send the coordinates.”

“It’s dangerous, and it’s unfair of me to ask.” But for Simone, he’d do it.

Static overcame whatever Zane said.

Hell. The line went dead.

Nick hurriedly typed in the coordinates he and Bear had figured out and said a quick prayer that they would reach Zane and not put the demon soldiers he sent into the rock. The text seemed to load.

Then he waited.

Two figures suddenly appeared in the freezing sea outside.

He bellowed and hurried toward the glass.

Zane’s eyes widened, and suddenly, the two were inside the room, gasping for air. “Close coordinates, my ass.” Water sluiced off him. His green eyes sizzled, and water slicked back his thick, black hair. The wet clothes revealed a hard line of muscle and strength.

Nick gaped at him and at Adam Dunne, the Coven Nine Enforcer. “What in holy hell are the two of you doing here?”

Zane coughed. “It’s good to see you, too.”

Nick shook his head. “I wanted you to send a couple of soldiers, not come yourself. Jesus, Zane. You can’t be here.” He glared at Adam. “Neither can you. The Enforcers can’t know about this place.”

Adam Dunne was a Coven Enforcer and one of the smartest people on the planet, but right now, his face was turning blue and water dripped out of his nose. “You said Simone was in trouble, and as an Enforcer, it’s my f*cking job to know where she is.” He wiped seaweed out of his shorter brown hair. “She’s also my cousin.”

Nick looked from one hulking man to the other. “What were you two doing together?”

“We were trying to find you and Simone, obviously.” Zane rolled his eyes. “When your call came in, the witch here wouldn’t let me teleport without him. So you get two for the price of one.”

“And if you teleport Simone out of here?” Nick asked, stepping back from the spreading pool of water.

“I’ll come back for Adam and for you.” Zane lifted a shoulder. “Unless there’s another way off this weird place.”

“There is.” But he would not ask Bear to shift into dragon form ever again. “You get Simone and Adam out of here, and I’ll figure out the other way.” If he survived the fight, and if Bear survived, then they’d find a boat or something. “Sorry about the coordinates.”

“That’s all right. You are in the middle of nowhere,” Zane said.