“I yield.”
I loosened my hold, but let a fingernail glide over his flesh. Sure, the wounds would heal in minutes, but I still needed to remind him of my dominance.
He shivered, and I shoved him away. He palmed the brick wall to steady himself, then faced me. His hand went to his neck. “Damn it.”
“Change back,” I said in a low tone. “Before someone comes, then you will start talking, or I will finish what I started.”
My demon was taking hold more than I preferred. The energy. The power. I could have this all the time if I permanently transformed.
No.
I palmed my knees and focused on my human nature . In through the nose out the mouth . My nails and fangs receded, and the blaze simmered. The fight sated my demon’s needs for the moment.
Gage’s jaw tightened, and his human mask surfaced. The bleeding from his neck stopped, and he glared at me. Shame flickered in his dark eyes. No one hated losing a challenge more than Gage. Especially to a demon two hundred years his junior.
“Talk.” I stood straight.
“There is nothing else to say.”
“There’s more to this Mark, Gage.” The caption beneath her picture confirmed my hunch. “Master drags me out of solitary and throws me into a pit of sensory overload, so he must have other plans. What are they? And how is a fifteen-year-old connected to a dance club? Is there not an age limit to these types of establishments?”
“Yes. Twenty-one.”
“Then how?”
“I do not know.”
I twitched my lip up, as I paced in front of him. My claws darkened, and Gage’s gaze lowered to my hands.
“What did you find in the apartment?” Gage asked.
“I now know what she looks like. You need to answer my question.” I inched toward him. “My patience wears thin, brother .”
“Master’s Seer saw darkness and the name of the club in a vision. A faint glow, in the shape of a heart.” Gage’s jaw muscles tensed as he pulled his hand from his neck. The wound was meshing together.
I didn’t want to kill Gage but I had to know. “Why me? You’re more than capable to handle a fifteen-year-old female. Why pull me from punishment early?”
“Because you’re part human. The only one able to get past any Guardians sent to protect the girl.”
“Guardians?” Damn, he must know about Russell and Beka.
“I believe Russell to be one; however, I do not see a mark on him.” Gage glared at me with his dark eyes. “And he is brother to your woman, Beka.”
“She is not my woman. ”
“Says you.”
“Beka and Russell are good friends, just call each other brother and sister as a term of affection.” Hopefully he would believe the lie. “What is so special about this girl, Jessica?”
“Master never told, but I suspect it is something very dangerous or helpful to him. He became quite anxious when his Seer told him of the girl.”
“Indeed. He released me from confinement five years early. Why would he not just tell me of the plan? Instead, he fed me to the wolves. I may have slipped with so many humans nearby. I’ve been away so long and very tempted with the seductive, half-dressed women prancing around.”
I ordered the demon inside and my fingernails to normal length. The rush of dark power flowing through my veins felt like a drug. And like my feelings for Beka, that was dangerous.
“Yes. And why do you think he did that?” Gage asked.
“Hoping I’d give in and become full-fledged.”
“Indeed.”
“If I did, I couldn’t get past the Guardians.”
“You’d still get your Mark. That he knows. You always get your Mark. Despite whoever or whatever stands in your path.” He chuckled. “Mostly.”
I gritted my teeth. Master was playing games. More than usual. Something had him spooked. That was the only explanation.
“He did that to test your resolve.”
I fisted my hands in my hair, tugging until my eyes stung.
“But, surprisingly, you have prevailed. You are very strong, David. Inexplicably strong.”
“And that
I loosened my hold, but let a fingernail glide over his flesh. Sure, the wounds would heal in minutes, but I still needed to remind him of my dominance.
He shivered, and I shoved him away. He palmed the brick wall to steady himself, then faced me. His hand went to his neck. “Damn it.”
“Change back,” I said in a low tone. “Before someone comes, then you will start talking, or I will finish what I started.”
My demon was taking hold more than I preferred. The energy. The power. I could have this all the time if I permanently transformed.
No.
I palmed my knees and focused on my human nature . In through the nose out the mouth . My nails and fangs receded, and the blaze simmered. The fight sated my demon’s needs for the moment.
Gage’s jaw tightened, and his human mask surfaced. The bleeding from his neck stopped, and he glared at me. Shame flickered in his dark eyes. No one hated losing a challenge more than Gage. Especially to a demon two hundred years his junior.
“Talk.” I stood straight.
“There is nothing else to say.”
“There’s more to this Mark, Gage.” The caption beneath her picture confirmed my hunch. “Master drags me out of solitary and throws me into a pit of sensory overload, so he must have other plans. What are they? And how is a fifteen-year-old connected to a dance club? Is there not an age limit to these types of establishments?”
“Yes. Twenty-one.”
“Then how?”
“I do not know.”
I twitched my lip up, as I paced in front of him. My claws darkened, and Gage’s gaze lowered to my hands.
“What did you find in the apartment?” Gage asked.
“I now know what she looks like. You need to answer my question.” I inched toward him. “My patience wears thin, brother .”
“Master’s Seer saw darkness and the name of the club in a vision. A faint glow, in the shape of a heart.” Gage’s jaw muscles tensed as he pulled his hand from his neck. The wound was meshing together.
I didn’t want to kill Gage but I had to know. “Why me? You’re more than capable to handle a fifteen-year-old female. Why pull me from punishment early?”
“Because you’re part human. The only one able to get past any Guardians sent to protect the girl.”
“Guardians?” Damn, he must know about Russell and Beka.
“I believe Russell to be one; however, I do not see a mark on him.” Gage glared at me with his dark eyes. “And he is brother to your woman, Beka.”
“She is not my woman. ”
“Says you.”
“Beka and Russell are good friends, just call each other brother and sister as a term of affection.” Hopefully he would believe the lie. “What is so special about this girl, Jessica?”
“Master never told, but I suspect it is something very dangerous or helpful to him. He became quite anxious when his Seer told him of the girl.”
“Indeed. He released me from confinement five years early. Why would he not just tell me of the plan? Instead, he fed me to the wolves. I may have slipped with so many humans nearby. I’ve been away so long and very tempted with the seductive, half-dressed women prancing around.”
I ordered the demon inside and my fingernails to normal length. The rush of dark power flowing through my veins felt like a drug. And like my feelings for Beka, that was dangerous.
“Yes. And why do you think he did that?” Gage asked.
“Hoping I’d give in and become full-fledged.”
“Indeed.”
“If I did, I couldn’t get past the Guardians.”
“You’d still get your Mark. That he knows. You always get your Mark. Despite whoever or whatever stands in your path.” He chuckled. “Mostly.”
I gritted my teeth. Master was playing games. More than usual. Something had him spooked. That was the only explanation.
“He did that to test your resolve.”
I fisted my hands in my hair, tugging until my eyes stung.
“But, surprisingly, you have prevailed. You are very strong, David. Inexplicably strong.”
“And that
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