Hellhound by Kaylie Austen Read Free Book Online

match.
    Lee didn’t conjure up any special powers. He jabbed
lightly at first, and I ducked and dodged as we danced around the ring. He hit
harder, using both punches and the occasional kick. His eyes darkened, and the
Mythian birthmark made a dull appearance on his temple. Lee was getting mad.
    I had to end this quickly before he gave us all away.
I crouched and launched myself at his chest like a crazed monkey. The force
knocked him back several steps. He staggered but kept on his feet. Grabbing
onto his collar, I punched him. One skull cracking blow and he toppled back,
hit the floor, and was out. I landed on my feet, straddling him when he hit the
floor.
    The crowd gasped then cheered. I could see why my kind
went rogue; humans falling all over me in utter admiration was nice. I could
get used to this.
    I bent down and a ripple of whistles echoed through
the room as I pulled the crescent from my belt. I hit the back of Lee’s wrist
with it. The crescent glowed silver, tightened around him, and tiny projections
injected my essence into his flesh.
    There was no way to tell if it worked until Lee woke
up. Demetrius threw him over his shoulder and walked out.
    I retrieved my trench coat. “Does anyone have a
problem with us taking in a wanted man?”
    No one said anything, and no one tried to stop us. We
left without any problems, and the humans went on with their petty fighting.
    Demetrius placed Lee in the back of the car and drove.
I twisted around in the front seat to view Lee when he came to during the trip
to his northern clan.
    He opened heavy lids, his head against the window, and
watched me. His dark brown eyes turned black, offering a blank stare, very
creepy.
    “What’s it like?” I asked, anxious to know if the
crescent worked.
    He gritted his teeth, as if he fought against
answering. Through tight lips, he replied, “Painful.”
    “More details.”
    “What did you do to me? My veins feel like fire, my
flesh burns.” He jerked with every third word. “Cramps, muscle spasms.”
    “Are you trying not to answer me?”
    “Yes.”
    That didn’t prove much. “Dislocate your right thumb.”
    He did as I commanded and howled.
    “But be quiet.”
    Lee whimpered and clamped down.
    I faced the road. “Wow! It works.”
    Lee remained quiet for the remainder of the trip.
Night had just begun when we found him, and the drive took a few hours. The
woods, in which I was accustomed to seeing, were lacking out here. Fields of
tall, dry grass created a solid color in the night. I could see a long way into
the darkness as the sun gradually rose. Tinted shades of dark purple and pink
appeared over the horizon.
    “It’s so empty.”
    Demetrius looked around to my side for a second.
“There’s grass, trees, hills, houses, and animals on the farmlands.”
    “Farmland?”
    “Where the humans grow vegetation and raise animals.”
    “Where our food comes from?”
    He shook his head.
    “What?”
    “You are so naïve, Selene. Everything’s been handed to
you from the labor of others.”
    I frowned, having never thought about it.
    By the time we reached his clan, the morning sun
peeked over the knolls. As the sun rose higher and the moon vanished from
sight, Lee became agitated. He yelled profanities and struggled against the
control over him.
    “Shut up!” I snapped.
    “Make me.” He twisted his wrists in an effort to get
the crescent off.
    When I glanced down, I noticed the crescent’s glow
waned. Perhaps my power over it diminished during the day.
    Six sentries surrounded us when we pulled up to a
meeting point. I retrieved the crescent while Demetrius hauled Lee out of the
car. He didn’t fight or try to get away, not with this many sentries prepared
to hunt and kill. They didn’t exchange words. The handoff was swift. One
minute, Lee squirmed in Demetrius’s hands, the next Demetrius held nothing but
an envelope of cash.
    He didn’t check it. He dropped the envelope on my lap
and drove.
    I held the thick