Playing with Darkness: Book 3.5 (Sensor Series) by Susan Illene Read Free Book Online Page B

of a house behind him—where it thankfully extinguished—but that didn’t discourage the guardian.
    Kerbasi started sending smaller baseball-sized flames at a rapid-fire speed. Lucas flashed around, but couldn’t move fast enough to avoid them all. Black and red scorch marks trailed across his chest and arms.
    I didn’t need Ireth’s encouragement to step into the fight anymore. There was one way I could protect Lucas. As soon as I could get close enough to him, I leaped up and wrapped my arms and legs around his body. The heat of the balls singed the back of my clothes, but went out as soon as they touched my skin.
    “Sensor,” Lucas growled into my ear, “this is not a good time for foreplay.”
    A ball of flame almost singed his hair off so I climbed higher on him to protect his face.
    “This is a great time for foreplay.” I gave him a quick kiss.
    As soon as our lips parted I caught a flash of orange and black fur flying by. I turned my head in time to catch Sable latching her teeth onto Kerbasi’s groin and clamping down. He screamed and tried to yank her off, but she held on with fierce determination.
    I grinned. That was my cat.
    Sable wasn’t going to be able to hold her own for long with still being weak from an illness, though. I hopped off of Lucas and pulled my knife from of my pocket, running up to the guardian. He was swatting at the shape-shifter, still trying to remove her. Every time he struck her, her teeth tore into him some more.
    I plunged my knife through his chest and straight into his heart. He looked up in stunned amazement before crumbling to the ground, taking the cat with him. The blade wouldn’t hold him for long, but at least it would keep him down for a bit.
    Cheers went up among the fae spectators. A group of children jumped up and down pointing at Kerbasi and laughing. Everyone else was looking at Sable, Lucas, and me with admiration in their eyes. If I’d known fighting a battle with the guardian was all it took to win them over I would have suggested that to the council.
    I looked down at Sable. “You can let go of him now.”
    For still being weak, she had a remarkable grip on him. The cat slowly unclenched her jaw, revealing a bloody mouth. I picked her up and hugged her close to my chest. I could sense the pain she felt from Kerbasi’s blows, but she didn’t seem to mind me coddling her.
    Lucas staggered up to us. “Is she okay?”
    “Yeah.” I ran my hand along her back. “He struck her a few times, but I don’t think anything is broken.”
    “Good. That was an unexpected move on her part, though it worked well enough. I’m surprised she knew to do that.” He lifted a brow.
    I cocked my head. “Guess she had a good trainer.”
    “I’m rather certain Garvan does not instruct his cats to attack the groin,” Nienna said, coming up behind me.
    “Then Garvan lacks vision.”
    She didn’t argue the point.
    Kerbasi moaned from where he lay on the ground. When he started to reach for the knife, I kicked his hand away and stomped the blade deeper into him. His body jerked once before he fell unconscious again. He was going to stay out as long as possible if I could help it.
    Sable wiggled out of my arms and hopped to the ground. She walked over to Lucas, sniffed him, and then sat down to clean herself as if she didn’t have a care in the world. At least licking up the guardian’s blood on her fur would help her heal faster.
    Ireth joined our group. “It appears you are able to control the guardian with a little help.”
    She looked down at Sable, who continued to lick her paw.
    “The guardian has had his fun for the day.” Lucas rubbed at his chest. It was bloody, but it looked like the burn marks had already begun to heal. “He shouldn’t cause any more trouble before we leave in the morning.”
    “We’re staying the night?” I asked.
    He closed the distance between us and pulled me to him. “I see no reason for you to travel back to Fairbanks this late