Hellbound Warrior: (Dark Warrior Alliance Book Five) by Brenda Trim, Tami Julka

to the alley that led to the land of gluttony. It was difficult to keep up with him as focused as he was. He had yet to calm down and hadn’t said more than a few words to her. Would he hate her for what he’d been forced to do? No one had ever disliked her and the idea that this demon might didn’t sit well with her. She vowed to try and make it up to him, if at all possible.
    They turned down a dark passage when shouts echoed from behind them. Turning her head, her heart plummeted when she saw Asmodeus and Lemuel chasing after them with at least six of their minions.
    Asmodeus was a cruel, three-headed creature with a mishmash of body parts. One of his heads was human, another was a ram and the last was a bull. She never knew where to look when he was talking because even though he sounded human at times, all three mouths moved at once. It was very disconcerting. And then there was his body. He had a bit of each creature mixed together with flesh and fur. All she could recall was the feel of his hands, paws and claws all over her skin. He had been abhorrent in his treatment of her and the perpetrator of her worst moments.
    Lemuel called out to Rhys who didn’t respond. Instead, Rhys picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, running full speed toward the portal.
    Arrows flew past her head and bounced off the buildings. Rhys grunted and staggered, but kept going. The second they entered the veil, it felt as if everything slowed as she was being torn apart. Lifting her arms to shield her face that felt like it was on fire, she saw flames lick across her skin, but didn’t burn her clothing. Looking down, she noticed Rhys was covered in flames, as well. The fire disappeared as soon as they made it through the veil. She was relieved to see that her skin hadn’t burned like she’d feared.
    “Pema gave us a blocking spell. Use it on the portal, now!” Rhys yelled over his shoulder. He set her down and she watched Kellen toss a small glass bottle at the veil. Upon impact, it exploded and bright white light flashed, momentarily blinding her.
    When her vision cleared, she saw Lemuel pounding against an invisible barrier. “You will never get away with this Rhys. The angel is mine. I went to great lengths to take her from you, and you will not have her!!” Lemuel cursed, bloodying his hands as he continued battering at the obstruction.
    Since meeting Rhys, she hadn’t considered how similar, or not, as she believed was the case, he was to his father. Lemuel had the same multicolored hair as his son, but that was where the similarities ended. Their personalities were night and day. She thought Rhys’ best features were his kaleidoscopic eyes, which she assumed came from his mother, and then there was his smile. His father had not smiled once in a hundred years and his eyes were black pits of evil.
    Finally free of their clutches, she sagged with relief. They could no longer harm her or force her to act against her will. She was still trapped in the Underworld, but she had a new surge of hope with Rhys by her side. Lemuel’s parting words about taking her from Rhys played through her mind. What did he mean? Something told her that the answer to that question was going to alter the course of her life forever.
    *****
    Santiago Reyes glared at his friend and partner. Orlando was an obnoxious asshole sometimes. They had been partners for a long time, as Dark Warriors and detectives with the Seattle Police Department, but at the moment, the feline shifter wouldn’t get off his ass.
    “Seriously, bro. You’ve been MIA a lot lately, and I know you haven’t been with me. And, before you say you’ve been at Kill’s place, think again. He said you haven’t been to Confetti Too for weeks. What the fuck is up with you?” Orlando challenged, anger sparking in his emerald green eyes as he ran his hand through his spiky, white-blonde hair.
    “When did I have to start clocking in with you anyway? We all have our private lives.