Never Cry Wolf by Cynthia Eden

Sarah. She was still staring at her hands. Still seeing blood? “You’re the reason the cops tossed my ass in jail.”
    She dropped her hands, and her gaze lifted to his. “ No. You got tossed in jail because you’ve got a history with the cops. It’s not my fault you and that detective—detective—”
    “Bruce Langston.” Dickhead.
    “—have some kind of war going on.” She straightened her shoulders. “I wasn’t just going to leave John’s body out here to rot. He deserved better than that.”
    “Most folks don’t deserve the way they die.”
    Michael crowded in close to her. “And some folks do.” His eyes had narrowed with suspicion. “Some folks deserve exactly what they get.”
    Her small jaw clenched. “Back off, wolf,” she gritted.
    Lucas slanted a hard glance at Michael.
    The wolf eased back a step, but he glared at Lucas. “Don’t let your dick lead you, man. The woman lied to you!”
    “He never asked me if I was here!”
    “What the fuck? You never said!” Michael snarled right back.
    Lucas’s gaze darted back to Marley. She was watching Michael and Sarah, a faint gleam in her eyes.
    Marley. The bloody and beaten demon who’d come to him six months ago. She’d begged for his pack’s aid, saying she only wanted a safe place to stay, and in return, she’d given them her fire. Demons were so good at controlling fire.
    And there had been some murdering assholes who deserved those flames.
    As far as Lucas knew, Marley had never left the house since they’d made their agreement. Food and supplies were brought to her. So after six months, suddenly, she decided to take a stroll . . .
    He moved quickly, catching both of her arms and pinning them behind her back.
    “Lucas!” Her scream of shock.
    Sarah and Michael both froze.
    “Where’d you go, Marley?”
    She twisted against him. “Let me go!” Fire began to lick across the floor.
    “ Where’d you go? ”
    The fire flared higher—then it shot straight for Sarah. “Get her out of here!” Lucas ordered because no way was he letting the demon go then.
    Michael grabbed Sarah’s arm and hauled her toward the door. They’d taken about three steps when the door slammed closed, trapping them inside. Damn demon power.
    Lucas brought his hand to Marley’s throat. “Let’s try this again,” he whispered and he let her feel the sting of his claws on her flesh. “I know you didn’t go any damn place. I know you’re lying. So who the hell did you see slice that human?”
    The flames circled Sarah and Michael. The fire burned higher.
    His claws pressed deeper. “If the flames don’t die, you do.” His gaze darted to Sarah.
    Her eyes met his through the flames. He knew she’d see the beast shining in his stare. See the claws, see the teeth. Here’s the monster, never really hidden by the man.
    The fire was so close to her skin. Charmers were weak when it came to magic. The fire would hurt her, kill her—
    A growl worked in his throat as he turned his fury back on Marley. If this was the way it would end . . .
    The flames died. Smoke drifted in the air. “Jess . . .” The name was a sigh that broke from Marley’s lips. “He and the coyotes . . . they killed him.”
    “And what?” he whispered in her ear, not wanting Sarah to hear. “You just stood back and fucking watched?”
    A tremble shook her. “It was watch or die myself.”
    He knew Sarah heard the words because her eyes widened. “They were going to wait for her,” Marley said, and Lucas kept his claws near her throat. “But it took too long. You were due back . . .” She swallowed, and he felt the gulp against his hand.
    He dropped his hold but didn’t step back. “Was it all a setup?” Fuck, how long had this plan been in motion? “They sent you in . . . just to set me up?”
    Her chin lifted as blood dripped down her throat. “I’m a low-level demon. Barely a three on the power scale. All I can do is use the glamour. Cloak. Hide.” Her brittle laugh