The Fury by Sloan McBride

and demeanor as well. Vampires. Did vampires exist? Not too long ago, she had no proof that gods existed. She wasn’t taking anything for granted.
    “Let’s play some pool.”
    Reese took a long drink from her glass. “Okay, lead on.” She glanced back to where Dagan spoke to Nazi and wondered why she couldn’t be around for the discussion.
     
    “What brings you here, Time Walker?”
    Dagan ordered them both another drink then rested his forearms on the bar. How would he find out what he needed to know without making Nazi suspicious? He’d never been very good at subterfuge.
    “I’d venture to say your dilemma has something to do with the human female. The power radiates from her blood and her body. Kur will definitely zone in on her for just that reason. It is Enki’s bloodline.” Nazi downed his drink and snapped his fingers to get the bartender’s attention.
    “This isn’t about Reese Whittaker. I had to bring her along until I get rid of the vermin trailing her.”
    “I see. So why have you come here to seek me out?”
    Dagan threw back the whiskey and ordered another shot with a beer chaser. He glanced toward the stage to collect his thoughts. The band had begun their next tune.
    Taking a deep breath, he cleared his mind and faced Nazi. “Have you ever heard of a go’ras not working?”
    Nazi’s head whipped around. He stared at Dagan, who did his best to concentrate on the shot and beer, which had just arrived. “There is no instance I can recall where a go’ras did not work. It is powerful magick. Why do you ask?”
    Dagan shrugged. “Curiosity.”
    Nazi lifted a light brow. “And you say this has nothing to do with the woman?”
    Dagan resisted the urge to run his hands through his hair or wipe the small trickle of sweat from his brow. “No, nothing to do with her.”
    Nazi turned hard, skeptical eyes toward him. “This is a strange question coming from you, a time walker. I wonder whether you’re being truthful with me.” He held his hand out with his palm facing Dagan.
    Dagan had erected a barrier to keep the God of the Mind from reading his true thoughts. He hoped it worked. One did not generally hide anything from this particular god. His heart rate increased as Nazi probed, and he fought to remain nonchalant while being scanned. Every ounce of energy he could spare went to strengthening the barrier.
    Nazi lowered his hand. “I get nothing from you, which in itself is unusual. You’re blocking me.”
    “I told you the truth.” Dagan turned and ordered another beer.
    “You know Abu’s behavior was a little bizarre even for him this evening.”
    “He and I have come to blows for things far less than a woman.”
    “True,” Nazi agreed. “I’m sure you were too caught up in the situation to notice that his eyes had changed and his aura had deepened as well.”
    Dagan faced Nazi. “What does that have to do with anything?”
    “The power in her is stronger than any I have felt in centuries. When you draw near, her aura changes and power surges through her body.”
    Dagan frowned. He’d never intended to be anything more than a time walker. But, in the last forty-eight hours, things in his predestined world had tipped—toward Reese.
    With an unspoken hunger, Dagan watched Reese dancing with Ninti on one of the raised circular spaces. In those black pants that did nothing to hide her delectable form, her body swayed to the music. His temperature rose by leaps and bounds and his cock thickened.
    “I don’t need to be in your mind to know your thoughts.” Nazi’s words tore Dagan’s gaze away from the woman who tormented him.
    “What do you mean?”
    “With the power she holds it will be difficult not to get drawn in by her. Kur will not give up this prize easily.”
    “I know.”
    A gorgeous redhead walked by, catching Nazi’s eye. “Well, I wish you luck.”
    “Yeah, thanks.”
    Nazi caught up with the redhead and put his arm around her shoulders. Dagan shook his