The Fury by Sloan McBride Page A

head.
    He stared at Reese. Something unusual had happened when he’d touched her in the shower and she’d touched him. Fires the likes of those in Mount Cradacus fueled his body’s reaction to the female. The torture of caressing her soft skin had nearly caused him to combust. Tonight when he’d seen Abu touch her so intimately, a red haze had clouded his mind. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think it was the fury .
    The go’ras should have rid her of any knowledge of him. That it didn’t created a new set of problems.
    Dagan gathered Reese and her things for them to go.
     
    The drive back to her house seemed to take forever. Over the past few days, she’d strained to hold onto a small thread of sanity; add in Dagan and some ancient demon out to kill her and she had the makings for a full blown psychiatric meltdown.
    When they arrived at her house, Dagan said, “Go inside. Make sure all the windows and doors are locked. I’ll be there in a moment.”
    “Where are you going?”
    “I’m going to speak with Rufus.”
    She raised a questioning brow. “Rufus?”
    Dagan nodded. “He’s out there keeping watch.”
    Grinding her teeth together, through tight lips she said, “What do you mean he’s out there?”
    He shot her a droll glare. “He has been out there all day and this evening at Slow Burn, keeping in the shadows.”
    “Why in God’s name would he be doing that?”
    “Because I told him to.”
    She crossed her arms and frowned. “A bodyguard?”
    “Exactly.”
    When she opened her mouth to fling harsh words at him, he got out of the car, leaned his head in and smiled. “Yell at me later.”
    Count to ten, count to twenty.
    A nervous itch raked up her spine as she climbed the front porch steps and faced the scorched spots on the wood. She chalked the shiver that raced across her skin to the chill in the air. Stepping inside the front door, she flipped on the light. A whirlwind blasted by her nearly knocking her to the floor. Spinning, she found an enigmatic man standing in her living room. Uninvited.
    “Hello, Reese.”
    The tone of his voice caressed her like that of a lover, his smile cold and calculating. His short, elegantly styled hair was a cross between blond and white. She allowed her gaze to travel over a well-toned body encased in black leather to rest on glittering, intense amber eyes.
    “Who the hell are you and how did you get into my house?”
    He laughed. “I must say, the strong invisibility ward did its job well. I knew I wouldn’t find it on my own, so I waited for you to come home. When you opened the door, I took the opportunity to rush in before you could close me out again.”
    The stranger waved his hand and the front door slammed shut.
    “What do you want?” Reese angled toward the fireplace, putting greater distance between them. If she could play for time, Dagan would show up.
    “He’s busy,” the stranger said, as if he’d read her mind. “I could have you before he breaks through the door.”
    Her gaze wandered around the room, searching for the best escape route.
    “Running is futile. I am meant to have you, Reese. Surely you realize that.”
    “I don’t realize anything. I’m guessing you’re Kur.”
    He inclined his head.
    “You won’t get me without a fight,” she stated with bravado.
    His amber eyes swirled like molten lava. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. The fight makes it more intoxicating.” Kur reached out his hand. “Come to me.”
    His silky voice echoed in her head. The command to come toward him replayed over and over. Against her will, her right foot stepped forward, then her left. She struggled to gain control of her body, but she was losing.
    “That’s right. Come to me so I can inhale the sweet scent of your blood. My enemy’s blood.”
    Reese fought to keep her senses. She reached inside her purse and wrapped fingers around the Beretta she’d put there before leaving for the nightclub. Gripping the pistol with both