Eternal Flame (Night Watch 3)

He shoved demons out of his way. Knocked them to the side and shouted Jana’s name.

The crackle of fire answered him.

Inside, he didn’t see anyone. Human or demon. Just an empty den. Had she gone out the back? Had she—

“You shouldn’t be here.” She appeared in the thick smoke and came toward him with eyes flashing red.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her close. “And you damn well know better than to start a fire around you.” His hold was as strong as the cuffs had been, and he hauled her toward the door. She shouldn’t be around the smoke for too long, she knew that. Did the woman have a death wish?

They burst outside, into the night. The other demons had fled the scene, desperate to escape from the flames.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Jana said again, shaking her head.

“Oh, really?” His fury broke free. “Where should I be? Still at the cabin where you left my ass? Still sleeping off the sex while you get to burn this place to ash? I don’t think so, baby.”

She blinked. For an instant, she almost looked … hurt. But then, “I was cleaning up your mess, demon. These ass**les attacked you, remember? Were you just going to let them go?”

“No.” Now that was just insulting. “I handle my own business, my way.”

“Oh, really?” Her hands were on her hips. The building burned behind her. “Your way wasn’t working.”

“And burning the building down around them was gonna work? That’s execution, that’s—”

“I gave them a chance to run!”

What?

She shook her head. “You really shouldn’t be here.” Her shoulders slumped a bit.

“News flash.” He stepped closer to her, making her tilt her head back to hold his stare. “Wherever you are, I’m gonna be there.” His breath rasped out. “Did you really think I’d just let you walk away? From the moment you slipped out of bed, I knew every move you made.”

She swallowed. “You … this is a setup?”

His gut clenched. All or nothing. “You’re the bait, baby. The juicy, tempting bait to bring out the bastards who torched

Night Watch.”

Jana’s lips parted. Then she smiled, a sad twist of her lips. Her dimple didn’t appear. “Is that all I am?”

A police cruiser raced to the scene with its sirens wailing. An unmarked SUV flew up behind it.

A woman jumped out of the SUV, her hair flying. At the sight of the gun in her hand, Zane tensed. Hell, here we go again.

Tony scrambled from the back of the SUV, running up to the woman’s side. Good, at least one guy with sense was with the cops.

“Look,” Zane said, raising his voice so they could all hear him clearly, “we can—”

The woman fired her weapon and shot Jana in the chest.

Chapter 8

Jana fell back, and Zane lunged for her, catching her just before she hit the ground. Her eyes were open, stunned, and the red was already bleeding out from her gaze.

She shuddered in his arms, and her eyelids began to close. The heat began to lessen behind him as the flames died.

“Fuck!” The world seemed to explode around him. Or maybe he exploded. The beast he’d tried to keep in check roared-a loud, enraged cry of fury that burst from Zane’s lips. A cry that was her name.

The scene shifted around him as the colors faded away until everything was gray. No black and white. No good or evil. Just pain and fury.

“Zane … don’t-don’t let her …” The barest whisper of Jana’s voice. So soft. “Take … m-me.”

“She’s not dead, demon,” the woman’s voice rang out as she stepped closer. “Just drugged.”

His hold on Jana tightened. He rose, cradling her in his arms. Her head fell back against his shoulder.

The blonde gave him a steely smile. “If you don’t want the same shot, put her down and step away.” Her gun aimed at him.

Zane got ready to blast the bitch.

Then Tony stepped to her side. “He’s not a threat.” His eyes were on Zane, but the words were directed at the woman.

“He’s Zane Wynter, the man known to have been keeping close company with Ms. Carter for the last few days. And he’s a person of interest in the Night Watch fire.” She paused, her eyes narrowing. “He’s also the man who escaped from your custody, so excuse me if I don’t believe a damn word you say, Captain.” Her gun was still pointed at Zane.

“He’s a hunter with Night Watch! He’s not a criminal!” Tony argued.

Screw this. Zane lunged down the steps with Jana tight in his arms. Hold on, baby. Where the hell was Jude? They needed to get out of there. There were more sirens, and that meant more cops would be coming any second.

But would those cops be backup for Tony or for the blonde?

“I told you to put her down!” the woman yelled and her gun jerked. “I said—”

Tony snatched the gun from her hand. “You’re not shooting at him.”

“And you’re going to get your ass thrown off the police force!” She shoved past him. “Put her down!” She yanked a wallet out of her pocket and held it up in the air. “I’m with the FBI. I’m Special Agent Kelly Thomas.”

Big f**king deal.

“I’ve got a sniper on you right now,” she continued, voice flat. “The same sniper that took down your shifter friend.”

Now that made him freeze. He turned his stare on her and met her pale, glittering green eyes.

“Jana Carter is a killer,” she told him. “You don’t want to fight for her.”

More SUVs and cop cars swarmed the scene.

“Lady,” Tony snapped, “you don’t know what you’re dealing with here. Let them go.”

“I know exactly what I’m dealing with.” The wind tossed her hair. “I’m staring at a demon and an Ignitor.”

Zane dropped his glamour. “No, Special Agent …” Jana barely seemed to be breathing in his arms. “You’re staring at one very pissed demon.” Where was the sniper? Was the claim about him bullshit?

She marched closer. Tony followed her, keeping his hold on the gun he’d taken from her. Her smile was brittle. “Jana Carter’s on the extermination list.”

Zane stiffened. He’d heard about the list. Heard rumors for years that the FBI was monitoring the most dangerous of the paranormals and putting them on their extermination list. But … Jana?