Warrior Fae Princess (Warrior Fae 2)

“No, but Roger arranged him as our guide,” Devon said, counting thirteen demons in all. That number was probably significant to this situation, but he had no idea how. He wasn’t chummy with any witches or mages.

“How would these demons know to show up at the exact portal we’d planned to use, at the exact time we’d planned to use it?” Cole asked, and everyone repeatedly flinched as though his words were machine gun fire.

Devon held up his hand. “Cole, if you can’t figure out how to whisper, don’t speak at all.”

“I am—”

“No.” Devon shot Cole a warning glare. “You’re not.”

Cole frowned, but he shut his trap.

Steve emerged in human form from a bush behind him, his chest heaving from his two quick changes and his body glistening with sweat. Given that were-lions were known for their stealth, and Steve seemed to be on Team Devon for the moment, Devon had sent him to scout out the area.

“Besides, this isn’t the exact time we’d planned to use it,” Devon said, looking out over the field. The dying sun glinted off the windows of a housing development that overlooked the area. Their adversary was bold—the portal wasn’t far enough from civilization that a bunch of inhuman weirdos would escape notice for long. Eventually someone would get curious or suspicious, and walk or drive out to see what had gathered the small crowd. Since there weren’t any humans gawking at the monsters, let alone any authorities, these demons couldn’t have been here for long. He said as much.

“Good observation,” Barbara said, as though she hadn’t made that connection. His original pack murmured their assent.

“They also look about the same as the demon in the street near Charity’s house,” he continued, grabbing his phone. “It wouldn’t be a stretch to suspect the same person called them.”

“These demons are more advanced,” Barbara said. “Lower level three, mostly. A couple of high twos and, if I’m not mistaken, one lower level four. That one might give us some trouble.”

“What’s the demon scale, again?” Andy asked.

Yasmine shifted her stance next to him, clearly wondering the same thing but not wanting to appear uninformed enough to ask. When she’d first joined them, Yasmine had expressed interest in him—only he’d already started to fall for Charity. Now that he and Charity were openly together, Yasmine seemed to have withdrawn from the pack somewhat, but Devon was confident she’d find her new normal in time. Now was clearly not that time.

“There are levels within the levels, but the overall power scale goes to six,” Barbara replied. “Six being Lucifer himself, the most powerful demon in the worlds. He stands alone on his pedestal. So you can see that even a lower level four is reason to bring extra underwear.”

Yasmine crinkled her nose.

“And…how do you know this?” Macy asked, not doing a great job of hiding her suspicion.

If Barbara noticed, she made no sign. “I have regularly lent aid to packs combating demons. An experienced pack of our size would be facing a tough fight. Healing time would be plentiful. This pack, however, protecting someone unconscious…” She met Devon’s eyes. “We’d take losses. Healing time would be extensive.”

“Healing time we don’t have.” Frustration burned through Devon, and he couldn’t help flicking his eyes to the van, where Charity lay sprawled out on the seat, her breathing shallow and forehead probably still burning up. “Fine. Dillon, call around and get us rooms. We need to get in contact with Roger and figure out what happens next. We’ll probably need to move portals, and to do that, someone needs to alert Emery.”

“Shouldn’t we—”

Devon took three fast steps and grabbed Dale by the throat. He no longer worried that he didn’t have what it took to take the new pack member down. He didn’t worry about taking damage, either. For Charity’s sake, he needed this troublemaker subdued, and he wouldn’t back down until that happened.

Dale’s eyes widened as his back hit the van. Devon’s power pumped out around them as he leaned into Dale hard, staring into the other shifter’s muddy-brown eyes with an intent born of power and authority. An intent demanding submission.

He didn’t say a word. He didn’t explain his position. He didn’t need to.

The silence stretched. A tense moment ticked by. Devon’s power beat onto Dale, daring him to turn. Promising him he’d pay if he continued to challenge Devon’s authority.

Finally, with a release of breath, Dale dropped his gaze. He bowed submissively.

Devon didn’t dwell on it. He didn’t have time.

Macy and Rod were already bent over their phones, looking up hotels online.

“Load up,” Devon barked, not worried about volume. They’d be gone before the demons ran over to scout them out. “I’ll contact Roger on the way downtown. Let’s try to get rooms in a populated area. There’s less chance of this host, or another, combating us there. I realize the demon earlier walked down the middle of the street, but it was a very bad part of town where I doubt people rushed to call the police. A smaller town in a nice area is a different ballgame.”