Wicked Flames (Solsti Prophecy) (10 page)

“Be careful. It might be coyotes,” Tina said.

“Or a wolf,” Cassie whispered, eyes wide.

He folded his arms across his chest. “It was probably a larger dog and if so, the owner needs to know what happened.” He looked at Gin. “Call me when you get back?”

“Sure.” She met his eyes. They looked safe and calm, level-headed and intelligent. Clearly settled down from their kiss. Then again, an injured animal running onto the scene
would
take things out of the hot-and-heavy zone. “What if it’s a whole pack of coyotes?”

“Even if it’s a pack, they tend to avoid people.” He held her stare, eyes glinting in a way she hadn’t noticed before. “I’ll be fine.”

The edge in his voice left no room for argument. Plus, he seemed like he wanted to go searching for…
what?
Coyotes? Or trouble? Either way, he looked ready for anything. Made sense, for a guy about to interview with campus security. She straightened from her crouch next to Cassie. “Okay. I’ll call you, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Coyotes. Shit. Mathias could throw a coyote as far as he could smell one, which was pretty damn far. No, the little white fuzz ball in Cassie’s arms had been attacked, but not by any native carnivores.

Its wound bore the distinctive burnt-flesh scent of a hellhound.

Fuck!

He watched the women climb into Tina’s Toyota SUV and drive away, then punched a quick text to Ria:
Hound. Get here now.

Two seconds later his screen flashed with her reply
. On my way. G okay?

Yes. In Tina’s car, going to vet
. He could tell that the two humans were frightened for the animal, and bore no ill intent. He’d let Gin go with them, knowing Ria had Gin’s phone tapped.

Gin’s phone.
Whoops
. Ria’d heard the entire convo, or rather lack thereof, between him and Gin before Moppet—or whatever its name was—had run onto the scene.

Oh well. He and Ria were adults. It was just that working together was new. He shoved his hands in his pockets and stalked a circle around the sturdy brick building. He liked working with his sister. Arawn had always kept her on Torth, a tight rein Ria had chafed at.

The roar of an engine alerted him to Ria’s arrival. She threw her dinky little Honda into Park and hopped out, jogging on light feet to join him.

“Did you see it?” Her green eyes flicked from his face to the surrounding apartment buildings.

“No. You heard the whole thing with the neighbor’s dog?”

“Yeah. Shit. I don’t know how that animal survived. Unless the hound was being controlled by another creature who told it to stop the pursuit.” She pushed her hair back from her face. “Where do you want to start?”

He pointed to the snow. “With the obvious.” Drops of blood mixed with the Westie’s paw prints, disturbing the white powder in a messy line.

They jogged along the dog’s tracks, stopping when they reached a street. Ria looked at him expectantly. He inhaled, teasing apart the scent molecules in the air. “We’ll cross and head into,” he narrowed his eyes, “there.” A thick group of trees stood on the other side. A forest preserve or a park, he wasn’t sure.

On the other side the scent of hellhound grew stronger. Ria wrinkled her nose. “No mistaking that.”

He stopped inside the first line of trees. “It’s not just a hound. There’s a Deserati, too.”

“What the hell?” she whispered. “I killed one earlier.”

“Fuck. I have a bad feeling that our Solsti’s time of flying under the radar is
terminado
.” He shook his head.

“Good thing you’re here.” She shot him a sideways glance. “Not that I can’t handle a Deserati and a hellhound.”

“I don’t want to be on the wrong end of your spin, that’s for damn sure. This way.” He took off to the right along the tree line. In a minute, the trail turned deeper into the woods. They stopped at a messy, mucked up patch of ground. He hoped like hell the hound stayed in the woods until he and Ria could take care of it. An animal like that would be hard to explain. Then again, people would probably just chalk it up to drunk college kids making shit up.

Ria looked at him, eyebrows raised.

“They—”

Snap!

A branch overhead cracked and fell, dropping a Deserati male right in front of them.

The Deserati whistled, and immediately the low, angry baying of the hound echoed off the trees. The canine rounded a gnarled oak, its jaws dripping saliva, red eyes glaring. It was the size of a small horse, with lean muscles covered by a black mangy coat. A wrinkled, jowled muzzle helped it track prey by holding the scent in all its loose skin.

“One of you killed my cousin,” the Deserati snarled.

“Looks like you get the dog,” Ria muttered to Mathias, then strode forward toward the Deserati. “That’d be me. Wanna join him?”

Mathias’s protective instincts flared, but he knew Ria could handle the demon. He turned to the hellhound.

The beast bared its razor-sharp teeth, eyes locked on Mathias. The muscles in its haunches tensed.

Mathias reached for the knife he had concealed in his jacket
. This would go faster if I had my damn sword.
There weren’t too many places on Earth where he could walk around draped in weapons. Looking like some kind of ninja would attract the wrong kind of attention, so he and Ria relied on their daggers.

Growling, the hound launched himself at Mathias.
Predictable
. Mathias dodged to the side, avoiding the animal’s weight as well as its sharp claws.

The hound landed with an earth-shaking thud. It whirled and charged, snarling, its bulky head lowered. Mathias had fought these things before. They were vicious, but not smart. He needed to get to the canine’s belly.

Mathias darted toward a tree and climbed up to the nearest branch. The dog followed, claws sinking deep into the bark.

The branch was sturdy enough to support one of them but not both. The animal probably weighed as much as he did. Mathias stood up and walked out onto the branch with careful steps.

The hound reached the branch and followed him, wide paws molding to the curved surface.

Just a little farther, dog
. Mathias waited one more second, then jumped.

The hound snapped his jaws and followed.

Mathias was ready. In an awkward tumble of limbs, he and the hound rolled across the cold ground. Mindful of its claws and thrashing legs, he plunged his dagger into its stomach, slicing upward.

Warm blood spurted. The animal howled and tried to regain its footing. Mathias scrambled to stand, dagger out.

The hound barked and tried to charge him, but slipped in its own viscera. It panted out harsh breaths that steamed in the December air, but its struggles were futile. In a minute, it lay still.

Mathias summoned a ball of demonfire and tossed it at the hound. Would’ve been simpler to do that in the first place, but most of the damn animals actually liked to catch and eat the Lash demons’ fire. He shook his head. Fucked up.

Ria
. The need to find her surged through him. Even though she was a tough girl, she was still his little sister and damn if he’d let her get hurt on their joint op. She and the Deserati had disappeared into the trees while he’d fought the hound.

Jogging, he followed their scents through the stark trees and brown bushes. Muffled grunts reached his ears.

He burst into a thick grove of pines. Ria had the Deserati face down in a choke hold on the ground. She looked to be in control, except for—

“Watch the tail!” Mathias shouted.

Ria cursed and let go, jumping off the demon right before his long tail would’ve wrapped around her neck. The Deserati coughed and scrambled to his feet, backing up. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled his hand out. Empty.

Ria ran at him.

He reached into the other pocket. A grin lit his face. Ria barreled into his chest, knocking him down. He rolled awkwardly away from her, one hand still stuffed into his pocket.

The air hummed with magic. “Ria!” Mathias yelled. He didn’t know what the hell the demon had. It could be anything. But from the magic building around them, he guessed it was an amulet. One that worked simply by contact and a spell.

The Deserati clambered to his knees. Ria flung her dagger at him, aiming for his heart.

She’s got this
. He knew it. Ria’s hand-eye coordination was phenom—

The demon leaned to one side with preternatural speed, and righted himself just as quickly. His lips moved, rapidly uttering words in Demonish.

A shimmering bubble appeared in front of him. A portal?

Mathias threw his own blade, but the Deserati dove through the portal’s shiny surface.

Pop!

The iridescent bubble and the Deserati were gone.

“God damn it!” Ria shrieked. She hurled her second dagger at a pine tree, watching as it sunk into the soft bark. “I had him! How did he move that fast?”

“No fucking clue. Two Deserati and a hellhound in the same day. Not good.” Mathias propped his hands on his hips. “One of us needs to be with Gin at all times. Day and night.”

“Agreed.” Ria blew out a breath. “I’ve never seen anything move like that, except with a magical boost.”

“Me neither. Except for your spin.” Mathias stalked to the pine tree and removed Ria’s weapon. Maybe the Deserati had some kind of spell to enhance his speed and reflexes, but the magic from the portal was all he could sense.

“I’ll go over to Gin’s tonight. See if she wants some girl time. Since someone monopolized her all day.” Ria took back her blade and sheathed it inside her coat.

Mathias grinned. Hell yeah, he’d monopolized Gin. And he’d had fun doing it. “I’m taking her out tomorrow.”

“Oooooh!” Ria puckered her lips and cooed. “Where’re ya going?”

“
Vôo de Dragão.
”

Ria tilted her head. “Isn’t there an act with fire in that?”

“Yup.”

“She know that?”

“Nope.”

Ria whistled. “Sneaky, brother. And risky.”

“I’ll take the risk. It’s time to get a discussion going.”

She nodded, blond curls bouncing. “Yes, it is.” She sighed. “We should get back. One of us needs to call the big A and tell him about this mess. I nominate you. I already talked to him today.”

“You don’t want to talk to him? I thought you guys got along.”

“Yeah, well. Sometimes he can be an overbearing…” Ria shook her head. “Warrior.”

Mathias shrugged. “Okay.” He didn’t push Ria for an explanation. She was a damn good Watcher, one he was glad to partner with. Especially to coax their reluctant Solsti into the fight.

Reluctant Solsti
. Whose home he intended to stakeout tonight, in case any more unexpected visitors stopped by. And whose defenses he planned to take down, through words or seduction. Her scent lingered on his jacket, sending an intoxicating wave to his groin.
Maybe both.

C
HAPTER
10

G
IN
PUSHED
THE
HANGERS
BACK
in her closet for the hundredth time. She slid one across the bar, then another. And repeat.
I have nothing to wear.

Correction. She had one possible ensemble she could wear today. Reaching past several colorful Latin dance dresses, she grabbed her little black dress. Not flashy, but it fit like a second skin. Bias cut panels hugged her narrow waist, while ingenious darts and seams molded the bust and hips. It was a fitted sheath, with a V neckline and straps wide enough for her favorite push up bra. Perfect for sitting next to her mouth-watering date.

She’d called Mathias last night after she, Tina, and Cassie had returned from the vet with little Muffy. After many assurances that she was fine and not freaked out imagining wild animals roaming around town, she told him goodnight. And the deep timbre of his voice had left her antsy, bringing back the intensity of their kiss. From his rumbling voice to his hazel eyes and tall muscular frame, he exuded a raw masculinity that she couldn’t help being drawn to.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Gin.” How had he made those few words sound so sexy?

Because he’s gorgeous. Sensual. He flirts and he’s packed with muscle.
 

She hung the dress on the handle of her closet door and rummaged in her drawer for her bra and a lace thong. Finding them on the bottom of the pile, she tossed them onto the bed. Her drawer leaned precariously out of the dresser, offering up an explosion of cotton, satin and lace. Dig through that pile for nylons? No way. Sexier to go barelegged.

Donning her underwear, she headed into the bathroom to do her makeup. Smokey eyes would be perfect. Butterflies danced in her belly as she dabbed gloss over her nude lips. When was the last time she had a date?

She rolled her eyes. Oh yeah, that meet-and-greet for graduate and post-doc students back in September. She’d met one guy, a Ph.D. candidate in physics, and they’d had one date, but things just fizzled.
No chemistry—hah!
She giggled.

Mathias has chemistry to spare.
She held up a portion of her hair and frowned, debating whether to pin it up. Was it good luck or bad luck that she’d met him as she was finishing up here and preparing to move on with her career?

Releasing her hair, she decided to leave it long and loose, and slid into her dress. She was transferring her essentials to her little black evening bag, when a buzz from her living room made her jump. She glanced at her phone. Hot date, right on time!

Darting to the front of her apartment, she mentally chided herself.
You don’t have to run.
But breathless anticipation drove her feet. She pressed the little white button. “Hello?”

“Hi, Gin.” Mathias sounded seductive even through the crappy speakers.

“I’ll buzz you in.” She waited by the front door, listening for his heavy footsteps on the stairs. She heard him walking down the hallway, and then he knocked.

Out of habit she checked in the peephole. All she saw was …black. He took a step back as if he knew she was there, trying to get a better look. Yep. That was him all right. And even through the cheap distorting lens, he looked good enough to eat.