Free The Demon Hunter by Lori Brighton Page A

key, the car roaring to life.
    “You’re an ass,” she growled.
    He didn’t bother to respond. He’d been called worse. For now, nothing mattered but leaving the estate. He was well on his way to uncovering answers.
    “Ellie?” the woman called out, her footsteps slowing, her beautiful almond eyes showing her confusion.
    Ellie leaned out the open window. “Sorry Miranda! I swear I’ll be back, just need to borrow it, okay? Will explain everything later!”
    She didn’t wait for her friend’s reply, but pressed onto the gas pedal. The car burst forward, tearing down the drive, toward that lane and freedom.
    “She’s going to kill me.” Right before they turned onto the road, she glanced in her rearview mirror, the unease in her eyes almost disheartening. Devon felt a twinge of guilt, but not enough to change his mind. Some things were more important than friendship, he knew that better than anyone.
    “All will be well, Ellie, as long as you take me where I need to go. Drop me off, you never have to see me again.”
    Her jaw clenched, her fingers tightened so hard on the steering wheel that her knuckles grew white, but still she said nothing. She was angry with him, but that didn’t matter. He rubbed his temples, closing his eyes and attempting to remember something, anything that might help him understand his past .
    “Left,” he said when they came to another road. He might not be able to come up with a name for the town where Ashley lived, but his instincts pulled him south.
    Ellie turned directly into the path of brilliant white lights. “Shit!”
    Devon braced his hands against the dashboard, preparing to die… yet again. Ellie jerked the steering wheel, swerving into the other lane. The lights disappeared, and the blare of a horn faded as they continued down the dark road.
    It took a long moment before his heart slowed its frantic beat. “Are you trying to kill us?” he finally asked. He’d just lost five years of his new life. Perhaps he hadn’t been brought back to earth, maybe he was still in hell.
    “I’m not used to driving in England,” she explained, her voice raspy with nerves.
    He frowned. Perhaps she hadn’t done it on purpose. It was unsettling, practically flying down a lane at such a high speed, and with only two narrow beams to light the way. “You can control this vehicle?” Devon asked, gripping the seat belt and pulling it across his chest.
    She looked away from the road long enough to glare at him. “A little too late to ask, isn’t it?”
    Grudgingly, he bit back his response.
    “Want to tell me where, exactly, we’re going?” she asked.
    “We’re headed… south.”
    She released a harsh laugh. “Great directions. You’re going to have to tell me the truth, everything , and soon. I say we have a day, at the most before the cops are tailing us.”
    Shite, was she correct? He glanced behind them, but only darkness loomed on the horizon. Or was she merely trying to frighten him into letting her go? “I will explain the situation when you tell me what you are.”
    She slammed her fists onto the steering wheel and turned toward him. “I told you—”
    “Right. You don’t know. I didn’t believe you then, and I don’t believe you now. And please, for God’s sake, look at the road.”
    She glared at him one last time, then focused on the lane once more.
    Devon leaned back and tried to relax. But the space was small and her flowery scent was driving him to distraction. His heart wouldn’t slow it’s mad beat, adrenaline pumping through his body partly because of the speed at which they were driving, and partly because of her close proximity. Annoyed, he turned his attention to the dark scenery outside the window. Even with the cloak of night, he could tell much had changed since he’d traveled these roads as a young man. Forests were gone. Power lines were up. Paved roads replaced dirt.
    “What are you?” she asked softly.
    He kicked aside an empty bag of