Free Assassin: Fall of the Golden Valefar (A Paranormal Romance—Book #6 in the Demon Kissed Series) by H.M. Ward Page B

things, Eric. She bleeds red. Her
blood tastes normal.” Carina fished in her desk and pulled out a file folder. The
name SASHA was printed on the side. “Each girl takes a stage-name and is
thoroughly checked. They cannot have living relatives in the city, and I place
a spell on them so that no one will recognize them should the need arise. But
you saw her, didn’t you?” Eric nodded. “It doesn’t work as well on Valefar. Here
take it. Look. The girl seemed normal to me, but if she overpowered you…” She
thrust the folder at him.
    “She didn’t overpower me… it just seemed to be a helluva lucky shot.” Flicking through her folder, he saw
pictures of Natalia wearing nothing. She was all smooth skin and dark hair with
endless curves. His fingers pressed to the photograph as if he could touch her.
The memory of her warm flesh in his hand stirred within him. Eric snarled,
throwing the folder onto the desk, his eyes darting back and forth.  
    Carina laughed, “Well, she knocked you out and ran. Eric,
there are limits here. Each night only so many girls can die to avoid
suspicion. Since the Queen reigns and disapproves of my actions, I don’t wish
to anger her, but we still need to live, Eric. I’m sure you don’t expect us to
starve.” He shook his head, agreeing with her to see where she was going with
this. “Then we’re on the same side. You may feed here, but when we don’t share,
there is a higher price. When you take a soul, it means the rest of us can’t. I
couldn’t very well say that in the open.”
    Eric didn’t respond. He didn’t care what Carina did here. The
people who visited the place were beyond repair anyway—at least he thought they
were until Natalia showed up and screwed things up.
    The woman looked up at him, her gaze narrowing. “I suppose
you want reparations? And your money back?”
    Eric glared at her. “Keep it. I expect to be back to get
what I paid for.” He leaned over the desk toward her, “And should you find her
first, you will save her for me. Do you understand? No one else is to touch
her. Chain her and call me. Now that you know what I am, I can effonate directly into her room. That is the only
reparation I want. Are we agreed?”
    Carina’s dark brow rose on her face slightly when Eric said
his demands. Arms folded over her chest, she nodded. “Done. No one screws-over my patrons, Eric. If you don’t punish her, I will.”
    Eric grabbed the woman by the throat, his effonation
already surging through him, “She’ll go the way of Jocelyn, Carina. And so will
you, if you touch her.” He released her, just as her eyes pooled crimson, and
he was gone.

 

 
    CHAPTER TEN

 
 
    Eric had to know what Natalia was, but he knew he had to
find her first. Carina would do whatever she wanted when she located the girl. He
could see it in her eyes. Either Natalia was an oddity or something that she
could use to manipulate Eric. Fuck! Why did these people see that so quickly? He
tried to hide his affection for the girl, but that’s all it was—misplaced
affection. She resembled someone he’d cared about. Someone he failed to
protect. The never-ending nightmare played out, over and over again, in his
mind. He wasn’t stupid enough to think of trying to have a relationship with
anyone ever again.
    The golden Valefar moved through the dark streets, stalking
his prey. Natalia was on foot, wearing next to nothing. How far could she get? Eric
moved swiftly through the shadows tracking her, following her light sweet scent
until he saw her. The robe had been stripped off her back and she was pinned to
the ground. One man sat at her head, holding down her arms and laughing. It was
a Valefar from the club. Eric recognized both of them. The other Valefar was
trying to pry her legs apart with his hand, and shoving his knee higher and
higher. Rage spilled into Eric.
    The Valefar that pinned Natalia’s head looked up and saw
Eric’s eyes glowing red in the darkness.