Free The Fury by Sloan McBride

explain bringing her attacker home? She didn’t understand it herself.
    “So tell me about these people you have guarding my father and sister. And what about Rufus? How does he fit in?”
    “Are you going to batter me with questions all night?”
    “Yes, until I get the answers I require.”
    Dagan sighed heavily. “Rufus is what we call a doghume . They are humans with extraordinary abilities.”
    “Humans?”
    “Uh, huh. Then there are the nephili , who are half god and half human. It’s sort of like your version of Hercules, only they have limited powers at certain times.”
    “What kind of powers?”
    “It differs. Are you going to let me finish?”
    She frowned at him.
    “Last, we have the purebreds, which are those like me and Flame.”
    “And what’s so special about you?” she asked, sliding an accusatory glance his way.
    With a devilish grin he said, “We are the first born of gods and the best defense against the creature.” He turned his concentration to the dark road.
    Loud music drifted out the doors and across the parking lot as they pulled up. A Temptations song greeted them when they got out of the car. On the outside, the place looked like a huge warehouse made from old wooden boards salvaged from dilapidated buildings. An enormous sign hung above the door. She couldn’t see it clearly, but as they drew closer, the words came into focus. Slow Burn. Underneath the name in gothic lettering it said, Into the fires of hell ye be walkin . Was that a warning?
    Reese looked over at Dagan.
    “What?”
    “Interesting. Should I be worried about this place?”
    “You have nothing to fear here,” he assured her. “Neither Kur nor his followers can enter this place. It is protected by several powerful spells. That is why my kind can come here and relax without worry.”
    “Okay.” She wasn’t relieved at all, but she’d give him the benefit of the doubt.
    “Dagan? I’ll be damned.” The burly man standing guard at the door had a deep burr to his voice.
    “Hey, Seamus.”
    The bouncer looked like a brick building with arms the size of CO 2 canisters, the big ones. His dark skin shined and he had an enormous tattoo that started at the wrist on one hand, went up his arm, disappeared under his shirt and came out of the sleeve on the other side, stopping at his other wrist. She had no idea what the tattoo represented but it reminded her of ancient writing she’d seen on tablets in a museum a long time ago.
    “Haven’t seen you around these parts in about fifty years. You had one of those redheaded nymphs from Lysara as I recall.”
    Reese turned her questioning eyes in his direction. His arrogant demeanor kicked in and he winked at her.
    “Yeah, Bethany liked this place too.”
    The other man turned his attention to her. “So who’s this sexy number?” He moved up close to her and sniffed.
    “I’m Reese.” She moved back a step. “Are you sniffing me?”
    Dagan laughed.
    “Human?” Seamus asked.
    “Yes,” Dagan replied. “Reese, this is Seamus. He’s a blood hound, literally.”
    “Nice to meet you,” she said then frowned at Dagan.
    Seamus took her hand and kissed it. “Pleasure. You have some powerful blood flowing through your veins, miss. Best watch who you hang out with.”
    “Thanks for the warning, Seamus, but you do see the company I’m keeping at the moment, right?” she all but yelled over the music.
    Seamus broke into deep, resonating laughter.
    “Come on.” Dagan gently shoved her through the metal doors.
    “So what did you mean he’s a blood hound?”
    “I’m not at liberty to say. I can’t reveal all our secrets to a human.”
    She stopped walking and narrowed her eyes on him. He clasped her fingers in his and urged her forward.
    When they got inside the place opened up and bodies gyrated to Beatles’ music. A semi-circular purple stage stretched onto the dance floor about three feet. It had a long horizontal walkway with platforms on either side. On