Free UnholyCravings by Suzanne Rock Page A

that
supposed to mean?”
    “I don’t need help from a woman.”
    Anger burned in Tara’s chest and she considered letting him
rot on the side of the building. It would serve him right.
    A loud crash echoed through the bathroom door. Tara glanced
back and noticed a crack in the solid wood. It wouldn’t be long before either
the fire or Anisa would reach them. She had to move now.
    She turned back to Soren. “Okay, I’m going to fly out there
and take you down.”
    “No.”
    “Just close your eyes.” There was another bang on the door.
Someone was trying to get in. There was no more time to waste.
    “Be careful. I’m coming.” Tara crawled up onto the window’s
ledge.
    “No, stay where you are. I’ll be fine.”
    Tara ignored him. The man was so scared that he couldn’t
move, let alone edge across the ledge to the fire escape. Tara took off her
jacket and tank, then tucked them under her arm. Here goes nothing.
    She let out her wings and crawled up onto the window. Soren
was right—they were high up. Hopefully she had enough strength to carry him the
short distance to the ground. It had been a long time since she had worked out,
and she didn’t have a whole lot of confidence in her upper body strength.
    Suddenly the door splintered and a figure rushed through. Shit. There was no time to think. Tara jumped out the window and took to
the air just as something reached for her leg. She began to drop, and her magic
immediately responded. Her wings glowed. Tingles spread out over her skin,
lighting up the alley. She moved her wings and she made her way over to where
Soren stood on the ledge and held out her hand.
    “Come with me.”
    “No.” He clung tighter to the building and squeezed his eyes
shut.
    Stubborn man. She looked back and saw a pale-faced deahman staring at her with wide, red eyes. He sneered at both her and Soren and a
chill race up Tara’s spine. She watched the creature climb out the window and
onto the ledge.
    They had to hurry. “The building’s structure is being
eroded. It’s only a matter of time before it will collapse.”
    “I’ll take my chances.”
    Tara sighed. “Close your eyes.”
    “Like hell I will.”
    “Suit yourself.” Tara wrapped her arms around his chest and
braced her feet on either side of his body. She pulled, but he didn’t move. She
pulled again. Still nothing. “Come on, help me out.”
    “No.”
    “Big baby.”
    Another figure appeared in the window. He had a pale face
and large, red eyes. Deahman . Tara watched in horror as a second
creature showed his face. They growled and spat and reached for Soren. How many
of them were there?
    “Soren.” She pointed back at the window where the deahmans were congregating.
    Soren turned his head and opened one eye. “Shit.”
    “Come with me.”
    He hesitated. “Very well.” He let go of the wall.
    He was heavier than she thought. It was a good thing that
they were going down, because Tara didn’t think she could fly horizontally to
the fire escape. They didn’t fly, it was more like a controlled fall. At least
they would both survive the five story drop.
    The deahman on the ledge growled at her as he made
his way to the fire escape. The second deahman climbed out onto the
ledge. Then the third. Where did they come from? She watched the three monsters
reach the fire escape and start to climb down. At the rate they were moving,
they were going to reach the ground before Tara and Soren.
    “They’re coming after us,” Tara said.
    “Just concentrate on getting me to the ground. I’ll take
care of the rest.”
    Tara stiffened her jaw and tried to do what he said. It was
difficult. She kept looking over, comparing their progress with the deahmans .
Her arms ached and she was soaked to the bone. Her grip slipped, and Tara had
all she could do not to drop him. Relief swept through her when they finally
reached the ground.
    “Okay, let’s run,” she said.
    He ignored her. As soon as Soren’s feet touched