Free 2. Blood Past (Warriors of Ankh #2) by The Elephant House Page A

path to get her back… in every sense of the word.
    Teagan stiffened at the soft scuffling sound from inside the room. God dammit, he could have sworn the bitch was dead. Huffing at the inconvenience of having to touch her after having just showered, Teagan strode back into the dimly lit room and stopped in the centre of it. The hair on the back of his neck rose. Something wasn’t right.
    From his peripheral he caught the blur of movement and turned in time to catch the fist that flew at his face. Twisting the arm behind his attackers back, Teagan took satisfaction in the sound of it breaking, the Blessed falling to his knees before him with a muffled cry. Pain shot up Teagan’s back as another opponent kicked him from behind. He pushed the one in front of him away and whirled around to crack the woman across the face with his backhanded slap. She soared off her feet and collapsed against the bedside cabinet.
    “Stop,” a deep voice rumbled, and like demons from hell, ten members of the Blessed slithered out from the shadows of the room. Teagan schooled his features, refusing to show his surprise. How the hell did they get in? “Teagan Winslow, stand down.”
    The voice was so full of authority, so sure that Teagan would acquiesce that he knew right away who they were.
    “Effing Tribunal,” he cursed, standing up straight.
    They’d found him.
    In a way he shouldn’t be surprised. Aunt Celine had been right. Maybe he was too bloody careless. He’d been killing guys and girls all over the city, leaving them in hotel rooms. The police had no clue what to do about a serial killer who killed indiscriminately and somehow managed to delete the hotel tapes and booking systems and get by all members of staff without being seen. The Phantom of Detroit they were calling him. He should have known he was bound to draw the Tribunal’s attention with that one. He’d just been hoping he’d hear word back from his informant on Eden’s whereabouts before The Tribunal found him.

    “Language,” the voice stepped forward to reveal a tall, distinguished looking man with blank pale grey eyes just like Teagan’s. “Show some respect for your betters.”
    Betters my sweet white ass.
    “You know why we’re here, Teagan Winslow.”
    He nodded.
    “Well, rumours were wrong. I heard you were a smart mouthed little prick who didn’t know when to stop talking.”
    Teagan flinched at the insults. If anyone else had said that he would have ripped them apart. He eyed the group that had him surrounded and wondered if he could be fast enough to do so.
    “Don’t even think about it,” the man warned. “I am Darwin Rice and I am here to judge you for your crimes.”
    “I’m guessing the judging part is already over and you’re more of the executor of the punishment.”
    Darwin smirked. “You’d guess right.”
    Teagan cursed inwardly and straightened his shoulders. He hadn’t wanted to do this. He didn’t know if he could trust them. But he had no other choice. “I’ll make you a deal.”
    “We do not do deals.”
    “Even if I could promise you Cyrus of Persepolis on a platter?”
    The room grew hushed with the arrogant promise until Darwin narrowed his eyes. “And I am to believe a jumped up little turd like you can deliver such a promise?”
    Cracking his neck at the jibe, Teagan eyed Darwin dangerously and grew smug at the wary look that passed across the older man’s eyes. Surely they could all feel the kind of power Teagan was emitting. “Eden Winslow is with him. He’s her guardian. I’ve got an informant who’s going to tell me where they are. If I find them, I bring you Cyrus and you let me and Eden go.”
    “Miss Winslow has crimes to pay for.”
    Teagan snorted. “Eden didn’t do any of that stuff you found in the house. She’s as pure as the driven snow.”
    “Does not matter. She is responsible for allowing it to occur without reporting the crimes to The Tribunal.”
    He snarled at the thought of these