Free Wasteland by Lynn Rush

scares him, does it not?” My deadly sharp nails returned to their human color, and I again felt my heart pound instead of the agony of the demon’s grip.
    “Indeed. You are a half-breed, you should not be this strong. Not able to control how much demon comes through when you need its power.” He regarded my hands. “The nails. You called only a part of your demon, whereas the rest of us can only go full demon or human, not partially. That is power, indeed.”
    “But not enough to break the contract.”
    “Doomed to servitude by your lovely mother.” Gage smirked.
    He’d been on the receiving end of my wrath when he spoke of my human mother. But right now, I needed to think. Because somehow I knew Jessica Hanks was the key to my freedom.
    If I could only find her.
     

CHAPTER 10
    “What’ll you have?” Russell said, not deviating his attention from the glass he wiped. He shuffled to the side and picked up another glass but kept himself tilted in my direction, still not looking.
    “You are busy tonight,” I said. A woman grazed my arm as she settled in next to me, probably wanting to purchase a drink. Many people crowded the bar.
    “Yeah. I’m short on help—” He finally straightened and made eye contact. “Oh. What do you want?”
    “You are short on help. I am available if you need assistance.”
    He diverted his focus. “What can I get you, ma’am?”
    “Gin and tonic, please.”
    “Hey, buddy. Can I get some help down here or what?” a guy at the end of the bar called out.
    Russell scanned the span of the bar, then rested his gaze on me. “You know how to bartend?”
    “I am a quick study.”
    “Beka ran out on me, searching for you. But since you’re here, come on and pitch in.” He shook his head.
    “Why do you shake your head?”
    “I don’t know what she sees in you, but I need help, so you’re it.”
    Glass shattered behind me, and I turned. Two guys tumbled over a table and a crowd began to form. Russell perked up.
    “I will handle this,” I said. “You pour your little drinks.”
    I parted the sea of people surrounding the scuffle. Two young guys wrestled on the floor while a group of ten rooted them on with fists pumping toward the ceiling.
    Such immaturity .
    But if I diffused the disagreement, I may gain the trust of the skittish Guardian, Russell, which would help in my quest for Jessica, so I pushed forward.
    “Hey,” I yelled. The thumping music muffled my voice. No one moved. In fact, the circle of people tightened.
    I yanked two miscreants aside, making room for me to break through the crowd. One of the guys elbowed my side. “Hey, dude.”
    I stared into his eyes and growled. He must have sensed my anger and stepped away, bringing the girl standing next to him along.
    “Smart choice, son.”
    I stomped toward the two boys rolling on the ground and reached for the arm of the blond juvenile. I yanked him up. He swung at my face, but I caught his hand in mine. “Enough.”
    Obscenities rolled off the drunken kid’s tongue. I kept him to the side at arm’s length.
    Next the redhead pounced. “You asshole. You can’t—”
    I cracked my knuckles against his cheek. He fell to his knees and slumped onto his back, unconscious. The guy I held flailed, his elbow snagged against a dark-haired female standing behind him, and she stumbled sideways.
    I tossed the blond near the unconscious one and caught the girl’s bicep before her face smacked against the floor.
    “Hey, get your hands off her.” The scrawny blond charged with wild eyes.
    “I’m okay,” the girl whispered, looking dazed.
    I grabbed the front of the kid’s silk shirt. His eyes widened, and I jerked him close. “I think it best you leave.”
    His lanky, five-foot-eight frame shrank before me. My sheer size alone should have scared him, but I threw in an extra snarl for effect. Adrenaline stampeded through my body. I’d almost hoped he fought a little more.
    “Come on, babe. Let’s get out of