Free Demon's Web by Laura Hawks Page A

war with a species I have never had prior issues with. I don’t know why she was taken, or by whom. I have a feeling a couple of the Rougarou were hired to capture her, but since there has been no ransom, I am not sure for what nefarious purpose they plan to use her to their advantage. Zenthus and Jakome killed the attackers, with the exception of the one who took her. Rougarou are solitary creatures for the most part. Small packs at best. They don’t like to talk and share. None know or will know unless they were a part of the scheme, and I think those that were are now spending their time in their version of hell.”
    Azamel turned back to look at Clarissa, a softening of his features coming over him slightly. “I’m trying to talk to Chip to let me into his land to find their souls and talk to them, but he says he can’t do that. Or he won’t. Even Nana cannot force him.” He stood in front of her again, peering down into those eyes he loved so much. “I’m not giving up, Rissa. I just don’t need a fucking war on top of this too.”
    “I’m not stopping. If breaking a few arms or setting fire to a couple of legs is going to get the information I need, then the possibility of a war would be worth it. I need to find her,” Clarissa railed on him. “I won’t leave her alone, at the hands of whoever has her, and hope they are merciful. I need to find her. I have to find her!”
    She began to beat against his chest with each of her declarations. After the last one, she collapsed against him, her fists still against his broad chest, her head between her hands. For the first time since Trinity had been taken, she broke down and wept, the emotions finally overwhelming her to such a degree she could do no less. Mel had broken the wall of detachment she had built to focus on getting Trinity back. Azamel wrapped his arms about her, holding her close in his embrace, his cheek resting against the top of her head. He rubbed her back softly, trying to give her the comfort he knew she needed but would never ask for. She was too stubborn and proud. She always had been from the moment he first met her. He knew this was tearing her apart. Hell, it was ripping out his insides as well, but he had to be strong for his family, for his wife. And he made a silent promise to her, to himself. When he found Trinity and she was safely home, he would make sure whoever took her would pay the price for their hubris in a long and suffering kind of way. Nothing in any realm would stop him from exacting his revenge for the heartbreak and worry they brought to his family and himself.
    He could feel Destruction calling to be released, but with nowhere specific to go, it was too dangerous to give the demon his head to freely destroy the realm. Destruction was perfect for exacting retribution or protection, but for searching? Not so much.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 7
     
    Months had passed and Azamel and Logan branched into other realms in search of Trinity. Shara stayed at the house to help Zenthus recover and handle all inquiries as to where the family was. She also fielded any supposed sightings and passed them along to Mel to be investigated in hopes of locating his daughter. Nothing panned out. Clarissa remained in the Maurepas Realm since it was the natural home of the Rougarou. Still, none of their searches had produced results. It was almost as if Trinity had been wiped from existence.
    Logan stood facing the black roses in the garden. They were beginning to get a bit wild without the constant trimming and tending from his mother, who has been so preoccupied of late in the frantic search for Trinity. As each day passed, so her desperation grew. He had seen her but only a few times since Trinity had been taken from this very garden. When he had seen her, his mother had been haggard from being so distraught. Dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. Loss of weight from lack