Munro (Immortals After Dark #18) by Kresley Cole

            She delved in again, swiping the pad of her finger over the slippery slit.

            “Unh!” His head fell back, tendons straining in his neck. Sweat made his skin sheen. “You’ll take my come from me . . . with naught but your clever finger.”

            A howl rang out, then another. Those sounds—as cold and shocking as that waterfall—cut through the spell. She removed her hand from him.

            He groaned with loss and lowered his head to meet her gaze. Inhaling for control, he adjusted his member, then gave a hoarse exhalation. “Kereny?”

            “I heard Lykae howls.”

            “Did you?” He’d quickly masked his reaction to her words, a slight narrowing of his eyes.

            But she was a carnie, trained to read such tiny revelations. “If I’m hearing the newlings now, you must have detected them before.”

            Another exhalation. “Canna say that I dinna.”

            “Your roar must have brought them early.” Realization hit her. “There were no demons.” The newlings separated him from that portal to Louisiana.

            “Canna say there were demons.”

            The carnie had been had. “Typical, lying immortal!” He knew she planned to fight them, so what was his solution? Hide the fact that they would attack early!

            “I did lie,” he admitted baldly. Because the wolf still believed he held all the cards. “To get you to safety, I will be ruthless. As soon as the pack passes, we’re heading out.”

            The circus wasn’t ready for an incursion tonight, not without the grenades coming tomorrow. The hunters would need her leadership more than ever.

            But what if she could get Munro to help them?

            Despite her outrage that he’d tricked her and planned to leave her loved ones to the mercy of those newlings, she humbled herself to a monster and said, “Please don’t abandon my people to die. You’re their only hope, Munro. Fight for them. Please?” She was asking him now, giving him one last chance.





            The ruse was up, their play over. Munro had been teetering on the edge of release, but Kereny’s fear blunted his lust.

            For her to beseech him for help, she must know that her people would die tonight. But once he had her back home and explained that history couldn’t be changed, she would forgive him for his dishonesty.

            Still, he made a vow of his own: after he got her to safety, he would never lie to her again. “I canna fight those newlings. If I’m embroiled with them, then you’ll be left unprotected. I will never risk you.”

            “Then leave me here and go battle them.”

            He shook his head. “I will no’ let you out of my sight.” Even if he had the time to fight, none of this would ever be. The past was indelible.

            “You’re leaving my family to die.” Her stricken expression sliced at him. “You tricked me.”

            “I regret that.” She was so young and mortal, hardly a worthy adversary. No’ even sporting—

            Searing pain erupted in his side. He gaped down at the new wound she’d just delivered.

            Knife in hand, she ducked away from him.

            “Damn you, Kereny.” He’d been so lost in her that he hadn’t noticed she’d stolen her weapon back. He lunged for her. As the magic sapped his strength, he stumbled. “Damn you!”

            She raised the crimson blade in front of her face. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? And always thirsty for the blood of a lying immortal.” She flipped the knife in the air, then let it roll in her hand with a fluid, hypnotic move before she gripped it once more. “You shouldn’t have taken this from me. You never will again.”

            The hex was spreading through his system. “Stay by my side.” He lurched forward to grab her arm; she easily evaded him. “Let me protect you. You canna defeat this foe.”

            “And yet I’m still going to answer the call. Nonetheless, onward. That’s our motto. Countless hunters have given their lives to this cause, and our most glorious battle arrives soon. I will be there to lead my people.”