Munro (Immortals After Dark #18) by Kresley Cole

            The four males were almost as large as Munro, with the same dark claws. The similarities ended there. Ridged horns protruded from their broad foreheads, and their eyes were black with excitement to have trapped their prey.

            Despite their aggressive growls filling Ren’s ears, her familiar focus suffused her as she pulled free her blade. She called to the demons, “If you want to collect the bounty on us, you’ll have to get past me first.”

            They shared glances and guttural laughs.

            Beside her, Munro’s body was coiled as tightly as a spring trap, his beast hovering at the surface.

            “You’re laughing—yet you aren’t attacking.” Ren gave them a pitying expression. “I think the little demonlings are afraid of a woman, and a mortal to boot.”

            Their palms grew redder, balls of flames appearing. Tendrils of smoke rose from their hands to slither around their faces and horns, making them look even more sinister.

            What was that insult a demon hunter had taught her once, the one notoriously offensive to demons? Struggling to recall it, she yelled in rusty Demonish, “Your horns are as firm as rotten turnips!”

            Eyes gone wide, all four demons roared with outrage and charged down the ravine—

            Directly into the portal.

            WHOOSH! The rift sprang shut behind them, creating a vacuum that shook the forest. As Munro clasped her against his chest, trees shuddered, and pine needles rained down over them. Birds jetted into the sky.

            Once the woods had settled, Munro drew back, casting her an awed look. “Indomitable female. How’d you know that insult would do the trick?”

            She shrugged, then said, “You’re on fire.”

            “I was pretty good myself, huh?” He gazed at her as if he wanted nothing more than a kiss. Had it consumed his thoughts?

            Something had. “No, Munro. You’re literally on fire.”

            “Ballocks!” He yanked off his smoking jacket, discarding it. Mind back on their predicament, he said, “We’ve got to keep moving.” He swooped her up in his arms again to start up the rise.

            At the top, he used his free hand to retrieve his phone from his pants pocket. “So much for guaranteed reception anywhere in the worlds.” He swore under his breath. “Think there was an asterisk after that claim.”

            “Maybe all the nearby mystical energy and portals are affecting it.”

            He pocketed the phone and surveyed their surroundings. “I’ll be fucked if I know where to go.”

            “When those demons fail to return, will more follow?”

            “Possibly no’. Bounty hunters never tell others if they’ve got a hot lead. They fear getting scooped more than anything.”

            “So where did those demons get the lead from? Do you think our cuffs are still working?”

            “Aye. This situation stinks of an informant.”

            “Then we’ve got to figure out who betrayed us. It could be anyone who knew we were at the inn.” Paranoia gripped her.

            His gaze darted. “We can’t talk here. Too many trees.”

            Iona had said the nymphs never entered the forest, but had she been telling the truth? “I agree. Can you get us to the cave? We’ll regroup there.”

            “Done.” He started running once more.

            In a lower voice, she said at his ear, “You suspect Iona? She despises the warlocks, and she warned us to take cover.” What if the nymphs had been hurt in the attack?

            “The warning might be a ruse,” he pointed out. “If she did inform on us, then mayhap she dinna do it by choice. Remember, I was sold out by a nymph who was my friend.”

            “Shouldn’t we suspect Desh before Iona? He must ally with other demons, and you said he couriered the clipping this morning.” As soon as Ren uttered the words, she wanted to take them back. Desh had been kind.

            “I’ve trusted him with my life in the past. Hell, if I go there, I’d have to also turn my gaze to Loa. She warned me no’ to trust her.”