Slaughter Daughter by Eve Langlais

35

He’d cometo my rescue, both familiar and not. For one, this Jag had glowing eyes, a sharpness to his features, and a feral quality to his smile.

He also had no fear as Fake-Mom snapped at him. “You’re not Geoffrey.”

“Nope. But I am her boyfriend.” He jerked a thumb at me. “And that means you can fuck right off. Leave Abby alone.”

Fake-Mom—No. She wasn’t my mom. Selena sniffed. “You’re one of his soldiers, aren’t you?” She prowled to his left.

“Geoffrey is dead,” Jag declared.

“Lie,” she hissed. “The coward is hiding from me.”

Jag shook his head. “Maybe he was in the beginning, but grief got the best of him.”

“More lies!” Selena roared. “Geoffrey would never be so weak.”

“Love changes a person.” He didn’t look at me, and yet the way he shifted, stood in front of me, shielding me… Was it possible?

“Demons don’t love. We fuck. We pursue power. We acquire wealth. We kill,” Selena barked.

“You do. Those of us who want to survive in today’s world know better than to be so brazen. Which is why it is my pleasure to inform you that the cabal has rendered a verdict regarding your recent actions.”

What cabal?I frowned.

“I don’t care what those old bastards have to say. Our laws say I may avenge my honor.” Selena’s chin lifted.

“Our laws also say you can’t be indiscreet. And the way you’ve been killing students and not hiding your tracks is far from circumspect. I’ve been told to give you a choice. Surrender and face punishment or die.”

Her lip curled. “I’ll surrender when she’s dead.” Selena flung a hand.

One second, Jag stood before me. The next, a fist of air punched him, and I would have gotten slammed if Kalinda hadn’t tackled me.