Beast of Fire -- a Demon Hunting Sexy Romance Read Online Free Page A

was, slid from her mind. “Take me instead of him.”
    “It won’t be as easy as a trade this time,” he said. “You will have to earn his freedom. I make no promises about your own.”  
    Lucan started shivering as if he were freezing cold. Kresley glanced down at him, touched his lips and saw they were blue. She was prepared for her own enslavement, but not this, not what Lucan was going through. With desperation, she looked up at Adrian. “Make it stop.” Her stomach soured as she added, “Please.”
    His brow inched upward. “Do we have a deal?”
    As much as Kresley wanted Lucan’s pain to cease, she knew better than to blindly say yes to Adrian's questions. “What do you want from me?” she demanded. “How do I earn his freedom?”
    “I want you to bring me the Black Opal Ring.”
    A ring. It was too simple. Nothing was ever as it seemed with Adrian. “Why do you need me to get it?” she asked, fearful this ring would be a tool used against the Knights.
    He knelt down beside Lucan, facing her. Too close for comfort. “The ring holds the power to destroy Demons.”  
    “What power?”
    His evil, red eyes pierced hers. “Fire.”
    Kresley’s pulse pounded in her temples so loudly she knew he could hear. Her grip on Lucan tightened, his warmth a comfort. But now his pain was a source of more guilt. No matter how she tried to embrace her firestarting, it always brought pain to those she cared about. “This was never about Lucan, was it?”  
    “I hardly see how that’s relevant,” he commented dryly. “Bring me the ring.”  
    “Where is it?”
    “On the hand of a powerful Demon.”
    Of course. Nothing would be easy about anything Adrian wanted from her. “What makes you think I won’t be killed trying to remove it?”
    “A human as lovely as you,” he said. “I’m sure you can come up with a way to persuade the wearer to remove the ring.” He reached out and brushed her cheek with his fingers.  
    Kresley barely contained a flinch. “And while I seduce the Demon, he will burn me alive.”  
    “The ring is a part of the Underworld, my dear, its fire susceptible to all things born from Heaven. And you, my dear, are born of an Angelic bloodline, a Knight's mate. Pure by birthright.”  
      Her lips parted with the shock of his statement. She shook her head, rejecting that idea. “I’m not . . .no. I’m not.” She’d heard about the mating process of Knights, but paid it little attention. Her focus had been on preparing to find Lucan. And certainly she had heard nothing of such a bond between Lucan and her.   This was a trick of some sort. She shook her head again.  
    “They didn’t tell you,” Adrian said flatly. He shook his head and snorted with disdain. “Of course not. They wouldn’t want you to know, now would they? The Knights don’t believe Lucan can be saved. Why would they do anything to make you want to try to save him? But their tricks didn’t work, did they?” he asked. “You won’t desert Lucan as they have. I know you won’t. You’re here to save him, and I am going to let you, Kresley. Just bring me the ring.”
    Confusion slid through Kresley, but she forced herself to shake it off. Adrian was a Demon, a manipulator. She had to be strong enough to remember this. She’d come here to save Lucan. It came down to that and that alone. “I will get you the ring. Now, let Lucan rest.”
      Adrian studied her a moment, clearly assessing her commitment. Then, to Kresley’s relief, he waved his hand over Lucan, and Lucan’s body instantly relaxed. He waved his hand again, and Lucan suddenly disappeared, and then reappeared on top of the mattress–orbed from the floor to the bed.
    Adrian pushed to his feet and offered her his hand. “There is much to discuss. A huntress must know her prey.” Kresley’s gaze flickered to Lucan, confirming he was still at peace. She had to save him. Had to. And though trusting Adrian would be stupid, she saw no option