Hellbound Warrior: (Dark Warrior Alliance Book Five) by Brenda Trim, Tami Julka Page A

rammed into Rhys’ abdomen at the last minute, taking him by surprise.
    Landing on his ass, Rhys clutched his side as breath left his lungs. A cracked rib would serve him right for being caught off guard like that. What Tony didn’t know was Rhys had spent the last century fighting and dealing with more painful injuries.
    Illianna shrieked and Rhys looked her way. She jumped out of the way as Amado flew by her head. Kellen had tossed Amado and was fighting with Tony. Kellen had several punches in and blood was pouring from Tony’s nose before the dumbass knew what had hit him.
    Watching as Illianna shoved Amado away snapped Rhys into gear. Ignoring the pain in his side, he jumped up and ran toward Illianna and Amado. Rhys slashed out, but Amado was fast enough to evade the blade. Illianna grabbed hold of Amado’s long hair and yanked. Amado swung his fist and hit Illianna in the side of her head, making her scream and crumple to the ground.
    “You like hitting females, dickhead,” Rhys snarled, using his telekinetic power to remove Amado’s weapon from his hand. The male’s eye widened in shock when the mace left his grip and flew to Rhys. He hadn’t honed his ability the last time he had faced the male and it was satisfying to dominate the male.
    Swinging the mace, Rhys landed a blow on Amado’s back. This time the weapon connected, making him stumble. It gave Rhys the upper hand he needed and Rhys grabbed him around the throat. Completely focused on the enemy he held against the wall, Rhys nearly jumped out of his skin when soft fingers touched his arm. Glancing over, he saw Illianna’s frightened gaze looking back at him.
    The female was terrified, but keeping her shit together. “I just want a weapon to defend myself,” she explained as she pried the mace from his grip.
    A silent moment stretched between them amidst the fight and it was then that her lemon powder scent washed over him, making his cock hard as stone. Her freshness even overpowered the rotten brimstone of the underworld for several blessed seconds. She reminded him of sunshine and happiness, and he’d never smelt anything so wonderful.
    He kept his grip on Amado and leaned down, kissing her forehead. “Aim for their head and swing as hard as you can. Crack that skull like an overripe melon,” he instructed, smiling. Her mouth twitched as she held back her grin and nodded before retreating to the doorway.
    Rhys called his blade to his hand and brought it up as he prepared to sever Amado’s head from his shoulders, but paused before he followed through. He didn’t want to have Illianna see him kill this male, even one of her captors. He didn’t want her frightened of him, let alone thinking of him as a demon like the one he held. He didn’t know why he cared though, because clearly the female already saw him as one of the enemy.
    Shaking it off, he smirked at Amado. “Imagine that I’m going to be the one to end you. Bet that pisses you off, having the one you always referred to as weak be the one to kill you. Don’t worry, I don’t have the amulet so you’ll be back to kiss my dad’s ass as soon as you’re reborn,” Rhys taunted.
    If only he had the Triskele Amulet that held the power to eliminate every last demon he encountered. The talisman had a bloodstone center the Goddess had imbued with the ability to end a demon’s existence forever. Retrieving it was the reason he was here.
    “I’m not going to bother returning to your dad’s side. I’m going to hunt you down and make you pay for this,” Amado promised.
    Rhys chuckled, tapping the male’s cheek with the tip of his sgian dubh drawing blood, “Look who finally grew some balls? Too bad it’s not going to save you.”
    Rhys brought the blade down and sliced through his neck. Black blood splattered Rhys’ chest and face, burning the skin it touched. Two more swipes and Amado’s head rolled from his body. A blood-curdling scream brought Rhys’ head around to see