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

Illianna, palms across her face staring at the scene.
    Hands out in front of him in a gesture of peace, he walked towards her. “It’s okay, Angel,” he soothed, doing a quick check to see that Dante and Kellen had taken care of Tony and Hector. “It’s over. They won’t hurt you ever again. C’mon, we need to get out of here.”
    Wide-eyed, she swung the mace as he approached. She was surprisingly efficient with the weapon and would be lethal with some training. One thing was certain, she wasn’t anything like her aggressive brothers. “You’re the one I’m worried about,” she muttered shaking her head.
    He could smell her fear and confusion and he wanted to reach out to ease her mind, but held back, knowing she wouldn’t welcome physical contact. “I know it looks bad, but we had no other choice. I wasn’t about to stand by and allow them to take you away. We mean you no harm,” Rhys assured her. “You have to believe that we would never lay a hand on you.”
    She straightened and gripped the mace, but let it hang loose at her side. “Until your demon gets hungry. Then all bets are off, right?” she countered and started walking toward the exit.
    Rhys sighed and kicked Amado’s head out of his way as he followed her down the hall. “I will never force you to do something you don’t want to do. My beast can feed from any number of other creatures, so rest assured, you will never be forced by any of us. And, truth be told, you’re not my type.”
    Turning her head, she glared at him, making him want to kiss her. She was hot when she was annoyed. And, even hotter as she huffed off. When the time came, she would be the one begging him for sex.
    Cambions were sensitive to the sexual energy, and this angel was giving off loads of heat each time she looked at him. Whether she liked it, or not, this little angel wanted him.

CHAPTER FIVE

     
    “Damn, it’s rank down here,” Kellen complained, waving his hand in front of his face.
    Illianna watched the trio of demons as they hid in the alley behind another of Shax’s clubs. The world hadn’t stopped spinning since their arrival in the dressing room claiming they were there to rescue her. She didn’t know what to think. So far, not one of them had made a move toward her and hadn’t done anything to harm her, at least, not directly.
    She had no doubt that if Lemuel ever caught her again, her punishment would be creative and excruciating. When they had run into Lemuel’s men in the hall, Illianna had nearly run to their sides and asked to be taken back. It would have been better than what she faced if caught now. She asked herself why she was still with these demons. In the end, it was the promise of freedom that kept her by Rhys’ side.
    “It doesn’t matter what realm you’re in, all alleys smell like piss and puke. In the Underworld you add sulfur to the mix and the potpourri is guaranteed to singe your nose hairs,” Rhys teased, wiping the black blood from his neck with the bottom of his shirt.
    Illianna flushed and her mouth went dry when the action revealed the taut planes of his muscular abdomen. The man was gorgeous and made her want things she hadn’t felt in forever. Stopping that train before it left the station, Illianna focused on the conversation.
    Leaning against the rough, stone wall behind her, she winced as a sharp rock dug into her back. She hadn’t thought about what her surroundings smelled like for many decades, but had to acknowledge it was putrid. “What do you think makes them all smell the same?” she asked, immediately wishing she hadn’t as their collective attention turned to her. Uncomfortable with their perusal, she wrapped her arms around her chest.
    “It’s in the DNA of all males to piss in every alley we can while intoxicated. We can whip it out and go anywhere we want, we’re assholes like that,” Rhys explained with a wink.
    Rolling her eyes, she had to look away from the devastating effect of his smile.