by Lynn Hagen
They stayed in that position for a long moment before Kendrick whispered, “Say it again.”
Einarr ran his hands over Kendrick’s back, pressing soft kisses to his temple. “Say what?”
“That you love me.”
“With the very breath that you’ve stolen from me,” Einarr replied. “I love you, Kendrick.”
Kendrick smiled as he wrapped his arms around his warrior. He’d come to Brac Village to give his nephews a better life and found a little slice of heaven for himself.
* * * *
Lucinda and Panahasi stayed to the shadows as Caspian walked out of the house he had rented. She heard the conversation Caspian was conducting on his cell phone, and it stoked her anger higher.
“No, I’ll get the kid. I paid for the brat. I just have to get some men to kidnap the boy again, and we’ll be in business. You promised two million for him.” Caspian paused. “I don’t care what you want to do to him. Just make sure you deposit the money and I’ll handle getting him to you.”
Lucinda moved through the darkness silently as Panahasi threw his hand out, creating a black, swirling hole that momentarily fascinated her.
Caspian stopped talking and turned, his eyes widening as he took in Lucinda and Panahasi. “What’s going on?” The man had the nerve to bark the question at them.
Lucinda moved forward, her Glock in her right hand as she smiled at Caspian. “It seems you’ve decided to strike out on your own.” She tsked. “Buying little boys? What is the going rate for a human life?” She tapped the muzzle of the Glock against her chin. “Is it the two million you’re asking for? Does that cover the child’s lost innocence, his induction into the black market world? Would that two million be given to his uncle who would grieve the loss of his nephew or to his brother who wouldn’t rest until he found the little boy?”
She heard Panahasi snarl behind her.
“It’s just business,” Caspian said. “Just like the business Joe is conducting to eradicate you creatures. I couldn’t care less about hunting you freaks down. Money is what motivates me.”
Caspian’s gaze swung to the swirling hole.
“Oh, yes,” Lucinda said as she waved her gun at the portal. “That is for you, Caspian. It is a one-way trip to the underworld where you will live for eternity, being tortured every single minute that you breathe.”
The seriousness of the situation finally dawned in the man’s eyes. Caspian began to back away. Panahasi lifted his hand, and the portal moved, rising in the air, becoming larger as it moved until it was directly behind Caspian.
Her uncle was going to have to show her how to create one of those.
“There is no escape,” she said to Caspian. “Did you think you could sell a human life and not pay the piper?”
Caspian spun on his heel and darted down the driveway, but his escape was short-lived. Lucinda used her left hand to cast a spell that froze Caspian in place. She and her uncle moved forward until they were standing next to Caspian.
“Please,” Caspian said with a whimper. “I’ll give you whatever you want. Is it money? I have plenty of money.”
“Keep your ill-gotten gain,” she spat. She moved in closer and shoved the gun under Caspian’s chin. “It’s your tortured screams that will warm the cockles of my heart.” She stepped back, lifted her foot, and shoved Caspian through the portal.
Now she could turn her attention to Talon Evyl—the demon who had kidnapped Omar in the first place.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart.
You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop and a cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their story.
For all titles by Lynn Hagen, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/lynn-hagen
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
