Read Claimed by Her Demon for Free Online Page A

guess. No. Not okay. Not by a long shot. Not after that.” She fanned herself. “Jesus, you just killed, what, five guys?”
    “A regrettable circumstance. But necessary,” Mare said.
    “We were hoping they’d bring you closer to us,” Ramael explained. “When one of them said they’d force you to, um, pleasure the two bums, we thought it’d be a simple matter to overpower them. But you kind of jumped the gun.”
    “I was hoping to distract them long enough for Adrienne to get away.”
    “That wouldn’t have improved your lot any,” Ramael said.
    “I wasn’t worried about that,” she replied.
    Adrienne spoke up then. Her words were slurred, but still distinct. “I always said you were too nice, Mel.”
    Melinda turned to her friend and pulled her into a hug. “Oh God. A, I’m so sorry. I don’t even know where to begin. I’m so sorry I got you into this whole mess.”
    “Oof, you’re smothering me!”
    She pulled back, giving her friend some air.
    “That’s better. Seriously, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m okay now. But who the hell are these guys?”
    “Well, they’re demons. But not the bad kind. I think.” She glanced up and saw Ramael smiling in the rearview mirror.
    “We’re mostly decent chaps,” Mare said. “My brother has a bit of a temper, though, when someone he fancies is threatened. In this case, I can’t say I blame him.”
    “Is this the friend you were telling me about?” Adrienne asked.
    Melinda sighed. “Yup. Adrienne, meet Ramael. And this is his brother Mare.”
    “Our knights in not-so-shining armor. So, what happens now? Won’t somebody call the cops when they find the bodies?”
    Ramael answered. “The witches who own Club Darque are neutral. They just don’t like creatures entering the club and causing trouble. It will be in their best interests to get rid of the bodies. I’m sure they’ll also reassess the employment status of some of their staff, since someone had to be helping those pigs in trapping you. As for us, we’ll get you someplace safe so you can clean up, and then take you wherever you wish.”
    Melinda realized that a hot shower sounded like the best thing in the world. “Does your house have running water?”
    Ramael nodded. “It does.”
    “Then how about we go there?”
    “As you wish.”
    “So,” Adrienne said, “these demons aren’t going to eat us, or tear our souls from our bodies?”
    Melinda let her head fall back against the seat. “I don’t think it works that way. But no, they’re not going to hurt us.”
    “Okay, good.” Adrienne snuggled against Melinda’s shoulder. The four of them were silent for the rest of the drive.
    #
    Her roommate looked far from impressed when they reached the abandoned farmhouse.
    “Trust me,” Melinda said, “it’s better on the inside.”
    The four of them carefully climbed the sagging porch steps and stepped past the fluttering crime scene tape into the front room.
    “Um, this isn’t much of an improvement,” Adrienne whispered.
    “Close your eyes.”
    “What? Why-holy shit!”
    Melinda had been ready for the bright flash of light. She waited a moment after it subsided, and then opened her eyes. Sure enough, the dilapidated room had transformed into one of opulent gentility.
    Adrienne rubbed her eyes and looked around. “Whoa. What just happened?”
    “Magic,” Mare said with a wink.
    “I’ve charmed this place to look completely deserted,” Ramael explained. “It’s true nature isn’t revealed except by my command.”
    “Beats any B&B my folks ever dragged me to.”
    “Mare will give you the grand tour. Melinda, if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you where you can shower.”
    “You gonna be okay, A?”
    “I think I can manage,” Adrienne replied.
    Melinda nodded. She followed Ramael to the back of the house, and up a narrow set of staircases. They went down a short hall and stopped before a set of double doors.
    “My private quarters,” he explained.