Burned (Fever #7)

by Karen Marie Moning

Ryodan stands up and walks around the desk, a signal even I can read for Lor to get up and leave. I’m surprised he’s letting him. Lor’s got hell to pay, and Ryodan is the devil that collects. Taking his cue, Lor rises. “Sure, boss.” His brow furrows like he’s hunting for words. After a moment he adds, “Like I said earlier, I didn’t go looking for Jo.” “But you plan to fuck her again.” Lor rubs his jaw, sighs but doesn’t answer. Ryodan changes into the beast faster than I believed possible. One instant he’s a man—the next his clothing is in tatters on the floor. A nine-foot-tall, horned, black-skinned slathering monster with feral crimson eyes slams his fist through the wall of Lor’s chest and rips out his heart. The beast holds the bloody thing up—God, it’s still beating!—narrows its eyes then licks it, forked black tongue unfurling with grace around the delicacy. Then he looks at Lor, who’s jerking convulsively, gushing blood from a huge jagged-edged hole in his chest, framed by an explosion of bone fragments, taps him lightly on the shoulder and pushes him over. Despite enormous fangs distorting his words, I have no problem understanding them. “Never. Fucking. Lie. To. Me. Again.” Lor crashes to the floor, dead. The beast drops Lor’s heart on the floor where it lands with a wet splat, turns and swipes the wall panel with a prehensile, taloned claw, and stalks out. I stand staring dumbly, then realize my chance to leave without risking exposure is leaving. As I race throu...