Read Online Demon's Fury: Part 1 of the Final Asylum Tales (The Asylum Tales series) by Jocelynn Drake - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jocelynn Drake
Ads: Link
shit. It would only waste time I didn’t have. I just kept telling myself that my relationship was still fixable. “She can tell you or we’ll talk later. Check in with her before heading home if you don’t mind.”
“I got it.”
“I appreciate it.” And I did. I knew the risk he was taking. Trolls were vulnerable to sunlight, turning to stone at the first touch of the sun’s rays. It was a death sentence for them, but Bronx had risked himself for me time and again. My only hope was that I’d be able to return the favor one day.
“You need any help?” Bronx asked me, but was pointedly staring at Serah with a grim expression. I don’t know what the troll was offering, since he wasn’t the violent type despite his frightening appearance, and would never raise a hand to a woman.
“No, I got this,” I said, feeling the first hint of a chuckle in hours. “We think we’ve got a little of the attacker’s blood and we’re going to see what kind of information I can get out of it.”
Bronx’s narrowed gaze jerked back to me and he moved to block the entrance to the tattooing room when I stepped forward. “How?” he growled and I was warmed by his protectiveness.
“Using the bad stuff.”
“In front of her?” Yeah, he thought I’d officially lost my mind at last and I certainly couldn’t blame him.
Serah snorted. “I’m still here and can hear you,” she said in a loud voice vibrating with her annoyance.
Bronx ignored her outburst, keeping his eyes locked on me. “You don’t have to do this. You weren’t close to Kyle. Let the cops and TAPSS do their job.”
My weariness seeped back in and I shook my head. “Trixie asked me to.”
The troll frowned and I could almost hear the gears turning in his head. “Why? She wasn’t close with Kyle.”
What Bronx wanted to say was This isn’t your fight , and I had to agree with him. I’d been dragged into Trixie’s problems with the Summer Court and a fight with the Towers that might have worked out better if I’d just stayed out of the mess to begin with. I wanted to walk away, but the look of fear and desperation in Trixie’s eyes was enough to put me on this path. If only to restore her faith in me again.
“Apparently Kyle wasn’t the killer’s only victim.” Learning against the wall, I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at my closest friend. “Based on the evidence at the crime scene, the police think the same person has also murdered two pregnant women. It’s likely the person would never have struck without the tattoo. We need to find out who this is and why he’s targeting pregnant women.”
The troll’s expression grew even darker and he swore softly under his breath. “Any leads?”
“None so far,” Serah admitted with some frustration.
For the first time, Bronx’s expression softened toward Serah. “Have you tried the goblins?”
“Why the goblins? What could they have to do with this?” Serah asked, taking a tentative step forward.
“The area goblins run the baby black market,” Bronx volunteered.
The small woman’s mouth hung open for a second in shock before her face flushed red with anger. “And people know this is happening and aren’t doing anything about it?”
“They’re not stealing and eating babies,” I said and quickly bit my tongue.
Well, supposedly they weren’t stealing babies anymore. In the old days, goblins were quite fond of stealing human children from their cribs. Apparently, young humans are a delicacy. But as times changed, the goblins discovered they could make more money selling babies on a black market. Despite the significant progress we’ve made in recognizing most races as citizens and giving them access to proper health care, many lawmakers aren’t as open about adoption, particularly interspecies adoption.
“The goblins pay women quite well to have babies and give them over for adoption,” Bronx explained when she didn’t look convinced.
“There are a
“I got it.”
“I appreciate it.” And I did. I knew the risk he was taking. Trolls were vulnerable to sunlight, turning to stone at the first touch of the sun’s rays. It was a death sentence for them, but Bronx had risked himself for me time and again. My only hope was that I’d be able to return the favor one day.
“You need any help?” Bronx asked me, but was pointedly staring at Serah with a grim expression. I don’t know what the troll was offering, since he wasn’t the violent type despite his frightening appearance, and would never raise a hand to a woman.
“No, I got this,” I said, feeling the first hint of a chuckle in hours. “We think we’ve got a little of the attacker’s blood and we’re going to see what kind of information I can get out of it.”
Bronx’s narrowed gaze jerked back to me and he moved to block the entrance to the tattooing room when I stepped forward. “How?” he growled and I was warmed by his protectiveness.
“Using the bad stuff.”
“In front of her?” Yeah, he thought I’d officially lost my mind at last and I certainly couldn’t blame him.
Serah snorted. “I’m still here and can hear you,” she said in a loud voice vibrating with her annoyance.
Bronx ignored her outburst, keeping his eyes locked on me. “You don’t have to do this. You weren’t close to Kyle. Let the cops and TAPSS do their job.”
My weariness seeped back in and I shook my head. “Trixie asked me to.”
The troll frowned and I could almost hear the gears turning in his head. “Why? She wasn’t close with Kyle.”
What Bronx wanted to say was This isn’t your fight , and I had to agree with him. I’d been dragged into Trixie’s problems with the Summer Court and a fight with the Towers that might have worked out better if I’d just stayed out of the mess to begin with. I wanted to walk away, but the look of fear and desperation in Trixie’s eyes was enough to put me on this path. If only to restore her faith in me again.
“Apparently Kyle wasn’t the killer’s only victim.” Learning against the wall, I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at my closest friend. “Based on the evidence at the crime scene, the police think the same person has also murdered two pregnant women. It’s likely the person would never have struck without the tattoo. We need to find out who this is and why he’s targeting pregnant women.”
The troll’s expression grew even darker and he swore softly under his breath. “Any leads?”
“None so far,” Serah admitted with some frustration.
For the first time, Bronx’s expression softened toward Serah. “Have you tried the goblins?”
“Why the goblins? What could they have to do with this?” Serah asked, taking a tentative step forward.
“The area goblins run the baby black market,” Bronx volunteered.
The small woman’s mouth hung open for a second in shock before her face flushed red with anger. “And people know this is happening and aren’t doing anything about it?”
“They’re not stealing and eating babies,” I said and quickly bit my tongue.
Well, supposedly they weren’t stealing babies anymore. In the old days, goblins were quite fond of stealing human children from their cribs. Apparently, young humans are a delicacy. But as times changed, the goblins discovered they could make more money selling babies on a black market. Despite the significant progress we’ve made in recognizing most races as citizens and giving them access to proper health care, many lawmakers aren’t as open about adoption, particularly interspecies adoption.
“The goblins pay women quite well to have babies and give them over for adoption,” Bronx explained when she didn’t look convinced.
“There are a
Similar Books
