Page 61

Something is wrong. The front door stands open, and the air carries sounds that turn my blood to ice—the twins crying, and beneath that, a struggle.
I leap from the zarryn's back before it fully stops, hitting the ground running. My boot kicks the door wider as I burst in, following the sounds to the kitchen.
What I see sends a surge of killing rage through me.
Trinity pinned against the counter, a familiar gray hand squeezing her throat. Her face turning purple, hands clawingdesperately at her attacker's arm. Glass shards on the floor, blood on both of them. The twins' cries echo from different parts of the house, terrified and unanswered.
Captain Drez'kor doesn't even hear me enter. His focus is entirely on Trinity, on watching the light fade from her eyes.
I cross the kitchen in two strides, seizing him by the back of his ornate armor and ripping him away from her with such force that he crashes into the opposite wall. Trinity collapses, gasping and clutching her throat, but her eyes find mine immediately.
"The twins," she chokes out.
Drez'kor recovers quickly, his silver eyes widening in recognition, then narrowing with hate. "Vaelrix. The thief returns."
I position myself between him and Trinity, every muscle coiled for violence. "You're in my house."
He straightens, wiping blood from his temple where Trinity clearly landed a blow. "Taking back what belongs to me. Asmodeus promised her to me before you stole her."
"She belongs to no one." My voice drops to a register that makes the air vibrate. "Least of all you."
Trinity pushes herself up. "Vael, I'm okay. The girls?—"
"Check on them," I tell her, never taking my eyes off the captain. "I'll handle this."
Drez'kor's lips curve in a mocking smile. "Handle me? Bold words from a half-breed bounty hunter."
Trinity slips past me, pausing just long enough to squeeze my arm. Her touch burns through me, fueling the rage already threatening to consume me entirely.
"Vael," she whispers, "kill him."
She doesn't need to ask twice.
The moment she's clear of the kitchen, I lunge. Drez'kor is ready, meeting me halfway. We crash together like thunder, demon strength against demon strength. He's a captain, trainedin combat, but I'm a hunter with centuries of tracking and killing the most dangerous prey across three worlds.
His fist connects with my jaw. I taste blood but feel no pain, only cold purpose. I drive my knee into his stomach, following with an elbow to his face when he doubles over. His nose shatters with a satisfying crunch.
He recovers faster than I expect, drawing a hidden blade from his boot. The steel flashes as he slashes, opening a line of fire across my chest.
"I'll kill you," he snarls, "and then I'll take your human and your abominations."
Something in me snaps at his words. The cold rage turns white-hot, burning away all restraint. I grab his wrist mid-slash, twisting until bones crack. The knife clatters to the floor, and I kick it away.
Trinity appears in the doorway, both twins clutched to her chest. "Vael!"
The momentary distraction costs me. Drez'kor drives his head forward, horns first, catching me in the shoulder. Pain explodes through me, but it only feeds the rage.
He uses the moment to break free, shoving me back and bolting for the door. He's fast—but I'm faster, caught in the grip of something primal and unstoppable.
"Go," Trinity shouts after me as the captain flees. "I'm okay. Go get him!"
I hesitate for just a heartbeat, torn between staying to protect them and hunting down the threat. Trinity's eyes meet mine, fierce despite the bruises blooming on her throat.
"End this," she says. "Make sure he never comes back."
I'm moving before she finishes speaking, bursting through the door in pursuit. Drez'kor has already mounted a trizon—not as fast as my zarryn, but the creature's vicious nature makes it dangerous.
The chase begins.