Good Intentions (The Road to Hell Series, Book 1) by Brenda K. Davies

last night, and now that she knew we weren’t human, she had to know worse lay beyond the protection of this camp.
    “No,” River said. “You can’t do that. They’re all I have… No. You promised they would be safe.”
    “Then fall in line,” Bernadette replied.
    River took a step forward, not to follow the others as they ran along the wall, but in a hostile advance toward Bernadette. I broke away from the others and strode toward them when I realized River was about to launch herself at the woman.
    “It’s all right,” I said to Bernadette as I stepped in between them. “I would like to spend some time with her anyway.”
    I almost felt a small amount of pity for her as River gazed helplessly at the rest of us. Almost. While I found her fighting spirit to be amusing, she was going to have to accept her new fate and make her peace with it. We all did, or had to do, things we didn’t want to.
    She’d really hate what she would have to do if she was the one we’d been looking for.

CHAPTER 11
    River
    I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Kobal as he moved around the inside of the tent he’d brought me into. I should be terrified of this man, this demon . Instead, I found myself raptly watching the way his muscles rippled as he moved. Attraction to someone was not something I’d experienced often, but now it swelled within me as I longed to run my fingers over his bronzed skin.
    Being torn away from my family had rattled my brain, I decided.
    His head nearly brushed against the roof of the tent as he strode around to the chair at the end of the table and pulled it out. “Sit,” he said and gestured to the chair.
    “I’d prefer to stand.”
    A hint of a smile quirked his full mouth before he walked over and settled into a different chair. “So, River, do you plan to sullenly refuse to do anything for your entire stay here?”
    I scowled at him as I folded my arms over my chest. Sullen wasn’t the way I’d gone about my life up to this point, but I had every reason to be more than a little bad-tempered right now. “You mean for the rest of my life? That will be my entire stay here, from what I’ve been led to understand.”
    Those entirely black eyes glistened in the light of the lanterns behind him. “You are correct.”
    Inwardly, I flinched at his abrupt confirmation of my fate, but I kept my face impassive. I didn’t care what he said, I would figure out a way to see my brothers again.
    “I didn’t sign up for this. I’m not going to fall into place because I’m told to,” I said.
    “No, your mother signed you up for this.”
    I barely managed to stop myself from recoiling as if I’d been slapped. Apparently, Mac had told him what had happened yesterday. Fine, whatever, I was used to how fast word traveled in a small town. I didn’t care who knew my own mother had thrown me to the wolves… or more accurately, demons.
    I hated the twinge to my heart caused by the reminder, but I couldn’t deny it. My mother, the woman who had given birth to me, avoided, berated, and abused me throughout my life, had hated me enough to send me somewhere she’d never have to see me again. Had hated me enough to send me somewhere that she had no idea what would become of me.
    Bet you didn’t expect this, Mother.
    I threw back my shoulders as I held his gaze. “Mac told you.”
    “He did.”
    I didn’t say anymore as he clasped his hands before him and rested them on the table. My gaze moved to his long, elegant fingers. His fingernails were entirely black, not dirty or painted, but naturally as black as his eyes. It was another difference between us that probably should have disturbed me, but didn’t. Had I somehow lost all sense of self-preservation and reason when they had pulled Bailey from my arms, or was it the man himself — demon, you idiot— making all my fear vanish?
    “Why are you not afraid of me?” he inquired.
    I tore my gaze away from his hands and met his eyes once more. “Am I