Hot Decadent Rising (Breath of Darkness) by Candice Stauffer Page A

first Eli had heard anything about the local pack
attempting to wipeout humans. He knew there was a reason for Demetri to be
discussing any of it with him. Though the demon’s reason was more than likely
self-serving, he believed that if he continued the conversation, he would
likely gain bits of valuable information.
    “Yes,” Demetri said. “I know. But it’s
something to do. If you hadn’t been distracted by Mia, it is possible you might
have paid closer attention to Samuel. You might have even learned that he had
been sharing fleas with the local pack for several months before you arrived to
take Mia away from Joseph. From what I have heard, Samuel also has an aversion
for weak minded leaders that refuse to join the war to eliminate the human
population from the world.”
    “Raping and murdering defenseless women
does not make men strong. They will never succeed. They would be pitting
themselves against the demons still willing to protect humans. But again, I am
shocked that you have chosen to spend your time entertaining yourself with
gossip. I would think that turning against your fellow demons and waging war
against them would’ve kept you better occupied.”
    “It has its moments. But in all honesty,
I’ve yet to find an opponent able to offer me any real challenge. And I’m
surprised that you view the slaughter of humans as murder. Your kind has never
viewed them as an equal species since they decided to eradicate yours for
religious cleanliness.”
    “It was a long time ago. And it wasn’t
all humans.”
    “There were enough involved to cause a
significant decline in your population. And it isn’t a thing of the past. Mia
was a victim of their cleansing practices. It still happens to this day.”
    “She survived,” Eli said. “I haven’t
seen any proof of it happening at this time.”
    “She would be dead now, had fate not
intervened and given her a demon as a mate. It’s kind of funny how things work
out, isn’t it? You wouldn’t have had a hope in hell of healing her. That said,
wasn’t it your inadequacies that caused your kind to decree the law that your women
weren’t allowed to fraternize with my kind? Why is it acceptable to you now? To
be perfectly honest, you make no sense whatsoever. You were born to be a
leader. And yet, you do not enforce the laws designed so many years ago by your
elders to protect your kind. Perhaps, that is why Samuel has become
misguided to the point that he has joined up with the locals and Mary.”
    “Mary? What do you mean?”
    “The locals are working closely with
Mary.”
    “How close?”
    “Side by side. You haven’t figured it
out yet?”
    “You know I haven’t. If you plan to
enlighten me, do it. If not, let’s end this now.”
    “I suppose you’re right. We should speed
things up. Your pack is only getting closer. Mary was the original leader’s
mate. She is a Lycan. I know it’s shocking. She hides her doggy lineage very
well. Anyways, on her behalf, the new leader to the local pups happens to be
Jeremy Lang, Mary’s special little chew toy.”
    “Jeremy is vampire.”
    “I know. It’s all very odd, right?”
Demetri asked.
    “Odd? I think not. It’s bullshit. A Lycan
pack would never submit to a vampire’s rule.”
    “Believe what you will. I really don’t
care.” Eli expected Demetri to end the conversation, but after a short pause he
continued, “Before having her mate killed, Mary had acquired a lot of knowledge
from journals lost by the religious group that nearly wiped out your kind. In
them she believes that she has found the key to achieving perfect immortality.”
    “What is the key?”
    “Sorry. I can’t tell you that. It’s a
secret. If you want to know, you’ll have to sniff it out and dig it up.”
    “You don’t know.”
    “Nice try.” Demetri laughed out loud.
“But I feel no need to prove anything to you. If you want the details you’d
better get sniffing.”
    “Then why tell me anything?”
    “Why