Infernal Bonds by Holly Evans

hound from opening the hellmouth?” I asked.
    “We just have to kill him,” he said as though it were as easy as slicing bread.  
    Quin and I passed a questioning look between us; hellhounds were supposed to be difficult to kill.  
    I said as softly as I could, not wanting to upset Lysander too much given I was stuck with him, “And how would we go about doing that?”
    He fidgeted and tried to press back against the bond between us. Quin sat in the armchair while we waited for Lysander to stop fighting his mental restraints.  
    After much growling and squirming, he finally said, “A weapon formed by something celestial, another hound, or an infernal weapon.”
    I ran my fingers over his silky dark hair and purred, “See, that wasn’t so hard.”
    His shoulders tensed as he growled at me, but it took on a softer tone where he clearly appreciated the softer contact. The contact had come so naturally. I reminded myself that I’d have done the same with a domestic dog.  
    Quin stretched and said, “I’m sure Kadrix can arrange something, he’s very skilled and has the best magical inventory in the city.”
    “It’s a good thing we have him on our side, then,” I said, more to myself than anyone.  
    Quin smiled, a small private smile.  
    “Did Elise have anything of use to say?” he asked.
    I held his eye-contact and did my best to ignore the mild aggression to his words. I didn’t want to compete with him over friends.  
    “She’ll help us with the hound situation. Another abomination showed up at her church.”
    Lysander rested his head against my ankle when I tensed at the memories of the poor man, the agony on his face. Quin’s face softened in response.  
    I said to Lysander, “Can you find the other hound?”
    He growled, “No easier than you can.”
    The temptation to smack him around the back of the head and remind him of his place was strong.

Twenty-Three

    I was half asleep when the faint light from the living area spilt over my bed. A weight appeared at the bottom of my bed, the scent of hot metal and petrichor filled my nostrils.  
    “Lysander?”
    He’d been given bedding and told to sleep on the sofa; it was large enough and quite comfortable. His face emerged from the darkness close to mine. Too close.  
    “I should repay you for your kindness. Mistress.”
    The growl in his voice sent a delightful shiver through me. I didn’t like the way my body reacted to him. He placed his hands on either side of my ribs and leant over me, his chest barely inches from mine. He leant closer, his lips almost touching mine, his warm breath teased and promised so much more. I came to my senses and placed my hand on his chest pushing him back firmly. It wasn’t right. We couldn’t. I wasn’t about to take that sort of payment from him, or any other creature. My eyes adjusted to the darkness enough to see the pain and confusion on his face.  
    “Am I not good enough?” he said, barely above a whisper.  
    Flickers of images formed in my mind. There was a distinct sensation of pain, accompanied by the knowledge that his old master had been disappointed in him. His brow creased with concern, he bent his legs under him trying to make himself smaller and hide his body from me. He turned his head away from me, losing himself in his own mind. I was lost. I didn’t know what to do with the fragile creature before me; he’d been a pushy shit up until that moment. I pulled the covers up over me, feeling self-conscious myself.  
    “You will pay me in other ways,” I said matter-of-factly.  
    His eyes widened a little, a flash of pain formed in the back of my mind. I exhaled slowly.  
    “I will not take it out of your hide,” I said.
    Slowly he uncurled and focused more on me. His hands crept closer to my body once more. His eyes searching my face while his muscles remained tense, a mass of sharp lines and tangled emotions in the darkness. Having a pet was quickly turning out to be exhausting