Page 73 of Condemned

Crap.

Too late for all that.

He cracked his knuckles, unsheathed his claws, and strode off with the dawn light at his back that surely silhouetting him in pinks, purples, and blues. Not his favorite colors. He scattered pedestrians with one growl and stare.

Time for war.

Then again.

As a leader he’d always been known for his calm head under fire.

If he’d had a gun back there, he might’ve used it.

Takk slowed his pace.

Leaving her at the temple had stirred him to rage. He identified what was at the base of that, the reason he’d exploded was, fuck it, a need to own her. She should be his, as well as Zo’s, Timin’s, and Kondio’s.

“You little bitch.” He rubbed his chin, considering the implications. Apart from the fact that he’d lost her to the priests, her hormones had affected him and were screwing with him.

He increased pace again. War was a stupid primary means to get her back.

When he leaned on the frame of the barn door, the others were already waiting for him.

“What went wrong?” Timin peered past his shoulder. “Where is she?”

“The priests took her, insisted the contract was valid, and they had a small army of guards.” Kondio handed back his pistol and holster. He strapped on the belt, did up the buckle. “Thanks. So what do we do now, because we are getting her back. And going in shooting is not step one.” Alas. “Zo?”

“Once the scent spray wears off this will be an emergency. Tomorrow at the latest.” Zo looked thoughtful. “Fate can go hang itself. We need to act. I was talking to the stable owner and that temple is a gold mine. There are also rumors they rent out the sacrifice girls to the rich for big donations.”

All of them cursed, solemnly and furiously.

“So you think what?” He was dying to go shoot them but that was her influence. “She’s got her claws in my balls too.” Takk smiled and shrugged. “Big incentive here.”

“Hah!” Zo sauntered close and punched his arm, leaning in and saying to his ear. “You were tempting Fate all the time, riding with her, fucking her. What did you expect would happen?” He stepped away. “Here’s what I think we do first, before we try blowing holes in their walls.”

“And getting ourselves killed,” Kon pointed out.

“Yeah. This is a legal thing. We need lawyerly advice.”

Zo was suggesting a lawyer? His frown was probably putting permanent creases in his face. Takk muttered, “Fuck, no. With all their money that could take days, weeks.”

“Guarantee I’ll get us on their steps with a claim today. With a lawyer at my side.” Zo looked determined. “Zendokai. We have our ways.”

“Good. Sounds good. You might convert me after all.” Takk straightened, stretched his hands high until he could grab the frame above. His spine made cracking sounds at the strain.

He relaxed down and pulled out his pistol, switched it on, then put it to his ear to hear the low whine of the power up. Then he turned it off and shoved the pistol home into the holster.

“I’m one of you again.”

“What’s that? You always were, Captain.” Timin shuffled, looked concerned.

From a pocket, he dragged a handkerchief and blew, stared at the ejected nose plugs, and folded the piece of cloth into a ball. “I’m finished pretending. The bitch has got me.”

When he had her back, he was going to fuck her so well she’d know to never leave his side again. Even if she was saving him from being shot.

He narrowed his eyes. Yeah, that was illogical, considering, but right now feelings trumped logic.

“War later. Let’s go fucking-well lawyer up.”

He faced the street and tossed the balled-up handkerchief. It rose into the glare of the sunlight, flaring into the brightness as if burned away, before dropping and rolling across the dusty street.

War did have a ring to it though.