The nasty creatures had infiltrated the globe a few decades back, but most places had eliminated them. Obviously, in this section of St. Louis, they’d made themselves a nice little home.

Originally from the fae lands, the jurats’ ancestors—jumicks—had somehow escaped that realm through the portals unbeknownst to supernaturals. Unfortunately, our climate seemed to agree with them, and the lesser magical environment on earth didn’t bother the magical rodents enough to kill them off.

They’d bred with local rats and had created a hybrid species—the jurats—that proved just as hardy as their earthly ancestors and just as magical as their fae lineage. Obviously, the result wasn’t good for anybody. Jurats had been a deadly pest ever since they’d come into creation. One bite from their nasty mouths guaranteed loss of a limb or an infection so toxic you would end up in a healing center for weeks. At least they stuck to the magically hidden areas of cities, seeming to prefer the higher magical environment, so they left humans alone.

The pulsating music grew louder as another jurat scuttled across the sidewalk.

I nodded toward the vile creature. “Kill them if they threaten you, but try not to draw attention to us.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Prisha replied. In the streetlight, an excited glimmer sparkled in her eyes.

I snorted. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Maybe. So sue me. It’s been a while since we’ve done anything like this.”

“Just don’t tell your mom. She already thinks I’m a bad enough influence on you.”

“My lips are sealed, although I might have to tell my dad. He’ll just be proud.”

“True.” Azad did take quiet delight in the power Prisha and I wielded together.

The steady beat of the music grew louder as we approached the Black Underbelly. More supernaturals appeared, walking along the sidewalks or coming out of dark alleys, as if they’d magically popped into existence from some nether region. Nobody paid us any attention, and we all appeared to be heading toward the same place.

The Black Underbelly, true to its name, had pitch-black exterior walls. Even its windows were painted black. No lights shone around it except for a neon ring of magical sparks surrounding the door.

Prisha smirked. “How nice, they’ve lighted up the entrance so we’ll know exactly what door is leading to our doom.”

“Thoughtful, indeed.”

We hopped off the sidewalk just as two guys stepped out of a brothel. A cloud of purple mist wafted from the open door, followed by a shrill laugh.

I caught a peak of a prostitute dressed in lace panties and nothing else at the threshold. Her bare breasts were covered in bruises, and trails of blood ran down her skin from the numerous bite marks on her body.

My lip curled in disgust. The two guys that had hired her were obviously vampires and not the nice kind. They hadn’t even sealed their bites.

One of the vamps glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing when he saw Prisha and me. I gave him a wicked grin. He scoffed and turned back around.

Prisha stepped closer to me as the nightclub loomed. “So who exactly are we looking for at the Black Underbelly? Someone like those two?” She nodded toward the vamps.

“No, I don’t think he’s a vampire. I’m guessing he’s a werewolf because of his name, but honestly, I’m not entirely sure what species he is. He’s a hunter, though, who works solo. Apparently, he’s the best of the best. Jenkins said if we’re looking to hire somebody outside of the law, he’s the one.”

“Sounds expensive.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” I could only hope I had enough to cover his fee.

“So what’s his name?”

“They call him the Fire Wolf. Have you heard of him?”

Prisha’s eyes turned to saucers. “We’re on our way to hire the Fire Wolf? Um, yeah, I’ve heard of him. Are you saying you don’t know who he is?”

“Not exactly.”

“Tala, seriously. He’s one of the most notorious hunters in the community. How do you not know that?”

I shrugged. “Because if you hadn’t noticed I’ve been trying to avoid all things on that side of the community for several years now.” The extensive witch magic I possessed would be coveted by anybody with nefarious intentions. I would be the perfect weapon, and Prisha knew that. And then to combine my witch magic with my hidden power, sheesh, I would be a force to be reckoned with, something any crime lord would desire.

My bestie leveled me with a hard stare. “Which is probably why you, of all people, should know more about them than anybody. You know that whole keep your friends close but your enemies closer thing? Just a heads up, the Fire Wolf is deadly and he’s said to be one of the most lethal hunters that ever existed. If you cross him or piss him off, you can kiss your life goodbye, and he won’t make your departure pretty. Apparently, torture isn’t above him.”

An image of Star Tattoo Guy filled my mind. His hands on Tessa. His arms around her. Her screams of terror. Icy rage churned in my stomach as my hands fisted. “Maybe I need someone who doesn’t mind torturing every now and then.”

She snorted. “Be careful what you wish for.”

The throbbing music grew louder as we neared the end of the street. The vamp thugs dipped into the Underbelly, another supernatural doing the same after them.

We’d almost reached the entrance when the sound of fists hitting flesh and the scent of sizzling magic caught my attention. I eyed Prisha. She cocked her head. Neither of us said a thing.

We dipped simultaneously around the corner—as usual, we functioned as one—just as another smack resonated through the air. A grunt followed. I winced. That impact sounded like it hurt.

“You’re going to pay for what you did,” a huge supernatural—probably a half-demon, given the red glowing tattoos on his bare forearms—said to a man who was being held against the wall by two other half-demons. “When Damascus told you to back off, you should’ve listened.” His fist flew through the air and landed in the center of the guy’s stomach.

The dude doubled over, his breath rushing out. Blood trickled down the side of his face, and one of his eyes was entirely swollen. He was beaten up so badly that his features were distorted, but what I could see told me he wasn’t a lightweight. Even beside the half-demons holding him to the wall, he was bigger and taller. His chest was broad and sculpted, his arms coated in sinewy muscle.

But despite his strong build, he’d obviously gotten in over his head with whoever Damascus was.

“You can tell Damascus to go fuck himself,” the man replied, spitting blood. “Oh wait, I hear he does that regularly when he’s not after little girls. Wasn’t there a girl he took a liking to last month? Katarina Varga?”

“Who Damascus takes a liking to is not your concern.” Another sickening punch landed when Red Tattoos hit the man square in the face.

“Still keeping those pets in his warehouse?” he wheezed.

The half-demon laughed and punched him again. The crunch of bone followed, and the guy groaned. “Pets are always best kept locked in cages.”

Prisha and I took a step forward. My blood hummed with rage. I’d encountered many bullies in my life, yet none as sick as pedophiles who kept children as pets and hired half-demon thugs to beat up supernaturals who couldn’t defend themselves.

“Do you really want to do this?” Prisha said under her breath.

“Do you really want to walk away from this?”

“Not particularly.”

My sights focused on the three half-demons in front of us. Magic simmered inside me, rushing so quickly to the surface that it burned.

“Let him go,” I said just as Prisha slipped another blade free.

Power sparked on my fingertips, energy throbbing through my entire body just begging to be released. The heat inside me grew. Gods, it was as if I was burning up. So much power and magic that wanted out, and our odds were good. Three against two.