Friday Feature: New Excerpt from DEVIL TAKE ME, by Karilyn Bentley

About the Book:

A demon attack…

Reeling from a personal tragedy and abandoned by all she loves, the world's newest demon huntress, Gin Crawford, sinks into a deep despair. She’s forced back to reality by news of a large number of people committing suicide, all on the same night. Suspecting demon involvement, Gin must work with her sexy but estranged mentor Aidan Smythe to track who, or what, is behind the deaths.

Leads to a new discovery…

As they come closer to finding the culprit, they realize their employer, the Agency, is hiding its own secret, one which threatens Gin's very existence. New discoveries reveal that even those dedicated to eradicating evil can be bought. Can Gin and Smythe forgive each other and work together or will they fall under the demon's thrall?

 Excerpt:

A wisp of warm air ruffles against me a second before the justitia forms a sword. Somehow it misses my head. I drop my hands at the same time a voice sounds. “I can get rid of your problems if you’ll let me.”

I release a gasp. Perdix leans against the doorjamb to the bathroom, arms crossed. In person. Not a projection. A demon stands in my bedroom.

I’m so shocked he’s in person and not in my mind I sit frozen on the bed, tears dripping off my chin. Clearly this day can get worse.

“You wear his mark.” I assume, by his bony finger pointing at my neck, the “his” refers to Zagan since it’s Zagan’s mark below my hairline. “I should kill you.”

One thing in life you can always count on: a demon making death threats.

Before I can respond, he continues. “But, it is more fun to encourage you to capitulate to my thrall.”

Whatever, demon. I might be a screw-up of epic proportions, but I have killed demons and know what to do with the pointy end of my sword.

I spring forward, slicing through the air, aiming for his neck, only to embed the justitia in the door frame as Perdix disappears.

Damn it. Wonder how much the repairs are going to cost?

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

I twist at the sound behind me, unable to pull free to turn. The demon stands on the other side of my bed shaking his head.

Great. Now two demons are disappointed in me. How big of an idiot do you have to be for two demons to get upset with you?

I look back at the sword buried in the doorframe. Yeah, not answering that question.

Using my free hand to grasp my opposite forearm below the silver links of the justitia, I use the extra force to yank on my arm, hoping to free the sword from the wood.

“You don’t have to be so violent about it.”

Yank. The sword moves a wee bit.

“All you have to do is ask me to free you from this life.”

Yank. Will the damn demon not shut up?

“Despite you belonging to my rival, I will happily welcome you into my arms.”

Yank, yank, yank. Oomph. I land with a thud on my ass as the wood releases its hold on the sword.

“What grace. What poise. You are truly the most elegant servant Zagan has ever made.”

I shove to my feet, pointing the sword at the smirking demon.

“Why did you kill all those people? I thought you fed on the dying, not those who still wanted to live.”

“Power, my dear, power. Do you know how tasty a soul is when they don’t want to die?” He smacks his lips. “Much better than the soul who dies by despair alone. Despair mixed with fear is quite the energy giver.” He smacks his lips again.

“And what, you absorb all this energy to be able to stalk more victims?” I take a step backward toward the door as I speak, stopping when the knob touches my backside.

A small smile curves his lips. “Not victims, my dear; hasn’t your master explained this to you?”

“He’s not my master.” I reach behind, twist the knob, and step forward, opening the door. “Smythe!”

       During the brief time my head turns to yell at my mentor, the demon pulls a vanishing act, leaving with the same wisp of warm air on which he arrived.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ 

Buy Links for Devil Take Me:

Amazon: https://www.amzn.com/B078JZXJX1

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/devil-take-me/id1331765136

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/devil-take-me-karilyn-bentley/1127750684

TWRP: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/5535-devil-take-me.html