Demon Warriors 1: Hondo Read online

  Demon Warriors 1

  Hondo

  Chris has hung around the Demon Warriors, trying to emulate them, for one hundred years. He’s in awe of these magnificent warriors but has eyes for only one of them.

  Hondo is as thickheaded as they come. Everyone around him can see how Chris feels about the big, bad warrior—everyone except Hondo.

  When bizarre occurrences keep taking place in the demon realm, Chris is ready for action, rushing in where wise men fear to tread.

  Can Hondo keep Chris from running into a battle he may not survive, and can Hondo set aside their friendship and become a lover to the little demon who worships the very ground he walks on?

  Note: Each book in Lynn Hagen’s Demon Warriors collection features a different romantic couple. Each title stands alone and can be read in any order. However, we recommend reading the series in sequential order.

  Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Fantasy Length: 35,355 words

  HONDO

  Demon Warriors 1

  Lynn Hagen

  EVERLASTING CLASSIC

  MANLOVE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic ManLove HONDO

  Copyright © 2011 by Lynn Hagen

  E-book ISBN: 1-61034-633-5

  First E-book Publication: July 2011

  Cover design by Jinger Heaston

  All art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  Dear Readers,

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  HONDO

  Demon Warriors 1

  LYNN HAGEN

  Copyright © 2011

  Chapter One

  Hondo watched as Panahasi emerged from the shadows near the corner of the bar after taking the mates of the Brac pack back home.

  His leader looked weary and not his usual self. Seeing other breeds interacting with their mates had driven home the fact that none of the Demon Warriors had found theirs yet.

  It was difficult watching the wolf shifter, Dagon Santiago, with his mate while feeling a longing to find one’s own. It seemed to be affecting Panahasi more so than the rest of them.

  His leader strolled over to the bar, talking to the bartender for a moment and then accepting a glass of amber liquid. Hondo knew it was whiskey, the man’s choice of drink.

  Hondo tipped the beer bottle back, taking a long swig as he watched his leader make his way over to his table. Hondo pulled his feet from the cushioned seat across from him as Panahasi slid into the booth.

  “How’d it go?” Hondo asked as he sat his bottle down.

  His leader waved his hand at him in a dismissive gesture.

  “They’re humans and shifters, boring.”

  Hondo could tell by his tone there was more to it than he was letting on, but he didn’t push. No one pushed the guy if he didn’t volunteer the information. “Taylor gonna be okay?”

  “He’ll be fine. He’s accepted his demon and will live a happy ever after, yadda, yadda.”

  Hondo looked over at Rainerio, giving a slight shrug, and then finished his beer. Another drag queen took the stage, peacocking and prancing to the music flooding the club.

  Hondo would never understand how a man could dress up in drag.

  He didn’t judge them. He just didn’t understand them. The warriors hung at Diablo’s because there were plenty of guys to fuck, good food, and even better eye candy strutting around.

  “I’m gonna head out.” Rainerio tapped knuckles with Hondo and glanced at Panahasi before walking through the crowd. Everyone parted, allowing the warrior his space.

  “You might as well go, not much happening around here tonight.” His leader spoke in a deadpan voice.

  Hondo hated to see him like this. He was usually fun to be around, always livened the place up, but after the last assignment, things seemed to be spiraling downward. He knew the mood would pass and Panahasi would be back to his usual self. It just sucked to see him so morose.

  “I’ll catch up with you later.” Panahasi nodded that he’d heard Hondo but still had that faraway look on his face. Hondo made his way to the front door, taking in the fresh air as he walked to his apartment.

  “Hey,” Chris called out as he ran up beside Hondo, zipping around him excitedly. Hondo was six nine, and the squirt was five seven. It took three of Chris’s steps to match one of Hondo’s. It was a good thing Chris had super speed, or else Hondo would have to carry the little demon in order for him to keep up.

  “What have you been into tonight?” he asked the small demon.

  Chris hung around the warriors, running errands and trying his best to Hondo 9

  be like them. Unfortunately, he never would be. They were an elite group, born into warrior status. Chris was too short, and slim as hell.

  “Nothing.” Chris shot to Hondo’s side. “I saw Gammy tonight.” This got Hondo’s attention. They’d been after the demon for some time. “What was he doing?”

  “He was trying to suck out another soul in the back alley. I tried to call you, but you guys never answer your cell phones.” Hondo cursed. The seedy little demon bastard somehow always knew when the warriors were in another realm and caused as much havoc as he could while they were away. Trying to catch Gammy was like trying to grab hol
d of a fish right out of the water, slippery little bastard.

  “Did he succeed?” Hondo asked as he walked down King Kennedy Ave. He was tired but knew he had to check in with the other warriors and track down Gammy.

  “No, I threw rocks at him and yelled Panahasi’s name as if the leader were heading my way. It scared Gammy away.” Hondo smiled at the small guy. “Good job.”

  “Thanks.” He beamed. Chris was so easy to please. Give him encouragement and he blossomed. Too bad everyone else wasn’t like that.

  “You want to hang tonight?” It was going to be slow anyway and company would help take his mind off the fact that he was mateless.

  Chris was good company, a little chatty, but the conversation was never boring.

  If he let Chris go with him, Gammy wouldn’t pose a threat to his buddy as long as the demon stayed out of the way. What harm could it be to let his enthusiastic buddy hang out for a night?

  The smaller demon’s eyes widened. “Really?”

  “Sure, just let me go home and shower, and then we can head out.”

  Chris gave him a hearty salute, and then put on a burst of speed to catch back up with him. They climbed the steps to his building, and walked up the three flights to his apartment. Hondo inserted the key and went in first, checking the place for any danger before waving Chris in. Being a Demon Warrior gained him and his unit a lot of enemies, and he didn’t want the shorter man to get hurt.

  Chris flopped down on his couch as Hondo went to his bedroom, digging out fresh clothes from his dresser and then heading into the bathroom.

  After his shower, Hondo stood in front of the mirror, running his hands through his wet hair. He analyzed his mug, wondering if, no, when he found his mate, if he would appeal to him. Problem was, demons didn’t know who their mates were until they slept with them, and then the bond formed. The process of finding a mate made demons slutty as hell, but they were desperate to find their mates.

  Giving up the thought because it only tortured him, he pulled his T-shirt over his head.

  “Hey, gonna be much longer? I gotta whiz.” Hondo rolled his eyes at the elegant way Chris worded things. “Be out in a minute.” He shouted through door.

  Can’t a guy have some peace even in the bathroom? He pulled his hair from the back of his shirt and let it fall to his shoulder, running his fingers through it one more time and then ran into a snag. Hondo reluctantly grabbed the brush from the medicine cabinet and worked the knot out. He tossed it back in and shut the mirror.

  “All yours,” he announced when he entered the living room.

  “Thanks.” Chris shot from the sofa, running straight in and slamming the door closed. Hondo shook his head. The guy must have a small bladder.

  “All done.” Chris beamed as he came from the bathroom and headed for the door. “Ready?”

  “Let’s roll.” Hondo followed Chris back down the stairs, heading out into the night.

  It was always night here. Demons couldn’t live in the sun. Their corporeal form would fade away when the sun’s rays hit them. He’d visited the human realm thousands of times, but only at night.

  “We’ll start on Broadview Avenue and ask around.” Chris nodded in quick bursts. “Okay, Torky hangs out there. He hears everything.” Chris ran alongside Hondo.

  “I wanna grab a bite to eat once we dust Gammy off.” Chris jogged in front of Hondo, jumping around like an excited puppy. “I get to help? Please tell me I can help. You guys always make me go home when the real fun starts.” Hondo had to slow his pace or else bowl Chris over. “You can help. But if I say get back, then get back. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir.” Chris gave him another hearty salute.

  Fondness washed over Hondo for the short demon yapping at his heels. Chris really did try hard to fit in with them and help out as much as he could. Hondo spotted Torky standing by a stoop in front of his apartment building, holding court with a bunch of losers. “Hey, come here.”

  Torky gave him a cocky grin as he sauntered over. “You bellowed?”

  “Seen Gammy?”

  Torky’s smile turned into a snarl as he looked over his shoulder at the losers watching him and then back at Hondo. “Someone needs to take that fucking slimeball out. One of these days he’s gonna go after the wrong one and get his ass kicked. Seen him an hour ago over on Granger. Good luck catching his ass.” Torky walked back over to his crowd, never looking back.

  “Granger it is.” Hondo and Chris walked up Broadview, made a left on King Kennedy, and then another left onto Granger. They crept quietly, hoping to catch the soul-sucking demon off guard.

  Hondo thought it ironic that Gammy was hanging across the street from Diablo’s the whole time he was hanging in the club.

  “I’m so excited.” Chris bit at his nails, giggling as he ran next to Hondo. “My first capture.”

  “Remember to do as I say,” Hondo warned him.

  Chris used his index finger to cross his heart. “I promise.” Hondo could see the anticipation bubbling all around the demon.

  He would subdue Gammy and then let Chris cuff him with neutralizing cuffs. The cuffs voided any paranormal being’s powers.

  That should make his night.

  He came up short when he rounded the corner onto Granger.

  Gammy wasn’t alone. The slimeball had another seedy demon with him. “Go home, Chris.”

  “No, no, no.” Chris stomped his foot. “You said I could help with this one.”

  “But that was before I knew Gammy had a sidekick.” Chris shook his head adamantly. “I can defend myself.” He took a karate stance, wobbling on one leg, and then performed a judo chop, his hands slicing through the air in front of him and nearly making him tumble over.

  Hondo bit the inside of his mouth to stop the chuckle. “Go home.”

  “No.” The little demon crossed his arms over his chest. “Can’t make me.”

  Hondo could, but he didn’t have time for this. “Stay behind me, damn it.”

  Chris’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. He jumped up and down, squealing into his hand that covered his mouth and nodded.

  “I promise,” he whispered after uncovering his mouth.

  Hondo’s stomach clenched at the thought of his buddy getting hurt. He had been hanging around them for over one hundred years now, and they all were very fond of him.

  He motioned for Chris to stay behind him. The guy’s exuberance was bouncing off the damn brick buildings that surrounded them.

  Chris nodded in short bursts, giving Hondo the thumbs-up.

  Plastering his back to the wall, Hondo inched his way forward, sliding along until he was mere feet away. He reached behind him, grabbing the neutralizing cuffs and silently handing them to Chris, who snatched them quickly from his hand. Hondo prayed he was making the right call by allowing Chris to be a part of this.

  Hondo reached out with the quickness of a striking snake and grabbed Gammy by his neck. The slimeball that had been with Gammy took off running, Hondo ignored the fleeing man. He slammed the soul sucker to the pavement, wrestling his hands behind his back.

  “Now, Chris,” he yelled over his shoulder.

  Chris dashed forward, leaping onto Gammy’s back and slapping the cuffs around the demon’s wrists. Chris jumped up, pumping his arms in the air and singing as he danced in a circle around Hondo. “I caught a slimeball. I caught a slimeball.” Hondo chuckled at the little demon, pulling his cell phone from his leather and hitting speed dial for Rainerio. “Caught Gammy, I’m on Granger.” He hit the end button and shoved the phone back in his leather.

  “Come on, Gammy. Let’s get you into the detention cells.” Hondo pulled the cuffed demon to his feet. The detention cells were located in the underworld. The worst of the paranormal world was locked up down there.

  “I didn’t do anything. You’re harassing me for standing on the corner talking to a dear friend of mine.”

  “Sure,” Hondo said sarcastically.

  “Liar,”
Chris shouted at Gammy, pointing his finger up into the demon’s face. “I saw you trying to suck someone’s soul out.” Chris’s lips pursed in anger as his eyes narrowed at Gammy. “Tell the truth, Gammy.”

  Hondo had to pull Chris back. Even though they finally caught the soul sucker, Gammy was still lethal.

  “Fuck.” Hondo swung Gammy into the brick wall. The temperature dropped around them. Gammy’s power was to dry-freeze and kill. The demon growled as his skin started freezing. Being a Demon Warrior, Hondo could withstand it. Chris couldn’t.

  “Stay back, Chris,” Hondo shouted as he continually slammed Gammy into the brick wall of the mini-mart, hoping to knock him unconscious and stop him from wreaking havoc.

  Chris jumped up and down frantically. “Is he freezing you?” he asked in a panic filled voice.

  “No, but you will be if you come too close.” Hondo was relieved when Rainerio and Takeo showed up. Taking a prisoner to the detention cells required three Demon Warriors. They would deliver him to the underworld and let the Keeper pass judgment. Capturing was their job, and capturing was what had been accomplished.

  “You did a good job, Chris. Now I need you to go home so we can drop this piece of scum off,” Hondo complimented his buddy as Gammy slumped against the wall, succumbing to unconsciousness.

  “He helped?” Rainerio asked as he looked between Hondo and Chris. “I’m impressed.”

  Chris grinned, his smile stretching from ear to ear. “Yep, I did,” he stated proudly. His slim chest puffed out in pride as he smiled at all three of the warriors.

  “Way to go.” Takeo bumped the side of his fist against Chris’s shoulder. The shorter demon blushed and waved his hand at Takeo.

  “It’s no big deal.”

  Hondo knew better. Chris would be riding that high for months to come. He should. He did cuff him with expertise. Hondo chuckled to himself.

  “I’ll call you,” Chris sang as he skipped away.

  “He really helped?” Rainerio asked once Chris was out of earshot.

  “Yep, cuffed him like a pro.” Hondo chuckled outwardly this time. “I couldn’t get the little bugger to go home, so I had to give him something to do.”

  “I think he’s sweet on you,” Takeo teased.