“Just a dream—a dream,” she whispered, a shiver sweeping through her. She huddled beneath the thin cover, a bone-deep coldness scraping her skin like bruising fingernails.
Christ, she scrubbed her burning face with icy hands. It was a miracle she’d fallen asleep. Usually, when she did manage to catch a wink or two, those same nightmares of being beaten plagued her.
Summoning every bit of her flagging energy, she rolled to her feet and stumbled to the tiny bathroom. Another wave of shivers coursed through her, and she wished she had access to a hot shower instead of a basin with cold water.
A spot wash later, her teeth clacking, she topped up her old Aquafina bottle with water and drank the icy liquid—
Oh, crap. How could she forget him?
Her pulse tripping, she dropped the bottle on the basin and darted back into her room, but the spot Nik had occupied was deserted.
Shadow stood there for a second, trying to understand her unexplained disappointment. Not like she expected him to wait around and watch her sleep, but still…
Dammit. She spun back for the bathroom. Yup, totally relieved he’s not here, she told herself, collecting her clothes from last night. Back at her bed, she stuffed them into her backpack, then changed into a pair of faded jeans and a black, sleeveless turtleneck top. As she donned her old, scuffed boots, her gaze slipped back to the other side of the small room.
Memories of him comforting her after her horrific dream seeped free, and her tummy tangled, recalling his gentleness. There hadn’t been any sign of the cold immortal she knew.
He wasn’t so cold when he kissed you, either.
Ugh, she shut out the thought. But wariness took hold, knowing he’d seen the ruby nodes on her chest. Since she was still breathing, he probably thought they were body studs. Relieved, she slung her backpack over one shoulder, tied her denim jacket around her waist, and trudged out of the basement, locking up behind her.
With the remnants of her nightmares clinging to her, she rubbed her achy temple and skirted the broken pillars, only to crash into granite. Darn it, she reared back and bit off a groan, her gaze colliding with ice-green eyes—the hard imprint of his body burning into hers. Awareness deepened, but reflex had her scowling.
His stare skimmed over her face. “You okay? Slept better?”
She blinked, then understanding pinged. “You—” She thumped his chest with both palms, finding it hard to swallow past the lump of terror stuck in her throat. “You sent me to sleep for hours—” Trapped me in a nightmare. “How could you?”
He grasped her hands. “You were restless. You needed the help.” His thumb gently stroked her skin. “And I gave it.”
“Did you consider that while I lay there asleep and helpless, anyone could have broken in, like that jerk, Rough—”
“I’ve already dealt with him,” he said, tone like razors, hauling her out of her panic. “I left Eddi in charge until my return.”
“I was here, lass,” Eddi added, coming up behind her.
They were friends now?
She glared at Eddi who nodded, then focused on the maddening immortal who sported an inflexible look. No, she wasn’t going to win this argument. Argh. She yanked free of his hold and stomped off, clenching and unclenching her fingers, his touch searing her skin, her anger deflating like a balloon.
“Has a bit of a temper,” Eddi’s low voice drifted to her. “But she’ll be okay after a bit.”
Gee, thanks, Eddi.
Her arms wrapped around her waist, Shadow detoured from her usual getaway manhole and stomped off toward The Refuge, bypassing the massive pillars and mossy archways. Most of the homeless had gone topside. A few lingered, keeping an eye on their possessions.
The demon, Laex, sat near the fire in the drum and glanced up as she walked over. Something flashed briefly in his dark gaze before he lowered his head. Wariness? Dislike? She couldn’t blame him for his caution.
“Hey,” she said, stopping opposite him. “I’m looking for someone—a woman. Dark skin, long spiral hair—about my height? Her name’s Joyce. You seen her?”
“No.” Laex shook his head and continued poking a wire at the burning wood. “I haven’t seen her since last night.”
Damn. “Thanks.”
Frustrated, Shadow shoved her hand into her jeans pocket and continued towards the tunnel.
A moment later, Nik joined her. His gut-churning male scent of stormy nights and cedar crowding her senses. His silent presence had her feeling as if fire ants were crawling beneath her skin. And memories of his kiss flooded her mind.
Oh, man, she bit her lip and lowered her head, willing her blush to fade. This wasn’t good.
She had to block him out. But with him stuck to her side like duct tape, it was difficult to forget his mouth on hers, the weight of his muscular body atop hers, or the hard bar of his cock pressing against her core…
And her faithless body heated up.
Clearly, her libido had morphed itself to hoe status.
This immortal might be hot and sexy, but he was a straight-up killer.
Eddi had already warned her, the Guardians’ only priority was to destroy evil. With her possessing demonic nodes that killed if she didn’t control the feeding, it already put her high up on the evil list.
“We need to talk,” he said a second later.
She blurted at the same time, “I can point you in the direction of Rough’s hideout, but there’s nothing else to show you except for drains and tunnels, and I don’t know where Tolvi has his den.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“What?” She pivoted to him, brow scrunching. “I thought you wanted to find them?”
“I have.”
He did? She searched his handsome but unreadable face. “And?”
“I’m handling it.”
Oh, right. And she didn’t deserve an explanation.
Irritated, she stomped off, frustration back in spades. Every time he opened his mouth, he left her spitting mad.
“We need to talk,” he reiterated, keeping up with her.
“About you leaving? Great. Goodbye—”
He grasped her arm, halting her, his cold, otherworldly eyes pinning hers. A sudden biting chill enclosed her, and she shivered.
“You’re in danger. This place isn’t safe.”
“S-so?” Her teeth clacked as she glared into those flat, pale eyes. Him. He was emitting all this coldness, as if the underground wasn’t frigid enough. She pulled free of his hold and rubbed her arms, trying to get some warmth into her. “I’ve been on my own for a long time, and I still breathe. I think I-I did a pretty good enough job—God, you’re like frost man!”
Instantly the biting cold surrounding her dissipated, but a nerve worked that hard, unshaven jaw. “This isn’t the time for idiotic bravery. I’m taking you to a safe place.”
“Idiotic bravery?” she bit out, blood thundering to her head. She fisted her backpack straps so she wouldn’t hit him. With her luck, she’d probably break her wrist on the ice-block, anyway. “I don’t need your help.”
“Right now, I am all you have.” His eyes flashed like lightning in the gloom. Shadow could clearly see the diamond-hued striation breaking up his light green irises, giving them the icy hue. “No matter how well you fight, you won’t survive these gangs.”