“Yeah, sure.” She dug out her phone from her jeans pocket and handed it over. “I’ll be back with clothes.”
Nik strode out of his quarters, dressed in his work gear. He headed for the grand staircase, the agitation within him escalating. Fuck, he needed to get back on the street. Find a demonii—find several—and just maybe an all-out fight would stop this restlessness, and he could reel in this urge to go after Shadow every single time she was within breathing distance.
Through the millennia, living with the constant ruckus of the insidious souls scraping and battering his mind, females were not even a thought. Then Shadow stumbled into his life, her chaos soothing his own turmoil—and one he desperately yearned for.
But at what cost?
Her life?
Shadow was mortal and wounded. If she got caught in his backlash, she would suffer a grotesque torture of her own bright soul being consumed by the dark ones.
No mortal would survive that shit, a lesson he’d learned the hard way.
Mouth clamped in a tight line, he shut it all out and jogged downstairs. Male laughter drifted to him.
The other warriors usually stopped for a bite before heading out. In the passing months, he rarely joined them. He preferred his own grim company, safer that way, and no need for small talk.
As Nik neared the ground floor, the tantalizing floral scent with that hint of woodsmoke curled around him, and he stumbled to a halt. Just a whiff of her and his entire being tautened, hauling him to the edge again.
Unable to stop himself, he scanned upstairs for her…then down. Dammit.
She should be in bed, not traipsing around the castle in her weakened state.
Irritation surging, Nik strode down the long hallway toward the sound of voices.
He walked into the massive open-plan kitchen, rich with the smell of something savory. A central isle separated the dining area, where a massive oak table reigned. Light chatter continued. Hedori looked up and nodded.
Týr grinned. “You finally decided to join us?” he asked, his chair tipping on its back legs, his arm thrown around Kira’s chair. She cast him a bright smile.
Shadow sat next to Darci and Blaéz. The Celt arched an eyebrow.
Hell, he should leave, she’d be fine. The females would see to her, but he couldn’t make himself move. She’d done something with her hair, pulled it into a pile on her head, revealing the fragility of her wan face, and he ground down on his teeth not to say anything.
Leave now.
Nik ignored the voice of reason. He crossed to the counter, poured an espresso from the coffee machine into a mug just to strangle the urge to scoop up Shadow and take her back upstairs. He picked up his cup and, like a runaway train on a fast track to disaster, he walked over to the empty chair next to Shadow and sat down.
Aware her stare drilled holes into him, he sipped the bitter brew, the liquid burning a layer off his throat, then he glanced at her. Two spots of pink brightened her face.
Godsdammit. It gutted him, knowing she was in pain and trying to be brave and strong in front of the others.
“You should be in bed,” he said quietly, ignoring the chatter and tinkling cutlery around him. “Someone would have brought your meal upstairs.”
She carefully set her cutlery on her plate. “I’m capable of walking and taking care of myself.”
How was it the moment she opened her mouth, she pissed him off?
Nik put his mug down, leaned his elbows on the table, his stare fixed on hers. “You are not well enough,” he said, tone still low. “That demon didn’t just claw you, he gouged you. Don’t tell me you’re capable of moving about without falling on your face.”
Those striking eyes flared with anger. Her lips pressed in a tight line, she shot up, the chair dragging on the floor. The chatter died out as she rushed from the kitchen.
“Jeez, Greek,” Týr muttered, “Easy. She’s been through hell.”
Nik cut the warrior a flat stare as he shoved to his feet and strode out after Shadow. He found her making her way down the corridor, a hand on the wall as if needing the assistance. His heart pumped hard in concern. “Shadow—”
“Leave me alone.” She stepped into the open elevator.
He flashed, slipping inside just as the door rolled shut. “Look—”
“I don’t want to talk to you. Y-you embarrassed me in front of everyone.” She blinked at the ascending numbers, a glint of tears in her eyes. Hell.
“I don’t want you falling and causing more harm to yourself—”
“So I can get out of your life faster, you mean?” Her tense features hardened. “Don’t worry, I plan to. I didn’t ask to come here.”
He slapped his palm on the Stop button, his own ire ramping up at her hardass attitude. He spun her around, and she pressed back into the corner, away from him. “Where the hell was I supposed to leave you?” he demanded, keeping his hand on the button and caging her. “Out on the street?”
“Maybe you should have—”
“Godsdammit.” Nik exhaled roughly, spiked with frustration…then she bit her lower lip.
And that unstoppable need and desire for her surged. Unable to stop himself, he gently stroked his thumb across her mouth, preventing her biting.
Eyes wide, her breath escaped in a rush, then she ducked under his arm and moved to the other side of the elevator.
Fuck. Nik lowered his head, a hand still braced on the control panel. He should have just left instead of going after her. But he didn’t because she was his—
No, dammit! Not his, his responsibility. He thumped the button, and the elevator rose upwards once more.
Nik leaned against the metal wall, watching her with a hooded stare.
She kept her focus fixed on the door.
The moment it rolled opened, she almost ran, as if escaping evil.
She wouldn’t be wrong.
Exhaling roughly, he scrubbed his jaw. Yeah, better he got his ass back on the street and forget this futile attraction to a woman who seemed to hate him.
His serpent tatt stirred. Fix it. Makesss her likesss usss again.
For once, Nik had no comeback.
Chapter 10
Nik prowled through the dank underground tunnel, heavy with musty air in the early hours of the morning, passing the area where the demon fight happened two nights ago. Frustration still torqued him, and the malevolent riot within ramped up, tearing at his mind.
The latter he’d lived with for millennia and endured, but the former gouged out chunks of his frozen heart.
He hadn’t meant to hurt Shadow with what he’d said. Didn’t the difficult female understand she would only do more damages to herself walking about while unwell? And, of course, he’d handled the situation with the subtlety of a battering goat.
Worse, the night’s hunting was a dead end. He’d picked up no clues about Eddi’s death or the abductions, and the homeless knew nothing, either.
Dagan materialized near him. “Nothing on the south side. All’s quiet,” he said, those keen citrine eyes skimming him. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” Nik headed deeper into the tunnel, then slowed down near an open area with massive pillars. Behind one graffitied column, he found Shadow’s backpack. As he straightened, bag in hand, snarling voices reached him.