“In the labyrinths beneath the Bronx.” Truth.
Nik frowned. “Then who the fuck’s in the Tribeca one?”
“He must have two dens.”
“Description?”
The demon lifted a shoulder. “Lean built. Dark skin and white hair.” He swiped the gore from his healing face and eyed them warily. “If you’re finished pounding on me, I’m going to find Joyce.”
When Nik remained where he was, and the others didn’t move, Laex crawled to his feet and took off in a flash.
“I’m gonna track the demon and see where he goes.” Aethan dematerialized.
“Everything okay with you and Shadow?” Dagan asked him.
And that brought his thoughts back to her new ability. His fear still hadn’t left him, recalling her suddenly appearing in the middle of a fight.
“Yeah, we’re good. Hell, she can now dematerialize. She got worried, felt my pain when I took a hit.” He rubbed his already healed biceps. “She tried to track me in her mind, but somehow linked to where I actually was. Fuck. I’m terrified at what could have happened.”
Dagan nodded. “I had a similar situation with Shae. Train her to control her abilities. I’ll see you later.” He dematerialized.
Yeah, he would. He wanted her safe.
Nik made his way past the many headstones toward the cathedral, intent on finding Tolvi, but a familiar marble stone snagged his attention. He slowed and retraced his steps back to it.
Olivia Montgomery
Seven years later, and guilt still stirred. He’d come across her while tracking a blood demon who’d sought refuge in an upscale hotel. She hadn’t reacted to his mental command to get to safety, forcing him to do so in person. In hindsight, it was probably her air of hopelessness, something his younger self had lived with for a long time, that drew him. Expect, he hid his by fighting…
The female eyed Nik cautiously as he approached, the moonlight emphasizing her brilliant red hair and pale, drawn features. He wasn’t gonna hurt her. “It’s not safe out here alone.”
She blinked as if surprised he spoke to her. “You’re one of Enzo’s bodyguards?” she asked softly, cautious brown eyes studying him. “I haven’t seen you before. You don’t look like his usual…men.”
“I am a guard, just not his.” Nik scanned the gardens for the blood demon he’d tracked into the hotel.
“Good.” She inhaled deeply as if bracing herself, and those haunted eyes held his. “I need a favor—”
“No. Go inside.” He turned to leave.
“Wait.” She grasped his forearm, startling him. Nik stepped back. He didn’t like being touched. She hurriedly opened her small purse, scribbled something on a piece of paper, and pushed it into his hand. A tissue with a number.
“My name’s Olivia Montgomery. I’ll pay you whatever you want if you help me—”
“Olivia?” a cold voice snapped. “Why are you out here?” A tall, burly man in a suit stepped out into the garden and grabbed her arm. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Her expression smoothed into a mask, but Nik sensed her wariness. “I was only speaking to the guard—”
“He’s not mine.” The human shot Nik a deadly stare. “Don’t ever talk to my fiancée again.” As he strode indoors with her, she cast Nik a furtive, pleading look.
Hell. His life was screwed enough, and with the harsh rules governing Guardians, he couldn’t let himself be dragged into mortal troubles. But her despair stayed with him, and his conscience warred within him. If that male human was hurting her, maybe he could wipe out the man’s memories or something.
He called her two days later, only to find out she’d died the night before.
Her death was one he would always regret.
His mouth tightening, Nik dematerialized from the cemetery, heading to Tribeca. No way was he letting Shadow go anywhere alone, not until he destroyed the bastard hunting her.
Pain slashed her back. Shadow cried out, scrambling away from the man looming over her. Hands grabbed her, and she lashed out. Fingers closed around her throat—
“No-no!” she whimpered, scratching at her neck, feeling as if she couldn’t breathe.
“Shadow, wake up-wake up. It’s just a dream.”
Her teary eyes snapped open to more gloom. A blurry shape hovered over her.
“No!” She hit out with fists and kicks, trying to break free. He won’t hurt me again—
Her feet slammed him in the belly.
An oomph escaped him. His grip loosened.
Gulping back sobs, she scrambled off the bed and fell to her backside, pain jarring her bones. The dark figure followed. Oh, god, oh, god!
“Stay back,” she cried, scuttling away on her bottom until her spine hit the wall. Struggling to pull air into her burning lungs, she drew her knees up and hunched over them, arms wrapped around her legs, cowering away from the man standing a short distance from her.
Shadow, it’s me, Nik, a quiet voice coasted through her terror. I’d never hurt you, he whispered, his tone gentle, soothing her distraught mind. You know me, agápi. I’m your mate.
The heavy drapes drew back. Blinding sunshine illuminated the recognizable massive bedroom with the stone fireplace and weapons on the mantel, hauling her out of her old nightmare. Her gaze rushed back to the tall, muscled man opposite her with a towel slung low on his lean hips, water beading on his inked chest. “Nik?”
“Yes, it’s me,” he murmured, hunkering down, still keeping his distance from her.
A cry broke free, and she scrambled across, throwing herself at him. His arms came around her even as her momentum caused him to fall on his backside.
“You are safe. I have you.” His arms, his warmth surrounded her, comforting her. She buried her face in his cool, damp neck, shivers wracking her as memories hidden in her mind’s vault cracked open…
Don’t ask me that again, not unless you want the same thing to happen to you. The cruel words splintered her head, and the fog lifted. You belong to me now, Gemma. You’re nothing like her, but with that face, I can easily overlook your frailty.
Dread gripped her. “Never! You murderer—”
A crack echoed against her cheek, sending her head sideways, pain splintering through her skull.
Dear god, a sob broke free.
“Shadow, what is it?” Nik gently eased her from him, his gaze searching hers, worry etching groove in his forehead. “Talk to me, baby. I feel your terror.”
Swallowing hard, she moved off him and sat on the floor, rubbing the phantom sting in her face. More memories gushed free…her grandfather, her sister—
“Oh, Livy…” She wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked herself. Her poor sister.
Tears blurred her sight, anger, pain, and abject misery swamping her. “You said something last night, and I think it cracked through the void in my mind…”
“You got your memory back?”
She nodded, then shook her head. “Some…it’s all jumbled in here.” She jabbed a finger to her temple.
“Don’t force it,” he murmured. “What did I say?”