The hound growled.
“I’m fine, I’m fine. Don’t come any closer,” she rasped. “It’s not attacking.”
The creature whined, bumping its big head into her shoulder. Still a little wary, she set the dagger down and rubbed its muzzle, while keeping her one palm on its chest, continuing the feeding connection.
“Get her!” a shrill voice roared.
“Fuck—” Nik spun to a half dozen more demons rushing them, blade arching.
A demon flung out a hand, a blast of power knocking her flat to the ground again. Pain raced through her skull, and she groaned.
The hellhound snarled, the spikes on its thick neck rising, and it shot past her. Its powerful maw opened, and it grabbed the demon’s head, fangs snapping down. It shook the body like a rag doll and tore the cur’s skull clear off. Blood gushed. A swirling ball of dark energy rushed out and hovered. The hellbeast snapped the soul into its deadly orifice, eyes glowing a neon crimson as it swallowed.
Shadow almost expected it to cough out a spray of flames.
“Shadow!” Nik flashed to where she sat on the grimy tarmac. His sword clattered to the ground. He hauled her to her feet, his frantic gaze doing a quick up-down scan of her. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m okay,” she rasped, her gaze fixed on the hellhound and the disintegrating demon. “A demon attacked me,” her words tripped out, “then the hellhound came.”
“Let’s get out of here—shit!”
The truck size hell-dog bounded back, the moonlight emphasizing its enormous lupine head and upper body and sleek, powerful hindquarters, reminding her of a mix of wolf and German Shepard.
Nik snatched his sword from the ground, and the creature slowed. “Shadow, stay back.”
“No, no, don’t kill it.” She clutched his forearm, tugging him back with all the success of moving a rooted redwood. “It’s just an innocent animal.”
“Innocent? It fucking eats souls!”
A whine echoed, and the dark-as-night creature shimmered and disappeared in an agitating black fog.
“That was…odd,” she murmured.
“Odd?” Nik growled, his sword dissipating in a flicker of smoke and settling on his thick biceps as a tattoo again. He dematerialized them, taking form on the kitchen terrace, then hugged her in a lung-squashing embrace. “I could have lost you.” His voice got muffled in her hair. “Whoever the fuck is after me, sent the damn creature here, probably for the souls they think I still have. It must have somehow sniffed out that you’d taken them. Dammit!”
“I’m okay, really. Maybe someone’s finally watching out for me. Honey—I need air,” she rasped.
Instantly, he loosened his hold, and she gulped in much needed oxygen. “Nik, there’s something you should know. The hellhound, when I touched it, it let me feed.”
He gaped at her. “What?”
“I fed from it.”
“No. No.” He clasped his neck with both hands, eyes flashing as if he couldn’t connect with what he was hearing. “Those damn things eat souls! They don’t need the relief your feeding provides. Shadow, that thing could come back, tear you open to get those damn souls—theós!”
Shadow understood his terror, and knew his past bore down on him. She caressed his arm, and keeping her voice soft, she tried to reassure him. “But it didn’t, honey.”
“Damn.” Nik shook his head, then he scrubbed his face. “We’ll talk when I get back. You’ll be protected in the castle. Stay inside. I have to see what mess is out there. With this sudden demon infestation, we need to find out what the hell’s going on.”
She clutched his t-shirt. “Please, be safe.”
His panicked frenzy faded a little. His gaze softened. “With you here, always.” He pressed a quick kiss to her brow. The moment she stepped into the kitchen, he dematerialized.
In the early hours of the morning, Shadow leaned against the kitchen counter, a glass of water in her hand. The savory and sweet aroma of baking meat pies and rolls saturated the kitchen where Hedori worked, preparing the morning’s meal.
“Is everything okay?” he asked her, his otherworldly colored eyes skimming her face.
She couldn’t blame him with the way she stared at the open French doors like a maniac. She forced a smile. “Yes.”
“They’ll be back soon—” he broke off when Jenna entered from his quarters. Shae’s mother was striking with her auburn hair and dove-gray eyes, and a little subdued in her manner.
She brushed her unbound hair and stopped in the middle of the kitchen when she saw him.
“Can I get you anything, my lady?” he asked her, tone as polite as his expression.
She shook her head. “Can I help?” she asked instead.
He froze as if surprised at the offer. “Thank you, but I’ve it all under control.
Jenna frowned, then she glided to the teapot on the counter and poured herself a cup. She gave Shadow a little smile before walking out.
Kira had mentioned briefly something about Hedori rescuing Jenna from a demented angel who’d trapped her in the Dark Realm several months ago. Shadow couldn’t blame her for withdrawing into herself. It had to be terrifying.
Her attention flickered to the window. Night still lingered, but daybreak was moments away. Her sharp hearing picked up some of the warriors arriving. Anxiety caused the knots in her stomach to have baby knots as she waited for Nik.
After the night they had, heck, she was still in shock.
Her shoulder blades twinged. Ugh. Shadow reached to her back and tried to rub the slight ache that started last night. She must have strained her muscles or something while working out yesterday.
The door opened, and Ely strolled in, ethereally beautiful in her leathers and tank top, her long pale hair pulled into a high plaited ponytail.
“The night’s been too quiet,” she grumbled, grabbing a soda from the fridge.
Quiet? Sheesh. Nik probably hadn’t told them about the demon horde or the hellhound yet.
Ely dropped on a chair at the table laid out for the morning meal, broke the tab on her can, and swallowed some Pepsi. “You want to join me at the gym later today?”
“Yes. I’d like that.” She smiled.
The door opened. Aethan and Echo walked in, followed by Blaéz with Darci, then Kira and Týr—and even Bob, the chubby cat. Chairs dragged as they all sat at the massive oak table, and Bob immediately leaped up, parking his pudgy body on Echo’s lap. But her favorite person in the entire castle was missing.
Nik? She mind-linked with him.
On my way, agápi, he said softly, and her roiling stomach settled.
Dagan and Shae appeared, claiming their seats, too.
A shift in the air and Shadow’s focus snapped to the open terrace door.
Nik stepped inside, bringing the early morning breeze with him. His gaze immediately found hers…that stare. It warmed her all the way to her soul. God, she missed him. She rushed into his arms, and his mouth found hers in a tender kiss.
The inner door opened. A compelling presence sweeping through the kitchen had her turning in Nik’s arms. Michael stopped near the island counter, those eerie blue eyes taking them all in, in one sweep.