Well, she had. Yay for her survival instincts.
She removed her wrist blades, careful not to touch the iron metal—the darn thing made her skin itch—and shoved them into her backpack. So, he was a Guardian.
And she’d called him a weasel.
She bit her lip, stopping a smile as she sidestepped the stinky water running along the pitted ground. She didn’t want the questions that were sure to follow.
When she’d first seen this inked Guardian in the castle, all those months ago, she’d been grazed by a bullet, her mind foggy. But she’d sensed he was different, and she’d thought he and the blond guy who saved her belonged to some kind of secret task force—they certainly looked it. Heck, she’d left the very next day since she trusted no one.
“For now, it’s best to stay away from the topside, Shady.”
Oh, she planned to lay low for a while. “Did they kill Halen?” She asked about his demon partner who’d died a year after she’d moved in with them.
Eddi shook his head, a flash of melancholy crossing his face. “No, he got in with the wrong lot, his own kind.”
She knew that much but hoped he would say more. Eddi didn’t, so she let him be. They were all entitled to their secrets.
A single light bulb blinked. The tunnel wavered. She swayed. Crap, not the tunnel—her.
“Lass?” Eddi grabbed her arm as the wave of dizziness swept through her. “You okay?” His voice came from afar, his brow furrowing in concern.
“Yeah. A little woozy after the fight.” She kneaded her temples, casting him a guileless smile.
A little woozy? If only.
She was weakening. Eddi was right to worry, not that he knew why.
To deflect him, she added with a cheeky grin, “The adrenaline rush is fantastic. Burnout, however, is a pain in the ass.”
He dropped his hand and sighed, shaking his head wearily. “You are trouble, Shady.”
“Hey, it was a good fight…” Until he distracted her.
“Just be careful, okay?”
“Uh-huh.”
As they neared the area where the gloomy tunnel split east and west, he stopped. “You’re going to The Refuge?”
He mentioned the place where the migrating homeless stayed a short while.
“Yeah. Need to convince Joyce to move to The Shelter—she’ll never last in this dump.”
“Here ain’t good for a young, defenseless woman,” Eddi agreed, expression grim.
“It’s why I’m glad I have you.”
A smile chased away his bleakness. “Same, lassie.”
“Catch ya later, Eddi.” Her fingers clenching the straps of her backpack, she hurried through the gloomy labyrinths, then entered a dark, musty-smelling tunnel leading to The Refuge.
Despite it being summer, down in these parts, it was always damp and cold. Several pockets of homeless crouched around a fire in a sawed-off metal drum, but she didn’t see anyone with Joyce’s petite build and wild, spirally hair around, or her little boy, though they’d sought sanctuary here a few days ago.
A dark-haired demon seated near a fire, glanced up as she approached, then lowered his head. Eddi had said his name was Lex…no, Laex. He’d shown up a few weeks ago, badly beaten, after escaping from prejudiced humans and certain death. She couldn’t blame him for keeping to himself.
Some distance from the crowd, she turned another corner and entered a dank area in the old tunnel. She didn’t need light and could see well enough in the dark. An anomaly that had awakened in the last couple of years, along with her heightened sense of smell and hearing, and a gut instinct about certain things. Eddi called it her sixth sense. She thought it a pain in the ass.
She hurried for their basement. Thankfully, no one came to these parts, believing the place to be haunted. It suited her and Eddi.
Her mind slipped back to the inked Guardian.
So, he protected this world from evil?
Now it all made sense. Sheesh, she’d seen him summon ice lances from thin air and kill those huge scaly demons…and she’d nailed him in the balls. She wanted to smile, but wariness crept through her. Sure, he was dauntingly handsome with those sculptured features, shorn hair, and otherworldly ice-green eyes, but it was the cold beauty of a ruthless killer.
A shiver rushed down her spine.
Heck, she’d seen him in action. If he found out what she was, without a doubt, she’d end up like those monsters, with an ice-stake in her heart.
Sooo not her idea of fun.
If she wanted to keep breathing, she’d better stay far, far away from the fascinating but deadly Guardian.
Chapter 3
Nik leaned against the back wall in the archangel’s compact study, arms folded over his chest while the others filled Michael in on what had occurred the previous night.
The open French doors let in a cool breeze. He focused on Bob, the chubby, smoke-gray feline stalking the birds in the garden, his thoughts veering back to the vexing female from last night.
She’d nailed him in the fucking balls.
It still irritated him that she’d taken him unaware.
Hell, if she could scale the damn building like a spider monkey and take down demoniis like a pro, her agility shouldn’t surprise him. He was the idiot, thinking of her as fragile.
“What exactly are those red demons?” Aethan asked, dragging his attention back to the meeting.
“They’re called Narakas,” Michael said, leaning back in his chair behind his L-shaped desk. “They’re found in Gehenna, the deepest level of the Dark Realm. They usually come when summoned by someone powerful but can only stay for short periods before they’re pulled back. Did anyone get a fix on what they’re after?”
“No, it happened too fast,” Dagan replied as Bob wandered indoors, slunk between the Celt’s legs, then leaped onto the Arc’s lap. “Couldn’t neutralize one and pry into his mind to find out.”
Michael’s jaw hardened as he stroked Bob. “You killed them all?”
“Some,” Aethan murmured, leaning an arm on the unlit fireplace mantel and raking back his multi-hued blue hair. “The rest disappeared back into the portal.”
“Aaand shit just got better.” Týr rubbed his palms in elation. “Finally, a fight to look forward to—demoniis night after night gets a little boring.”
“Norse, you’ve got a mate to keep you busy and entertained, and I still don’t get your penchant for bloodshed.” Blaéz shook his head.
Týr’s grin became feral. “That will never change, bringing down those fuckers of the Dark Realm.”
“Someone must have directed those creatures here.” Dagan straightened from the inner doorjamb, brow creasing. “Probably as a distraction for whatever they have planned.”
Michael gave a slow nod. “Perhaps.”
“Think it could be related to Tomas’ abduction last winter?” Týr mentioned the homeless boy who’d been captured by demons, who he’d eventually rescued.
“With the Narakas, anything’s possible. Nik?” Michael glanced his way. “I know I haven’t approved your permanent return to Romania, but this new development requires everyone here.” Let me know when it gets too close for you again, he telepathed Nik. “Race can handle things for a little longer. If this gets any worse, I might just have to bring him in, along with the other warriors I have stationed elsewhere.”