“You should have stayed asleep,” Bas growled, and fire burst out of him. The shadow creature screamed as the light and heat surrounded it, burning the sticky black trees and the creeping fog. Bas felt the second it left her mind, like a clawed sucker pulling free. A dark-haired woman sat in the ashes, sobbing.
“Are you Lily?” Bas asked gently.
“Y-Yes,” she blubbed.
Bas held out his hand to her. “Come on, Lily. Let’s go home to John.”
The trembling hand took his, and the world spun. Bas hit his body, and he blinked hard. His eyes were watering, and his cheek stung. He caught Bridget’s hand as she readied it for another slap. Her eyes were wild and frightened.
“I heard it scream in my head when you attacked it,” she said, her whole body shaking.
Bas kissed her palm. “I’m here. Don’t smack me again. I’m okay.”
“J-John?” The woman in the bed beside them croaked.
“Baby! I got you, love. I got you,” John said, pulling Lily close.
Bas reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. He passed it to John, his whole body suddenly heavy with exhaustion.
“Draw this sigil under this bed, or the creature that was feeding off your wife will come back. I’ll make sure you get something more permanent soon,” Bas said, and got to shaky feet. Bridget slid an arm around his waist and helped him out of the apartment.
As soon as they were out of the building and under a clear sky, Bas began to feel better.
“You’re so not okay, Bas. Tell me what you need,” Bridget said, panicking just a little. The creature still wanted her, and Bas would burn Dublin to the ground before it let it enslave her again.
Bas wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in the crook of her neck like he had longed to do for days. He breathed her scent deep into his lungs and held her tight.
“Just need this,” he said, kissing the side of her neck. “Just you.”
18
Bridget was still trying to keep Bas upright when a big guy with dark hair strode purposely toward them. All of Bridget’s self-defense training instantly put her on high alert. She pulled Bas behind her.
“Is he okay? Do you need—” the stranger began, reaching for Bas.
“Don’t touch him, or I’ll rip your fucking face off,” Bridget snarled. She had trained with bigger guys than him and knew exactly where to hit.
“‘s okay. He’s an Ironwood,” Bas said brokenly and began to sway. “Lachie.”
Bridget caught him as he fainted. His dead weight started to drag her to the ground when the big guy lifted him in his arms.
“As he slurred so eloquently, I’m Lachlan. Kenna sent me here to make sure everything went okay with the Beauchamps. She wasn’t sure John would let you in. You must be Bridget,” he said with a friendly smile.
“Ah, yeah. How did you know?”
“Family gossip tree. Follow me. I got a car around the corner,” Lachlan replied.
Bridget knew better than to get into a stranger’s car, but she wasn’t about to let him go anywhere with Bas when he was unconscious.
Bridget got in the SUV, and Bas was laid out in the back beside her, his head cradled in her lap. She was trying not to freak out, so she brushed her fingers through his dark curls.
“Okay, Bridget, tell me what happened?” Lachlan asked as he turned the car on.
“Not until we get to the Greatdrakes manor. I don’t know you, and I don’t trust you with Bas. If the other Greatdrakes clear you, I’ll tell you all at the same time,” she said stubbornly.
Lachlan didn’t seem offended. “Smart, but if it’s Apollo you’re doing a character check with, don’t expect him to say nice things about me.”
“Why is that? What did you do to him?” Bridget demanded.
