“Looks like the bullet barely scraped you,” Talen returned. “You’re fine, so go away before you end up with the entire Realm on your ass. This is your one chance to avoid a lifetime of pain.”
“No.” The lead demon lowered his chin, and his pupils overtook his irises. “We have backup on the way, but I don’t think we’re gonna need it.”
Talen held up a hand.
The demon’s eyes opened wider, and he tried to move forward, his body shaking.
Whoa.Cara hadn’t seen Talen do that in eons. She’d almost forgotten his ability to attack and control the nervous system of an enemy. Apparently the gift halted a demon mind attack—at least temporarily.
The other two demons darted forward, only to also hit that invisible Talen wall. The first guy stopped completely, while the other one managed to twitch his hands.
“Cara? Start running and keep going until you reach the shifters. They should be here soon,” Talen said through gritted teeth, his voice a hoarse rumble.
She couldn’t leave him there with three furious demons. Even with his talents, at some point, they’d break free. Gingerly reaching into the back of her pants, she drew out a sopping wet laser gun. It probably still worked. “How about I just shoot them?” she whispered.
“Won’t work.”
Shoot. Immortal laser guns couldn’t take a little water? Definite flaw in the design. “I’m not leaving you.” The demon twitching his hands slid one foot forward.
“Now.” His order held bite this time.
This was one of those moments. She had a gun, and he needed backup, but having her there would complicate things. She calculated the odds in her mind and finally settled her stance. “You need me just in case.” She wasn’t an idiot plunging headfirst into danger. She was a healthy immortal who wanted to protect her mate.
“Move your ass now,” he growled, sweat rolling down the side of his face.
A mate who didn’t want her protection. The lead demon broke free.
Cara yelped and pulled the trigger. Her gun sputtered, and no laser came out. Shit.
The demon lunged for Talen, hitting him midcenter, and throwing them both into the sheer rock mountain.
The other two demons slowly broke free of their bonds, moving forward, determination on their smooth faces.
Cara shook out the gun, several times, and water went flying.Please work, damn it.She lifted and aimed. Green shot from the gun, the light impacting the nearest demon and turning to metal when it met flesh.
The demon yelled and grabbed his chest. She fired two more times, aiming for his face. The bullets took out his cheekbone, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.
Pain and brutal images of hell pierced her brain. Her mind exploded, and she dropped the gun, grabbing her ears.
The demon mind attacking her stalked nearer, his gaze hard, his vision focused.
“Stop,” she whimpered.
He increased the pressure, and imaginary blades ripped through her cerebellum. Her eyes closed, and blood spurted from her nose. She barely heard the roar of fury from her mate.
Suddenly, the pain stopped. She held perfectly still as her nervous system stopped firing her nerves to life. Her lungs relaxed. Slowly, she lifted her head.
Two demons were prone on the ground, out cold. Talen punched the demon who’d attacked her mind right in the face, and the demon crashed into a tree. He came up swinging, roaring with fury.
Talen caught him and they grappled.
The demon lowered his chin, and Talen’s head jerked back.
Oh, hell. Mind attack. Cara’s vision was fuzzy, but she patted around her to find the gun. Where was the freaking gun?
Talen growled in pain, his movements slowing. The demon continued the mind assault, his gaze intense, and kicked Talen in the chin.
Cara cried out and tried to scramble to her feet.
