“Drink it.” He pressed the cup into her hands. “The honey will help.” Google had saidso.
A shuddering breath escaping her, she sipped the steamy beverage. Dagan rose to his feet, mind-linking with Michael, wanting to speak to him, but hit a wall. Dammit. He got out his cell and shot off amessage.
Once Shae was done, he took the cup from her and set it aside. Her shoulders drooped in fatigue as she lay down. He pulled the covers overher.
“Stay,” she whispered, grasping his hand, her eyes like gray pools of desolation in her pale face. “I don’t want to bealone.”
With a nod, he undressed, pulled on sweats, and slid in beside her. Her eyes closed, her exhaustion sliding over him like a sheet of lead as she settled in the crook of his shoulder, a hand resting on hischest.
His heart surging with tenderness for his mate, he brushed his lips on her brow. She was so damn brave to have borne all this for so long. He’d make sure she got closure for her sire’sdeath.
* * *
Late afternoon sunlightflooded his workshop. Dagan tossed the gouge he’d been using on the wooden gazelle onto the table and rubbed his jaw. He’d gotten up way before Shae had, deciding she should take it easy after her traumatic night. But she had other ideas once she’d awaken, insisting on keeping up hertraining.
His mind looped back to the Edge demon she’d summoned. Shit! His stomach still heaved in dread every time he thought of how close she’d come to being tied to one of those beings. It could only be that damn Harvey who had procured a name forher.
Unable to concentrate, he crossed to the window overlooking the backyard where she currently trained withAngelus.
The fae circled her with a broadsword. Instead of watching her counter moves, Dagan’s gaze tracked down her body as she bounced back on her sneakered feet. A white tank top hugged her chest and black, knee-length tights revealed her long, sexy legs. She probably wore the attire for easier movement when training, but his body tightened at the sensual vision shepresented.
His hands resting on the windowsill fisted when he recalled her sitting astride his face, his mouth onher—
“Aieeeeee!” Angelus’s battle cry erupted, and he leaped at her. Dagan froze. Instead of using her sword to block, she countered with a solid kick to the fae’s belly, sending him stumblingback.
Dagan growled, feeling as if his heart would escape its cage. Yeah, he would always feel way overprotective when it came to her. And that damn weapon she used was too heavy. He spun around to go and find her something more suitable when the airshimmered.
Michael took form, sporting his usual biker appearance in jeans and a faded black tee. He refastened his inky strands into a ponytail. “Youcalled?”
Dagan snorted at the drawling tone. He picked up the dagger from the table and handed it over. Michael ran his thumb along the etching on the pewter-gray hilt. Tiny vertical lines creased the skin between his eyebrows. “I haven’t seen one of these in ages.” He studied the blade then sniffed the metal. “Where did you getit?”
“Shae. It’s the one that killed her father. She pulled it out of him—doesn’t remember much of the killing…” he told Michael what Shae had disclosed, and what he’d picked up when he touched theweapon.
Piercing, shattered blues met his. “It an angel’sblade.”
“I figured that from the design on thehilt.”
“That’s not what I meant. This dagger belongs to a rogue, and one I’ve been hunting for awhile.”
Rogues? Damn! This was worse than pursuing evil Fallens. To escape the gruesome punishment of losing their wings and powers in whitefire—the Celestial Realm’s punishment for leaving the order—rogues went into hiding in this world. Problem was, they were very, very dangerous and a threat to mortals.“Any ideawho?”
“A higher-order angel, judging from this blade.” Michael settled against the windowsill. “I’m surprised he hasn’t searched for it yet. Fallen or not, celestial angels treasure their weapons. How long since Shae lost herfather?”
Dagan frowned. “Nine years.Why?”
“About a decade ago, I was tracking Samael. I found him, but he escaped. If he’s back in New York, we’re neck-deep in shit. And there’s one other, a throne. Bred for war, they’re damn dangerous. If it’s who I think it is, it’s going to be a definite fuckfest. This dagger has just made finding the rogues toppriority.”
“If we come back, it will put Shae indanger.”
“It would. I’ll notify Nik about the change in duty. You and Race remain here for now.” Those fractured irises met his. “Shae’s abilities, anychanges?”
“Her powers are growing stronger,” he admitted. “She’s still having trouble keeping her shields in place, but with a little more time, she should be good. Here’s the thing, I still don’t think she’spsionic.”
Michael set the blade on the table. “That can wait until you both get back to New York, unless her powers escalate. One otherthing…”
Why did that pause feel like a tanker was about to fall onhim?
“Is she yourmate?”
