Chapter 13
Shae rubbedher damp palm on her hip as she switched hands with her weapon and warily eyed Angelus circling her like a smirking hyena. Wielding a tree trunk would probably feel lighter than the darnsword.
You cannot hide forever, Shae. You are mine.At the ominous whisper in her head, she stumbled and blocked Angelus’ attack a second too late. Pain lanced her chest, and she cried out, her sword clattering to theground.
A roar erupted, and the tree shuddered, shedding more leaves, sending them scattering to the ground. Dagan materialized in front of her. He ripped open her tank top. Blood drenched her sportsbra.
“Shae—” Angelus appeared at her side, his face pale. Dagan leaped at him. “You hurt her—you fucking hurt her!” His fist slammed into Angelus’sjaw.
“Dagan, no—stop!” Shae grabbed his arm, trying to pull him off. A punch landed in her face. She went flying back, hitting her skull on the granite ground as she fell, unbelievable agony consuming her. She lay there, unable to breathe through, so sure her nose was broken. Darkness edged hervision.
“No!Shae, open your eyes. Look atme!”
At the raw terror in Dagan’s voice, she forced her eyelids open. He knelt beside her, chest heaving, anguish engraved on hisface.
Angelus squatted at her other side, sporting a bruise on his jaw. He laid one hand on her chest and the other over her nose. A warm tingle surrounded herinjuries.
“My apologies, Shae,” he said quietly, a pained look in his eyes. “Why weren’t you payingattention?”
She barely heard him. Her gaze fixed on Dagan, his features gone a sickly shade of bronze, the tips of his fangs pressing into his lower lip. The moment she could speak, she whispered, “It’s okay—I’mokay. It was anaccident.”
Dagan didn’t respond, didn’t even shake his head as he slowly rose to his feet. But the coldness seeping into his eyes terrifiedher.
The second Angelus lowered his hand, Dagandematerialized.
“He’s not going to forgive himself for hitting you,” Angelus said, helping herup.
Shae sighed, holding the torn edges of her bloody top together. “It’s my fault. I jumped in between you two. I have to speak withhim.”
She sprinted through the kitchen and skidded to a halt. Great! Go after him reeking of blood. Lips pressed together in frustration, she detoured for thebedroom.
After a quick wash and change, Shae hurried back to the living room, pulling on her jacket to find Nik coming out of the kitchen. She skated to a stop. “Have you seenDagan?”
He shrugged. “If he’s not here, he must have already left for patrol.” He headed for thedoor.
No—dammit! Her gaze rushed to the arched windows. Dusk had already settled along the mountains, casting looming shadows over theroom.
“Nik, wait.” Shae rushed after thewarrior.
He stopped, pinning those impossibly cold, pale green eyes on her. The terrifyingly realistic serpent head tattooed on his neck appeared to watch her, too. Ugh. “I have to talk to him. It’s urgent. Would you take me tohim?”
“Can’t it wait until he gets back in the morning?” Nik glanced at the exit again, as if he wanted to begone.
“No, please. It’s really important.” She needed Nik to understand. And not wanting to get into the entire thing, she simply said, “I got hurt. He’s upset. I have to talk tohim.”
The warrior’s gaze snapped back to her. “Hurt as inbleeding?”
Lips pressed together, shenodded.
“You do know why he won’t come near you,right?”
“Yes, he told me. But I’m his mate, he wouldn’t—at least heshouldn’t—harmme.”
“Mate?”
She nodded again. He went quiet,reallyquiet, as if he were taken back to a terrible or painfultime.
“Nik?”
