Apparently, Riley wasn’t swayed. He cut Týr a grim look. “You know what we could face—hell,could? It’s a damn-freakin’ yes, wewould!”
No, no, no.
“I’ve made my decision,” Týr countered, cutting her a hard stare. “You come, you better be prepared for shit to fly. Getting the children out is all that matters.”
She was okay with that. She’d hunted demoniis enough times with Echo back in the day, even if she had been scared as hell at the time. And she could fight if need be…and kill if she had to. Her stomach heaved. Awesome.
Riley shook his head. “Let’s go.” He vanished in a stir of air.
Týr drew her into his arms. “Remember what I said. And stay close to me.”
She nodded and wrapped her arms around him, face buried in his chest as he dematerialized them.
Several minutes later, they reformed near the edges of a town. Curious, Kira glanced about, taking in the quiet place with its squat, gloomy buildings, a few with dim light barely illuminating the darkened windows. A faint hiss had her pivoting. Cautiously, she eyed the churning portal Riley had opened.
“It’s better away from the crowds at the citadel, and faster,” he said, stepping through the dark, shimmering gateway. The thing swallowed him.
Determined not to show Týr her nervousness, Kira gritted her teeth and stepped through the coalescing blackness and out into the inky night on the other side, near an outcropping of jutting rocks. Hot air enclosed her, and she almost gagged at the dense, acrid, sulfuric air.
“Dear God, how does anyone breathe in this place?” she gasped, pulling her damp tank away from her stomach. Then she forgot her discomfort and stared wide-eyed.
In the distance, massive iron gates set in equally high walls surrounded the gloomy buildings built near the craggy, granite hills. Torches burned brightly. Tall twin watchtowers built from the same granite overlooked the buildings on either side. Chunky, ragged stalagmites rose from the rocky ground and dotted the rest of the spine-chilling landscape.
“What is this place?”
“Mount Algolaith,” Týr said, his tone terse. “Remember, we get the kids and get out.”
“Wait…” Riley held out a hand, his focus shifting between the two watchtowers on either side of the sprawling buildings. “I’ll be right back.”
With preternatural speed, he disappeared. Kira rubbed her shaky palms down her pedal pushers. She had so many questions about this place, but she kept silent. Týr stood beside her like a statue in the dark, his expression a mask, but his eyes were narrowed and fixed on the gates manned by two ginormous black demons.
* * *
Týr fought the urge to pace as they waited. Kira stayed silent beside him, staring wide-eyed at the building, her skin gleaming with sweat from the intense heat. But worry knotted his gut. He put a hand on her lower back, and she cast him a quick smile. Though his concern remained, pride took hold that she would brave this hellhole and want to help rescue the kids. Still, he wasn’t letting her out of his sight.
Riley appeared moments later. “Seems they have a great batch offresh prizessecured in the back. We need to take out the towers.”
“Fresh prizes?” Kira hissed. “The damn asses!”
At the male sauntering alongside Riley, Týr narrowed his eyes. “What the hell’shedoing here?”
“He knows this place.”
“No way,” Kira gasped. Before Týr could stop her, she darted across. “Damon!” She threw her arms around the male.
“Hello, beautiful,” Dare drawled. He banded an arm around her waist and kissed her.
A red haze took over Týr’s barely leashed anger. Before he could haul her away, and rearrange the bastard’s face, Kira jerked free. “Wait, you’re not Damon.”
“And that pleases me rightly so. Never wanted to be the dullard, or his twin truth be told. But fate’s a fickle bitch. By the way, Dare at your pleasure, beautiful.”
Týr had had enough of his bullshit. He grabbed the horny bastard by his shirt, pushed out between clenched teeth, “You don’t want your head where it is, go ahead, flirt with her.”
The male cocked brow. “Yeah?”
“Dare, cut the crap,” Riley bit out, his gaze still on the building. “That’s my sister, Kira, andhismate.” He hitched a thumb at Týr. “We have work to do. Let’s roll.”
“Ah, Wrath’s offspring then, hmmm...”
