Chapter 28
Close to midnight,and not even a whiff of the gut-churning sulfuric odor that clung to the scourges fresh from the Dark Realm. Restlessness crawled through Týr after his visit with Luceré earlier in the evening, at knowing that Kira could be a target for such primordial beings. No, he would never let those fuckers get anywhere near his mate.
Head lowered, his thoughts troubled, Týr strode deeper into the alley. Hell, he’d welcome a fight right about now, wanted this damn night to move along faster, so he could get back to Kira. He understood it was the sense of betrayal she felt from the one person she loved the most that made her bleed.
His cell vibrated with a text. He retrieved the device from his pants’ pocket, and a smile started. The tightness in his chest eased at the sticker Kira had sent, two cartoony cats hugging. Beneath it, her message;Thank you for being there—
He collided with a figure detaching from the shadows. At the familiar glacial vibes of his fellow Guardian, Týr growled, about as patient as a rattlesnake. “Seriously?”
Nik tossed him an amused, icy stare. “What’s got you so distracted?”
Týr put his phone away. “Kira’s having a hard time with the changes in her life. And I feel fucking useless.”
Nik nodded, his amusement fading. “Then be her strength.”
Right. Nik probably thought he was talking about Wrath. Týr hadn’t said anything about Lila being an Ancient to the others yet. It was Kira’s life, and her decision to share when and if she was ready.
Týr cast a frustrated look around the quiet alley, the itch for a fight growing, and then kicked a rusty can out of his way. “Wish I had one of those damn scourges to interrogate right now.”
“Doubtful you’ll get any. They were just go-betweens. After what you did down in the Dark Realm, it’ll be a while before they show up here again.”
“Perhaps. But those fuckers who came to the arena with their fighters were on their last lap of life. They won’t wait long. They’ll want fresh blood and life force as soon as possible, and the abductions will start again…”
“The Arc’s already got some of his thrones posted at various parts of the world for such a movement.”
Right. Týr frowned. “Yeah, about that. How is he still able to command them when he’s not bound to the Celestial Realm?”
Nik shrugged. Deadpanned, “The mighty Arc works in mysterious ways.”
He snorted and slowed his steps. Farther down the alley, several of the homeless dug through a few discarded makeshift homes flattened by the snowfall. But a short distance from them, one of the figures leaning against the wall didn’t seem to fit. With the male standing downwind, Týr couldn’t quite get a bead on him. Even the natural vibe indicating his species appeared to be muted. And that, Týr didn’t trust.
“Gotta go.” He took off in a burst of preternatural speed. If human, apologize after, then apply memory swipe 101. If demon…kill.
Suddenly, the figure shimmered.No, you fucking don’t!Týr dove through the air, colliding with the male without species detection like an eighteen-wheeler, sending him crashing into the wall. The fucker shot up, dagger swinging in a zealous arc, nearly slicing through Týr’s jugular. He leaped back. Shit! Too freakin’ close. Any closer, and he’d be coloring the snow red.
He smashed his fist into the asshole’s sternum, and he staggered back with a grunt. Týr grabbed the flashing weapon, ramming it into the scum’s belly. A gravelly screech reverberated off the buildings.
This shithead wasn’t demon. Other? Blow that. “You scumbags never learn, do you? Come after us, you die!”
A familiar, guttural snarl erupted, distracting Týr.What the—?
Fists hammered into his gut with the power of a sledgehammer, sending Týr flying to the sludgy asphalt. His breath lodged in his lungs. He rolled a couple of times before he broke the momentum and jumped to his feet. The bastard flashed.
Jaw ground down, in a scatter of molecules, Týr followed the trail. He dove for the fucker as he started to solidify, taking him down, both of them crashing into the dumpsters and sending the drums careening against the building in an explosion of metal. A cacophony of barking dogs picked up, several stray cats screeching and skittering out of there. He would get answers first, and then he’d incinerate the son of a bitch.
Týr grabbed the prick by his coat, hauled him up, and felt as if he’d been clocked in the solar plexus at the familiar, ebony-haired male with bright blue eyes glaring at him. “Narfi?”
He lashed out a fist. Týr’s head snapped sideways, and pain exploded in his face. “Did you think I would just let everything go?”
Týr shook his head, confusion ambushing his mind. “What do you want?”
“Your death.” Narfi grabbed Týr by his jacket and shook him, hard, his gaunt face twisting in rage. “You took everything from me. You took Jora!”
Breathing hard, Týr shoved his old friend off and spat out the blood in his mouth. “It was an accident.Youaccepted thehefndfor her.”
“You think it’s enough? Is she alive? Tell me, you bastard? Is she alive!” he screamed. The rage in Narfi’s voice had Týr lowering his gaze, guilt like a lodestone clocking him hard. “You couldn’t have her, so you killed her!”
Tyr’s head shot up. “You know that’s not true—”
