Nicor leaned back in his chair and grinned. “That’s a good one; fell off the face of the Earth. But dead?” His glee faded. “Should I ever utter those words, it probably—no, it definitely won’t end well for me, ‘cause my head—”
“Enough,” Riley cut him off. “Water for me, thanks.”
Nicor was weird. Funny, but weird. Kira left them and got a few more orders along the way back to the bar.
A few minutes later, after dispensing the drinks, she headed back to Riley, and at the men’s tense expression, it looked like they were having it out. Gah, she had no idea what their beef was. She had enough problems of her own. Kira set down their drinks. “Enjoy—”
Screams echoed from outside, startling her.
“Gang fight,” someone yelled.
Man, not again.
Chairs scraped on the linoleum floor, some crashing down as the customers shot up and rushed outside. The bouncer finally took up his position at the door instead of standing beneath the television suspended high up, which was mostly to deter the inebriated from throwing nut shells and food at the screen when their teams lost.
Riley frowned then snapped, “Fuck, did you have to do that?”
She didn’t hear Nicor’s response, more worried about the gang fight taking place. Kira squeezed past the mass swarming for the door and sprinted outside.Please, please don’t let Shadow be caught in the middle of this ruckus.
“Kira, wait,” Riley yelled as she tried to push through the throng congregating at the mouth of the alley, but to no avail. Dammit.
“C’mon.” Nicor grasped her hand and, somehow, he managed to shove through the tight crowd. He cut across to the opposite side and headed closer toward the chaos. “Got to love the fights.”
Men.
“That’s close enough.” Riley grabbed his friend’s arm, stopping him from marching headlong into the commotion.
They were concealed in the shadows of a looming building. Kira searched through the dark, moving bodies for her friend. The stench of human waste, along with the stomach-turning odor of sulfurtriggered her gag reflex.
Shit! Sulfur. Not a gang fight.Demons.
The sounds of clanging swords echoed in the night, and at a lightning flash in the darkness, her heart jumped. The Guardians were here. Screeches resounded. Bodies fell and disintegrated. A taller figure sporting warrior braids headed to the crowd, and they quietly disappeared as if he’d sent them away. Where was Týr?
He appeared from the direction of the bar a moment later, tearing toward the fight. Despite his all-black patrolling gear, he stood out in the gloom with his pale hair. He slammed to a halt seconds before he neared the horde. His head snapped in her direction as if sensing her. A demon careened into him, sending him lurching back.
“No!” She darted forward, but hands hauled her back.
“You don’t want to rush into danger,” Nicor murmured in her ear. “Besides, time’s up anyway, princess.”
“Dammit, let me go!”
A bone-chilling roar reverberated against the warehouse walls.“Kira!”
She yanked hard, trying to break free of Nicor’s steely grip, desperate to get to Týr.
“Fuck, Nicor, don’t you dare!” Riley snarled, eyes glowing neon-green in the dark.
“Have my orders.” Nicor waved his hand, and the grimy, snow-covered asphalt opened into a swirling, black hole.What the—?
Nicor dove straight down into the churning blackness, hauling her with him as she let out a blood-curdling scream.
