His rage erupted like a geyser, and the demon rushed him, ran his hidden dagger straight through Týr’s belly. He grunted, clamping down on his teeth at the mind-shattering pain racing through him.
“Think you’re so clever, you pathetic disgrace?” the demon hissed. “Just so you know, I’ve been paid a lot of gold to take you on.Herelishes in watching you suffer.Heespecially enjoys thepartyafter the bidding. Pity, it won’t be so today.”
His hurting stomach lurched, but still, Týr spat, “If you’re waiting to hear me beg, it’s the day I truly die, you useless shit for hire.”
The demon snarled, grabbed Týr’s hair, and clamping his deadly fangs around Týr’s neck, and ripped out his throat. Unbearable agony swept away every thought in his mind. His vision dimmed. Another excruciating plunge into his stomach, the demon slit him open from groin to sternum. An agonized scream clogged in his torn throat, pain like a tidal wave hurtling through him as blood gushed down his chest. Hands let him go.
His legs folded. Týr collapsed to the ground amidst the thickening lake of gore and entrails as death’s icy jaws closed around him…
* * *
“Nooo!” Kira jerked back, her screams of anguish reverberating off the granite walls. Glass shattered, tinkling to the floor. She cradled her stomach, sagging against the backrest of the couch. Hot tears dropping down her face. “Oh, God, please no…”
The door flew open. Footsteps hurried across, crunching on glass. “M’lady, what’s wrong?” a panicked voice demanded.
Kira stared blankly at the guard. Then, shoving past him, she dashed out of the study. Nothing mattered except finding Týr. She had to see him—see that he was okay. Sobbing, she raced along the gloomy corridors, hit the twisting stairwell, and rushed headlong down the three-levels, skating to the ground floor in a lurching halt. With a shuddering breath, she swiped the moisture from her face with the back of her hand.
“M’lady!” the guard yelled, thudding after her. Kira took off again and shot past the flux of demons entering the fortress. The oversized demon sentries guarding the entrance turned. “Take me to the training arena. Now!”
The guard chasing after her, panted, “No. It’s a dangerous place. My Lord Wrath will persecute us if anything happens to you.”
She pushed through gritted teeth, “Then I will…”Walk?It wouldn’t freakin’ work. But desperation tore at her. “Then I will jump out through my window, and when I’m injured, you can explain to your lord and my sire why you denied my request!”
Had the guard been human, Kira was sure his mouth would have hung open. The only thing that moved in him was a flicker of wariness in his midnight eyes. He gave a stilted nod and touched her hand. As they flashed, Kira clamped her eyelids shut, the gut-wrenching agony twisting her belly even more as those horrific images went on repeat like some fucking stuck disc in her head…
* * *
Týr grunted, blocking the sword coming down in a deadly swing with a swift counter-strike. Sweat streamed down his face like water. He switched his blade to his left hand, and with another powerful thrust, sent the idiot demon who thought to fight him flying back. Breathing hard, he lifted his hand, calling a halt to the battle.
He swiped his brow with the bottom of his shirt and lowered his body temperature a little, inhaling lungful of the rancid, hot air.
This close to the Black Erymic Mountains, the muggy heat hung heavily over the desolate place. The clashing of steel resonated dissonantly in the dense air.
Several demons, bleeding from deep wounds, gave him a wide berth and lurched toward a stone building.
Riley joined him, planting his weapon in the dried ground, a wry expression on his dripping face as if recalling something funny.
“What?”
“I was like you not so long ago. Even though I’m half demon, these fuckers all thought I was fair game.”
Amusement tugged Týr’s mouth. He cocked a brow at the male. “I’m surprised you didn’t try to stake me at the first opportunity?”
“Tempting.” Riley smirked. “But temper is not conducive in my line of work.”
“Right. The next Sin of Wrath,” Týr grunted, scanning the far side of the mountains where lines of white, tent-like structures snaked along the foot of the base, probably the garrisons’ lodgings.
“No, as the owner of an extremely busy bar in New Orleans,” Riley said, tone droll. “My head bouncer would probably throw me out again, considering he has done so before. Anger, resentments…” He shook his head. “It only hurts the soul, as life and my mate have shown me.”
Týr could understand that. He’d finally found his own peace in Kira, if only the damn past would stay buried. Besides,thatwasn’t something he’d ever wanted her to discover. Shame still overtook him, memories impinging his mind with the intensity of slashing razors.The hands, so many all over him—
“I lived alone for eons, no family, then I found Saia,” Riley continued, pulling Týr back from his debilitating thoughts. “And Wrath made his presence known in my life again. He and I, well, we’ve finally made peace of sorts after two millennia.” Those unnerving green eyes shifted to Týr, all traces of amusement leaving his expression. “Kira’s my half-sister, my only sibling. Her safety and happiness are all that matters.”
Týr inclined his head. Before he could utter even one word of acknowledgement, a body slammed into him, sending him stumbling back a step.What the fuck?
In reflex, his sword swung. Only the familiar, compelling scent of flowers and sunshine, followed by Riley’s terrified yell, had him releasing his weapon before it did irreparable damage to the woman who held his heart in her very mortal hands. A demon screeched in pain some distance away where his sword struck.
“Kira!” he snarled, heart in his throat. “Are you outta your freakin’ mind? You could have died!” He tried to pull her from him, but she wouldn’t let go. And then the briny whiff of her tears reached him. Instinctively, he scanned her, but she appeared unharmed, except for the colors in her hair. They were going crazy—black, green, and blue fighting for dominance, sliding through her unbound locks.
