“Because I-I followed the humans taking her,” he moaned. “I live underground, loathe that jerk Rough and his thugs.”Truth. “H-he likes collecting w-women,” he coughed out.
You think this is about the abducted females?Aethan mind-linked with him.This Rough’s one of the traffickers?
We’ll find out. I know wherethatfucker is.
“Why were you spying on us?” Nik demanded, clenching his tingling fingers, powers barely leashed.
The demon hurriedly scrambled back on his ass, probably sensing the imminent danger. “Because I needed help. My name’s Laex. Shadow knows me,” he added hurriedly. “And I like Joyce. I wanted to save her and hoped she’d give me a chance then.”Truth.
“You could have avoided all this…” Dagan flicked a hand over the demon’s battered face. “If you didn’t run when asked to talk.”
Laex scowled then grimaced, swiping the blood seeping from the wet scab on his mouth. “You assholes are known to beat those of my kind firstbeforeasking questions.”
Aethan snorted. “True. But then we’re seldom wrong about you idiots.”
Frustration hiking, Nik nailed the demon an icy stare, knowing Shadow could have so easily become a statistic, too. “And Tolvi?”
“Heard of him. He gets heavyweight humans and demons to do jobs for him. Uses our species’ rep to pretend to be all evil and shit. Lazy fucking twat.”
Nik narrowed his eyes. That sounded nothing like the ruthless asshole Shadow told him about. “His lair?”
“In the labyrinths beneath the Bronx.”Truth.
Nik frowned. “Then who the fuck’s in the Tribeca one?”
“He must have two dens.”
“Description?”
The demon lifted a shoulder. “Lean built. Dark skin and white hair.” He swiped the gore from his healing face and eyed them warily. “If you’re finished pounding on me, I’m going to find Joyce.”
When Nik remained where he was, and the others didn’t move, Laex crawled to his feet and took off in a flash.
“I’m gonna track the demon and see where he goes.” Aethan dematerialized.
“Everything okay with you and Shadow?” Dagan asked him.
And that brought his thoughts back to her new ability. His fear still hadn’t left him, recalling her suddenly appearing in the middle of a fight.
“Yeah, we’re good. Hell, she can now dematerialize. She got worried, felt my pain when I took a hit.” He rubbed his already healed biceps. “She tried to track me in her mind, but somehow linked to where I actually was. Fuck. I’m terrified at what could have happened.”
Dagan nodded. “I had a similar situation with Shae. Train her to control her abilities. I’ll see you later.” He dematerialized.
Yeah, he would. He wanted her safe.
Nik made his way past the many headstones toward the cathedral, intent on finding Tolvi, but a familiar marble stone snagged his attention. He slowed and retraced his steps back to it.
Olivia Montgomery
Seven years later, and guilt still stirred. He’d come across her while tracking a blood demon who’d sought refuge in an upscale hotel. She hadn’t reacted to his mental command to get to safety, forcing him to do so in person. In hindsight, it was probably her air of hopelessness, something his younger self had lived with for a long time, that drew him. Expect, he hid his by fighting…
The female eyed Nik cautiously as he approached, the moonlight emphasizing her brilliant red hair and pale, drawn features. He wasn’t gonna hurt her. “It’s not safe out here alone.”
She blinked as if surprised he spoke to her. “You’re one of Enzo’s bodyguards?” she asked softly, cautious brown eyes studying him. “I haven’t seen you before. You don’t look like his usual…men.”
“I am a guard, just not his.” Nik scanned the gardens for the blood demon he’d tracked into the hotel.
“Good.” She inhaled deeply as if bracing herself, and those haunted eyes held his. “I need a favor—”
