Shadow, can you get back to the castle?he telepathed her, keeping his focus on the horde, hoping like hell Shadow could summon her dematerializing ability.
I’ll try.
Several hellfire bolts shot toward them.
Nik flung out a hand, and an icy wave dosed the fiery arrows coming at them. He dove into the demons, his sword swinging. No one would hunt his mate. Ever.
* * *
Shadow scrambled to summon her dematerializing abilities, but it was like grasping at air. Her heart in her mouth, she willed her obsidian dagger instead, the snarls and grunts growing.
Before she could jump into the fight, uneasiness stirred. Her gaze darted around her, so sure someone was watching—
A demon rushed her.
Oh, shit. Adrenaline pumping, she charged, went in low and rammed her blade straight into his heart. The hellrat shrieked and stumbled. She recalled her dagger.
“Shadow?” Nik yelled.
“I’m fine! Dematerializing isn’t working—”
A black mountainous shape took form, sailed over the demons, knocking her to the asphalt. Her dagger fell. Pain jarred up her spine. Hot, acrid breath coasted over her skin. Terrifying, glowing red eyes nailed hers.
The hellhound.
Oh, god, oh, god!Terror streaking through her, she lifted her arms to block her face, didn’t want to see its cavernous mouth or fangs about to snap her head off. Her palms hit its chest, her fingers encountering hot, short silky pelt. Wait, it wasn’t attacking her?
Her lungs burning for air, Shadow remained motionless and cautiously peered up at the hellhound, her palms still planted on its massive, heaving chest. She frowned. Then it hit her—
Agitating dark energy rushed through her like a flood, soothing, nourishing, amping up her symbionts’ dull throbbing to one of giddy delight.
Crap, no wonder it didn’t attack.
She—her symbionts—were feeding, but unlike her usual horny demon donors, the hellhound appeared comforted. Wow. Good, for her, she hoped.
But veering on the side of caution, she lowered one hand and summoned her dagger, just in case. Heck, she wasn’t an idiot.
A long, hot wet tongue swiped her face. Ugh! Even the darn hell-animals licked her, too. Grimacing, she pushed the beast’s ginormous head away and sat up.
“Shadow!” Nik stood a short distance away, sword in hand, his horror bleeding through to her.
The hound growled.
“I’m fine, I’m fine. Don’t come any closer,” she rasped. “It’s not attacking.”
The creature whined, bumping its big head into her shoulder. Still a little wary, she set the dagger down and rubbed its muzzle, while keeping her one palm on its chest, continuing the feeding connection.
“Get her!” a shrill voice roared.
“Fuck—” Nik spun to a half dozen more demons rushing them, blade arching.
A demon flung out a hand, a blast of power knocking her flat to the ground again. Pain raced through her skull, and she groaned.
The hellhound snarled, the spikes on its thick neck rising, and it shot past her. Its powerful maw opened, and it grabbed the demon’s head, fangs snapping down. It shook the body like a rag doll and tore the cur’s skull clear off. Blood gushed. A swirling ball of dark energy rushed out and hovered. The hellbeast snapped the soul into its deadly orifice, eyes glowing a neon crimson as it swallowed.
Shadow almost expected it to cough out a spray of flames.
“Shadow!” Nik flashed to where she sat on the grimy tarmac. His sword clattered to the ground. He hauled her to her feet, his frantic gaze doing a quick up-down scan of her. “Are you hurt?”
