“I’m okay,” she rasped, her gaze fixed on the hellhound and the disintegrating demon. “A demon attacked me,” her words tripped out, “then the hellhound came.”
“Let’s get out of here—shit!”
The truck size hell-dog bounded back, the moonlight emphasizing its enormous lupine head and upper body and sleek, powerful hindquarters, reminding her of a mix of wolf and German Shepard.
Nik snatched his sword from the ground, and the creature slowed. “Shadow, stay back.”
“No, no, don’t kill it.” She clutched his forearm, tugging him back with all the success of moving a rooted redwood. “It’s just an innocent animal.”
“Innocent? It fucking eats souls!”
A whine echoed, and the dark-as-night creature shimmered and disappeared in an agitating black fog.
“That was…odd,” she murmured.
“Odd?” Nik growled, his sword dissipating in a flicker of smoke and settling on his thick biceps as a tattoo again. He dematerialized them, taking form on the kitchen terrace, then hugged her in a lung-squashing embrace. “I could have lost you.” His voice got muffled in her hair. “Whoever the fuck is after me, sent the damn creature here, probably for the souls they think I still have. It must have somehow sniffed out that you’d taken them. Dammit!”
“I’m okay, really. Maybe someone’s finally watching out for me. Honey—I need air,” she rasped.
Instantly, he loosened his hold, and she gulped in much needed oxygen. “Nik, there’s something you should know. The hellhound, when I touched it, it let me feed.”
He gaped at her. “What?”
“I fed from it.”
“No. No.” He clasped his neck with both hands, eyes flashing as if he couldn’t connect with what he was hearing. “Those damn things eat souls! They don’t need the relief your feeding provides. Shadow, that thing could come back, tear you open to get those damn souls—theós!”
Shadow understood his terror, and knew his past bore down on him. She caressed his arm, and keeping her voice soft, she tried to reassure him. “But it didn’t, honey.”
“Damn.” Nik shook his head, then he scrubbed his face. “We’ll talk when I get back. You’ll be protected in the castle. Stayinside. I have to see what mess is out there. With this sudden demon infestation, we need to find out what the hell’s going on.”
She clutched his t-shirt. “Please, be safe.”
His panicked frenzy faded a little. His gaze softened. “With you here, always.” He pressed a quick kiss to her brow. The moment she stepped into the kitchen, he dematerialized.
* * *
In the early hours of the morning, Shadow leaned against the kitchen counter, a glass of water in her hand. The savory and sweet aroma of baking meat pies and rolls saturated the kitchen where Hedori worked, preparing the morning’s meal.
“Is everything okay?” he asked her, his otherworldly colored eyes skimming her face.
She couldn’t blame him with the way she stared at the open French doors like a maniac. She forced a smile. “Yes.”
“They’ll be back soon—” he broke off when Jenna entered from his quarters. Shae’s mother was striking with her auburn hair and dove-gray eyes, and a little subdued in her manner.
She brushed her unbound hair and stopped in the middle of the kitchen when she saw him.
“Can I get you anything, my lady?” he asked her, tone as polite as his expression.
She shook her head. “Can I help?” she asked instead.
He froze as if surprised at the offer. “Thank you, but I’ve it all under control.
Jenna frowned, then she glided to the teapot on the counter and poured herself a cup. She gave Shadow a little smile before walking out.
Kira had mentioned briefly something about Hedori rescuing Jenna from a demented angel who’d trapped her in the Dark Realm several months ago. Shadow couldn’t blame her for withdrawing into herself. It had to be terrifying.
Her attention flickered to the window. Night still lingered, but daybreak was moments away. Her sharp hearing picked up some of the warriors arriving. Anxiety caused the knots in her stomach to have baby knots as she waited for Nik.
