Nik had to plant his foot down not go back there and smack the shit outta the damn idiot.
“He must have his reasons. He only wants you safe,moró…” Damn it. He couldn’t keep this from her. “Shadow, he not only gave you demon blood but actual symbionts of no known origin because you were dying. If demons come to know you can give them momentary relief from the eternal darkness in their souls, they will always hunt you. He only wants you safe.”
“I know all that.” She faced him, swiping the rain from her face. “Okay, not about the symbionts themselves. I just wish he’d let us help him.”
“Let it go, Shadow. He made it clear what he wants. You have to respect that. Besides, I—” he broke off at the cacophony of gunning engines and human chatter in the area. Hell, their lives were a constant battle with evil. For once, he wanted to give her a little quiet time, something just for them.
Nik drew her into his arms, stepped back into the dark workshop, and dematerialized them. Moments later, he took form on the rain-drenched over-long grass of the old church ruins. Wan moonlight seeped from between the black clouds, underscoring the rustling rain, the looming pine trees slowly encroaching on the weeded grounds, and casting the crumbling, lichen-covered stone building in a silvery glow. This place had been his sanctuary through the centuries.
Nik scanned the area. All appeared quiet. Safe.
“Where are we?” she asked, studying the ruins.
“Near Cold Springs in the Hudson Valley.” He looked back and found her obsidian dagger taking form in her hand.
“Just in case.” She scrunched her nose at his smile. “Before you, I was always armed and prepared. Besides, I like it. It doesn’t make my skin itch like my iron dagger does.”
He frowned. Itch? Iron was usually detrimental once plunged in the hearts of demons, but the metal didn’t affect their skin in any way…only one species he knew off was affected by a simple touch—
“So,” Shadow said, distracting him from his suspicions as she sat on the dripping, moss-covered stone seat. “You used to come here?”
“Yeah, when I needed to get my head together.” He hunkered down in front of her, tucking back the damp strands sticking to her face. “I wanted this moment for us, a little time together.”
Her brow creased. “What about work?”
He laughed and shook his head. “Just for an hour or so.”
Smiling, she reached out and caressed his cheek. “Did I mention I love your dimple?”
Nik grasped her hand and kissed her knuckles, his heart expanding, overwhelming him with tenderness, with love for his fragile mate.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You came upon me suddenly,” he said softly. “Gave me something I never believed possible. A sense of belonging. That in itself is a miracle for one such as me, and saying I love you seems so…” he searched for a word, “tepid for what I feel,agápi mou. You are more than the words, more than the beats of this heart…” He tapped his chest. “You are all my breaths, all my todays and my tomorrows. My eternity.”
A smile trembled on her lips. Tears glinted in her eyes. She leaned forward and pressed her mouth to his, the joy inside her sweeping through him like sunlight.
“You are all I didn’t dare to hope for,” she whispered. “Because I never believed in miracles, then you crashed into my world with all the finesse of a bull on ice, breaking all my barriers.”
Nik shook his head, gut-deep laugher erupting free. “I guess I can count on you to always keep me grounded.” Her eyes sparkled, and he placed his hand on her chest, over her heart. “This is mine, keep it safe,agápi mou.And this body, I don’t want a scratch on it.”
She grasped his hand. “Well, I feel the same about you. I don’t want anything—” Her brow creased, her gaze darting toward the forest. Nik shot to his feet, already sensing they weren’t alone. His Gaian sword stirred in warning.
Fuck. Seriously? Not even a damn minute of peace with his mate.
“Crap,” Shadow muttered as demons crept out from the gloomy trees.
Power pulsed through Nik. He released a hail of deadly ice lances, nailing the skeletal scourges scuttling toward them on all fours. They froze mid-attack.
First underground and now here? Damnfuckers.
Shadow stood at his side, eyes wide, dagger braced.
“Can you get back to the castle?” he asked her, summoning his Gaian sword.
She nodded. Her image shimmered, then she lost her hold on it. “I can’t. It won’t happen.”
Shit. “Stay behind me.”
