“So she saw what an evil bastard you are? Good for her.”
He twisted her arms harder. Shadow gritted her teeth at the pain. “Shut the fuck up. She will be mine. Now, we’ll wait for my master.”
“Tolvi’s dead, in case you didn’t see that spectacular beheading, you ass!”
“If you say so.” He stroked the blade over her carotid. “But you metrealpower when he first snatched you, not that a pitiful human like you would know any different.”
Fury pounded through every cell. She had to get away from this smug jerk before whoever he waited for came. But she didn’t want to telepath Nik and distract him. Her fist clenched. “You’re going wish you never crossed my path.”
He laughed. “Let’s see about that.”
Chapter 30
The wet air stirred,more Narakas pests took form, like looming pillars of coagulating blood. Nik growled. Fucking Tolvi. Even dead, he still had his minions coming.
Hell,he’dsent those Narakas to hunt Shadow in that alley where Nik had first seen her weeks ago. He wanted to kill the bastard all over again.
The Guardians formed in a flash, swords braced, spreading around the demons. Finally!
“Nik?” Týr yelled amidst the cacophony.
“Just clean out the damn pests!” he snapped back. “I’m gonna get Shadow outta here—”
Sudden fury splintered his mind like lightning, stalling him. Shadow!
He spun toward the church, where he’d seen the demon, Laex, with her just moments ago. At the empty porch, blood thundered in his ears. Did she dematerialize?
No, she’d tell him if she’d done so.
Shadow?Nik telepathed her but hit a block. Where the hell was she?
Laex would have taken care of her. Unless…
The double-crossing fucker!
Fear twisting his gut, he flashed, tracking Shadow through their soul bond to a small, grassy clearing a short distance from the church. He reformed in the rain and faced the demon he’d once helped.
Laex held Shadow in front of him like a damn shield. And smirked. “You can’t do anything, not while I have her—”
Scowling, Shadow stamped on the scum’s foot with her heel. Laex grunted. She freed her hand. Her obsidian dagger took form. She shifted, ramming the blade backward, into Laex’s gut. He yowled and stumbled away. Fury bleeding off her, Shadow wheeled around and kneed him in the balls. He doubled over, and she kicked him hard in the head with her booted foot. He flew back, crashing into the undergrowth.
“Guess you didn’t know I could do that, did you, you traitorous hellscum!” she spat at the knocked-out demon, waving her blade.
Hell, his female was pure badass.
Breathing hard, she glanced back. And a gorgeous smile lit her beautiful face.
The ruckus of snarls, grunts, and clanging swords from the other side of the clearing continued. Sword in one hand, Nik strode over, dragged her drenched body into his arms and kissed her hard.
“Let’s get outta here. The others can clean up this mess—”
A hiss sounded. With preternatural speed, Nik shoved her aside, ducking the hellfire bolt flying at them. It struck a branch, shattering the wet wood. Shrapnel flew. He dove in front of Shadow, shielding her. Damnskatá—fuck! Pain hit him in his back like a punch through the heart. Teeth clenched, he wheeled around. A lanky, dark-skinned demon sailed past him, brandishing a glowing, black-edged silver sword he’d yanked free from Nik’s back.
He would slaughter the mofo—Tolvi?
“Tolvi?” Shadow rasped in confusion.
But he’d just killed the fucker?
