“Tolvi was merely a minion,” the demon drawled. “His hideout suited me, as did using his image as glamour. Alas, it was him you killed…” The demon’s corporeal body shimmered, and he morphed into an angular, pale-skinned asshole with a shock of red hair. “I am Mammon—”
“Then you’ll die, too!” Nik fisted his sword, needing to end this damn fucker, but his muscles tensed, his grip on his sword slackening. He hung on to his weapon only to stumble about like a drunk.
What the fuck?
* * *
Shadow watched in growing horror as Nik lurched backward as if in slow-motion from Tolvi’s attack, or, fucking Mammon as he called himself now.
“Niiiikk!”She sprinted toward her mate, terror flaying her as Mammon strolled toward him, deadly sword in hand.No!She changed direction and leaped onto the bastard’s back, plunging her obsidian dagger into his neck again and again and again. “I will kill you!”
Growling, Mammon shoved her off like some pesky fly, and she landed hard on her back, pain exploding in her skull. He swung the vile black-tipped silver sword again, and Nik reeled back, legs folding beneath him.
Why wasn’t he defending himself?
“One of my great finds, this weapon. It neutralizes an immortal’s powers,” Mammon murmured. “And so much more. It is satisfying to see an invincible Guardian fall…”
No, no, no!Shadow shot up and raced to Nik. She slid to her knees and grabbed him before he hit the ground. “Nik?”
He looked up and blinked, his warm palm covering hers as her gaze fixed on the slash on his black t-shirt, wet and glossy with blood. The sword had pierced him straight through his back and out his chest—oh, god. “You’re immortal, you’ll heal,” she choked out, pressing a hand to his seeping wound. “It’ll be okay.”
“Usually…” Mammon muttered from across from her, a hand clapped to his bleeding nape. “But not with my new weapon. No one gets in the way of what I want. I’ll be back for you and that damn dagger!” He growled and disappeared in a puff of red sulfuric smoke.
Nik blinked again, then coughed-gurgled, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Shocked, pale green eyes met hers. A thin red line started across his neck from ear to ear. Blood seeped, then gushed like a flood—
Noooo!“Somebody, help him!” she shouted as Nik’s body collapsed into her. “Týr—Michael! Oh, God, somebody help him!
She cradled Nik to her chest, pressing her hand to his spurting throat. The rain pelted down, trying to wash away the blood, but more gushed out.
A tall figure appeared in an agitating swirl of molecules. The archangel. “Hold on, Nik. We’ll get you healed.” He moved her hand aside. A silvery-white light swept over the vicious wound on Nik’s neck.
Witnessing her strong, brave mate brought down by vile treachery, something inside Shadow snapped. A raging haze consumed her mind, pulling at her organs, her very soul. Power swept out in a sizzling red wave, and she screamed. The winds swooshed past. Crackling and crashing boomed.
I love you.Nik’s indistinct voice seeped into her hysterical mind, hauling her back.Now…forever. Be strong, i kardiá mou…
What? “No, damn you! Hold on, you hear me? Don’t you dare leave me—oh, God, Nik, please don’t leave me…” Bursts of power hurtled through her.
“Dammit, Nik, hold on,” Michael snapped.
Aethan worked alongside him, a hand on Nik’s chest. “I can’t fucking bring him back,” he bit out, “not with the unhealing wound.”
Voices erupted. Begging and pleading ricocheted.
“Fuck, Greek, don’t let this defeat you. Come on, you bastard!” Týr snarled.
“Nik, please…” she sobbed, tears falling as she stroked his buzzed hair. A vicious pain tore through her as if her heart had snapped in two, and she jerked back, gasping. Nik’s eyelids shut, his body a dead weight in her arms. His head tipped back, revealing the brutal, open gash on his throat—
In a flash of white light, he vanished.
Chest heaving, Shadow stared blankly at her empty arms, her heart crashing violently in her ears. Her gaze darted around the gloomy night searching for him, then careened back to the kneeling warriors around her.
“Where is he?” she demanded. At their ashen faces, she shouted,“Where’s Nik?”
Michael shook his head. His mouth opened, then shut as if he couldn’t form words. “He…he’s…”
“No, he’s not!” She flew across the sodden grass, drenched with her mate’s blood, hitting and punching Michael. “You bring him back, bring him back…” A harsh sob ripped out from her very soul. Tears flowed. Powerful arms slid around her and held her tight. “Oh, God, please bring him back. You can’t take him away—”
