“How?” they demanded in unison.
His gaze found hers, where she escaped the crush and now stood with the other girls near the open French doors, and she smiled.
A swirl of silver sparks shifted the air, and Michael appeared on the terrace. He stood there for a moment looking shellshocked, then strode over and hauled Nik into a one-arm hug.
“What…Howare you back?” he asked.
“Gaia,” Nik said the one name that had them stilling. “It seemed we are truly tied to her, even our life force, by the very sword we use to kill supernatural evil…” He explained all that had happed from the moment of his so-calleddeath.
“Then Seth?” Týr asked. “Is he…?”
Shadow had no idea who that was.
“It’s another Guardian who supposedly died a long time ago,” Kira whispered.
Nik shoved back his long hair. “I haven’t seen him. I was in some kind of healing cavern in a subterranean realm. Whatever’s happened to him, I don’t think he’s dead.”
As the warriors spoke, Kira slipped her arm around Shadow and hugged her. “I can’t believe he’s back. God, I’m so happy he is.”
“Me, too,” she whispered, her gaze fixed on Nik. “Though I feel as if I’m still caught in a dream.”
Ely hurried over and squeezed her tight. “I’m so happy, I could cry.”
Smiling, Shadow patted Ely’s arm. She grown closer to her in the passing months.
“You are,” Echo said with a shaky smile.
The other girls laughed, but tears gleamed in their eyes, too.
“I’m so happy for you and the baby,” Jenna said then, her gray eyes soft. She gave Shadow a gentle hug.
Heck, she went from being alone to having all their people as her family now.
Bob waddled out from Hedori’s quarters, brushing against Týr’s legs, ignoring Blaéz and Aethan, and giving Dagan a wide berth—because of the warrior’s need for blood? Then he weaved between Nik’s legs, surprising Shadow, before stalking off.
Nik arched a brow at the cat. The feline usually gave him a wide berth as well, considering what Nik could trap within himself.
Bob prowled out to the terrace and disappeared through the arched trellis and into the gloomy gardens.
Goosebumps raised the fine hair on her arms as a thick silence intruded on their happy reunion. She frowned. No insects chirped…no birds. Something was out of sync in the gray breaking morning.
Was Pithius still around?
Bob screeched.
Oh, no. Shadow rushed to the door.
“Bob,” she called softly. “Come here—”
A wave of power surrounded her, hauling her out onto the terrace.
Two males took form. The dark-haired one had a huge sword strapped to his back, his expression flat. “Female, you and the Guardian Nikkos have broken the Absolute Laws.”
Dammit.
* * *
“Shadow!” Nik yelled, flashing outside, blood thundering to his head.
