“Yo, Nik,” Týr called out, sword still in hand as if itching to use it. “Are we killing these two worthless mofo’s or what?”
“No. Release them,” Michael said.
Teeth clenched, and with great reluctance, Nik let the ice arrows melt, and water slid harmlessly off the coward’s body on the ground. He rolled to his feet.
His Guardian brothers lowered their swords and they stepped away from the other asshole.
“I normally stay out of these things—” Michael grabbed them both by their tunics, stopping them mid-dematerializing. “But when you insist on wanting to harm those under my care even when you know the truth, you will be dealt with my way. Or, maybe, this female you hunt would merge you and nature together and leave you for the crows to fucking feed off—you get me?”
“We understand, Archangel.” They both stood there like damn robots. “We will notify the head law-keeper of this new change.”
“You do that.” Michael shoved them away.
Their gazes flickered to Shadow.
Nik growled. “Get the hell off our property, or I’m gonna drop you dead.” In a flash, they vanished. “Great fuckin’ homecoming,” he muttered.
“Yeah, never a dull moment here,” Dagan added, smirking and dusting glitter off his black t-shirt.
Trying to calm down, Nik crushed Shadow to him, face buried in her hair.
Shadow stroked his back, the up-down movement of her palm soothing, and his heartbeat eased to its usual rhythm.
A moment later, she looked. “So what exactly am I?” she asked, cool as all hell—like she didn’t just destroy nature and a shithead—pushing her hair out of her face, back to her ivory-skin self. “A half-demon with shiny wings?”
Nik noted a further change. Her ears sported little points at the tip, not fully elongated ones.
“No,agápi, you are fae, for the most part,” he said. “Nate told me. But at the time, I thought he was fucking with me.”
Her mouth dropped open, eyes rounding like saucers in shock. “How is that possible when I’ve been given demon blood?”
“Your symbionts are of fae origin. The demon blood somehow fused with the symbionts.”
“Yeah?” Then a crafty but dazzling smile lit her gorgeous face. “A demon fae? Cool.”
Nik groaned. “Don’t ever do that again—fly into the air—at least not until our young is here.”
“Our baby’s fine. I think she’s exhilarated.”
“She?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“Yep.” She nodded as if it was a done deal.
Nik shook his head. Hell, he didn’t care what gender their offspring was, as long it was a part of her. She’d always appeared ethereal to him, even in that dank underground, but now she sparkled like the brightest star.
That’s because I have you back, my love, her husky voice coasted through his mind. His eyes met hers, emotions overwhelming him for his incredible mate.
“Are you well, Shadow?” Michael’s voice intruded.
Shadow turned in his arms. “Yes, I am—eeep! Nik, what are you doing?” she half-grumbled, half-laughed as he scooped her up and stepped over the broken trellis.
“You’re pregnant. This surface isn’t safe.”
She glanced about her at the destroyed chunks of the flowerbed and grass, the missing stone pavings, then grimaced and peered over Nik’s shoulder. “Hedori, I’m so sorry about this again—”
“My lady, for that amazing reprisal you served, it’s worth it. I’d rather have these things destroyed, which can be fixed, than those idiots still running about and flinging threats.”
She laughed.
