Dagan snorted. “They never learn.”
Needing to find Shadow before more shit flew, Nik let the ice slither around their throats, forming nooses. Their eyes widened in terror. “Take too long to answer, and you can kiss this life goodbye.”
The scrawny one squeaked, “No, no, we only take women for Rough—”
Truth.
“Shut it, Tiny,” baldy coughed out. “R-Rough will skewer you!”
“Amazing,” Dagan drawled. “You can kill him in a second, and he’s worried about some pisshead who terrorizes females?”
Nik willed the ice to tighten. “Where’s the Viper’s den?”
“Somewhere beneath Tribeca,” Scrawny gurgled.Truth.
The urge to kill them grew. Nik didn’t care that killing a human might end his life—maybe, it was a way out of this endless, empty existence and constant torment—but he currently had work to do. And to make sure Shadow was safe from these sewer shits. Leaving them to Dagan’s mercies, Nik dematerialized.
In his molecular form, he drifted to the manhole Shadow had used. With a shove of his mind, he moved the metal cover aside, glided into the dank, hot air of the Lower East Side, and coasted down the street.
About to head off to Tribeca, he stilled. Beneath the stench of exhaust fumes and garbage bags, a familiar scent of wildflowers teased his nose. Nik instantly scanned for her. There. In a dingy alley, she crouched, speaking to a homeless man settled on the steps of a cordoned-off building.
With a low growl, she flung over her shoulder. “I know you’re there. Would you lay off? You’re gonna scare these people before I can get them to go to The Shelter.”
Nik reformed in the gloom before stepping out. “I can help.” He must have lost his mind, offering aid when he never made contact with humans in any way, except for Olivia seven years ago. And now because of him, she was dead.
“Yeah, bywillingthem to go?” she retorted, rising to her feet.
“It makes things easier—”
“Nik?”
At the familiar, feminine voice, he cut a quick look back.
Elytani glided toward him, dressed in her black patrolling gear. She, too, wore boots with spiky heels. How the females could stay in those things an entire night, he had no clue.
A soft snort reached him. He glanced back at Shadow. “I’ll see you later.”
“Can’t wait.” She rolled her eyes and went back to cajoling the human.
Nik clamped his lips. The female sure liked skirting the edges of danger with him.
Ely stopped near him. “Is she the one Týr spoke about?” she asked softly, watching Shadow.
“Yeah.” Nik rubbed his bristly jaw, a restlessness stirring. Odd, since he didn’t care about anything enough to feel. But the urge to remain with the littlemachitísgrew, so sure she would sink into a shitload of trouble the moment he left.
With immense effort, he reined in the compulsion and let her be for now. He had work to do. However, he would find out just what kind of trouble she was steeped in, and why she hid underground.
And more, why she affected him the way she did, that he kept coming back to her.
Chapter 5
Shadow cuta furtive look at Nik and the tall, gorgeous blonde and found the woman staring at her with a curious expression.
What? Never seen a homeless person before?
Despite her acerbic thought, she couldn’t stop her tinge of envy. They were so beautiful together. Both tall—him, big, muscled, and darkly dangerous—and the woman was exceptionally stunning. Almost ethereal, with hair resembling the shifting hues of moonlight. She appeared…otherworldly.
Of course. She was like him. Immortal.
