Crap. He was determined to dig out the truth.
“So what if a demon gave me blood?” she retorted. “He saved me. And not all demons are evil.”
Nik ignored her outburst and said, “Nate.”
Her mouth dropped open, feeling as if she’d been shoved off a cliff. She’d never revealed Nate’s or Aba’s identity to anyone. Not even Eddi. He only knew she’d lost her memories. “H-how do you know his name?”
His gaze swept over her face, lips lifting in a cold imitation of a smile. “You told me.”
She did? Darn. What else did she say while she was out of it?
Shadow tried to think back, but everything had been a feverish haze. Vaguely, she recalled Nik mopping her brow, then giving her water…she’d touched his face…his mouth…
I like your mouth. Oh hell.
She wanted to crawl under the bed.
“The demon won’t find you here even while wounded,” Nik said, pulling her back from her mortification. “The castle is warded against them, against all kinds of evil. And you know Kira, so you won’t feel alone here.”
He said this as if he wouldn’t be around.
She frowned. “Where will you be?”
“Out on patrol.” He paced back and forth at the end of her bed like some big, restless predator, then glanced at the window, revealing fading daylight. “We still hunt for the demons responsible for abducting the females and young and taking them to the Dark Realm.”
Shadow bit her lip in worry. “Don’t you think the Guardians should watch The Refuge, too, after the demon attack?” she asked. There. It wouldn’t have them trespassing near the hell-jerk, Tolvi’s domain, wherever that was, and the homeless would be safe.
“Already covered.” He rubbed his nape. Something she’d never seen him do…as if he were on edge. “I gotta go.”
“Are you okay?”
His flat stare shifted to her. “Yeah. I’m fine. Rest.” He strode out, the door shutting behind him.
Her spirit deflating, Shadow slumped against the pillows and took in the pretty room with its pale green carpets and elegant cream furniture—the same room she’d occupied five months ago. But everything seemed to be closing in on her.
Trapped here in this luxury, she felt lonelier than ever.
Nik seemed too distant, unlike the man who’d bulldozed his way into her basement. But during the brief time they spent there together, he made her feel alive, if she were honest.
A knock sounded.
The door opened, and a tall, curvy woman with spiral auburn hair strolled inside. Kira.
Their friendship had formed when they bumped into each other a few times at The Shelter last year, in their search for Tomas, a runaway street child. Then, early this year, she’d been grazed in the temple by a bullet in a gang fight and had lost consciousness. She woke up in this castle and had met Nik.
Kira crossed to the bed and gave her a quick once-over.
“Don’t worry, I still breathe,” Shadow said wryly.
“Don’t joke about what happened. I was terrified. You should leave that gang, Shadow—”
“I don’t live with any of those gangs,” she corrected, “but with my friend and mentor, Eddi, on the outskirts of the Hade’s Disciples territory.” She restlessly plucked the covers. “I had no idea Tolvi was a demon until he attacked me.”
“Damn scum. Don’t worry, hun, the guys will find him,” Kira said, straightening the covers then sitting on the bed. “When you’re well, please, would you reconsider staying at my old home? You won’t be alone. Jaden—the Oracle who treated you—she lives there now. I’m really worried something bad will happen. You’ve already been hurt twice.”
Shadow had no idea what to tell Kira. Her entire life was a mess. With no memories of her past, and no longer able to live—tohideunderground—with Tolvi on her backside, she had to find a new place. But not with the Oracle. She didn’t want to put another person in that demon cur’s path. “I’ll think about it.”
“Is there anything you need?” Kira asked.
