“A shower.”
Her friend nodded and rose. “Can you manage to walk?”
“I’ll crawl if I have to.”
Kira laughed, revealing twin dimples in her striking, latte toned cheeks. “Okay. I’ll go get you something to wear. And after, if you’re up to some company, I’ll call the girls. They’re fun.”
Not knowing what else to say, Shadow nodded and pushed the covers aside, then she hesitated. She had to call Nate, and also leave a message for Eddi at The Shelter. It was the one place he’d check for her. “Can I borrow your cell? I don’t have mine.”
“Yeah, sure.” She dug out her phone from her jeans pocket and handed it over. “I’ll be back with clothes.”
* * *
Nik strode out of his quarters, dressed in his work gear. He headed for the grand staircase, the agitation within him escalating. Fuck, he needed to get back on the street. Find a demonii—find several—and just maybe an all-out fight would stop this restlessness, and he could reel in this urge to go after Shadow every single time she was within breathing distance.
Through the millennia, living with the constant ruckus of the insidious souls scraping and battering his mind, females were not even a thought. Then Shadow stumbled into his life, her chaos soothing his own turmoil—and one he desperately yearned for.
But at what cost?
Her life?
Shadow was mortal and wounded. If she got caught in his backlash, she would suffer a grotesque torture of her own bright soul being consumed by the dark ones.
No mortal would survive that shit, a lesson he’d learned the hard way.
Mouth clamped in a tight line, he shut it all out and jogged downstairs. Male laughter drifted to him.
The other warriors usually stopped for a bite before heading out. In the passing months, he rarely joined them. He preferred his own grim company, safer that way, and no need for small talk.
As Nik neared the ground floor, the tantalizing floral scent with that hint of woodsmoke curled around him, and he stumbled to a halt. Just a whiff of her and his entire being tautened, hauling him to the edge again.
Unable to stop himself, he scanned upstairs for her…then down. Dammit.
She should be in bed, not traipsing around the castle in her weakened state.
Irritation surging, Nik strode down the long hallway toward the sound of voices.
He walked into the massive open-plan kitchen, rich with the smell of something savory. A central isle separated the dining area, where a massive oak table reigned. Light chatter continued. Hedori looked up and nodded.
Týr grinned. “You finally decided to join us?” he asked, his chair tipping on its back legs, his arm thrown around Kira’s chair. She cast him a bright smile.
Shadow sat next to Darci and Blaéz. The Celt arched an eyebrow.
Hell, he should leave, she’d be fine. The females would see to her, but he couldn’t make himself move. She’d done something with her hair, pulled it into a pile on her head, revealing the fragility of her wan face, and he ground down on his teeth not to say anything.
Leave now.
Nik ignored the voice of reason. He crossed to the counter, poured an espresso from the coffee machine into a mug just to strangle the urge to scoop up Shadow and take her back upstairs. He picked up his cup and, like a runaway train on a fast track to disaster, he walked over to the empty chair next to Shadow and sat down.
Aware her stare drilled holes into him, he sipped the bitter brew, the liquid burning a layer off his throat, then he glanced at her. Two spots of pink brightened her face.
Godsdammit. It gutted him, knowing she was in pain and trying to be brave and strong in front of the others.
“You should be in bed,” he said quietly, ignoring the chatter and tinkling cutlery around him. “Someone would have brought your meal upstairs.”
She carefully set her cutlery on her plate. “I’m capable of walking and taking care of myself.”
How was it the moment she opened her mouth, she pissed him off?
