“Why are you here?” Nik growled.
The angel shrugged, sunset-hued hair spilling over his black tunic-covered shoulders like tongues of flames in the fading light, the colors also reflected in his wings. “It seems I am needed.”
Shadow gasped at the tingly sensation flowing over her.
“Shut off your damn glow,” Nik snapped. “She’s not interested in all the pomp and shit you winged boys indulge in.” He glared at her, removing her fingers digging into his side.
“What?” She’d just seen a real, live angel, so forgive her if she gawked.
Shadow went back to staring. The angel drew his wings against his body, and the tingles faded. Sure, he resembled a storybook fantasy with those gorgeous appendages, but it was Nik—even with his grouchy moods and complexity—that drew her. And, yeah, while she was relieved to find him alive in this crazy location, and glad he hadn’t rushed off because of some woman, why had her instincts gone allloco? It wasn’t as if she’d suddenly become psychic.
Nik grasped her hand and strode past the angel into the monastery. Shadow glanced back and found the red-headed angel following them. She’d seen demons, but never a divine being. Ely and Aethan weren’t like him. As far as she knew, they didn’t possess wings or have this heavenly glow.
“Michael sent me to protect the human,” he said, cracking through Shadow’s fascination.
Whoa,what? “Who?” she asked.
“She doesn’t need protection.” Nik stopped in the small vestibule with domed windows. “She’s got me.”
“That’s not what I understood,” the angel countered. “You didn’t approve another warrior—”
“Yo—” Shadow waved her hands, stepping between them. “I’m right here. How about you both direct your questions to this human instead of disputing among yourselves, huh?”
Nik’s mouth tightened.
The angel’s cool metallic-green eyes lowered to her. “I’m your only hope if you want to survive this demon hunting you, human. I am Loráed.”
“Shadow,” she introduced herself. “Why do I need more protection? I have Nik.”
He shrugged. “I do not question the archangel when he seeks my service—”
“Whoa, back up. What archangel?”
“Michael.”
Man, her poor head was actually starting to hurt having to deal with a stubborn immortal and now a boneheaded angel. Her nodes throbbed, reminding her of her injury and her need to feed soon. Gingerly she stroked her chest.
“You’re in pain,” Nik said quietly.
Finding him watching her, she sighed and dropped her hand. “I’m okay.”
“Sure, you are.” He swept her into his arms.
“Wait, wait, what are you doing? I can walk,” she grumbled as he strode across what appeared to be a gloomy, but massive semi-circular living room, with soaring walls and a high ceiling. Of course, he was totally ignoring her complaints. “And I haven’t finished questioning him.”
“This way saves time, and Lore’s a pain in the ass.”
She would have laughed at his cranky comment, but a wave of dizziness swept through her. Stifling back a groan, she rested her head against Nik’s chest as he headed up a concealed side stairwell. Maybe she needed to eat, but food had been far from her mind after Nik had left her room this morning. The bite of cake probably didn’t count.
“When did you last take the potion?” he asked.
“When you gave it to me.”
“Dammit, Shadow. It’s why you still feel weak, and that injury won’t heal as fast as it should.”
“It tastes like sewer,” she protested.
His handsome features hardened further.
