He helped her off the table and headed out to the stone courtyard. Sunlight drenched the place, brilliant and blinding.
Shadow shaded her eyes, studying the looming monastery. “I like this building.”
“Good to know.” He glanced up. “It’s centuries old. We had another place but preferred the isolation of this one, so we convinced the noble monks who resided here to move into the building we’d acquired elsewhere.”
“Really? Do they know what you are?”
“Probably. But those good souls have long passed.” He drew her into his arms. “Now, the history lesson’s done. Let’s go. I still have a training session with Race later.”
“The guy with the stunning silver hair?”
His eyes narrowed.
“What?” She smirked, enjoying teasing him. “He has fabulous hair. We mere mortals appreciate things like that. But I bet I’d like yours better. You know, if you had any.”
His single dimple appeared. “Nice try.”
“Well, you buzzed it all off, so—eeek!” The air around her spun, and she clutched Nik tight, face buried in his neck, eyes shutting as he dematerialized them.
“You can look now.”
At his teasing tone, she opened her eyes and glowered into his gorgeous, taunting face. “Really?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “You’ve just made me look forward to my training session.”
“What? You plan to clobber Race because of what I said about his hair?”
“Yeah.”
She rolled her eyes as she followed him through the dense forest, the cool air soothing her heated face. But it eased her mind helping him have a little fun—
Whoa! She stumbled to a halt as they cleared the forest, eyes widening at the view in front of her.
Late noon sunlight drenched the village, highlighting the pretty shops and buildings. Cobblestone streets sported genuine wrought-iron lampposts along the pavements.
She shaded her eyes, studying the vibrant, colorful profusion of flowers in the window boxes. “This is so lovely.”
“Buy whatever you want.” Nik put on his black shades. “Anything they don’t have here, we’ll get once we’re back in New York.”
As they headed up the street, Shadow felt like a child, her gaze darting about, taking in all the sights. Then she stopped, spying the unlit Club Samhain sign further up the road. “Wow, there’s even a nightclub here.”
Nik’s mouth tightened.
Aw, crap. His thoughts undoubtedly went straight back to Club Anarchy and what had happened there. So she shut her trap and grasped his hand. When his thumb stroked her skin, her heart settled.
Three hours and several stores later, they exited another shop. Nik carried her shopping bags and appeared a little more relaxed, but she was also aware that he never let his guard down. Those shaded otherworldly eyes probably kept watch on everything.
The sun had slipped over the mountains, and looming shadows stole over the village.
“You done?” Nik asked.
She rolled her eyes. “A long time ago, after thefirststore. But yes, I’m all d—”
Someone bumped into her, and Nik hauled her against his side with a low growl.
“Sorry.” The guy lifted a hand in apology.
Despite the man’s fresh laundry scent, Shadow detected a trace of sulfur. A local demon. “It’s alright.”
