“What the fuck?” a male voice snarled.
A brutally strong hand grabbed her, her back slamming into a granite chest, cold steel pressing against her throat. The sting of the blade had her eyes snapping open. Fiery bolts flew in the darkness, curses and screeches grew.
The man spun her around.
“Nik?” she gasped, blinking in confusion, a familiar damp stench crowding her nose.
“Shadow?” Nik’s eyes widened, then they blazed like an out-of-control furnace. “I could have fucking killed you!” he yelled. “What the hell were you thinking?”
She shook her head, too disorientated to speak. Somehow, she’d flashed—
Oh, shit. She’d freakingflashedherself to Nik underground, where he was in the middle of a demon fight. She pressed a hand over her thrashing heart. The symbionts throbbed wildly on her chest, no doubt sensing the dark energy around her.
A whizzing hiss echoed around them. Cursing, Nik hauled her aside, avoiding a deadly blitzing hellfire bolt that blasted the dingy brick and mortar wall. Rubble exploded, raining to the ground.
“How did you get here?” he demanded, his fingers a punishing grip on her biceps. “Who brought you?”
She shook her head just as a demon manifested behind him, lunging forward with deadly long talons. “Nik!” she shrieked at the same time as he flung out a hand, freezing the monster without even a glance over his shoulder.
“Nik, go!” someone yelled. “We got this—”
The gloomy underground spun. Her heart jammed in her throat as they left the grimy place and reformed moments later—back in their bedroom at the castle.
Nik let her go, fists clenching, clearly ready to punch something.
She bit off a groan, feeling as if she’d left her brain elsewhere at this mode of travel. She rubbed her temples aware Nik hadn’t said a word. But she felt his fear and anger through their mate bond. She dared to look up and bumped into his flat stare.
“I-I didn’t ask anyone or do anything to find you,” she said, lowering her hand.
Hands on his hips, he stood near the fireplace, the tic on his hard jaw powering up. “Then when exactly did this miracle of you flashing yourself to me occur?”
“I don’t know…” She swallowed, still trying to get her mind to track. “I had a weird heat flash and then felt you in here.” She poked her head. “You were furious, and when I sensed your pain, I was terrified you were injured. You weren’t responding to my telepathic calls, so I tried to feel for you, and…and then I was there.”
He stared at her for an intense second before his eyes narrowed. “What else are you keeping from me, Shadow?”
She blinked, hurt punching her in the chest. “You think I’m hiding things from you?” Hurt turned to anger. “Of course, why would you believe me? I live underground with the worst types out there, and I steal, so yeah, I’m always going to be a suspect when things go against the norm. If that’s what you think about me, then it’s best we—”
“What? End us?” he growled. “How the hell am I supposed to protect you if I don’t know what you can do? You suddenly appeared in the middle of a dangerous fight. You could have died! You scared the crap out of me!”
“You think I knew about this? I had no idea I could flash, dematerialize, or whatever the heck I just did,” she shot back. “All I knew is when I felt your pain, I panicked. Fear drove me to find you. I mean mentally. I didn’t expect it to happenliterally.”
“Hell.” Nik rubbed a palm over his scruffy jaw. His brow furrowed, then his contemplative stare lowered to her chest. He reached out a hand and gently stroked her sternum. “It’s your symbionts. I think now that they’re properly nurtured, they’ve somehow released this ability.”
“What?” Her mouth dropped, her heart thundering in her head. The fight in her died out at the terrifying truth. “Nik, what if more demon-like powers take hold of me. What if my soul turns dark, oh…” Her knees trembled, and she swayed at the thought of the horrid reality. She was changing?Oh, god, oh, god!
Nik scooped her into his arms and strode to the turret living area, setting her on the couch.
“Nik.” She grasped his shirt before he could straighten, terror strangling her. “I already need their dark energy to survive. What if I become a demon?”
His lips pressed together, and that single dimple she rarely saw and adored appeared. He sat on the coffee table, his leathers creaking, knees caging hers. “Then, together, we’ll handle whatever abilities arise, but you need to tell me the moment you sense any changes. As to your soul, yours isn’t dark like those of the demons,agápi. You’re like a blaze of light inside here.” He tapped his chest. “I would know if you weren’t. We are one. We share a soul now.” His gaze swept tenderly over her face. “And if you do become a demoness, it doesn’t matter. Because you are the flame that warmed this cold heart of mine. Nothing will take you away from me.”
A smile started, his promise wrapping around her in a comforting hug.
His gaze lowered to her throat, and his smile vanished. “You’re bleeding.”
Gingerly, she touched her throat. “Oh. I’ll heal—eeek!” she squealed as he picked her up and switched places with her. He shifted her to his lap and ran his tongue along her throat wound.
The faint burn faded. “It doesn’t hurt—”
