Eve searched for the new cell Reynner had given her that morning, but it wasn’t in her bag or her pockets, she stopped. “Darn. I think I dropped my phone in the car. Kat, give me your keys. I won't be long.”
“Hang on a sec, hun, I'm coming. You're not supposed to go anywhere alone—remember?” Brenna reminded her.
Eve huffed in exasperation. “It’s just across the street. Kat, you sure you don’t want to come along, too?”
“I'm good, I’ll wait here.” Kataya tossed her the keys.
Brenna tucked her arm through Eve’s and they cut through the cars halted at the red traffic lights. “After all you told us, Evie, it’s better you're careful rather than sorry, right?”
Eve sighed. Her friend was too softhearted for her own good. But…“You’re right, Bren. Let’s just get the phone and leave.”
“Oh, those violets are so pretty. I must order some for my store,” Brenna said, eyeing the flower stall as Eve unlocked the car door. She found her cell on the floorboard.
“You don’t really think you’ll win, do you?” a taunting female voice purred.
Eve’s head jerked up. Her gaze widened at the woman clad in a fitted red dress, standing beside her. Perfect, wavy ebony hair framed a stunning face she’d seen once before. One she’d never forget. After all, like a lust seeking missile, the witch had found Reynner.
“Don’t look so surprised that I know which tart he’s now sleeping with,” Inanna snapped. “Over the centuries, he’s strayed. It’s what males do. But always, he comes back to me.”
“I'm surprised you hunted me down to warn me,” Eve shot back, pushing her cell into her jeans pocket. She cut a quick look at Brenna who was still studying the floral display.
“Your friends can't help you—they cannot see me,” Inanna said, looking down her nose at Eve as if she were a pesky insect. “You mortals, so full of yourselves. A flick of my fingers and you’d be no more.”
Eve heard the threat and had to plant her feet on the sidewalk not to take a cautious step back, refusing to show this vindictive goddess any fear. “What do you want?”
“Merely letting you know he belongs to me. For two thousand years he has.”
“And he bedded you just once in all that time?”
Topaz eyes blazed like the pits of Hell. A flick of her hand, and Eve went flying into the flower stall behind her. Pain splintered in her head and crashed through her body in huge waves.
Someone screamed her name. Cars honked. Brakes screeched. People yelled…hurrying footsteps.
Then hands were on her. She resisted. Shoved at them, tried to evade the helpers and made skin contact in the process. Thoughts, feelings, and images flooded her mind.
Unable to cope with the overload of their emotions, darkness stole her consciousness, just as a tall man with impossibly cold eyes picked her up.
Chapter 24
Reynner glanced at the digital clock on the DVD player as he prowled the living room. Even trapped in Hell, time hadn’t moved this bloody slow.
Sounds erupted from the flatscreen. Rocks scattering. A horse braying in protest, then a loud splash as it hit the water.
“Damnation!” Aerén snarled from the couch while he fought with his latest passion, “Skyrim,” a PlayStation game that had captured his attention. “To think, in reality, I can do this blindfolded in Empyrea’s cliffs with the rebels and Darkreans about—but not in this cursed game.”
The apartment door flew open and banged against the wall as Lucan strode inside. A wave of his hand and he shut the door.
Reynner glared. He hadn't forgotten what the bastard had put Eve through. “The door’s there for a reason,” he muttered. “Pity it can’t keep you out.”
Lucan cocked a brow at him before he turned to Aerén. “Where’s North?”
“Grounding at Exilum.”
“Damn. A power spike has occurred and it doesn’t feel right. Go check it out.”
Reynner didn’t care about the spike of power. He wanted to go get Eve. Another hour and he was outta here.
The moment Aerén had left, Reynner staked Lucan with a flat-out warning, “Don’t ever speak to Eve about our relationship again.”
