She remembered them from before; when Reynner had fought the demoniis in the alley. Her heart pitched to her throat as they rounded to the front of the house and confronted the fracas on the lawn. Swords flashed, grunts and growls of the fighting figures filled the air. And in the horde of fighting men, she saw a flash of pale hair.
Reynner.
She darted forward, but Sebris grabbed her by the arm and hauled her back.
“Let me go, damn you!” She fought to free herself, then elbowed him in the belly. He merely tightened his grip, making her wince.
Unable to free herself, Eve pressed a hand to her heaving stomach. Oh, God. So many men! Where had they come from? Wild-eyed with fear, she watched.
Reynner fought with a blond man. As if sensing her, he turned, their eyes locked.
Then someone killed all the garden lights.
A brick wall rammed into her. She hit the ground hard, landing on her side, unable to breathe as pain fired through her hurt limbs once again.
“Eve!”
Amidst the chaos, she heard Reynner’s terrified yell. Enormous boots leaped over her as swords swung, clashing over her head. Trapped in a sea of lethal, fighting men, Eve pushed into a crouch and looked for a way out.
A sword winged toward her, the tinny sound of the blade’s whisper stopping her heart. Eve squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t want to see the blow that would end her life—a hand yanked her against a hard body, knocking out what little breath she had.
A vortex of colors surrounded her in the space of a heartbeat, and then she was dumped on the outskirts of the battle.
Lucan gave her an annoyed look and flashed back into the fray, his sword swinging.
The man was as vicious in a fight as he was with his words. He nailed several Darkreans with the precision of a paid killer.
Her gaze darted around and she spotted Aerén fighting Sebris. Aerén’s sword swung in a deadly arc to decapitate. Sebris leaped back and vanished...only to reappear behind her.
He yanked her to him, just as Reynner materialized in front of them, his chest heaving. Blood dripped from a gash on his arm. His eyes glowed with intense rage. “Let. Her. Go.”
Eve tugged at her arm, but Sebris merely readjusted his grip like he was holding a pesky fly. Then he caressed her neck with a rough finger. Eve jerked her head back.
Reynner snarled. Power rolled off him, lightning streaked across the sky, and a bolt diverted, hitting the mansion with a violent display of sizzling sparks.
“Careful, Empyrean, you wouldn’t want to strike her now, would you?” Sebris murmured. The next second, the winds died down and the black clouds disappeared. “I could so easily end her life, but why bother? Mortals and their firefly lifespan,” he mused, his voice filled with pity before it hardened. “Call them off.”
“North,” Reynner yelled. North and Aerén flashed to flank him, their faces grim, swords braced for another attack. Aerén eyed Sebris with utter hatred. She remembered that he blamed the Darkreans for his parents’ disappearance. But the power coming off Aerén hurt her, like pinpricks of electrical surges. She swayed, and Sebris tightened his hold.
“So frail,” he murmured. “She won't be able to withstand yourangermuch longer before something in her gives out. Her heart perhaps? It does beat quite fast. Unnaturally so.”
“Dammit, Aerén, shield!” Reynner snapped. The next instant, the power surrounding her switched off like a light bulb.
“Thanks for the er- training,” Sebris drawled like this vicious fight mattered little to him. He let her go.
***
Bruised and battered, her face streaked with blood, Eve stumbled across the overgrown grass. Reynner flashed to her side and gathered her close, pressing his lips to her head. A sob escaped her, her arms tightened around his waist.
But her pain cut through him as if it were his own. He had to stomp down the urge to destroy the bastard in front of him, he had to get Eve to safety. Sweeping her into his arms, he nailed Sebris with a deadly look. “I will find you again, Darkrean, make no mistake.”
“I'm sure you will. Be thankful I saved the female,” Sebris said, glancing at his shirt where a dark, wet stain was spreading.
“Saved her? You fucking abducted her!”
“Make no mistake, Empyrean, when it comes to the Stone, I will do—and risk—anything.” His gaze settled on Eve again, his meaning clear. The asshole had made his point. Then Sebris added, “She has a powerful enemy in the goddess.”
At the Darkrean’s words, Reynner’s gut churned. How the hell did he know about Inanna?
