Horde? It was just a few, but heck yeah, she had.
Her gaze rushed to his. The former prince of her world gave her a little nod, gray eyes twinkling.
Even back on Empyrea, he’d been kind and considerate to a reserved young girl with self-esteem issues whenever their paths crossed. Then Aethan was banished for the accidental death of his little sister. A tragedy all of Empyrea had grieved.
Fate, however, had other plans for him since he found his destined mate inthisworld, and Echo had become one of her dear friends. As for herself, she had Bob, the castle pet, to keep her company, and she painted to dispel her bouts of loneliness—
Flame-hued topaz eyes crowded her mind once more. Ugh, she shut out the vexing demon. But remembering how easily he’d distracted her, then mocked her, her ire steamed again.
Laika?He called her that. What did it even mean?
The study door opened, and Michael strode inside, his aviator shades pushed to his head, his dark hair pulled into a half ponytail, an edge to his striking but austere demeanor. Something was up.
He walked around his desk, ignoring the stack of scrolls in a tray placed to the side, and those shattered blue irises, the silvery fissures flaring like lightning, took them all in with one sweep. “Anything out of the ordinary to report?”
“Just the norm from my side.” Blaéz leaned back in his chair. “Otium and human scuffle over territory, nothing new there.”
“There is something,” Aethan said, scratching his stubbly jaw. “Tagg informed me cops have been dispatched to alley duties regarding the disappearance of human women and children and, also, about the sounds of sword fights taking place out of the blue at night.” His expression wry, he lowered his hand. “They’re no longer buying it as a nocturnal movie shoot.”
“I also overheard two cops in the Bowery backstreets tonight,” Ely said, facing everyone, “complaining about the place being spooky and seeing a ghost. Me.” She rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, witnessing the shadows consume you would do that.” Týr chuckled.
She scrunched her nose. Her abilities to become one with the shadows weren’t anything to brag about, unlike her fellow Guardians’ deadly powers. Heck, her parents would undoubtedly have a heart attack if they knew their gently raised daughter had signed on to fight treacherous evil. “Anyway, they mentioned the same about women and children disappearing. But Nik shut down the place beneath the city.”
“Trafficking is not something that dies,” Michael said as he sat down on his leatherback chair, and the thing creaked under his weight. He frowned at the sound, then settled in, anyway. “They will arise again. There are always those who’ll abduct and sell the innocent for profit. Regarding the weapons situation, try to avoid using swords if you can. Stick with daggers if you must.”
“So far, all the disappearances have been linked to the darker side of humanity,” Aethan continued. “Mafias, gangs—”
“And those human fuckers who work with demons,” Nik cut in.
“When humans join forces with otherworldly evil, they will become collateral damage in this war we fight.” The Arc’s tone was granite. He had no mercy for those who crossed the line. “Here’s what’s happening. A demon or a pack of them have been leaving a trail of drained bodies across eastern Europe. Race and my other warriors haven’t been able to pin them down yet. So keep an eye out for anything similar here.”
“We protect their so-called food source,” Blaéz said. “There will always be those blood scums lurking around.”
Ely recalled that skinny white cur referring to her as a food source, and no matter her own lapse at what had transpired with the flame-eyed demon, she had to report this.
Michael shifted on his chair, and it let out a drawn-outcreeeeeak. Brow furrowing, he angled his head and peered down.
“Arc, just replace the damn thing,” Týr groaned. “The noise is annoying.”
Eyes gleaming, Michael leaned back, and another squeak rose. “We can’t have human authorities finding out it’s not some wild animal but otherworldly beings responsible,” he said, back to business.
“I came across a horde of blood demons feeding on a human,” Ely said. “I killed a few, but they disappeared as fast as they appeared.” Because ofhim, their leader, she knew without a doubt. “One referred to me as a food source. Said I smell, er, delicious.”
“He’s after your soul’s energy, your emotions—whatever the fuck energizes them,” Týr growled. “He will come after you, Ely. They never give up once they lock on you!”
Oh, man. She knew what was coming if she didn’t put a stop to it. Babysitters. Ugh. “I can handle them.”
“Okay, then.” Michael opened one of the scrolls, ending the meeting, much to her relief. “You get these demons—”
“Nail their nuts to the wall and get answers,” Týr grunted. “The fuckers won’t be running around for long on this realm.”
Ely opened her mouth, then shut it. Tell them that an irritatingly handsome demon had thrown her off-kilter and had somehow messed with her thoughts? Howhegot past her impenetrable mind shields, she had no idea.
If Michael had even an inkling of her mishap, he would haul her off duty and keep her butt castle-bound until this situation cleared, or stick her with a babysitter again. And that she refused to have. She’d worked her ass off to warrant patrolling solo. That maddening demon was hers to hunt down.
The meeting over, Ely leaped up and headed for the back stairwell. Light footfalls sounded, and Echo came down the narrow, softly lit stairs.
