Ely smiled and hugged him, but her heart still pounded hard against his chest. “I’m so glad your abilities have appeared, and deadly ones at that. I know you hate it, but at least you’ll have the upper hand if trouble comes.”
“Why do I need them? When I have my gorgeous, badass mate to keep me safe?”
“You can bet your sexy butt, I will.” Then she sighed and eased back. “I have to go, too.”
“Wait.” He pulled off his tee. It was ruined anyway, with his wings shooting out. He took her hands, still sporting smears of his sire’s blood, and cleaned them for her.
Smiling, she gave him a quick kiss as he finished up, then with a little wiggle of her clean fingers, his mate glided off in her high-heeled—and sexy as fuck—boots, disappearing around the corner.
Dragging in a deep breath, Nate rubbed a finger over his lips, savoring the imprint of her mouth.
“You’ll see her soon enough,cnati.”
He snorted at his sire’s teasing. “I know. I didn’t expect to ever feel this way about anyone. And she…” He glanced back at the corner. “It’s like she’s the other part of me.” Hell, Aethan was right. “It’s like my heart lives outside my body, and I’d do anything to protect her.”
“You love her.” Aba patted his arm, then rubbed his healed chest again. “I can understand your need to keep her safe, but that female can take care of herself. Did you know she not only commands the shadows to do her bidding, but she can also walk through walls? I need a clean shirt.” He strolled off into the workshop.
Nate gaped at his sire’s retreating figure. He flashed and caught up. “What do you mean, walk through walls?”
“How do you think she got into that mountain in the treacherous Infernii Realm when it shut, locking us out after you walked through the closing gap?” Aba laughed at his confusion. “Come,cnati, let me tell you about your mate…”
CHAPTER39
Ely madeher way up the dark alley in the early hours of the morning, her boots squelching in the mush as snowflakes drifted down. The hours moved at a snail’s pace, the chill encapsulating her. She shuddered and hastily upped her body temperature, so ready for patrolling to be over, and she could meet up with Nate.
Just thinking about him made her smile. More, she hoped he was all right after the fracas from earlier in the evening and the emergence of his deadly power—
She stumbled to a halt, an odd impression curling around her, like fingers stroking her senses. It tugged at her entire being, compelling in its desire to obey, needing to bask in the sensation.
Eyes narrowed, she cut into another alley, following the magnetic draw, and stopped dead.
A short distance from Club Anarchy, where patrons trickled out of the venue in the early hours of the morning, a tall, shadowy figure wearing a long black coat leaned against the building. The cell in his hand cast an aura of light over his somber features, his allure tugging at her.
What do you know? It was an otherworldly being. A human turned demon turned angel.
Frowning, Ely strode to him, and his head lifted. Glowing topaz eyes met hers.
“Is there a reason you’re letting your allure free for everyone to feel?” She raised an eyebrow, stopping in front of him, his warmth, his heavenly scent making her want to lean in and lick off that smirk kicking up one corner of his mouth.
“It brought you to me faster, didn’t it?”
She rolled her eyes. “Nate, behave. I’m working. You want me pulled off duty for not doing my job?”
“Wouldn’t complain.”
She snort-laughed. “You’re impossible.” But she sensed more. Felt his edginess. “What’s wrong?”
He shook his head, then stopped. “I don’t know. And it’s not about what happened with Derrodus, his death, or my new ability. It’s just an uneasiness that won’t quit.” He glanced around, brow furrowing. “I usually let nothing keep me on edge since I kill what or whoever is after me, but this—”
“So you decided to check on me?”
“Before you say anything, I’m always gonna put you first, Ely, and make sure you’re fine. You’re the only one who affects me in every way possible, and who lives in here.” He tapped a finger to his chest, and his coat parted, revealing a gray, grease-smudged t-shirt. He must have thrown on the outerwear and come after her when whatever troubled him started.
“There’s nothing to worry about. I’m fine. See?” She waved a hand over herself.
He narrowed his eyes, apparently unimpressed. “I don’t like this feeling is all I’m saying. You done for the night?”
She grasped his hand and glanced at the time displayed on his cell. A half-hour more. “It’s been a fairly quiet night, well, except for the demon scourge you eliminated earlier. We can leave. The guys will call if anything urgent comes up.”
