“Hell no, that doesn’t count!”
“Hell yes, it does!” she shot back, grinning. “I won the Corvette!”
“No way,” he growled. “We play this again.”
“Way yes, warrior. Suck it up! You don’t hear me grumbling every time I lose ten bucks to you.” Ely rolled her eyes. The human action felt good and communicated her exasperation well.
He glared, hands settling on his hips. “You’re comparingtendollars to a million-dollar vintage?”
“I sure am. It was your idea, betting the car,” she pointed out sweetly, wiping her sweaty face on her t-shirt. “And it was ahundreddollars, by the way.”
“Honey, it’s only for a year,” Kira consoled, giving him a one-armed hug, hazel eyes gleaming with mirth.
“That’s not the point! I waited two years for it. I haven’t even driven it yet.” He looked like he’d lost his best friend.
“I would say I feel your pain.” Ely smirked. “But nope.” She glanced up as more clouds gathered. Late afternoon gave way to twilight, and the temperature dropped to chilly. “So, keys?” She wiggled her fingers.
“You spend too much time with my mate,” Týr grumbled, selecting a cupcake. “Sneaky, but respect, girl. Ask Hedori for the keys.”
Yes! With a little wave, she jaunted off toward the castle.
This was why she liked Týr. He wasn’t a sore loser. No wonder when she first came to this world, she asked him to mate her so she could stay, not realizing she had other options. It was her parents’ fault, instilling in her that all females must be mated and protected and have guards attached to their backsides twenty-four-seven.
Man, she was happy to live her life onherterms. She liked this realm that was now home. And she finally owned a car, even if only for a year. However, she had a job to do, one she’d signed up for: find those soul-stealing demoniis and eliminate them.
Tomorrow, she’d take the Corvette for a spin.
Smiling, Ely hurried into the enormous, ivy-covered stone castle, through a rarely used living room, and headed for the back stairwell.
Back in her elegant, first-floor bedroom decorated in cool shades of forest green and cream, she shut the door. The small, attached sitting area near the sea of windows overlooking the lake and gazebo in the distance added a restful ambiance to her room.
She kicked off her sneakers, removed her clothes, and made for the shower. Out of habit, she lightly rubbed the scar on the side of her stomach, a reminder of what she’d endured to break free and live her own life—of guards trying to capture her and return her home, and one wounding her.
Aye, she’d do it all over again, hurt or not.
Ten minutes later, showered and changed into her workwear of black leather pants, t-shirt, and heeled boots, Ely fastened her long hair in a high ponytail and braided the length, snapping on a black rubber band at the end. She pulled on her trench coat, not needing the outerwear, but it was winter in the human world, so she had to conform.
Yep, rules had to be followed. Even here. But these she didn’t mind.
Since she wasn’t hungry, she grabbed two snack bars from her bedside drawer, slipped them into her coat pocket, and headed out. There wasn’t any meeting with the formidable archangel this evening. The passing nights had been quiet for a while.
While she didn’t care much for bloodshed, if those scourges from the Dark Realm causing havoc on this world crossed her path, she’d let her dagger do the talking. Living here gave her a sense of purpose, protecting those who couldn’t defend themselves, who didn’t even know the supernatural existed.
However, she had something else to do before patrol.
Trepidation building, Ely dematerialized from her room to a suburb in Brooklyn she came to often in recent months.
She reformed in the lane between two brownstones, a gush of chilly night air smacking her dead in the face. Head lowered, she made her way along the quiet, residential street, past trees denuded of leaves, their spindly branches drooping as if weary of the cold, her boots squishing through the thin layer of snow covering the sidewalk.
Ely slowed to a halt in front of a two-story, red-bricked brownstone with a granite stoop. She slipped her hand into her coat pocket, stroking the little metal toy there, one she’d had ever since that fateful night a few years ago when she first came to this world…
Muggy steam rose from the hot asphalt as the familiar, prickling force of energy closed in on her.Vae. Her guards were close. She darted between the looming buildings in some dingy part of the human city and let herself and the shadows become one. Her wet gown clung uncomfortably to her body from her fall into a salty river, and her side hurt from the dagger wound, but she ignored it all, fear consuming her that they would find her—
“Hide, baby!” A woman’s pained scream rent the night air, thick with fear, freezing Ely.
Then running footfalls sounded. A faint sob echoed. So much terror in it, like arrows piercing her soul. The urge to find and protect gripped her despite her dread of being discovered. She eased out of the shadows and hurried to the sidewalk—
A small body slammed into her. Footsteps stampeded, drawing closer. Ely scooped up the child and used her abilities, letting the shadows conceal them. His silky dark hair brushed her cheek, the scent of candy and warmth enveloping her.
