Ely groaned, rubbing her burning face. Maybe she should fall face-first in the snow-covered grass to cool off then this conversation would be over.
“Hey, I’m okay with whatever it is between you.” Shadow patted her back affectionately. “It’s your life, your business. Besides, I’d be the last one to say anything. I mean, I have demon blood in me, and Nik loves me, regardless.”
“I know.”
“And,” she said softly, “You were always there for me in my darkest days. You didn’t leave even when I went after that terrifying demon, Mammon. If there’s anything I can do for you, even if it’s to talk, I’m here.”
It was pointless to deny these stirring feelings for Nate. The moment their eyes met on the warehouse rooftop, a connection had formed. As much as she tried to shut him out or keep her distance, he consumed her thoughts.
“I don’t know what this is, Shadow,” she said, pressing a hand to her unsettled belly. “It’s all so confusing. I mean, I’m thousands of years old. I’ve met males I liked, but I felt nothing deeper for them. Why him? Why now?”
“You’ll figure it out,” Shadow murmured in a comforting tone. “C’mon, it’s too cold out here.” She opened the door and disappeared inside.
Slowly, Ely followed. There was nothing to figure out. No matter the attraction between her and Nate, he was too steeped in whatever he was embroiled in. And even if he weren’t, it would never work between them. She wanted a forever mate who belonged to her and her alone. And Nate could never be that for her.
CHAPTER10
In the earlyhours of the morning, Ely made her way up an alley in the seedier backstreets of the Bowery, the icy air soothing the heat wave sweeping through her. Except for a tussle between two Otium demons over some human female they crushed on, the night was quiet.
Her thoughts slid back to Nate, and she shook her head. Darn, demon. He’d known from the start whoshewas and hadn’t said anything about his connection to Shadow.
She halted in the shadows of the warehouse opposite the garage and studied the quiet filling station. There was no activity in the darkened upstairs apartment, which meant Nate wasn’t in. He must have shut down the place while Aba was away.
Probably a good idea so humans wouldn’t get caught in any backlash. But she needed to find out and prepare for whatever those blights from the Dark Realm were after before the situation detonated. It meant talking to Nate. And that foolish organ in her chest took off like a galloping horse.
Exhaling, Ely dematerialized to an alley near Club Anarchy, the nightspot, one of the places he frequented. People lingered outside despite the freezing weather, tipsy laughter erupting from a group as they clambered into a cab and departed.
Tagg wasn’t there, and a human bouncer guarded the entrance. Ely held his gaze when he glanced at her, compelling him to let her inside. Heck, it was far easier with demon bouncers. They knew who the Guardians were and raised no fuss. Humans? A whole other situation since they could never know about otherworldly beings living in their realm.
She bypassed the knot of humans gathered in the dimly lit corridor and stopped on the landing of the split-level club. Music blasted, assaulting her sensitive ears, and she grimaced, shutting out the noise. Colored smoke and laser lights doused the dance floor and its jittery patrons as she scanned the place for Nate, trying not to think about the last time she was here when she saw him with the human male. Still, her stomach churned, and her grip tightened on the guardrail as she reached the crowd—
“Who are you hunting this time?” a low voice whispered in her ear, the silky strands of unbound hair brushing her cheek. Even in this place with its blitzing lights, multiple odors, and thick crowd, her senses and body instinctively recognized him. And the somersaulting sensation in her belly erupted in a fluttering riot.
Ely wheeled around and found herself caged as Nate grasped the steel balustrade on either side of her, her gaze clashing with his amused one. Dressed casually in a black leather coat, button-down dress shirt, and jeans, he was gorgeous and dangerously tempting.
Oh boy. Needing space, so she could breathe and not sound like a landed fish, she leaned back, her spine pressing against the handrail. “We need to talk.”
“Ah, so it’s me you stalk, then?” A tiny smirk tugged a corner of his mouth. “What is it you seek,laika.”
“My name’s Ely—”
“I know.”
“Nate, stop,” she hissed. “This is serious.”
“And she finally says my name, even if it is through clenched teeth.” The smirk morphed into a genuine smile. “Very well.” He grasped her hand and headed downstairs to the dance level. Humans and a few demons parted, probably sensing the peril amidst them.
He pulled her along to the jam-packed dance floor and drew her into his arms.
“Wh-what are you doing?” She pressed her palms against his chest.
“Dancing while you talk.”
“Are you sure you want this discussed here, with demons possessing heightened hearing?” She frowned at him. But being so close, his warm, masculine scent with the dark undertones of woodsmoke enclosed her. Unable to stop herself, Ely slid her hands up his hard chest to his shoulders.
He watched her beneath ridiculously long lashes, then shrugged. “Don’t care who hears me. If they come after me, I’ll kill them.”
Stars! Did nothing scare him?
