“I think it’s best we go through Exilum,” Angelus said, drawing Aethan’s attention. “The route is safer for opening a portal into Ishinor…”
Ely grabbed her sweater from the chair and followed Echo into the quiet living room. “Echo, wait,” she said, keeping her voice low. “Are you well enough to do this?”
She laughed. “Going to another world? You bet I am.”
But Ely wasn’t so sure. Her friend’s aura still appeared lackluster. “All right. But be careful. The Fae are not to be trusted.”
“I am aware. I learned something about them from Lore when I started these lessons.”
“Oh, good. Never give them your true name, either.”
“I won’t. Besides, I don’t use it anymore. Only Michael does.” Echo leaned in closer. “I’m genuinely excited about this, Ely. I finally get to do something I’ve been training for, for so long,” she whispered. “I mean, I do so here, healing the veils between our world and the demon one, but this feels like more, you know?”
Ely could understand the need to feel wanted, so she nodded. More, her friend would be helping a species more powerful than humans. “Just be safe and come back to us, please.”
“Oh, she will,” Aethan said, joining them. He put his hand on Echo’s lower back and ushered her out of the living room. Smiling, she gave Ely a little wiggle of her fingers as she left—
Another wave of heat swept through Ely. Dammit! She grabbed the armchair’s backrest, panting for air.
“You okay?” Michael asked from behind her.
Crap! She plastered on a smile and faced the archangel. “It’s nothing. Just worried about Echo,” she evaded. Her sweater gripped tightly as if it would cure all her woes, Ely hurried for the door.Urias, rushing off would only make Michael suspicious. She glanced back to find him frowning at her. Ugh. “Is there a meeting tonight?”
“No. Just keep an eye out for the blood demon pests.”
She nodded and walked out, then hurried for the back stairwell, breathing like she’d run around the massive island several times. Maybe an intense workout is what she needed. Hopefully, it would expend this painful influx of heat ricocheting in her. Because right then, she wanted to tear off her clothes and run out in the snow, which would surely get her off duty and grounded. She texted Shae for a sword session, instead.
* * *
Seated in the back of the biker bar, Nate rested an arm on the scarred surface of his table and scowled at the amber liquor. The crash of balls against the pool table and the music playing in an old-fashioned jukebox added to the growling echoes in his head. Despite the cacophony, he preferred this joint. Humans left him alone.
No sign of the Dark Realm scum who hurt Aba, either. He spent nearly half the night trawling and scouring underground demon joints for info. Those assholes knew he would peel the skin off their useless hides if he ever caught up with them.
And there was Derrodus.
Hell, if he killed the asshole, Azgor might lose his shit, and Nate his life. He couldn’t leave his sire or Ely unprotected—
Damn. He pinched the bridge of his nose, recalling the hurt in her eyes when she saw him with the fae before it all went to shit. His teeth ground down.Thatwas the reason for his pissed-off mood, because he could never explain to her the aberrant he was. He never wanted to see the fire inhereyes turn to horror.
The door opened, and more bikers stomped inside, the chains on their jackets rattling, bringing with them an icy breeze—
Nate stilled. Beneath the unwashed bodies and nauseating smells of cheap perfume and dirty leather,alight, floral fragrance beckoned. By the nine hells! She wasn’t even here, yet that sucker-punched sensation rammed him dead in the solar plexus.
He’d done the right thing by walking away, he reminded himself again. Besides, he didn’t want her trying to patch up the missing parts of him with her curious gaze and tormenting kisses. Hislaikadidn’t—andcouldn’t—belong in the brutal, treacherous existence he lived. It wasn’t only Azgor or Derrodus who were the danger.
A low growl reverberated through his head as if in reminder. Like he could ever forget the fucker.
He slammed his psychic shields shut and swallowed the last of his liquor. As he set the glass down, the den door opened again, and another blast of chilly breeze whooshed inside, and that familiar scent grew stronger, causing his body to go into a slow burn.
Nate lifted his head, his gaze tracking past the pool-playing bikers, fixing on the female sashaying to the bar, paying none of them any notice.
Ah, shit.
The black organ in his chest thumped hard as he watched Ely.
He didn’t know why, but he half expected her to come after him last night. She hadn’t. A part of him, the fucked up part, didn’t like that she’d taken him at his word and dismissed him so fast.
The demon barkeep hurried over to serve her.
