Nate narrowed his eyes, the taunt pushing him to the edge of his precarious tether. The urge to rip the male apart grew.
“She’s off duty,” Nik said. “Needed a break.” And not revealing anything at all. “Let’s go, Týr. We have much ground to cover before morning.”
As they stalked off, Blondie glanced back, eyes like lasers. “Stay away from her, demon.”
Not your fucking call, asshole.
The next second, the jackass was up in his face. “I know that fucking look. You want to end up in Purgatory, then go ahead, test me—”
“Norse, let’s go!” Nik growled.
The beast within Nate stirred, sensing a bloodbath. His talons shot out, digging into his palms as he clenched his fingers so as not to lash out and tear the mofo apart.
Another second passed, then the dick stepped back and smirked. “You can thank Shadow for sparing your life.”
And you can thank Ely for yours.
Frustrated with the dead-end answers, Nate catapulted his senses, searching for her, even though it was futile. She wasn’t there. He still didn’t know what was wrong with her, and he had mere days left before returning to the territory of Ys and the city of Azgoreth for the damn mortal combat. After that, hell, he had no idea what condition he’d be in or if he’d even be breathing. Each fight brought the beast closer and closer to the surface, judging from his feet also morphing now.
The next fight could be his last.
And here he was, denying him and Ely the chance at happiness, however short it might be—
The sensation of being watched sent icy prickles across his nape. He scanned his surroundings, searching for who it was. It could be any of the blights from the Dark Realm constantly on his ass, trying to bring him down.
He didn’t understand their motivation. Did they want his shitty life as Azgor’s fighter or the curse of half-transforming into some monstrous beast so badly that they would hunt him? Hell, he fucking hated both, and they were welcome to them. But it was his life, one set in stone from the time he was born…or reborn.
The acrid odor of burnt tar mixed with copper abraded his nose, and he knew. The bastards who’d dare to hurt his sire would now mock him, leaving little glimpses of their trail?
Nate took off deeper into the Bowery. As he tracked the stench, a tug on his psyche had him stumbling to a halt, and he changed direction. The beast shrieked at being denied the blood and gore of prey, clawing at his mind.
His heart pumping like mad as if it would escape him, Nate pursued the pull instead, like an invisible thread tethered to him, reeling him in. Only one person affected him in this way…
* * *
A half-hour earlier…
Ely stood on the upper deck of the boathouse apartment and braided her hair, damp from her icy shower. Moonlight poured down in platinum rays, flickering over the sea’s calm surface, enclosing her in a moment of tranquility, much needed after her almost twenty-four hours of confinement in the musty cavern in the Catskills.
But shereceived no respite, not from the hiking heat or her churning emotions, keeping her on edge. So, she gave up and came here. But thoughts of what happened in that basement sent her mind back into turmoil, and she wrapped her arms around her waist.
Her torment and careening emotions were entirely on her. She had to find a way to deal and move on. Sighing, she shut out thoughts of her dismal failure at relationships and glanced around, her focus settling on the building shadows on the deck.
She waved her hands, and the shadows drifted toward her, enfolding her palms like foggy, black mittens, bits of the dense streaks she’d seen several days ago forming again.
Ugh.Fat lot of good you do me.
Frustration torquing her, she wrenched the shades free, but they separated like strings. Scowling, she flung her hands out. The strands shot through the air, hitting the wooden handrail and causing it to creak. Yup, her incredible power couldn’t even zap a cockroach, let alone a demonii. Stupid ability
Sensing she wasn’t alone, Ely grasped the wooden rail and peered down at the enormous sailboat anchored below.
Hedori glanced up from where he sat on his haunches, unmooring his vessel. He lifted a hand in greeting. “My lady, I thought you’d gone to Ground?”
She sighed. He persisted in calling her that even though she no longer lived on Empyrea.
“It’s Ely. And yes, I did. But I couldn’t take being buried in there any longer…” She lifted a shoulder in a helpless shrug. “I know only the Empyrean males—the high lords—have to Ground the excess of their overwhelming powers, not us females. So why is this happening?”
Hedori slowly straightened, holding the heavy rope, the moonlight casting a silvery sheen to his steel-gray hair. “It is unusual for a female to be affected. Perchance, it lies with your abilities gifted from the goddess, Gaia?”
