Nia sipped some of the hot chocolate, then expelled a troubled breath. “I’m sorry, Sai, for dumping myself on you. It’s been quite a night. I don’t think the planets are aligning right in my life anymore.”
She patted Nia’s knee. “It’s just a little blip, honey. I’m sure in a few days, all will be back to normal again. In the meantime, you’ll stay with us until that jerk is found and killed.”
The click of a door opening had Nia stiffening.
“It’s Riley.” Saia shot up and hurried out of the room. Nia set her mug on the nightstand, scrambled from the bed, and rushed out in her sock-covered feet, nearly sliding on the hallway’s polished wooden floor. She grabbed the living room doorjamb before she crashed into anyone like a bowling ball.
“What happened?” Saia asked. “Did you get him?”
Riley shook his head. “I searched the entire Quarter, met up with your brothers, and filled them in. We all hunted, but nothing. The bastard’s laying low for now.” He headed for the kitchen. “Coffee?”
“Not for me,” Saia said, and Nia shook her head.
He got a mug and poured the steaming brew.
“Why does he wantme?” Nia pressed a hand to her heaving belly. “I mean, if he wanted blood, there are plenty of people out there he could easily feed from, right?”
“Yes. But demons become obsessed when the person they want rebuffs them. Or there’s something else about you that caught his attention.”
Hollow laughter escaped her. “Yay, me.”
Compassion flickered in his green eyes. Riley picked up the coffee and came back to the living room. “I can’t tell you to stop worrying, but I will find him.”
Nia dropped on the couch and rubbed her burning eyes, dread creeping through her again. She knew with bone-deepcertainty that blood-sucking demon would be back. And next time, a knee to the groin might not save her.
Chapter
Three
The following night,holed up in the soundproof office of Satire, Riley’s bar, Nia pressed her brow against the one-way window, watching the partying patrons.
It was close to nine p.m., and the place was packed with it being Christmas?—
God, Christmas!
She should have been celebrating and having fun with her friends. Instead, she was hiding like a hunted animal because of damn Kas!
Anxiety nipped at her that she hadn’t called work to explain her sudden disappearance. How could she tell her boss she’d gotten embroiled with a stalker, let alone a demon now obsessed with her because of her blood? She’d have to soon, or she’d lose her internship.
Teeth gritted, Nia rolled her shoulders to loosen the new tautness there. Her army general Saia had insisted she go through a self-defense routine that morning, something Nia hadn’t bothered to keep up with in the passing years.
She trudged the length of the office to where the desk took up space, watching the crowd jitter on the makeshift dance floor, wishing she could grab Saia and work out some of thisrestlessness. But that was out of the question, not when she had to stay safe. Ugh.
Riley had brought them to the bar with him after lunch. He wasn’t taking any chances, leaving them alone at the house.
“You’re pacing,” Saia murmured from behind her. Nia hadn’t heard her reenter the office.
“I’m so mad!” Nia pivoted to her friend. “Because of that dickhead mosquito’s need for my blood, now I must hide.”
Saia burst out laughing and curled up on the couch. “Anger is a good start. Just keep the dagger I gave you on you at all times. It’s made of iron. A little jabby jab in the heart and that skeeter can kiss his life goodbye.” She grabbed the remote and turned on the television in the corner.
Snorting out a laugh, Nia continued her pace-a-thon while her friend watched a rerun of some old sitcom. “You’ve become quite bloodthirsty since you mated.”
“I guess, but I learned the hard way. When this is all over, I’ll tell you mine and Riley’s story. The in-depth one this time, of how a demoness who wanted my mate dumped me at the gateway to Hell to die.”
Nia stumbled to a halt. “What?”
Saia rose and joined her at the one-way window. “Believe me, after that, I learned fast. Much as I hate it, I always try to stay in form, fighting-wise. Besides, Riley won’t let me slack off.” She scrunched her face.
