Damn. With a deep sigh, she put her palm on the study door?—
Arms slid around her waist, and Nia froze. “I like the new hairstyle. But how you managed it, I’m not sure.” His voice was low, husky. His lips trailed along her ear rim. “Can we talk now without you blowing up into an argument at my concern?”
“What the—?” Nia wheeled around, but the guy was gone, slammed against the wall by one furious angel.
“Don’t ever touch her!” Lore’s voice held a lethal edge she’d never heard before.
“You asshole!” The man rushed Lore with inhuman speed.
They both went crashing to the marble floor with bone-jarring force. Punches flew with supernatural speed, the meaty sounds of fists hitting flesh echoing off the marble like thunderclaps.
A cascade of prickly energy emitted from the guy—not Lore, he always had absolute control over his—and stung her skin like barbs. She leaped back, yelping.
“Lore!” she cried, rubbing her biceps, not understanding what was happening.
Suddenly, he reappeared in front of her, leaving the other guy on the floor. He dragged her back into the study, his hair a tangle of red. His top lip had split. Blood dripped down his chin then the injury healed itself.
“Are you all right?” he demanded.
“I’m fine, I’m fine. What were you thinking?” she hissed, the prickles on her skin still stinging. “We’re in someone else’s home, and you’re fighting?”
He raked back his disarrayed strands, then dashed the blood from his chin with an impatience that startled her. “You wouldn’t give me a chance to explain?—”
The inner door burst open. The man who’d attacked Lore appeared, resembling death warmed over, eyes flashing like storm clouds. Blood seeped from one eyebrow in a steady stream, then his wounds, too, started healing.
The small flickering firelight in the hearth cast a low glow over the furious, dark-haired man. He was as attractive as the blond she’d encountered earlier?—
“I should have known you had the fucking hots for her!” the guy snarled, chest heaving. “She’s mine!”
Whoa, what?Nia frowned.
“Hardly,” Lore snapped, his hands clenching.
“Lore, stop!” She grasped his arm before he plowed into the man again. His muscles tensed, and the tendons on his neck tautened like cables.
A black sword ripped free from the guy’s biceps, and he grunted. “I’m going to fucking rip you apart?—”
“No!” She darted in front of Lore.
“Don’t!” Lore roared, grabbing her arm and pushing her behind him.
“You don’t fucking yell at her!” The man’s eyes burned white with rage. He swung the blade, and it winged toward Lore’s head.
“Stop it!” Nia cried out.
But Lore had already flung his attacker back with a power blast. He hit the shelves behind him. Wood splintered and crashed down. Books fell. The guy’s hands sizzled with power.The pinpricks against her skin grew, but he didn’t strike. Nia had a feeling he didn’t because of her.
Lore bristled, resembling a caged animal about to break free and mutilate.
“Would you both stop!” Nia yelled, her heart lodged in her throat.
“Why are you protecting him?” the man snarled at her. “What the hell’s going on?”
“One furious male at a time, please,” she bit out, so over this bullshit.
The silver in Lore’s metallic green eyes blazed with fury. “Why did you let him touch you?”
“I thought it was you,” she snapped. “The blond man said he’d send you me since I was looking for you?—”
