She groaned. “No crumbs.”
He smirked, popping a cookie into his mouth. “I’m hungry.”
“Zayn—”
“You’re as bad as Sai. Fine. I’ll leave no crumb uneaten.” He picked up an invisible crumb from his tee and tossed it in his mouth. Nia rolled her eyes.
Pilfered soda in hand, he made for the living room. “Yo—” He lifted the packet of Oreos to Lore. “Cookies?”
Lore shook his head. His unbound hair shifted and glimmered like the deepest flames beneath the lights. The angel might be a pain in the ass, but he really did have pretty hair.
“Suit yourself.” Zayn shrugged and set the soda on the wooden chest, stained to a glossy brown and used as a coffee table. “Come join me, Nia love.” He patted the seat next to him. “We can catch up.”
“It’s been a long week, Zayn. I seriously need sleep. I’m a walking zombie.” Now that her friend was here, hopefully, she could relax enough to do so.
“I hear ya. Go get your z’s, Sleeping Beauty.” He leaped to his feet, crossed to her, and kissed her cheek, cookie pack held protectively in one fist. She eased back and found the angel still watching them with that emotionless stare.
“I know it’s been hard,” Zayn said softly, picking up her blonde lock. “I’ll be here when you awaken?—”
A loud, plaintive caterwaul erupted outside, and she groaned. “The darn tomcat is chasing Ginger again. I swear I’ll have him neutered?—”
Lore vanished in a flash. Grunts replaced the yowling.
“Stay here!” Zayn sprinted for the living room door, opened and slammed it shut before vanishing into the darkness.
Nia froze. Fear slid along her spine like icy needles.
Kas. It had to be.
Her heart hammering in her ears, Nia hurried to the window and peered outside. Everything remained still. No sign of Ginger, the angel, or Zayn. The gate in the property wall leading to the park beyond remained shut, but Nia knew anything could be happening out there.
Time stretched endlessly, as did her nerves.
Too on edge to remain still in case that damn Kas came back, and taking comfort in the dagger in her boot, Nia grabbed her jacket and pulled it on, stashing her cell in her pocket.
The hairs on her nape rose. She wheeled around?—
“Dammit!” She stumbled back, heart crashing against her sternum as Lore took form in the living room. “What happened?”
“We’re leaving.”
“Where’s Zayn?”
“The human is not my concern.”
“Maybe not to you! I need to find him.” She stormed past, but Lore grasped her arm. Frustration gathered into a wrecking ball at always being grabbed. Without thinking, she slammed her fist into his jaw.
“Ow,oww!” She snatched her hand back, cradling it against her chest, pain shooting through her bones.
“Two things,” he said, clasping her throbbing fingers. A white light glowed, heating and spreading through her digits, and the agony faded. “Never strike an angel. You will break your wrist. Two, never punch with your thumb exposed.”
She tugged free and glared.Seriously?“Where is Zayn?—”
His eyes held hers, his irises glittering silver, and she blinked, forgetting what she was mad about. Her mind spun. Oblivion hovered, and she swayed. Before she hit the floor, powerful arms picked her up, and everything went dark…
Lore shifted to the Catskill Mountains and settled on a ledge, the female he had sent to sleep finally silent in his arms, giving him a much-needed respite from her nonsensical jabbering.
Only he could keep her safe, not some human male. Did she not understand that?
