Sixteen
In the dark,crowded street, Nia instinctively banked left into an alley. Snarls erupted from the shadows farther down, and she skidded to a halt, chest heaving.
Beneath the faint moonlight, Riley sliced Kas’ throat, and the demon slid to the ground.
“That should take care of this asshole,” he muttered.
Both he and Lore stared at the slain demon as his pale coloring gave way to a bronze tone. The body shuddered and disintegrated, sinking into the asphalt and disappearing.
“Fuck,” Riley growled.
“Dammit, Nia!” Zayn came up beside her and flung an arm around her waist to keep her from bolting. But she couldn’t move as the realization dawned: this demon wasn’t Kas, either, but another glamoured minion.
God, would this never end?
Her skin clammy, she pressed a hand to her roiling stomach. Her gaze lifted to Lore as he strode to her.
“We’re leaving.” He grasped her hand and flashed them. A second later, they reappeared in her backyard.
The door opened. Nia shuffled into the living room, feeling as if every part of her was unraveling. She turned to him as Lore shut the door.
He seemed okay physically, and his rage no longer hurt her psyche, so her overpowering need to get to him ASAP eased a bit… Yet, it seemed as if he’d shut himself off from her. Not that she could ever read him or anything, just that gut-deep feeling when it came to him.
Nia scrubbed her face with both hands as her dire situation took hold of her thoughts. Kas was growing desperate with these frequent attacks.
“He used a minion again,” she whispered. “He’s mocking us.”
Lore didn’t answer. He remained near the window, his attention fixed outside, then his eyes narrowed.
Her heart pounded, goosebumps flooding her skin. “Is he here? Oh, God, he is, isn’t he?”
A thud hit the window, and she froze as something small and tawny slid down the glass?—
“Noooo!” she cried, sprinting for the door. “Ginger!”
“Don’t!” Lore flung out his arm to stop her. But Nia ducked under it and yanked open the door. She fell to her knees, picking up the still little body.
Lore disappeared in a flash as she examined the kitten. It appeared dazed, one little leg twisted?—
Bastard!She wanted to break all of Kas’ fucking limbs repeatedly until he begged for mercy, and maybe not even then.
The sudden stench of rotten eggs had bile surging up her throat.
“Touch another male, and I will start killing them and anyone else that comes near you.”
Her head snapped up.
Kas crouchedonthe backyard wall, glaring down at her. His attractive, boyish face and messy hair were scarily misleading, concealing the sheer evil within.
Nia snatched the iron blade from her boot and flung it at him. He batted the dagger away like it was a twig and laughed. “You can’t touch me. Not even your guardian angel can.”
She cradled the yowling kitten to her chest.Where was Lore?
“Nor can you escape me. Come willingly and be at my side through our joining. All I want is access to your blood. There, I said it. It will make me so much stronger, and I will claim my place as Lord of Eurymos’ Run?—”
“You’re out of your fucking mind!”
“Female, do you think after all the time I spent studying you, and after ouraccidentalmeeting at the coffee place, I’d allow all my efforts to be in vain?” His tone took on a dangerous edge. “I saw you days prior to our meeting and claimed you as mine. Don’t expect a rescue from the angel. He’s busy. Now let’s go.”
