Marcus flashed next to him. “I’ll fetch her and erase her memories.”
“No. I’ll get her, you wait here.” Before he could move, demons attacked. Coming from all directions they had somehow managed to take the men by surprise.
Baal produced a sword, swung and made contact with one head then a second as he spun on the ball of his foot. Marcus, with a dagger in each hand, used a crisscross action that took out two more. Both men spun and wielded their weapons, but the demons didn’t relent.
A scream pierced the night’s sky.
“Shit, the girl,” Baal yelled.
“Go, I’ll be right behind you.”
Baal flashed, found himself behind a tree. Two demons came out of the darkness straight at him. He summoned his magic and launched a fireball at each. It knocked them back, but they were only stunned. He tuned in his senses and picked up a struggle ahead. He flashed again. This time he’d hit pay dirt. The woman fought with a lone slasher. The creature looked the part of pure evil with its taloned fingertips, rows of razor teeth and horns lining its shoulders down to its wrists, but it was dumber than a box of rocks.
Baal whistled. “Hey, dumb shit.” The beast turned to pin beady green eyes on him. “Yeah, I’m talking to you. Come get me, fucktard.”
The demon lunged, but his seven-foot size made him slow. Baal produced his sword at the last second and decapitated the beast. The girl screamed and took off running again.
“Damn it, woman,” he growled.
“We need to hurry and get out of here. There are more coming,” Marcus yelled from behind him.
This time Baal took off running and followed the scent of fear. In seconds he was behind her. “Wait, I’m one of the good guys,” he yelled. The girl was apparently too terrified to register what he’d said so he flashed in front of her. She ran right into him and he wrapped his arms around her slender, trembling frame.
“It’s okay.” He gripped her arms and pushed her back to get a look at her. Wild eyes looked up at him and he was certain the color drained from his face. “Ranata, how the hell...?”
Marcus came up behind him. “We need to get out of here, like yesterday.”
Baal nodded and pulled Ranata into him and flashed.
Katie stretched. Her entire body hummed from the mind-blowing sex, but there was one thing that bothered her. Seth had not said those three little words. Why it ate at her she didn’t know, but his statement about anything happening to her had indicated he felt something. He’d dropped his guard, but the second she tried to reach for him he slammed the wall back into place and kept it there. He was a complicated man. A warrior who was fierce, strong and unafraid. There was also a side to him that was vulnerable and if she didn’t know better, scared. That was the side she needed to reach, but his past haunted him. Vivian had given Katie a glimpse of how her death had affected him. Even though the goddess had sacrificed herself to give him life, the incident had traumatized him and imprinted itself on his memory at a time when he was nothing more than a newborn. She imagined it was why he waited until the last possible moment to feed.
“So, what now?”
He pulled away and sat on the edge of the bed, his back to her as he reached for his jeans. She missed his warmth.
“What do you mean?” The tension in his voice was evident.
She summoned her courage for the next question. “What about us? Do you think we will ever complete the bonding?”
His back grew rigid. This was definitely a touchy subject. “You know Vandeldor is off limits.”
Yeah, she knew that and it was the one place that held the sacred room where the guardians performed all their ceremonies. “What if I told you that Zarek has moved the Throne room and it’s now located in the Temple of the Gods?”
His head snapped around and the look on his face said it all, but before he could answer, his phone chirped. Saved by someone’s poor timing.
Seth grabbed his phone and read the text. “Shit. We have to go. Now.” He stood and pulled on his jeans while she dressed.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. Aidyn ordered me to grab Daniel and head to the compound immediately.”
They finished dressing in silence. Seth flung open the door and strode to the end of the hallway where he hurled open that door. Power rolled off him and hung thick in the air. “Pack only what you need and be quick about it. You have exactly sixty seconds.”
Katie slid in next to him. “What are you not telling me?”
He gave her a sideways glance. “It can’t be good. We’ve never evacuated the Chosen before.”
“Oh shit.” She ran into the room. “What can I help you with?”
Daniel kept shoving clothes into his bag. “The laptop and files over there on the desk.”
“Got it.” Katie ran over and scooped up the files shoving them into a bag next to the desk then grabbed the laptop.
“Kaitlyn, leave. Now,” Seth commanded.
She didn’t dare question him or hesitate, but threw the bag over her shoulder and flashed.
Seth went into warrior mode the minute the text arrived. His senses told him demons were already on the move and headed toward the house. “Times up, Daniel.” He grabbed the kid’s arm and flashed them back to the compound.
Chaos greeted them as both humans and immortals raced up and down the corridors. Gwen ran up to greet them.
“Demons are everywhere. You’re needed in the conference room. Daniel, follow the others and someone will get you settled in.”
“Have you seen Katie?” He tried to reach her, but she must have closed herself off. He fisted his palms as worry burned through his veins.
“She’s in with the others already.” Gwen’s reply soothed him, but he was anxious to see her with his own eyes. The woman was going to drive him to the brink of madness and here he was stupid enough to think he had his sanity back.
With purpose in his stride he headed for the conference room and came up beside Katie. Everyone stood, their eyes transfixed on the wall of monitors. All were tuned to various news stations around the world. What he saw made his blood run cold.
Demons claimed the streets and the public ran screaming. No longer were the spawn of Hell hiding, but had come out into the wide open. Major cities such as Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Hong Kong. The list went on and not a country had been spared.
“Holy fuck,” someone whispered.
“How the hell are we supposed to stop this?” another asked.
Warm fingers wrapped around his arm and he looked to see that Katie had latched onto him. When she finally broke her gaze away from the news and looked at him, she had tears running down her cheeks. He wanted to pull her close, take her away from all this, but there was no running. Instead he put his arm around her and pulled her to his side.
“There are so many and how many more of them are out there that we don’t see?” Her eyes glazed with fear. “And where the hell is my father? Did I miss a step? Is there something else I need to do in order to wake him?”
He kissed the top of her head. “Don’t worry, baby. We’ll figure this out.”
Aidyn began shutting the monitors off. “I’ve seen enough, we need to put our heads together and come up with something.” Everyone moved toward the table in the center of the room. All the guardians from across the globe were in attendance. Caleb and Lileta sat in for the Draki and he caught Baal out of the corner of his eye as the demon slipped into the room late and took a seat. Aidyn stood at the head of the table looking haggard.
“I don’t even need to spell out what a fucking mess this is. It’s obvious the gate has opened. Panic is running rampant with the humans and you can’t blame them.” He rubbed his jaw. “I’m open to suggestions because I’ll be frank. We are way out-fucking-numbered.”
Murmurs circled around the table until finally Caleb stood. “Well, we know that my people could take out the demons, but we have to fight hand-to-hand. There is no way we
can be seen by the mortals, it’s far too dangerous and they are not ready to learn about us.” The shifter laid a hand on his mate’s shoulder. “However, you have my people’s full support. We’ll do what we can in the air in remote areas and fight like men on the ground where we can’t.”
Aidyn nodded. “Thanks.”
Baal stood. “I don’t have to tell you that my people will stand by you. We’ll weave magic any place you need it, but there is only so much ground we can cover.”
The guardian king simply blinked and nodded. Katie rose out of her seat and wrung her hands together.
“Um, I know I’m the newcomer here, but I want to help.” She drew in a deep breath. “I’ll go back and see if I can figure out why the Phoenix hasn’t awakened. In the meantime, I’ve gained a lot of knowledge. I know something that will help protect people, but the logistics...” She shook her head. “I’m not very familiar with what the knowledge I carry means.”
All eyes were on her. Aidyn leaned forward, placed his palms on the table. “Tell us what you know.”
“The Cave of Knowledge holds sacred water. If any of the gods’ servants drink from it they can then leave a blood cross on a building to protect its occupants.”
All heads turned back to Aidyn who still leaned over the table, his eyes narrowed. “Gods’ servants would be either guardians or the gods’ warriors of death. So, if I understand you, I can drink from the water then bleed myself and trace a cross on, say this building?”
“Yes, no demon can cross.” She looked directly at Baal. “That includes your people too. As long as the occupants remain inside they will be safe.”
Aidyn plopped in his chair. “So, that still leaves us with disposing of the demons that are here now. Finding Lowan, because taking him out is the only way to stop this shit. Not to mention getting to the caves which are heavily guarded by Lowan’s henchmen and the biggest? In order to place those safeguards, we need to expose ourselves to the human race. Need someone in their midst to be our liaison.”
“Why the hell can’t Zarek take care of this?” someone asked.
“Because that’s why he has us?” Gabriel answered from across the room where he leaned against the wall. He pushed himself away and walked toward the head of the table. As he passed, he bumped Seth’s chair then leaned down, placing his lips within inches of Seth’s ear.
“You haven’t bonded with your mate yet. I’ll be sure to check in on her after your death. She’s one hellcat in bed, but I’m sure you know that already.”
Seth growled and knocked the angel to the floor, his hands around the angel’s throat. “I’ll rip those wings right off your back and shove them up your ass until you’re spitting out feathers.”
“Enough!” Aidyn commanded.
Several hands grabbed Seth and yanked him off. His lip bled where he’d sank a fang into it, but he didn’t give a shit. All he could see was red. He grabbed Katie by the arm.
“I need to speak to you. Alone.” He flashed them from the room and into the corridor.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“What’s going on with you and that angel?” Katie asked, a mixture of concern and agitation in her voice.
He glared at her. “Funny, I was about to ask you the same question.” Seth could scarcely believe the words had passed his lips.
“I’ve only seen him when he was in my father’s front yard. The time you were watching me. Who is he anyway and what did he say to you?”
He rolled his fingers into his palms and squeezed. “He was telling me what a good time in bed you were.”
Her jaw dropped open for a brief moment before it snapped shut and she regained her composure. “You believed him?” It was her turn to fist her hands and he half expected a ball of fire to be launched at his head.
“You didn’t answer the question.” And I am an ass for even thinking she would sleep with him. His gut told him Gabriel was fucking with him to get even, but his messed-up mind? Well it questioned everything.
He watched as her jaw tightened. “You think I hop from bed to bed?”
“You were in the business of selling sex.” Oh, did he just say that? Yes, it was his voice he heard and the pain in her eyes had him wanting to cut open his chest and rip out his heart so he could hand it to her. He doubted it would hurt any worse than what he’d just done to her.
“And to think I wasted my time on you.” She vanished and he was left standing alone with his thoughts, which were not good. He knew he was being a dick and he sucked at this relationship stuff. Gods help him, how was he supposed to tell Katie he was still scared to death he’d end her life. He would have succeeded too if she had not had her own power to push him away the first time he fed from her.
He squeezed his eyes shut and wished himself anyplace but where he was. Taking in a deep breath, he opened them again and headed back to the meeting. He was here and had a duty. Katie needed time to cool off before he tried to talk to her again. Back in his seat everyone eyed him and he knew they were all wondering where his mate had gone. Gabriel sat in the corner with a smirk Seth itched to wipe off the angel’s face. He would too, as soon as this nightmare was over. He planned to finally have it out with the dark warrior.
“It is decided, Gabriel and I will approach the Pope and beg the Vatican’s assistance. I think we can all agree that in a time when demons are running the streets, people will be looking to their faith. Perhaps they can help bring together the world’s leaders,” Aidyn said.
“We are still so few, how are we going to fight off Lowan and his henchmen?” Lucan asked.
Aidyn’s shoulders slumped. “I have no choice but to ask for volunteers. We can train the military on how to kill demons, but they will still not be strong enough to fight magic. We also need to keep them from doing something stupid like dropping bombs or worse.”
Everyone knew what he meant. Gods help humanity if someone hit the panic button and launched a nuclear warhead. They were fighting more than just a war against evil. There would be a war with the very humans they were sworn to protect. Some would refuse to believe they were the good guys. Seth hated to admit it, but Gabriel and his brethren fit the image mortals had of their angels. The guardians were more apt to be labeled the same as the demons. Evil bloodsuckers that should be eradicated. It was one of the biggest reasons they had always stayed hidden and used the Chosen to aid them. Hiding in the shadows was no longer an option. The volunteers Aidyn spoke of? The king was the only one among them who could transform a human who wasn’t a mate into a guardian. It was a check and balance system, otherwise some of his brethren would transform humans without regard to their welfare. Being converted without a mate also proved dangerous. Blood lust took over a human in the first couple of days and like a child they needed to be taught how to feed and use the power given to them.
Seth rubbed his temples. This was going to be one helluva clusterfuck, but it was what they had been created for. It was what they lived and breathed for.
Aidyn rose. “Gabriel, you will appear to the Pope first and explain the situation. Once you’re done I need you to report back to me. The rest of you will take major cities and for now try and stay hidden while you take out as many demons as possible. Capture and use any means available to you to try and locate Lowan. We need to get our hands on the water back in the caves.”
“I’ll go,” Lucan replied. “I should be able to slip in and out undetected.”
Aidyn nodded. “Good. Your gift should prove useful on this mission.”
Lucan nodded and wasted no time in flashing from the room.
“Then it’s done. We know what we have to do for now. As soon as I have any more information I will summon you.” Aidyn dismissed everyone.
Seth started for the door. He needed to go to his quarters and gather supplies and prepare for his next assignment.
A hand grabbed his shoulder. “Wait up, I’ll walk with you.” Marcus gave him the ‘we need to talk’ look.
“Don’t bother t
o tell me I’m an idiot, I’m well aware,” Seth growled.
Marcus snorted. “Am I that obvious?”
He cast a sideways glance. “Yes. I’ve seen your ‘lecture face’ many times.”
“Lecture?”
“Yes, the one you get when you’re about to ream someone’s ass.”
“Huh, I didn’t know I got a face.” Marcus sounded genuinely surprised, but they’d all seen it. Marcus was Aidyn’s second in command and he had chewed a lot of backsides over the years. Seth held a great deal of respect for the man. He was honest, fair and would never ask his men to do something he wouldn’t do himself. Often times Marcus was harder on himself and had been the one tasked with taking Seth out of commission if it had come down to it. Seth was happy Marcus had never had to do it. The man had suffered enough to last a thousand lifetimes. Killing his mate and father in the same day thanks to a demon war should have been more than any immortal could be expected to handle.
Gods, he hoped like hell they didn’t suffer the losses they did when they had fought Drayos, Lowan’s father.
“I have been worried about the same thing.” Marcus could always read Seth even with his barriers intact. “If Lowan is capable of throwing a curse at us...”
Seth held up his hand. “Don’t go there.”
“Fine, then I’ll move on to the subject of mates. Are you fucking crazy?”
Seth cringed. “How many heard?”
“I’m pretty sure everyone in the compound.” Marcus chuckled. “I was ready to start taking bets on if you’d come back in one piece.”
“I must admit I’m surprised myself.” Seth pushed open the door to the room he used while staying at the compound. “I accused her of sleeping with another man, but do you really think you have any room to offer advice? After all, you made Cassie think you used her and was still in love with your dead mate.”
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