Shattered Dawn (Fallen Guardians Book 5)

by Georgia Lyn Hunter

  Ugh, she flopped next to her shopping bags on the bench and hoped he wouldn’t be too mad.

  Ah! Nik was going to blow a fuse that she’d kept this from him.

  Man, she flipped back her hair, lifting her gaze to the vaulted ceiling. Then she blinked, her gaze darting about, finally taking in the enormous interior of Nik’s living quarters.

  It was gorgeous, the total opposite of the monastery’s worn décor. His massive bed with navy covers and a dark headboard abutted the stone wall. Drapes the same shade as the duvet framed a series of tall windows on the wall leading to a cozy turret living space, the latter decked with comfortable armchairs, a couch, and a coffee table with a lone paperback. Aba had car magazines on his table—

  Aba! She scrambled for her backpack on the floor, got out her cell, and still kneeling, she made her call. Yes, she’d already alerted him to what had occurred with Tolvi, but she had to see if he and Nate were okay. Thank goodness Nik had topped up the credit on her cell.

  “Shadow?” Aba’s warm voice coasted to her ear. “No, Nate’s not back from wherever he’s gone,” he said, before she asked, “but I will notify him of the threat.”

  Darn. “Okay. But please stay safe.”

  “Do not worry about me, child. You know I always adhere to the side of caution. And you?” She heard the worry in his soft voice. “I’m well and very, very safe, believe me,” she reassured him. “I’m—”

  “No-no, don’t tell me anything. Just in case. I don’t want that demon digging in my head and finding out where you are. But you take care.”

  “I will. Talk soon.” She dropped her cell in her backpack. At least Aba was safe. God, she hoped Nate was, too.

  Restless, she jumped up and made her way to the window, staring out at the darkening view, at the miles of trimmed lawns and flower beds, and the forest in the distance—

  Arms slipped around her waist.

  Her heart pounded. In reflex, from living underground for so many years, Shadow slammed her elbow back, connecting with a wall of muscles behind her.

  A grunt stirred her hair as a familiar, tantalizing male smell of stormy nights and cedar enclosed her. “Darn it, Nik,” she groaned, clutching the arms cradling her waist. “I hurt you.”

  “Hardly a tap,” he murmured, caressing the side of her neck with his mouth. “I thought you’d be downstairs with the other females?” He sucked on her skin, doing some serious, blood heating things to her.

  She bit back a moan. “I’ll go down in a while. Wanted to put those things away.” She waved at the bench covered in the shopping bags and her backpack.

  “Yeah, it’s called the dressing room. Has loads of space,” he drawled, then his mouth came back to tormenting her neck, trailing his tongue along the rim of her ear to suck on her lobe.

  God, she shut her eyes, desire heightening. Moments from dragging him to the floor, she somehow dredged up the strength to resist and turned in his arms to face him.

  His brow creased. “What is it? I sense your unease.”

  Right. She took a step back, her neck still tingling from his sensual onslaught, aware his gaze followed her. With no idea how to approach this, she blurted, “This wound here?” She touched her almost healed chest. “A demon did this.”

  “I know…” Then he stilled. “What exactly do you mean?” His tone was quiet, and all the more deadlier for it.

  She swallowed and rubbed her damp palms down her jeans. “Tolvi. He’s been after me since last fall. I didn’t know it was him until recently. He said these nodes belong to him…” she trailed off at the tic pulsing furiously on Nik’s jaw.

  “Why didn’t you tell me all this?”

  “I was scared of what could happen,” she admitted, searching his hard features for a glimmer of understanding, but she couldn’t read anything in them. “He, Tolvi, killed one of Eddi’s friends in front of me. He said he’ll do the same to the people who live at The Refuge if I don’t hand my maker over—hand Nate over—or if the Guardians came snooping around his place…” She bit her lip.

  “Describe him.”

  His flat tone had her stomach twisting. “He’s tall as you, bony and thin, with a dark complexion, and anemic yellow eyes. He wears his white hair in a short mohawk.”

  “How did he know about your nodes?”

  “I don’t think he knew about them. He called me an anomaly. He-he heard about me feeding from demons, it’s why he came after me.” Nik’s mouth thinned, but she forced herself to continue. “When he realized I didn’t know where my maker was, he lashed out, slicing my top open. That’s when he saw the nodes and tried to dig them out—”

  A sliver of fury surged through her, followed by the temperature dropping to subzero. “Nik—” she gasped, stumbling and rubbing her arms.

  The impossible cold dissipated.

  “I will find him.” He headed for the door.

  “Nik, wait—” She darted after him.

  He faced her, no give visible in his set jaw, his eyes like pale green glaciers.

  She burst out, “Joyce? Please, would you try and get her to The Shelter before Rough gets his hands on her?”

  After several seconds, he sighed, and his expression softened. “You can’t save everyone, Shadow,” he said gently. “They must want it, too. But I’ll look out for her. If you need me for anything, message or telepath me. One moment—”

  He strode into the dressing room then reappeared a moment later.

  “Here.” He handed her a new cell phone. “It has all the Guardians numbers in there, and mine, if you can’t telepathically connect with me. Hey—” He slid his fingers in her hair, making her look at him. “It’ll be okay. We’ll tackle things one day at a time. And I’ll find the one behind Eddi’s death.”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, rubbing her almost healed sternum. “I should have told you about Tolvi. But I didn’t want him killing the people in The Refuge. He has his minions everywhere. And the lying hellscum killed Eddi, even though he’d given me two days to turn over Nate.”

  “Two days?” Nik’s eyebrows tipped together. “It’s long past that, and the others haven’t reported any more deaths down there. He’s probably keeping low for now with us checking on The Refuge. But he’ll crawl out of the woodwork soon enough, and we’ll be waiting.”

  She leaned into him, seeking comfort, and when his thickly muscled arms wrapped around her, her heart settled. Nik was her sanctuary.

  “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said softly, pressing his lips to her forehead. “I gotta go. I’ll be back at dawn.”

  She sighed and stepped back, wishing he didn’t have to leave. “Please be careful.”

  “I’m immortal, Shadow—”

  “Yes, but not invincible.”

  Nik shook his head. “Stop worrying. Rest if you can.”

  Rest? She doubted she could. “Maybe later. I’ll walk out with you. I want to see Kira and the other girls.”

  And hopefully, this restlessness within her would fade.

  Shadow made her way to the kitchen after Nik left, already missing him.

  Soft laughter echoed in her mind. I can hear your thoughts, agápi. I’ll be back before you know it, and I’ll make it up to you.

  Can’t wait. She huffed out a laugh. She loved this connection between them, feeling his warmth inside her, his amusement. She didn’t feel so lonely anymore.

  Shadow walked into the spacious but rowdy kitchen, rich with the aroma of coffee and the evening meal. All the women were there except for Ely.

  Darci set her cup down and rose from the table. “I’ve got a few things to do. Michael’s gotten some old scrolls he wants cataloged and put away. I’ll see you later.”

  “We’ll join you.” Kira glanced up. “Shadow!” she cried, jumping and hurrying over. “When did you get back?”

  Smiling, Shadow shut the door behind herself. “A little while ago.”

  “C’mon, sit.” Kira practically dragged her to a chair and
parked herself on the seat next to Shadow. “What happened with you and Nik? Tell us, tell us!”

  “I’m so sorry about her,” Echo said, plonking herself on Shadow’s other side. “She can’t help herself. She’s soooo nosy.” Her mismatched eyes sparkled. “Now tell us what happened when you got to Romania.”

  “Yes, do.” Darci grinned, sitting again.

  And just like that, the lingering tension, the frustration, the sense of helplessness faded. Shadow burst out laughing. She missed the affinity she found with the girls, their easy banter.

  “Was Nik mad?” Shae asked from across the table.

  Hedori, who’d just walked into the kitchen, smiled in greeting. “Would you like something to eat?”

  “Yes, please,” she answered him, and to the girls, she said, “Nik told me to leave.”

  Mouths dropped open, then snapped shut.

  Kira waved it off. “But you didn’t. It’s been two days.”

  Shadow set her new cell phone on the table. “I wasn’t going to let him tell me what to do.”

  “Good for you.” Echo nodded.

  “Well, long story short, I can now do this.” She summoned her obsidian dagger because it was so pretty, and it didn’t make her skin itch like her iron blade did, and she loved it. Moreover, the weapon said everything, so she didn’t have to go into the whole story. They would know.

  The moment the obsidian took form in her hand, shrieks of excitement erupted.

  “Our numbers grow. Soon we’ll no longer be the minority,” Shae said with a warm smile.

  Hedori set a plated meal in front of her. A chicken breast oozing with some kind of herb, bacon, and cheese stuffing, and a side of mixed veggies.

  Shadow left the dagger on the table. As she ate, she filled the girls in about Tolvi, about him marking her, but she left out Nik’s confession about his past, and ended with the hellhound hunting them.

  “And you sliced that thing’s belly?” Darci asked, eyes wide, all thoughts of cataloging scrolls apparently forgotten. “Wow, you are brave.”

  “No, I wasn’t when facing the creature.” Shadow grimaced, eating another bite of chicken. “After it tossed Race and Nik aside, it was me or it. So, I attacked.”

  “I’m so glad you’re okay,” Kira said, then she scrunched her face. “I hate fighting of any sort.”

  Shadow smiled. “I don’t mind—”

  “Great,” both Echo and Shae said in unison, then laughed. “We’re always looking for sparring partners,” Echo added.

  As Shadow finished her meal, a surge of heat swamped her, as if she had a fever. Sweat beaded her brow and chest. Crap. Now what? The sensation just grew. She set her cutlery down and stood. “Excuse me.”

  “Is everything okay?” Kira asked, her gaze skimming over her.

  Darn, she didn’t want to worry them. She forced a smile and nodded. “I need to make a call.”

  Cell in hand, Shadow hurried out through the open French doors and into the soothing, crisp night. Inhaling deep gulps of air, she rubbed her chest, then her throat, trying to calm down. This sense of asphyxiation gripping her wasn’t good. She scrubbed the goosebumps from her arms, then blinked.

  In the dark, a faint glimmer shimmered beneath her skin. How odd. She rubbed the glow, but it remained. Another anomaly? Was it because she’d finally nourished her symbionts to full strength instead of just stolen bits of feeding? As the heat within her subsided, thankfully, the glow dissipated.

  Shadow pushed her cell in her skirt pocket and glanced about her. Eerie amber eyes stared unwaveringly at her from between the potted herbs on the kitchen terrace.

  “Hey, there,” she whispered, going on her haunches and holding out her hand to Bob. After a moment’s hesitation, the huge, furry gray coon cat with the ginger ruff slowly prowled over, only to stop a short distance from her. Then, giving Shadow an insultingly wide berth, he waddled off into the kitchen. Man, even the animals didn’t trust her with the demon blood inside—

  Rage shimmered through her, so chillingly icy in its intensity, she shot to her feet, her heart careening in her chest. Something was wrong—Nik?

  Nik! she yelled through their telepathic link. Please, please talk to me…

  Nik trawled the underground tunnels with Aethan, scouting for demon activity, the drip-drip-plink of water resounding in the dense silence.

  “We’re doing this blind, with nothing except for Shadow’s descriptions of Tolvi,” Aethan said.

  Nik stopped dead. Dammit. How could he forget? He must be losing his mind.

  Dag, I need your help, he telepathed the warrior as he whipped out his cell and shot a message to Hedori. Do you have Shadow’s ruined shirt from when she got hurt?

  Yes, Hedori texted.

  Thank fuck Hedori hadn’t tossed it out. Bring it to me.

  A moment later, Dagan materialized, and Aethan cocked a brow.

  “Dagan will probably get a better clue about the demon,” Nik explained. “The blood on Shadow’s shirt from when Tolvi hurt her will help. Hedori’s bringing her top to us.”

  Nik was glad he didn’t have to do this at the castle, sparing Shadow from reliving her torture under the demon’s hand.

  Hedori took form a moment later and handed Nik the shirt.

  “Thanks. See if you can pick up anything from this, where exactly his lair is.” Nik passed the top to Dagan.

  The warrior’s abilities were unparalleled in picking up past deeds when he held a related item.

  “It’ll be through her thoughts and sight, unless he touched her,” he warned.

  Jaw hard, Nik gave a stilted nod.

  Dagan moved the material around in his hand then stroked the torn edges. Seconds passed…

  “Best I get back,” Hedori murmured. “I left Lore watching over the castle for a bit, much to Echo’s excitement. She calls it a siesta from the Grim Reaper. Lore wasn’t amused.”

  Aethan snorted, and with a smile, Hedori dematerialized.

  Nik didn’t expect anything else. Hedori was as protective over all their mates as they were.

  He glanced around the underbelly of the city that Shadow had called home, grateful she would no longer traipse around in this place, then back at his friend. “Anything?”

  “She’s in a dark cavern, streaks of fire in the walls.” Dagan’s brow furrowed, then his citrine eyes lifted to Nik. “This demon wants the powers she supposedly has.”

  Power?

  Except for her heightened senses, Shadow didn’t possess any other abilities. Did she?

  “There’s something else.” Dagan handed the top over. “That demon wants her as his.”

  “I will kill him first.” Rage fisting him by the balls, Nik pressed the fabric to his nose, inhaling his mate’s alluring wildflowers scent. His chest tightened. As long as he breathed, no one would dare touch a single strand of her hair—

  Everything in him went dead still. Amidst the myriad odors clinging to her shirt, one stood out, burning his nose—the gut-churning stench of sulfur with a hint of moldy spice. “I know his stink now. He will regret coming after her.”

  Aethan took the shirt, sniffed. “Local demons don’t possess this reek.”

  “I know. We’re dealing with someone directly from the Dark Realm, posing as a gang leader. The bastard must have a portal somewhere underground.” Nik glanced around the dank, silent tunnels again.

  “You think he could be behind the abduction of the women and children?”

  “We will know when we find the fucker.” Nik retrieved Shadow’s top and pushed it into his back pocket.

  “I think I might be able to locate where the demon’s lair is,” Dagan said. “I have a vision of the outside of the cavern Shadow saw before she disappeared into darkness.

  “Then let’s go get the fucker,” Aethan snapped.

  They dematerialized and coasted through the dank tunnels, tracking…

  Every time Nik felt as if they were on a wild goose hunt, Dagan telepathed, This way.


  An hour later, he mind-linked with Nik, Here, it looks familiar.

  Nik reformed near a bricked-off, gloomy passage. The stench of dampness and decay hung dense and heavy. Decomposing brick pillars rose, supporting the water-stained underground ceiling. On his left, grimy, mold-covered walls meandered on, and to his right, a granite barrier loomed.

  Nik checked the stonework wall for a hidden doorway, then he trailed his fingers on the cold, rugged surface, feeling for a chink—a seam. A zing shot through him—

  “I sense something…” Aethan ran his palm over the damp granite.

  “Yeah, I do, too. The fucking ward’s abrading my psyche like razors,” Nik snarled. “I will make the fucker wish he’d never set foot on this realm.” Frost coated the walls in front of him.

  The ground shuddered beneath their feet.

  Nik spun around as dark fog slithered out from the ground.

  “What the fuck?” Aethan swore. Dagan cursed.

  Several hellfire bolts rained toward them. Nik ducked, barely evading a hit when a piercing pain speared his right biceps. Cold fury tore through him.

  The emerging skeletal demons with leathery black skin hissed, “You dare to trespass on our lord’s territory?

  Chapter 21

  Nik? Shadow yelled through their telepathic pathway again. But she hit a wall, and the sensation of rage and pain flashing through her vanished as fast as it appeared.

  “Please, please,” she breathed, trying to concentrate on where he was, to find out if he was okay.

  The terrace swirled in a dizzying speed.

  “Oh, crap—” she groaned, collapsing against the wrought-iron table. She squeezed her eyes tight. What was wrong with her?

  “Shadow!” Kira’s voice came from afar as the rushing air roared in her ears. Terror snatching her breath, she reached out for her friend, straining to hold onto anything—

  And crashed into a rock-hard body. A cacophony of noise, exploding her ears.

  “What the fuck?” a male voice snarled.