Shattered Dawn (Fallen Guardians Book 5)

by Georgia Lyn Hunter

  A brutally strong hand grabbed her, her back slamming into a granite chest, cold steel pressing against her throat. The sting of the blade had her eyes snapping open. Fiery bolts flew in the darkness, curses and screeches grew.

  The man spun her around.

  “Nik?” she gasped, blinking in confusion, a familiar damp stench crowding her nose.

  “Shadow?” Nik’s eyes widened, then they blazed like an out-of-control furnace. “I could have fucking killed you!” he yelled. “What the hell were you thinking?”

  She shook her head, too disorientated to speak. Somehow, she’d flashed—

  Oh, shit. She’d freaking flashed herself to Nik underground, where he was in the middle of a demon fight. She pressed a hand over her thrashing heart. The symbionts throbbed wildly on her chest, no doubt sensing the dark energy around her.

  A whizzing hiss echoed around them. Cursing, Nik hauled her aside, avoiding a deadly blitzing hellfire bolt that blasted the dingy brick and mortar wall. Rubble exploded, raining to the ground.

  “How did you get here?” he demanded, his fingers a punishing grip on her biceps. “Who brought you?”

  She shook her head just as a demon manifested behind him, lunging forward with deadly long talons. “Nik!” she shrieked at the same time as he flung out a hand, freezing the monster without even a glance over his shoulder.

  “Nik, go!” someone yelled. “We got this—”

  The gloomy underground spun. Her heart jammed in her throat as they left the grimy place and reformed moments later—back in their bedroom at the castle.

  Nik let her go, fists clenching, clearly ready to punch something.

  She bit off a groan, feeling as if she’d left her brain elsewhere at this mode of travel. She rubbed her temples aware Nik hadn’t said a word. But she felt his fear and anger through their mate bond. She dared to look up and bumped into his flat stare.

  “I-I didn’t ask anyone or do anything to find you,” she said, lowering her hand.

  Hands on his hips, he stood near the fireplace, the tic on his hard jaw powering up. “Then when exactly did this miracle of you flashing yourself to me occur?”

  “I don’t know…” She swallowed, still trying to get her mind to track. “I had a weird heat flash and then felt you in here.” She poked her head. “You were furious, and when I sensed your pain, I was terrified you were injured. You weren’t responding to my telepathic calls, so I tried to feel for you, and…and then I was there.”

  He stared at her for an intense second before his eyes narrowed. “What else are you keeping from me, Shadow?”

  She blinked, hurt punching her in the chest. “You think I’m hiding things from you?” Hurt turned to anger. “Of course, why would you believe me? I live underground with the worst types out there, and I steal, so yeah, I’m always going to be a suspect when things go against the norm. If that’s what you think about me, then it’s best we—”

  “What? End us?” he growled. “How the hell am I supposed to protect you if I don’t know what you can do? You suddenly appeared in the middle of a dangerous fight. You could have died! You scared the crap out of me!”

  “You think I knew about this? I had no idea I could flash, dematerialize, or whatever the heck I just did,” she shot back. “All I knew is when I felt your pain, I panicked. Fear drove me to find you. I mean mentally. I didn’t expect it to happen literally.”

  “Hell.” Nik rubbed a palm over his scruffy jaw. His brow furrowed, then his contemplative stare lowered to her chest. He reached out a hand and gently stroked her sternum. “It’s your symbionts. I think now that they’re properly nurtured, they’ve somehow released this ability.”

  “What?” Her mouth dropped, her heart thundering in her head. The fight in her died out at the terrifying truth. “Nik, what if more demon-like powers take hold of me. What if my soul turns dark, oh…” Her knees trembled, and she swayed at the thought of the horrid reality. She was changing? Oh, god, oh, god!

  Nik scooped her into his arms and strode to the turret living area, setting her on the couch.

  “Nik.” She grasped his shirt before he could straighten, terror strangling her. “I already need their dark energy to survive. What if I become a demon?”

  His lips pressed together, and that single dimple she rarely saw and adored appeared. He sat on the coffee table, his leathers creaking, knees caging hers. “Then, together, we’ll handle whatever abilities arise, but you need to tell me the moment you sense any changes. As to your soul, yours isn’t dark like those of the demons, agápi. You’re like a blaze of light inside here.” He tapped his chest. “I would know if you weren’t. We are one. We share a soul now.” His gaze swept tenderly over her face. “And if you do become a demoness, it doesn’t matter. Because you are the flame that warmed this cold heart of mine. Nothing will take you away from me.”

  A smile started, his promise wrapping around her in a comforting hug.

  His gaze lowered to her throat, and his smile vanished. “You’re bleeding.”

  Gingerly, she touched her throat. “Oh. I’ll heal—eeek!” she squealed as he picked her up and switched places with her. He shifted her to his lap and ran his tongue along her throat wound.

  The faint burn faded. “It doesn’t hurt—”

  “Don’t care. The thought I could have killed you will not leave me for a damn long time.” He lapped her skin again, stirring all the delicious nerves endings, and she shuddered. Her core clenched, and nipples tightened.

  More, she needed his arms around her, needed to feel like she could breathe freely again.

  Shadow turned, and Nik’s mouth captured hers. His hand slid through her hair, and he kissed her deeply, as if he, too, needed the connection…

  “Hell,” he groaned, breaking their kiss far too soon. “I have to go back.”

  Inhaling a shaky breath, she met his scorching gaze and nodded. “I know. The fight I appeared in, what was that about? The usual or…?”

  His lips tightened briefly. “Tolvi sent his minions after us.” He set her on the couch and rose. “It frustrates me that we get so close then hit a fucking dead end.”

  “Maybe you should let me try and flush Tolvi out?”

  “No.” Steel edged his tone and seeped into his eyes. “Don’t ask me that again.”

  Man, he could be so darn intractable. Just because they were mated, it didn’t mean she’d suddenly become fragile and helpless. Before she could set her mate straight on his ancient views, his expression morphed to a cold mask.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “Work.” He pointed at his head. “Got a telepathic message. I have to go. I’ll see you in a few hours. If you feel anything unusual, call me.” Then he dematerialized.

  Shadow remained on the couch for several seconds, unable to believe she’d flashed. Caught in the throes of disbelief, she pushed to her feet and made her way to the dressing room—

  Don’t ask me that again. Not unless you want the same thing to happen to you.

  Shadow stumbled and grabbed the jamb, at the strange, chilling voice echoing inside her skull. She hastily glanced around the silent room.

  Great. Now she was imagining voices. But wariness settled inside her.

  Had Tolvi somehow got into her head?

  God, she hoped not.

  Chapter 22

  Moldy, soggy air surrounded Nik, along with the gut-churning stench of sulfur as he stepped into the contained space of a crypt in the cemetery on the East River.

  Aethan and Dagan waited for him, along with a moaning, dark-haired demon Dagan had trapped with his telekinesis.

  “What happened with the horde?”

  “I took them out.” Aethan shrugged. “Pointless to waste time when we know they were mere minions for the fucker, Tolvi.”

  Nik nodded. With Aethan’s ability of whitefire, he probably decimated them in seconds.

  “And him?” Nik nodded to the demon. Even with a busted lip and swollen left eye,
the male still managed to glare at them.

  “Found him lurking in the shadows after taking down the hellscums.” Dagan thrust the demon forward. “After a little, er, persuasion, he finally brought us here. But we just missed the bastards. Thought you’d get a better feel or scent something you’d recognize.” He waved to the empty vault.

  Nik let the acrid smells in the gloomy crypt roll over him…then the sensation of absolute fear grazed his psyche, one quite familiar. Shit. It was the female Shadow spoke to in The Refuge when he’d tracked Rough’s goons. “The woman that was here, Joyce. Shadow tried to help her.”

  “Picked up at least four females, and there were kids, too.” Dagan’s fists clenched, looking like he wanted to throttle the scourge.

  Nik grabbed the demon and flashed outside, the moonlight casting an eerie light over the cemetery. He flung the demon to the ground, damp with dew. “Talk.”

  “I don’t know anything—”

  “You fucking knew this place!”

  “Because I-I followed the humans taking her,” he moaned. “I live underground, loathe that jerk Rough and his thugs.” Truth. “H-he likes collecting w-women,” he coughed out.

  You think this is about the abducted females? Aethan mind-linked with him. This Rough’s one of the traffickers?

  We’ll find out. I know where that fucker is.

  “Why were you spying on us?” Nik demanded, clenching his tingling fingers, powers barely leashed.

  The demon hurriedly scrambled back on his ass, probably sensing the imminent danger. “Because I needed help. My name’s Laex. Shadow knows me,” he added hurriedly. “And I like Joyce. I wanted to save her and hoped she’d give me a chance then.” Truth.

  “You could have avoided all this…” Dagan flicked a hand over the demon’s battered face. “If you didn’t run when asked to talk.”

  Laex scowled then grimaced, swiping the blood seeping from the wet scab on his mouth. “You assholes are known to beat those of my kind first before asking questions.”

  Aethan snorted. “True. But then we’re seldom wrong about you idiots.”

  Frustration hiking, Nik nailed the demon an icy stare, knowing Shadow could have so easily become a statistic, too. “And Tolvi?”

  “Heard of him. He gets heavyweight humans and demons to do jobs for him. Uses our species’ rep to pretend to be all evil and shit. Lazy fucking twat.”

  Nik narrowed his eyes. That sounded nothing like the ruthless asshole Shadow told him about. “His lair?”

  “In the labyrinths beneath the Bronx.” Truth.

  Nik frowned. “Then who the fuck’s in the Tribeca one?”

  “He must have two dens.”

  “Description?”

  The demon lifted a shoulder. “Lean built. Dark skin and white hair.” He swiped the gore from his healing face and eyed them warily. “If you’re finished pounding on me, I’m going to find Joyce.”

  When Nik remained where he was, and the others didn’t move, Laex crawled to his feet and took off in a flash.

  “I’m gonna track the demon and see where he goes.” Aethan dematerialized.

  “Everything okay with you and Shadow?” Dagan asked him.

  And that brought his thoughts back to her new ability. His fear still hadn’t left him, recalling her suddenly appearing in the middle of a fight.

  “Yeah, we’re good. Hell, she can now dematerialize. She got worried, felt my pain when I took a hit.” He rubbed his already healed biceps. “She tried to track me in her mind, but somehow linked to where I actually was. Fuck. I’m terrified at what could have happened.”

  Dagan nodded. “I had a similar situation with Shae. Train her to control her abilities. I’ll see you later.” He dematerialized.

  Yeah, he would. He wanted her safe.

  Nik made his way past the many headstones toward the cathedral, intent on finding Tolvi, but a familiar marble stone snagged his attention. He slowed and retraced his steps back to it.

  Olivia Montgomery

  Seven years later, and guilt still stirred. He’d come across her while tracking a blood demon who’d sought refuge in an upscale hotel. She hadn’t reacted to his mental command to get to safety, forcing him to do so in person. In hindsight, it was probably her air of hopelessness, something his younger self had lived with for a long time, that drew him. Expect, he hid his by fighting…

  The female eyed Nik cautiously as he approached, the moonlight emphasizing her brilliant red hair and pale, drawn features. He wasn’t gonna hurt her. “It’s not safe out here alone.”

  She blinked as if surprised he spoke to her. “You’re one of Enzo’s bodyguards?” she asked softly, cautious brown eyes studying him. “I haven’t seen you before. You don’t look like his usual…men.”

  “I am a guard, just not his.” Nik scanned the gardens for the blood demon he’d tracked into the hotel.

  “Good.” She inhaled deeply as if bracing herself, and those haunted eyes held his. “I need a favor—”

  “No. Go inside.” He turned to leave.

  “Wait.” She grasped his forearm, startling him. Nik stepped back. He didn’t like being touched. She hurriedly opened her small purse, scribbled something on a piece of paper, and pushed it into his hand. A tissue with a number.

  “My name’s Olivia Montgomery. I’ll pay you whatever you want if you help me—”

  “Olivia?” a cold voice snapped. “Why are you out here?” A tall, burly man in a suit stepped out into the garden and grabbed her arm. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing.” Her expression smoothed into a mask, but Nik sensed her wariness. “I was only speaking to the guard—”

  “He’s not mine.” The human shot Nik a deadly stare. “Don’t ever talk to my fiancée again.” As he strode indoors with her, she cast Nik a furtive, pleading look.

  Hell. His life was screwed enough, and with the harsh rules governing Guardians, he couldn’t let himself be dragged into mortal troubles. But her despair stayed with him, and his conscience warred within him. If that male human was hurting her, maybe he could wipe out the man’s memories or something.

  He called her two days later, only to find out she’d died the night before.

  Her death was one he would always regret.

  His mouth tightening, Nik dematerialized from the cemetery, heading to Tribeca. No way was he letting Shadow go anywhere alone, not until he destroyed the bastard hunting her.

  Pain slashed her back. Shadow cried out, scrambling away from the man looming over her. Hands grabbed her, and she lashed out. Fingers closed around her throat—

  “No-no!” she whimpered, scratching at her neck, feeling as if she couldn’t breathe.

  “Shadow, wake up-wake up. It’s just a dream.”

  Her teary eyes snapped open to more gloom. A blurry shape hovered over her.

  “No!” She hit out with fists and kicks, trying to break free. He won’t hurt me again—

  Her feet slammed him in the belly.

  An oomph escaped him. His grip loosened.

  Gulping back sobs, she scrambled off the bed and fell to her backside, pain jarring her bones. The dark figure followed. Oh, god, oh, god!

  “Stay back,” she cried, scuttling away on her bottom until her spine hit the wall. Struggling to pull air into her burning lungs, she drew her knees up and hunched over them, arms wrapped around her legs, cowering away from the man standing a short distance from her.

  Shadow, it’s me, Nik, a quiet voice coasted through her terror. I’d never hurt you, he whispered, his tone gentle, soothing her distraught mind. You know me, agápi. I’m your mate.

  The heavy drapes drew back. Blinding sunshine illuminated the recognizable massive bedroom with the stone fireplace and weapons on the mantel, hauling her out of her old nightmare. Her gaze rushed back to the tall, muscled man opposite her with a towel slung low on his lean hips, water beading on his inked chest. “Nik?”

  “Yes, it’s me,” he murmured, hunkering down, stil
l keeping his distance from her.

  A cry broke free, and she scrambled across, throwing herself at him. His arms came around her even as her momentum caused him to fall on his backside.

  “You are safe. I have you.” His arms, his warmth surrounded her, comforting her. She buried her face in his cool, damp neck, shivers wracking her as memories hidden in her mind’s vault cracked open…

  Don’t ask me that again, not unless you want the same thing to happen to you. The cruel words splintered her head, and the fog lifted. You belong to me now, Gemma. You’re nothing like her, but with that face, I can easily overlook your frailty.

  Dread gripped her. “Never! You murderer—”

  A crack echoed against her cheek, sending her head sideways, pain splintering through her skull.

  Dear god, a sob broke free.

  “Shadow, what is it?” Nik gently eased her from him, his gaze searching hers, worry etching groove in his forehead. “Talk to me, baby. I feel your terror.”

  Swallowing hard, she moved off him and sat on the floor, rubbing the phantom sting in her face. More memories gushed free…her grandfather, her sister—

  “Oh, Livy…” She wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked herself. Her poor sister.

  Tears blurred her sight, anger, pain, and abject misery swamping her. “You said something last night, and I think it cracked through the void in my mind…”

  “You got your memory back?”

  She nodded, then shook her head. “Some…it’s all jumbled in here.” She jabbed a finger to her temple.

  “Don’t force it,” he murmured. “What did I say?”

  Shadow blinked her wet eyes. “Last night, I told you I wanted to be bait to catch Tolvi. You refused and said, don’t ask me that again. A-and this image of a man looming over me flashed through my mind…”

  He waited.

  “He…he…” She choked out, kneading her hurting temples. “I was engaged to him.”

  “What?” Nik appeared as if he stopped breathing.

  “It wasn’t like that.” She hastily shook her head. “I didn’t like him. I hated him!”