Shattered Dawn (Fallen Guardians Book 5)

by Georgia Lyn Hunter

  She nodded, not bothering to correct him that she didn’t exactly visit, but helped relocate abused women and children. “He saw me. He didn’t recognize me. I mean, I know five years is a long time, and we both have changed. I hadn’t realized just how much I had transformed after Nate gave me the otherworldly blood. My face, my hair, even my eyes.”

  Nik frowned, then said, “Tonight, during patrol, I’ll follow up on this—” he broke off, glancing at the door. “Echo approaches. Did you have anything going on with her?”

  She blinked, finally remembering her agreement last night. “I said I’d train with her.”

  “Okay. We’ll pick this up later—”

  “No-no, I can cancel.”

  “No, go. Some time away from this will help,” he said, his attention back on the computer screen. “I’ll be in a meeting with the other warriors in a short while, then a sword session out on the north side of the estate with Dagan.”

  When she just stood there, he looked up, and his expression softened. “It’ll be okay, moró. We’ll get him out, I promise.”

  With a little nod, she walked out. Yes, Nik would. She had to believe in that. More, she hoped he’d forgive her for lashing out at him.

  Chapter 24

  Laughter drifted to Shadow from the kitchen where the girls were having a midnight tea break. She’d excused herself a short while ago, her mind too chaotic to relax. Not even the grueling gym time with Echo then watching Shae and Ely duel it out with daggers managed to release the tension within her.

  Bob waddled past her where she stood near the trellised walkway just past the kitchen terrace and entered the dark path. She returned to her wrought-iron chair and flopped on the cushioned seat, her mind back on Nik.

  The day had been busy, mostly for him, and she hadn’t seen him.

  When he said some time away from this would help, she didn’t think it was between them.

  Yes, they had the evening meal together before he headed off on patrol, but he’d been silent…contemplative, and he’d just brushed her crown with a featherlight kiss before he departed.

  She pressed her fingers to her burning cheeks, wishing he was here, so she could hold him and apologize for lashing out. God knew she wasn’t someone to deliberately hurt a person, but that she’d lost her mind in that moment and had done so with Nik, who always put her first—worried about her—weighed heavily on her.

  She drew her feet on the chair, wrapped her arms around her knees, and rested her chin on them, watching the moths flitter around the garden lights.

  “Hey there.” Kira walked out onto the terrace, carrying two tall glasses of grape juice. “Here you go.”

  Shadow lifted her head as her friend set the frosty crystal in front of her. Kira dragged out an adjacent chair and sat. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, then shook her head, and pressed her lips together to stop them from trembling.

  “Whatever it is, it will work out,” Kira said softly, reaching out to pat her raised knee.

  “I got my memories back.”

  “Hey, that’s wonderful!”

  She gave her friend a wan smile. “I guess it is, but I lashed out at Nik in my pain.”

  Kira’s brow creased. “Why? What happened?”

  “We’re okay now,” she hastily said. “But I…I accused him of being partly responsible for my twin’s death.” In halting breaths, she told her friend what happened seven years ago.

  “I’m so sorry about Olivia,” Kira whispered, her expression soft with sympathy. “It must have been devastating…” She hesitated, then added quietly, “There’s something you should know, Shadow. As immortals, their laws are very harsh. Nik must have told you about them being imprisoned in Tartarus for failing to protect the Goddess of Life?”

  “He did.”

  “If you look at it literally, they did everything they could on that day, fought off the demons, and there were hordes of those vile creatures at the goddess’ temple. But as Inara’s protectors, they were still found guilty for her abduction and sentenced for life in Tartarus because of their pledge to protect her life with theirs. Now, if Nik deliberately harmed a human, what do you think would happen to him?”

  Shadow stared at her.

  Kira sighed. “It’s a part of their oath: harm no human. Secondly, mortals can never know about immortals living in this world, unless they’re a destined mate, so I don’t think Olivia would have known she was speaking to an immortal.”

  Shadow blinked her burning eyes, guilt flaying her. “No, she wouldn’t have.” She leaned her chin on her knees again.

  “If she was anything like you, she must have been beautiful.”

  Shadow huffed out a laugh. “Back then, I wasn’t.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I was sick. Too thin…” She explained about her illness, the marriage deal, then the first time Enzo hit her, and the plan she put into action later, making a fake hairdressing appointment. “I had some cash on me and took a cab downtown. I realized Enzo’s men were following me, and with my weak heart, I couldn’t run far, so I hid behind a garage and a huge dumpster.”

  She reached out and ran a finger through the mist on her glass. “An old demon appeared out of nowhere. Maybe he sensed my fear or saw my tears, but he said, all will be well. Enzo’s men ran straight past him as if they couldn’t see Aba or me. Aba saved me.” She lifted troubled eyes to her friend. “And they say demons are bad when some humans are the worst.”

  “Every species has their dirtbags,” Kira muttered.

  Shadow took a sip of her grape nectar, trying to ease the constriction in her throat. “Anyway, I stayed with Aba and Nate. Then, a few days later, blood demons broke into the garage and attacked. Aba and Nate were caught in the fight, and some of the demons dragged me outside… Th-they not only tore my throat in a feeding frenzy but part of my face and chest, too. Nate found me in the alley where they’d left me. I was dying. He saved me.”

  “Oh, my god,” Kira croaked, her face paling. “That’s awful.”

  “It was.”

  “I’m really happy this Nate saved you.”

  Shadow managed a little smile. “He transfused me with otherworldly blood to heal me. Weeks later, when I came out of it, I was whole. My face, my heart, even my eyes were different. A reaction to powerful blood, I suppose. I took it for granted it was how I looked until my own brother didn’t recognize me.” She sighed and fingered her front locks. “This wedge of purple hair? It’s white. I dye it purple.”

  “It looks great on you.” Kira smiled. “On the positive side, at least that horrible Enzo wouldn’t have known you’re still alive even if he passed you in the street.” Her smile dimmed. “But, Shadow, if anything had happened to you back then, Nik would have been alone forever. For immortals, there is only one destined mate.”

  She stared wide-eyed at her friend. Yes, Nik had told her this back in Romania, but it hadn’t seeped in, not when a hellhound had just attacked them. But now, aware of his dreadful past with his parents, then his horrible imprisonment, and her stomach heaved, bile tracking up her throat. She sipped a little more of her juice.

  “Hey, you’re here with him now, and this is all that matters,” Kira said softly. “So, what’s your real name?”

  “Gemma.”

  “Gemma, the badass. Wow.”

  Shadow grimaced. “I prefer Shadow. Gemma reminds me too much of how frail and scared I once was…” A soft smile started. “You know, my brother used to call me Shadow. Well, Shady Shadow when he was being a little imp. Said I was gloomy like the night, while Olivia was bright like sunshine…”

  “You have a brother?”

  “Yes. You know him. He helps at The Shelter. Liam.”

  “Liam?” Kira gaped. “He’s your brother? Whoa. I love the guy!”

  “Yeah, me, too…” Shadow’s smile faded. “You can’t tell Liam about me if you see him, at least not yet…” She explained about Enzo being Liam’s guardian, and w
hy. “I don’t want Enzo to know I’m still alive until I’m a little stronger.”

  “What do you mean? Are you still sick?”

  “No…” Inhaling a deep breath, Shadow set the glass down and tugged the neckline of her shirt lower. “These here?” She touched the red nodes on her sternum. “They’re not jewel stones studded in my breastbone. They’re symbionts that appeared after Nate gave me otherworldly blood.” She smoothed her neckline back in place. “They need dark energy as nourishment. They keep me alive.”

  “Wow.” Kira hauled her gaze from Shadow’s chest back to her face. “So, you consume demon souls?”

  “Not exactly. But I need to touch a male—a demon male’s bare chest—to extract some of their souls’ energy. Just a little.”

  Kira’s mouth formed an O of shock. “And Nik, he’s okay with this?”

  “No.”

  “Yeah, I thought not. Bonded males are extremely possessive. And can get aggressive and dangerous when other guys come onto their mates.”

  Didn’t she know it?

  She would need to feed soon, and dread griped her at the thought of the possible outcome. God, couldn’t she and Nik have a break for a moment, be together with nothing coming between them?

  Nik stood in the gloom of a side street, his gaze fixed on the soaring, luxurious building on Park Ave, home to Enzo Argo, the human Shadow despised. He’d watched this place for the last hour, hoping the fucker would turn up soon. But his mind remained on Shadow and the return of her memories.

  Hell, he had no idea he was tied so intricately into his mate’s past, and more, of how much his decision back then would cost her.

  “So, you gonna tell me what exactly we’re staking out?” Týr asked, glancing down the busy street heavy with traffic even though it was long gone midnight.

  “If we know a crime’s been committed—by a human—do we ignore it and go on as we were, since we only signed on to fight supernatural evil? Or do we deal with it?”

  “This have anything to do with why we’re here, watching that building?”

  “Yes,” Nik said, tone like ice. “Because I’m going after one.”

  “Rrright.” Týr nodded. “Just have to be discreet about it, so it doesn’t land us in hot water with the lady boss. I mean, we’ve taken an oath with Gaia to harm no human.”

  “This is one human I’ll break any oaths to get my hands on. And you’re not getting involved.”

  Týr snorted. “Afraid I can’t let you do that. If we’re all involved, then we have a better chance of getting out of this intact. Wanna talk about it?”

  Nik ground his teeth. Always someone was with him as if they sensed he walked a tightrope of getting his ass kicked out of being a Guardian.

  “I failed Shadow once. I won’t do so again. That’s him—” He nodded to the heavily muscled fucker in the dark suit getting out of a black SUV, recognizing him from seven years ago with Olivia. This asshole used his strength against two fragile females, causing both to lose so much. Nik had to reel in the urge to flash over and simply kill the bastard.

  Oh, he would avenge his mate for what she’d suffered.

  He stepped into a recessed doorway on the side street and dematerialized, Týr at his side as he followed the human. They coasted through the building’s elegant foyer in their invisible state and entered the private elevator with Enzo Argo and his two human bodyguards. They stood there like statues with no idea they weren’t alone.

  Don’t care for the bastard’s beady eyes. I’d want to kill him just for that, Týr telepathed him.

  Nik appreciated the try for lightheartedness, but he was wound too tight to snort.

  The elevator halted on the top floor, and the door rolled open. The humans exited, heading for the penthouse.

  The blinding white décor of the opulent place seared Nik’s corneas. No wonder Shadow hated white.

  “Send him to me,” Enzo snapped to one of his henchmen. “And search his damn room.”

  Nik followed Enzo upstairs to his bedroom.

  What’s the plan? Take form and threaten him? Get the truth out? Týr asked, then added, Someone comes.

  The door opened, and a lanky juvenile about six feet tall took two steps into the room. Nik recognized him from the photos his search had dug up. The same boy he first saw months ago at the cemetery.

  Hell, Týr cursed. The lad’s Kira’s friend, from The Shelter.

  And Shadow’s brother, Nik added.

  “How much longer do you have at The Shelter?” Enzo demanded.

  Liam shrugged. “Two months.”

  “You just had to fucking steal a car,” Enzo barked. “I’ve got a good mind to teach you a lesson, but I don’t have the time.” He tugged off his tie and tossed it aside. “Did you think about what I asked?”

  “Yes.”

  “And?”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I’m going to university,” Liam said, tone low and flat.

  “That fucking attitude won’t work with me, you dumb little shit!”

  Anger emitting from the boy tugged at Nik, but nothing showed on his young face.

  “Good thing I’m now the trustee of your trust fund,” Enzo growled. “I would rather see the back of you, but I have to put up with you for a few more weeks until you’re eighteen.”

  The boy’s hands clenched, he remained silent.

  “Leave. Your presence irritates me.” He flicked him away. “Wait. We’re dining with a few people in two days. Have to keep up appearances and show what a happy family we are. So, no shelter work for you.”

  His young face like stone, Liam stalked out.

  “The little shit,” Enzo snarled as the door shut. “As if I would bring him into my business.”

  Anger bleeding off Nik like an open faucet, he let his vaporous serpent form taker over—

  “What the fuck?” Enzo yelped, jumping back as the fog rolled out like a snake and slithered around him.

  “You hurt femalesss—” Nik’s sibilant voice had the man paling.

  “Mierda!” the asshole pulled out a small gold cross from beneath his shit. “Ave María—”

  “Your goddess cannot sssave you, human,” Nik hissed, letting the fog constrict Enzo like a boa. “Olivia sent me.”

  Enzo stumbled back, legs hitting the bed. He toppled on the mattress, coughed out, “I didn’t mean to strike her so hard. She-she slipped and hit her head against the marble tub,” he choked out. “It was an accident. Tell her I didn’t mean to lose my temper…”

  I want to peel the fucker’s skin off and feed it to him, Týr growled. Then incinerate his damn carcass.

  The rage in him taking over, Nik tightened his chokehold. The human gasped, turning blue.

  Nik, guards approach, Týr cautioned. Let’s roll. We have him now.

  It took everything in Nik to let go of the human scum and leave the penthouse.

  No, he wasn’t done with the bastard. Not by a long shot.

  Back in an alley downtown, Nik rematerialized.

  I’ll catch you later, Týr telepathed and coasted off.

  Ten minutes later, Nik headed deeper into an alley downtown, searching for some soulless scourges to work off his frustration, his mind rioting at leaving the bastard breathing. A vaguely familiar male took form in front of him.

  Nik narrowed his eyes at the demon he’d interrogated not too long ago at the cemetery. Laex. His features were haggard, eyes bloodshot, looking as if he hadn’t slept for days.

  “I’ve been searching for you the past hour,” the demon rumbled, voice hoarse. “You need to come. I found Joyce. But I can’t get to her. They have the place heavily guarded. They’re at an old warehouse in Brooklyn.” He reeled off the address.

  Nik didn’t bother with questions. He dematerialized, sensing the demon following.

  Nik reformed in the shadowy lane between two storage holdings in Brooklyn. The smell of sea hung heavy, and the gulls were creating a riot with their raucous cawing under the bright moonlig
ht.

  Nik surveyed the arched entrance of the warehouse a short distance from them. The dense stench of sulfur in the air almost singed Nik’s nose. Demons direct from the Dark Realm.

  “Stay here,” he told Laex.

  “No.” His lean features hardened. “Joyce will be terrified. She knows me.”

  Damn idiot. But Nik understood, too, the need to protect his female. “Don’t get in my way.”

  He cast Nik a wary look and nodded.

  Despite the gloom, Nik could easily make out the demons guarding the place in their humanoid forms. He could probably do this on his own, just kill all the bastards in a hail of ice lances, but they needed one for questioning. Better if he had back up.

  He mind-linked with Dagan. We have a lead on the missing females. He gave the address. A moment later, the air shimmered next to him as Dagan, Ely, and Aethan took form.

  “I’ve scanned the place, can’t pick up any of the captives, but definitely more guards inside, along with these four demons monitoring outside.”

  “Joyce is there,” Laex added, his stare glued to the building opposite. “I sense her.”

  Aethan arched an eyebrow at Nik, then said, “Ely and I will tackle the ones out here. Give us a second.” They dematerialized and reformed in front of the two at the entrance. Swords flashed, skewering the scourges.

  The pair vanished around the building.

  Grunts reached Nik, then Aethan telepathed, You’re good to go. No wards protecting the place. We’re gonna do a recon of the area.

  He and Dagan sprinted across to the buildings. Nik kicked in the bolted wooden door, crashing it against the wall and leaving it hanging by its hinges.

  “Not so fast—” Dagan flung out his hands, immobilizing the demons and humans minions with his telekinesis.

  Nik flashed downstairs to the basement.

  More demons. Hissing hellbolts flew at him like deadly arrows. Nik ducked and countered with several ice lances, nailing a few, careful not to harm the victims. Cries of terror escaped the several women trapped in one cage and the kids in another. Damn, a major memory swipe would have to be done on them.