“So, I’m just supposed to stay away when I heard you’re badly hurt—oh, God,” she whispered as she drew closer.
The demon stiffened as she touched his arm. Nik had to remind himself she saw this male as a brother. No, not full demon. Despite the dark energy vibrating off him, a strain of his human aura seeped through his demonic one. Hell, many Otiums mated with humans and bore young. But whoever he’d tangled with had meant business. The claw marks on his back weren’t healing.
“Nate?” Shadow grabbed his forearm, forcing him to face her. “What happened?”
His expression hardened. “Nothing. Just a scratch—”
“Really?” Shadow snapped, but the hurt inside her wrung Nik’s heart. “You’re gored on your back and stomach, burned on your chest, and you say nothing?”
Glowing tawny eyes shot past her, settling on Nik. “Who the hell is he?” Nate growled, not answering her.
“I’m her mate,” Nik said, tone cold.
Nate narrowed his eyes. “Well, if you had to get one,” he said to Shadow, “Then I guess he’ll do. Hope all the tatts mean he’s as dangerous as he looks, immortal or not.”
Nik blended his fists, dead sure now that this male liked her more than he let on.
“You changed her and left her to fend on her own,” Nik demanded.
Nate cast him a flat stare. “She did well enough. She got you.”
Teeth grinding, Nik took a step forward.
“Nik, no!” Shadow darted between them, keeping him back. “It’s not his fault. I left.” She slipped her arms around the rat-bastard, making Nik want to punch him just for that alone. She led him to the bed, and he dropped down like a flopping sandbag.
“Why do you care about him?” Nik demanded of his mate. Yeah, he was a possessive bastard, but this male got in his craw. “Because he saved you?”
“Yes, that, and because I know he’s not a cold jerk, even if he’s being a real butthead right now. Let me get the first aid kit—”
“No need to baby me, Shadow. I’ll heal soon enough.”
At his drawled dismissal, she bit her lip, looking helplessly at Nik.
Damn ass. Don’t force him, moró, he telepathed her, reeling in his irritation. It’s his choice.
Her soft mouth flattened. He’s so stubborn.
The male’s dark eyebrow lifted, and he gave Nik a tight-lipped, taunting smile. “What exactly are you?”
“Nik’s one of the Guardians of this realm,” Shadow answered.
“A Guardian, eh?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Good for you.”
But something intense flickered in his eyes and vanished as fast before Nik could decipher it, leaving a cold mask behind. Nate lurched from the bed, the bloodied towel sliding from his abs, revealing the circular burn on his chest amidst the tatt there, like someone had stamped him. No sounds of pain, but he had to be drowning in it because those wounds were demon inflicted. Nik ought to know.
Nate pressed the terry cloth back to the seeping lesion. “You need to leave.”
Her mouth tightened in frustration, then she squared her shoulders. “Very well. Just one more thing,” she said. “A demon gang leader is looking for you. He’s determined to kill my maker. I assume that’s you since you gave me this otherworldly blood that healed me and caused these nodes—that supposedly belong to him—to form. His name’s Tolvi.”
“You know this demon?” Nik demanded.
“No.” Nate’s brow creased, his narrowed stare fixing on Shadow. “What did the fucker do?”
“It doesn’t matter—”
“If you count him trying to gouge out one of her nodes,” Nik growled, “it sure fucking does matter.”
Nate’s jaw hardened, the only sign of his ire. “You have a life now, a mate. Go, and don’t come back here.”
“You’re still such an ass. I don’t know why I came—wait, I did because Aba asked me!” She stalked out.
Her footsteps receded down the stairs, and the old demon’s low voice drifted to Nik as he spoke to Shadow.
Nate exhaled roughly, swayed, and dropped back down on the bed. Towel forgotten, he glanced up, expression amused, but pain lines bracketed his mouth and darkened his direct stare. “Yeah, yeah, I get you want to rearrange my face. Can’t stop you, but I cannot do what you can. Keep her safe.”
Nik stilled. Most of what he’d told Shadow were all truths, and while Nik might hate that this male liked her, too—
Of course. In his own way, he was trying to keep Shadow protected. This garage, situated in this roughest part of town, was a hotbed for demon activity at nights. And Shadow wouldn’t care about all that, she’d want to stay and help, see him healed. Like she tried to help women and the kids get to The Shelter. She even took on that mobster, Enzo, regardless of her own safety. Because it’s who she is.
“That was no simple blood exchange causing those symbionts to form…” Nik stressed the word, voicing his sudden suspicion. “You put them in her. What were they?”
“Faery dust.” He smirked.
Couldn’t he fucking answer straight?
Nate hunched over as if he couldn’t hold himself up any longer. “She wasn’t healing no matter what I tried, what blood I used…and she would have died, until the…symbionts.”
“You still haven’t answered me,” Nik snapped. “Where did you get those symbionts?”
His flat stare lifted. “The Dark Realm, if that’s what you’re asking. Angels, demons, who the fuck knows? They don’t exactly label stolen things down there.” His expression grew shuttered. “Just be thankful she lives—I didn’t tell Shadow about them—she was having a hard enough time dealing with her change. But those symbionts were the only thing that brought her back to life, repairing the damages from inside out.” He exhaled slowly as if it hurt to breathe. “Yeah, they have a darkness to them—a side effect I suppose from her having gotten demon blood, too—and will now require energy to sustain themselves and her.”
“You mean demon souls?”
“Same thing.”
“If I take them out of her?”
“Then she dies. Those symbionts not only fixed her, they also bonded to her.”
Nik pivoted for the door, then stopped. Hell, this tight-lipped bastard had saved Shadow—saved his destined mate. If he hadn’t, Nik would have gone on for eternity alone, never knowing she existed. No matter how he felt, Shadow cared about the stubborn ass.
Nik glanced back. “You know what I am. You need help, let me know.”
Hollow laughter. “I don’t need anyone’s help.”
Yeah, he could relate. They’d all been stubborn asses. But no one could force a mule to accept assistance. His mind reeling at what he’d learned, Nik walked out.
No matter where the symbionts came from or what they were, he was just grateful his mate lived.
Nik found Shadow outside the workshop in the rain. Night had already descended. He slipped his arms around her and pressed his lips to her wet nape.
“He’s so darn stubborn,” she whispered. “I—we could have helped him.”
Nik had to plant his foot down not go back there and smack the shit outta the damn idiot.
“He must have his reasons. He only wants you safe, moró…” Damn it. He couldn’t keep this from her. “Shadow, he not only gave you demon blood but actual symbionts of no known origin because you were dying. If demons come to know you can give them momentary relief from the eternal darkness in their souls, they will always hunt you. He only wants you safe.”
“I know all that.” She faced him, swiping the rain from her face. “Okay, not about the symbionts themselves. I just wish he’d let us help him.”
“Let it go, Shadow. He made it clear what he wants. You have to respect that. Besides, I—” he broke off at the cacophony of gunning engines and human chatter in the area. Hell, their lives were a constant battle with evil. For once, he wanted to give her a little quiet time, something just for them.
Nik drew her into his a
rms, stepped back into the dark workshop, and dematerialized them. Moments later, he took form on the rain-drenched over-long grass of the old church ruins. Wan moonlight seeped from between the black clouds, underscoring the rustling rain, the looming pine trees slowly encroaching on the weeded grounds, and casting the crumbling, lichen-covered stone building in a silvery glow. This place had been his sanctuary through the centuries.
Nik scanned the area. All appeared quiet. Safe.
“Where are we?” she asked, studying the ruins.
“Near Cold Springs in the Hudson Valley.” He looked back and found her obsidian dagger taking form in her hand.
“Just in case.” She scrunched her nose at his smile. “Before you, I was always armed and prepared. Besides, I like it. It doesn’t make my skin itch like my iron dagger does.”
He frowned. Itch? Iron was usually detrimental once plunged in the hearts of demons, but the metal didn’t affect their skin in any way…only one species he knew off was affected by a simple touch—
“So,” Shadow said, distracting him from his suspicions as she sat on the dripping, moss-covered stone seat. “You used to come here?”
“Yeah, when I needed to get my head together.” He hunkered down in front of her, tucking back the damp strands sticking to her face. “I wanted this moment for us, a little time together.”
Her brow creased. “What about work?”
He laughed and shook his head. “Just for an hour or so.”
Smiling, she reached out and caressed his cheek. “Did I mention I love your dimple?”
Nik grasped her hand and kissed her knuckles, his heart expanding, overwhelming him with tenderness, with love for his fragile mate.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You came upon me suddenly,” he said softly. “Gave me something I never believed possible. A sense of belonging. That in itself is a miracle for one such as me, and saying I love you seems so…” he searched for a word, “tepid for what I feel, agápi mou. You are more than the words, more than the beats of this heart…” He tapped his chest. “You are all my breaths, all my todays and my tomorrows. My eternity.”
A smile trembled on her lips. Tears glinted in her eyes. She leaned forward and pressed her mouth to his, the joy inside her sweeping through him like sunlight.
“You are all I didn’t dare to hope for,” she whispered. “Because I never believed in miracles, then you crashed into my world with all the finesse of a bull on ice, breaking all my barriers.”
Nik shook his head, gut-deep laugher erupting free. “I guess I can count on you to always keep me grounded.” Her eyes sparkled, and he placed his hand on her chest, over her heart. “This is mine, keep it safe, agápi mou. And this body, I don’t want a scratch on it.”
She grasped his hand. “Well, I feel the same about you. I don’t want anything—” Her brow creased, her gaze darting toward the forest. Nik shot to his feet, already sensing they weren’t alone. His Gaian sword stirred in warning.
Fuck. Seriously? Not even a damn minute of peace with his mate.
“Crap,” Shadow muttered as demons crept out from the gloomy trees.
Power pulsed through Nik. He released a hail of deadly ice lances, nailing the skeletal scourges scuttling toward them on all fours. They froze mid-attack.
First underground and now here? Damn fuckers.
Shadow stood at his side, eyes wide, dagger braced.
“Can you get back to the castle?” he asked her, summoning his Gaian sword.
She nodded. Her image shimmered, then she lost her hold on it. “I can’t. It won’t happen.”
Shit. “Stay behind me.”
Low growls reached him from the gloomy forest. Then the Narakas emerged like marauders for the damned, their eerie dark holes for eyes and mottled, reddish-black flesh merging easily into the night.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. “Shadow the church’s on consecrated ground, go—”
“I’m not leaving you alone,” she retorted, seeming to find her bravery again. “I can fight, too.”
The overgrown hellscums lumbered forward.
“You fought a few demons. These are the fucking Narakas. They will trample through anything—”
“I never let size stop me before!” She shot past him, going in low, dagger flashing as she sliced the tendons behind the enormous demon’s knees. A roar ricocheted, splintering through the rain like shattering glass. The giant-sized blight crashed down like an uprooted redwood.
Growling, Nik flew into the horde, his curses drowned in the cascading rain. This had been his quiet, safe place for so long, and now these shits would desecrate it.
With Shadow fighting and darting about like a bright firefly, he didn’t dare use his abilities again as he fought off the scourges, his sword swishing and arching in lightning quickness. Then he realized they were separating him from Shadow. Fucking plagues.
A sizzling hiss sounded. Nik ducked a hellfire bolt, grabbed Shadow, and flashed to the front of the church. He flung out his hand, turning the falling rain into ice spears, nailing and freezing the scourges rushing at them, then he dropped down and pounded his fist to the earth. Deadly ice-shards sprang up from the ground, surrounding them in a barrier.
He shot up. “You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” Then she grinned. “I wish I could fight with you guys every night. Your abilities…you’re amazing.”
“No.” His stare unimpressed, he handed her a short sword he summoned. “Here, keep this, too. Be careful, you hold my heart, agápi. And don’t touch the ice, it will freeze you. Stay away from the Narakas. Their spit will immobilize you—shit.”
More Narakas thundered toward them.
Nik flung another volley of arrows, slowing them down. He shot off a telepathic message to the other Guardians, The Narakas are here!
We’ll be there as soon as we get this fucking demon ruckus under control. They’re fighting all over the city, using their damn abilities right in front of humans, Aethan answered in a growl.
Dammit.
A stomach-churning odor of sulfur and moldy spice burned his nose, one he smelled before…on Shadow’s bloody shirt.
Tolvi.
Blood pounding in his head, Nik dove into the approaching demons, his sword swinging, searching for the bastard in the melee.
Shadow gaped as the Narakas, those demons she’d first seen in the alley weeks ago, lumbered toward her, while Nik slashed and slayed as many as he could—
I warned you, you didn’t listen.
She froze at the voice in her head. Tolvi?
All the demons attacking them recently were connected to him?
Heart drumming, she searched for the white-haired jerk in the ruckus, the sword Nik gave her clenched in her hand.
Two Narakas sidled toward her. With holes for eyes, how the heck could they even see?
Flames rushed out of their hands, melting a path through the ice. Crap. Shadow hastily leaped back on the cracked, weed-choked church porch.
They plodded forward, hit an invisible wall, and stumbled back. So, the sanctified ground worked? Good. Spittle flew from the Narakas and fell halfway.
Yuck. Shadow shuddered, then flung her dagger, nailing one in the chest. Another rushed her and hit the holy block. She charged out from her safe zone and went in low under his arm, slicing the tendons behind his knees with her short sword. The goliath dropped to his knees in surprise.
“What, think a mortal woman can’t bring down you dumbasses?” Snarling, she swung her weapon again, slicing its carotid, and prayed, somehow, they all died.
The other Narakas’ eerie black orbs fixed on her like a dog after a bone. He countered her every lunge and parry, never really striking her as if waiting for her to tire. Asshole. He spat. Ugh. She darted back onto the hallowed ground and safety.
Why aren’t the Guardians here?
Another figure appeared in front of her, a silver dagger in his hand.
She blinked. “La
ex? What are you doing here?”
The dark-haired demon glanced at her and shrugged. “I followed this lot from the underground.”
“Wrong metal for the blade, Laex.” He was a demon, didn’t he know that? “Only iron kills them,” she yelled over the rustling rain, her gaze rushing back to Nik as he slew the demons attacking him. “You need to get out of here, or you’ll die!”
“Then I do—” Laex nailed a Narakas in its massive chest. “It was the only weapon I had.”
A blade swung at Nik, and he stumbled.
Christ, she pressed a hand to her chest in terror, feeling as if her heart would escape her. Just as fast, Nik wheeled back at the demon who wounded him, beheading him with a swing of his sword.
Laex moved to leap into the fight. She dived forward off the church porch, grabbing his arm. “No, don’t. It’s dangerous.”
“Yeah, I’m not that brave,” he muttered, stepping back.
But witnessing what the Guardians faced most nights, her heart hammered in her throat. Nik fought with deadly precision, and she saw just what made him so lethal. The cold, focused way he worked, shutting out everything. The Narakas fell, heads rolling. They disintegrated moments later.
Amidst the cacophony of shrieks and fighting demons surrounding Nik in a circle, a silver sword glinted. She peered through the rain…and caught a glimpse of white hair and dusky skin. Her heart stuttered. Tolvi!
He leaped at Nik—
Before she even found her voice to yell, several ice lances nailed Tolvi. He stumbled back as if in shock. Nik’s sword arched in a dizzying speed, and he beheaded the demon.
Shadow blinked. It was over? Tolvi was dead?
Oh, thank God.
“Hmm, the Guardian’s exceptional,” Laex grunted from her side. “Too bad, Tolvi was a piss-head.”
Shadow wholeheartedly agreed. Piss-head? She frowned. It seemed too weak a word to describe the jerk. Tolvi reeked of menace.
“But, it’s not over.”
“What—?” Her head snapped back, a steely arm banding around her neck.
“It’s time…” Laex whispered in her ear, dragging her away from the church and into the forest before her shocked mind could process.
Shattered Dawn (Fallen Guardians Book 5) Page 33
