by Sharon Kay
“Really, you think?” Cara frowned. “I guess. It seems kinda useless most of the time. Now, if I could levitate, that would rock.”
“I think it’s very special.” Antonio slid his hand up to her bicep. “We’d like you to join us.”
“Sounds good.” She twirled a lock of blond hair. “Let’s go.”
“Mmm, yeah, I’ll be happy to take off these shoes.” Rain dragged a finger down Soren’s chest. “Unless you’d rather I keep them on.”
He removed her hand. “You’re not coming.”
“What?” Rain’s voice jumped an octave.
“No. We stick together.” Cara straightened from her lean against the brick. “It’s both of us or none.”
Soren rolled his eyes. “How selfless of you.” He turned to Rain. “Do you have any special tricks?”
She licked her lips. “Take us home and I’ll show you—”
“Magic,” he snarled, loud enough to make her squeak. “I’m talking about magic.”
She frowned. “No. And why does it matter?”
Antonio let out an irritated breath. They could take both nymphs. He had no idea if Splinter would keep Rain or kill her, if they found her lacking in skills. Even Cara’s skill wasn’t really that great, though who knew. Maybe she’d levitate an important piece of paper or something. He met his brother’s gaze. “It’s too late to make a trip.”
Soren nodded. Torth was vicious at night, full of nocturnal creatures that even predatory demons steered clear of. They’d have to keep Cara until morning. Antonio hated to bring girls home, but he didn’t want to lose her.
Or, they could go to the nymphs’ place, or even a hotel. Soren’s black American Express would get them a room in the city’s trendiest hotels. They could do what nymphs did best—fuck all night—and then they’d just ditch Rain in the morning, taking Cara to Splinter’s camp on Torth.
Antonio cleared his throat. “Soren’s a little on edge tonight. We’ve had a shitty day. I think what he needs is something to take his mind off it. All of us together.” He gave Soren a pointed stare over the nymphs’ heads. “It’s nice that you two watch out for each other. And I say, the more the merrier. How about your place?”
“Thanks for being cool about that,” Cara murmured, tucking one finger into his belt loop. “We don’t live far.”
Antonio slid his hand down her arms, lacing his fingers with hers. “Lead the way.”
CHAPTER 23
ENZA DARTED INSIDE HER BUILDING and Rhys fought not to follow her. He wanted her with a need that seized his heart, but in his veins the desire for retribution surged to take down the males who had dared to chase them today. He turned and stalked to the curb, where Brenin was texting rapidly. No cab in sight.
He finished and stuck his phone in his pocket. “Ready to kick some Deserati ass?”
Rhys nodded. Unsaid was the fact that they would take the rooftops, racing faster than humans could run, to get to the West Side neighborhood. “You tell the guys?”
“Yup. Said to call if we need backup.” Brenin cracked his knuckles.
Standard procedure. They got to the nearest lonely street and strode briskly, until the apartments gave way to warehouses and low offices. Vaulting up, they flew across roof after roof.
From below, a mix of languages filtered up to their ears until they reached their destination. Cracked sidewalks stretched before empty buildings. Burned out street lights stood useless over parks with broken equipment. No children played there, even during the day. Parents and grandparents didn’t let their kids outside when drive-by shootings occurred every other week.
Reaching out with their senses, Rhys and Brenin paused atop a building one block away from the intersection Angela had named. This was how Arawn trained them, not to go barreling into danger. Though Rhys wanted nothing more than to annihilate the two Deserati.
“Anything?” Brenin asked.
“No.” Rhys checked below and, seeing no one, dropped to the surface of an alley. Brenin joined him. As they neared the busy stretch of Lake Street, the telltale pepper and clove scent of Deserati demon swirled in the air.
“It’s that one.” Rhys nodded at a three-story brick structure with several broken windows.
“I can smell them too.” Brenin reached the door first and tried the dented doorknob. It turned and opened in his hand.
“Expected,” he muttered, and went inside.
The stench of urine and stale smoke wafted from the stained carpet. Behind thin doors, televisions blared and people shouted. A baby cried. But what they sought wasn’t on the first level.
They climbed the stairs, following the scent until they reached the third floor. A woman opened her door as if to leave, took one look at Rhys and Brenin, and slammed it quickly.
They walked down a dingy hallway to a door that practically announced this is it. Made of a polished brown metal, it appeared newer than the others, plus the scent wafting from it was much stronger.
Rhys tried the handle, which didn’t budge. He glanced at Brenin. “Sense any wards?”
“No. Why wouldn’t they ward their door?” He frowned. “Don’t rush though—could be a trap.” He pulled out his phone and held it up.
All of the Watchers’ phones had an app that scanned for magic and the presence of creatures. It would detect any wards that may be present. Brenin shook his head. “Nada. No magic, no life forms.”
“All right. Going in.” Rhys wrenched the doorknob with preternatural strength, and it twisted free. With a thunk, it fell to the dirty linoleum floor.
He kicked the door in as Brenin pocketed his phone and moved in behind him. The apartment was dark, save for light spilling through a window from a broken neon sign flickering outside.
The Deserati scent was definite, but it was old. Rhys didn’t need to stand there another second to confirm that the apartment was deserted. “Fuck.” He ran a hand over his hair and stomped to the first open door.
A bedroom with a queen size mattress on a metal frame took up most of the small room. Rhys yanked open the closet door and was met with a few wire hangers. He inhaled, and picked up an individual scent. Unlike the Watchers’ expert tracker, Mathias, Rhys and Brenin couldn’t pick up a singular creature’s scent until they were in close proximity. It was like a finger print, unique to the individual, while the general species scent was like the whole hand.
In the next room, drawers slammed and he knew Brenin was searching just as he was. Rhys walked into the dingy bathroom, where lines of mildew ran up and down the shower tiles. An empty bottle of aftershave sat on the counter. The rest of the room was deserted except for two ants that crawled out of the sink drain.
Rhys headed back out to the kitchen, where Brenin was scowling at the contents of the fridge. “They’ve been gone for a while.”
“Yeah. Fuckers. Probably have several places in the city.”
“Wanna bet they left after Angela was here?”
“Yup. That’s what I would do.” Rhys set his hands on his hips. “Got a scent though. Bedroom closet.”
“Yeah? I’ll go check it out.” Brenin closed the banged up fridge door and went to the bedroom.
Rhys checked the GPS tracker he’d stuck on Enza’s phone, pleased to see its red dot sending out circular signals from her apartment. Then he texted Jude and Tor. Nothing here. They’ve been gone a while.
Jude: That sucks.
Rhys: Going home to run the name thru databases. You guys good?
Jude texted a thumbs-up icon.
Brenin walked back into the kitchen. “Got it. Not much, but better than nothing. And we don’t know which one of them it is.”
“Yeah, but it sounds like they’re always together, so it’ll work.” At the window, Rhys glared out at the on-again-off-again sign hawking tacos and burritos. “I’m going to pick up Enza and bring her back to our house.”
Silence ticked by, then Brenin said quietly, “Yeah?”
“Yes.” A low growl started in Rhy
s’s throat, and he tamped it down. Anger at the past mixed with his need to guard Enza and his knowledge that Brenin would always have his back.
Brenin studied him, blue eyes assessing. He’d been injured in the fucked up op. “Been a while.”
“Enza isn’t Sinna.”
“I know. She’s a cool chick.” Brenin was calm, watchful. “I’m just sayin’.”
“She has a target on her head and I won’t leave her in that shitty apartment.” Protective need surged through Rhys’s bones.
“Agree on both counts.” Brenin’s gaze flicked to the open door then back to Rhys. “If you say she needs it, I’ll watch over her like she’s my own sister.”
Under the long hair and brilliant swordsmanship was a warrior of honor and one of the best judges of character that Rhys had ever known. He held his friend’s gaze, knowing he could trust the dude with his life and, if he said so, Enza’s too. “Thanks, man.”
Brenin nodded, then headed to the door. “Let’s get outta this piss-filled dump. Gods. I’m surprised we haven’t seen any rats yet.”
They jogged down the worn steps. “You going home?” Rhys asked.
“No.” Brenin grinned. “I have unfinished business with a wolf named Kat.”
Rhys laughed and thumped his friend on the back. They burst out into the warm night, where the street was deserted save for a few men shuffling along who stared at the Watchers like they’d been plunked in from another planet. Little did they know.
Rhys and Brenin retraced their steps until they reached Wicker Park. With a wave, Brenin continued east while Rhys dropped to street level and headed to Enza’s door.
CHAPTER 24
ENZA FIDGETED, CHECKING HER PHONE, her email, anything to stay occupied. The fact that Rhys might be fighting those awful Deserati males right now perturbed her. He’s a big strong demon warrior. The fact beat like a drum in her head, but it didn’t stop the nagging fear. She wanted to help—but what could she do? If there was no storm, she was just a regular girl who didn’t know the first thing about basic self-defense. And even if there were a storm, she wasn’t exactly skilled in her newfound power.
Her bag was already packed and by the door, since she didn’t know when he’d return. She also had no idea how long she’d be staying at his house. Staying at his house. Her brain kept getting delightedly stuck on that phrase, which sounded both weird and also like a very good idea.
Despite thoughts running in circles in her head, she kept coming back to not being able to deny what she had seen and felt and done. It was all so new and strange, yet things had clicked into place with surprising ease.
She walked into the bathroom for the hundredth time. She’d tried to smooth her hair, which had predictably frizzed in the rain and humidity. Rhys hadn’t seemed to care. In fact, he had a habit of sliding his fingers into her hair and holding on when he kissed her.
Her skin flushed. His kisses were addictive and kind of rough, but not in a way that was harsh. No, it was more a sense of urgency, like he couldn’t get enough of her. Her.
She took a deep breath and set her hands on her hips, another place he liked to touch her. She’d changed out of the shirt from Lisetta into a black tank top with a black lace bra under it. Uncertainty and anticipation fired through her mind. It had been awhile since she’d had a boyfriend or had sex. And after this afternoon in the tunnel, sex and Rhys loomed at the forefront of her mind.
God, the way he caressed and held her posessively. She sighed at the memory of his hands, his aggressive touch that made her breathless and hotter than she’d ever been.
She turned to study her sideways reflection. Would he like her body? He seemed to, now, but he hadn’t seen her naked. She wasn’t big, but she definitely wasn’t little. She didn’t work out and had little muscle tone, but she made a point not to overindulge in her own sweet creations.
Her phone chimed with a text. Rhys. Oh my god. She grabbed it, worried. But concern gave way to butterflies when she read I’m out front. Buzz me in.
Sure. She ran to her door and hit the button, then opened it and listened as heavy footsteps thumped up the stairs. Her heart beat in time with his pace as he neared.
He came into view, looking huge and lethal and sexy. And…just like he did when he left. She swept her gaze up and down his body. “Are you okay?”
He closed the distance to her and leaned both arms on her doorframe, towering over her but not quite touching her. Close enough to make her want to lick him. “Never better.”
“You…you didn’t have to fight them?”
“They weren’t there.” His eyes darkened. “Place was deserted. But we got a trace of a scent.”
“Oh.” Relief and disappointment swirled through her. Those two guys were still out there somewhere.
As if reading her mind, he murmured, “We’ll find them. I promise.”
“Okay. Um, come in?” She moved to the side.
He stepped in and before she could blink, the door slammed shut and she was pressed against it. His powerful body held hers in place, hip to hip, his hands skimming up her arms to trace gentle, quiver-worthy caresses across her shoulders. She shivered at the mix of light touch and his hard, heavy frame.
He cupped her jaw. “I missed you.”
Her nipples tightened at his low, gravelly words. “I was worried about you. I’m so glad you didn’t get hurt tonight.”
“I can tell.” A haunted look crossed his eyes, but before she had time to process it, his lips were at her ear. “Ready to go?”
She tried to turn to him, desperate for his talented mouth, but he kept them locked in that position. “Bella, if you kiss me now, I’ll never get enough of you. We won’t make it to my place. And I need you there.”
Heart thumping in wild anticipation, she let out a shaky sigh. She wanted whatever wicked things he had in mind. “Then let’s go.”
He straightened, spotted her bag, and picked it up. “Keys and phone?”
“Got ’em.” She scooped them off a nearby table.
“Good. Out.”
She opened the door, let him step through, and locked it behind them. “Do you have your car?”
He shook his head. “Didn’t want to waste time getting it.”
She couldn’t hold back a grin. He was so sweet. “We may have a hard time finding a cab at this time of night.”
“Already done.” He hooked an arm around her shoulders. “They have apps for that.”
Sure enough, when they came through the front door, a cab was idling at the curb. Rhys opened the door and she got in, with him sliding in behind her. He gave the driver his address and then pulled her close against his side.
She took a second to just gaze at him, at his handsome face, square jaw, eyes that were warm and twinkling one minute and hotly sensual the next. The city lights and buildings flashed by. It wouldn’t be a long ride, but she sighed, willing the vehicle to go faster.
Rhys traced a finger up and down her leg, making her squirm.
She buried her face in his neck. “No fair.”
His talented hand skated up her torso to the neckline of her top. “Can’t help it.”
“Me neither but…” Her eyes flicked to the driver.
“I’ll bet the city’s cabbies see a lot in their backseats.” Strong fingers paused at the center front of her shirt.
“Maybe.” Her body gave another shudder as a wave of heat raced from his hand to her core, unleashing a heavy ache in her lower abdomen. She slid her hand to his cheek. She couldn’t stand it any longer. “I need a ki—”
His mouth covered hers with a swiftness she hadn’t expected. One hand found the middle of her back and pulled her as close as she could get without straddling him in the damn backseat. Electricity fired through her as his tongue swept along hers, velvety strokes that made her ache deep down. She grabbed his shoulder, needing so much more than he could give in the cab—
The driver clearing his throat dimly registered through her fog o
f lust. “We’re almost there,” she whispered.
Rhys chuckled, moving to her ear. “I’m not even close to being there with you, bella.”
The car stopped and Enza took a second to catch her breath. Rhys paid the driver and they were outside, the air warm and pulsing, her body on fire.
In what seemed like seconds, they were through the gate, up the steps, and inside. Rhys closed the door behind them, double checked the security system. “Up the stairs, second door on the right.”
She stood in the foyer, admiring him, rooted in place. No way was she walking away from his broad shouldered, sexy self—
“If you run, I’ll chase you.” He turned, eyes glittering with heat, words barely ground out.
She gasped and it clicked. Predator. But the word, the acknowledgement of what he was, only made her hotter. Because he wanted her with an intensity he couldn’t hide. Something inside her snapped to life and soared. This was where she was supposed to be.
This world. This man.
She turned and ran up the polished dark wood stairs, thankful there was carpet down the center so she didn’t fall. The top step loomed. She ran past one door, was almost at the second—
Breath whooshed out of her lungs as he caught her, arms locking around her waist and lifting her off her feet. They were through the door and it slammed. She was still in the air, in a room too dark to see much. “Oof!” Pillowy softness met her back as she was deposited onto a bed.
Rhys followed her down, covering her body with his much larger one. “I want you, Enza.” He kissed her neck. “Wanted you since the night I met you.” His tongue licked and lashed down below her collarbone, dipping toward her breast. “If you don’t want this, tell me to stop. Tell me now.”
“Don’t stop,” she gasped, grabbing his shoulders and holding him close. “Don’t you dare. I want you. God, you’re making me crazy.”
“Good.” His hands found the hem of her tank top and tugged it up. She let go of him long enough to allow him to pull it over her head, then his mouth was back on her skin. “You weren’t wearing this before.” He cupped one breast over her lace bra. “I like it.”
