by Becca Van
“Thanks for the opportunity but I can’t work for you anymore. Make sure you put my last paycheck and holiday pay into my bank account. Good luck finding someone else to put up with your arrogant angry ass.” Zara spun on her heel, grabbed her purse from the drawer in her desk, and walked out the door into the spring air and sunshine. She hadn’t meant to say any of those things to Jim but her tongue had gotten away with her. As she walked across the main street of her hometown of Price, Utah, she could still hear Jim screaming obscenities. However, Zara felt as if a huge weight had been shifted from her shoulders and knew she’d made the right choice.
She walked into the diner and took a seat.
“How you doing, honey?” Mathilda, the middle aged owner and waitress, greeted her.
“Great,” Zara answered with a smile.
“You’re kind of early for lunch, aren’t you?” Mathilda asked after glancing at the clock on the wall above the kitchen doorway.
“Yes. I quit.”
“You did?” Mathilda’s mouth dropped open before she smiled. “Good for you, honey. I don’t know how you worked for him as long as you did. Jim’s an ass.”
“Yes he is,” Zara agreed.
“So what’ll you have?”
“Are you still serving breakfast? I didn’t get time to eat this morning.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, I’ll have a bacon and egg toasted sandwich and coffee.”
“Coming right up.” Mathilda poured her coffee from a freshly brewed pot and then took her order to the kitchen.
When the bell over the door tinkled softly Zara looked up and toward the door. Her heart flipped and she gasped when she saw eight very tall, handsome muscular men enter. She looked at each of them, trying to be surreptitious and not too obvious but when her gaze snagged on the last two men, she squirmed in her seat. Her nipples hardened and her clit throbbed. Her pussy clenched and juices dripped onto her panties.
Zara had seen handsome men before but had never reacted like this. She didn’t understand why her body was so responsive to two complete strangers, but she couldn’t deny the lust running rampant in her veins as she looked at them.
They sat in two separate booths and she understood why when four of them filled the space with their wide shoulders and muscular bodies. They were all wearing black. Black leather pants and jeans, T-shirts and leather jackets. She wondered if they were a motorcycle gang but when she looked out the window she didn’t see any motorbikes, but they could have parked down the street and then walked to the diner. She didn’t know if they were residents of Price but didn’t think so since she’d never seen them before. However, she didn’t know everyone in town so they might live here.
Mathilda came out from the back, grabbed the coffee pot, and poured some of the dark brew for the eight men. “What can I get you all?”
Zara didn’t take any notice of what the men ordered because she was too enthralled by their deep voices and handsome faces, and although she tried to keep her eyes to herself she found them on those two men again, and again.
One had black hair that was tied up at his nape and since it wasn’t a long ponytail she imagined that it would fall around his shoulders when down. His eyes were a startling bright green color and although he wasn’t handsome in the classic model way, he was appealing to look at. He had a rugged countenance she couldn’t ignore, with a long slightly crooked nose which she figured had been broken at some time in his life. His cheekbones were sharp and his jaw strong. There was a slight dusting of stubble on his jaw, as if he hadn’t taken the time to shave that morning. She had to draw her gaze away from him when the urge to reach out and touch him almost got the better of her.
Her gaze moved to the man next to him and although he wasn’t looking at her, she felt as if he and his friend were aware of her perusal. This guy had short dark brown hair and his eyes were a light blue color. His cheekbones weren’t as sharp but he was no less handsome than the other man. Her breath caught in her throat when he smiled. He had two small dimples at each side of his lips that gave the impression that he could be sweet, maybe even harmless. However, Zara had a feeling that was far from the truth. They all had an aura of power but these two men seemed to get her libido revving more so than the other six. Zara had never been turned on by dominance or authority before but on those two men that confident visage just seemed to get her right in the core.
“Here ya go, honey,” Mathilda said as she placed a plate in front of Zara. “Enjoy.”
“Thanks.” Zara picked up her knife and fork and began to eat. When the food hit her tongue it tasted bland and she put it down to nervousness at having so many handsome men so close but she continued to eat and tried to ignore them as best she could.
“Miss? Excuse me, miss. Can we please borrow your salt shaker?”
Zara turned her head and looked up and up and up. When her eyes met those green ones she stopped breathing. It took her a couple of seconds to realize she was staring but thankfully her mouth wasn’t gaping open. “What?”
“Can we please borrow your salt?”
“Uh, yeah. Sorry.” Zara grabbed the salt shaker and handed it to him. The moment his fingers brushed hers as he took the small bottle from her, heat singed her flesh and shot straight down to her pussy. It took everything she had not to moan. When she noticed her hand was still hovering in the air she quickly lowered it and her head, trying to hide her face as heat suffused her cheeks. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and was surprised to see him still standing beside her, staring at her.
“Thank you.” His baritone voice was smooth and sent shivers racing up and down her spine but since she was having difficulty finding a reply she nodded instead. She sighed softly in relief and resignation when he walked back to his own seat and it was only then she realized that seven other pairs of eyes were fixed on her.
One of the men spoke in a voice so quiet she couldn’t hear his words but she was glad because they all turned from her and began talking amongst themselves. The tension in her muscles eased and she was able to breathe a little easier.
Zara finished eating and sipped on the coffee Mathilda had refilled in her cup and she was trying to figure out what she was going to do now that she was unemployed. She reached into her purse for her smart phone and began surfing the net for jobs in the local area, but when she didn’t find anything a sigh of frustration escaped.
“Are you all right, hon?” Mathilda asked as she sat across from Zara.
“Yes, just trying to figure out what to do next.”
Mathilda made a noise in the back of her throat. “You look exhausted, Zara. What have you been doing to yourself?”
“I’m having trouble sleeping.” Zara glanced to the side from beneath her lashes and although the men didn’t seem to be paying her any attention she had a feeling the two closest to her across the way had her undivided attention. She gave a mental shrug and decided she was imagining things because of her weariness.
“That’s not a surprise since you were working for that idiot.”
Zara shook her head. “I’ve been having nightmares. The same one every night for the past month. No matter what I do to tire myself out I always end up waking with my heart pounding in my chest and covered in sweat.”
“What’s the dream about?” Mathilda asked.
“It’s weird.”
Mathilda waved her hand in the air and made a “pfft” sound. “Aren’t all dreams and nightmares? Tell me.”
Zara found herself telling Mathilda about her strange recurring dream and when she’d finished she waited for the older woman to tell her she was nuts.
“It’s probably stress from having to deal with Jim every day. Now that you’ve quit you can relax. Stress can do some pretty awful things to a body. You mark my words, girl, you’ll probably sleep like a baby tonight.”
“I hope so, Mathilda. I don’t think I can go on like this much longer.”
Mathilda nodded and patted her hand
. “Maybe you should go on home and have a nap.”
“I’m not sure it will work. I’ve never been able to sleep in the middle of the day.”
* * * *
Setau met Sabu’s gaze when he heard the young beautiful woman retell her dream to the waitress. His body tensed and he went on full alert. After meeting in Ra’s Temple beneath the Utah lake near Provo, their deity had explained about the growing activity of the demonic in the underworld, and he’d also given the rest of the sentinels the marks of Ra on their chests and backs.
When he heard the woman explain about her concurrent nightmare, he was very concerned. It seemed the shadows weren’t yet strong enough to steal the spirits from the living but Set had no doubt it wouldn’t be long before they succeeded. It was up to them to find the shadows and destroy them before their power grew, but the only way to do that was lie in wait as evil tried to rip souls from humans. How was he supposed to explain to the woman sitting in the booth across from theirs that she was in danger, being hunted by evil? And if she did believe him, would she agree to come back to their hideout so they could protect her?
“What are we going to do?” Sabu asked.
Set shrugged. “I don’t know.” He looked to his friends and they all shook their heads. Set knew that although they had continued talking quietly, the others had been aware of every word the woman told the waitress. Because they were demigods as well as warriors they all had exceptional hearing, smell, and eyesight. They were also very strong and fast. He and the other sentinels could move faster than the human eye could see, which came in handy when they had previously fought the demonic.
He took a deep breath and when the scent of aroused woman reached his nose, he shifted in his seat. His cock had been half hard from the moment he’d set eyes on her when he had entered the diner, but now it was at full mast. His skin itched as if something had crawled beneath it but he refrained from scratching and drawing attention to himself. Sabu moved in his seat, drawing his gaze and from the way the man had his teeth clenched and he couldn’t seem to get comfortable he realized that his best friend was also fighting his attraction to the beautiful young woman.
The words Ra had spoken two days previously echoed in his mind. “You shall all be rewarded for your loyalty and diligence in keeping the humans safe.” Set had no idea why he was suddenly thinking of that so he pushed those thoughts from his mind. What he should be doing was planning with his men but this time and place wasn’t exactly appropriate. And he couldn’t seem to keep his mind or his gaze from the gorgeous blonde still chatting with the waitress. His muscles were pumped and his cock was hard. There was something about her that drew her to him and he didn’t want to let her leave his sight.
“Damn it! She’s leaving,” Sabu murmured. “What are we going to do?”
“I think we need to follow her,” Pentu whispered.
“I agree.” Paser nodded.
“From what we heard about her dreams, she’s a demonic target.” Nehi drained the coffee from his cup and shoved his empty plate away.
“It’s our job to protect the innocent,” Menna mumbled. “And I have to tell you that I wouldn’t mind in the least protecting that sexy little body.”
Setau’s hackles rose and before he knew he was going to, he was growling low in his throat. Sabu’s low rumble joined his.
“What’s with you two?” Mitry asked with a frown.
“I think they have the hots for her.” Weni smirked and waggled his eyebrows.
Setau ignored his comrades’ teasing, dropped enough money on the table to cover their bill and a generous tip, and strode toward the door. He glanced about and sighed with relief when he saw the woman walking along the street and it just so happened she was moving toward where they had parked their bikes.
“What are we going to do, Set?” Sabu asked as they followed.
“The only thing we can do is tell her the truth.”
“And if she thinks we’re crazy?” Sab asked.
Set shrugged. In all the centuries he’d been alive he’d never even considered telling a human about who and what they were or about the demonic. The woman was probably going to laugh in his face and then run in fear.
He watched the gentle sway of her hips and if it were at all possible his cock hardened even more and his gums itched as if his fangs were about to descend. That hadn’t happened to him since he’d first been changed. He’d learned to control his body’s urges but something about this woman had him acting like a randy teenager.
“I want her, Set.” The possessiveness in Sab’s voice echoed what he was feeling.
“I do, too.”
“Do you think Ra has decided we’ve been alone long enough?”
Set nearly stumbled and he glanced at Sab again.
“Do you think he’s finally decided we’re worthy of having a mate?”
Set stopped and once more Ra’s words about being rewarded echoed in his mind. Was this what he’d meant? Had he sent this woman to him and Sab?
If that was the case then they needed to talk her into coming back to their underground home. The thought of her being targeted by the demonic sent rage coursing through his veins and his heart flipped.
He knew that Ra had no control over Apep or his shadow minions but if this woman was their mate, then why was she being targeted now? Did Apep somehow know she was meant to be theirs? Set couldn’t work out how the underworld leader could possibly know such a thing when he hadn’t even known himself.
One thing was certain, though.
He would give his immortal soul to keep her safe.
Chapter Two
Zara knew she was being followed. She’d heard the bell over the entrance to the diner tinkle as she walked down the street. Her heart began to race and her muscles tensed in preparation to flee, but when she got to the corner and looked right she nearly sagged with relief. Eight big black motorcycles gleamed in the sunlight and she realized that the men weren’t following her but heading toward their vehicles.
Her heart slowed and the tension eased. She was so relieved she closed her eyes for a second or two and the next thing she knew she was falling toward the concrete. A startled cry left her lips and she put her arm out to try and lessen the impact. Another pain-filled cry left her mouth when she heard and felt a sickening crack, her arm buckling under her weight, as she fell chest down onto the hard ground. She wanted to move but she was in agony. Her wrist was hurting so bad she felt sick to her stomach. She had no idea what she'd tripped over, but right now she wished she could go back in time a couple of seconds. If she could she wouldn’t have closed her damn eyes, and maybe she wouldn't be in so much pain.
“Are you all right?”
Zara glanced through tear blurry eyes to the man she’d seen in the diner. She wanted to answer him but she was scared if she opened her mouth she would scream with pain, so she shook her head.
“Fuck! It looks like her wrist is broken.” Another man she’d seen in the diner squatted near her head.
“I’m going to pick you up, but I’ll be careful. Okay?”
Zara nodded. If they didn’t help her up from the ground she just might end up lying there all day long.
“Guide her hurt arm close to her body.”
Zara closed her eyes when large warm hands landed on her shoulders and another gripped the elbow of her right arm. She drew in a deep breath and held it. She was glad she did when the two men helped her into a sitting position. A whimper escaped when the man holding her elbow gently guided her arm toward her chest.
“Sorry.”
Zara nodded again.
“Is she okay?”
“We need to get her to a hospital. I’m Setau and the man in front of you is Sabu. I’ll introduce the others to you later.”
“Zara,” she managed to croak out.
“Okay, Zara, we’re going to get you on your feet,” Setau said. “Are you ready?”
Zara drew in another deep breath and nodded.
; “Okay, here we go.”
She clenched her jaw to stop another whimper from escaping her mouth as the two men helped her to her feet. She swayed and perspiration broke out on her brow and upper lip.
“Do you have a car we can drive you to the hospital in?” Sabu asked.
If she hadn’t been in excruciating pain she would have shivered at the deep gravelly cadence of his voice. She couldn’t believe her body was reacting to Setau’s and Sabu’s close proximity and their sexy voices.
“No,” she whispered her answer.
“We could call the paramedics?” Setau suggested.
“No. I’ll get a taxi.”
“You don’t think we’re going to leave you when you’re hurt, do you?” Setau asked.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Sure you will,” Sabu replied sarcastically.
“I’ll take her on the bike,” Setau said. “Get her purse, Pen.”
“I don’t think…”
“Shh, you’ll be safe. I’ll be careful,” Setau said.
Zara wasn’t about to stand here arguing because she was feeling worse and in more pain with each passing second. She shifted on her feet and closed her eyes when she wavered.
“Hold her arm secure,” Setau ordered and then she was being swept up into his arms.
She rested her head on his chest and breathed in and out through her nose and mouth to try and circumvent the nausea roiling in her belly.
“Start the bike for me.” The low rumble of his voice against her ear was comforting and she relaxed into his hold.
“Okay, baby, you ready?” Setau asked.
Zara nodded once more.
“Hold that arm tight against your chest. I’ll try not to jostle you too much.”
She felt Setau move and then she was being lowered onto his hard thighs crossways. His arms reached for the handlebars on his bike, caging her in.
“Don’t worry about falling off. I won’t let you. You just worry about keeping that arm still. Okay?”
