by Becca Van
“Maybe he can’t.”
“You think that he has rules to follow?”
“Don’t you?”
“I suppose.” Wen pulled the covers up over Krysta’s shoulder when she shivered. “It would be a hell of a lot easier if we knew all those alleged rules.”
“Yeah but I doubt we’ll ever be privileged with knowing what the gods can and can’t do.”
Wen nodded and settled back on his pillow.
Mit stroked his hand down Krysta’s thigh and nuzzled her neck with his nose. He sighed as peace and contentment washed over him. “We should take the opportunity to get some sleep. We both know that we’re going to be back out fighting those demons very soon.”
“I know.” Wen stroked his hand over Krysta’s upper back. “I’m just glad we don’t have to go out tonight.”
“Me, too.” Mit closed his eyes, savoring the sensation of Krysta’s ass nestled into his groin, her soft, silky, warm skin against his. He was going to relish this night holding his mate because he had no doubt tomorrow night would be spent killing the shadow demons.
What scared him the most, though, was that Krysta would be fighting alongside him and Wen. It wasn’t that he was worried she couldn’t hold her own against the shadow demons because he knew she could. The knot of trepidation in his gut told him something bad was going to happen and no matter how hard he tried to quell it, it wouldn’t dislodge.
* * * *
The moment Krysta woke she felt energized. Her heart was full to overflowing for her two mates and she wanted to shout with happiness. She was amazed that she had slept long and deeply without waking once and she was feeling so refreshed and buzzed she felt as if she could take on the world and win.
She blinked her eyes open, scrambled from the bed, and headed into the bathroom. She wasn’t disappointed or worried about Wen and Mit not being there when she woke because she could hear them in the large communal kitchen talking to the other sentinels.
She had no idea what the time was and didn’t really care. She was too happy to let anything bother her right now. After using the facilities she turned on the shower and stepped in, quickly washing her hair and body before turning off the faucets and drying off.
When she was dressed with her teeth brushed, she headed out of the bedroom down the small hall and was halfway across the living room when she froze.
The air around her turned cold and when she exhaled she could see a cloud of fog as the warm, moist air left her mouth. She took another step toward the open doorway to the apartment but she felt as if she was walking in slow motion. Her eyes widened when the door began to close of its own accord and that was when she felt the oily black sludge of evil.
The fluorescent lights flickered before dimming and then went out completely, making Krysta blink as her eyesight adjusted to the lack of illumination. She caught movement from the corners of her eyes and knew deep in her heart that the shadow demons were here, and they were here for her.
She was glad that Mit and Wen had left the apartment earlier and wouldn’t have to fight the demonic. She had only just met them but she loved them too much to want to see them injured or hurt.
Krysta’s gaze darted around the room looking for a weapon but there was none to be found. She should have asked for her sword the moment she woke up but after she’d been assured she was safe, she hadn’t thought about it.
If she survived this she would never be without her sword close at hand again. She hated feeling vulnerable, but as that thought crossed her mind she felt a surge of power rush through her body and her eye teeth exploded from her gums. If she had time to ponder over that anomaly, she may have laughed or maybe cried. She wasn’t sure which but she quickly pushed her thoughts aside.
The shadows were moving closer and she had to be ready to fight. Hot and cold warred in her body but again she shoved those sensations down deep. She’d been fighting these assholes for nearly two years. She could do so now even without a sword in her hand. At least she hoped so.
She glanced toward the closed door when she heard someone pounding on it, cocking her head to listen intently. She exhaled with relief when she realized that Mit, Wen, and the other sentinels were outside trying to get to her. Of course she knew that wasn’t about to happen. The shadow demons had powers beyond her capabilities and maybe their leader, Apep, also had a hand in what was happening right now. She wouldn’t put it past the fucker. Especially if he had plans of grandeur about ruling Earth.
Krysta couldn’t believe how calm she was on the outside. Inside her gut was churning and her palms were sweating but she made sure to keep her expression stoic and her body relaxed. There was no way in hell she was letting the bastards know she was more than a little trepidatious.
When the hair on her body stood on end and more power washed over her, she wondered what was going on. When a peaceful warmth invaded her frame from the inside out, she embraced it. There wasn’t time to do anything else. The demonic were upon her.
The shadows wrapped around her and while the pain was immense and her skin sliced open and began to spill blood, she clenched her jaw tight so she wouldn’t cry out. The demonic wrapped around her tighter and tighter, their oily black evil forms cutting deeper into her skin making her bleed heavier.
Krysta had no idea when she’d closed her eyes and tried to force them open but they wouldn’t cooperate. It was if her body had a mind of its own, reacting however necessary. Even through her eyelids she could see a bright light beginning to glow and for a second she marveled over the fact she could see the reddish-colored blood vessels in the lids.
The glow got brighter still and her back itched near her shoulder blades. She wanted to reach back and try to scratch but she knew she wouldn’t be able to reach the aggravation. Maybe if she was able to get to the doorframe she could scratch her back. She nearly laughed at that. Here she was being wrapped up like a mummy by shadow demons and she was thinking about how to relieve the annoying itch on her back.
“Concentrate,” a loud, booming voice rushed through her mind.
Her heart filled with love and warmth. She took a deep breath and as she released it the image of Mit and Wen filled her imagination. They were so handsome, brawny, and sexy with their bronze skin, ripped muscles, and tall bodies. As she brought them further to the forefront of her mind, she saw Mit’s light blue eyes as he watched her. His dark brown hair was a beautiful contrast to his bronze skin. Her inner gaze flicked to the side and she smiled when she noticed Wen was smiling back at her. His black hair was gleaming with health under the bright fluorescent lights of the room. His green gaze seemed to have an inner glow and his big biceps bulged as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Her mates were absolutely magnificent and she couldn’t imagine her life without them. She wished she’d told them how she felt about them, that she loved them, because if the demons currently holding her won, she may never get the chance. It didn’t matter that they probably knew how she felt about them since they were all bonded and could feel each other’s emotions through that link. She wanted the chance to tell them how she felt face-to-face.
Krysta forced her lids up and gasped at how bright the room was lit up. It hurt her eyes but she forced them to remain open. She looked about to see where it was coming from and gasped when she realized it was coming from her.
She had no idea how she was doing it but didn’t care. One of the shadow demons shrieked and pulled back for a second or two before tightening its hold on her rib cage. Fire streaked into her skin and warm blood dripped down her body to soak into her clothes. Her vision waivered for a second and her mouth opened on a silent scream when she felt an excruciating tug at her chest. When she looked down she saw that one of the shadows had formed a large hand and had it in her body. Her legs shook with pain and her knees nearly buckled but she locked them tight. If she was going to die she would do so with courage. She wouldn’t cower and whimper over her predicament.
Her thoughts once mor
e turned to Wen and Mit. How would they cope if she, their mate, succumbed to the evil? She didn’t want these assholes to win, didn’t want her mates or their friends to have to kill her if she ended up possessed and soulless like countless other humans she’d killed had.
Once more she pictured Mit and Wen in her mind’s eye and again determination surged through her with resolution. She wasn’t going to die. She had too much to live for.
“I’m not scared of you,” Krysta taunted, hoping that Apep was listening. If she could anger him enough and he showed his cowardly self, she might just be able to kill the fucker.
“You will be.” Another surge of power washed over her but this one wasn’t like that last. It was pure evil. The sulfur stench was thick and black, oily and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.
The moment she saw him she knew who it was. She was surprised by how handsome he was but she could see the evil in the depth of his bleak gaze.
“Are you in pain?” Apep smirked.
“No more than normal. You’re going to have to do better than that,” Krysta goaded.
“By the time I’ve finished with you, you’ll wish you were dead.”
“Like you?” Krysta smiled.
The roar of fury Apep let out hurt her ears and she chuckled. For a moment Krysta wondered if she’d lost her mind. Who in their right mind would goad demons and their leader?
“Take her,” Apep ordered with a sweep of his hand.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Krysta stated full of confidence, and that warm power washed through her again. Her body glowed brighter as she embraced the love and joy in her heart. The shadow demons screamed in agony and then seemed to explode, turning into ash.
Apep roared with fury, stalking toward her with his large hand outstretched, reaching toward her chest.
Krysta remained where she was, her expression still stoic, and when he was within reach of her she stepped to the side. Her whole body was vibrating with energy and yet she could also feel herself weakening from blood loss, which was a contradiction in itself, but she couldn’t explain it. Her vision dimmed for a moment and that was all Apep needed to make another move. His massive hand wrapped around her throat and the other centered on her chest right above her heart.
“I’m going to enjoy watching you take your last breath. You’re a weak, pathetic human.”
Krysta frowned. She could feel Apep’s fear. His words were to try and weaken her resolve. She smiled at him as she took a deep breath through her nose. She knew it would be her last breath for a while because the snake god was slowly squeezing her throat, cutting off her oxygen.
She kept the smile on her face and then as if by their own accord her arms moved up, her hands wrapping around both of Apep’s wrists. She would have laughed with joy if her throat wasn’t being crushed when he screamed as if in agony. An acrid stench filled her nostrils and when she looked down she saw that her hands were burning him. They were glowing so brightly she had to squint to see.
Krysta tilted her head back until she was looking into his uncertain evil gaze and saw that the side of his face was heavily scarred. That was the moment she remembered Nina and Lavinia telling her how they had injured and escaped the snake god.
She released his wrists, quickly lifted her arms, and stuck her palm on the uninjured side of his face. Apep screamed again and tried to jerk his head back. Krysta used her free hand to grab hold of his hair to hold his face still. The strands began to smolder and the stench of burning hair was so overpowering she would have gagged, but she couldn’t with his hand crushing her throat.
Small flames licked at the dark tendrils and just as she was about to pass out from lack of oxygen, Apep flung her across the room with a yell. Her back slammed into the wall, her head jerked back with a hard bang, and her vision turned black. She gasped for air and drew in what little oxygen she could into her burning lungs.
She coughed and gagged as she rolled to her side gasping for air through her painful throat. After a few precious seconds her lungs stopped burning but the blackness in front of her didn’t recede. She tried to get to her hands and knees but she was hurting too much and was too weak, so she used what little strength she had left in her body and dragged herself across the floor of the living room using her arms.
Luckily she had a fair idea where the door to the apartment was because she was crawling blind. A cry of pain left her mouth when she hit her head on the corner of the coffee table and she collapsed facedown onto the floor.
She heard the door crash open and someone yelled but she was already fading out of consciousness.
She turned her head and gave in with a sigh.
Chapter Eleven
“The shadow demons are here,” Lavinia yelled as she pushed her seat back and stood.
“What? Where?” En stood, grabbed Lavinia’s shoulders, and pulled her into his body.
Wen tuned his body toward the evil but only got a mild sense of them. Krysta still hadn’t come into the kitchen and fear pierced his heart as he spun on his heels and took off in a blur. He didn’t need to look back to know that Mit was right behind him.
The moment he got to their apartment door his heart stuttered. He’d left the door open but now it was closed. He reached for the door handle and nearly sighed with relief when it turned but when he tried to push it open, his knees wobbled. It wouldn’t budge.
He slammed his shoulder against the door but it held fast.
Mit gripped his shoulder as he prepared to ram the door again. “You know that won’t work.”
Wen turned to face his friend and saw the sadness in Mit’s eyes. “I don’t fucking care. Our mate is in there alone, facing god knows what.”
“Calm down, Wen,” Lavinia said in a calm voice but he was too frantic with worry.
He stepped forward and bent down until his nose was nearly touching Lavinia’s. “No! I won’t calm down. Krysta’s in there. She hasn’t even got her sword.”
Men nudged Lavinia aside gently and bared his elongated fangs at Wen. “Don’t you ever yell at my mate again!”
“Calm the fuck down,” Nina yelled, drawing everyone’s attention. It was very rare for her to swear and it was enough to shock Wen out of his panic.
He drew in a deep breath, looking around Menna to Lavinia. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
“Hey, don’t sweat it.” Lavinia held her hands up. “My guys probably would have done the same in your situation.”
“They did,” Zara mumbled but everyone heard her.
“How are we going to help her?” Wen asked the question on the tip of his tongue.
“We can’t,” Nina replied. “You know that we’ve all been tested. I hate it, too, but you just have to be patient.”
“For how long?” Wen yelled.
“For however long it takes.” Set grasped Wen’s shoulder and squeezed, trying to offer him comfort.
Wen shrugged him off. “Fuck that.” He moved to the side of the door, drew his fist back, and punched through the plaster. His fist throbbed when his knuckles connected with the wood frame inside and his knuckles broke, but he ignored the pain. He drew his fist back, dragging chunks of broken Gyprock with him, aimed, and punched again. This time his fist hit the plaster on the other side, and although it went through, he clenched his teeth when it slammed up against a barrier.
He howled with rage because he knew no matter how many times he punched through the wall he wouldn’t be able to get to Krysta to help her. Wen leaned his forehead on the wall beside the hole and drew in a deep ragged breath. He felt so useless. The need to help his mate fight was so frenetic he felt almost rabid. With a sigh of frustration he turned to face Mit and slid down the wall until he landed on his ass on the floor. He wrapped his arms around his drawn-up knees, ignoring the pain in his broken hand and prayed to the gods that Krysta would survive.
How long he, Mit, and his friends sat on the floor in the hallway he had no idea. It could have been minutes, hours, or days. To hi
m it felt as if an eternity passed by.
He glanced at Zara, Nina, and Lavinia when all the women suddenly pushed away from their mates’ arms and rose to their feet.
“It’s gone,” Lavinia whispered.
“What’s gone, baby?” Men asked.
“The stench of evil,” Nina answered.
“Try the door,” Zara ordered as she moved toward it.
“Let me go first, love.” Sab lifted Zara to the side, clasped the door handle, turned it, and pushed the door open.
Wen was on his feet before he even knew he’d moved. He nearly knocked Sab over in his effort to get to Krysta. The acrid stench of sulfur assaulted his nostrils but it was the underlying scent of his mate’s blood that had him gasping with fear. He burst into the room and when he saw Krysta lying on the floor facedown his heart stuttered. He sank to his knees beside her and after a quick check to make sure she had no broken bones he turned her onto her side.
“Shit!” Mit knelt beside him and they carefully turned her onto her back. Tears burned Wen’s eyes when he saw the already healing cuts to her body but from the blood soaking her clothes he knew she’d lost a lot of blood.
He roared when he saw the black-and-blue bruises on her throat and then he bent and placed his ear to her chest to make sure she was breathing. He sighed with relief but cursed when he heard a whistle in her throat each time she inhaled. She had to be in so much pain. Her throat had nearly been crushed.
Mit placed his fingers against Krysta’s pulse point and then met Wen’s gaze. “It’s a little erratic and fast but it’s steady.”
“You need to give her blood,” Men stated.
Wen looked up at his friend. Lavinia was wrapped in Men’s arms but her gaze was on Krysta, and she was crying.
“How are we supposed to do that?” Mit snarled. “She’s not conscious.”
“Maybe you should try and call Ra.”
