It took Aethan a moment to gather himself after expending so much of his power. He found the alley empty but for Blaéz and Týr. Never one to linger, Dagan had already left.
About to take off for the castle, Aethan sensed another presence. He stared at the dark figure in the shadows. “As usual, you skulk about when there’s a fight.”
A’Damiel stepped forward. “Much more fun to watch you lot break a sweat. Besides, my ass isn’t the one that’s been sold into servitude.”
Týr rushed him, like an exploding cannon, and slammed the male against the grimy walls. “You really want to shut the fuck up, right now.”
Before Týr’s fist could rearrange his face, A’Damiel flashed to the opposite side. “Well, entertaining as this is, we need to talk,” he told Aethan. “Echo’s in danger.” And that got the other males’ attention. A’Damiel shoved back his hair, his expression grim. “The demonii Andras is on this realm. He’s using a glamor to disguise himself as Lazaar, so he can go after Echo.”
Aethan’s blood turned cold. “What the hell are you talking about?”
A’Damiel pulled an old parchment from his coat pocket and tossed it at Aethan.
The aged paper crinkled in Aethan’s hands as he scanned the contents. “What is this?”
“It’s a prophecy. Andras has gotten hold of an oracle and had the scroll translated. Now he wants Echo. Doesn’t matter that it’s too late and you’ve already bonded with her. He wants control of the realms and he’s going to use her to get that. The shithead wants to prove himself to Dear Old Dad and reclaim his inheritance. His sire’s the Sin of Greed.”
“How do you know that’s what it says?” Týr snapped.
“Unlike you locos, I can read. The humans have a great establishment called a school. You should try it.”
Týr snarled. Blaéz grabbed him by the arm, keeping him back.
“What the hell are you?” Aethan asked staring hard at the male. Not many could understand the cryptic writings. But this so-called “spineless” immortal could?
“Echo’s guardian,” A’Damiel said flatly.
Aethan narrowed his eyes. A’Damiel had been just as evasive centuries ago when Seth died. The detached asshole never got involved, except, apparently, where Echo was concerned.
“This is no time to wonder at what has passed and the mysteries of all that is,” A’Damiel said.
Aethan wanted to punch him just on principle.
“Keep Echo safe.”
“You’re just going to walk off and not see her?” Aethan demanded.
“She no longer needs me.” A’Damiel leveled him an unreadable look as his form wavered, then he disappeared.
***
Andras paced the chambers deep in the labyrinth beneath the cemetery on the East River. He turned to the human in front of him. “You’re sure about this?”
Neal nodded. “Yes. I heard her friend say she’s staying on an island off Manhasset Bay.”
“Excellent,” Andras smiled, glad he hadn’t taken over Neal’s mind completely as he usually did with his minions. He needed Neal to still mingle with other humans, to be able to keep an eye on things for him. But once he got the girl, Andras would have to take this little idiot’s mind to complete the last task. He was too focused on her. “You have done well.”
Neal preened. “I get to kill that blue-haired, son-of-a-bitch, right?”
“He’s all yours.”
“And then she will be all mine?”
Stupid mortal. Like he’d hand over the prophesized one to anyone. Andras hid his sneer and laughed. “Soon. Very, very soon. But here’s what I want you to do...”
CHAPTER 32
The scroll of the prophecy lay on the desk, like a ticking bomb, dispelling any remaining doubts Echo had had about her destiny. To see tangible evidence of a prophecy relating to her wasn’t a good feeling at all.
The warriors had come in just after midnight, and Aethan had called up this emergency meeting, summoning Michael, who’d been elsewhere.
They all stood, crammed into Michael’s small study, watching her. Any other time that would have made her feel like she couldn’t breathe for the amount of space they took up. Dagan stayed at the back of the room, while Blaéz and Týr stood adjacent to her. Michael leaned against the desk and waited.
Aethan remained near the door, his gaze intent while she paced in front of the fireplace. “Echo?” he said softly.
“I'm okay.” She rubbed the healed scar on her arm and tried to remain composed. “So Andras thinks he can take over the realms by capturing me?”
“Yes. We’ve already come across a shitload of them this evening, searching the streets for you,” Týr explained. “Then we received that.” He nodded to the scroll.
“Who gave it to you?” she asked.
Before Týr could answer, Aethan said, “My contact.”
“I guess I can’t go back to work?”
“Eshana, we are all concerned for your safety,” Michael said. “But you are not our prisoner. Ultimately, the decision is yours. We will work around it.”
Her gaze flickering over to the Archangel, she shoved back her overlong bangs in frustration. She’d been stupid to think everything would get better once she’d mated with Aethan.
“Echo.” Aethan came over and took her hands in his. “About work—”
“It’s okay. I’ve already handed in my notice. I was going to tell you. My boss won’t be happy with me leaving so suddenly.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
***
In the little room she used for her divination consultation and preparation of herbal potions, Lila stared at the scrying bowl in front of her and frowned. The waters had turned cloudy. Uneasiness settled over her psyche. She didn’t like it when her foresight remained unclear. It usually meant a bad omen. She sighed. Tomorrow she’d try again. Rubbing her tired eyes, she rose from her chair and emptied the clear glass bowl of water into a lush green Ficus then stored the glass in her cupboard.
“Kira, dear?” she called out.
Light footsteps sounded in the short hall, before her granddaughter poked her head into the room. Her braids undone, her red hair hung in soft curls around her pretty face.
“Yes, Gran?”
“Can you go to the herbal store in Chinatown? I need a few things.” She handed Kira her list.
“Sure, Gran.”
A few minutes later, she heard the Beetle’s engine rev and the gears grind as Kira took off. Lila smiled fondly. The car wasn’t going to last long under Kira’s care. Good thing Echo didn’t want it back.
She’d just put the kettle on, needing a cup of her special tea to soothe her, when the doorbell rang. Lila headed to the living room and answered the door.
“Yes?” she asked the attractive young man hovering uncertainly on the threshold.
“Hello.” A wry smile crossed his face. “I’m a bit lost.” He turned to look down the road. “I’m looking for Barrow Street.”
“Oh, that’s the next—”
He rushed in and slammed his body into hers, sending her stumbling to the ground. Her head hit the wooden floor and stars erupted as darkness took over...
***
Echo went looking for Aethan. Now that she was officially out of her job, she needed something to do. Aethan had cleared her ex-boss’s memories to say she worked out her two-weeks’ notice. It was the only way.
Maybe she could find out more about her job as Healer. They should have something in that huge library downstairs. Hell, she had no idea if it would help her understand her job better, but it would give her something to do.
She took the stairs down to the lower level, past the elevator, and headed down the cool corridors until she reached the gym. Pushing open the door, the sound of something being brutally pounded filled her ears.
She stopped, forgetting what she wanted to ask her mate.
He wore black cotton Gi pants. His body, rippling with muscles, gleamed with sw
eat as he hammered at an enormous punching bag then leapt into the air and lashed out with a flying kick, landing agilely on the other side. He paused when he saw her, a smile curling his mouth. “Bored already?”
She wrinkled her nose at his teasing.
“Can I train with you?” The words fell out of her mouth. But it sounded like a good idea.
He grabbed the punching bag before it rammed him in the head. “I was going to wait, give you a day or two before I brought this up, but since you did—it’s a good plan. We need to keep up your training now that you’re no longer at the gym.” He stepped away from the punching bag.
“I don’t understand.”
“I need you to be strong, Echo. This would be nothing like what you know about fighting. You must strengthen not only your body but your mind, too. You need to be prepared for anything. What you experienced in Demon Alley was just a sliver of what can occur after a healing. After a day, your strength was renewed, but at other times it will take longer and your body needs to be strong.” He picked up a towel from the floor and wiped his face, his expression serious. “You being mortal, I can’t take chances with you. You’re going to have to learn to fight with other weapons, too. So you’re always prepared. A tear in any veil can be dangerous. You never know what lurks on the other side.”
Like that would frighten her? Damon had taught her how to use a dagger. But fighting with swords was her dream. She smirked. “Bring it on.”
Eyes narrowing, he tossed the towel down. “Always,” he said, prowling closer, “be prepared for the unexpected.” He lunged.
Startled, Echo didn’t have a chance to evade when he grabbed her round the waist and brought her down. She gritted her teeth, anticipating for a hard landing, except he rolled at the last minute and she fell on top of him. Not that it was any softer than the darn floor.
Inhaling sharply, she scowled and pushed off him. “Again.”
He took her through the steps of the way the warriors fought. Echo knew he went easy on her. She didn’t care for that but realized, being so much smaller, she needed to be cunning in her strategy. So, pretending he was a demonii, she came in fast, avoided his counter-attack, and slid in low, her fist aimed for his crotch.
He froze. Then in a move so fast it took her breath away, he seized her then dropped her on her back. Apparently, he hadn’t cared for her surprise attack.
Winded, she laughed. “That was fun,” she said, staring at the ceiling. So she couldn’t defeat him, but then she hadn’t expected to. However, she’d learned a few things, she thought, as she lay, winded, on the exercise mat.
Her mate was a bloody good fighter. Heck, she already knew that, but to work with him was exhilarating. He had a body so finely tuned, it was like a well-oiled fighting machine.
He crouched by her side, a brow arching. “So that’s your attack strategy?”
“Yup.” She breathed heavily. “But it’s usually my knee. And it works...every time.”
He shook his head. “Want to go again?”
“In a moment. After I get my breath back.”
Aethan held out a hand to her. She ignored it, continuing to gaze at the ceiling. When he straightened and moved away, she sprang agilely to her feet and tackled him, diving for his knees. He went down fast. Just as quick, he turned and made a grab for her. She fell on him, then straddled his chest, and grinned in victory.
“As long as I bring my opponent down, that’s all that matters,” she informed him in a breathless voice. “See, I don’t always aim for the crotch.”
Gray eyes locked on hers. The next minute, he tugged her head to his and captured her lips in a breathtaking kiss. His hands stroked her waist, slid under her tank top to cup her breasts. “You’re wearing underwear?”
She rolled her eyes. “Always did and always will.”
“Take it off.”
“No.”
He flipped her on her back and instantly had her bra off. He gazed down at her exposed chest and had her hands pinned to her sides. His head bent. He licked her puckered nipple. “I could do this all day long—”
Then he growled in displeasure. The sound reverberated against her damp nub, causing her arousal to spike. He let go off her hands and pulled her top down. And just in time too, as the gym door opened and Blaéz entered.
Aethan rose to his feet and crossed over to the warrior who waited at the entrance. Echo jumped up, looked around for her bra. Finding it, she rolled it into a small ball, and headed for them.
She could read nothing off Blaéz’s blank-eyed stare as he spoke to Aethan. But she caught the tail end of Blaéz’s words. “...she’s not answering. She could be hurt.”
“Who’s hurt?” she asked him, coming up beside Aethan.
Aethan took her hand. “Blaéz had a vision. Lila’s not answering her phone. We’re heading there.”
Fear spread through her. “I’m coming—no, you’re not leaving me behind, Aethan,” she warned before he could speak.
“Echo, Týr’s already there. He would have called if it was bad.”
“I don’t care. I need to see for myself that she’s okay,” she said, her mood darkening with worry. “She’s my family.”
“We’re dematerializing,” he cautioned.
“Doesn’t matter. I can put up with it.”
***
Echo found Lila resting on the couch, looking frail. “Gran!” She rushed over to kneel in front of the older woman, searching for signs of injury.
A wry smile tugged Lila’s mouth. “Don’t fret, child. I’m fine. The warrior, Týr, healed me, though I would’ve liked my battle bruises,” she said, touching her forehead as if feeling for the lump. “But I don’t want to upset Kira.”
“Oh, Gran, I was so worried. What happened? And where’s Kira?”
“I sent her on an errand for me. Just as well or she would have been hurt, too. A young man came to the door asking for directions then suddenly attacked me instead.”
Echo glanced around the lounge, but everything looked to be in its place.
“No. I don’t think anything’s stolen,” Lila said.
Finishing their recon of the surrounding area, Aethan, Blaéz, and Týr came back into the room.
“All is well. No signs that a demonii’s been around,” Týr reassured Lila, but he couldn’t keep the fury from his toffee-brown eyes.
“Oh no, he wasn’t a demon, definitely human,” Gran said, frowning. “I’ve never seen him before.”
“What did he look like?” Týr asked.
“Fair skinned. Average Height. Red hair, cut very short.”
Echo stiffened as a shiver raced down her spine. The only one she knew who remotely fit that description was that idiot, Neal. But even he wouldn’t resort to assaulting old ladies. He was all threats and no action. All he wanted was to score with women.
“I need a favor, please,” Gran said, drawing her attention back.
“What is it?” Echo asked, stroking Lila’s hand.
“Do not tell Kira.”
“You have our word,” Týr reassured her.
Blaéz nodded, as did Aethan.
Echo sighed. She didn’t like it, but she understood Gran’s wish not to worry Kira. “All right. Let me make you some tea.”
Gran shook her head and swung her feet to the floor. “No dear, you go on home. I’ll be fine. If Kira sees you all here, she’ll get worked up—I don’t care to be treated as an invalid.” She smiled, a little twinkle in her eye.
Echo nodded. She knew far too well, her friend could be an impossible nurse.
***
Aethan finished his shower and headed for the dressing room. It took everything in him not to check on Echo telepathically or call her cell. So he rattled Týr, instead, until the male snarled that he’d bring Echo back now, and Aethan could explain to her why she had to cut short her stay.
He understood Echo’s need to visit Lila after her attack, but every time she was out of his sight, he felt like he couldn’t br
eathe.
Groaning, he squeezed his eyes shut. She’d given up so much for him, her job, her entire life, and she’d lost that loser, her guardian, too. He had to ease up, but it was damned hard to do, and the reason he didn’t go with her in the first place.
He pulled out his cell and looked at the time. Still another hour to go. He refused to wait around any longer.
Aethan dematerialized, took form by a grove of trees at the end of the narrow street, and headed for the oracle’s house. Týr had parked the Range Rover opposite the brownstone, but Aethan could sense him close by.
Hurrying up the steps, he willed the vines, trailing over the trellised entrance, out of his way and knocked on the door.
The moment it opened and he saw Echo, his heart settled into place once more.
She went up on her toes, grabbed a fistful of his shirt, and kissed him. “See, that wasn’t so bad.”
He stroked her face. “Not from my point of view. Why did you not call me?”
“I’ve only been gone for the afternoon. You worry too much and that’s why I asked Kira to spend a few days with us. There, better now?” she asked with a teasing look. Then she dropped her voice. “Since Gran’s going to Seattle, which is good, Kira will be safe with us.”
Hell, he was damn grateful. At least Echo would be safe, but he knew better than to say that aloud.
***
“Echo, you have the candles, right?” Kira asked from the back of the Range Rover, as they left Greenwich Village.
“Uh huh,” Echo mumbled, trying to focus on what Kira said and not the erotic suggestions Aethan made through their mind-link that had her cheeks heating up.
Candles—right. She rummaged through her backpack and found them. Check. “Aethan, can we make a detour to the cathedral?”
His expression tensed, the teasing light in his eyes flattened. “Echo, that place is out of bounds for now, you know that.”
“Please? It will only take a few minutes. It’s taken me five years, I need to do this.” And a long time in coming, she realized. Gran was right. She needed to let Tamsyn go.
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