by Love, Dianna
Nibbling on her lip, she stared off as if forming her words. When she brought her gaze back to him, her shoulders relaxed and she whispered, “I should have told you all this before now, but I was so confused. I—”
“Reeese, look out!” Evalle yelled.
Quinn watched in horror as ten demons emerged from the woods on his left, all racing with claws out for Reese.
Chapter 12
Had it been that easy to sneak away from Daegan?
Casidhe had an unsettled feeling with every mile she covered in her little four-door rental car. She rarely drove, but she’d been taught the skill during college, and maintained the speed limit. Worry over the time kept nudging her to press the accelerator harder, but she had no reason to panic. She could easily reach Redmond’s house by eleven tonight.
Besides, she didn’t want to draw the eye of law enforcement even with her sword tucked secretly inside her backpack.
A bird flew out of a tree on her left. She flinched, then rolled her eyes. She expected Daegan to appear in front of her car at any minute, but he’d seemed to be in a hurry when he left.
Maybe he would be tied up for a long time.
Long enough for her to evade him and get some answers.
With open roads ahead, she’d had only her mind for company. Not the best place to be stuck alone for hours. Her conscience had been blabbering on and off since walking out of the centre in County Galway.
You should have left Daegan a note.
Why? He was not her friend.
But he would worry. He’ll think Cathbad has you.
Casidhe did not want to have this conversation with anyone, especially herself. Daegan was not some good guy. He was the red dragon.
People had labeled Redmond, the professor she headed to see, as crazy.
She felt his pain.
In fact, she should be working on what to say to the elusive professor when they met, not focusing on an irritating dragon shifter.
Or her damned conscience who should be on her side.
She glanced at the digital clock in the dashboard every ten minutes and missed her mobile phone. She could have set alarms for each hour she’d spent driving across country to check her progress.
As soon as she returned to County Galway, she’d grab clothes from her cottage and find a hotel to sleep a few hours.
No point in staying in a wrecked cottage where someone could teleport in or attack her at any moment. She’d also be close to a phone store bright and early tomorrow. They would deactivate her original phone and set up a new one with her number.
Maybe there would be messages from Fenella as soon as it went live.
With the information she hoped to receive from Redmond, she’d be able to hunt for the infamous grimoire volumes and Fenella at the same time.
All without having to deal with an overbearing dragon shifter.
After a couple missed turns, she made her way down to M11 motorway heading south along Ireland’s eastern coast, south of Dublin.
Before leaving the centre, she’d groomed her hair as best she could on the fly. Her jeans and blouse were clean, thanks to the stop she’d made earlier today at her cottage.
Ten minutes north of Wexford where she’d once seen Redmond, Casidhe took the turn off according to his instructions. He’d been precise with his directions, right down to stating she must destroy any paper she wrote them on.
He’d ordered, “Do not load the information in your mobile phone or into a car mapping program.”
No problem. She had no phone.
It would take her longer to figure out the rental car computer system than to just drive based on his notes.
He’d been precise and suspicious. As if she would not comply with everything he’d said after he’d agreed to a meeting?
He’d rattled her when he’d first announced, “You are Luigsech.”
She’d quickly admitted he was correct.
He also warned her to come alone. Then he’d uttered one last edict. “If you break your word or fail to show after you initiated this conversation, losing information will be the least of your worries.”
Terror had flushed through her.
She had to arrive at eleven sharp or he would not answer the door.
The list of dos and don’ts finally subsided at that point.
The drive had been fairly easy until she ran into roadwork, slowing traffic to a crawl as twilight muted the world into grays. She hadn’t expected slow traffic this late in the evening, but it appeared a sinkhole had formed on one side of the road. She drilled her fingers on the steering wheel. Checking her blood pressure right now helped.
When she finally passed that area, she was still on track, but could not lose even five more minutes.
After taking two curvy roads off the main motorway, she found the opening into an unidentifiable wooded area by locating a rotting fence on her right. Tall grass made the path barely visible even with her headlights shining through a long break in the trees. Sprouts coming up in the tire ruts made her think this route hadn’t been used in a while.
She should have purchased the insurance on this car.
Creeping off the paved road, she drove slowly over deep dips and small trees pushed over, checking her watch every minute. Before taking this dirt path, she’d picked up a few minutes in her favor and had been feeling okay about her time.
Her palms dampened. She clutched the steering wheel white-knuckle tight.
Finally, her headlights shined on a pile of dirt dumped in the road.
This was where she had to get out and hike.
Yanking the backpack from the passenger seat, she quickly strapped it on and pulled out the keychain with her LED light. Taking a deep breath, she shined the light and started the half-mile trek he’d said would lead to his home.
Did he take this route every time he had to go anywhere?
If so, why had there not been a vehicle parked where she left her rental or any sign of a vehicle coming this way recently?
She moved as quickly as she could through the dark woods and kept an eye on her time. She needed her mobile phone now more than ever for accurate and illuminated time, but she’d have to trust an old watch she found in the back of her center desk drawer.
Twelve minutes left.
Had she gone a half mile yet? Was she lost?
She gripped the strap on her backpack with one hand, needing something for a lifeline. Worry sat heavy in her chest. Where had she screwed up?
An old tree in the shape of a Y came into view. One of the landmarks he’d given her.
“Yes!” She took off, running past the dead tree and hurried up the next hill where he said she’d be able to see his house through the trees on top of that crest.
Breathing hard from the uphill jog, she stopped at the sight of his house with lights on in every window on the main floor. Yes!
Relief spread across her tight shoulders, relaxing the tense muscles.
She had enough time to reach the doorbell without having to run. Walking slower, she grabbed a cloth from her backpack to wipe sweat from her face and neck on the way.
At the bottom of the hill, she put away the rag and her light. Gaslights on posts illuminated the grounds once she passed through this stand of trees.
Hands grabbed her arms from behind and lifted her off the ground.
She screeched, “Let me go!”
She couldn’t free her hands to reach her sword. Her body was tossed up and spun in the air. Her heart slammed around in her chest.
Before she hit the ground, Daegan snatched her to him, eye level with his furious gaze.
Chapter 13
With ten demons racing for her, Reese jumped in front of Quinn and balled power in her hands to throw.
She barely got off a flash-bang hit when Quinn snarled and stepped in front of her to shove up a kinetic wall.
One demon had died at her hands. It burst into flames then turned into a wash of ashes.
Nine mo
re slammed the wall.
Evalle, Storm, and two male Beladors ran from across the parking lot and jumped into action.
Storm’s body shifted into a massive black jaguar so fast Reese did a double take.
Evalle and her two Belador teammates started hammering kinetic hits at the demons. Four of the demons turned from Quinn’s invisible wall and attacked Evalle’s team.
Five continued battering Quinn’s kinetic barrier. He shouted, “Get in my car, Reese! Alekki will protect you.”
“No. Stop ordering me around.”
“Dammit, woman!”
She glanced at his car, wondering why Alekki was not out here helping Quinn, since that driver had to be a Belador.
But Alekki had exited the car. His clothes were half ripped off and he bled from multiple gashes. He stumbled, fighting an eight-foot-tall demon with one giant horn growing over the top of its forehead. That demon must have blindsided the driver to get the jump on a Belador.
Reese stepped toward the driver, spun up her power, and yelled, “Get down, Alekki!”
Quinn’s driver glanced her way and dove to the ground.
The demon howled and went after him.
Reese hit the demon just before wide-open jaws full of jagged fangs landed on Alekki’s neck. The demon burst into a ball of flames, then poofed into another cloud of ashes.
When she swung back to Quinn’s invisible wall, he forced his hands from side to side, where demons still shoved back and forth, rocking his wall.
One had enough predatory instinct to realize that wall was not infinite.
That demon rushed to one side, found the end of the kinetic field, and swung around, eyes burning bloodred. That one had sickle claws and slobber falling from its open mouth. Gray and brown hair clung in patches on his chest and legs.
Reese called up her energy, balling power fast to strike him. He ran at her.
She’d drained her energy. It was taking too long.
The demon took another stride then angled to her side as he launched his body in the air.
He was going to kill Quinn first.
She’d never had a demon bypass her energy for anything else.
Quinn must have seen him from his peripheral vision. He turned to defend them but she got there first.
She jammed her fist into the demon’s chest as it passed overhead. Her energy shot all around him, lighting up her arm and his body with blue waves of power.
Quinn blasted it sideways with a kinetic backhand.
The demon exploded in flames and ashes rained down on the ground.
But the kinetic wall fell when he pulled a hand away.
Screams of victory and howls of bloodlust charged the air.
She ducked under Quinn’s arms. He blasted hit after hit at the four coming hard.
She needed power and had an idea. She slammed one hand over Quinn’s heart and fisted her other hand. Energy surged through her body. She pulled her fist close to her chest.
Wait for it.
A demon dove at her.
She blasted her fist as hard as she could at its throat.
Backpedaling, the demon grabbed its throat. Then it stopped and grinned, needle-sharp teeth showing.
It stepped forward.
Oh, shit. She needed a minute to power up again.
The demon took another step and howled in delight.
Then its neck burst into flames destroying its throat. Wild red eyes looked down in shock. Fire engulfed the monster.
She didn’t watch for the dust to settle. Hand still on Quinn’s chest, she had to neutralize one of the three demons he still fought.
Quinn roared and whipped his fist in an uppercut, but it was the kinetic power that blasted one demon up in the air. It landed behind Storm’s jaguar. The super-sized jungle cat whipped around and ripped the demon’s head off.
Poof, another one turned to dust.
Evalle, Storm, and her team tackled the last of the demons.
It didn’t take long.
Reese had been scrunched down beneath Quinn’s arms to give him freedom of movement. She couldn’t straighten her legs.
Quinn’s warm hand covered the one she’d kept pinned to his chest.
She twisted to look up at him.
He reached for her other hand, pulling her up to him. Without taking his eyes off Reese, Quinn called out, “Alekki? Are you okay?”
“I will be, Maistir. Thank you, Miss O’Rinn.”
Reese leaned to the side to see what had kept Alekki on the ground. He had a broken leg. “You’re welcome.”
Evalle wiped blood off her arm. Storm paused next to her and stared at the wound as it healed in front of him. He smiled. “Your gryphon power is so badass, babe.”
“I know, right?” She smiled back at him, then turned to Quinn. “You two good?”
Quinn’s grip tightened on Reese’s hand. “Yes, but I need a moment. Would you see to Alekki?”
“Absolutely.” Evalle turned to her Beladors. “Why don’t you two keep an eye out on the far side. Storm will patrol this area while I help Alekki.”
“You got it, Maistir,” one of the Beladors popped off.
She grumbled, “I’m not the damn Maistir when Quinn is standing a stone’s throw away.”
The two men smiled and headed out to follow her orders.
Quinn took Reese’s hand and walked toward the entrance, then diverted into the trees. He stayed in visual range of his people.
Seconds before the attack, he’d dropped his walls and loosened up his stiff demeanor, taking her breath with his honesty.
She’d sucked up her courage, ready to tell Quinn everything, but he didn’t look too receptive right now.
He had that I’m-going-to-hide-you-somewhere-safe look on his face. He whispered, “You could have been killed, Reese. Why did you come here?”
“Because I thought I could lead them to the nest. There must be something going on for that many demons to be showing up in one spot. This isn’t normal. Not even for me. These demons are different, based on what I’ve heard and seen today. Your people need my help.”
His jaw muscles flexed in and out. “While every one of them appreciate your help, I need you to not go demon hunting.”
“I am your best bet at finding a nest.”
“Then we’ll have to make a different ante. Your life is not to be gambled with.”
She pulled away from his hold on her arm. It hurt to withdraw, but the sooner she cut ties, the sooner she’d keep him alive.
He could have died today.
Those demons didn’t just happen to show up at this specific location for no reason. Additionally, they craved the energy in her body. If they could get her to the ground, they’d drain her.
But she’d rather face ten more of them right now than that kicked-in-the-nuts look on Quinn’s face.
Lob another load of guilt on top of what she’d been toting around since saving Phoedra. She’d known about the pregnancy that long and promised Phoedra she would tell Quinn soon, but not until she made it safely through her first trimester.
That had been nothing but a stall tactic.
Being the sweet child Phoedra was, she’d smiled and agreed to keep her secret.
Reese had worked hard to earn Phoedra’s trust since back when they’d been neighbors in California with no idea who Quinn was, but Reese didn’t deserve Phoedra’s trust now.
She’d lied by omission.
Oh, she’d planned to tell Quinn, but she kept avoiding it. There would be no happy ending to this conversation.
Quinn nudged, “You were in the middle of telling me something important when the demons attacked.”
She grabbed her head with both hands and didn’t look at him. “I’m gonna do this quick, like pulling off a bandage. I can’t stay here.” She couldn’t stop or look up. The hurt flooding his face would buckle her. “It’s not you, Quinn. I think you’ve figured out why I’ve been sick on occasion. I never intended to keep the baby from
you.”
“But you did.” Three words spoken softly and filled with pain.
Yep, she’d wounded him badly. She forced her head up. He deserved to see her face when she spoke. “I need to explain. You know some of what I’ve been through and everyone here knows about my demon energy.”
His face softened. “I don’t want you to worry, Reese. If you’ll just go to Treoir while I’m gone helping Daegan, I’ll keep you and the baby safe myself once we can come back here together.” His eyes were full of so much emotion. “I want both you and the baby. I ... love you. I do.” His eyes were filled with emotion as he struggled and hurried ahead. “I will be the best father ever for this child. We’ll raise him or her with Phoedra. We’ll—”
“Please stop,” she squeezed out from her thick throat. Tears streamed down her face. He was giving her the words and love she’d never gotten from the guy she’d thought she once loved many years ago. The one who turned his back on her the one and only time she’d been pregnant before now.
The price of that mistake had been her child’s life.
She’d wanted that baby so much and had been willing to raise it alone. She’d been naïve to not believe the curse.
Quinn stood here, handing her his heart and ready to take on this child to raise. He’d said he loved her.
“What’s wrong, Reese?” His raw voice bled hurt.
She would not let him think he had done anything wrong. She put a hand on his chest where that powerful heart banged away. “You are everything I would ever want in a man, Quinn. You are the man Phoedra deserves as a father. You did nothing wrong. I was cursed long ago with this demon energy and to never have a family.” She choked on the words, ashamed to admit she’d lost her child.
His face blanched. “What are you saying?”
“You’re important to me. So is Phoedra, but you’ll both be safer with me far away from you.”
“No. You’ll be safe in Treoir if you need to be there the entire time of your pregnancy, and even longer. I will not lose you.” His eyes glistened. “We will find this demon nest and stop the Imortiks. I promise to keep you safe. To keep our family safe.”
She hated this. Hated it. “Quinn, I was pregnant once. I went to Phoedra’s guardian to keep me safe until the birth. I’d been told as a child I was cursed to not have a family, but I didn’t believe it. He kept me safe, just as he watched over your daughter, but the baby ... ” She gasped for a breath, unable to get the words out.
