“And we can figure this out in Atlanta?”
A nod, and then he cupped her elbow and started walking her towards the bright city lights. “I have connections in Atlanta, powerful people who owe me a favor. They will help us, if necessary. One man in particular.” Chloe pulled her arm out of his touch and wrapped it around her middle. She couldn’t think when he touched her. Memories of naked skin, flushed faces, and heavy breathing entered her mind.
“You’re going to call in favors from important people just to help me?”
“Of course. I am your Protector.”
Chloe sighed with disappointment. Of course that was why. What was she expecting
really?
“Well, where are we going first? I hate not knowing.”
He was silent for a minute then he said, “Telal Demuzi.”
Chloe stumbled a step and stared up at him in shock. “Telal Demuzi? The freaking only demon to be allowed to live outside of the rift because he’s so powerful? Oh my God.” As an afterthought, she added, “That’s the man Lily is supposed to be given to.”
Tyrian looked at her but didn’t slow his pace. “Francis listed Telal as your sister’s Protector? That is interesting.”
Her stomach rolled. “Why’s that?”
“I wouldn’t worry for your sister. Telal may be a demon, but he fought on our side to push the demons back at The Great War. He’s been most beneficial to our cause.”
“Yes, that’s neat and all but why is that interesting?”
He shook his head the barest of movements. Was he exasperated? “From what I know,
your father Francis allied with Telal for demon’s rights. They were both trying to open the rift so that the demons can cross over and live among us.”
Chloe knew that Papa believed in the rights of demons. Though she’d never known he’d fought against the demons in The Great War. Maybe he realized his mistake years later and wanted to make amends. She was learning there was a lot more about her Papa than she ever knew.
Deciding to test the waters a little, she reached out her hand for Tyrian’s, twining their fingers together. His arm jerked, but he didn’t pull back. She took that as a good sign and smiled.
Chapter Fourteen
“Why am I not surprised Tyrian left you in charge? Shall I bow, King Henry?” Draven’s laughter was almost contagious.
Henry shook his head. Now was not the time for laughter. Commander Tyrian left him in charge while he got Chloe out of danger. The battle was dying outside. The demons had already killed two of his men, but the Atal Warriors were stronger, faster, better trained. Only one demon kept Henry’s attention. The big gray bastard in the back, standing like some general behind his army.
When most of the idummi demons fell into bloody heaps on the snow, the demon roared like some beast, then slipped back into the cavernous hole it’d crawled from. Dirt and snow piled over the hole, covering it like a hill. What the hell was that thing? Every arrow and bullet shot at it, it’d deflected with some kind of magical wall around him. Most demons didn’t have that kind of power.
“Report,” Henry ordered. Rayn stepped forward, breathing hard from a fight he’d just had.
“Six left. The big gray one just disappeared. I have no idea how he does that, by the way.
We’re securing the gate.”
“Good, burn the dead when it’s done.” Rayn nodded and sped off into the fray. Henry loved this. The smell of blood and sweat, the sounds of clanking metal and the grunts of pain.
They were things he was all too familiar with. They all were.
He strode into the castle. He needed to send a report to the commander about the gray demon disappearing. If it could track Chloe, then it’d probably be on its way to her now. That they hadn’t been able to kill it was unacceptable.
Henry grimaced as he recalled the massive punch that thing had. If he hadn’t moved
when he did, that demon would have killed him. What a way to die, being torn in half by a monster. He was damned lucky and he knew it. Vampires, demons, everyone had weaknesses.
No one was immune to death.
He should have been watching where he was going and not lost in his thoughts because he ran straight into the one person he didn’t want to see. Nanu came around the opposite corner just as he did and smacked into him.
“Ow,” she said shaking out her wrist that had pushed into him.
“Sorry,” he said, rubbing the spot on his chest where she’d touched him. She looked beautiful today. Well, when didn’t she? But today she had her hair pulled back like she’d done it in a hurry and her lab coat was open, revealing the dress slacks and silk button down blouse she wore. Aquamarine earrings, a reminder of her heritage adorned the dark skin of her ears and neck.
The jewelry almost made the expensive clothes she wore look ridiculous, but somehow she managed to pull it off. Or maybe it was just because he’d like her in a baggy sweatshirt made of plastic.
Henry quickly moved before he stayed there any longer. He started around her. She
called after him, but he ignored it and made for his bedroom. He’d contact the commander after he showered and cleared his mind. Right now, he was too frazzled. He closed the bedroom door behind him and pulled his shirt over his head.
The door opened, had him turning hard to it.
“Get out,” he said.
Nanu closed the door, shaking her head as she approached him. He could either stay still or back away. He backed up. She shook her head and rubbed her hands over her face.
“You drive me crazy, Henry.” You and me both.
“Get out,” he said instead.
“No, not until you tell me, specifically, the other reason.” This time he was genuinely confused.
“What reason?” He watched her jaw tighten and slide side to side.
“The other night in the gym. I asked you what your reasons were for not being with you.
You said because you’re a warrior, which I think is completely ridiculous, Henry. I know what you do and I support it. I have no qualms with it. I find it brave,” she said softly. Henry looked away. If he didn’t, he might do something stupid like blush.
“You said I am the other reason. Tell me what that means.”
Henry wadded his shirt into a tight ball and threw it hard into the bin. “Leave me alone, Nanu. I don’t want to talk about this.” He walked into the bathroom, leaving her alone. When she followed him into the much smaller space, he didn’t know if he wanted to yell or hit something.
“Tell me honestly and then I’ll leave you to your precious moping.” He rounded on her, anger and shock marring his face.
“Moping? I do not mope, Nanu.” Her eyes glittered in a rush. Her chest was rising and falling fast and her eyes trailed over his mouth. Shit, he jerked himself away from her. The woman was a trap, constantly drawing him in. He stepped as far away from her as he could in the bathroom.
“You do, too, mope, Henry. I want you Henry. Don’t you see that? I don’t know how to make it any clearer.” Henry ran a hand over his face, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Yeah, I know that, Nanu, but there seems to be one thing you haven’t realized about me.” I love you. “I’m not someone who will just take your body and walk away the next day.”
Several emotions flitted across her face.
He’d thought about it. Hell, he could practically write a novel on all the reasons he wanted her but couldn’t have her, on why he couldn’t just take her body and not keep her. He was sure if he did that it would break him apart and he’d never be able to fix himself.