Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Ella said her goodbyes to the group and then turned to face Luka, who crossed to her with a small but genuine smile. “Hey.” She kissed his cheek. “Kill anyone today?” she joked … though, yes, he might have done.
“He’s not yet dead, but he’ll have bled out before the night is over.”
What a cheerful prospect.
“Drink?” he offered with an arch of his brow.
“Just water, thanks. I’m driving.”
He gave her order to a passing waiter as she said quick hellos to Nikandr and Mikhail, both of whom responded with respectful nods.
Luka shepherded her to the L-shaped sofa he typically claimed. “Sit,” he invited. “You look tired again. I don’t like it.”
She slumped onto the sofa. “Me neither. It would be understandable if I was sleep-deprived, but I’m not. I just don’t wake up feeling refreshed these days.”
“As if your sleep is restless,” he mused, angling his body on the seat to better face her.
“Yes. That. I guess the effects of it are catching up to me now, since I tend to look drained a lot.”
“I would have thought the psychic punch was responsible, but you were having this problem before the mugging.” A hardness slid into his eyes. “I’ve spoken to many people about the incident. If anyone knows who he is, they’re not talking. And it’s rare that people don’t talk to me.”
Probably because he tortured them until they did.
“It definitely won’t be anyone from the other criminal. We consider mates, children, and anchors off-limits.”
“All I know is that he’s a burly guy with enough power to pummel me with a severe psychic punch.” It still galled her that he’d been able to disable her that way.
Something very dark seemed to move behind Luka’s eyes. “I’ve made no secret of who you are to me. The criminal element of the demonic population would recognize you in an instant. Yet, this person dared harm you.”
The protective anger in his voice brushed over her skin like a cold breeze. All demons were incredibly protective of their psi-mate. Luka took it to a whole other level. It was just in his nature to keep those in his inner circle safe.
“He didn’t set out to target me. He was in the process of mugging another woman. I just happened upon them. It all happened pretty fast, so he probably didn’t recognize me until it was too late.”
Luka shook his head. “Such predators always have to be sure they’re not going to anger another and more dangerous predator. Their survival depends on their ability to make snap decisions that aren’t going to bite them on the ass. Even if he didn’t know who you are to me, it would not matter. He will still pay for what he did to you.”
“Yes, he will indeed.” She’d make sure of it.
His eyes went slitted. “He’s mine to kill.”
Ella felt her lips curve. “Only if you find him first.”
“Oh, I will,” he swore, his expression hard. There was no missing the thread of menace in his voice.
Right then, a waiter materialized and handed her a glass of iced water.
“Thank you.” She took a sip of her drink, letting her gaze idly roam the den. When it again landed on two familiar fallen angels, she said, “I didn’t know the Black Saints were members here.”
“It’s a recent development.”
“They seem to be everywhere lately.”
“And they’re buying a lot of property,” he noted. “I have a strong feeling that their club’s president is most definitely an archangel.”
She cocked her head. “You’ve met him?”
“Once. I intervened when the local MC club chapter talked of going to war with them.”
“War?” she echoed, more than a little shocked. Demons were brutal but generally avoided full-on wars.
“They’re humans and completely oblivious to what they’re dealing with.”
Ah.
“Uninterested in sharing their territory, they’d suggested that the Black Saints join them. They hadn’t taken too kindly to Viper neither accepting their offer nor heeding their subsequent warning to relocate. They also hadn’t liked that he refused to traffic drugs for them. He wants to keep his club clean.”
“I see.” It was a little surprising, really. Viper hadn’t struck her as the moral type. It was strange for a celestial being maybe, but there was just something very dark and ruthless in his manner.
“I advised the national president of the club—who, unbeknownst to the human chapter, happens to be a demon—that they should leave the Black Saints be. He took my advice, not wanting to tangle with a fallen angel who was not only rumored to be a fallen archangel but who’d secured alliances with powerful demons like Knox Thorne and Maddox Quentin.”
It had been smart of Viper to do so. “It’s good that you stepped in. Archangels are dangerous. Fallen archangels? His danger factor will be off the charts.”
Luka caught her gaze with his. “Which is why I want you to stay away from Viper.”