There was a crash, the sound of shattering glass. And a fierce growl that stirred Ember in ways that had nothing to do with violence. So familiar … she had to see, to know. In a single, nimble leap, Ember cleared the bed and immediately found herself confronted with a sight straight out of a horror movie.
The two creatures grappled by the window, reduced to shadows where they fought, backlit by the moon. One of them, the one she knew immediately had drawn the blood that had already dried on her shoulders, was truly the most hideous thing she’d ever seen. Its skin was a deep and angry red even in the darkness, and its squat and muscular body strained as blood poured from a gash across its head. And that head … stubby, curved horns protruded from the forehead, and its snout pulled back to reveal a maw full of dagger-sharp teeth.
As Ember watched, the creature drew back its arm and slashed its claws across the cheek of its opponent, earning, amazingly, no more than a pained grunt for its trouble.
“You’ll pay for that, you nefari piece of shit,” snarled a voice that she recognized the second she heard it. She would know that voice anywhere. The wings, however, sprouting from his back with a kind of strange majesty, took her utterly aback.
Just like in my dreams.
His blazing eyes, a hot and angry green, connected with hers for only a split second, sending a jolt through her that seemed to set every nerve ending she had aflame at once. Stripped of her inhibitions, Ember let the connection between them ripple through her, the siren song of pleasure promised far greater for her than the interest in the fight.
Sensing it, the horned creature’s attention moved completely to her. It quickly forgot Raum in favor of its initial prey and shoved away from him to stalk toward her, gleaming red eyes full of blind hatred and a terrible hunger.
This time, the warning growl that filled the air was Ember’s. Her body felt loose, agile, and she realized that all her fear had evaporated. It had been replaced by a sort of breathless anticipation. That, and a complete confidence that when she and this creature went for one another’s throats, she would win. Which was good, because Raum’s presence had her blood singing. If she had to tear through this thing to get to him, so be it.
Ember growled louder, her claws extended, her long and deadly incisors bared.
Come and get me, you son of a bitch.
It leaped, and Ember propelled herself into the air, ready to clash, to meet it in a biting, tearing frenzy. All of her passion, her pent-up energy, sizzled through her veins in anticipation. She would make her kill. She would teach this thing a lesson.
And then it was gone, stolen from her out of midair as Raum swooped out of nowhere and slammed it against the wall. Ember had the wind knocked out of her in one harsh breath, one swift blow to her gut sending her hurtling back to the floor. There was an almost piglike squeal, followed quickly by an ear-piercing shriek of pain so intense her ears throbbed with it.
Then, silence, except for the blood still rushing in her ears. Ember gasped as her lungs shuddered back to life, dragging herself to a sitting position while she grappled with a barrage of coughing. Her eyes darted around the room as she tried to brace herself for another attack.
Raum rose to his feet on the other side of the room, over the crumpled form of the creature that had attacked her. Without even glancing at her, he pulled a small pouch from his pocket and sprinkled something over the body, murmuring words she could barely hear. She began to make her way over to him, slowly, deliberately, maintaining her crouch and silent as a ghost. She’d take him down first and ask questions after, she decided, trying to keep in mind that he’d come tearing into her house uninvited and ready to fight.
But it was the prospect of having him pinned beneath her as she straddled him that moved her forward, silent as a cat in the dark. The body of the dead creature began to smoke, then vanished in a burst of orange flame. Ember’s mouth fell open, her eyes rounding in disbelief as she stopped short.
This had to be more of her nightmare. Had to be. Except it all felt terribly real. She shuddered in a breath, pinched herself with claws that drew blood with sharp little pinpricks of pain and made her hiss. But it couldn’t be real, Ember thought. Because if it was …
“Raum?”
Raum turned to stare at her with green eyes that glowed brightly in the dark. All at once his scent flooded her nostrils, an exotic musk that reminded her of candles and incense. The scent of dark places, of mysteries undiscoverable. She could hear him now, his slow, steady breathing, the thudding rhythm of his heart soothing the erratic beat of her own. Ember started to get to her feet, then staggered as an unexpected wave of dizziness knocked her off balance.
Immediately, his arms were around her, pressing her into a chest that felt like hot stone. Ember shivered from the warmth, leaning into his heat even as she fought off the escalating light-headedness.
“Don’t,” she protested weakly, knowing full well that she was already an active participant in this little embrace. She was going to get herself killed. He could be getting ready to shred her even now. All her stupid instincts demanded she get as close to him as humanly possible. Her head was so foggy all of a sudden … Why couldn’t she think?
“I’m not going to hurt you, Ember,” Raum said, making no move to let her go. “You have plenty to worry about, but not that.”
His voice was stern, but somehow that was a comfort. Especially because she was suddenly having a hard time keeping her feet under her.
“Raum,” she murmured, her speech going slurry. “I feel kinda funny.”
In response, he ran his hands over her shoulders, and Ember was surprised at the dull and throbbing pain at his touch.
“Ow,” she complained, jerking her shoulders so that his hands returned to her back.
“Your wounds are deep,” he said, and the anger in his voice made her shiver again.
“It’s only a flesh wound,” she informed him, then giggled foolishly. The laughter made the dizziness worse, though, and Ember brought her arms up to wrap around Raum’s waist. She groaned as her stomach gave a sudden, violent lurch.
“I’m going to be sick,” she announced, and her knees began to buckle beneath her.
He sighed, taking on more of her weight. “You’re going to be a lot worse than that if we don’t get you some help. Stupid demon. I don’t know who sent him, but he seems to have forgotten his orders. If I hadn’t killed him, his master would have … “ He trailed off, squeezing her tighter. Concern darkened his voice.
“Ember? Stay with me. Okay?”
“Hmm? You have the nicest voice,” she said, darkness beginning to encroach on her vision. “I could listen to you talk forever. Would you tell me a story?” Sleep was barreling toward her, though, and Ember frowned at the injustice. “Whassa matter with me, Raum?”
He bent, and in one quick motion caught her behind the knees and scooped her into his arms, cradling her like the child she suddenly felt like. The world spun nauseatingly, and she buried her face against the soft cotton of his shirt.
“Ohh,” she groaned. “Not good.”
“No,” he agreed, “it isn’t.” That undercurrent of anger in his voice had grown stronger. “Listen to me, Ember. That demon stuck his claws in you, and it looks like he was poisonous. You’ve got to try to stay awake, all right? I have to find someone who can help. So just … No, look, don’t do that,” he said as her head lolled back. He shoved it back against his chest and gave it a little shake for good measure. It didn’t feel great, but it pushed the darkness back a little.
“Are we flying?” she asked, remembering the wings.
“Mmm-hmm,” he replied, jostling her, and she realized, albeit dimly, that he was swinging a leg out the open window.
“Do you have an airsick bag,