A tight line formed on his full lips, and his gray eyes narrowed.
Without another word, she scrambled out of the way when he lifted his palms facing up.
Bits and pieces of the broken shards rose, before disintegrating into thin air. It exposed the pink android lying on her side with her glassy eyes open.
A blast of heat covered Toni’s back as the sound of a rumbling purr above her head made her freeze. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a sea of obsidian right behind her. Something hard nudged her hand, as if begging for her touch.
She trembled. How could she forget that humongous beast right behind her? He was so big, she only came up to its knees as the rest of it towered over her like a massive building.
“Don’t worry,” Asmodel stood next to her, facing the creature. “He won’t hurt you.”
“Oh yeah?” Toni refused to turn around. She’d rather watch Arakiba croon and fawn over the unmoving pink android. “Then why is it whimpering and licking its lips like I’m next on the menu?”
A line of drool hit her shoulder.Thank God she had Sensos on. Maybe the suit would save her from those humongous fangs and claws. Maybe Sensos would turn her into the Flash so she could run fast enough to escape a crunching death.
Or maybe fish can climb trees.
Do not concern yourself.Sensos told her.This male is your mate, and he would die to protect you.
That startled her.Mate? How could this monster be some kind of mate to her?
What those men told you is the truth. What you call a monster is the male you know as Azazel.Sensos' smooth reply belied the strange story it told her.He changed form when the Krystalii threatened you, giving him the ability to eliminate Baelon. I assure you, you are in no danger from him.
Yeah, but if you’re wrong and I get eaten, I’ll blame it all on you when I write my memoir,she mentally retorted.
“I’m trying to convince him to change back,” Asmodel continued as he studied the creature with an amused grin.
It took Toni a minute to get caught up in the conversation. Talking in two different conversations was confusing.
“But so far I can’t get through to him.” Asmodel shrugged and faced her.
Toni peered at the handsome man with a frown. She sidestepped, trying to get away from the gigantic beast behind her. The darn thing only shuffled with her, scooting across the floor and snorting a huffing rumble right above her head.
Abalim stood next to Asmodel and eyed the beast with his arms crossed. “I can’t get through to him either.” He looked down at Toni, then at JR14 on her shoulder. “Any recommendations, JR?”
“Hang on.” Arakiba drew their attention before the bot answered.
Toni sucked on her bottom lip when she watched him hold Elemi in his arms.
He stood in a widened stance as Elemi’s prone body lay stiff and lifeless in his muscular embrace. “I’m going to take Elemi back toElemito reboot her. If you need me, you know how to get me. Later.”
He and the android disappeared.
The man’s declaration of taking Elemi back to Elemi made zero sense. Not to mention how he vanished like that. Toni opened her mouth, but when the beast nudged the back of her head, she stilled. Nope, not gonna move one bit.Maybe the slobbering thing would go away if she pretended it wasn’t there.
Glancing at the remaining brothers, she gasped.
Without a sound, another creature stood where Arakiba had been.
Toni jerked and put a fist over her thundering heart.What the hell is that?Its slim body was the epitome of elegance, with a gooey luminescent skin that she swore glowed. Its two arms had elongated limbs, each ending in long, triple-jointed, elegant fingers. What she found amazing was it appeared neither male nor female.
Studying it made her swallow with a dry throat.
On the top of its oblong head was a crown of golden spines, and it had almond-shaped eyes that shimmered in an array of mesmerizing colors.
“This is Rerqel,” Abalim introduced the creature. “He’s a… ah… colleague I met on Qorath, where I found your friend Lisa.”
“Lisa?” Toni squeaked.
