Page 14 of Knight’s Salvation

“What about after the training? I don’t really want to be a virgin for the rest of my life.” No, she wanted a life—a real one.

Eve’s eyes softened. “You’ve never been with anyone?”

She shook her head. “I never wanted to risk falling for someone and then having to leave them, or coming into my power and accidentally hurting them. What if they were disgusted by what I am, afraid?” She shook her head “No, I couldn’t do that to someone else, or to myself.”

Eve’s expression turned sympathetic. “Once you’ve mastered your powers, things will be different. Blocking what you are becomes so easy you don’t have to think about it. You’ll leave this place, and you’ll start your new life, Mia. I promise it’s all good from here on out.”

God, she hoped so.

“Sweetheart.” A deep, rough voice cut through the night and they both turned. Lazarus leaned against the doorframe.

“You’re finished for the night?” Eve asked.

“Not even close.” A wicked grin lifted his lips, and Mia heard Eve suck in a breath. Oh my. He glanced over at her and lifted his chin. “Hey, Mia.”

“Um, hi.”

His gaze slid back to Eve then traveled the length of his mate. “Ready for bed?”

“I’m keeping Mia company.” Even as Eve said the words, she moved toward him. When she reached his side, Lazarus looked down at her, eyes softening before he ran the back of his fingers over the scar on her cheek.

Mia’s face heated just watching them. Add in the husky tone to Lazarus’s voice, and she felt like she was intruding on an incredibly intimate moment.

“No, I’m fine. You go ahead,” she said.

Eve frowned. “You’re sure?”

“Yeah, you’ve been great. Can I stay out here a little longer, though?”

“Of course. You’re sure you’ll be okay?”

“I’m fine. Really.” Surprisingly, she was. Thanks to Eve and James, she had hope. Something she hadn’t allowed herself to have much of since she found out what she was.

Lazarus only had eyes for his mate, and Mia felt a familiar longing as they walked away together. What would it feel like to have someone look at her like that?

When she turned back, she looked up into the night. The stars were bright, the sky clear. It was hard to believe she was in the city and not lying in a field somewhere in the country. It was like this place didn’t just scare off humans but the smog and clouds as well.

Some of the stars twinkled rapidly, flickering in and out. She looked harder and realized something was up there. And whatever it was…had a massive wingspan.

It shot through the sky then changed direction, heading toward her. Fear had her rooted to the spot. It got closer and she could see moonlight glinting off what appeared to be leathery batlike wings.

Oh God.

It got even closer. Still, she couldn’t move, and watched in horror as a gargoyle-like creature arched down toward her. Its skin was deep crimson, and in the dark looked almost black. Horns protruded from its head, black and shiny, and long ivory fangs reached halfway down its chin. Its massive wings pulled at the air on a slow downward sweep and it landed effortlessly in front of her.

Mia stumbled back, grabbing at the railing for support. It didn’t move, just stood there staring at her. She met its gaze, and shivered when she recognized the bright yellow irises staring back. Zenon.

She didn’t look away, couldn’t. His tongue darted out and trailed down a long fang to the sharp point, and his head tilted to the side in a weird animistic way. Like she was the oddity.

Before she could change her mind, and with blood rushing through her ears, she took a step forward.

He didn’t move.

She lifted her hand and took another step. “Zenon?”

It was his turn to stumble back. He hissed, and without a word, sprang up onto the railing and jumped over the side. Mia raced to the edge and watched in terror as he plunged toward the unforgiving concrete below. She cried out. But just yards before impact, he pulled up, and at the same time his body transformed before her eyes. Zenon landed gracefully. He stood gloriously naked in the middle of the compound grounds. He tilted his head back and met her gaze, a sneer on his face.

Oh my God.

Then he looked down at the ground and strode away, disappearing under the building.

If that display was meant to frighten her, he’d done a good job. But after what Eve had told her, she knew there was a lot more to that male.

If he’d wanted to hurt her, he could have, but that wasn’t what that had been about. She pushed her fear aside and what remained was curiosity and a need to learn more about him.

But more surprising, or alarming, was a desperate need to touch his shiny horns and leathery wings, to learn the texture of his beautiful crimson skin.

To pet the beast.