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"Hm, that is an interesting development," Arick said, mostly to himself, making me follow his gaze to see a blonde woman running away from a man leaning against the side of the giant home, head down, defeat clear on his handsome face.
"What is?" I asked.
"Oh, nothing to worry your lovely head about."
"Another story for your bookshelves?" I asked as Arick parked.
"You know, I suspect so," Arick agreed, giving me a charming smile as he slid out of the car. "Come, love," he said, opening my door for me. "I warn you, this may not be overly pleasant. But their anger has nothing to do with you."
My stomach flip-flopped as we moved to stand at the front door. My pulse pounded as Arick reached up to click the door knocker.
The door opened.
And there he was.
The cavalry.
Chapter Thirteen
Drex
Something clearly happened.
Because not long after Nova left me, Renwick and several of his men came down.
Then the pain started.
And the questions.
About the enthrallment.
About what we did to break it.
Needless to say, I wasn't exactly in a talking mood.
And, thankfully, it was the middle of the fucking day. Renwick and his henchmen were beat. They didn't have it in them to go whole-hog on me.
They would, of course, once it was later, after they'd gotten some sleep.
I didn't give a shit about the blood I felt trickling, about the bruised ribs or busted face.
I'd had my ass kicked more than a few times over the years. There was no reason to get dramatic about it. I'd heal. And I would heal quickly.
The only thing I worried about while down in the damp basement tasting my own blood was if she'd gotten out.
If she'd gotten herself free, and had found her way to Sanctuary. If she'd managed to find Thysa. If Thysa knew how to get in touch with Arick. If Arick would find the time to help Nova without making her jump through hoops.
All of it would fall into place eventually. So long as she managed to follow the steps, find the people who would help her.
They knew that while I might be laid up for a couple decades with the bloodsuckers, that I would pay them back once I was free.
There was every incentive to help her.
If she got to them.
I never really understood the concept of anxiety before. When life was long enough, you learned to let shit roll off your back without much fuss. Everything blew over if you gave it enough time.
And I'd damn sure never felt anxiety over something that wasn't directly related to me before.
Yet all I could feel was anxiousness with regard to Nova.
It made no sense.
What happened to her didn't directly impact me.
Somehow, though, it felt like it did.
I couldn't begin to understand the sensation.
And I knew that by the time I crawled out of this basement, she'd be well into middle age, with a couple of kids, and a man who wasn't worthy of her.
But regardless of that, all I could do was think about her. I guess I would have a good twenty-plus years to keep thinking about her.
All the while knowing I could never have her again. I couldn't place the sensation I felt with that realization, but it felt like being gutted.
Whatever the hell that was about.
Time was hard to discern when in a basement without windows.
At some point, my eyelids got heavy, and sleep got the better of me, stealing more time.
But the next thing I knew, the basement locks were disengaging, and there were quick footsteps on the stairs.
I thought they were coming to take some more of their bruised pride out on me.
I braced myself for it.
Then I felt someone launch themself at me.
Chapter Fourteen
Nova
I have no idea what I was expecting from a group of demon bikers. I guess I'd conjured up images of Drex carbon copies—big, strong, bearded, a little rough around the edges. And terrifying. Because, unlike Drex, their first move upon meeting me wouldn't be to save me from my miserable life.
No.
They'd probably want to throttle me for dragging their friend into my world.
But whatever I'd been expecting, a demon in a red hoodie with blue pajama pants with little red lobsters all over them standing there eating a giant bowl of Lucky Charms was not it.
I didn't even need to ask to know who it was. From Drex's stories about his friends, there was only one demon this could be.
"Daemon." I hadn't meant to say it aloud, but there was no sucking it back in once I did.
"Vampire girl," he greeted, giving me a big smile. "Looking... healthier," he decided, nodding. "Must be all the sex," he added. "Come in. I'll call Daddy Ace. Oh, Pops! We've got company!" he yelled up the stairs as Arick and I moved in behind him. "So, who's your friend?" Daemon asked, turning back to look at us, giving Arick a quick once-over. "He's not human."
