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“Absolutely not,” he hissed in outrage. “I’m not abandoning you again.”
“Ryshi.” She was shaking her head before he finished speaking. “I’m not asking you to abandon me. But I need you to leave this area.”
He scowled. “Why?”
“Once you’re out of the way I can use my powers to…incapacitate them.”
He jerked in shock. There were six very large, very formidable demons surrounding her. Not even the Anasso could battle so many at one time.
“All of them?”
She gave a sharp nod, her expression oddly pained. As if she was bothered by the thought of unleashing her powers.
“Yes, but I can’t keep you from being injured.” She reached out to touch his arm. “You need to go.”
Ryshi frowned. There was something troubling her. “Sofie.”
She squeezed his arm, her expression hardening with a bleak resolution. “We’re running out of time. If they put the silver collar back on me I’ll be helpless.” She held his wary gaze. “Trust me.”
He did, of course. He trusted her with his life, his heart, his very soul. But forcing himself to change into smoke and leave her was the most difficult thing he’d ever had to do. Including demanding his sister leave his lair.
If something happened to her…
It would be the end of him. That simple.
Drifting toward the ceiling, Ryshi wedged himself through a small crack and into the opening above the passageway. In this form he was indestructible, no matter what Sofie might do. But he didn’t want to take the risk of distracting her.
Once he was sure he’d disappeared from her view, he positioned himself next to the crack in the floor to watch as Sofie came to a sudden halt. The guard behind her lifted his spear, but she ignored his warning as she squeezed her eyes shut and spread her arms wide. Almost as if she was casting a spell.
What thundered through the air, however, wasn’t magic. At least no magic that Ryshi had ever felt before. It was sheer, raw energy that exploded from her with the force of a nuclear bomb.
And just as destructive.
Bellowing in agony, the minotaurs dropped their weapons and clutched their heads with their hands, as if trying to keep their skulls from exploding. Even in his smoke form, Ryshi could feel the enormous power pressing against him.
In awe, Ryshi suddenly realized how easily she could have crushed his mind when she was holding him captive. So why hadn’t she used it before?
Confused by her reluctance, Ryshi watched the minotaurs drop like dead flies, landing in an awkward circle around her. In silence, Sofie stared down at the carnage she’d created; then, with a low groan, her head flopped forward, and her knees started to buckle.
With lightning speed, Ryshi darted from the ceiling, turning into his solid form in time to scoop the unconscious female in his arms before she could hit the floor.
Then, cradling her against his chest, he sprinted down the passageway without looking back.
Chapter 17
Sofie struggled through the darkness clouding her mind with a sense of resignation. She’d spent the past millennium without once being unconscious. Now she’d been knocked out twice in just a few hours. Which only reinforced her opinion that leaving her mountain lair was a huge mistake.
Of course, her lair didn’t have a rich scent of amber or the delicious warmth of a male wrapped tightly around her.
Being safe is all well and good, but waking in Ryshi’s arms is worth any amount of danger.
The unnerving realization seared her mind, refusing to be banished. With a muttered curse, Sofie lifted her heavy lashes and struggled to sit up.
“Easy,” Ryshi whispered, his arms tightening as if afraid she might do herself harm. “I’ve got you.”
Sofie relaxed against his chest. It was too late to fight. This was where she wanted to be. And for now, she was too weak to convince herself it was wrong. Instead, she glanced around at the stone walls and ceiling that surrounded them.
It was a barren space, but thankfully there was no filth coating the rocks and no stench of rotting food. In fact, beyond Ryshi’s enticing scent of amber, the only smell was that of rich earth and pine trees.
