Without looking at her, Rhyn pointed to the spot beside him.

"No, Katie," Kris said quickly, starting forward. He stopped at the growl that came from deep within Rhyn's chest. "Stay with us. He'll destroy you and then the rest of humanity."

"Stay with us, Katie," Ileana seconded.

She hesitated, her gaze turning to Tamer.

"Stay with us," Jade echoed.

"Now."

Rhyn's tone made her jump. She went to him, shaking with the thought of being vulnerable to a creature like Sasha again. Kris didn't know what Jade had done; he couldn't protect her. Rhyn could protect her from anything. Her head was spinning, her vision narrowing, and she paused close enough to Rhyn to lean against him.

"Take us away, take us away," she whispered.

He steadied her with one hand, and a second later the cool dampness of the shadow world swallowed her. He guided her through the fog, and they emerged in a dark room with the light of streetlamps filtering through two windows across what looked another hotel room. She rested fully against him, shaking too hard to stay on her feet. He pushed her head to the side. She didn't object when his fangs bit into her, instead sighing as the comforting warmth consumed her.

When he'd drunk his fill, his arms remained around her. She rested her head on his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat. Her shaking subsided. While she feared him, she feared the rest of the monsters more. At least this monster had indicated he was interested in keeping her around.

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"Not so tough anymore, are you, little girl."

"You're not exactly the greatest protector!"

"You're still alive."

"Is that your standard? Me surviving?" she asked incredulously.

"If they turn that beautiful face ugly, I still get blood.

She opened her mouth to retort but stopped. In his own twisted way, he'd just called her beautiful.

He smelled of rain and night, a masculine musk she found as soothing as his bite. He seemed at once disgusted by the fact she was a difficult mortal blood monkey and yet primitively protective, holding her as she quaked after her run-in with a man who wanted to kill her.

"Why on earth did you choose me over a nymph?" she demanded.

He released her, the peaceful moment over. It was dark wherever he'd brought her, and she looked around in wary curiosity. He didn't answer but crossed to a window and flipped on a light.

"No more warnings," he growled. "You go nowhere without my permission."




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