He kissed her. Tasted her, and knew that he'd just come seconds away from truly losing his soul.
If she'd been dead on that table when I arrived…
Her body brushed his.
Don't think about it.
The salt of her tears brushed his mouth.
Crying, for him.
When had a woman ever done that?
When had he ever deserved tears?
Niol lifted his head. "Don't be scared. It takes more than bullets to kill me." To knock him on his ass, or rather, his knees, yeah. Bullets would do that, for a while. "No weapon of man can take out a level-ten, love. A gun can't kill me." A lot more would be required to rip him out of this world.
Her gaze flickered to the body. Niol stiffened. "It wasn't your kill." He didn't want that knowledge on her. Holly's soul was clean and would stay that way. "Before you fired, I-"
She shook her head. " I killed him. That's what we tell the police and anybody else who asks."
Her eyes met his once more.
She knew, he realized. Maybe she'd known the instant he sent out his power.
Smart. Tough.
His.
Her chin lifted. "Zack-he was messed up. What he wanted to do-" Holly broke off and shook her head. "He had to be stopped."
Niol wiped away the blood on her throat. Pressed his fingers against the cut to try and stop the bleeding and-
"You saved my life tonight, Niol. For what now? The third time?"
She saved me. "Who's counting?" He pushed her toward the door. He wanted her out of that room, away from the blood and the death and back someplace safe.
"I am." Soft.
He realized his hands were trembling. From the blood loss.
From the fear of losing her.
She was safe now. The hunter was gone. No more danger. No more case.
His little reporter wouldn't need him to walk on the wild side anymore.
He'd saved her, but Niol was very afraid that now, he'd lose her…
And there wasn't a single thing he could do about that.
"Police!" He didn't stop walking at the yell. Didn't even flinch. Holly glanced up, her brows pulling together as they crept into the hallway and found half a dozen uniformed officers waiting with guns drawn.
Michelle stood trapped between two of the cops. Tears streamed down her face. Her hands were cuffed in front of her. Niol's demons were behind the police line. The demons had fury stamped on their faces, and their gazes were locked dead center on the blonde.
Payback. They want it so badly they can taste it.
Some demons were damn territorial. You didn't hurt one of theirs and walk away.
His eyes lingered on Michelle. No, you didn't walk away.
Payback would be coming soon for her. The cops had better watch her closely and keep her far away from any demon inmates.
That would be a hard job because the cops wouldn't be able to see the demons until it was too late.
"Lapen? Shit! We need a stretcher in here, ASAP!" Brooks shoved past the uniforms, lowering his weapon as he rushed forward.
His wounds were already closing. Niol knew that by the time he made it to the hospital, the bullet would have worked out of his chest and the wound would have closed.
The bullet in his shoulder had gone straight through-that hole was nearly healed now.
"Not necessary," he said, tightening his grip on Holly. He had the feeling she was about to slip right through his fingers.
"Is all that your blood?" Brooks demanded, lips tightening. "How are you even on your feet?"
For a guy who spent his nights with a succubus, the man should really know more about demons.
A shot in the chest, no matter how close the range, wouldn't stop a level-ten for long.
Niol caught sight of the wolf shifter cop, pushing his way through the crowd.
A gun wouldn't kill him, but that one-though he'd sure never let on to the detective– he could give Niol a good run at death.
A wolf shifter's claws, if they got a lucky swipe at his throat, would be able to end his days. Not a mortal weapon, so one deadly to him.
Not that he'd ever be telling the cop…
There was a reason level-ten demons didn't get along with wolf shifters. Self-preservation.
Gyth reached for him, as if he'd help. "Get the hell away from me," Niol growled, straightening his shoulders. The day he needed help from a wolf would be the day he-
"Humans are here," Gyth whispered. " You were shot in the heart, ass**le. Let me help."
Not the heart. The woman's aim hadn't been that good.
But Holly's shot at the male had been perfect. The lady sure knew how to handle a gun. He'd have to ask her about that one day.
One day. But for now…
Niol gave a grim nod, then, though it grated, he wrapped an arm around the wolf shifter's shoulders and let Gyth lead him from the house. He kept his right hand locked on Holly. No way would he leave her behind in that shack that smelled of death.
"He's going to kill me! You have to protect me! I need help!" The bitch's screams rose, making his temples throb. He spared a glance for the blonde as he passed her and watched with satisfaction as she jerked back against the cop near her.
"We'll take care of her, don't worry," Gyth said. The words, Niol knew, were a warning.
Because when Gyth turned his head, just a fraction, and met Niol's stare, he saw very clearly what the cop was thinking. My job. Don't even think of going after her.
Ah, but the wolf knew he liked to hunt.
Niol tossed one more glance at the woman. Then he lifted his eyes to the cop who held her with one hand clenching around her shoulder. A middle-aged cop, with black hair already going gray, a strong jaw, and lips that were pressed into a firm line. Niol met his warm brown gaze-and looked straight through his glamour.
Brown eyes flashed black.
Told his partner before. Demons are a third of the force.
"Don't worry, detective," he said, keeping his voice calm, but making sure he was heard by the ones that mattered. "I'll leave this case in the hands of the police. I'm sure it will be handled just right."
The cop on the other side of the blonde stepped forward. Niol recognized him. Another one of mine.
A slight inclination of the cop's head.
"Don't worry, love," he told Holly as they left the woman's cries behind them, "she won't hurt anyone else."
That was a guarantee.
They stepped onto an old porch. One with rotting wood and loose boards. Police cruisers surrounded the house. Two ambulances waited near the drive, and there was even a fire truck braking at the side of the broken street.
Niol glanced over at Gyth.
The wolf gave a slow smile. "I put a tail on you. Figured after the fire, you wouldn't be taking shit much longer."