Page 65 of Love in Unexpected Places

I close my hand around his throat, digging my claws into the soft flesh of his neck. He lets out a small screambefore I yank my hand to the side, breaking his neck and separating his head from his shoulders.

Panting, I stand over his body, barely containing the roar threatening to loose from my throat because of my fresh kill. The only thing that stops me is the whine behind me.

I shake my hand to rid it of blood, then rub it on the dark pants I have on before I turn to my mate. He’s cowering by the car, looking down at the body at me feet. I’m glad he did not run when he saw what I did.

“Are you alright, little one?”

He swallows hard, his eyes not leaving the body. “You killed him.”

“Yes. He was hurting you. And you asked for help.”

His eyes flick up to mine. “You killed him … for me?”

“Of course,” I say, a note of incredulity in my tone. Why does he think I’m here? “You called. I came.”

His eyebrows scrunch up in an adorable way. “I called?”

I nod, then drop to my haunches in front of him. “Yes. I heard your plea to save you from your life. I am here.”

My mate’s mouth drops open in shock. “I never said that. Not out loud.”

“I am aware. What is your name, little one?”

“Lucas,” he mumbles, teeth chattering as he comes down from the adrenaline of his ordeal. “Lucas Miller. What’s yours?”

“Vernimer.” He raises an eyebrow, but before he can ask about my different sounding name, I say, “Come, Lucas,” loving the taste of his name on my tongue. “We must leave. I will have some of my servants clean the body and the car.” I send a mental command to Prexel and a few other servants to have them cross over to this plane.

Not all demons from Xendail can cross over the barrieron command. As a demon from the fourth dimension, I can move freely. When humans want to sell their souls to a demon, they call us forth, and we need to be able to transport at will to collect the souls when the time comes. That came in handy so I could retrieve my mate. A demon from the third dimension would not be able to leave as freely.

My servants appear at the end of the alley, and they change forms before they approach. They keep a safe distance as I hold out a hand to Lucas, giving him the option to come with me or not.

I sigh in relief when he takes it. “Are you really going to take me home?”

“Do you want me to take you home?”

He gazes at me with watery green eyes. They reflect equal parts fright and relief. “No.”

Lucas’s teeth chatter again, but not because of adrenaline. It’s freezing out here, and he barely has on clothes. The thin jacket he’s wearing offers nothing by way of warmth.

“Come. I will take you somewhere safe.”

“I need to check on … someone.”

“Let’s warm you, then we can discuss anything you’d like.” He nods, and I lead him away from the scene of my crime.

We walk down the street for a block. When we turn onto the next street, it’s as if we entered an entirely new world. Tall buildings shoot up into the sky like steel gods, looking down on the lowly peasants that serve them. Lucas tries to hide behind my body, ducking his head when a man that passes us on the street gives him a derisive look. I close my eyes and burrow into his head, squeezing off a vein in his brain. The man drops to the ground dead as blood leaks from his nose. I put an arm around Lucas’s shoulders to block the sight from him.

After we walk another five minutes, I spot an upscale hotel that’s lit up with red and green lights and has four Christmas trees in the lobby. Huh, the human holidays. “What day is it?” I ask Lucas.

“December twenty third.”

It’s been a while since I was on this plane for a holiday season. They don’t move me like they do humans, namely because it’s not something we celebrate on Xendail.

We approach the desk, and I ring the bell for service. A brunette woman approaches, a professional smile on her face. It’s to her credit that her smile doesn’t drop when her eyes land on Lucas. She won’t end up like the guy on the street who I’m sure someone has found by now. Her name tag reads Lauren.

“Welcome to the Astoria Suites. What can do for you this evening?”

“I’d like your finest room, please, Lauren.”

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