Page 38 of Love, Rekindled

It wasn’t until Azrael released a low growl and stepped in front of her that she recognized the danger. Well, that, and the screams as her guests scattered throughout the lobby.

“Chiron. Stop.” Moving with blinding speed, Jayla pushed past Azrael and held her hands out, determined to stop the charging vampire before he could inflict any damage. “What are you doing?”

With obvious reluctance, Chiron came to an abrupt halt, glaring at Azrael. “Is this the bastard who kidnapped you?”

“No.” Jayla grimaced, realizing she wasn’t being entirely honest. “Well…yes, but he’s my mate.”

Chiron’s eyes widened in shock. “Mate?”

She nodded. “Azrael.” She smiled as Azrael placed a protective arm around her shoulders. Glancing toward his grim expression, she wrapped her arm around his waist. Violence still throbbed in the air. One wrong move, and there would be bloodshed. “This is Chiron. My employer. And friend.” She waited for Azrael to offer a grudging nod before turning her head to meet Chiron’s frigid gaze. “What are you doing here?”

“You disappeared, so I came looking for you.”

“As did I.”

Jayla jerked in surprise as a tiny creature with oversized wings waddled around Chiron. At first, she thought it must be a mongrel fairy, then she caught sight of the gargoyle features and stunted horns.

“You must be Levet,” she murmured, trying to hide her smile. She’d heard enough rumors about the miniature gargoyle to recognize him.

Levet offered a sweeping bow. “Knight in Shining Armor, at your service.”

Chiron muttered something about chunks of granite and bottom of Victoria Harbour before giving a sharp shake of his head.

“What happened?” he asked Jayla.

Jayla’s felt her fangs lengthen. She’d been putting off the troubles waiting for her in Hong Kong to simply savor her new mate. Reluctantly, she accepted that it was time to face the devil.

“Emile,” she snapped. “The bitch set an ambush for me. If it hadn’t been for Azrael, I would be dead.”

Chiron was shaking his head before she finished speaking. “It wasn’t Emile.”

Jayla blinked in confusion. “You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

She didn’t doubt him. Chiron had obviously managed to peek into Emile’s mind to be so certain. “Then who?”

“That vampire,” the gargoyle abruptly interrupted, pointing toward a red-haired male who’d just entered the lobby to glance around in confusion at the stampede of humans. “He paid mercenaries to destroy you.”

Gideon.

Shock momentarily held Jayla frozen in place, then she sent a warning glare toward the two males next to her.

“He’s mine,” she growled, hurtling across the lobby before Gideon realized the danger. Grabbing him by the throat, Jayla slammed the slender male against the wall.

“Bastard,” she rasped, not sure if she was more hurt or infuriated by the male’s treachery.

Hazel eyes widened in horror before he belatedly attempted to cover his ass. “Jayla. Where have you been? I was so worried?—”

“Why?” she snarled, interrupting his lame attempt at innocence. “I saved you. If it hadn’t been for me, you would still be in the slave pens. And you betray me?”

The pretense dropped away to reveal the stark craving just below the surface. “Did you think I would be your pet employee forever?” Gideon sneered, his handsome face twisted into an ugly expression. “I have my own ambitions.”

“What ambitions?”

“To own a resort.” He spat the words like a curse.

Jayla shook her head, sickened to realize how easily this male had fooled her. Why hadn’t she sensed his greed? Or his willingness to destroy her to fulfill his goal?

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