Page 28 of Mortal Guardian (Shadow Shifter)

Colton didn’t wait. He lunged at the demon. Halak growled and sidestepped the attack, spinning to slash Colton’s back.

Riley heard the familiar hum behind her, but she turned too late. Deruthel grabbed Leah with his large gray claws.

Leah kicked out, as he brought her close to his body. Her foot connected with his knee, making him grunt, before he dropped her. She rolled on the pavement before jumping to her feet, exhibiting remarkable reflexes.

Deruthel’s eyes locked with Leah’s. “It’s too late for you.” He disappeared into the pathway as Colton rushed to their aid.

Riley glanced between the stunned young woman and Colton. “What did he mean?”

CHAPTER14

Riley touched Leah’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”

Leah dusted the gravel from her tracksuit, inspecting the tear on her forearm. “The jacket didn’t survive but I’m fine.”

Colton’s eyes narrowed on Leah. “Why did Deruthel say it was too late for you?”

Leah eyes widened. “Why are you asking me? Until an hour ago I didn’t realize demons existed let alone what their thinking.”

Colton ran his hand through his hair. “Sorry, I’m just frustrated. He could have killed you but he didn’t. He could’ve fed on you, but again he didn’t. His actions are inconsistent with what we know about them.”

“How can you be sure he didn’t mean to feed on me? Maybe he wanted to take me to his cave or wherever demons hide out, so he could enjoy his meal in peace,” Leah said.

Colton tracked a large brown rat as it ran along the base of the building toward the dumpster. “Demons aren’t concerned about the attention they create. They aren’t trying to hide their movements in any way. He would feed on you in the middle of rush hour traffic.”

Riley put her knuckles to her lips. “Actually, I think they are being somewhat discrete about their kills. Not about how many, but they aren’t leaving anybody alive at their kill sites.”

Colton huffed. “They killed thousands at the concert. That’s far from discrete.”

“I know, but none of the investigators have demons as a possible theory for the massacre. I think they’ll be careful until they open the portal and bring in their army.”

“Maybe.”

Leah pinched the bridge of her nose. “We’re five minutes from my hotel. Can we discuss our next move there? I’m getting lightheaded.”

“Of course,” Riley said, putting her hand on Leah’s back.

They walked down the alley to the sidewalk, stopping when they reached the stop light. There were few pedestrians, but they gave the trio a wide berth, leaning into one another, as if there was safety in numbers. They saw a human, but felt the predator. One elderly woman squeaked, clutching her purse to her chest as Colton strolled by.

They passed a row of parked cars and a dingy bus stop before reaching the Old Graydon hotel.

The main entrance faced the street with a partially lit vacancy sign in the main window. The double story building sported cloudy windows and peeling gray paint with a withered bamboo plant beside the entrance. The door chimed as they entered.

The small lobby was in worse shape than the front. The threadbare carpets were so stained it was impossible to tell what the original color had been. It was furnished with a single table and mismatched furniture. Wisps of smoke billowed from the full ashtray atop the plastic surface.

Leah motioned them to the stairs. “I know it’s seen better days, but it’s cheap and I only come here to sleep.”

They jogged up the foul-smelling stairs to the second floor. Leah led them down a cream hallway to the last suite. She fiddled with the key before the door creaked open.

“Come in,” Leah said as she went inside.

Leah grabbed the robe that hung from the single hook on the back of the door. Her small black suitcase remained closed at the bottom of the closet with non removable hangers. An extra pillow and blanket were folded on the shelf. In contrast to the rest of the building, the cramped room was clean, though the orange bedspread looked like it was from another decade.

Leah threw the robe on the bed while she unzipped her jacket. “What’s next? Besides my shower, that is.”

Colton moved to the sliding glass door that overlooked the street. The small balcony barely had enough room to stand outside. “I will call in reinforcements, to watch you until we make arrangements for you at one of the clans.”

Leah’s eyebrows arched. “What do you mean?”

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