Bane stepped out of the house, his power rolling in his gut, sending up a warning. Danger. But that danger wasn’t close and it wasn’t directed at him.

Amaya.

She was in trouble. The kind of trouble she couldn’t walk away from. He wasn’t sure how he knew this, only that he was certain if he didn’t get to her, she wouldn’t be alive by morning. He reached for the shadows and paused, the weight of responsibility halted him. Guarding the Cruor was foremost. He couldn’t leave the land unprotected. Yet, he couldn’t ignore Amaya, not when she was in the same building with him, and definitely not when she was in danger.

For six months, the Cruor had been hidden on the property. It would be safe for one more night. Plus, it wouldn’t be the first time he’d left the farm tonight. Through the shadow conduits, he traveled and zeroed in on her. He marked her, not the first night when they fought. It happened last night when he stroked her bare arms, touched his cheek to hers, and she accepted his caress.

The shadows parted in the parking lot of Lusted and Maximum Effort. He didn’t expect to find Amaya locked into battle with Chayyliél while Scarla, Kushiél, and Daghony looked on.

Chay wasn’t winning. He blocked more than he punched. He was learning her, letting her use him as a punching bag while keeping the other three from joining in. Achingly beautiful, artistry in motion, a prima ballerina had nothing on her. She was deadly and beyond erotic. His cock agreed and kicked in his pants.

The Cheshire grins on both their faces spoke of their enjoyment and pinpoint focus. That ended when Amaya stumbled. Chay eased up. Wrong move. Amaya slipped beneath his guard and sliced deep into Chay’s chest. Black blood poured out of the wound, melting his shirt as he hissed, leaping away.

Scarla reacted before Kush and Daghony. She jumped between the two and connected with a cross to the side of Amaya’s head. Amaya shook it off and Scarla followed up with a spinning hook kick that took Amaya down.

Scarla landed on top of her. She got two punches in, then Bane yanked her off and tossed her to Daghony. Bane reached for Amaya, but she landed a fist to his throat. He caught the follow up and the knife aimed at his gut as she lunged at him. He took her down, back to the asphalt. Lips peeled back in a snarl, blood trickled from a cut to her lip. She licked it away and shook her head, blinked rapidly, and continued to push the blade forward.

“Kill her, Bane,” Scarla shouted.

“Shut her up.” He kept his focus on the female in front of him. “Amaya, it’s me. It’s over.”

She shook her head, blinking hard. “You want me dead, just like they do.”

“I’m here for you. Not to kill you.”

“Liar!” She tried to head-butt him. He squeezed her wrist and twisted until the bones creaked. She gritted her teeth, and didn’t give up. Suddenly, she winced and her head dipped. The fight in her ended. “Let me go.”

“Don’t.” A chorus of voices shouted at him. Bane released her. She scooted back, one hand cupping her right eye.

Tears ran down her cheek as she squinted and raised her weapon.

“What’s wrong? Can’t see, bitch? That’s okay. You’ll still feel my punches.” Scarla approached with the rest of them.

Bane held up his hand. “Stay back.”

“You know her?” Kushiél said as Amaya continued to scoot away until she leaned against a car.

Bane crouched beside her. She had her right eye cupped while her left eye darted from side to side. He smoothed the wisps of wheat colored hair that had escaped her ponytail away from her face. The scent that wafted from her tresses reminded him of a sundrenched meadow and caused his chest to ache for what he used to have. His hand trembled a bit as he tucked the halves behind her ears, exposing her upturned eyes, hollow cheeks, and luscious lips. Her skin, dusted with gold, was flushed. Even when they fought, he’d never seen so much as a trickle of sweat on her brow. A protective growl rumbled in the back of his throat from the panic on her face. “Are you hurt?”

She swallowed and shook her head. “Let me go.”

She lied. He took her wrist. “Let me see.”

Her gaze darted to the UnHallowed and Scarla, who blocked any escape.

“I said I’m fine.” She tried to shake him off.

He applied a bit more pressure so she knew he was serious. “I want to make sure.”

“Well I am sure,” she hissed.

“Then put me at ease and let me see.” He scowled, trying to quell his rising panic.

“It’s just my contact lens.” She stalled.

“Amaya!” He lost all patience. For all he knew, her eye could be hanging out of her head while she played the brave soldier. Finally, her hand dropped to her lap. Okay, her eye wasn’t hanging out of her head, but the stubborn female wouldn’t look at him. She had her chin buried in her chest.

He hooked a finger under her chin and lifted. Perfect, her gaze was still lowered. He needed the patience of a priest to deal with this female. He stroked her cheek and waited. Slowly, her gaze rose and nailed him.

A tremor ran through him. Her left eye was the muddy green he’d become accustomed to. Her right, was a vibrant emerald dissected by a bolt of gold. “Take out the other contact,” he ordered, his voice as cold as his curdled disgrace.

“Not here,” she whispered, and he nodded. This was a secret he had to keep. They had to keep.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Sophie rushed between Kush and Amaya. No one had noticed her arrival.

Chay took Sophie by the arm and dragged her away. “Go home.”

“No, I’m not! The UnHallowed kill Darklings. That’s what you told me. What you all told me.” Her gaze wild, she skimmed over everyone. “We are not going to kill an innocent woman just because she knows about you.”

“I’m not innocent, Sophie. I haven’t been since I was ten years old.” Amaya said, her gaze locked on Bane.

“Shut up! I’m trying to save your life.” Sophie threw her a horrified glance.

Chay gave Sophie a gentle shake. “Look at me.” Her burgundy colored hair flew everywhere as she shook her head. Chay cupped her cheeks and stared straight into her cornflower baby blues. Sophie struggled against his hold. “Go home, sweetie. Go home, take a long bath, and get some rest. Forget you were ever in the parking lot. Forget you saw Amaya inside tonight. Nod in agreement.”

Slowly Sophie’s struggles ceased and her worried expression faded. Her head bobbed and Chay released her. Sophie walked across the street to Maximum Effort, unlocked the door, and disappeared inside.

“You can’t continue to do that to her. She’s going to be a vegetable soon,” Scarla snarled.

“Not now.” Chay returned his attention back to Amaya. “Talk.”

Bane took Amaya by her hands and pulled her to her feet. She kept her gaze down and away from Scarla and the UnHallowed. Wise. They didn’t need to know. The information was for him alone. Bane pulled the shadows to him.

“There’s no where you can take her where we can’t follow.” Daghony’s wings flared. Cool and logical, the former Archangel of Souls was on the top tier of angel hierarchy when he fell. Reasoning, not emotions ruled him.

“She’s mine, Daghony. Mine.”

“She’s a problem that has to be solved,” Daghony replied.

“Permanently,” Kushiél added. The former Archangel of Atonement rested his hand on the weapon at his side.

Bane sliced his head to the left once. “My problem. Not yours.”

“Since when?” Scarla demanded.

Since one week ago when he entered that abandoned house. “Since right now.”

“Why?” Daghony said.

“Because he cares about her.” Scarla’s voice was full of surprise.

“Another reason to kill her.” Kushiél freed his weapon, his skeletal wings snaked with red veins appeared. Death usually followed at their presence. Daghony threw out his arm and barred Kushiél.

“And we should trust you?” Chayyliél growled.

That was the crux of the issue. Bane was an UnHallowed, but he wasn’t one of them. One of the archangels that fell. And he never would be.

Bane pulled the shadows and Amaya to him. She screamed, “No!” It was too late. Bane had already welcomed the dark.