Mira stepped back as the hulking man drew a gun, afraid he’d changed his mind and was going to kill her after all. Then he went down on one knee before her and she didn’t know what to think. His head was lowered, and he held his weapon across his heart in a sign of allegiance.

“I am yours to command,” he said, his deep voice so sexy she shivered.

She watched him, confused.

People were staring again, and she couldn’t help wondering what they saw. Certainly not the immortal warrior from her dreams, offering her his undying loyalty. To them, she supposed, he looked like a man kneeling on the floor, maybe searching for something he’d lost.

Maybe she should have him look for her lost common sense while he was down there.

Honestly, she had no business allowing this stranger anywhere close to her.

If he truly had been summoned from her dreams, then she’d seen in vivid detail what he was capable of, the violence, the vicious destruction. And rational person would’ve kept a ten-foot radius between themselves and this ruthless killer. Then again, most rational people didn’t see imaginary warriors from their subconscious in reality either…

“Right.” Mira pointed to his gun. “You best put that away before someone catches you with it. Guns aren’t allowed in The G-Spot.”

He stood with grace, muscles shifting beneath the smooth material of his shirt and she did her best not to stare at his fine, toned form. Either he worked out a lot or these Scions were naturally endowed with the physique of a god. His broad chest tapered down to slim hips and long, powerful legs. And those jeans he wore. Lord help her, they were so tight they should be illegal in all fifty states.

Her gaze roamed upward, over the golden skin of his forearms, lightly sprinkled with dark hair, exposed by the rolled back cuffs of his shirt. Finally, she looked into his handsome face again—chiseled jaw, high cheekbones, full lips, patrician nose. He looked like a Roman statue come to life. Scrumptious. Mira felt the sudden urge to investigate every delicious inch of him, immortal or not.

A Scion.

My Scion.

She’d never thought her horrific nightmares would ever make her grateful, but now she was. They’d taught her about him. The Scion. Since she’d been old enough to read, she’d researched everything she could find on the mysterious immortals. There’d not been much. Legend said they’d been created to serve as divine guardians of humanity. How that translated into the epic, world-shattering battles she experienced in her nightmares, she wasn’t sure. Nor was she certain why her plea for vengeance against her ex had brought him here, but she intended to find out. He’d mentioned something about a seal. On a letter? A book? He couldn’t mean the marine mammals. Nah. Maybe she’d come across something in one of her beloved books to explain it all.

He watched her still, strong and unwavering, his smile heart-stopping. Heat swarmed her cheeks and his pupils dilated, nearly obscuring his vivid aqua irises, his gaze flickering to her lips before returning to her eyes.

The man was seriously beautiful.

Breathtaking.

But divine as his origins might be, everything she knew about him spoke of danger, right down to his weapon. Power emanated off of him in waves and she almost felt sorry for anyone stupid enough to cross him.

Almost.

Her ex-boyfriend, Argus, had been a real asshole. Sure, the guy had started off nice enough. Wined and dined her, made Mira believe he wanted a future with her—kids, house, the whole shebang. Then, once she was fully engaged in the relationship, his temper had turned nasty, and he wasn’t afraid to unleash on Mira when it suited him. He’d never hit her, though, until a few weeks ago. Then he’d come home, accusing her of all sorts of awful things and beaten her so badly she’d ended up in the ER. Nothing broken, thank goodness, just bruises and cuts. But she’d vowed then and there never to let another man hit her again. She’d waited until Argus had left town on a business trip then moved out of their apartment. God, why it had taken her so long to see Argus for the abusive prick he was?

She looked back at the man on his knees before her, gaze narrowed. “What’s your name?”

“Kagan.” He flashed her another charming smile that made her pulse trip.

The name suited him. Bold. No nonsense. Infinitely masculine. But no matter how good he looked and how much he tempted her to forget her pain and let him shoulder her burden, she didn’t know him, not really. And she certainly didn’t trust him. Plus, it would be wrong to take advantage of a stranger, wouldn’t it? Then again, he’d offered his assistance in getting rid of her bastard ex once and for all and that really was an offer she couldn’t refuse. She’d spent enough sleepless nights on her sofa, mace in hand, in case Argus found her and tried to break down the door.

Nope.

Whatever dark power this gorgeous man had, he could damned well let it rip in Argus’s direction.

“Kagan,” she said, repeating his name.

“Yes?” His glance lingered on her body in all the places a mortal man’s would, but from what she’d read, the Scion were asexual, all their time and energy devoted to their sworn divine duty.

This guy, however, looked anything but asexual.

In fact, he looked like every wicked sin come to life.

“Nice to meet you.” Mira extended her hand for a proper greeting.

He took it and a jolt ran through her from their point of contact. They shook, his grasp firm, but he didn’t let her go afterward. Instead, he held on, his thumb tracing tiny circles on her skin.

“Uh, what’s this seal thing you mentioned?” she asked, desperate to keep her mind on track. Blood rushed in her ears as his long, tapered fingers brushed her palm and made her shudder. “I’m not sure what that has to do with this.”

“It has everything to do with this.” He quirked a dark brow and tilted his head.

Mira sighed. If all the Scion were this gorgeous, they never needed to fight again. They could just stand there and bewitch everyone with their beauty. In fact, several women in the bar had already taken notice and hovered closer to the bar because of him.

It wasn’t every day you saw six and a half feet of pure male gorgeousness.

Even in Chicago.

“I’m sorry.” Mira shook off her fanciful thoughts and forced herself to focus on the matter at hand. “I don’t understand. I thought you said I called you here because I was upset about Argus. All I want it to get rid of my ex. I don’t know anything about any sealed documents.”

“The Seal is not a document. It’s a part of your DNA.” He placed his palm flat against her chest, over her heart, and she jumped. Mira blushed from head to toe at the brush of his wrist against her breasts. “It was the Seal within you that called to me, not your words.”

“Sorry, I don’t follow.” Mira forced a nervous smile and stepped away from his touch before she lost all control and tackled him to the floor of the bar. “What about revenge? Are you good with that?”

“I am excellent with that.” He straightened to his full impressive height, looking more noble and handsome, if that were possible. “I am Kagan. Slayer of a thousand enemies. Eternal Scion warrior. I—”

“Wait.” She held up a hand to cut him off. “Slayer of a thousand enemies? Okay. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. I mean, your heavenly boss probably wouldn’t approve of you wreaking havoc here on Earth just to get rid of Argus, and I don’t want him dead. Just in pain, maybe traction for a few days. That’s it.” She exhaled slow, shoulders slumped. “You know what. This is a mistake. I shouldn’t have called you. I’ll find another way to take care of him. Sorry. Didn’t mean to bother you.”

“You are not a bother.” He frowned. “I am yours to command. You choose the type of revenge you prefer, and I will exact it.”

“What about your divine duty?” The last thing she needed was to piss off God. Considering she hadn’t done much with her life up to this point, Mira was pretty sure she was already a disappointment. Hell, most days she was lucky not to get lost in her in her own neighborhood or stay on her diet. If she had any superpower at all, it was reading. That was it.

And there was no way she had this seal thing in her DNA.

Mira hazarded another glance up at Kagan. Her whole weird instant attraction for this man had to be because she was on the rebound, lonely, hurting. Nothing more.

“I’m here to serve you,” Kagan said again, a serious edge to his tone. “Bid me do as you will.”

“Um…” Mira was speechless. No way could she have a personal immortal warrior at her beck and call. “We should, uh…”

Except she had no idea what they should do. Skulk off and plan some horrible fate to befall Argus because he’d cheated on her then beat her up? Despite the fact the guy had hurt her, physically and emotionally, that really wasn’t Mira’s style. She was a firm believer in karma, and all of Argus’s shitty deeds would catch up with him eventually. She’d just planned on hurrying them along a bit. Truthfully, she’d never sworn revenge on anyone in her life. She’d always turned the other cheek, let her anger go and gotten on with things. But Argus had taken his anger a bit too far. This time she wanted him to pay, sooner rather than later.

Technically, she wasn’t working tonight, just hanging around and helping out to avoid sitting home alone. It was still early, not quite eight yet, so she grabbed her coat from the peg again and shrugged it on. “Do you like chocolate?”

“I have never had chocolate.” Kagan frowned. “But I’ve been told by several of my Scion brothers it tastes both bitter and sweet and has a stimulating effect on the body. I would like to try it.”

“Good. Cupcakes it is then.” Mira said her goodbyes, then led him back outside, past the crowds still gathered near the door and down the sidewalk. She gathered her coat closer around her as the wind howled and the snow blew. He didn’t have a coat on at all and the frigid Chicago temperatures didn’t seem to bother him. Kagan walked beside her, looking around at everything like he was seeing the city for the first time.

Considering his heavenly duties, maybe he was.

“Aren’t you cold?” She glanced at a few people they passed to make her point.

He shook his head. “Not at all. Your earthly weather has no effect on me. Does the way I look bothers you?”

“No.” She frowned and shook her head. “That isn’t what I meant. I just…”

“Just what?” They stopped at the corner. The glow of the streetlight glistened off Kagan’s short dark hair and her fingertips itched to see if it felt as soft as it looked. The light turned green and people jostled around them, but they stood still, staring at each other.

“Nothing.” Mira pulse raced again, her throat dry. “You look fine the way you are.”

The breeze gusted, catching her curls and sweeping them across her face. Kagan brushed the strands away, smoothing them behind her ear, his warm fingers lingering on her cheek before falling away. Lord, this man affected her more with one simple touch than Argus had done during their entire six-month relationship. She kept telling herself Kagan was off limits, but her body didn’t get the message. Molten craving spread through her veins like honey. She longed to have his hands on her, his lips against hers, to have him hold her close to his hard, warm chest.

Which was insane. They’d only just met, regardless of her dreams, and she wasn’t the type to come on to men. Even Argus had pursued her for months before she’d finally agreed to go out with him, let alone anything else. But now, suddenly, she felt ready to throw herself at Kagan and pray he caught her.

“He struck you,” Kagan whispered, his aqua gaze narrowed. “Beat you.”

At the mention of that awful night, Mira blinked, her desire deflating at the memories of sitting in the cold ER, miserable and alone, resolving to never let herself be hurt like that again.

She crossed the street, not waiting to see if he followed. The distance would do her good, give her a moment to breathe and think again. Since she’d set eyes on him outside The G Spot, her head and heart had been fuzzy with want and she had to give them both a reality check. If what Kagan said was true, then he was here to help her get revenge on Argus. That was all. She couldn’t throw herself at him, or make a move, or do anything else because that would only end in her getting her heart broken again or worse.

“Have I done something wrong?” Kagan easily caught up to her with his longer strides.

Mira didn’t answer at first, lost in thought as she stared up at the tall buildings lining the narrow street. They continued across another street, then around the corner to where her favorite bakery was located. “No. You caught me off guard, that’s all. I’m not sure how you knew about what happened with me and Argus. It’s almost like you…”

“Felt it?”

She stopped abruptly outside the café and looked back at him.

He stood a few paces behind her, hands in his pockets as snow glittered in the air around him.

Kagan looked every inch the divine immortal protector he claimed to be.

She nodded, swallowing hard against the knot of premonition in her throat.

Moving closer, Kagan gazed into her eyes, his voice sincere. “I can feel you, through the Seal. It is part of the reason I agreed to help you. You do not deserve such pain. No one does. You always seemed so happy each time I watched you. If I’d had any idea about him, I would have handled this Argus long ago.”

“You’ve been spying on me?” Mira said, louder than she’d intended, if the curious stares they got from passersby was any indication. But he had her rattled. Of course, the fact she could feel his heat through her clothes and smell his scent—like warm sand and sunshine and leafy green woods—didn’t help either.

“It’s my duty to protect the first Seal, and the mortal who hosts it. I am—”

She slapped a hand over his mouth as more people came out of the bakery. Kagan scowled, his breath warm against her palm, sending a fresh wave of awareness shivering up her arm.

Once they were alone again, she snatched her hand away. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to discuss your divine duties in public.”

“The Scion watch their charges. It is what we do.”

Ugh. To the uninformed people passing them on the sidewalk, that probably sounded even more creepy. Her suspicions were confirmed by two women who stood nearby, casting furtive glances their way then whispering to each other in hushed tones. Mira rolled her eyes. With her luck, they probably thought she had a stalker on her hands.

Mira grabbed Kagan’s arm and hauled him into the small eatery. Thank goodness, it was quiet inside, with only a few people at the small tables placed around the room. She chose a spot away from everyone else, near the corner window, and sat Kagan down in a chair next to a small table.

“Wait here,” she said, hoping he was true to his word and obeyed.

After ordering their desserts and paying, she moved down the counter to wait and looked over toward the table again. Kagan was still sitting there, looking out of the window. If her research and what he’d said was true, then he must spend a lot of time watching the mortal world.

He shifted his shoulders, frowned, pulling out his weapon to check it. Several people nearby gasped at the sight of the gun. Mira grabbed their order and rushed back to the table, taking a seat in the chair opposite him. “Put that away before someone calls the police.”

Kagan did as she asked, looking none too happy about it. “I need to make sure I am prepared at all times. It has been a long time since I have had so much freedom and so little danger. I meant no offense.”

And now she felt bad. She passed him a chocolate cupcake with sprinkles. “None taken. I just don’t want you getting in any more trouble than you have to.”

He smiled in return, a twinkle in his blue eyes. “Thank you. I am also not used to people caring about the trouble I am in as long as it suits their purpose.”

“What’s it like?” she asked before she considered the question. “Working for God?”

His smile dimmed. “Divinity provides all that we need. What more could I ask for?”

A lot, she thought before she caught herself, not missing the loneliness in his voice.

“How did you get here?” Her natural curiosity surfaced again. “Did you fly?”

“Vortex. A sort of divine wormhole. Would you like to try one sometime?”

The thought made her stomach tighten but she nodded just the same.

“Then we shall do so.” Kagan picked up his cupcake and sniffed the white frosting before taking a tentative bite. His lips parted, and his eyes widened, his gaze locked with hers. “What sorcery is this?”

Mira grinned, tearing into her own devil’s food confection. “No magic at all. Just chocolate and sugar. We humans happen to be addicted to it.”

“Addicted?” He eyed his dessert warily then set it back on the table, shifting uncomfortably in his seat and crossing his legs, settling his hands in his lap. “I should not have any more. To distract myself from my duties would be unwise.” A small muscle ticked near his jaw and he tugged his shirt lower as if hiding something. “And I will have words with Luther and Wyck when next we meet. My brothers did not explain the effects of this chocolate well enough.”

Effects? Mira looked from his lap to his eyes, his meaning unmistakable.

Right. Chocolate affected Scion differently than humans. Good to know.

“About that.” Heat raced to her cheeks. “From everything I’ve found on the Scion, I thought you were supposed to be…well…asexual.”

He blinked before muttering what sounded like a curse. Distant thunder rolled outside. “I am not asexual.”

From the heat in his eyes and roughness in his tone, he seemed willing to prove his point with her right now in the cute little bakery, witnesses be damned. Mira nibbled on her cupcake and focused on the tips of her black boots, avoiding the smoldering gaze of the immortal warrior across from her and wanting to crawl into a hole somewhere and hide.

“I have not had a woman in many centuries, but I am in no way an impotent creature.”

Okay then. And of course he’d said those words loud enough that every eye in the shop turned in their direction. Mira sank lower into her chair, wishing one of those vortexes of his would open up and whisk her away.

“Sorry.” She winced, repeating back his words from earlier. “I meant no offense.”

He exhaled slow and nodded, the spark of passion in his eyes banked, for now.

“In the ancient texts I read, some called your kind evil.”

Kagan leaned back and sighed. “We are an avenging force with many enemies. The rumors are bound to spread.”

“True.” She straightened, looking him over again. He was sex on legs, luscious in every way imaginable. Divine warriors weren’t supposed to be so tempting, were they? “Kagan, slayer of a thousand enemies.”

He smiled, all dark and sexy. “I am bad on the battlefield, but I can be very good elsewhere.”

The double meaning in those words vibrated through her like a tuning fork. She couldn’t help imagining him, naked and entwined in her sheets. She wondered if his impressive proportions extended to all areas of his body.

“What does my mistress command?” His smile widened, and she didn’t think they were just talking about her revenge anymore.

She wanted to command, boy did she want. But she couldn’t. They barely knew each other. He was from Heaven, she was from Earth. Best to resist while her conscience was still functioning. Resist the temptation across from her and focus on her revenge.

“Like I said, I don’t want Argus dead. But I do want him to suffer. To feel jealous and hurt and unloved. Like he doesn’t matter, to me or anyone else.”

Kagan nodded approvingly, his blue gaze icy.

She finished her cupcake then stood, an idea swirling in her head, solidifying. It was crazy and would probably never work, but she had to try. “I have a plan.”