Jaci Burton - The Darkest Touch

He’d never seen any of the demons do shit like that before. He walked outside, looked in both directions, saw nothing, then shut the door behind him and hurried upstairs to Angelique. She was lying in bed, exactly as he had found her. She hadn’t moved and her eyes were still wide open. She had a vacant look, almost as if she was under some kind of spell. He dropped his weapons, sat on the edge of the bed, and grabbed her shoulders.

“Angelique.” He purposely kept his voice low. “Angie, it’s Ryder.”

She didn’t move, didn’t acknowledge his presence. This time, he shook her. “Hey, wake up. It’s over.”

Still no response. He finally lifted her, laid her head in the crook of his arms. “Angie, wake up.” He tapped her cheek, then slapped it lightly. “Come on. Snap out of this, goddamit.”

When he still didn’t get a response, he gave her one hard slap.

She gasped, then screamed, her hands coming up to palm his chest and push, hard. He didn’t let go.

“Come on, darlin’, it’s Ryder. It’s okay, it’s over. He’s gone.”

Still, she fought him, kicking her legs and feet underneath the covers, her eyes filled with terror. He held tight to her, bringing her up against him, wrapping his arms around her body. Her skin was ice cold. She was shaking, and he couldn’t imagine what she had gone through, having that thing put some kind of mind hold on her and then terrorize her like that.

Finally, she stopped fighting him, but she was still shivering. She pushed away, searching his face, her breathing harsh gasps. “Ryder.”

He nodded, realizing that with his night vision shades on he could see her, but she couldn’t see him. She needed the comfort of light. “Yeah. The lamp’s broken or I’d turn it on. But it’s me. Stay here and I’ll find the ceiling light switch.”

He left her for only a second. She was reluctant to let go of him. “I promise. I’m just going to get us some light.” She finally released her death grip on him. He found the switch, pulled off his glasses, and bathed the room in soft light.

Holy Christ. Her hair was a tangled dark mess around her face and shoulders, her eyes wide green pools of fear. The sheet had fallen to her waist, revealing small, upturned breasts-damn perfect, too-pink nipples and golden skin. His gaze shot back up to her stricken face and he hurried over to her side of the bed again. She was still shaking. He grabbed his jacket out of the bag at his feet and lifted her arms, sliding her into it, though he wasn’t sure if it was to warm her or cover her body from his gaping gaze.

“What. . what was that?” she asked, her voice a croaking whisper. “A demon?”

“I don’t know. I guess. Never seen one like that.”

“Me, either.” She was still breathing hard. He slid his fingers over her pulse. Too damn fast. He rubbed his thumb over her wrist. God, her hand was cold.

“He. . it wanted the black diamond.”

“I figured. Is it here, in this house?”

She shook her head, pieces of her hair sliding across her cheek as she dropped her head to her chin. “No. It’s not here.”

He should be pissed. He had a million questions to ask her, should tell her she got what she deserved after taking off with the black diamond. He had come for the same thing-to get it back. Now was the time to figure out where it was.

But looking at her shaking like this, he couldn’t do it. He had to get Angie out of this house, away from that thing and whatever else the Sons of Darkness were going to send her way. He had to contact the Realm of Light, report what he’d seen, gather some intelligence.

He had to protect Angie, before another of those creatures came back. Or something worse.

He was assigned to find and retrieve the black diamond. Find Angie and Isabelle.

He’d found Angie, so one step accomplished. But damn, he’d just stepped into a whole hell of a lot more.

Pandora’s box had opened, and he had a feeling he and Angie had just climbed right inside of it.

And despite his anger, his determination to keep his emotional distance, here he sat, with his arms wrapped around Angelique.

And dammit, it felt right.

Not good. Not good at all.

He pushed away and stood, looking down at her. “You okay now?”

She nodded, swung her legs over the bed. “I’ll be fine.”

“Get dressed. Pack what you can in five minutes. We’re getting out of here now before the Sons of Darkness send in round two.”

He pivoted and walked away from her, needing the distance. He’d do his job. He’d protect her and he’d bring back the black diamond.

But that’s all he was going to do with Angelique. He wasn’t going to care about her.

Ryder had found them a new place to stay-clear across the island from where they had been.

This house was as remote as one could get. Like a stronghold on top of a hill, it was a tiny stone cottage, one story, with jutting rocks surrounding it and brush weaving in and out as camouflage. No other houses in the vicinity, either. None for miles, actually.

Angelique was glad for Ryder’s company, because they would be utterly isolated here.

When they’d first arrived to case the area, instead of using the driveway, Ryder had walked them down to the water’s edge and examined the cliffs. Definitely inaccessible enough and only one way in, and it wasn’t via the steep cliffs. Without adequate climbing gear, no one could get up the back way and hide deep within the rocky crags. One slip and they’d be dead meat.

It was a perfect house to hide out. And it had been vacant. Ryder had contacted the rental agent first thing in the morning, and offered up an obscene amount of money for an immediate move-in. Maybe the place was so remote no one wanted it. The rental agent had given them the keys, and an hour later they were back at the house.

Ryder had been strangely silent while she packed up her essential things last night, then shoved her and them in his car along with his gear. She’d stayed silent as well, though she knew it was only a matter of time before Ryder would demand information.

She’d slept only fitfully in the car while Ryder had done all the driving. She’d been way too keyed up, too afraid of monsters jumping out at her around every corner. She’d sleep when she calmed down.

Or maybe never. Would she ever get the vision of that creature waking her up out of her mind? Its cold hand slamming down over her mouth to drown out her scream? The threats of cutting her throat, the powerful strength of its body pressing down upon her as she lay helpless in her bed?

What if Ryder hadn’t been there? What would have happened?

She shivered and pulled her sweater around her chest. Despite the warmth of the sun pouring in through the open windows of the vehicle, she could still feel the demon’s icy fingers touching her.

She might never be warm again.

Ryder drove into the open garage and they hopped out, unpacked and stepped through the door leading from the garage into the house.

“This is lovely, Ryder.”

He seemed to be paying no attention to the inside of the house, only peering outside before looking back at her. “Uh-huh.”

She, however, was looking her fill. “It’s quaint and small and intimate. And the garden is lovely. There’s even a small pool out back.” She wandered through the kitchen and out the back door.

The pool was small, but it was sunny, and well guarded by the high stone wall and lots of greenery. Beyond the edge of the wall was the cliff. No way someone could come at them. Unless they materialized in a puff of smoke.

She shuddered at the memory.

How had they found her, anyway? Both the demon and Ryder? Another question she filed away for later.