Sherrilyn Kenyon - Dream Chaser

Simone was warmed all the way through by his compliment. They walked on, arm in arm, joking and teasing until they reached her condo.

"So what happened to your foster parents?"

She took a deep breath at the sadness that question conjured. "They died in a car wreck my first year of college."

"I'm really sorry."

"It's okay. It was a long time ago, but it left me scarred for years. I kept thinking that I was cursed to lose everyone I ever cared about." She shook her head. "There for a time, I'd even get up in the middle of the night just to make sure Jesse was still with me."

Xypher drew a sharp intake of breath. And now he was going to have to leave her, too . . .

No, he could never tell her he loved her. It would be cruel.

Simone opened the gate to her condo, then paused as she saw Someone slumped over at the end of the small walkway. Rushing toward the person, she was stunned to find Kyle Peltier there. He had a vicious wound in his stomach. Blood was steadily pouring out of him.

Trembling, he reached up and grabbed Xypher's shirt. "The gallu are attacking Kerryna in her condo. Help her. Please!"

Xypher shot to his feet. "Get him to Sanctuary." Simone swallowed. "What about you?"

"I have a fight to join. Jesse, go with Simone and make sure nothing happens to her. If she needs me, get me immediately."

Xypher went running toward Kerryna's condo. From the outside, it was identical to Simone's, except it had a small mirror that dangled from the knocker—a mirror that was designed to keep the gallu out.

If only it'd worked.

He ran to the door and died the knob.

It turned.

Opening the door, ready for battle, he was surprised to find the place completely empty. He entered the house slowly, expecting an ambush. With nothing but silence humming in his ears, he went room to room looking for the Dimme.

Or her body.

There were no heartbeats in the place. But everywhere he looked were the remnants of battle. Furniture was busted, shelves were on the floor. It was obvious Kerryna and Kyle had put up a tremendous fight.

But the question was, why had she been here without Xedrix?

"Damn it," he breathed. They must have taken her with them when they left.

Xypher went rushing back to find Simone struggling to get an unconscious Kyle into her car. He took the whelp from her and swung himup in his aims before he flashed them to Sanctuary.

Carson came to his feet with a stem scowl as he saw Kyle's bleeding body. "What happened?"

"He was attacked." Xypher took Kyle into the room where Carson had tended him when he'd been wounded.

"Thanks for getting him here."

"Anytime. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some bad news to deliver."

Xypher turned to Simone. "What bad news?" she asked. "I think they took Kerryna."

Her face pale, Simone staggered back from the shock. "The gallu? Why?"

"To use her, I'm sure."

"Does Xedrix know?"

Xypher glanced back to Kyle's bleeding body. "I'm going to take a wild guess that he doesn't. I think Kyle must have been on watch duty. We need to get to their bar again and tell Xedrix what's happened."

She couldn't agree more. "All right. Flashy thing coming up ... no nausea this time. We hope."

"Hang on." He looked at Jesse. "You, too. Gloria, hold on to him so we don't get separated."

The next thing Simone knew, they were at the club, winch was hopping with college students and locals. They were all standing behind the stage where Xedrix had brought them in originally.

A band was playing loud, dark wave music.

Xypher took her hand and led her toward the dance floor. In the crowd, it was impossible to distinguish the Charonte from the humans. The only way she could tell the difference was her demon sense that picked up on them whenever they drew near one.

"Where's Xedrix?" Xypher asked a tall, dark-haired demon who was serving drinks.

"He's at the bar."

Xypher made his way over to the area that was marked with neon tubing and a hand-painted sign on the mirror with the club's logo of vampire teeth with three drops of blood falling from the lips.

Xedrix sat on one of the stools, watching the crowd and drinking absinthe. He tensed the moment he saw them approaching. "What's up?"

Simone decided she'd take the heat for being the harbinger as Xypher had noted earlier, since she was female Xedrix was less likely to hurt her. "It's Kerryna. We found Kyle Peltier wounded. He said the gallu had taken her."

The glass in Xedrix's hand shattered as his eyes glowed a terrifying red. "What do you mean she was taken?" He grabbed one of the demons who was walking past and threw him onto the bar.

The humans around them quickly took their drinks and moved away. "Where is Kerryna?" Xedrix demanded.

The Charonte paled. "Last I saw she said she wasn't feeling well. She was headed upstairs to the office to lie down. She said not to tell you. She didn't want you to worry. Said she'd be back before you missed her."

Actual smoke came out of Xedrix's nostrils in a frightening display of anger. "Why did you leave her alone?"

"She was sick so she went with the bear upstairs. I only did what your Katika told me to do."

Xypher frowned. "How can she get sick?"

Xedrix turned on him with a ferocious growl. "She's not sick. She's pregnant with my simi."

Simone gaped. This was bad.

Xedrix shot off the stool, but before he could do anything, Xypher grabbed his arm.

"Take me with you to Kalosis."

Xedrix scowled at him. "Are you insane? Have you any idea what Stryker would do to you if you showed up there?"

"I don't care."

Xedrix cocked his head in a questioning manner. "Your vengeance means that much to you?"

Xypher locked gazes with Simone before he answered. "My vengeance means nothing to me anymore. Send me in there and I'll get Kerryna out for you."

Xedrix stepped back. "What are you saying?"

Xypher paused as he thought carefully about how much he wanted to tell them. This wasn't only about getting Kerryna back—this was about protecting Simone. She meant more to him than anything.

Even his vengeance.

"I understand why you won't stay with Kerryna in Kalosis. You protect Simone and I'll get Kerryna out of there for you. I swear it."

The demon curled his lip. "Stryker will never allow it. He'll kill you the minute you show. The gallu want to use her, they won't give her up without a war."

"Stryker is half human and half god. His powers won't stand against mine.”

Xedrix's mocking laughter rang out. "You're half Greek god . . . Have you any idea what Apollymi would do to you the minute that scent crosses her nostrils? You won't make it a foot before she skewers you. I'm the only one who stands a chance there. By the gods, I'm going to take it."

Jesse cursed.

Simone tinned to glance at him and he pointed over Xedrix's shoulder. There in the shadows, leaning against the wall, was Kerryna and she looked terrible.

They rushed to her side.

Xedrix picked her up in his arms and cradled her close. "Are you all right, me arita ?”

Kerryna gasped as if she were fighting a wave of severe nausea. She clung to Xedrix while tears brimmed in her eyes. "They've given me Aperia."

Xedrix's face paled.

"What's that?" Simone asked.

Xypher cursed. "It's a slow-acting poison that's deadly to demons."

"I have twelve hours," Kerryna said, her voice breaking. "If I kill Xypher and the Destroyer, Satara will give me the antidote."

Xedrix looked up at Xypher. "You're one dead son of a bitch."

"No!" Kerryna snapped, clipping his face and making him look at her. "We can't do this."

An angry muscle twitched in Xedrix's neck. "I'm not going to let you die. I don't care who I have to kill to save you. I will."