Nathaniel glanced back at them. “You’ve both been watching way too much television.”
“But earlier today I saw Julian vanquish Alexa. Barely broke a sweat turning her into a pile of ashes.”
He turned again to frown at her. “Are you serious? Alexa? Just what is this key he stole?”
“That doesn’t matter right now. Can’t you do something like that? Vanquish these Nightflyer things?”
“No. I have certain abilities in the earthly realm. Powers to heal, like what I did to your ankle”—their eyes met for a brief moment—“or to destroy, like what you say Julian did.” He paused to bat at a Nightflyer swarming about his head. The creatures must have claws because she saw a streak of red appear on Nathaniel’s cheek. Demons bleed red? Or did that have something to do with him being human before he became a demon? His grip on her hand tightened. “But the Underworld is an official neutral zone. There is barely any magic used aside from the odd glamour. And no destructive magic at all can originate here.” Which, at the moment, is a very bad thing.”
“Can’t you open a portal? Just so we can escape and come back later?”
He shook his head. “No time. It takes way too much concentration.”
“Then we’re in huge trouble, aren’t we?”
Val heard Reggie’s teeth chattering but he had nothing to add. Wasn’t really the time for chitchat, anyhow, she thought. Maybe screaming, or crying. But not chitchat.
Nathaniel stopped running and she came to a halt, too. She looked around. Four Nightflyers had landed and surrounded them.
He stared fiercely at the creatures and pulled Val against him. “I’ll protect you. Just stay close to me.”
She blinked at him. “You’ll protect me? Why would you do that for me?”
He turned and met her gaze for an intense moment, then looked away. “Not exactly my choice. In the faery bar you commanded me to protect you, remember?”
She did remember that. His lack of interest in her safety above and beyond the bond she’d invoked by summoning him was oddly disappointing. But she could have sworn she saw something else in his eyes—was it concern? Fear? She couldn’t tell for sure. But if it was going to keep her and Reggie alive, she’d take it. She moved closer to him, holding tight to his hard, muscled arm. They turned slowly in a circle to make sure none of the Nightflyers could creep up on them.
Val felt something wet trickle onto her shoulder.
“Oops,” Reggie said. “Sorry.”
She shuddered. “Please tell me you didn’t just pee on me.”
“I’m really scared, okay? You were right. I should have stayed behind with Claire. No wait, scratch that. I shouldn’t have kissed the blackjack dealer. That’s where all my trouble began.”
“Talk to them,” Val said to Nathaniel. She still felt a bit drunk, but it wasn’t as bad as it was before. She hoped so, anyhow. She needed her wits about her as quickly as possible. “You’re from around here. Reason with them. There’s got to be a way.”
He shook his head, not taking his gaze from the leathery creatures. “They don’t communicate like we do. Not anymore. You can’t reason with them.”
“Why are they just”—she looked at them—“staring at us?”
“They’re waiting for us to run again. We’re prey to them. If we don’t move, their sensors won’t trigger them to attack.”
It felt as if Reggie was mopping at her shoulder with his paw. “So we should just stand here.
All quiet and still-like. And when the sun comes up again they’ll leave?”
“Excellent plan if this was a quick dark-time.” Nathaniel looked at the sky. “But it looks as if this might be an extended one. The Nightflyers have a keen sense of smell, too.”
Reggie sighed. “Then I’m even sorrier about my little ‘accident.’”
“You and me both. So what do we do now, Nathaniel?” Val shivered. It was cold out. No sun equaled an immediate chill and her sweater and jacket were long gone.
Nathaniel eyed her for a moment, then peeled off his leather coat and draped it over her shoulders. Reggie crawled out on top of it and glared with annoyance at the demon. Val just looked at him with surprise at the unexpectedly kind gesture.
“You do nothing but keep yourself safe. Whatever it takes. I’ll have to fight them.”
“Four of them? Against you?”
He turned and smiled at her, raising an eyebrow. “Are you concerned for my safety?”
She dug her fingers into his arm. “Yes.”
His eyebrow rose higher.
“I’m concerned because if you get yourself eaten, then we’re next on the menu.”
His smile remained. “Then, my beautifully annoying angel, I suggest while I’m keeping them busy, you and your rodent escape.”
He grabbed Val and kissed her fully and deeply on the lips, then let her go. “Wish me luck.”
Before she could say another word he rushed one of the monsters.
The Nightflyers encircled Nathaniel and he began fighting against them. He was tall and strong and a good fighter, but there were four of them—large, hulking, black-winged, hungry monsters—against only one of him. He would lose. It was obvious.
“I think he said something about running?” Reggie’s voice trembled and she felt his sharp nails dig into her shoulder.
Val nodded but couldn’t tear her gaze away from Nathaniel. He kicked one Nightflyer in its black stomach and it went down. The claws of another tore through his shirt. Every time he got a good punch or kick in against one, the other three would rally and attack again.
They were going to destroy him.
“Uh, that running thing?” Reggie said again. “Now would be a good time for that.”
Val looked around for something she could use to help Nathaniel, but there was nothing. The street was dark and empty, the darkness bringing in a chill that even Nathaniel’s coat over her shoulders couldn’t fight.
Nathaniel swatted one of the Nightflyers away and stared at her for a moment. “Are you deaf, woman? I told you to run.”
“I know, it’s just—”
“Just nothing. RUN!”
The darkness of the Nightflyers blocked Nathaniel from her view and she heard a tearing noise and a short scream of pain.
She began to run toward him, but had only taken two steps when a fifth Nightflyer landed right in her path. It was easily eight feet tall and probably weighed three hundred pounds. Its shiny, black leathery wings folded behind it. At first glance it looked almost humanoid, but on second glance . . . there was nothing remotely human about this creature. Its face was flat, as dark as the rest of it, and ugly. Black button eyes stared at her with no emotion behind them.
Nothing but a mild interest in every move, every flinch she made. And the odd sense that it was very, very hungry.