He took her arm, his gaze sweeping the area. The relief turned to absolute concentration. “You left without bodyguards.”
Well, that was romantic. “So?” She tried to tug free, and his hold tightened.
“So?” He lowered his face, his focus suddenly on her. “You don’t go
Her breath caught at the fury in his words. Then her temper sprang to life. “I believe I explained I don’t take orders from anybody. Got it?”
He stilled, though tension all but vibrated around him. “Let’s go. We’ll discuss this at your penthouse.”
“No.” She yanked free. Who the blazes did he think he was? “I’m not done shopping.”
The hard smack to her ass shocked the hell out of her. Her mouth dropped open.
A couple of women passed, and one giggled to the other, “Somebody’s been reading
Brenna closed her mouth, rage shaking her arms. A blue tinge of fire cascaded on her skin to be quickly snuffed out. They were in public. But had she almost created fire?
Jase jerked his head toward a bench. “Choose. Either we go now, or I flip you over my knee and beat your ass. Then we’ll go.”
He grabbed her arm and tugged. “The bench it is.”
“No.” She dug in her heels. Panic constricted her airway. “I’ll go.” Then she’d teach him a lesson about bossing her around. Somehow.
“Good.” He changed directions and headed for the main exit.
She could either step in line or fall on her head. “How did you find me?”
“You left word at headquarters you’d be shopping, but you didn’t say at which mall.” Jase scanned the area, keeping her close. “We have squads heading to each one. I arrived here first.”
“I didn’t think I needed to leave my location.” The danger had been eliminated for her. A blast of energy smacked her between the eyes. She faltered. “What was that?”
Jase swore and stopped cold. “Demons.”
Fear blasted into her solar plexus. “There are no demons in Ireland. We keep them out.”
“They got in.” His jaw clenched, and he tapped an ear communicator. “Conn? I’m at the west end of the Farside Mall. They’re here.” He propelled them both into motion and toward the stairwell. “An exit to the north leads to outside parking. Backup is five minutes away.”
She tucked her packages against her ribs, fighting to keep up. “You studied the mall schematics?”
“On the way here.”
They reached the top of the stairs, and he stopped. His head lifted, his eyes going flat. “They’re up here, too.”
She yanked a gun from her handbag and tossed her packages toward the wall. Normal witches had a decent defense against the demons’ mind attacks because of the plasma balls, but she was useless in a fight right now. “I can’t create fire.”
“I know,” he said grimly, surveying the area. “What’s over there?” He pointed to a construction area blocked off by signs and strung tape.
“New stores moving in—they’re remodeling the area.”
“Good.” Taking her hand, he pulled her past the signs and under the tape. “We’ll lead them away from humans at least.” Then he tapped his ear. “Conn? We’re on the second level in the east wing. I sense three of them—maybe four.”
The oxygen in the air swelled, adding weight. Brenna struggled forward, her mind fuzzy. “They’re not attacking yet, but my head is beginning to hurt.”
He edged them along the roughly plastered wall. “Have you ever felt a demon attack?”
“No.” Her lungs heated, while the plaster scratched her hand.
“They’ll shoot horrific images into your mind, and then it’ll feel like a scalding blade is cutting your brain. The wound is not real, and you can push through the pain.” He drew a gun from his waistband and dodged into one of the empty stores.
She followed, sweeping her gun behind them. “Can you push through the attack?”
“Yes. After five years of torture, I can shield. Somewhat.”
Her ears rang. Adrenaline flooded her system. Rough walls and subfloor made up the octagonal room. Construction plastic hung from the ceiling, while toolboxes and flooring materials were scattered throughout. The smell of plaster dust tickled her nose, and she bit back a sneeze.
Jase pointed to a framed hole in the wall that would probably lead to dressing rooms. “Go in there and don’t come out until I get you.”
She shook her head. “You can’t fight three of them alone. I have a gun, and I know how to shoot.”
He whirled on her so quickly she stepped back, her ankle colliding with a stack of tiles. She would’ve fallen had he not grabbed her arm. His jaw firmed, his muscles undulated, and his eyes flattened to death. “Obey me.”
Her entire body tightened with awareness. With real fear. The vampire had morphed from man to killer within seconds. The hard face, she could handle. But the dead eyes? They broke her heart—while every instinct in her body screamed for her to run. Away. From. Him. So she nodded, and the second he released her, she scrambled toward the dressing rooms. But she stopped at the doorway, turned, and settled her stance.
The look he gave her chilled her bones.
Then the demons entered the room.
Chapter 9
Two males entered first, followed by a female demon. Brenna steadied her grip on the gun. A real female demon. They were almost a legend, they were so rare. This one had the white-blond hair and black eyes of a purebred. She was tiny, but power shimmered around her until sparks popped in the air.
The two hulking men also showed their heritage with fathomless eyes and white hair. Dressed in all black, with silver emblems covering their right breasts. High-up soldiers.
The woman flashed sharp teeth. “Miss me, Jase?”
He growled low and shifted to the right, his position allowing him to scan the entire room. “No. In fact, I hoped you died when my brothers demolished the Scotland headquarters, Willa.”
The woman pouted red lips, eyes sparkling. “Such mean language after such wonderful times in my bedroom.” She flicked her glance at Brenna. “There was no way we could work out. You always did like them helpless.”
Brenna cocked the gun. What times in her bedroom? Had Jase been with this bitch?
Willa’s smile widened. “A gun won’t stop me, witch, and considering you’re at death’s door, neither will you.” She sighed. “I had hoped for more of a fight when I killed your mate. ’Tis a pity.”
Jase flashed the grin of a killer. “Jealous?”
Willa hissed out a breath. “Of what?”
Cold calculation quirked Jase’s upper lip. “Of the pretty witch I decided to mate. You know, after you all but begged for my cock.”
“I wanted your marking.” Fire lanced through the woman’s eyes. She lifted a shoulder. “Besides, I’ve had your tongue in my mouth, vampire. We both know you wanted it.”
Bile rose up Brenna’s throat, and she shoved the acid down. “The Coven Nine isn’t going to allow this trespass on our land. Get out now.”
“Do you honestly think we’re afraid of the Coven Nine?” Willa swept her hand out, and the air chilled. “We’ve never taken your land because we don’t want it.”
Fury and fear steadied Brenna’s aim. “We both know you’re afraid of the Nine. Witches can handle demons,
