Hunt the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity #11)(75)

Roke cursed, indifferent to the distant fountain that crumbled to dust as his power spread through the area.

“Why would some Chatri be screwing with Sally?”

Troy’s lips parted, then with a startled gasp he was jerking around to stare at the precise spot where Roke had been tossed out of the portal.

“I think we’re about to find out.”

His words had barely left his lips when there was an odd tingle in the air and Sally tumbled out of midair.

Roke was charging forward and had her in his arms before she could hit the ground.

Chapter Nineteen

Sally felt as if she’d tumbled out of Wonderland, only to be caught up in the tornado from The Wizard of Oz.

Only this tornado was named Roke.

She didn’t know how he happened to be waiting at the precise spot where she would smack into a barrier and be ripped out of the portal. Or why he was standing there with an imp and the King of Vampires.

And it didn’t really matter as she found herself held tightly in his arms while he rushed her into Styx’s mansion, growling at anyone who dared to try to help.

She wanted nothing more than a hot shower and an equally hot meal before she collapsed in the first available bed she could find.

As always, Roke was able to sense her need and with minimum fuss he had her in the private room she’d used when she was last in Chicago.

At the time she’d been overwhelmed by the elegance of the suite that was decorated in shades of sea-foam green and silver.

She’d never seen a marble fireplace that consumed an entire wall or walked across a Parisian carpet that she was fairly certain was a priceless antique. Certainly she’d never seen a bedroom that had a coved ceiling with a painting of angels dancing among the clouds.

In the center of the room was a canopy bed with a pale green comforter that was perfectly matched to the chaise lounge set beside the windows. And along a far wall were a hand-carved armoire and a mirrored dressing table.

It all combined to make her feel like an intruder.

But tonight . . . no wait, it had to be nearly morning . . . she didn’t give a crap.

So long as it wasn’t a freaky illusion or an abandoned gold mine, or a dungeon, she was satisfied.

Allowing Roke to carry her into the bathroom, she was happy to discover the satin gown had been replaced with the itchy blanket. It made it easy to drop it to the floor so she could step beneath the scalding hot water.

Roke murmured something before disappearing from the room. Sally thought she heard something about food, but she was too numb to concentrate on more than one thing at a time. At the moment the winner was the cascade of hot water that felt like heaven.

She stood in the shower until her skin was pruny and her legs threatened to buckle. Then, wrapping a towel around her damp body, she left the vast marble bathroom and made a beeline for the bed.

Crawling beneath the covers, she was prepared when Roke returned with a tray of food that could easily have fed a football team.

Fried chicken, hamburgers, pizza, barbecued ribs, fries, apple pie . . .

He’d obviously hit every fast-food restaurant in the area.

In silence Sally consumed a respectable portion of the feast, replenishing her depleted energy before she set the tray on the nightstand next to her. Then, leaning against the headboard, she watched as Roke paced the floor with barely leashed agitation.

Her heart gave a treacherous leap.

He was just so . . . gorgeous.

Not unearthly beautiful like her father.

Or handsome like a human model.

He was raw and dangerous and so potently male he made every female hormone in her body sizzle with awareness.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, he abruptly glanced toward her with eyes darkened by storm clouds of emotion.

“Are you warm enough?” he asked, never halting his restless pacing. “There are more blankets in the cupboard.”

“I’m fine.”

His brows drew together. “You’re shivering.”

With a sense of surprise, Sally realized he was right. She hadn’t noticed that her entire body was trembling beneath the covers.

“Delayed shock,” she muttered.

His jaws clenched, the priceless oil paintings on the wall rattling as he struggled to control his burst of frustration.

“Tell me what you need.”

“You could sit still,” she suggested with a grimace. “You’re making me dizzy.”

“You’re not the only one with delayed shock,” he muttered, coming to a reluctant halt. His dark face was in full lockdown as the paintings continued to rattle. “I’m on the edge of a full-out rampage.”

Sally snorted. “You’re always on the edge of a full-out rampage.”

His eyes flashed silver fire. “Only since I met you, my love. Until then I was accused of having ice in my veins.”

She stiffened at the unfair accusation. “Don’t blame me.”

“I don’t. I blame the irony of fate.” He rammed his fingers through his hair. “It just couldn’t resist destroying my arrogant assumption I could choose an obedient mate who was content to remain in the background.”

Sally ground her teeth together. She was getting tired of hearing about Roke’s imaginary mate.

“She sounds perfect,” she gritted.

He shook his head, his lips twisted in a rueful smile. “Instead my mate is a beautiful, impulsive, unpredictable witch who has made me jump through hoop after hoop since she claimed me.”