Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(41)

He leaned down and brushed his lips across her forehead, noting she still had a slight fever from the wound. Never in his life, no longer how many years he lived, would he forget the pain he’d caused her. It had been the only way to save her life, but it had hurt him somewhere deep inside.

She moved restlessly, and he felt her forehead again. Warm. Definitely warm. Perhaps more of the planekite had slipped into her flesh than he’d thought before he’d removed the poison. There was no cure, so there was nobody to call for help.

For now, he just needed to watch her and make sure she didn’t fall into a coma. He’d allow her a couple of hours to fight the fever; if that didn’t work, he’d invade her brain again to help if need be.

For now, he had phone calls to make. He stood, strode over to the fireplace, and yanked loose a round stone at the bottom. Gingerly, he reached in and drew out the Alexandrite ring.

Right where he’d left it.





Simone came awake with a strangled gasp, sitting upright in bed.

A gentle arm tugged her back down, and she settled, curling into Nick’s side. “You helped to heal me,” she said.

“I did, but you did most of the work.” He opened one eye to study her. A lock of hair had fallen onto his forehead, and she indulged herself by pushing it out of the way. “You had a fever most of the night from the planekite, but it broke about an hour ago. How are you feeling?”

Weak. Her body felt heavy, as if weighed down by a boulder or three. “I’m feeling much better, thank you.”

“Humph.” The demon rolled over, revealing the sinewed muscle of his chest.

She swallowed. The mineral had knocked her on her butt, and yet she could still feel desire just being near him? Nick had always messed with her sanity.

Right now, she had to keep him from catapulting his people into a war with hers, which seemed more and more likely. But if Zane excommunicated Nick, it would hurt him in ways that she didn’t even think he understood. It also would leave him vulnerable, with no backup should a rogue witch or band of them try to take him out. The protection of one’s people was paramount in the immortal world.

She rolled over and set her chin on his shoulder. The cottage, the one he’d purchased for them, surrounded her. He’d loved her. She’d wondered, and now she knew. “Nick—”

“No.”

She blinked. “What?”

“I’m not listening to you push me away or say it’s too dangerous for us to be together. If you don’t want to be together, that’s your choice, but don’t give me bullshit reasons.”

Anger pricked the back of her neck, intensifying the raging headache still pounding in her temples. “My reasons are not bullshit, and I can protect you as well as you can protect me.”

“I like your strength.” He gently rubbed his thumbs against her temples, and she fought the urge to moan and beg for more. “But I shield you, not the other way around. I’m sorry, Simone, but you’re the one in danger, and I’m not stepping aside while it’s so prominent.”

“You have no right.”

“So give me the right.”

She shook her head. “Did you call and report the attack?”

“Yes, but the soldier I talked to got pissed when I wouldn’t reveal your location, so the conversation was short.”

“The Guard doesn’t like you, and they’re dangerous. Please listen to me about not letting Zane excommunicate you.”

“No.”

He really wasn’t listening to her or watching out for himself at all. There was only one thing she could do. So she scrambled out of the bed. “I need to take a shower and try to regain my strength. Alone.”

He lifted an eyebrow and stretched, elongating smooth, hard muscle. “All right. Call me if you require assistance at any point while you’re naked.”

She rolled her eyes and turned away, her chest feeling compressed as she palmed Nick’s phone. The planekite had impacted her entire system, and her knees felt like jelly as she pretty much limped to the bathroom. Once inside, she turned on the shower and then opened up a chat with the ruler of the entire demon nation.

“It’s about f*cking time you called in,” Zane growled, his green eyes ablaze. The demon leader was one long line of muscle and strength in a black shirt with dark jeans. A scar lined his jaw, and faded bruises covered his temple into his black hair. He took one look at Simone and sobered. “Where’s Nick? Is he all right?”

The concern was a good sign.

“No, he isn’t. In fact, he’s about to get himself killed by the Coven Nine, or my enemies, or somebody after Bear, and all he’s worried about is me. You can’t excommunicate him, Zane. If you do, he’ll be a target for way too many people.” Not just witches, either. There were plenty of enemies out there who’d like to take down Nicholai Veis.

Zane studied her. “I have no intention of excommunicating my best friend.”

“That’s a f*cking mistake,” came a very pissed-off voice from the doorway.

Hell. Simone’s senses were dulled and way off, and she hadn’t even heard the door open. When Nick strode forward and confiscated the phone from her hand, she didn’t have an ounce of strength with which to fight him. She sat on the edge of the claw-footed tub, her hands trembling.