“Need help?”

  Kobe spun around, ready to attack when he spotted Hondo standing behind him. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

  Hondo nodded toward the apartment building. “No, but you are.”

  Grinding his teeth, Kobe turned back toward the building. “Raphael took Zion.”

  “Yeah, I kind of figured as much when I saw you hauling ass down the alley. Peter told me what happened and I just put two and two together.”

  Kobe snorted. “I didn’t think you were intelligent enough to deduce what Peter had seen.”

  “Insults will not make me help you,” Hondo said with a teasing growl. “I happen to be highly intelligent.”

  Letting out a weary breath, Kobe slapped Hondo on the shoulder. “I’m just worried about Zion.”

  Hondo’s teasing expression slipped away. “And that’s why I’m here.” There was a hard edge to his voice, one that said he knew Kobe cared about Zion—even if Kobe never admitted that fact to anyone.

  Kobe didn’t think he would ever get used to the closeness of the Warriors. It still amazed him that anyone would put their neck on the line for him.

  Rubbing his chin, Hondo glanced at the building. “Seeing as how Zion is inside, I can’t just burn the place down.”

  Kobe’s eyes widened. “Don’t you dare.”

  “I said I wasn’t going to do it.” Hondo rolled his eyes. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t burn it down once we get him out.”

  “You can burn the whole damn city down once we’re gone for all I care.” This place held no fond memories for Kobe. It wouldn’t bother him one bit if it was wiped off the face of the map. Too bad he couldn’t toss dear old dad into the fire as well.

  He hadn’t seen his father since he had spotted him at the Pancake House. Maybe the bastard had keeled over. Kobe was never that lucky. Some might think him wrong for the way he felt about Krule, but no one had witnessed the things his father had done to him.

  May the bastard burn in the fires of hell.

  “Can you use your mind thingy”—Hondo wiggled his fingers by his temple—“to make those three go away?”

  “Mind thingy?” Kobe glanced up at Hondo. “Really?”

  “I know what you can do,” Hondo said and then narrowed his eyes at Kobe. “Just don’t ever screw with my mind.”

  Even though the situation was dire, Kobe smiled. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Your brain is already fragile as it is.”

  “Can you screw with their heads or not?” Hondo asked, seeming tired of the conversation about his fragile brain.

  “I can, but it’ll have an effect on me.”

  Hondo patted Kobe’s arm. “I have your back.”

  Kobe knew the man did. Hondo being there for him was the one thing Kobe could count on in this situation. Turning, Kobe set his sights on the two men that were perched on the roof. He felt for their minds and reached into both of them.

  Go home. You are not needed here. Raphael does not deserve your loyalty. Go home.

  Kobe kept chanting the words over and over again until he saw the two men turn and walk away. A low throb began in the back of his head, but Kobe had no choice but to ignore the dull ache as he concentrated on the man standing by the front door.

  “Shit,” Hondo said as he pinched Kobe’s nose and tilted his head back. “I can tell by the nosebleed that you haven’t been practicing. You’re fucking bleeding like an amateur.”

  There was a soft reprimand in the demon’s voice. Kobe hadn’t been practicing. He hated delving into other people’s minds because he saw the worst of what they were. There were just some images that were so vile that Kobe wished he could erase them from memory.

  When tampering with a mind, he never knew what he was going to find.

  “I’m going to kick Donny’s ass for not keeping up with your lessons.” Hondo sounded pissed. “Keep your head tilted back while I deal with the guy at the door.”

  Kobe wanted to argue. He hated being coddled. But Hondo was right. Kobe was of no use right now. Not only was Hondo going to chew Donny a new ass, but he was going to tell Panahasi. It was everyone’s job to look out for each other.

  If Kobe wasn’t keeping up with his lessons, then that endangered everyone else. Kobe had known better than to stop. But in his defense, the images he sometimes saw were too fucking horrific, staying with him for a long time.

  “Don’t set him on fire,” Kobe said. “I don’t need him rushing into the building and setting the whole place ablaze.”

  Hondo glared at Kobe. “I, unlike you, have mastered my skills. I know what I’m doing.”

  Kobe watched as the man at the front door wiped at his forehead and then fanned himself. Even from where they were hiding, sweat trickling down the man’s face could be seen.

  “Are you going to make him sweat to death?”

  “Keep quiet,” Hondo grumbled. “I’m pretty pissed at you right now.”

  Like a pouting child, Kobe fell silent. He watched the demon remove his shirt, using it to wipe the sweat from his body. Even though Kobe was pissed that Raphael had kidnapped Zion, watching the man slowly stripped down because he was too hot was funny as hell.

  “Watch this,” Hondo whispered.

  The man at the front door shoved his jeans down his legs, waving both hands at his groin. Sweat continued to pour from the man’s scalp, but he seemed more worried that his dick was on fire.

  “That’s just mean.” Kobe chuckled.

  Soon the demon was fully naked, racing down the city street.

  Hondo turned to Kobe. “And that, my brother, is the result of sticking with my lessons and mastering my powers.”

  “You don’t have to rub it in,” Kobe said as he pulled his shirt off and wiped the blood from his face and neck.

  Hondo punched Kobe in his shoulder. “You’re a fucking Demon Warrior. You know how great your powers could be if only you’d practice? I’m willing to bet that you could scramble everybody’s brains in that building at the same time with no migraine or nosebleeds—if only you had kept to your lessons.”

  Kobe wasn’t going to debate the subject right now. He had a little demon to rescue and an evil bastard to kill. The ass chewing could wait. “Ready?”

  Hondo rolled his shoulders. “Let’s do this.”

  Chapter Nine

  “I can feel two of them outside the building right now,” Marino said as he stood in Raphael’s living room, his hands tucked behind his back. “Well played, Raphael.”

  Although Marino should be slicing Raphael’s throat rather than commending him. He wasn’t a foolish man, not by any stretch of the imagination. He had known that Raphael was trying to set him up to kill Panahasi.

  “I knew that Kobe had developed feelings for Zion when he returned for the man,” Raphael said a little too arrogantly.

  God, he wanted to kill Raphael. There were so many things that Marino knew about the man who ran Remtin.

  He also knew that that insufferable little fey had found out that Marino did not have his brother. Keegan was long gone now. No matter. Marino would find him another toy to play with.

  Crossing the room, Marino circled Zion. He may be a rotten bastard, but seeing the bruises on Zion’s face pissed him off. A man should not abuse his puppet.

  The little demon would make a nice little toy. Zion was Marino’s type—short, slim, and very pretty. He could just imagine the hours of fun he could have as he took his pleasure from this urchin.

  Unfortunately, one of the Warriors had laid claim to Zion. Even after Hondo and Kobe were killed, the other Warriors would still try to save Zion. It wasn’t worth the headache.

  He could see Raphael watching him warily from across the room. Marino’s lust must be evident on his face. Was the demon afraid he would take Zion? Probably.

  Did he care? Not in the least.

  Too bad he wasn’t immune to the Warriors any longer. That little spell was no longer in his possession. Marino had given it to Constantine a few months back, and since his brother had disappeared, so had the enchantment.

  “How are you going to kill them?” Raphael asked, moving closer to Zion. Marino saw the guy was trying to make sure he didn’t take the urchin. It wasn’t because Raphael cared about Zion. It was a power move, pure and simple.

  Marino clucked his tongue as he ran his fingers through Zion’s hair. “Who said I was going to kill them?”

  Raphael allowed his confusion to show before he masked the expression. “Our deal was that if I lured them here, you would kill them.”

  Tucking his finger under Zion’s chin, Marino tilted the man’s head back. Simply flawless. Aside from the bruises, Zion was a prize any man would love to possess. “I’ve changed my mind. It seems word on the street is that you are contemplating my demise.”

  Raphael sputtered as he glanced at Marino. “We are allies. Why would I double-cross you?”

  Releasing Zion, Marino sneered at Raphael. “That is a very good question.”

  The temptation to take Zion for his own was strong, but Marino had other battles to fight. He waved a hand toward Raphael as his men filed into the room. “Kill him.”

  * * * *

  Zion stood there, bound, and terrified out of his mind. If he thought Raphael was scary, the blond demon was nothing compared to Marino. The demon exuded power and authority. With the snap of his fingers, Raphael was lying dead on the floor.

  Everyone’s head turned when the apartment door caught fire. Tiny fingers made of flame licked over the wood.

  Marino glanced at Zion, his pale-blue eyes filled with contempt. “Never forget that I just saved your life, urchin.”

  Zion’s knees knocked as he watched Marino and his men shimmer away. But the guy was demon. Zion had smelled demon on Marino. So how in the hell could he shimmer?

  Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, the front door exploded inward. Shards of broken wood that were on fire landed everywhere. Zion couldn’t even cover his head because his hands were still tied together.

  His knees buckled and Zion fell to the floor when a man, engulfed in flames, crossed over the threshold. It was the most terrifying sight he had ever seen.

  “Zion,” Kobe said as he moved around the inferno. “Where’s Raphael?”

  “O–over there.” Zion jutted his chin toward Raphael’s body.

  Kobe looked surprised and confused as he released Zion’s hands. “Did you do that?” Once his hands were released, Kobe pulled Zion into his arms. “Too bad he’s dead. I want to kill the son of a bitch for what he did to your face.”

  Zion shook his head back and forth. “Marino killed him.”

  Kobe glanced back at the man still on fire. “We need to get out of here, Hondo. It was Marino who killed Raphael.”

  That big ball of flame was Hondo? It seemed Zion’s eyes were being opened wide lately. He wrapped his arms around Kobe when the Warrior scooped him up from the floor and carried him out of the building.

  “I’m sorry to do this to you, short stuff.”

  Zion smashed his eyes closed, knowing that Kobe was referring to traveling through a shadow. He didn’t want to get sick, but Zion didn’t want to stick around here either.

  The nausea slammed into him hard. He felt the bile rising as Kobe hurried him toward the bathroom. Why the hell couldn’t the Warriors find another mode of transportation? He was really tired of tossing his cookies.

  He could feel Kobe pulling his hair out of his face as his large hand rubbed down Zion’s back. The only thing Zion could do was hug the toilet.

  “Easy now,” Kobe said as he wiped a wet washcloth over Zion’s face. “Deep breaths.”

  Zion was shaky as he finally moved back. He just wanted to curl up in Kobe’s arms and forget today even happened.

  But luck was not on his side.

  “Feeling better?”

  Zion nodded.

  “Good”—Kobe tossed the rag onto the sink—“because I want to know what the fuck you were thinking leaving the coffeehouse after I told you to stay put.”

  Zion had known that Kobe would get mad, but standing here seeing the rage on the demon’s face tore at a part of him. It also pissed him off that Kobe was being so high-handed with him.

  “I wasn’t aware you were my damn boss.” Zion tried to push Kobe away, but the demon was like a solid wall, unmovable. He stood there glaring at Zion with his pretty pale-brown eyes.

  “I wasn’t trying to be your boss. I was trying to keep you safe.”

  Zion shoved at Kobe’s chest. “I don’t need you to keep me safe. I’ve made it just fine on my own.” The fear that he could’ve lost Kobe, that Raphael could’ve killed Zion, and that Marino could’ve taken him away, was more than he could take. Zion lashed out, Kobe his target. “I never asked you to rescue me. I never asked you to bring me here. I don’t need anyone but myself.”

  His mouth tasted bitter as those words rolled off his tongue. He did need Kobe. The Warrior was everything Zion had ever dreamed of and more. He didn’t want to lose the man, but Zion couldn’t stop the fear from digging its talons into his chest, making it hard to breathe.

  Kobe stood there looking crushed. Zion hated himself in that moment. He threw himself at Kobe, trying to crawl into the man. “I’m sorry.”

  Strong arms wrapped around him, cocooning Zion and making him feel safe once again. “Talk to me, short stuff.”

  “I’m scared,” Zion finally confessed. “I’ve never trusted anyone in my life. Now I find myself wanting to trust you, wanting to care about you.”

  Kobe ran his hand over Zion’s hair. “You think I’m not scared? Do you think I’m used to these feelings that have me all twisted up? Fuck, short stuff, I’ve never cared about anyone before. Not on a personal level.” Kobe sighed. “And then along comes a demon with big blue eyes, turning my damn world upside down. It’s just”—Kobe pulled back, running his hand over his head—“do you think it’s easy for me to trust someone?”

  And here Zion thought he was having a hard time with this. It looked like Kobe was falling apart. He had never seen anyone struggle so much to get a point across. Zion thought it was adorable.

  “So…” Zion ventured as his heart felt like it was lodged in his throat. “You and me?”

  Kobe pulled Zion back into his arms, dropping a kiss on Zion’s head. “I’d like it to be permanent.”

  “But—” Zion did not want to be the one to spoil things, but reality was reality. “What if one of us finds our mate?”

  Kobe’s expression was thoughtful. “Then I guess we cross that bridge when we come to it.” The man smacked him on the ass. “No more running out into danger.” His fingers ghosted over Zion’s bruises. “I don’t ever want to see your face marred again.”

  “That’s because I fought back,” Zion stated proudly. He normally didn’t fight back because he had always feared who was hurting him would kill him. He may have hated his life, but he never wanted to die. But the thought of never seeing Kobe again had driven Zion to try and free himself.

  “You did?” Kobe asked, pride laced through his tone. “Good. I’m going to show you some defense moves, short stuff. If this ever happens again, at least you’ll be able to get away.”

  “This coming from someone who has slacked on his own lessons?”

  Zion swallowed when he heard Panahasi’s voice. For the first time, he realized they weren’t in their own bathroom. He slid his hand into Kobe’s, ready to stand by the Warrior’s side—even if he didn’t know what Kobe was in trouble for.

  “Yeah,” Kobe said as he rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. “Hondo got all over me about that.”

  “Your lessons will start first thing tomorrow.” The demon leader turned and walked away, leaving Zion standing there clueless.

  He turned toward Kobe. “What lessons?”

  “I’ll explain everything later.” Kobe pulled on Zion’s hand. “Let’s go home.”

  Home. Zion liked that word a lot when it pertained to Kobe. They walked down the hallway, but instead of using a shadow, they walked out of the front door. He was thankful as hell for that.

  Making it to the second floor, Kobe stopped. “Would you mind waiting outside for just a second? I need to do something real quick.”

  Zion shrugged. He was tired, hungry, but a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt. He sat down and pressed his back into the wall, glancing up toward the ceiling, thinking about what Marino had done in that apartment and what he had said to Zion.

  Never forget that I just saved your life, urchin.

  What did that mean? What had Raphael planned for Zion that Marino thought he was saving his life? The thought made him shudder. How close had he been to possibly being killed?

  Before Zion could ponder those thoughts, the apartment door opened. “Come on in, short stuff.”

  Okay, this was a little weird. Kobe hadn’t even come back out. Zion had just heard his voice. Pushing to his feet, Zion walked toward the door, wondering what was going—his jaw dropped when he saw the entire living room lit up with candles while slow, melodic music playing on the stereo. And Kobe was…was…Zion swallowed. Kobe was standing there buck naked.

  “Do you want to come in or do you want everyone who passes by in the hallway to see me?”

  Zion immediately closed the door behind him. He just stood there, unsure of what to say or do. Romance had never been a part of his life. He was flabbergasted.

  Kobe moved over to where Zion was standing, pulling him into strong arms as the demon started a slow and leisurely dance with him. Zion just went along with it because he was still in the grip of astonishment.

  Their bodies swayed to the music as Zion sighed, resting his head on Kobe’s chest. He traced his fingers over the ridges on the Warrior’s abdomen, wondering if this was nothing more than a dream.

  His life had been hell from the moment his parents had kicked him out. Kobe had been the first person to show Zion any kindness or compassion. When the thought entered his mind that he would rather die a thousand deaths than have Kobe taken from him, Zion knew he was in love.