“You look killer, by the way. Add some mascara from my purse and it’ll be perfect. He won’t be able to resist you. My demon? Well, I did have an interesting dream with him. I was licking his body up and down and he was in chains on a bed or something. I couldn’t really make out his face or anything. He was kind of blurry.”

Chloe gasped. “Lily!”

“What? You wanted to know, don’t interrupt a sexy story. So then, I remember he tore through them like they were plastic except they were old-fashioned prison manacles, and he came after me and took me so passionately. I’m certain I came a dozen times. Now I don’t know how much of that is true, but I sure hope the orgasm part is,” she said with a dreamy sigh. “So enough about me. You’re the one who’s actually been living with her Protector. How’s it going?”

Chloe turned to her sister and almost wanted to cry. She didn’t know where to start, so she just started talking. Soon Lily had her sitting next to her on the bed with an arm wrapped around her as she spilled everything from their first sexual encounter with the vampire commander to his past and up to their “thing” this morning.

“Sounds to me like he’s crazy about you.” Chloe couldn’t help it, she laughed hard. If only Lily had been around these past few days.

“No, he’s not and a part of me keeps feeling like a complete fool every time I talk to him.

I’m starting to think that maybe I should just turn my back on him and try to make it with one of the other warriors. But there’s just something about him, Lily. I feel like I can’t walk away.”

“I understand,” Lily said, holding her close. “I think you two are going to be great together. Just keep pushing him. He’s strong, he can take it.”

“But what if he hates me for it in the end?” Chloe asked, her eyes haunted with pain.

“Have you had a dream about us?” She couldn’t keep the hope out of her voice.

Lily pulled back. “Um, no, no.” Chloe glared at her.

“Yes, you did, Lillian Bellum. Tell me now and do not lie, no matter what.” Lily cringed.

“Fine, fine. I had two dreams. One was of you and Tyrian in the snow, fighting.”

“What were we fighting about?”

Lily shrugged. “I didn’t hear anything like that. It was like watching a movie with the sound muted, minus any subtitles. It looked emotional though, deep. You both looked so...in pain. He didn’t look anything like how I saw him when I met him downstairs. He’s all aloof and cold. There was none of that in this dream.” Chloe shuddered, her stomach filling with that horrible warning feeling.

“And the other?” Chloe asked, feeling more miserable than before.

“I wasn’t going to tell you. I was going to mention it to him, because I didn’t want to worry you any. Plus you know these things aren’t always accurate.” Lily smiled at her but Chloe couldn’t make herself do it back. She felt hollow inside, numb.

“Just tell me.”

Lily dragged in a deep breath. “I saw you die. A demon was fighting you, and it killed you.”

Chloe’s eyes shot wide. “Say what? Do you think this is because I nearly died by that demon yesterday? When did you have that dream?” Chloe said, desperate to know. She had to know. She grabbed Lily’s arm in firm grip, her eyes frantic and wide.

Lily’s smile relaxed her infinitely. “Just last night. Don’t worry, that’s all it was.”

Chloe sighed. “Thank God.”

A knock sounded at the door and Chloe knew who it was. “Just tell me one more thing, and be completely honest, Lily. Do you really think I should pursue him? I don’t want to get hurt,” she whispered.

Lily smiled gently. “Sometimes we have to experience the bite of pain before we can feel the love. I say do it. If you want him, then go get him, Chloe.”

Chloe threw her arms around her sister. “Thank you, Lily,” she whispered. Lily squeezed her one last time and then they answered the door.

The warrior, Rayn, was there. Not her vampire commander. He smiled like a male alley cat at Lily and looked her up and down. “Are you sure you won’t let me take you out, beautiful?

I would love to show you a good time.”

Lily winked at him. “I know you would darling, but I already have a man.”

Rayn cocked a brow. “Who? I’ll fight him for the rights to you any day.” He said it in mock seriousness that sent Chloe and Lily into giggles.

“His name is Telal Demuzi. If you wish to fight with him, make arrangements so I can be there. I wouldn’t want to miss that.” Rayn’s brow skyrocketed to his hairline.

He shook his head and held out his hands. “The demon? Damn. Grab on, we’re meeting

Tyrian downstairs first.” Chloe and Lily each grabbed a hand. Rayn grinned at Lily and pulled her close to his chest.

“You smell nice, lilit.”

Before Chloe could ask what that word meant, her body tingled from head to toe, and the hallway dissipated around them like sand dropping, and then a new room appeared. A room filled with weapons.

“Whoa, what’s this place?” Chloe asked and went to the walls covered in weapons from axes and swords to guns and throwing knives. She even saw a few grenades and laughed.

“The armory,” Rayn replied.

A door opened and Tyrian and Henry came in. “You’re back on command duty while I’m

gone. If anything happens, notify me,” Tyrian said. Henry bowed swiftly.

Tyrian gaze shot to her like a magnet. He zeroed in on her like she was the sole focus on his mind. It made her stomach flutter, her pulse race. His eyes heated, scorched over the fitted dress she wore, lingered on her black stocking legs.

He’d changed and now wore a tight, black t-shirt instead of his usual long sleeves. Chloe licked her lips at the play of muscles in his forearms, at the thick veins that ran over his arms and into his finely sculpted hands. Just as quickly, his eyes darted away from her and were back to the distant, unfazed look he always wore.

“You’re drooling,” Lily teased in a whisper. Chloe glared at her but pulled her gaze away from the man constantly occupying her thoughts. “Don’t worry, he is totally drool-worthy.”

Tyrian picked up a wicked, curved knife from the wall and two guns that he tucked into places around his cargo belt. When Chloe blinked, she realized she couldn’t even see them. It was like they were never there.

“How do you do that?”

She was surprised that he bothered to answer her. “I have an enchantment on certain weapons so that I can carry them but they stay hidden to others.” Oh, so that explained how he managed to have a massive double-bladed axe back at the hotel.

“But you don’t have those kinds of powers.”

“Draven does. He can make nearly anything invisible. Let’s go,” he commanded. Rayn

had to touch each of them for this to work.

“I’ll need one of the beautiful ladies to cuddle close to me, so the others can touch my hands for this to work,” Rayn said, sounding immensely happy as he smiled at Lily.

Lily smiled back at him, but pushed Chloe into him. Her arms naturally went around him in an awkward hug. She looked up at Tyrian and saw his nostrils flare, so she stayed where she was. Damn right. Lily took hold of Rayn’s hand and saddled up next to her. Tyrian was next. He took his time, almost as if it pained him to move close to her.

He tore his gaze away from her and cut Rayn a look that spoke volumes. The warrior

winced and quickly the room started to disappear. Chloe couldn’t have been happier as they appeared in front of the demon’s headquarters. She’d seriously needed that ego boost his jealousy just provided her.

As the guards escorted them to the elevator, Lily leaned close and whispered, “See, I told you.” They all sidled into the elevator and Chloe couldn’t keep from grabbing Tyrian’s hand and tugging on it.