Page 12 of Grabbed By the Guard

He is also the ruler of Sombra.

I had planned on taking her to Nuit. It is a three days’ journey on foot. In my shadows, I could zip from Mavro to Nuit in no time, but Billie can not join me in that form until she has my essence. Until then, I will stay as firm as she is. I won’t bring her to the barracks in Mavro as that is no place for me to woo my mate, but I still have a home in Nuit that I am proud to show off to her.

Plus, Loki and his formerly mortal mate live in Nuit. My Billie might respond better to me if she has a human female to help explain what it means

Gods know I did not do a very good job of it.

But that will have to wait. If Duke Haures commands our presence, we will go. Together.

“Come, female,” I say in English. I worry not about Vorn’s reaction now. All of Sombra will know that I claim Billie as my mortal since I won’t allow anyone to separate us. Not while I have her essence, but she doesn’t yet have mine… or a bond to tie us together.

For a moment, I expect her to snap at me again. Or, worse, for her to shove off of my back and bolt.

But it seems as though she has learned her lesson.

“Where are we going?”

“To see Duke Haures.”

CHAPTER 4

DUKE HAURES

BILLIE

It takes every ounce of media training I’ve ever had to keep from reacting when I meet this duke guy.

I thought he would look like my demon kidnapper. If not him, then the other demon who caught me. That one was all shadow, except for his green eyes. I could still make out some of his features, including his horns, and I’m sure he’s definitely the same kind of demon as the first one.

Their duke? He looks nothing like them.

Well, no. That’s not true. He has the same impressive height, the same linebacker-style build. He has horns, too, and fangs. His blue eyes glow, but they’re so bright, that lend a bluish cast on the rest of him.

Because the rest of Duke Haures? Is pure white. And I don’t mean like caucasian white. I mean he doesn’t have a drop of color to him except for his black claws and blue eyes.

He sits on a throne on top of a crystal dais. He has shadows behind him—more demons, I guess—and is a room that is nothing like the outside of this world. The moon peering down on us through the gaps in the ceiling is blue, there are hovering balls of light the same coloring along the gold-accented wall, and it’s much, much cooler.

I’m still in the demo world, though. Obviously. It was just my luck that, after the demon grabbed me, we landed in the ruler of Sombra’s backyard.

In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have tried to take off on the demon I knew. If I hadn’t gotten snagged almost immediately by another, who knows what other danger I could’ve been in? I’m a stranger to this world. I don’t know the rules. I have to be careful, and if that means following two demons through a vast field of smoke, fire, and shadows before arriving at the hidden oasis where the duke has his palace?

I will.

His name is Duke Haures. He introduces himself to me in English, and if I wasn’t so taken aback by his appearance, the fact that he can speak my language would’ve done it. Do they all know English? My captor didn’t at first, but then I took his hand to shake it—foolishly believing he was offering me a truce—and then, wham!, we could communicate.

I didn’t touch the duke, but that doesn’t stop him from greeting me warmly to Sombra, his realm, and asking me how I know Glaine.

“Glaine?” I echo. “Who’s Glaine?”

My demon kidnapper clears his throat. “I am Glaine.”

“Well, how was I supposed to know that? We didn’t have time for introductions before you stole me.”

The demon duke steeples his claws. “Interesting. But he is your mate, yes?”

Mate? “What, like, lover? Partner? No! I just met the guy.”

“But you called him to you.”

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