Page 43 of Tyr

“You need to listen to him. We have no idea what we’re dealing with.”

“I have to make sure the woman is okay.” She wrenched free and moved toward where Tyr had stopped the couple.

Anger and frustration wafted off the man. The woman seemed confused. Celeste locked her shield back in place to hear the actual conversation.

“Piss off,” said the man. “Go find your own date.”

“I’m not looking for a date. I’m looking to get this woman home safely.”

“Yeah, sure you are. Come on, sweet thing, let’s go.”

“Uh… I… um… what did you say your name was again?” She stepped sideways away from the blond man.

“You don’t know him?” Tyr questioned.

The woman shook her head. “He offered to help me find my Uber.”

“Ubers are back by the building.”

The man stepped up to Tyr and tried to shove him, but Tyr didn’t move an inch. Without warning, the man’s entire body changed from a cute frat boy to a blue scaly monster with deep red eyes.

He hissed at Tyr.

Demon!

Tyr carefully positioned himself between the demon and the woman. She cocked her head to the side as if listening, but she didn’t scream. Had the woman already known he was a demon?

The demon slashed and spit at Tyr, but it was futile. Within a quick strike and a spin Tyr must have done thousands of times, he had the demon pinned to the ground with his knee in the demon’s back and his metal hand gripping the demon’s throat.

The demon spit and clawed at Tyr’s arm. The leather glove melted away, and his metal hand sizzled.

Celeste rushed to the woman’s side and took her hand. “It’s going to be alright.”

“What’s going on? Who are you?” The woman turned to Celeste.

Celeste patted the woman’s soft hand. “I’m Celeste, and as crazy as this is about to sound, that man wasn’t taking you to an Uber. He is a demon who wanted to hurt you.”

“A demon?” The woman faced Celeste, but her gaze didn’t quite hit Celeste’s eye line.

“I know you don’t understand. Just know we’re here to help. I promise. We want to keep you safe.” Celeste lowered her shield and allowed the woman’s mind to touch her own. She sentcalming, peaceful vibes to the woman, and the woman’s hand relaxed in hers.

“What… What are you doing to me? Are you a psychic?”

“No. I’m not psychic. I’m… showing you I’m telling the truth. That you can trust me.”

“I knew that the moment you took my hand.” Her eyes drifted toward where the demon had stood a moment before. “I just don’t understand why I couldn’t tell he meant me harm.”

“What?”

A bright light flashed, and Celeste covered the woman to shield her from the glow, but the woman didn’t move.

Tyr moved to Celeste. “We need to go.”

His blood-red eyes jerked involuntarily.

Tyr’s brows knit together, and he turned his back to her. She wanted to apologize, but he stepped away.

She looked to where the demon had lain moments before, but only scorched asphalt in the shape of his body remained.

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