Page 4 of Tyr

A moment passed, and a number of voices halted. Her body trembled. They saw her. And she saw them as well.Demons.

A wave of fear washed over her, and then it paused.

“Celeste?”

“Papa.”An audible cry escaped her, and tears leaked from her eyes.

“I am coming.”

CHAPTER 3

Tyr stoodinside the DeLux Café watching the patrons file in like moths to a security light. Some looked confident, like Herm and Vid. Others appeared terrified. And still, others seemed like they had no clue how they’d ended up there.

He sipped his scotch. Some of the women were quite beautiful, though not one stirred a single muscle in his body. It had always been that way. Like he waited for something. Someone. After his first several centuries of loneliness, his hope turned to despair. That’s where the Crusades and Dark Ages had come from. But after despair, it morphed into something else. Apathy. He’d given up all hope of finding her. Until he now viewed every woman out of mere casual curiosity but no longer believing he would find the one he’d been promised. The one meant to be his. His fated mate.

He took another sip of his scotch when Eve spotted him, and before he could turn away, she smiled and headed his way.

Shit.

“Lord Tyr, you’re here tonight. Are you going to get a number? We will be starting soon.”

Tyr shook his head. “I’m only here to meet someone.”

She chuckled. “So is everyone.”

“No. I mean an old friend. It’s a work thing, not a pleasure thing.”

Eve stared at him for a moment. “What a pity. Pleasure is always more fun than work. And you definitely look like you need a bit of fun.”

Tyr nodded and pointed to Herm and Vid, who flirted with a pair of succubae. “Trust me, those two have enough fun for everyone in the underworld.”

Eve smiled. “Yes. Those two will give some woman a run for her money.”

A bell rang, and Eve turned. She traced a finger down his arm and her eyes widened and then relaxed again. “I wish you the best of luck in your… work endeavors, Tyr.”

Tyr inclined his head. “And you, Lady Eve.”

Wait… had she said, woman? He glanced at Vid and Herm. They’d both gone for the same woman once before… it hadn’t turned out well for either of them. Tyr hoped Eve’s words had been a slip of the tongue, though Eve wasn’t the kind of woman to do that. He made a mental note to talk to Vid and Herm at some point.

Most of the patrons made their way to tables on the other side of the café. Vid and Herm included. He glanced at his watch. Sylax should have been there thirty minutes prior. He pulled out his phone. There were no new calls or messages.

He was about to call Sylax when the café door opened. A tall, thin man walked in, arm around the shorter figure, who wore a long black cloak covering him from head to toe.

Sylax scanned the bar, anxiety planted on his face. A shockwave shot through Tyr, making him pause. What was that?

Tyr gulped the rest of his drink and headed toward them. The moment Sylax spotted him, his shoulders relaxed a fraction. He whispered something to the smaller figure, and together, they took a few steps into the café. The smaller figure limped, butfrom the way they held their body, Tyr knew instinctively they were in pain—a lot of pain.

“Sy.” Tyr extended his hand, which Sylax shook.

“Lord Tyr. Thank you so much for agreeing to help me. I cannot tell you what a relief it is.” His words broke off as he peered down at the smaller figure.

“Any time. Whatever you need.”

Sylax nodded to the smaller figure. “I need to hire you to protect my daughter.”

Sy had a daughter? Explained why Tyr hadn’t seen him in so long if he’d started a family.

Wait. She was his daughter—and someone had hurt her.

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