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"He’s a demon," Bleak said, and the three i "He killed Cole"

The dark-haired one with glasses looked Eidolon up and down,hi star as Bleak swung a ht hi blunt ony rose up froed to wrestle the machete away from Bleak The next few moments were a blur of fists, steel, and feet

When they ca wasn’t working right, and blood ran freely into one eye The slayers were panting, bleeding, but he’d held back, Tayla’s plea to spare the in his head On the other hand, they outnumbered and outweaponed hi to turn hiht side of his face pulsed An injury

He froze Not an injury, not with the way his face burned as though it had been branded Not with the way his vision had gone sharp and red, as if he could see the aggression around hie

Time was up Game over

The urge to shift into soe and scary made him moan with anticipation He wanted to tear the slayers apart, feel their bones break between his jaws And then he’d hunt down their females and--

No Gods, no Cold sweat broke out all over his body He would not turn out like Roag He would not force his brothers to kill him, or worse, force Tayla to do the deed

Tayla

Pain ripped through his chest, pain that had nothing to do hat the slayers had done to hih tih And now he’d never know the feel of her tender touch again The next time she saw hiinning

A bolt of hell no shot through hi should have been put down at the ti star froi, seems like it’s your lucky day"

Ge over Shade, as rushing inside

"Your parents are fine I found the for Luc" He cocked a thumb over his shoulder "They’re over there Worried as hell about you"

"Thank you" She grasped his forearm before he could take off "Make sure Tayla is okay Please?"

"It’s what Eidolon wants," was all he said Like a phantom, he stepped into a shadow and disappeared

"Gem!" Her father’s voice, as full of emotion as she’d ever heard it, called out to her Within seconds, both parents had engulfed her in a hug, so as rare as the Aed the on in there?" her o hoo home I have to stay I have to make sure Tayla is okay"

"Tayla?" her parents said in unison

"I’ll explain later But you have to trust et horowled low in his throat, obviously disappointed that he couldn’t kick some ass inside the zoo "Yeah Whatever"

"Gem, no You’re a doctor And part human You shouldn’t--"

"Moesture she’d never made before "I’m also a Soulshredder I know you’ve tried to pretend I’m a Sensor, but it’s time to face reality I was built to take care of myself And I need to do this"

The demons who had raised her, had taken her in when they should have destroyed her, looked exhausted, worriedand proud

Twenty-five

Tayla lost Lori, but she found Eidolon

Sig, Warren, and Bleak were circling hi, and a steady streaood beating, as well Deep cuts scored his back and ared red

Those sons of bitches

He said so star fell fro to the asphalt What was he up to?

The guys backed off, suspicion darkening their expressions, but when Eidolon did nothing, they closed in, s his they said to hiar names she’d once used She launched herself across the span of space At the same time, Warren struck Eidolon from behind, a scissor kick to the spine Eidolon crashed to his knees

"No!" she screaet what I said!"

But he stayed where he was, a willing sacrifice "Go! Get out of here"

Good God, was he insane?

"This issinister and foreign even as the swirling glyphs on his face began to glow and set in his skin "Better the her to a halt The Guardians all paused, their curiosity te