Where the hell were they going?
It took another half hour before the question was answered, and even then it didn’t make any sense.
Halting in the middle of a flat basin, Cassie stood at rigid attention, her pale hair floating on the breeze. Then, as if she were possessed by a sudden madness, she dropped to her knees. Caine cursed, leaping to the side as she grabbed a sharp stone and began to feverishly draw symbols in the arid ground.
Gritting his teeth, Caine tried to leash his primal instincts that demanded he scoop Cassie off the filthy ground and return her to the safety of the hotel room. He even succeeded for several torturous minutes. But when the scent of Cassie’s blood hit his nose, his good intentions were blasted into a million pieces.
Her knees were scraped raw and her hands cut more than once by the stone. Enough was enough.
“Cassie.” He managed to take a step forward when a soft voice floated on the air.
“Do not interfere, Were.”
The sudden sound combined with the scent of brimstone had him spinning around, the Glock in his hand.
His eyes narrowed at the sight of the small creature standing directly behind him. Shit. How had she managed to sneak up on him?
Not that she looked like much of a threat. She was barely over three feet tall with a tiny body currently covered by a white robe that shimmered in the moonlight. Her heart-shaped face appeared almost childlike, with delicate features that gave the illusion of innocence.
At least until one noticed the razor-sharp teeth and the ancient power that smoldered in the black, almond eyes.
Yeah, this creature was about as helpless as a live grenade. Or a nuclear bomb.
His wolf was on full alert, his hand steady, as he pointed the fully loaded gun at the center of her chest. “Who are you?” he snarled.
She held up tiny hands as if that would convince him to trust her. “Yannah.”
His finger found the trigger. “Give me a reason not to put a bullet through your heart.”
She tilted her head to the side. “You cannot harm me with human weapons.”
He shrugged, not surprised. “Then I’ll rip out your throat.”
“There’s no need for threats. I’m not here to harm your mate.”
“She’s not—” He bit off his ridiculous denial. “Then why are you here?”
“To offer a warning.” The black eyes narrowed at the unmistakable sound of Caine cocking the hammer. “Hell’s bells, what’s wrong with you? I said I offer a warning, not a threat.”
“And I should trust the word of a creature who pops out of thin air to offer mysterious warnings because . . . ?” he mocked, shifting to make sure his body was still blocking Cassie as she frantically continued to dig in the dirt.
The tiny demon wisely kept her gaze trained on Caine. One glance toward the vulnerable Cassie and Caine would rip off her head.
Or at least he would try, he silently corrected, shivering as Yannah allowed a hint of her terrible power to glow in the black eyes.
“The warning is not mysterious,” Yannah assured him. “In fact, it couldn’t be more clear.”
“Fine, I’ll play.” Like he had a choice? “What’s the warning?”
“In the very near future Cassie is going to demand that you leave her.”
Leave her? Caine was instantly furious. “She wouldn’t.”
Yannah heaved a resigned sigh. “Why do males always make everything so difficult?”
“Are you a prophet?” he managed between clenched teeth.
“No.” The demon shook her head, sending her long braid sliding across her back. “Cassie stands alone with her gift.”