given information about Leila and was there to keep an eye on her; he’ll lead us to the traitor on the council,” Aiden announced.
“And the second thing?” Hamish asked.
“Find the person on the council who tried to kill Leila and who initiated the raid on the massage parlor.”
“But how?” Leila interrupted.
“Manus will help us with that. He’s already investigating Jonathan, and by now he knows of the raid on the parlor, so he is probably looking into how that could have happened. We’ll need to let him know to check your parents’ phone records and see if there’s a trace on their line. With Pearce’s IT skills, we should be able to follow the trace back and have it lead us to whoever planted it.”
“Looks like the council will soon have two vacancies,” Hamish predicted.
And Aiden hoped that neither vacancy would be the position of Primus. “I’m afraid you’re right.”
As he rose to grab his phone from the counter to call Manus, the flickering of the light underneath the hanging cabinets caught his eye.
“Shit!”
“Demons!” Hamish called out in warning just as the entrance door burst open and three men charged in.
***
Leila froze in shock while the intruders advanced. Hamish and Aiden instantly reared up from their chairs and attacked, moving faster than she’d ever seen anybody move. Out of nowhere, they’d pulled weapons and now threw themselves onto the three demons.
She stumbled from her chair and backed away, trying to stay out of the melee, fear cutting off her windpipe. All she could do was stare at the fight.
The demons looked entirely human, just as Aiden had told her. There was no outward sign that would have indicated that she was facing an otherworldly being. Except . . . did their eyes sparkle in an unusually bright green? She stared at one of them, who at present engaged Aiden, when the intruder suddenly glared at her.
He let go of Aiden who continued to fight his second opponent, and rushed toward her.
In panic, she screamed, her hands frantically searching the kitchen counter for any weapon. There was nothing to grab.
“Leila!” Aiden shouted, but a quick glance told her that both he and Hamish needed all their strength to fight off the two demons, exchanging blow after blow.
He couldn’t get past the demon he was battling to help her. She was on her own.
The massive demon who suddenly towered over her wore fatigues and an olive colored T-shirt, green liquid oozing from several gashes on his arms and chest. But the injuries didn’t seem to be severe, because he lashed a nasty grin at her.
“Gotcha!”
His voice made her shiver as it slid through her like a sharp knife.
Then his hand shot out to grab her. She evaded him by sliding sideways along the kitchen counter, surprising herself with her speed and agility. When he went after her and reached for her, she punched him, and felt a force in her body that seemed foreign to her. Was this an aftereffect of Aiden having poured his power into her?
“Come to Zoltan,” the demon hissed.
Oh, God, so it was he! How had he found them here? She backed away, ending up in the corner, the coffee pot at her back, and no escape route open to her.
Zoltan was on her a second later.
Behind him, she heard the grunts of the men and the clashing of daggers, but she couldn’t see them anymore, Zoltan’s massive frame blocking her view.
When he was a few feet away from her and approaching, she swung around and grabbed the coffee pot, hitting his head with it. The pot broke and the hot liquid spilled. It covered most of his face, but also her own hand, and despite the heat, she barely felt it. Neither, apparently, did Zoltan.
However, he looked pissed now.
“Let’s see what else is inside that pretty little head.” He reached for her neck, choking her.
She croaked, her hands flailing, trying to find another weapon, but there was none.
His head came closer, his teeth flashing, his green eyes more luminous now, like a traffic light. For the first time she noticed the handsomeness of his features, so unlike what a demon should look like. A straight nose, a square jaw, an even complexion. Full lips and straight, white teeth completed the picture that seemed to somehow keep her captivated. As if he were reeling her in, pulling her closer to him. Showing her that he wasn’t an ugly beast. All of a sudden, she felt his thoughts invading