Cambion Lord (Dark Warrior Alliance #23) - Brenda Trim Page 0,71

way.”

Dante snarled and entered the lobby. The archdemon was trying to bury their ability to sense his presence by surrounding himself with countless humans. It was brilliant and would only work in a city like New York. Thank the Goddess for his bond to Chloe, or he would never have been able to find her here.

Bypassing the elevator, Dante headed down a short hall and found stairs that lead to the basement. There was no hint of demonic magic, but he knew she was there. On sure feet, he continued until he was in a large area with cages that acted as storage areas for residents. She was nowhere to be seen.

“Shit. There has to be another door.”

Jett glanced back from the other end of the space. “Are you sure she’s here? I don’t sense anything demonic here.”

Dante lifted one corner of his mouth and ignored the asshole as he searched for another door. In the far corner he found what he was looking for. As soon as he opened the panel, her hibiscus scent hit him in the face along with the coppery smell of her blood.

He was running before he knew it, pounding down the stairs in front of him. Curses echoed behind him. Dante burst through another door at the bottom and his racing heart stopped ground to a halt.

Chloe was on a table face down. There was so much blood everywhere. Her back was nothing but a series of open wounds, tangled tendons and exposed bones. She wasn’t moving.

His feet carried him to her side. Movement out of the corner of his eye made him duck as a scavenger demon came at him. He didn’t slow, trusting his friends would take care of them. He had to reach Chloe.

He lifted a shaking hand to her battered face. Her eyes were swollen shut and her face covered in cuts and bruises. “I’m here, evergreen. I’m going to get you out of here.”

“Unngh.” Chloe’s body jerked and she made this awful keening sound.

Dante ran gentle fingers over her scalp. “Don’t move. I’ve got you, love.” He removed his shirt and laid it over her back, wincing when she cried out. He couldn’t take her out of here like she was.

Rolling her over carefully gutted him. He would be haunted by the sounds of her agony for the rest of his life. A scan told him there was no “safe” place to pick her up, so he put one arm under her neck and the other under the back of her knees. It took every ounce of his will to keep hold of her when her body started writhing and the screams started again.

Dante cooed to her and bent to kiss her forehead. When her cries calmed, he took a breath and turned around. A sigh of relief left him when he realized he wouldn’t have to fight his way out. Zander and Izzy were at his side when he left the building. Zander took care of humans when they shouted about him carrying a dying woman in his arms.

When he reached the street, he was shocked to be greeted by a van. Izzy sent him a smile and shrugged her shoulders. “I ordered it as soon as I saw her. We need to get her home.”

Dante could kiss her. Instead, he climbed inside followed by Zander and Izzy. He met Jett’s gaze. “Keep searching for the archdemon. He was just there. I’d bet he’s inside one of these apartments. I will be back to help once I know Chloe is stable.”

The warriors nodded their heads and Jett shut the door then banged his hand on the outside of the car. The driver pulled into traffic and sped down the road. Dante’s throat closed and his gut roiled.

Chloe’s breathing was choppy and shallow. There was so much blood everywhere. He lifted his head to Zander. “You’ve got the driver? This is going to make a mess I can’t spend time wondering how we fix.”

Zander squeezed his shoulder. “You doona need to worry aboot that. Concentrate on your mate.”

It seemed like it took forever to reach Jessup House. Izzy had the door open and Dante was rushing up the stone steps nearly the second the van stopped. Zander was there opening the front door.

Jace met him in the entryway with Cailyn and Liam. The little boy was a clone of his father as he clung to his mom’s hand. Dante turned pleading eyes to Jace. “I need you to heal