"There's no sign of a struggle," Nick said, looking around.
"Kyrian," Talon snapped, giving Amanda an odd look. "Where the hell are you?"
Amanda took a step closer, her heart hammering as she realized that she had been right.
"You stay put until we get there." Talon hung up and looked at Nick. "He's at the hospital. Rosa had a heart attack."
"Oh, my God," Nick gasped. "Is she all right?"
"He didn't go into it since he's not supposed to be on the cell phone in the hospital. Said he'd fill us in when we get there."
Kyrian paced the waiting room anxiously. Anger and fear warred inside him. He wanted Desiderius's head for this. One way or another, he would make the Daimon pay.
"Just let Rosa be okay," he breathed for the millionth time.
"Kyrian?"
He turned at the sound of Amanda's soothing voice. An inexplicable joy and relief tore through him at the sight of her approaching him.
Before he realized what he was doing, he pulled her into his arms and held her so tightly that she protested. But he couldn't help himself. His relief at seeing her alive and unhurt was too great. Now that he knew just how easily Desiderius could enter someone's home, nowhere was safe for her.
Desiderius could reach her anywhere. Use anyone to kill her.
That thought terrified him, and somewhere in the back of his mind was a little voice that warned him Desiderius might use her against him.
If they gave him the chance.
Kyrian cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. He was going to kill the Daimon. As soon as Desiderius emerged from his bolt-hole, the Daimon would live no more. And for the first time in his existence, he would relish taking a life.
He looked up and caught Talon's censuring gaze and knew what thoughts were on the Celt's mind. Dark-Hunters weren't supposed to become romantically tied to anyone. It was the first, and most necessary rule of the Code. No one could ever think clearly when their heart was involved. Of all men, Kyrian knew that for fact.
Still, it didn't change what he felt for her.
"I need you to keep Amanda safe," Kyrian told Talon.
Talon narrowed his eyes. "Tell me what happened."
"Desiderius used Rosa to trap me. He had complete control of her. If he can do that to Rosa, he can do it to anyone."
Talon let out a slow breath. "And you wonder why I live alone."
Kyrian ignored his warning tone and the meaningful look Talon gave Amanda.
Kyrian met Amanda's gaze and gently stroked her cheek with his thumb. "Amanda, I need you to call your sister. Tell her to guard her back and to not be alone. Have one of your sisters raise a cone of protection or whatever it is they do to protect her from Desiderius. We've no idea what other powers he might have."
He sensed her worry and fear. Her heart was pounding in her chest.
"I take it these aren't normal Daimon powers?" she asked.
"No. We've never encountered anything like it." He looked back at Talon. "I spoke to D'Alerian and he said Desiderius is messing with the human subconscious in order to weaken their resistance to his power. D'Alerian should be able to provide some help, but he can't guarantee absolute protection. Call Acheron and tell him I think we have a rogue god on the loose. One of them has to be helping Desiderius. There's no other explanation. And it would help if we knew who and why."
Talon nodded. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to do my damnedest to finish this tonight. If I can find his bolt-hole, I'm going into it."
Talon's eyes were harsh. "Kyrian, you're not a Were-Hunter. If you go in, you won't be able to come back out. You'll kill yourself trying, or worse, you'll be stuck between dimensions forever. Let me call Kattalakis-"
"I told you, we don't dare let a Were-Hunter near this guy. I'm more convinced of that now than ever. God help us all if Desiderius claims one of their souls. It's a risk we can't take." He glanced to Amanda and the concern on her face. He would protect her, no matter what. "Second rule of the Code, you've got to do what you've got to do. If I die, you're up next. And if you are, don't fail."