Tory didn't have time to even orient herself to her new location before someone seized her in a hug so tight, she feared her ribs might break. It wasn't until the scent of Acheron hit her and he kissed her deeply that she smiled and laughed in relief. She was safe.
She started to wrap her arms around his back, but remembered his injuries. Instead, she hugged his neck and held him close.
This was the real Acheron and he felt great in her arms.
He cupped her face in his hands. "Are you all right?" he asked, his eyes darkening as he saw her torn shirt and Nick's buttoned up jacket.
"I'm fine. Really."
"But we're not," Urian said drily. "Nick killed Satara while they held Tory."
"He did it to protect me," Tory interjected.
Urian snorted. "We'll put that on the headstone for you. In the meantime Stryker's going to want blood for this. A lot of blood."
Nick scoffed at his dire tone. "No offense, your father doesn't scare me, especially given how bad I want a piece of his hide. Come get some."
Urian looked less than impressed. "I know you think you share powers with him, but trust me he didn't give you anything but the leftovers. Not to mention one small thing. No one gets a piece of him until after I do."
Ash let out a shrill whistle. "Down, children. We have more important things to do than just save your machismo."
Tory hid a smile as she finally understood exactly what Ash's job was and why he described himself as a wrangler. He really was.
Ash leveled a determined look at Nick. "We have a battle to prepare for. I'm not letting Stryker take Nick."
Nick laughed bitterly. "I don't need your fucking help. I can fight on my own."
Ash didn't respond to the hatred in his tone. "I know why you hate me, Nick. I get it. But your mother wouldn't want you to kill yourself again. Hate me tomorrow. Tonight tolerate me as a necessary evil."
Nick shoved him back. "This doesn't make us friends."
Ash held his hands up. "I know." He turned back to Tory. "Styxx, take her out of here. Keep her safe."
Tory gaped as she realized that this was the same Styxx she'd read about in the journal—the same one who'd tortured and castrated Acheron.
A wave of rage so bitter she could taste it washed over her. She was going to tell Ash that she had no intention of going anywhere with the man who'd gone out of his way to hurt him, but before she could even open her mouth a bright flash of light blinded her.
A nanosecond later a herd of mean, blond men stepped out. They looked deadly serious as they took up formation.
Stryker came through and his gaze went straight to Urian. "You've betrayed me for the last time." He threw something at Urian.
Tory had no idea what it was until Ash caught it in his hand. It was a strangely shaped dagger that reminded her of an ancient Greek design and yet it bore the same sun symbol on the pommel that Ash had on his backpack.
Ash narrowed his gaze on the Daimons. "Take your girls, scream and run away now, Stryker. It'll save you time later. Believe me, you don't want a taste of me in the mood I'm in."
Stryker ran his tongue over his fangs as if he was savoring the idea of feeding on Acheron. "There's nothing I crave more than the taste of blood. Your Dark-Hunters aren't here." He looked around at the men who stood with Ash and laughed in derision. "Tonight we feast, Spathi. Attack!"
Tory was snatched behind the group that stood with Acheron. She wanted to tell them that she could hold her own, but as the men attacked and the Daimons fought back with punches and lightning bolt strikes, she realized that she wasn't as proficient as she needed to be.
They weren't just fighting with their fists and weapons, they were fighting with preternatural powers she could never compete with. And the thought had barely finished before a group of demons joined ranks with the Daimons to fight them.
Stryker went for Nick, but Ash caught him and the two of them went to the ground, slugging. Urian stabbed a demon between the eyes before he turned and ducked the fangs of a Daimon.
Tory stumbled back, looking for a weapon of some kind.
A demon launched itself at her. She tried to kick him back, but he didn't even flinch. Just as he would have reached her, Julian was there with a sword. He severed the demon's head with one well-placed swing.
Balancing the blade of his ancient Greek sword on his shoulder, he turned to face her. "Can you handle a sword?"
"Yes."
"Kyrian!" Julian shouted to the other tall blond man on their team. "Give me a sword."
Kyrian tossed what appeared to be only a hilt. In one fluid move, Julian caught it and pressed a button on the cross hilt. The blade shot out to just under three feet in length. He handed it over to her. "Daimons have to be stabbed through their hearts. Demons between their eyes and if you cut the heads off any of us, we all die."
"How do I tell the difference?"
"Most of the Daimons are blond and they explode into dust when you pierce their hearts. Hit the heart and if that doesn't work, try the eyes. If you stab someone who whimpers, then hits the ground, you attacked a good guy. Just FYI."
She inclined her head. "Thanks for the tutorial."