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."
Talon nodded even while Amanda grabbed Kyrian's arm. "Kyrian," she whispered, "I don't want you out there alone."
"I know, Amanda. But he's too powerful and dangerous to go unchallenged. He almost killed Rosa." Kyrian left out the part about how she'd almost killed him. They didn't need to know that. Thank the gods D'Alerian had sensed Rosa's subconscious turmoil and come when he had. If not for the Dream-Hunter's intervention, Kyrian would still be trapped in his bed. And trapped in his bed without Amanda was not something he wanted.
"Nick," he said, looking past her to his Squire. "Call me the instant you hear from the doctor." He started to leave, but Amanda stopped him.
Before he realized what she intended, she pulled him to her lips and kissed him blind. Her lips tugged at his while her tongue stroked his. He felt her hands clutching the lapels of his coat. Felt her fear for him, and it scorched his wounded heart with pure bliss. "You be careful," she said in a stern voice.
He touched her lightly on the chin. "I will."
Amanda watched him walk off with a sick feeling in her stomach. "Talon, are you sure you can't help him?"
"Believe me, I hate the 'no help' rule as much as you do. But if I tried to help, I'd only weaken him."
Nick handed her his phone. "Call Tabitha and warn her."
As Amanda dialed the first number another thought struck. "Who is D'Alerian and how can he guard our subconscious?"
"He's one of the Dream-Hunters we told you about," Talon said. She frowned. "So do you guys get to pick which one you are?"
Talon shook his head. "Dream-Hunters are a whole other species. They're born of the gods and not made from humans."
"And the Were-Hunters? Where do they come from?"
"They are half human, half Apollites who got a hold of some seriously bad mojo."
She swallowed the fear that rose up to choke her. That didn't sound good at all. "I thought they were good guys."
"Some of them are, but some of them are slayers."
"With the powers of a sorcerer who can walk through time and space," she said, her stomach knotting. "And occasionally dreams," Nick supplied.
Amanda laughed nervously. "You know, I was a whole lot happier when I didn't know about any of this."
"Which is why we do our best to keep this silent," Talon said. "Believe me, humans would never be able to sleep at night if they knew what was out there waiting for them."