Page 32 of Demon Unleashed

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Enya felt as tired and worn out as if she’d fought a battle all night. And in a way, she had. Only the battle was mental, not physical. Over and over, she’d replayed her decision not to kill Zoltan when she had the chance. She couldn’t decide whether letting him live was the most harebrained idea in her entire life, or a sign that behind her tough-woman façade was a vulnerable woman. Either explanation was bad. And what was worse was that she couldn’t tell her brethren. The humiliation would be too hard to bear. Not only that, she’d be brought before the council.

What was she to say? Hey, guys, guess what? I met Zoltan, had a few quickies with him, and then decided to let him live ’cause the sex was so hot.

Fuck!

Well, at least she hadn’t been entirely stupid after she left his condo: she’d switched off her cell phone immediately so he couldn’t trace her—in case he was smart enough to do that—and only switched it back on inside the compound, where a powerful scrambler made sure no phones could be traced to this location. For anybody trying to find any kind of electronic activity at the location of the compound, it was a dead zone. Nevertheless, the Stealth Guardians were able to receive calls and messages inside the compound. Just like she’d received Zoltan’s message.

Enya, it’s me. Listen, we need to talk. I’m sorry for what happened… for how it happened. I can’t change what I am. But for you, I can change. I can be who you need me to be. Please, give me a chance to explain.

What a crock of shit. As if a demon could change! Demons were evil through and through. Zoltan was her enemy, and he’d always be her enemy. No amount of great sex and sweet words could ever change that.

Annoyed at herself that she had allowed Zoltan to wrap her around his little finger, Enya marched out of her private quarters and headed toward the communal kitchen. When she entered, several of her colleagues were finishing their breakfast. Leila was packing lunches for her twins, who had started kindergarten recently—a special one for only Stealth Guardian children, which was located in a secure location in Scotland and only a short portal ride away. Stealth Guardian children from all over the world were educated there.

Looking at Julia and Xander caused a little twinge in the pit of Enya’s stomach. As a Stealth Guardian female, her duty had been to bear children for her race, yet she’d decided to become a warrior instead. She’d never regretted that choice, but for some reason, this morning, she couldn’t help but wonder how her life would have turned out had she taken that path instead. For certain, she wouldn’t be in the situation she’d gotten herself into with Zoltan.

“Morning, Enya,” Hamish called out to her, and waved her to the table.

She approached and poured herself a cup of coffee, then added a little cream. “Morning.” She sat down and took a sip. “Ugh, who made coffee today? It tastes bitter.”

“If you say that a little louder, you’ll offend Daphne,” Hamish warned her. “Besides, the coffee tastes fine. Same as always.”

Enya pushed the cup away. “Yeah, whatever.”

“Pancakes, Enya?” Logan called from the stove.

“No, thanks. Not hungry.” After the night she’d had, she didn’t think she could ever eat anything again. Finding out her boyfriend was a demon could do that to a girl.

“So, what are you gonna tell him?” Hamish asked, nudging a little closer.

“Whom?”

“That Eric guy. Pearce told me he ran the background check and he came back clean.”

Enya shrugged. “Just what he needs to know to explain what he’s seen.”

“Okay… You want one of us to come with you when you meet him?”

“I’m perfectly capable of handling it,” she snapped.

“Whoa, whoa. What’s that all about?”

Enya caught Leila and Daphne looking at her, having noticed her outburst. “It’s nothing.” When the two women turned their attention back to the twins and their own breakfast, she said to Hamish, “I’m gonna break up with him anyway. So there’s no need to tell him what’s really going on.” This lie would hopefully get her colleagues off her back and off Zoltan’s scent. Because if they dug deeper, they’d eventually figure out who he was. Several of them would even recognize his face: Aiden, Hamish, and Logan for certain, as well as Leila and Winter. And there was a chance that some of the others had also seen Zoltan’s face before.

“You sure?”

“Yeah. He’s not really my type anyway.” True: demons weren’t her type.

“If you say so.” He cast a look at the women. “But you know that nobody here would fault you for wanting a relationship. I mean, you’re the only—”

“The only one who doesn’t have anybody?” Enya interrupted. “Yeah, I’m not blind. But maybe I don’t want anybody. Have you ever thought of that? Maybe I’m not interested in domestic bliss.” She rose from the table and carried her mug to the sink, where she poured the vile liquid down the drain.

Logan sidled up to her. “Hey, could you do me a favor today?”

She gave him a sideways glance. “Depends.”

“Winter needs to see Cinead urgently, but I can’t take her, because I’m on assignment. Would you take her to him and stay until she’s ready to come back?”