Page 49 of Knight’s Dominion

“What’s happening?” Grace whispered.

Being this close to a demon, one they knew was hostile, Chaos had to resist doing exactly what Lazarus was and tug Grace behind him to protect her. She wouldn’t welcome that, not from him, not from anyone, and despite his instincts roaring at him to do just that, he also knew she didn’t need that from him. His female could take care of herself.

He leaned in, speaking quietly. “When Lazarus first brought Eve in, she could only hear others’ thoughts. Her power has slowly and steadily increased. She can now see images, memories, can manipulate a mind to feed her the information she needs. She can hear others’ thoughts easily, if she chooses. But for her newer powers, she needs touch. Until she’s strong enough to do it from a distance, Laz acts as a kind of conduit.”

“That’s impressive.” She glanced up at him, lips quirked up on one side. “You really are okay with demi getting involved, huh?”

“Yes. What I’m not okay with is uncontrolled situations. This is controlled.”

“Which is why you want us to work together?”

“Yes.” And because I’ll get to spend time with you.

“There’s a house,” Eve said, her power coming through in her voice. “Surrounded by trees.”

“Can you see a road name, sweetheart?” Laz asked her gently.

“He’s nervous, excited. There’s four of them in the car. They’re on the freeway, heading east. There’s a sign up ahead. They took the exit onto Conway.”

The demon hissed and struggled.

“The trees are getting thicker. Forest. The excitement in the car is thick…they’re close. Another sign. Cannon Lake.”

The demon roared. “I’ll fucking kill you!” Birdlike claws exploded through its shoes and from the ends of its fingers. The demon’s hands were tied behind its back, but Laz was close, and it managed to drag the razor-sharp talons on its feet down the front of his leg.

Laz hissed, but the demon’s scream was louder, pitched so high that Chaos’s ears rang. The demon’s head suddenly slumped back, black blood oozing from its ears.

“Shit,” Kryos muttered.

Grace frowned up at Chaos. “What just happened?”

“Another side effect of her increased power.” He shrugged. “Laz was threatened. Someone fucked with her mate, so she ended him. Basically, she put the fucker’s brain through a meat grinder.”

“She can kill with her mind?” Grace asked, looking horrified and impressed at the same time.

Chaos dipped his chin.

“I’m sorry,” Eve said, turning to Chaos, eyes wide. “I couldn’t stop. He hurt Laz and I just…I…”

Chaos shook his head and gentled his voice. “You did good, Eve. We got what we needed.”

Lazarus pulled her into his arms. “It’s okay.”

“But there could have been more.” She leaned back, looked up at Lazarus, then at Chaos. “Something important, but I…I lost control.”

Chaos moved in, wanting to reassure her. He sucked at this type of thing, but he knew how much Eve, Mia, and Meredith wanted to help. They saw their mates come home battered and bleeding every night. The strain this war took on them. “No one blames you for protecting your mate, Eve.” Now that he knew about Grace, he understood how strong the urge to protect was—and that was without him and Grace actually mating. “The information you got. You saved lives tonight.”

Laz gave him a look of gratitude, and Eve pulled away from her mate and stunned Chaos when she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a tight hug before looking up at him.

“You’re my family, all of you. I want to help. I’ll master this power, I promise I will,” she said.

“I don’t doubt it,” he said and watched as Laz led her away.

Kryos walked over and, pulling his blade free, removed the demon’s head so it would ash out.

Grace moved up beside him. “Do you use Eve a lot?”

“We do now.”