Page 94 of Knight’s Dominion

She looked up at the night sky and saw the outline of a dark figure far above her, shadowed white wings extended, their silver tips catching the light every now and then as he coasted on the breeze.

Chaos might not be going with her, but she wasn’t dumb enough to go alone.

She could have asked her crew, but after losing Tina and Mark, emotions were high and she didn’t trust them to just sit back with the fuckers responsible within killing distance. They’d get themselves killed, too.

There’d been only one obvious choice.

There were demi living and working all over this city, a whole network of eyes and ears that she called on frequently. There’d been sightings of Rocco around the city, of course. But mainly he seemed to be sticking close to the portal.

Her heart squeezed, remembering what happened the last time the portal opened, when his female was dragged through and taken to Hell. His agony had saturated the air around them, and it was now etched into his face, in his eyes, lining his features. The male was in constant pain.

He hadn’t needed much convincing to watch her back tonight, not with how desperate he was for any information on Kyler. Maybe someone tonight might know something? God, she hoped so. Grace curled her fingers into a fist. Just looking at the male shredded her. Rocco was a shadow of himself. She knew from Chaos that they’d been trying to get him to come home, but seeing him tonight, she knew that wasn’t going to happen, not willingly.

The club was filling behind her, music spilling out onto the street.

She checked her phone again. Her ride would be here any minute. She ran her hands down her dress. Formal wasn't exactly something she'd ever needed before. And there hadn’t been time to go shopping. The below-the-knee, black satin sheath dress would have to do. At least it was stretchy and allowed her to move freely.

Whatever this was, wherever Oden was taking her, she needed to be ready.

Something would go down tonight, she was positive of that, and she wanted all the intel she could get.

She’d seen what they’d done to Tina, what had more than likely happened to Hannah. She damn well wouldn’t let that happen to any more of her people.

Yeah, Chaos would be angry with her, but she’d been fighting this war since she was sixteen years old. Was the same age when she killed her first demon, when she stood over its ashes and vowed to do whatever it took to stop the abduction, exploitation, abuse, and murder of her people.

She mated with Chaos for that very reason, he knew this. Her power, though still new, had already grown stronger. She didn’t need to be cosseted and protected. She didn’t want that. Never had. Never would.

A shiny black car pulled up in front of her and the driver climbed out. “Hands against the car.”

She did as he said and gritted her teeth as he slid his hands over her body, searching for weapons. She hadn’t bothered with any. There was no way Oden would take her into his pit of snakes if she was packing. The male looked inside her clutch after feeling her up, and surprisingly let her keep her phone.

He opened the door for her, and Grace climbed in. The car was empty. "Are we picking up Mr. Oden next?"

“He’ll meet you at the venue." Then he shut the door, trapping her inside.

A feeling of intense claustrophobia came from nowhere and suddenly she found it hard to breathe. Grabbing her phone, she keyed in a quick text to Chaos. How's your night going?

Her phone beeped a few seconds later. Just ruined an ibwa demon’s night. Jealous?

Chaos's reply instantly had her heart rate slowing down, and the feeling of being suffocated vanished. She didn't want to think too closely about his effect on her, or the reason she'd immediately sought his comfort.

You know I am. Have fun x. She sent her reply, then blinked down at her phone. Why the hell had she ended it with a kiss. Shit, she was going soft, either that or losing it.

His reply was again quick. Looking forward to kissing you for real later. Remember. Text me when you get to the compound.

She felt her face heat and shoved her phone back in her purse. What was she doing? Did fuck buddies end texts with kisses? Because essentially, that's what they were. Texting for a booty call? Yes. Texting to ask how your fuck buddy’s night’s going because you had a mini freak-out? No.

But her mind remained so full of Chaos, she was surprised when the car pulled to a stop outside The Esquire, a towering skyscraper of luxury apartments.

The door opened and the driver motioned her toward the entrance. She knew Rocco was still with her, but didn’t dare look up.

“Penthouse suite,” the driver said and handed her a plain white card with a four-digit number on it. He grinned, all teeth. "Have a nice evening."

She made her way to the elevator and keyed in the number on the card. Nerves started up in her belly and she ruthlessly squashed them. She couldn’t afford nerves, had to be ready for anything.

A variety of unpleasant scenarios flashed through her mind. Being this high up made for a more difficult escape—unless there was access to the roof.

The elevator glided to a stop and the doors slid open.