She swatted at his hand but had to bite her lip to keep from moaning. Because the truth was, she could still feel him. Her sex was wet from their previous encounter and her breasts felt swollen and heavy. She was beginning to fear her body had sampled something she wouldn't be able to deny.

What was of even more concern was that her chest still ached, as if about to burst with a feeling she didn't understand. The image of Kelvin's piercing eyes locked on her would forever be seared into her memory. Why couldn't those fleeting moments, the ones where Kelvin had seemed to slough off some of his tough exterior, appear more often?

She hefted her pack, adjusting it against her shoulders. No, she would ignore that empty toiling beneath her ribs. That spot where her heart should be. She had made her decision. There was no way she could completely trust and surrender to Kelvin. Having just found her true self, she was not about to give up control to an unworthy Pookah. "I told you before, I'm not going to sleep with you." Why did that sound like she was trying to convince herself instead of Kelvin? "There is no feeling between us-"

"Oh, there's feeling between us, lass."

She rolled her eyes. "I mean real feelings. Like trust or love."

She heard his boots slam on the ground, ceasing his strides. "You want me ta love you?"

"No, that's not what I said." She spun to face him, mentally scrambling and trying to backtrack. "I just want something real with the person I choose to be intimate with."

Something she'd said had struck a chord with the Pookah. He stalked toward her. Izel lifted her chin as he loomed over her. His eyes were like bright ice, piercing straight to her core.

"And what we just did was no' intimate?" he growled.

Keep control, she told herself on a deep breath. The way he looked down on her, like she was his possession, made her knees weak and her body shake. She took a step back, trying to put space between herself and this imposing male.

"You know what I mean, but if I must spell it out for you, then fine. I will not be having sex with you." She held his stare. "You can stomp around, hurt my feelings, do whatever, just know that my mind is set on that."

He crossed his arms over his wide chest and tilted his head. "You said you would no' fuck someone you had no feelings for. As I have pointed out, you have some pretty strong feelings for me and you've shown me this." He looked her up and down, a sly smile streaking across his face. "Twice."

Her cheeks heated again but she said nothing.

"So what you're really saying is you will no' have sex with a male unless he loves you?"

Her jaw could've hit the ground. He made the idea of love sound like a bad thing. She gave him the meanest scowl she could muster. "I don't need to explain myself to you. I want what I want." Her voice was growing louder with each syllable. "I would be stupid to think your feelings for me run deeper than a puddle." She pointed her finger and gritted her teeth. "I will not be just another conquest."

The muscles on Kelvin's chest seemed to clench. Just when she thought he was about to argue further, he merely dropped his hands and strode past her.

The sun was setting, and Kelvin realized the whole day had been a blur because he'd been lost in thought. Izel tried her best to ignore him, but Kelvin made sure he kept their earlier encounter fresh in her mind. The more he tried not to think of this curvy female, the more he did just that. Replaying the sounds she made, the way her lush body looked, writhing beneath the rainfall. It was this kind of thinking that kept him hard as a rock all day.

Stealing glimpses of her round arse every time her top began to ride up her slim back had been the highlight of the evening. He wanted this creature in a way he'd never wanted another. Christ, this was bad. He didn't have to link himself with this woman. Didn't have to promise all he was to her and demand she do the same. He didn't have to bare his sodding soul.

No, he most certainly didn't have to do a damn thing.

Then why do I feel so empty?

For the hundredth time, he reminded himself this was the wisest course of action. Much was at stake. Pledging your immortal life to a human was number one on the foolish idea list. Kelvin watched Izel rub her neck and flex her shoulders. She was obviously exhausted but was too stubborn to relinquish her silent treatment and ask him to stop for the night. When her fingers pushed into her muscles and massaged the crook of her neck, Kelvin's mouth watered. He wanted his hands upon that olive skin of hers. He was suddenly struck anew by her loveliness. There had been several moments throughout the day when Kelvin swore her skin actually glowed with such beauty.

He came to her side, about to inform her of his plans to set up camp, when a foreign scent crossed his nose.

He grabbed her upper arm to still her. "Ouch. You're-"

"Shhhh." He was surprised when she complied without argument. Closing his eyes, he breathed deeply, taking a few moments to process the unfamiliar scent. His eyes shot open.

Fuck me!

Izel trembled within his grasp, sensing his sudden awareness.

"W-what is it?" she asked with notable fear in her voice.

"A demon." He clutched her wrist in his fist and pulled her through the woods at a racing speed. He needed to gain some ground.

Kelvin sprinted in the opposite direction of the demon. He thought he heard Izel try to speak a few times, but he didn't have time to stop and explain anything.

It wasn't until the forest became denser and thick brush covered their path that Kelvin slowed his pace. He scanned the area and heard Izel thunk to the ground, breathing heavily.

"W-what's going on?" she asked between breaths.

Kelvin removed his pack, then hers, and tossed them into a large mass of foliage. "A demon is on our trail. I'm gonna draw him out."

"What? You're bringing him to us?" Her hand rested over her heaving chest. He hadn't meant to run her so hard; he'd just wanted to get her away from danger.

"Aye. Our position gives me the upper hand."

Izel put her head between her knees.

"Lass," he said, kneeling before her. She lifted her head, pink lips parted around deep breaths. "We can no' outrun him. But trust me"-he ran two fingers along her jaw, wanting so badly to take this fear from her-"I will keep you safe."

Her delicate throat muscles bobbed with a swallow, but she nodded her head. She was so brave. Kelvin's muscles expanded with pride. His human trusted him with her life. And he would not let her down.

"Why is a demon here, anyway?" she asked, her breathing slowing to a more normal rate.

Kelvin shook his head, "I donna know. They come up for unwarranted reasons." Izel began to shake slightly and Kelvin rubbed his palms up and down her bare arms.

"Have you ever seen one?"

"Aye. I have killed demons before." He continued to rub her skin, attempting to comfort and warm her. He was a warrior and her faith in his fighting abilities meant a great deal to him. "They vary in strength, though."

"What do you mean? They have a weight room in Hell or something?" Kelvin smirked at her. The lass was trying so hard to put on a brave face, but he scented her underlying terror. He couldn't really blame her. Creatures popping up from the under-realm rarely roused good feelings. He didn't want to scare her, but he wouldn't be doing her any favors by sugarcoating their situation.

"The general rule is, the blacker the blood, the blacker the soul. Demons with dark blood are stronger and more evil than those with lighter colored blood."

"How do you know the color of their blood?"

Kelvin looked at her wrist and jutted his head. "I can tell you have blue veins, thus red blood. Demons have even more translucent skin that sometimes takes on a grayish color."

Izel gulped. "G-gray skin?" She glanced down, folding her hands in her lap. "How do they get here?" Looking at her slumped shoulders and fumbling fingers, Kelvin was beginning to believe that she was more sheltered and naive than he had thought. She didn't know anything about demons, apparently, or the different realms and the dangers that came with them.

"Aside from the Court of Contention, demons can only get to our realm by way of the devil himself. How he delivers them, I donna know. But it's rumored that to get back to the under-realm, one must execute the devil's will before dying, which sends them back to Hell."

Kelvin watched her delicate brow crease, undoubtedly trying to process it all. "What does that mean?"

"Apparently the devil speaks to them. Gives them a task they must fulfill."

Izel took a trembling breath. "And what if they don't execute the devil's whatever?"

"If they donna complete the task given before dying, then their soul goes ta the Cypher." He saw Izel flinch at the word. The Cypher was where he'd been told Euan Campbell had gone with no chance of escaping.

"This demon is going to kill me," Izel whispered with so much hopelessness it made Kelvin's gut twist.

He crooked a finger under her chin, forcing her gaze to meet his. "Nay, lass. I will no' let him near you." She was still shaking, but she flashed him a halfhearted smile. He helped her to her feet, leading her to a large tree surrounded by shrubs and underbrush. "You hide in here. Donna come out, and stay quiet, no matter what you see."

She crouched down, her green eyes laced with fear. He didn't know what more to say to comfort her.

I will just have to prove my strength.

His blood heated. His claws extended and sharpened. Unsheathing his sword and dagger, he turned away from the woman he valued more than any other. He would protect her with his life.

He gripped the hilts of his weapons and watched the last flecks of sun fade into darkness.

Chapter 13.

Izel hunched behind the large tree, surrounded by wet moss and leaves. She was certain her uncontrollable shaking would give away her position. Unfortunately, ever since she'd heard the word "demon," she hadn't been able to control her fear.

Peeking up over the brush in front of her, she locked her gaze on the Pookah, only a few yards away. His shirt clung to the ridged muscles of his shoulders and back, and she could have sworn she saw him actually grow larger in size. Tall, weapons drawn, tan skin glinting against the moonlight: she thought of how lucky she was to have such a being protect her.

Many would cower at the sight of him. An enraged Razorback Pookah, fingernails grown into claws, muscles bulging, murder in his eyes... yes, she should be afraid of the creature before her, but all she could feel was warmth and safety.

The foliage beyond Kelvin rustled. Her eyes shot to the stirring bushes then back to him as she watched him grip his sword. The demon had arrived.

She saw it slinking out of the trees.

Oh. My. God.

Crouching lower, she kept her gaze up. Air stuck in her dry throat and she prayed the demon couldn't hear her heart pounding out of her chest. The creature was something from a nightmare. It was just as big as Kelvin, but with translucent gray skin and thick black veins. Dark blood vessels tracked all over his face, neck, and body, like rivers on a map. He truly was a Hell beast. His yellow eyes glowed against the darkness and darted around as he neared Kelvin.

"I can smell the human, Pookah. Best to just hand her over and I'll be on my way." The demon's voice was venomous, and the way his ebony lips drooled out ashen spittle had Izel covering her mouth in disgust.

"Over my dead body." Kelvin's voice was deadly. Her trembling increased.

The demon unsheathed two matching, jagged-edge daggers from his back. Exposing rotted teeth, he barked, "Done!" The horrifying creature lunged at Kelvin, swinging daggers wildly.

Kelvin blocked the demon's swipes. Spinning around, he slashed the demon across the forearm. Thick black blood stained Kelvin's knife as he continued to charge the demon.

Undeterred, the demon struck again, with a speed and strength she had never seen before. Kelvin matched his skill, but as the two continued to fight, blood began to cover both men's skin. When a spear of moonlight hit them, Izel saw that it wasn't just the demon's black blood that coated them, but Kelvin's red as well.

The loud clangs of clashing metal and the brutal growls and grunts from the men vibrated off the trees. Birds flew from the canopy and not a single insect moved. Everything was still, including her, except for the man currently fighting to save her and the demon he fought. No! She couldn't just sit back and watch this beast murder the man she... loved?

The demon got a jab in and sliced Kelvin's thigh, and he bellowed through gritted teeth. The sight of him hurt and in pain nearly undid her. A fury raged inside Izel and she set her sights on the demon.

He dares to hurt my Pookah.

She would make sure he would live to regret that.

Suddenly Izel felt a spark dance along her skin-at the same moment the demon hissed in pain. But in pain from what? Neither of them had landed a strike against the Hell beast. There was no way she could have projected pain on the demon, right? She was a mortal, after all. Powerless.

Undeterred, she snuck along the brush, staying low and creeping closer. Grabbing a thick, pointed stick from the ground, she leveled herself against a large tree trunk. Just need one clear shot.

The demon was charging hard at Kelvin, his gray back twisting and moving right in front of her. Kelvin slashed across the beast's chest, but even as his black blood poured out the demon was relentless. The demon kicked at Kelvin's wounded leg and he stumbled. In those precious seconds, he lost his footing.

Izel gripped the stick. With no more thought than to help Kelvin, she jumped out from behind the tree and jammed the branch through the demon's back. He screamed in pain and turned, lashing claws at her.

At the sound of her scream, Kelvin roared in fury. He lunged at the demon, slamming his dagger into the beast's black heart. Its yellow eyes grew wide with disbelief before Kelvin sliced the head from its body.

Wasting no time, he ran to Izel and knelt next to her. She was lying on her side, writhing and screaming in pain. "Izel! Izel, sweetheart, what's wrong?" He choked on a breath as he turned her over. She was clutching her bicep, a deeply rooted black claw stuck in her muscle. Just a trickle of her crimson blood escaped the wound.

"God, woman, what were you thinking?" he whispered while yanking free his belt. Once he pulled the large talon from her, there would be a sizable hole.

Kelvin gritted his teeth and wrapped his leather belt around her arm, just above the wound, praying the disgusting Hell-dweller hadn't hit a major artery.

"He hurt you." Her teary green eyes gazed at him with such affection her skin seemed illuminated by it. And then, just as before, the shimmering luster diminished quickly. Had Kelvin imagined it again? Before he could question his thoughts, she tried to move and grimaced with pain. His chest tightened as he palmed her cheek. She had risked herself to help him. Now, here she was, lying on the wet ground, wounded and in pain.

He removed his shirt and tore it into long strips. "Look at me, female." He straightened her arm, resting it on the ground. Gently putting his knee on top of her inner elbow, he pressed it straight and gripped the belt above her wound. Demon claws were serrated, and unfortunately much harder to remove than they were to put in.

"I need ta take this claw out of you." Her glossy eyes went wide with fear. "If I donna get this out, it will start to poison you." Her delicate throat struggled to swallow and Kelvin hated what was about to happen.

"I'm gonna pull it out quick, okay?" She trembled but nodded her head. "Once I get it out, I'm going ta tighten the belt here"-he glanced to the leather circling her upper bicep-"so as ta help stop the bleeding."

Her brows were drawn and she bit her bottom lip. "As soon as I get the bleeding to cease, I will wrap your arm and get you the hell out of here, all right?" She gave a teary smile and nodded. God, how could he do this? Kelvin had had a demon claw removed once and knew how excruciating the process was. And he was an immortal man, used to taking hits.

He looked down at this fragile woman, about to endure more pain at his hands. But it had to be done.

Isn't that your excuse for everything?

He wanted to curse his inner instinct. It had always been a whisper in the back of his mind, but lately it was getting louder.

"Izel." He adjusted his knee over her arm and pulled the belt just tight enough to rest against her skin. "No matter what, you have ta keep your eyes open. Do you understand me?" She stared at him: such agony, such trust. He was trying his damndest to keep it together. Rage coursed through him.

"Here we go." Gripping the belt end in one hand, he grasped the claw in the other. Deep breath. Her eyes squeezed shut, tears falling down her temples and into her hair.

In one quick yank he pulled the talon free, felt her flesh tear, and heard her scream.

She arched her back, crying out, but Kelvin held her arm still beneath the pressure of his knee. The claw left a quarter-sized hole in her muscle, blood pouring freely.

"My brave girl."

He pulled the belt tight, trying to stop the overwhelming amount of blood that was spilling from her. Her screams quieted, her eyelids began fluttering. "No. No! Izel, look at me. You keep your eyes open!" He pulled tighter, but her blood kept flowing. Kelvin pressed his other palm over the hole. Her skin was cool, but her blood was hot. He watched, helplessly feeling the warmth of her life slip from her.