“Well, of course he is. He needs to feel that he’s actually doing something to protect you. That’s only natural for someone like Keenan.”
Which was one of the reasons why Khloé didn’t give him shit over it. The other reason was that she didn’t want him distracted worrying about her all the time. A lot of risk and danger came with being a sentinel—she wanted his mind on the game.
Raini fiddled with the sleeve of her top. “I actually think that—” She cut off so abruptly that Khloé frowned.
Stealing a quick glance at the succubus, Khloé noticed her eyes seemed unfocused and her jaw had tightened. “Is Maddox telepathing you again?”
Raini sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Yes. He’s been doing it a lot more since all the trouble started with Enoch.”
“He’s worried you’ll get caught in the crossfire?”
“Maybe, I don’t know.” Raini gave her head a quick shake. “But we’re not going to talk about that or him. We’re going to go to your place, have some margaritas, and watch a feel-good movie. Like I Spit on Your Grave.”
Khloé brightened. “Ooh, I like how you think.”
They went ahead with Raini’s plan with only a minor modification—they also ordered a Thai takeout to spice things up. By the end of the fun evening, they had a real good buzz going on, and Khloé’s stomach hurt from laughing so much.
Feeling all warm and tingly, she escorted Raini to the door and said her goodbyes. Walking pretty well for a tipsy girl, the succubus sang as she made her way home. Khloé remained on her doorstep until Raini was no longer in sight.
Returning inside, Khloé headed to the living area. She needed to clean up the mess. Humming to herself, she righted the cushions on the sofa, switched off the TV, put the glasses and cutlery into the dishwasher, and dumped takeout containers and other rubbish into the trash. There were a few other things to do but, desperate to pee, she dashed to the small downstairs bathroom.
She’d no sooner sat on the toilet when a male mind touched hers. Hey baby, I’m on my way to your place now, said Keenan.
Her demon stirred, pleased that he’d contacted them. ’Kay, Khloé replied. It was a telepathic slur.
A chuckle echoed through her mind. I take it you and Raini had a few drinks. Drunk sex with you should be an adventure.
She was about to ask how the hell he knew Raini had been here, but then she remembered he’d assigned two demons to watch over her. We only had one or two drinks. Ha, such a lie.
You sound out of it. You sure you’re awake?
Yup. But she was sure she could quite easily fall asleep right there. It wasn’t like she hadn’t done it before.
Good. What you up to right now?
Peeing.
A vibe of pure male amusement touched her mind, but the vibe quickly faded. You’re not serious, are you?
Yup.
He broke the connection so fast, she snickered.
Having done her business, Khloé washed her hands and stumbled out of the bathroom and into the hallway. Coffee. She should drink coffee and sober—
A door burst open and slammed into a wall.
Khloé sharply turned. The bottom fell out of her stomach as partly decomposed corpses began to slowly and unsteadily file through the back door and into her kitchen, their eyes wide and vacant, their skin pale and dirty.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
For a mere moment, her thoughts blanked as her fuzzy mind struggled to process what she was seeing. Her demon stared, equally stunned. Then reality slapped them both hard, sobering Khloé in an instant. Panic quickly kicked in, and with it came a shot of pure adrenaline.
She planted her feet as power hummed in her belly, eager to be released. She gladly gave it what it wanted. The flickering blue/ amber electric flames crackled and hissed as they sliced through the air and lashed the intruders like whips.
Three corpses collapsed, their bodies jerking as shockwaves coursed through them. Even so, Enoch was able to make them conjure hellfire orbs and throw them Khloé’s way. Bastard.
Wicked fast, she slammed the orbs with a wave of electric fire that sent them crashing into the wall hard enough to make the plaster crack. A picture frame crashed to the floor, and glass shattered.
Keenan! she telepathically yelled, remembering her promise. I could use a little help here, she told him, slinging balls of hellfire at the intruders, aiming to blind them so she could cut off Enoch’s ability to use them. More of his puppets stumbled past the fallen and began to shuffle out of the kitchen, their steps slow and awkward.
Keenan’s mind brushed hers, vibrating with urgency. What’s happening?
Short version: dead people broke into the house through the back door. I took out a few of them, but there’s at least half a dozen still here.