Part 7 (1/2)
The key to what?
Just follow her!
Delilah circled the blonde, studying her from every angle. She was perfect, absolutely perfect. Her telepathic link with Chaos tugged again, and Delilah flew up the stairs.
Chapter Seven.
”All you had to do was tell me you weren't alone, and I wouldn't have imposed.”
Though Dora leaned close to Sheri and whispered the words, Ryder heard. The blonde exuded confidence and a quiet sort of menace. He was unfamiliar with the t.i.tle Sheri had used to describe Dora. Was the blonde some sort of soldier?
”You didn't give me much of an opportunity to explain.” Sheri's tone was tense and anxious, her gaze darting toward him.
”Well, I suspect you need privacy more than tea, so I'll just leave this with you.” She pressed a small packet into Sheri's hand and turned to face him. Her measured gaze swept him from head to toe, sizing him up as one would an opponent. ”Nice to meet you, Ryder.” She sounded friendly and calm, but the wariness never left her blue eyes.
”It was a pleasure to meet you.”
”Your accent is unusual. Where are you from originally?”
”A small city in Greece. I doubt the name would mean anything to you.”
”You don't look Greek.”
He c.o.c.ked one golden eyebrow. ”Do you know many Greeks?”
A smile finally melted her gaze. ”I can't say that I do.” She glanced at her cousin one last time. ”If your headache is more than an excuse, try the tea. It works wonders.”
”Thank you.”
Sheri escorted her toward the front of the house. Ryder remained in the archway.
”I don't think she likes me,” he said as Sheri closed and locked the door.
”Dora has a hard time trusting men. Life hasn't always been kind to her.”
”She was victimized by a man?”
”Not directly. It's a long story, and I'm not sure she'd appreciate my telling you. Dora's a very private person.”
”You called her some sort of master. What does --” He broke off in mid-sentence and darted toward the stairs. ”Chaos just entered the Dream Realm.”
He took the stairs two at a time, Sheri close behind him. The demi-G.o.d sprawled across her bed, motionless.
”Can you reach him? Wasn't there some sort of force field around Meagan?”
”The path to his subconscious is wide open. Delilah's daring me to join her.”
Sheri touched his arm, drawing his attention. ”Accept the challenge, but don't step into her trap. Sneak in through my subconscious. It's just plain stupid to play by her rules.”
Heaving a frustrated sigh, he cupped her shoulders with his hands. ”I'm supposed to protect you.”
”We'll protect each other.”
His centuries of experience and training objected to her involvement. He shouldn't need a woman to fight his battles for him.
”We'll fight the battle together. Now zap me.”
He narrowed his gaze on her face. ”Did you just read my mind?”
”You said it out loud.”
”No, I didn't.”
”We don't have time for this! Just zap me.”
Scooping her up in his arms, he laid her down beside Chaos. ”The succubus forced your energy against its natural flow. It doesn't hurt when I do it. Relax. I'll meet you in the Dream Realm.” She nodded and closed her eyes, obviously anxious to begin.
He sent a sleep compulsion into her brain and dispersed his physical form. Pausing long enough to erect a s.h.i.+eld preventing the incubus from following him, Ryder hurried after her.
Sheri waited in an empty room inside the Dream Realm. Apprehension tinged her lovely features. A smile parted her lips the moment he appeared, and heat swirled through Ryder's abdomen. G.o.ds, she was beautiful, and brave.
Giving himself a mental shake, he turned his attention to the room. ”Let's make a few improvements before I go hunting.” He formed a st.u.r.dy cage with thick iron bars and a stout lock ready to be snapped shut. Manifesting shackles and a long, coiled whip, he handed them to Sheri.
”Practice with the whip while I'm gone. Don't crack it hard until you can aim it accurately. The backlash will tear your flesh.”
”Sounds like my idea of a good time.” Draping the shackles over her shoulder, she gingerly uncoiled the whip.
”I'll return as soon as I can.” He formed himself a long, two-edged sword and headed toward the doorway.
”Do you have something against guns? You don't have to be nearly as close to shoot someone.”
”Everything around you is an illusion. The only true weapon is energy. These are props to help us focus.”
”Wouldn't a gun make a more believable prop?”
He chuckled. ”Projectiles are very hard to control. Trust me, if it comes to hurling energy pulses, I'll have abandoned all props.” Ryder blew her a kiss and ducked through the opening.
A distinct signal emanated from Chaos's collar. Ryder followed the invisible strand.
The signal weakened.
He ran.
A high stone archway awaited at the end of the corridor, Ryder extended his sword as he entered the room. Light blinded him for a second. Sharp gasps echoed off the stone walls. Blinking furiously, he brought the room back into focus. The succubus was nowhere in sight. Ryder scanned with his gaze and his mind. There was no way Delilah would abandon the fight.
Chaos sagged in the chain restraints that suspended his arms above his head. Blood seeped from numerous bite marks all over his naked body. His chin rested on his chest, and his hair concealed his face. He'd only been in the Dream Realm a few minutes. How had she inflicted this much damage?