Angels of Darkness

couldn’t figure out why she’d come. As a warrior with half a century more experience than Marc, her skills probably exceeded his. With her ability to create illusions, she possessed one of the most powerful Gifts of any Guardian. Marc’s own Gift allowed him to haul dirt and stone around, but unless she’d lost something in the mud, there was little he could do that she couldn’t do herself.
    Not that he’d send her packing. “I hope you know that if you did come to me, I’d do whatever I could to help.”
    Her lips flattened. She looked away from him before she replied, “Is that so? Thanks so much.”
    Her doubt struck like a slap. What the hell? Marc stared at her profile, at the sudden rigidity of her posture. She truly didn’t know that? Didn’t believe it?
    Did she think he harbored ill will toward her for leaving one hundred and forty years ago? What kind of men did she know that held a grudge so long? Hell, he hadn’t held a grudge at all. He’d understood that he simply hadn’t been what she’d needed—and damn him if he didn’t agree with her. He sure as hell hadn’t expected her to seek him out now.
    He could only think of one reason for it: another Guardian had told Radha that there’d been a threat to his life. Whatever her feelings toward him, whatever doubts, she was a Guardian first.
    â€œDid Khavi use her Gift and foresee something happening to me? Something that you need to stop?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œShe had a vision of something happening to you, then.”
    Radha slanted him a sideways glance. “Marc.”
    He knew that look, that tone. It meant Don’t say stupid things . When they’d been friends, she’d given him that look rather often.
    They weren’t friends now, yet she’d still come. With no threat behind it, that left one possibility: she was running from something. Maybe not something dangerous, not something she could fight, but something that had sent her to the least likely place anyone would come looking. Hiding, for some reason.
    He’d help her hide, then. If whatever she was running from caught up to her, he’d protect her, give her anything she needed. He’d watch over her until she left again.
    â€œAll right,” he said. “You’re on vacation.”
    He expected a dazzling grin in response, the one Radha always gave when she got her way. He only got a long, considering look followed by a slow nod, and that hit him harder than her doubt had.
    What the hell had he done that laughing, dancing, singing Radha responded to him with such wary reserve?
    A familiar pattern of footsteps from inside the school prevented him from asking. He gestured toward the door and said quietly, “Tell me what you sense from these four girls.”
    Guardians couldn’t read thoughts, only detect emotions—and only if the person didn’t possess strong psychic shields. Most humans didn’t, because they weren’t aware of a need to block any mental probes.
    These girls had strong enough shields that he couldn’t sense anything from them. With enough force, he could break through those shields, but that would bring the demon’s attention to the girls, too.
    They came through the door, each with a cell phone in hand and a backpack slung over one shoulder. He knew their names by now: Jessica and Lynn in the front, Miklia and Ines in the back. As far as he could tell, Jessica was the leader, but maybe just because she owned the car they all rode in. Focused on their cell phone screens, only Miklia glanced up as she passed Marc. She looked quickly away—but not back at her phone. For a long second, her gaze found Radha, before the girl finally dismissed them both.
    Radha’s brows lifted as she watched the girls cross the parking lot. “Walking and texting. That takes skill.”
    â€œEasier than talking and walking? Half the time, I’m convinced all these kids are just texting the person next to them.”
    She gave a short laugh, shared her amusement with a glance. Of course she laughed now. He remembered very well that Radha couldn’t resist an absurdity. It was probably what had drawn her to him in those early years. Marc could think of few things more absurd than he’d been.
    â€œI thought you’d made yourself invisible,” he said. “But Miklia saw you.”
    â€œShe saw this.”
    She