Shadow Kissed 03 - Shadowman

of his physical form, her dark prince, since their meeting. Kathleen, who had named him. Kathleen, who had loved him.
    But now, this woman . . . here, today . . . threatened to shred him completely and make him over to fit her idea of Death.
    Of course he had to forgive her, escaped devil and all. He had to forgive her everything and damn himself, holding on to his favored body with every iota of power he had, lest the woman see a beast and know his true nature.
    No wonder his Shadow could not stop or harm her. His Shadow had ever sheltered her.
    Kathleen was not in Heaven. And Kathleen was not in Hell.
    She’d kept her promise. She’d found a way back. She’d traded her memories for a slim chance, a small hope that they’d meet once more.
    Shadowman’s gaze raked the woman’s face, memorizing her new features. She had wide-set, gray eyes in a narrow face, a small nose, defined cheekbones and jaw. Sweet, full lips. Dimpled chin. And a mess of light brown hair waving to her shoulders.
    He gripped the gate to Hell for a little calm.
    Kathleen was not dead.
    She’d been reborn.

Chapter 4
    â€œHow did you find me?” The blacksmith’s gaze roved her face. Firelight cast a flickering band across his features, but Layla could make out slightly tilted black eyes, tensed with strong emotion. Her heart stumbled in reaction; the intensity of his gaze was painfully familiar and cut straight to her core. A sudden fierce burn rushed along her nerves, so when he shifted to stroke her hair, her shock allowed the intimacy.
    â€œI don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t mean to—” She was shaking with confusion. The attack on the street must have been worse than she’d thought, because the rattling gate, the strange blacksmith, the impenetrable dark . . . She was used to her visions, fighting them, compartmentalizing the real world from the aberrations she saw from time to time. This was different.
    â€œKathleen. Tell me you remember.” His voice was husky.
    She felt his fingers lightly stroke the side of her cheek. Where he touched, sensation spread, sensuous and enticing. Her blood sang as heat flooded her, humming through her system in a gorgeous awakening of want and need. This was too much, way too much, so she turned her head away.
    The gate behind her breathed against her body, a living thing. Throw me wide. The voice hurt her head. I was made for you. This wasn’t right; gates did not speak, did not simmer with life. She understood that now and gritted her teeth against the compulsion to obey.
    â€œBe at ease, Kathleen,” the man said. “You’ve nothing to fear. I’ll take care of everything.”
    She gave a tight shake of her head. This, at least, she knew, and it was a start at getting things straight. “I’m not Kathleen. You must have me mistaken for someone else.”
    And she could take care of herself; she had since she was a kid. She found her spine and slapped his hand away from her face to prove it. What had gotten into her? She didn’t know this man, and he certainly didn’t know her. Why did his open arms seem like a haven of safety and comfort?
    â€œI am not mistaken.” His lips curved into a slight smile. A smile. Here. In this black hole, with this . . . this thing burning at her back.
    The man was out of his mind, and so was she to respond. She had to be very clear. “Get the hell away from me.”
    The smile grew fierce. “Same spirit.”
    Drugs. It had to be. Something in the air was causing her to hallucinate. That’s why she felt this way. She needed to get out of this smoke, breathe clean, industrial smog and rancid river, and then maybe her head would clear. She peered into the darkness beyond him. The exit, she hoped, was that way.
    kat-a-kat: You’ll be alone forever. Throw me wide.
    â€œNo!” Though she didn’t know whom she answered. If she could just get out. Find her car. Then maybe—
    â€œShhh. Be still.” The man raised his hand again, but hesitated, holding it in the air over her heart. Or maybe he wanted to cop a feel. What was it with men today?
    She gripped her flashlight, but found she held the iron flower instead. Fat lot of good that would do her unless she could knock him out with it, then . . .
    . . . then throw me wide.
    Yes, then open the gate wide.
    A sudden bright light caught her attention, a door opening in the