The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

told you that it was nothing but a churchyard now,” Kyle said. His long chestnut ponytail was unruffled by the wind, as were his clothes. He, at least, looked somewhat dressed for the weather. Kyle manifested a long wool coat for Katrina, and she smiled in gratitude.
    “You said ‘churchyard’, not ‘graveyard’,” she pointed out. “Where’s the church?”
    Kyle smiled. “Back then, the dead were all buried in churchyards,” he said. “The church itself has long been demolished. I was very glad when it was deconsecrated. It meant that I could visit.”
    Katrina smiled too and cocked her head at the grave markers. “Let’s go visit,” she urged.
    Kyle led her to the stone monument of the Guardian of Hopes and Dreams that watched eternally over Catrine’s resting place.
    “Nice,” Katrina said quietly, gesturing to the huge gargoyle that served as a gravestone for Kyle’s lost love. “Subtle.”
    “Sarcasm doesn’t become you,” Kyle said, also speaking in a low tone. “Besides, if you knew the purpose of a gargoyle, you wouldn’t be surprised why I chose this one for her.”
    “They’re said to scare off evil spirits,” Katrina replied. “But I’ve never seen one like this. Why is it chained?”
    “The Guardian of Hopes and Dreams is forever chained to the pedestal of destiny,” Kyle replied softly. “Or so his description said when I found him. There’s a lot of symbolism in this piece that speaks of what dreams we must hold on to, and which—” Kyle gestured to the ground below the monument “—we must let go.”
    Katrina put a comforting hand on Kyle’s arm, but jerked it back when she heard laughter.
    “For years,” came a dark voice from beside the grave, “both mortal and in Hell, I have watched and waited for you to find another one, Kailkiril’ron.”
    A form appeared from behind the fountain.
    “Still spying then, Kihirin,” Kyle said in a bored tone. “I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, thinking for yourself is such a hardship.”
    “Actually, this is ‘for myself,” Kihirin answered darkly. “No one cares about you any more. You are a joke. No one here wants you either, I see, except . . . Who is that little thing you have there? Another one willing to die for you? You waste no time, Kailkiril’ron.”
    “And you’re still inattentive,” Kyle said with a menacing grin. “For all your spying, you haven’t learned a thing.”
    “You have the Destrati sovereign’s wife right there in your hands,” Kihirin said. “Do you know what her soul is worth? You offer that and Father will give you back your own—”
    Katrina watched in horror as Kyle grabbed Kihirin’s mortal form by the throat. She stepped hurriedly backwards and fell hard against the base of the gargoyle monument. She yelped as the corner grazed her arm from wrist to elbow. She might be immortal, but that didn’t mean things still didn’t hurt like hell.
    “You have no idea how badly Hell can hurt, little girl,” Kihirin snarled at her, both his hands trying to free himself from Kyle’s grip. “You have an idea, do you not, Betrayer? Forsake her, and you can have everything back. Remember who you were? Remember your legions? Remember your command? Andronicus leads now, and being under his command is nothing compared to what it was to serve under you. You were so much more everything than he is. Twenty thousand legions at your command, Lord General. Perfect obedience. And your masterful touch at soul-rending. No one could torture a soul, mortal or immortal, like you. Remember the sound of home? How often do you kill an innocent young one slowly just to hear that sound again? Remember your hound—”
    “I remember,” Kyle said darkly, “my service and blind obedience.”
    Kyle released Kihirin, tossing him dismissively towards the fountain without effort. The demon fell backwards, almost into the water.
    “You can have it all back,” Kihirin said again. “All you have to do—”
    “Is give you what I don’t have, and never will again,” Kyle snapped. “You saw to that when you released her soul.” He sniffed disdainfully. “I am . . . was . . . the Lord General. Firstborn. I do not just blindly follow orders like the rest of you.
    “Father should have had more faith in me,” Kyle added.
    Kihirin laughed. “You imply that you would have given up her soul, if only you had been asked and not ordered to?”
    Kihirin reached slowly into the pocket of the jacket he was